Navigator Echo Placement via 3D Body Landmark Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual placement of navigator echoes in MRI scans is complicated and prone to inconsistencies, requiring expertise and leading to variable image quality.

Innovation Solution

A three-step image processing method involving segmentation and edge detection in multiple tomographic image slices in different viewing directions to automatically determine the position of a navigator echo, ensuring optimal placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual placement of navigator echoes is performed, then expertise and control are required, but the process is complicated and prone to inconsistencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of navigator echo placementVSAvoidcomplexity of manual placement process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic navigator echo placement using image processing algorithms that autonomously identify anatomical landmarks and calculate optimal positions, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and ensuring consistent results across different users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of placing navigator echoes by visual inspection and manual coordinate entry is replaced with an automated computer-based image processing system that uses segmentation, edge detection, and landmark identification algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automatic detection of navigator echoes is implemented, then efficiency is improved and expertise requirement is reduced, but automated algorithms must be developed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of navigator echo placementVSAvoidcomplexity of automated detection system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image processing is divided into distinct sequential steps: segmentation of anatomical structures, edge detection on segmented regions, identification of outer shapes, and calculation of landmark positions, making the complex automated process manageable and implementable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary segmentation and edge detection on scout images before the actual MRI acquisition, allowing automatic landmark identification and navigator echo positioning to be prepared in advance, thereby improving efficiency during the scanning process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If multiple image slices in different viewing directions are processed, then positioning accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of navigator echo positioningVSAvoidprocessing time for image analysis

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The three-dimensional preview image is divided into multiple two-dimensional tomographic slices in different viewing directions (coronal, sagittal, axial), allowing parallel processing of independent slices to improve accuracy without excessive time penalty

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from analyzing single two-dimensional slices to integrating information across three-dimensional space by processing multiple slices in different orientations, thereby achieving more accurate three-dimensional landmark positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4584749B1Automatic navigator echo placement detection

Publication Date: 2025.08.20 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of determining a position of a body landmark in a tomographic image slice of a subject, and a method of determining a positioning of a navigator echo in a three-dimensional preview image of a subject by consecutive application of the method of determining the position of the body landmark in at least three tomographic image slices of the subject in different viewing directions.