Medical Imaging Preparation With Prior-Scan Feature Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical imaging technologies rely on manual communication and search for prior scans, leading to inefficiencies and errors in planning examination scans, particularly in follow-up examinations, due to miscommunication and lack of time/expertise for manual checks.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that automatically retrieves and registers prior imaging results with preparation images, overlaying relevant features of interest in the correct location, reducing the need for manual search and visual comparison, and allowing for improved acquisition parameter setting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual communication and search for prior scans is used, then the user can obtain prior imaging results, but the process is prone to errors and inefficiencies due to miscommunication and lack of time/expertise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of prior scan retrievalVSAvoidtime for manual search and communication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves and registers prior imaging results before the current examination, preparing the information in advance. The preparation image is automatically enhanced with overlaid features of interest from prior scans, eliminating the need for manual search and communication during the examination planning phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic retrieval, registration, and visualization of prior imaging results without requiring manual intervention. The computer-implemented method autonomously identifies relevant prior scans, transforms their coordinate systems, overlays features of interest, and presents them to the user, making the system serve itself rather than requiring human operators to perform these tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual check of prior scans is performed, then the user can identify features of interest, but the process requires additional time and expertise that may not be available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracy of features of interestVSAvoidoperational complexity for user

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual process of visually inspecting and identifying features in prior scans is replaced by an automated computer vision system. The system uses coordinate system transformation and image processing algorithms to automatically locate and overlay features of interest from prior scans onto the preparation image, substituting human visual inspection with computational analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediate processing step that transforms coordinate systems and automatically maps features from prior scans to the current preparation image. This intermediary computational process bridges the gap between stored prior imaging data and the current examination context, providing accurate feature localization without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If examination scan is repeated due to errors, then diagnostic quality can be maintained, but productivity and efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic image qualityVSAvoidexamination throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate visual feedback by overlaying features of interest from prior scans onto the preparation image. This feedback mechanism allows the user to verify that all relevant features will be included in the examination scan before acquisition begins, preventing errors that would require repeat scans and maintaining diagnostic quality while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250325244A1Computer-implemented method for operating a medical imaging device, medical imaging device, computer program, and electronically readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A method comprises: retrieving, from a storage, a source data set chosen from at least one prior imaging result data set, each prior imaging result data set including a prior image showing at least part of an acquisition region and annotation information, wherein the annotation information includes location information describing a location of a respective feature of interest in a second coordinate system of the prior image; registering the prior image and the preparation image to obtain registration information including a transformation from the second coordinate system to the first coordinate system; compiling an output image including the preparation image and at least one visual representation, which is positioned correctly according to the location information of the source data set for at least one direction, of all features of interest within a display region comprising the acquisition region; and outputting the output image at a display device.