Medical Imaging Scan Range Indicators to Reduce Parallax Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical imaging systems lack an intuitive way for operators to determine the scanning range, and existing techniques suffer from parallax issues, particularly in the head region, making it difficult to accurately identify the scanning volume.
Innovation Solution
A method is provided to generate a scan range indicator by projecting a 3D point cloud onto a plane perpendicular to the scanning table, determining corresponding points on a 2D point cloud contour, and presenting upper and lower boundary lines as a scan range indicator, which alleviates parallax problems by filling in the head region heights to ensure consistency with the actual scan range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a 2D image is used to display scan range, then the display is simple, but parallax problems occur making it difficult to accurately identify the scanning volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the 2D display into a 3D point cloud representation that preserves depth information. By projecting the 3D point cloud onto a 2D plane while maintaining depth cues, the system eliminates parallax errors while keeping the display visually comprehensible. This allows operators to accurately identify the scanning volume without the complexity of full 3D visualization.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual table movement and laser baseline determination are used, then the system is simple to implement, but the operator must operate both inside and outside the scanning room reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines baselines and landmarks using depth camera data and 3D point cloud processing. The scan range is visually presented on the console without requiring manual table movement or laser alignment by the operator. This automation eliminates the need for the operator to be present in both rooms, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining system simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If offset-based scan range determination is used, then the system is easy to set up, but it does not provide an intuitive way for the operator to understand the scanning range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual rendering of the 3D point cloud with color-coded height information to represent the scan range. The boundary line is displayed with distinct visual characteristics, and the 3D point cloud provides intuitive depth perception. This visual presentation maintains the simplicity of offset-based setup while completely eliminating the information loss, allowing operators to intuitively understand the exact scan range.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a medical imaging system and a method for generating a scan range indicator in the medical imaging system. The method includes projecting a 3D point cloud, generated based on a depth image of a patient, onto a plane perpendicular to a table supporting the patient and along a scanning direction, so as to generate a projected 2D point cloud; generating a patient 2D point cloud contour based on the projected 2D point cloud; based on an upper and lower positions that are received in real time and indicate a scan range, determining two corresponding points on the patient 2D point cloud contour, the upper and lower boundary positions; and, using the scan positions of the corresponding points as base points, presenting an upper boundary line and a lower boundary line of the scan range on an image of the patient as a scan range indicator.