Synchronous Blood Flow Display via Time-Associated Phase Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blood flow measurement technologies face challenges in achieving high accuracy for early disease diagnosis and inadequately display required images for blood flow measurement, particularly in associating cross-sectional images, phase images, and blood flow information simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

An image displaying apparatus that synchronously displays cross-sectional images, phase images, and blood flow information, using time-associated data to provide accurate blood flow measurement by correlating cross-sectional images with phase images and calculating blood flow velocity and vessel diameter, enabling precise blood flow measurement and visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional blood flow measurement technology is used, then the measurement can be performed, but the measurement precision is insufficient for early disease diagnosis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood flow measurement precisionVSAvoiddiagnosis reliability for early disease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the blood flow measurement process into multiple independent measurement components (cross-sectional images at different positions, phase images, blood flow velocity, vessel diameter) that are measured and displayed separately. This segmentation allows each parameter to be optimized independently and provides comprehensive data for more precise early disease diagnosis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If multiple images (cross-sectional images, phase images, blood flow information) are displayed simultaneously, then comprehensive blood flow information can be visualized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of blood flow informationVSAvoidimage display system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple types of blood flow measurement information (cross-sectional images, phase images, blood flow velocity, vessel diameter) into a single integrated display system. This combining approach allows comprehensive visualization of blood flow characteristics without requiring separate display devices, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If cross-sectional images and phase images are associated and displayed synchronously, then accurate blood flow velocity calculation is enabled, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood flow velocity measurement accuracyVSAvoidimage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that automatically associates cross-sectional images with corresponding phase images based on positional and temporal parameters. This intermediary layer handles the complex matching and synchronization operations, enabling accurate blood flow velocity calculation while isolating the complexity from the user interface and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables high-accuracy blood flow measurement by utilizing cross-sectional and phase images to calculate blood flow velocity and vessel diameter, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional technologies in displaying and measuring blood flow information.

Implementation Method 1

superposes the reflected light and the reference light to generate an interference light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterference: Interference

Implementation Method 2

acquires the spectral intensity distribution of the interference light to execute Fourier transform

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFourier transform:

Implementation Method 3

images the morphology of an object by sweeping the wavelength of light that is irradiated to an object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength sweeping:

Data Source

PatentEP3127474B1Image displaying apparatus and image displaying method
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP3127474B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3127474B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3127474B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an embodiment of an image displaying apparatus a cross sectional image storage is configured to store a cross sectional image group including multiple cross sectional images. A phase image storage is configured to store a phase image group including multiple phase images. A blood flow information storage is configured to store a blood flow information group including multiple blood flow information. A display is configured to synchronously display a cross sectional image included in the cross sectional image group and a phase image included in the phase image group using time associated with the cross sectional image and the phase image, and display a blood flow image that expresses multiple blood flow information, from among the blood flow information included in the blood flow information group, associated with time within a period including time associated with the cross sectional image and the phase image that are being displayed. A change operation receiving part is configured to receive a change operation for changing display of one of the cross sectional image, the phase image and the blood flow image that are displayed by the display, wherein the display performs the same change as the change corresponding to the change operation to the cross sectional image, the phase image and the blood flow image that are displayed by the display.