Selective 3D Rendering of Medical Image Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging systems face limitations in efficiently detecting abnormalities due to the time-consuming and error-prone manual review of 2D images, which often miss subtle abnormalities, and 3D views that can be occluded and provide limited contextual information, making it difficult to visualize anatomical structures effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system enhances visualization by reconstructing medical images to include selectively enhanced renderings of regions of interest, allowing for 3D or other enhanced renderings while maintaining external areas in a standard 2D format, thereby improving detection of abnormalities and reducing the need for additional real-time rendering resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual review of 2D images is used, then review process is simple and requires minimal computational resources, but it is very time consuming and prone to human error with subtle abnormalities often missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the medical image data by identifying and isolating regions of interest (ROIs) from the surrounding anatomical structures. This segmentation allows the system to apply enhanced 3D rendering selectively to specific ROIs while maintaining 2D display for other areas, thereby improving detection accuracy without requiring full 3D rendering of the entire dataset, which would be computationally intensive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 2D image display to 3D enhanced rendering for regions of interest. By pre-computing and storing 3D rendered images of identified ROIs, the system provides multi-dimensional visualization that reveals subtle abnormalities not visible in 2D slices, while avoiding the need for real-time 3D rendering during review.
2Loss of information
If 3D viewing mode is used, then contextual information and field of view are expanded, but anatomical features are often occluded by surrounding tissues and intensive real-time interactive capabilities are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of regions of interest and pre-computes 3D enhanced renderings of these ROIs before the actual image review process. This preliminary action allows the system to store pre-rendered 3D images that can be displayed without requiring intensive real-time rendering capabilities during the review, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different rendering qualities to different parts of the image dataset. Specifically, 3D enhanced rendering is applied locally to identified regions of interest where additional contextual information is most valuable, while other areas remain in 2D format. This local application of quality enhancement reduces overall computational requirements while maintaining information integrity where needed.
3Reliability
If virtual flythrough or unfolded tubular structure methods are used, then occlusion by surrounding tissues is addressed, but much distortion is introduced and intensive real-time interactive capabilities are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates pre-computed 3D rendered copies of regions of interest that can be displayed without requiring real-time interactive rendering. These copied 3D representations preserve the visualization accuracy benefits of techniques like virtual flythrough and unfolded views, while eliminating the need for intensive real-time interactive capabilities during the review process.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a technology for enhanced visualization of medical image data. In one implementation, a region of interest is identified in a first set of images along at least one viewing direction. Based on the first set of images, a second set of images is reconstructed to include at least one selectively enhanced rendering of the region of interest. The selectively enhanced rendering may include a three-dimensional rendering or any other type of enhanced rendering to facilitate detection of abnormalities.