Knee Joint Meniscus Projection Plane Setting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for diagnosing knee osteoarthritis, particularly in evaluating menisci, face challenges due to the curved surface of the knee joint, leading to errors in quantifying menisci unless the projection direction is set appropriately.

Innovation Solution

A meniscus projection plane setting apparatus that acquires a three-dimensional image of a knee joint and sets a plane approximating the joint surface as a projection plane for generating a projection image of the meniscus, using techniques such as least squares method and iterative exclusion of pixel positions to optimize the projection plane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a standard projection direction is used for meniscus imaging, then the imaging process is simple, but quantification errors occur due to the curved joint surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantification accuracyVSAvoidprojection plane setting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The projection plane is determined in advance through preliminary processing of the three-dimensional image data. The system performs preliminary actions including determining the joint surface, calculating the projection plane that approximates it, and setting the projection direction before actual meniscus imaging occurs. This preliminary setup eliminates quantification errors during the imaging process itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the three-dimensional image data itself to automatically determine the projection plane without requiring external manual intervention. The joint surface is extracted from the image data, and the projection plane is calculated based on this extracted surface, allowing the system to self-configure the optimal imaging parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual projection direction adjustment is performed, then quantification accuracy improves, but diagnosis time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeniscus quantification accuracyVSAvoiddiagnosis time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical adjustment of projection direction is replaced with an automated computational system. The system uses image processing algorithms to automatically determine the joint surface and calculate the optimal projection plane, substituting the manual mechanical adjustment process with automated digital computation that achieves the same or better accuracy without the time cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the projection parameters (projection plane and direction) based on the specific anatomical features extracted from each patient's three-dimensional image. Rather than using fixed manual settings, the parameters are automatically adjusted to match the individual joint geometry, achieving accurate quantification without manual intervention time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the joint surface curvature is not considered, then the imaging setup is simple, but measurement errors occur in meniscus evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeniscus thickness measurement accuracyVSAvoidprojection plane calculation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system explicitly accounts for the curved geometry of the joint surface by extracting the joint surface from the three-dimensional image and using it to define the projection plane. This curvature-aware approach ensures that the projection direction is perpendicular to the actual joint surface geometry, eliminating measurement errors that would occur with flat-surface assumptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The projection plane is determined locally based on the specific joint surface geometry of each patient rather than using a universal fixed plane. The system extracts the joint surface from the local image data and calculates the projection plane that best approximates this local surface, ensuring accurate measurements adapted to each individual's anatomy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12236531B2Meniscus projection plane setting apparatus, meniscus projection plane setting method, and meniscus projection plane setting program

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A meniscus projection plane setting apparatus, a meniscus projection plane setting method, and a meniscus projection plane setting program appropriately set a projection plane when generating a projection image of a meniscus from a three-dimensional image including a knee joint. An image acquisition unit acquires the three-dimensional image of the knee joint. A plane setting unit sets a plane that approximates a joint surface of the knee joint as the projection plane for generating the projection image by projecting the meniscus at the knee joint included in the three-dimensional image.