Medical Imaging Apparatus Standard View Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical imaging devices face challenges in displaying images in a standard view for accurate diagnosis, particularly for fetal nuchal translucency measurements, where existing methods require manual enlargement, reduction, rotation, and translation, and lack standardized image magnification, leading to inconsistencies in measurement accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that transform medical images, such as ultrasound images, by performing enlargement, reduction, rotation, and shifting based on landmark points to align with a standard view, while displaying a fitness rate to ensure accurate alignment and measurement compliance with diagnostic modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual transformation methods (enlargement, reduction, rotation, translation) are used to align medical images with standard views, then image alignment can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and operator-dependent, reducing efficiency and consistency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage alignment accuracyVSAvoidimage processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-defines standard view parameters (position, size, direction) for different diagnostic modes before actual image processing. By preparing transformation templates in advance based on anatomical landmarks and standard measurement protocols, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustments during diagnosis, while ensuring consistent alignment accuracy across different operators and sessions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically performs image transformation operations by detecting anatomical landmarks and computing optimal transformation parameters without requiring manual intervention. The apparatus self-adjusts image geometry (enlargement, reduction, rotation, translation) to match standard views, reducing both time consumption and operator dependency while maintaining alignment precision through algorithmic consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If standardized image magnification is implemented for fetal NT measurement, then measurement consistency improves, but the system complexity increases due to the need for automated landmark detection and transformation parameter calculation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces anatomical landmarks as intermediary reference points between the raw medical image and the standard view requirements. By detecting key anatomical features (such as fetal head landmarks) and using them as mediators for transformation calculations, the system achieves standardized magnification and alignment without requiring complex direct image-to-standard mapping algorithms, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by focusing transformation operations on a limited set of critical parameters (position, size, direction) rather than manipulating all image properties. By changing only the necessary geometric parameters to achieve standard view compliance while keeping other image characteristics unchanged, the system maintains measurement consistency without requiring overly complex multi-parameter adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If automated image transformation is implemented to meet standard view requirements, then diagnostic efficiency improves, but the risk of automated errors and incorrect alignment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic efficiencyVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where transformation results are validated against predefined standard view criteria. After automatic transformation operations are performed, the system checks whether the transformed image meets the required position, size, and direction parameters for the standard view. This feedback loop ensures that automated transformations maintain high reliability by detecting and correcting any alignment deviations before final display or measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes validation rules and acceptance criteria for transformation operations based on standard diagnostic protocols. By preparing these verification standards in advance, the system can quickly assess whether automated transformations have achieved correct alignment without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus maintaining both high productivity and reliability through pre-defined quality checks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2892024B1Method and medical imaging apparatus for displaying medical images
Publication Date: 2018.07.18 SAMSUNG MEDISON CO LTD
  • EP2892024B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2892024B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2892024B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided are a method and medical imaging apparatus for displaying a medical image suitable for a standard view. The method includes acquiring information related to at least one landmark point in the medical image; and displaying a view of the medical image that satisfies requirements included in a standard view, through a display unit, based on the at least one landmark point.