Myocardial Bull's Eye Map Normalization for Ischemic Region Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bull's eye maps generated from myocardial SPECT data do not effectively convey pixel value distribution within the cardiac muscle, making it difficult to assess ischemic regions, especially in local areas of the cardiac muscle.

Innovation Solution

A medical image processing apparatus that normalizes the distance between the inner and outer walls of the myocardial region and generates a bull's eye map using two-dimensional polar coordinates, allowing for the display of myocardial SPECT values at arbitrary positions, enabling improved visualization and diagnosis of ischemic regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If maximum values on straight lines extending through the myocardial region are assigned to a bull's eye map, then the bull's eye map can be generated from myocardial SPECT data, but the pixel value distribution in the interior of the cardiac muscle cannot be comprehended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebull's eye map generationVSAvoidpixel value distribution information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the myocardial region into multiple radial segments (first region from inner wall to halfway point, second region from halfway point to outer wall) and processes each segment separately. This segmentation allows the pixel value distribution to be visualized in detail within each radial zone while still maintaining the overall bull's eye map structure, thereby resolving the contradiction between map generation ease and information preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new radial dimension by displaying pixel values at multiple distances from the inner wall along each radial line. Instead of showing only maximum values at a single location, the system visualizes pixel values across the entire thickness of the myocardial wall, adding a spatial dimension that preserves distribution information while maintaining the bull's eye map format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If only maximum pixel values are displayed on the bull's eye map, then the map remains simple and easy to interpret, but it becomes difficult to determine the risk of ischemic regions in local areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebull's eye map interpretationVSAvoidischemic region detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different display characteristics to different radial regions. The first region (inner wall to halfway point) and second region (halfway point to outer wall) are processed separately with appropriate scaling factors, allowing localized visualization of pixel value distributions. This local quality approach enables precise ischemic region detection in specific areas while maintaining overall map interpretability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of display parameters based on the radial position. By calculating different scaling factors for different radial regions and allowing flexible selection of display characteristics, the system adapts the visualization to local requirements, enhancing both interpretability and detection accuracy simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Shape

If the distance between inner wall and outer wall is not normalized, then the original anatomical proportions are preserved, but arbitrary position selection along the thickness direction cannot be standardized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemyocardial region geometryVSAvoidarbitrary position visualization

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent normalizes the distance between inner and outer walls to a standard range (0-1 or 0-100%) while preserving the anatomical shape through proportional scaling. This parameter transformation enables arbitrary position selection along the thickness direction to be standardized and systematically visualized, while the normalized coordinates maintain the relative anatomical proportions of the myocardial region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8942460B2Medical image processing apparatus that normalizes a distance between an inner wall and outer wall of the myocardial region

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

According to one embodiment, storage unit stores three-dimensional function image data concerning a function index of the heart. The extraction unit extracts a myocardial region from the three-dimensional function image data. The normalization unit normalizes the distance between the inner wall and outer wall of the myocardial region with a predetermined numerical value range. The generation unit generates a bull's eye map expressing a spatial distribution of pixel values at positions on the myocardial region by two-dimensional polar coordinates. The positions correspond to predetermined values in the predetermined numerical value range. The display unit displays the bull's eye map.