Longitudinal Melanonychia Malignancy Discrimination via RGB Vector Analysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Diagnosing nail apparatus melanoma is challenging due to the difficulty in visually distinguishing between benign and malignant longitudinal melanonychia, requiring a noninvasive and objective method for discrimination and visualization.

Innovation Solution

A method involving digital color images of longitudinal melanonychia are converted into three-dimensional vectors in an RGB space, with latitudinal and longitudinal variables calculated to determine a discrimination index, allowing for classification and visualization of malignancy through distribution analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual inspection with dermoscope is used to determine benign or malignant, then experience-dependent diagnosis is achieved, but objectivity and reliability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis accuracyVSAvoiddiagnosis reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/visual inspection system with an automated image processing system. Digital dermoscopic images are processed through algorithms that extract color features, calculate discrimination indices, and automatically classify melanonychia as benign or malignant, eliminating dependence on physician experience while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms visual image data into quantitative parameters by extracting color information from digital images, converting RGB values to different color spaces, calculating discrimination indices based on color distribution, and using these numerical parameters to objectively differentiate between benign and malignant cases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If biopsy is performed for malignant melanoma diagnosis, then definitive diagnosis is obtained, but patient harm and invasiveness occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis accuracyVSAvoidpatient harm

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the invasive mechanical biopsy procedure with a non-invasive optical imaging and image processing system. By analyzing color features and patterns in digital dermoscopic images through automated algorithms, the system provides definitive diagnosis without physical tissue removal, eliminating associated patient harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the melanonychia lesion through dermoscopic imaging, then performs diagnostic analysis on this digital replica. The image processing and classification algorithms operate on the copied visual information, providing the same diagnostic value as biopsy would without requiring actual tissue sampling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Extent of automation

If pseudo fractal dimension technique is used for discrimination, then automated analysis is achieved, but discrimination accuracy between benign and malignant is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation levelVSAvoiddiscrimination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter basis from geometric fractal dimension to color space parameters. By extracting RGB color values, converting to different color spaces, and calculating discrimination indices based on color distribution characteristics, the system achieves both automation and high discrimination accuracy between benign and malignant melanonychia

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent moves the analysis from a single-dimensional geometric approach (fractal dimension) to multi-dimensional color space analysis. By examining color information across multiple dimensions (RGB values, different color space conversions, color distribution patterns), the system achieves superior discrimination capability while maintaining automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9049991B2Method of discriminating longitudinal melanonychia and visualizing malignancy thereof

Publication Date: 2015.06.09 QSFIX CO LTD

AI summary

In a digital color image of longitudinal melanonychia, RGB parameter values of each pixel are assumed as three components to form a three-dimensional vector. Latitudinal and longitudinal variables are obtained for each three-dimensional vector in an RGB space. The latitudinal and longitudinal variables are used to define a distribution of points, and from the distribution, a discrimination index is found. The discrimination index is classified according to a threshold, to discriminate whether the longitudinal melanonychia is malignant or benign. The distribution of points is displayed to realize visualization of the malignancy of the longitudinal melanonychia.