MRI Image Processing Region Selection for Artifact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems face inefficiencies in image processing due to the need for heavy-load, time-consuming processing to reduce wraparound artifacts, which results in prolonged times to obtain final output images.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing apparatus that determines a smaller region within the input medical image data affecting the output image quality and performs image processing specifically on this region, incorporating distortion correction and image-quality enhancement processes, such as gradient distortion correction and noise/artifact reduction using convolutional neural networks, to generate output medical image data efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If heavy-load image processing such as super-resolution processing is applied to all data across the wider region, then image quality of final output images is maintained, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the input image data into multiple regions: a first region corresponding to the final output image area, and a second region representing the wider imaged area. Different processing strategies are applied to each region, with the second region undergoing lighter processing while still contributing to the quality of the final output image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing intensities to different regions of the image data. The first region receives full heavy-load processing to ensure optimal quality, while the second region receives reduced processing, recognizing that its primary contribution is to provide contextual information rather than requiring the same quality level as the final output region.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If image processing is applied to the entire wider region, then wraparound artifacts are reduced, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the essential portions of the wider region data that are necessary for reducing wraparound artifacts, rather than processing the entire wider region. This selective extraction reduces computational load while maintaining the artifact-reduction benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial processing to the second region (wider area data), performing only the minimum necessary processing to eliminate wraparound artifacts without applying the full suite of heavy-load processing operations, thus reducing computational load while achieving the desired artifact reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing apparatus according to one embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry obtains input medical image data having a larger image region than output medical image data as a result of image processing; determines, in the input medical image data, a region that is smaller than the image region of the input medical image data and that is to affect image quality of the output medical image data when the image processing is applied to the input medical image data; performs the image processing to the determined region in the input medical image data; and outputs the output medical image data resulting from the image processing performed.