Multi-Region Medical Imaging Study Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging technologies face challenges in efficiently scanning multiple regions of a patient's anatomy in a single procedure while accommodating varying imaging and data processing requirements, which can be inconvenient and time-consuming for patients and cumbersome in data handling.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for generating multiple studies from a single imaging scan by defining regions of interest using morphological knowledge and volumetric data, classifying anatomical features, and applying specific study protocols for each region, allowing for flexible scanning, imaging, and data storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If multiple regions of a patient's anatomy are scanned in a single scanning procedure, then patient convenience and time efficiency are improved, but flexibility in defining scanning and imaging parameters and processing complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scanned volume into multiple anatomical regions (e.g., head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis) and generates separate studies for each region from a single scanning procedure. This segmentation allows the system to process and manage data for different regions independently, reducing the complexity of handling large datasets while maintaining the efficiency of a single scan.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that automatically identifies anatomical landmarks and defines region boundaries based on imaging data. This intermediary layer between the raw scan data and the final multiple studies automates the complex task of data segmentation and organization, reducing manual intervention while maintaining flexibility in parameter settings for each region.
2Ease of operation
If multiple regions of a patient's anatomy are scanned in a single scanning procedure, then patient convenience is improved, but flexibility in defining scanning and imaging parameters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different scanning and imaging parameters to be defined for each anatomical region within the same scanning procedure. Each region can have customized parameters (e.g., different reconstruction protocols, display settings, or contrast timing) tailored to its specific diagnostic requirements, while the patient undergoes only a single scan.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically assigns different study protocols and parameters to different anatomical regions based on automatic region identification. This dynamic approach allows the scanning parameters and image processing settings to be adaptively adjusted for each region without requiring separate manual setup, thereby maintaining both patient convenience and parameter flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate scanning procedures are conducted for each region of a patient's anatomy, then flexibility in defining scanning and imaging parameters is improved, but patient convenience and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple scanning procedures into a single comprehensive scanning procedure that captures all required anatomical regions in one go. By combining the data acquisition for multiple regions into one scan, the system eliminates the need for patients to undergo separate scanning procedures, thereby reducing total scanning time and improving convenience while maintaining parameter flexibility through post-scan region-specific processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Information indicative of multiple regions of the anatomy of a patient (602, 604, 606), such as one or more of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis, is obtained in a single scan. A plurality of studies (32) are generated. Each study definition includes a region of the patient's anatomy (602, 604) and a study protocol. Each study (32) includes (48) images generated using information from the scan and the value of the imaging parameter.