Subtraction Image Region Association for Pathological Change Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image subtraction techniques in the medical field struggle to clearly visualize pathological changes over time, making it difficult for users to recognize the type of changes represented in subtraction images.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that acquires and records subtraction images, along with attribute information, to associate specific regions of interest with the images, allowing users to easily identify pathological changes by linking the images with distinct region names and display parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional image subtraction technique is used to visualize differences between images, then pathological changes are visualized, but regions without pathological changes are visualized unclearly making it difficult for users to recognize the type of changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the subtraction image into multiple regions of interest (ROIs) and associates each ROI with specific attribute information. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between regions with and without pathological changes by linking visual differences with metadata about region identity, thereby resolving the contradiction between visualizing pathological changes and maintaining clear region identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces attribute information as an intermediary between the subtraction image and the user's understanding of pathological changes. This intermediary layer contains metadata about region names, change types, and other descriptive attributes that bridge the gap between the visual subtraction image and the user's diagnostic needs, enabling clear recognition of change types without losing region identification.
2Ease of manufacture
If subtraction image displays differences between images, then pathological changes are highlighted, but users find it difficult to recognize what sort of pathological change is represented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-associating attribute information with regions of interest before the user needs to analyze the subtraction image. This preliminary organization of data allows users to easily recognize pathological change types by referring to pre-prepared attribute descriptions, eliminating the need for users to manually interpret complex visual differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by providing attribute information that describes the characteristics of regions in the subtraction image. This feedback mechanism gives users immediate information about what types of changes are represented in different regions, making it easy to recognize pathological change types without requiring extensive user expertise in interpreting subtraction images.
3Reliability
If the subtraction image visualizes differences, then pathological changes are detected, but clear association between image regions and their attributes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the subtraction image with attribute information by combining visual data with metadata in a unified structure. This merging ensures that region identification and attribute information remain associated throughout the image processing pipeline, maintaining clear links between image regions and their descriptive attributes while preserving the reliability of pathological change detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal structure that can handle both visual analysis and attribute-based analysis simultaneously. The system is designed to work with both the subtraction image and its associated attributes as complementary information sources, ensuring that region-attribute associations are maintained across different processing stages and application scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus supports detection of pathological change over time in portion of a captured region commonly included in a first image and a second image, the first image and the second image acquired by capturing a subject at different respective times. The image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a subtraction image of the first image and the second image representing the pathological change over time as a difference and a recording unit configured to record information indicating said portion using a name different from a name of the commonly included region in a storage unit in association with the subtraction image.