Ophthalmic Image Processing Exceptional Frame Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image processing techniques for ophthalmic care, such as those using scanning laser ophthalmoscopes, face challenges in accurately measuring blood flow velocity due to exceptional frames caused by factors like blinking, fixation disparity, and aberration correction failures, which lead to blurred images and difficulties in extracting blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that determines exceptional frames in a moving image and applies specific image processing techniques to these frames, adjusting parameters to extract blood vessels and measure cell kinetics, even in cases where traditional methods fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurement processing is performed on all frames without exception, then processing speed is maintained, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to exceptional frames with low luminance or aberration issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of each frame to determine whether it is an exceptional frame before proceeding with measurement processing. This preliminary classification allows the system to avoid unnecessary processing of frames that would compromise measurement accuracy, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining measurement precision and minimizing processing time loss.
2Reliability
If a tracking mechanism is added to prevent exceptional frames, then image quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - the exceptional frame determination unit - that acts as a mediator between the image capture system and the measurement processing system. This unit evaluates frame quality and makes decisions about frame usability, thereby improving overall system reliability without requiring complex hardware modifications or tracking mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If beam size of measurement light is increased to improve lateral resolution, then lateral resolution improves, but aberration increases causing SN ratio to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters based on frame-by-frame evaluation. When exceptional frames are detected, the system can modify processing parameters or exclude those frames from analysis, thereby maintaining high lateral resolution while compensating for SN ratio degradation caused by increased beam size and aberration effects.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus determines an exceptional frame of a plurality of frames forming a moving image captured by an ophthalmic apparatus including an aberration correction device, and applies image processing of a blood vessel area for a frame, among the plurality of frames, which has not been determined as the exceptional frame.