Surgical Path Determination Using Intensity Extrema Analysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for determining a safe path for surgical and diagnostic devices in human or animal tissue require multiple steps, including segmentation of critical structures, which is time-consuming and prone to errors due to intensity inhomogeneity issues in medical imaging.

Innovation Solution

A direct method that evaluates candidate paths based on intensity extrema and variation data from 3D imaging techniques, skipping the segmentation step and using a sliding window approach to analyze intensity profiles for determining safe paths without large maxima or minima, allowing for flexible path determination and integration of functional information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional segmentation methods are used to determine safe paths, then critical structures can be identified, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone due to intensity inhomogeneity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of critical structure identificationVSAvoidtime for path determination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for path safety evaluation - intensity extrema and variation data - from the full intensity data set along candidate paths. By focusing only on these extracted features rather than performing complete segmentation of all critical structures, the method achieves reliable path determination significantly faster than traditional segmentation approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent skips the time-consuming segmentation step entirely by directly evaluating intensity extrema and variation along candidate paths. This allows the method to rush through to the essential evaluation stage without getting stuck in the intermediate segmentation process that is both time-consuming and error-prone to intensity inhomogeneity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

2Reliability

If segmentation of critical structures is performed, then safe paths can be determined, but the process becomes complex and requires multiple processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of determined pathVSAvoidcomplexity of path determination method

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary evaluation criteria - intensity extrema and variation - from the full intensity data along candidate paths. This extraction approach maintains reliable path safety determination while eliminating the need for complex multi-step segmentation processing of entire critical structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of segmenting critical structures first and then determining paths (traditional approach), the patent inverts the process by directly evaluating intensity characteristics along candidate paths to determine safety. This inversion simplifies the methodology while maintaining or improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If traditional CAD systems are used to analyze medical images, then diagnosis accuracy improves, but the system requires extensive processing of large numbers of digital images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis accuracyVSAvoidprocessing speed of medical images

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential intensity characteristics - extrema and variation - along specific candidate paths rather than processing entire medical images or performing comprehensive segmentation. This extraction maintains the precision needed for accurate diagnosis while dramatically improving processing speed and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9569844B2Method for determining at least one applicable path of movement for an object in tissue

Publication Date: 2017.02.14 MEDTRONIC BAKKEN RES CENT

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining at least one applicable path (32) for the movement of an object, especially of a surgical and/or diagnostical device, in human tissue (14) or animal tissue by means of a data set of intensity data obtained by a 3D imaging technique, the applicable path (32) of movement connecting a starting position (28) of the device with a defined target location (30). According to the invention the method comprises the steps: defining the target location (30) of a reference point of the device and choosing at least one possible starting position of the reference point of the device; determining a candidate path of movement (18, 20, 22) between the corresponding possible starting position (24,26, 28) and the defined target location (30); and evaluating the candidate path of movement (18, 20, 22) as being an applicable path (32) depending on information about local intensity extrema and/or intensity variation resulting from the intensity data along the candidate path of movement (18, 20, 22). The invention further relates to a corresponding computer-readable medium, a corresponding computer program product, and a corresponding computerized system.