Automated 3D Spinal Renderings for Disc Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing spinal disorders, such as inter-vertebral disc displacements, are expensive, time-consuming, and prone to high inter-observer variability due to the need for repetitive visual inspections and manual measurements of spinal images.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that uses contextual image statistics and advanced optimization techniques to detect and visualize three-dimensional spinal renderings, enabling quantitative and reproducible measures of inter-vertebral disc displacements beyond vertebral body limits, by building contextual features and statistical models to identify consistent 3D surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual visual inspection and measurement methods are used to diagnose spinal disorders, then diagnostic accuracy can be maintained through expert observation, but the process becomes time-consuming and expensive with high inter-observer variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and measurement (mechanical/human system) with an automated computer-based image processing system that uses algorithms to detect vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, and measure displacements. This substitution eliminates inter-observer variability and significantly reduces diagnostic time while maintaining measurement precision through consistent algorithmic application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service diagnosis by automatically processing spinal images to generate measurements and visualizations without requiring manual intervention. The computer-based system performs detection, measurement, and report generation autonomously, allowing rapid diagnosis while preserving diagnostic accuracy through standardized computational methods.
2Measurement precision
If repetitive visual inspections and manual measurements are performed on spinal images, then detailed analysis of inter-vertebral disc displacements can be achieved, but the process becomes tedious and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces tedious manual measurement processes with automated computer-based image processing that rapidly calculates intervertebral disc displacements. The system uses algorithms to detect vertebral bodies and discs, compute their positions, and measure displacements automatically, thereby maintaining precise measurement of disc displacement while dramatically improving diagnosis efficiency and reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameters from manual visual estimation to automated computational measurements of vertebral body and intervertebral disc positions. By using computer-based coordinate systems and mathematical models to calculate displacements, the system achieves precise quantification of disc protrusion and herniation while improving productivity through automated processing.
3Reliability
If three-dimensional visualizations are generated to improve understanding of spinal anatomy and pathology, then diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility are enhanced, but the complexity of image processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the spinal image processing into distinct modular components: detection of vertebral bodies, detection of intervertebral discs, calculation of positions, measurement of displacements, and generation of three-dimensional visualizations. This segmentation enhances reliability and reproducibility of measurements while managing system complexity through organized, separate processing stages that can be independently optimized and validated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional image analysis to three-dimensional visualizations by computing spatial coordinates and generating 3D models of vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs. This dimensional enhancement improves reliability and reproducibility of displacement measurements by providing comprehensive spatial context, while the modular processing approach manages the increased complexity through systematic dimensionality transformation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to methods and apparatus to generate three-dimensional spinal renderings. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving initial user input identifying a vertebra on a spinal image. In response to receiving the initial user input, simultaneously detecting inter-vertebral discs and vertebral bodies. The computer-implemented method includes displaying the detected inter-vertebral discs and vertebral bodies.