Radiographic Dynamic Image Analysis for Lung Field Registration Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radiographic image analysis systems face inaccuracies in dynamic analysis due to changes in pixel values of body thickness portions when registering frame images, leading to incorrect analysis results, particularly in lung field blood flow measurements.

Innovation Solution

A radiographic image analysis apparatus and method that reduces components of structures different from the target part in each frame image, followed by aligning positions within the target part, thereby minimizing the influence of body thickness components on the analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If registration between frame images is performed to enable dynamic analysis, then dynamic analysis capability is improved, but pixel values of body thickness portions change causing inaccurate analysis results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic analysis capabilityVSAvoidanalysis result accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the body thickness component from the radiographic image through specific processing steps. By separating the body thickness portion from the lung field portion and eliminating its pixel value changes during registration, the system maintains dynamic analysis capability while preventing inaccurate analysis results caused by body thickness variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the radiographic image into distinct regions: the lung field portion (analysis target) and the body thickness portion (to be removed). This segmentation allows independent processing of each region, enabling dynamic analysis of the lung field while excluding the confounding body thickness component from the analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If body thickness component is removed from frame images, then analysis result accuracy is improved, but image processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis result accuracyVSAvoidimage processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a systematic extraction process that identifies and removes the body thickness component through defined processing steps. By automating this extraction and removal process as an integrated function, the system manages processing complexity while achieving accurate analysis results free from body thickness interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20260073523A1Radiographic image analysis apparatus, radiographic image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing radiographic image processing program

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

A radiographic image analysis apparatus including at least one hardware processor, in which the at least one hardware processor performs: first processing of, for each of a plurality of frame images included in a radiographic dynamic image of a target part of a subject, reducing a component of a structure different from the target part in each of the plurality of frame images; second processing of associating a position in the target part between the plurality of frame images; and analyzing the radiographic dynamic image including the plurality of frame images on which the first processing and the second processing have been performed.