Remote Diagnosis System Using NIRS and Facial Video Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional medical interviews or diagnoses using NIRS devices require face-to-face interaction between physicians and patients, which is impractical due to shortages of hospitals and physicians in remote areas, necessitating a method for remote medical diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
An information processing method that obtains image data of a patient's face and cerebral blood flow information using connected cameras and detectors, transmitting this data through a remote network to display a combined image of the patient's face and cerebral blood flow changes, enabling remote diagnosis by physicians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If face-to-face medical interviews and NIRS-based diagnosis are used, then diagnostic accuracy and reliability are improved, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate due to geographical limitations and shortage of physicians
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network system as an intermediary between the physician and patient. The system transmits video images and NIRS data through a network, allowing the physician to perform diagnosis remotely without direct physical contact. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining diagnostic reliability through accurate data transmission while improving accessibility by eliminating geographical barriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the patient's face and cerebral blood flow information through video imaging and NIRS detection. These copies are transmitted through the network to the physician, enabling remote observation and diagnosis. This allows the physician to access patient information remotely without physical presence, resolving the contradiction between maintaining diagnostic accuracy and improving accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If remote diagnosis through network transmission is implemented, then accessibility and ease of operation are improved, but information loss and measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple types of diagnostic information (video images of facial expressions, line-of-sight, facial color, and NIRS data on cerebral blood flow) into a single integrated diagnostic system. By merging these different data streams and transmitting them together through the network, the system ensures comprehensive information transmission without loss, resolving the contradiction between improving accessibility and maintaining data accuracy.
3Reliability
If multiple types of diagnostic information (video images and NIRS data) are collected and transmitted, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but device complexity and information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional diagnostic system that performs multiple functions: video imaging for facial expressions and line-of-sight detection, NIRS for cerebral blood flow measurement, and network transmission for data communication. By integrating these functions into a single universal system, the patent improves diagnostic accuracy through comprehensive data collection while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate independent systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates remote diagnosis by allowing physicians to assess cerebral blood flow changes and psychological states of patients in real-time, overcoming geographical barriers and improving diagnostic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Each NIRS device illuminates a target portion of a target person with light, such as near-infrared light, and detects light that returns from the target portion, to thereby obtain information of blood flow of the target portion
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing method includes: obtaining first image data indicating an image of at least one portion of a face of a target person from a camera connected to or built into a first computer; obtaining cerebral blood flow information indicating a state of cerebral blood flow of the target person from a detector that is connected to or built into the first computer and that detects the cerebral blood flow information; and displaying, on a display connected to or built into a second computer connected to the first computer through a remote network, an output image including a first image based on the first image data and a second image based on the cerebral blood flow information. The first image is a moving image including the at least one portion of the face, and the second image indicates changes over time in the cerebral blood flow information.