Optical Coherence Tomography Image Processing Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatuses, examiners cannot immediately verify the successful capture of tomographic images due to the need for alignment and combination processing, which delays the confirmation of image quality and noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
An OCT apparatus with a generation unit for creating tomographic images, an image processing unit for enhancing image quality, and a display control unit that allows for the immediate display of generated and processed images, enabling examiners to assess image capturing success during the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If alignment and combination processing is performed on multiple tomographic images, then image quality is improved, but the time to verify image capture success is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing workflow into two distinct phases: a first processing phase that performs alignment and combination of multiple tomographic images to produce a first processed image, and a second processing phase that performs additional processing on the first processed image to produce a second processed image. This segmentation allows the system to present intermediate results (first processed image) before completion, enabling examiners to verify capture success at different stages of processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing alignment and combination processing in advance to generate a first processed image that can be displayed before the entire processing sequence is complete. This allows the system to prepare and present intermediate results proactively, giving examiners early access to processed images for verification while the remaining processing continues in the background.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple tomographic images are aligned and combined, then noise is reduced, but the examiner cannot see the processed image until processing is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing into multiple stages, producing a first processed image after the first processing phase and a second processed image after the second processing phase. This segmentation enables the system to present intermediate results (first processed image with reduced noise from alignment and combination) before the final processing is complete, maintaining both noise reduction benefits and operator accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining the processing pipeline as an ongoing operation that produces results progressively. The first processed image is generated and made available during the processing sequence, allowing continuous verification capability while the second processing phase continues in the background without interrupting the workflow.
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
Enables immediate verification of successful image capture and quality assessment, reducing the delay in confirming image quality and noise reduction, allowing for timely adjustments and improvements in image processing.
Implementation Method 1
based on interfering light produced by interfering a return beam and a reference beam of light emitted toward the object to be measured
Data Source
AI summary
An optical coherence tomography apparatus includes a generation unit configured, based on interfering light produced by interfering a return beam and a reference beam of light emitted toward the object to be measured, to generate tomographic images of an object to be measured, an image processing unit configured to perform image processing for increasing image quality to at least one of the tomographic images generated by the generation unit, and a display control unit configured to display one of the tomographic images generated by the generation unit and then display the image on which the image processing is performed by the image processing unit on a display unit.