Pyramid Representation for Pathology Image Resolution Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pathology images are extremely large, making it difficult for pathologists to rapidly access and view them, especially in web browsers that lack the capability to handle high-resolution images efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that convert pathology images into a pyramid representation, allowing images to be stored and viewed at multiple levels of resolution, and then convert these images into the DICOM format for easy integration with Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pathology images are stored and viewed at high resolution, then image quality and diagnostic accuracy are improved, but access speed and system performance deteriorate due to the extremely large file sizes (3 GB to 5 GB)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the high-resolution pathology image into multiple resolution levels (pyramid representation), where each level contains the image at a specific resolution. This allows the system to serve different resolution requirements from the same image data without requiring multiple separate high-resolution files, thereby improving access speed while maintaining image quality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a resolution level dimension to the image storage structure. Instead of storing a single high-resolution image, the system creates a multi-level pyramid where images are organized by resolution. This dimensional approach enables efficient retrieval of appropriate resolution images based on user needs, resolving the contradiction between image quality and access speed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pathology images are converted to DICOM format for PACS integration, then compatibility with existing medical imaging systems is improved, but processing complexity and conversion time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the DICOM format conversion during the initial image processing stage, before the images are stored or shared. By preparing the DICOM versions in advance as part of the pyramid representation creation, the system avoids the need for complex real-time conversion operations, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining PACS compatibility.
3Measurement precision
If the entire high-resolution pathology image is loaded into the web browser, then viewing quality is improved, but memory requirements and system resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image data into multiple resolution levels, allowing the web browser to load and display only the portion of the image at the required resolution. This segmentation enables high viewing quality for the displayed region while minimizing memory consumption by avoiding the loading of entire high-resolution images when low resolution is sufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial loading of image data, where only the necessary portions of the image pyramid are loaded into the web browser based on the user's viewing requirements. This partial action approach maintains adequate viewing quality for the displayed region while significantly reducing memory consumption compared to loading the complete high-resolution image.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for viewing pathology images in a web browser is provided. The method includes obtaining a pathology image in a first format, converting the pathology image into a pyramid representation file comprising images grouped into a plurality of levels, wherein the images in the different plurality of levels correspond to portions of the pathology image at a same or different degrees of resolution, and wherein the images are in the first format, storing the pyramid representation file in the first memory, receiving a request from a user to view the pathology image at a specified resolution, loading one or more images from at least one of the plurality of levels corresponding to the specified resolution, wherein the one or more images are in the first format and wherein the one or more images are loaded into a web browser coupled with the first memory, converting the images into a second format such that the images' degrees of resolution are maintained, and storing the images in the second format in a second memory.