Virtual Microscope Image Combination with Connection Reliability Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual microscope systems often produce images with low reliability due to distortions, magnification deviations, blurring, and connection accuracy errors, making it difficult for users to recognize and correct these issues during diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that generates and displays connection information, including connection positions and reliability, along with combined images, to allow users to easily identify and assess the reliability of connected parts, with options to include foreign body presence and position information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple partial images are connected to create a wide-field microscopic image, then the field of view is expanded, but the connection accuracy and reliability of the combined image deteriorate due to distortions, magnification deviations, and blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wide-field observation area into multiple partial images that are connected together. Each partial image is processed and evaluated separately to determine connection reliability, allowing the system to maintain overall wide-field capability while managing local connection quality through segmentation of the imaging area.
2Reliability
If distortion correction is applied to improve image quality in connected parts, then local image quality improves, but new distortions and reliability issues are introduced at the connection positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent evaluates connection reliability before final image combination by assessing distortion characteristics, magnification deviations, and blurring in each partial image. This preliminary evaluation allows the system to identify and flag potential reliability issues before they affect the final combined image, enabling users to be aware of potential problems in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to users about the reliability of different regions in the combined image through reliability maps or annotations. This feedback mechanism allows users to understand which areas of the combined image have high reliability and which areas may contain distortion errors or connection issues, enabling informed diagnostic decisions.
3Ease of operation
If connection information is not displayed to users, then the interface remains simple, but users cannot recognize reliability issues in connected parts for accurate diagnosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing reliability information specifically at connection positions and regions where distortion may occur, rather than uniformly across the entire image. This allows the interface to remain relatively simple while still providing critical reliability information where it is most needed for diagnostic accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an information processing apparatus, including an image combination section which connects a plurality of partial images, each of which is an image obtained by imaging a part of a region to be observed, and a connection information generation section which generates connection information of a combined image combined by the image combination section. The connection information is provided, along with the combined image or separately from the combined image, to an image display apparatus capable of displaying the combined image.