Radiographing System Automates Image Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In radiography, operators face increased workload due to the need to manually determine and apply different image processing procedures based on examination purposes and request sources, which is not efficiently addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and system that includes a purpose setting unit, selection setting unit, and generation unit to determine the examination purpose, select and set radiation image processing, and generate processing procedures accordingly, allowing for automated processing of radiation images based on preset procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the operator manually determines and applies different image processing procedures based on examination purposes and request sources, then the processing can be customized according to specific needs, but the work load on the operator increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing customizationVSAvoidoperator workload

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines the examination purpose from examination information and autonomously selects and applies the corresponding image processing procedure without requiring manual operator intervention. The radiographing apparatus itself performs the decision-making and processing selection, making the system self-serving and eliminating the need for operator judgment and manual processing application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple image processing procedures are pre-configured and stored in the system, each associated with specific examination purposes. When an examination is performed, the system retrieves and applies the pre-prepared processing procedure corresponding to the determined examination purpose, eliminating the need for operators to manually determine and apply processing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the operator judges different processing procedures depending on examination purpose and request source, then the image processing can be optimized for each case, but the time required for processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing optimizationVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Image processing procedures are pre-configured and stored in the system, each optimized for specific examination purposes. The system automatically retrieves and applies the appropriate pre-optimized processing procedure based on the examination purpose determined from the examination information, eliminating the time-consuming manual judgment and application process while maintaining optimized processing for each case.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system autonomously determines the examination purpose and automatically applies the corresponding optimized image processing procedure without requiring operator intervention. This self-service approach maintains the optimization benefits of customized processing while eliminating the time loss associated with manual operator judgment and processing application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual processing procedures are used for each examination purpose, then flexibility in processing selection is maintained, but automation level decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing automation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The radiographing apparatus automatically determines the examination purpose from the examination information and autonomously selects and applies the corresponding image processing procedure. This eliminates manual operator intervention entirely, achieving full automation while maintaining the flexibility of having multiple processing procedures available for different examination purposes through automatic selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple image processing procedures are pre-configured in the system, each associated with specific examination purposes. The system automatically determines which procedure to apply based on the examination purpose and executes it without manual intervention. This preliminary configuration enables both automation and flexibility, as the system has all processing options prepared and can autonomously select the appropriate one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11763930B2Information processing apparatus, radiographing apparatus, radiographing system, information processing method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a purpose setting unit configured to set an examination purpose of radiography, a selection setting unit configured to select processing of a radiation image corresponding to the examination purpose and set the processing in an editing area of a display unit, and a generation unit configured to generate a processing procedure corresponding to the examination purpose based on the set processing.