OCTA Motion Contrast Image Generation via Cluster Scanning Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In ophthalmic practice, increasing the number of tomographic images per cluster to enhance the contrast of motion contrast images in OCTA leads to longer image capturing times, making it difficult to stabilize the subject's eye and necessitating rescanning, which further prolongs the process.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that controls the OCT device to perform cluster scanning multiple times with a smaller number of scans per cluster, combining motion contrast images to achieve high-contrast OCTA images while reducing rescanning and stabilizing the eye.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of tomographic images per cluster is increased to enhance motion contrast image contrast, then the contrast of motion contrast image is improved, but the image capturing time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion contrast image contrastVSAvoidimage capturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cluster scanning process into multiple separate scanning sessions. Instead of performing all scans in one continuous cluster, the scanning is segmented into multiple sessions with intermediate pauses, allowing the subject's eye to be stabilized between sessions while maintaining the total number of scans needed for high contrast.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic scanning sessions separated by rest periods. The measurement is performed in periodic intervals rather than continuously, allowing the subject's eye to stabilize during the pauses between sessions, thereby reducing motion artifacts while maintaining image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If the image capturing time is prolonged to acquire more tomographic images per cluster, then the motion contrast image contrast is enhanced, but the subject's eye stabilization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion contrast image contrastVSAvoidsubject's eye stabilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the long measurement process into multiple shorter scanning sessions. Each session acquires a subset of the total required images, and the sessions are separated by pauses that allow the subject's eye to stabilize, thereby maintaining both image quality and subject stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary stabilization checks between scanning sessions. Before each new scanning session begins, the system verifies that the subject's eye has stabilized during the intermediate pause, ensuring optimal conditions for the next set of measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If rescanning is performed to compensate for eye motion, then the motion contrast image quality is maintained, but the image capturing time is further prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion contrast image qualityVSAvoidimage capturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary eye stabilization verification before each scanning session. By checking eye stability in advance and adjusting or pausing as needed, the system prevents the need for time-consuming rescans later, thereby maintaining image quality while reducing total measurement time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3354191B1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 CANON KK
  • EP3354191B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3354191B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3354191B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of data sets each of which includes a plurality of pieces of tomographic data that represents a section of a fundus, the plurality of data sets not including the same tomographic data as each other, a first generation unit configured to generate at least one motion contrast image from each of the plurality of data sets acquired by the acquisition unit, without generating a motion contrast image from across the data sets acquired by the acquisition unit, and a second generation unit configured to generate a single motion contrast image representing a cross section at a predetermined position in the fundus, based on the motion contrast image generated from at least one of the plurality of data sets.