Medical Imaging Scanning Range Automation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Medical image diagnostic apparatuses face challenges in efficiently setting scanning ranges during follow-up examinations, as the automatically set ranges by the automatic scan-planning function may not align with the desired scanning ranges according to facility policies, leading to manual corrections that decrease throughput.
Innovation Solution
A medical image diagnosis apparatus with an analyzer unit to determine two boundaries of a scanning range by analyzing a subject image, using fixed scanning-range information to compensate for one boundary, thereby reducing computational load and processing time, and allowing user input to designate or adjust scanning range settings on a graphical user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the automatic scan-planning function sets the scanning range based on camera image or localizer image, then the scanning range can be automatically determined, but the automatically set scanning range may not match the desirable scanning range according to facility operation policies
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic switching between different scanning range determination modes: automatic mode (using camera/image analysis), manual mode (user-defined), and hybrid mode (combination of both). This dynamic adaptability enables the system to adjust to different facility policies and examination requirements while maintaining automation capabilities when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning range determination is divided into separate components: automatic analysis of subject images to identify anatomical structures, user interface for manual adjustment, and policy-based constraints. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and combined flexibly to meet different facility requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual correction of automatically set scanning range is performed, then the scanning range can be adjusted to match facility policies, but the throughput of image diagnosis is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automatic analysis of subject images to pre-determine the scanning range based on detected anatomical structures. This preliminary action provides a good initial setting that closely matches the desired scanning range, reducing the need for extensive manual corrections and thereby maintaining high throughput while achieving adaptability to facility policies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying the automatically determined scanning range on the user interface, allowing operators to quickly assess and make minimal adjustments if needed. This feedback mechanism reduces the time and effort required for manual correction while ensuring policy compliance.
3Measurement precision
If analysis is performed for both first border line and second border line, then complete scanning range can be determined, but computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and utilizes fixed scanning-range information from subject images to directly determine one or both border lines without performing full analysis. By taking out the essential scanning range information from image data and using it directly, the system reduces computational load and processing time while maintaining accurate scanning range determination.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete analysis for both border lines, the system performs partial analysis only where necessary. When fixed scanning-range information is available and reliable, the system uses it directly without additional analysis, performing excessive action only when needed to ensure accuracy, thereby optimizing the balance between precision and processing time.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A medical image diagnosis apparatus includes an analyzer unit, an obtainer unit, a setting unit, and an output unit. The analyzer unit obtains a first border line and a second border line that define a scanning range of a scan of a subject to obtain a medical image of the subject, by analyzing a subject image obtained by capturing the subject. The obtainer unit obtains fixed scanning-range information for imaging the subject. The setting unit sets the scanning range based on the fixed scanning-range information and either of the first border line and the second border line obtained by the analyzer unit. The output unit outputs the scanning range set by the setting unit for display on a monitor.