Synthesizing Morphological and Functional Images for Accurate Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical image diagnosis techniques face challenges in accurately diagnosing and treating ischemic heart disease due to limitations in referring only to morphological or functional images, leading to difficulties in specifying the culprit coronary artery, and involve invasive procedures with radiation exposure and long intervals between examination and treatment.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing apparatus that acquires both morphological and functional images of the heart from separate medical image diagnosis apparatuses and synthesizes them to display a comprehensive synthetic image, allowing for precise identification of the culprit coronary artery region, thereby enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reducing procedural stress and radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only morphological images are used for diagnosis, then the examination process is simple, but the diagnostic accuracy is insufficient and constricted sites may be overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines morphological images (from X-ray CT or MRI) and functional images (from nuclear medical diagnosis apparatus) into a single synthesized display. This merging allows simultaneous visualization of both anatomical structure and physiological function, enabling accurate identification of constricted coronary artery sites without requiring separate examination procedures.
2Measurement precision
If only functional images are used for diagnosis, then functional information is obtained, but the position of culprit coronary artery cannot be accurately specified
Solution Approach 1:
The synthesis display integrates functional image data (showing blood flow or metabolism) with morphological image data (showing coronary artery anatomy). This combination preserves morphological information while adding functional insights, enabling precise localization of culprit coronary arteries by correlating functional abnormalities with anatomical structures.
3Productivity
If conventional separate examinations are performed for specifying culprit coronary artery and treatment planning, then comprehensive assessment is possible, but the interval between examination and treatment is long and procedural stress is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple examination modalities into a single integrated procedure that simultaneously acquires both morphological and functional images. This eliminates the need for separate catheter examinations and reduces the interval between diagnosis and treatment planning, while maintaining comprehensive diagnostic accuracy through multi-parameter assessment.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing apparatus comprises: an acquiring part configured to acquire a morphological image that is formed by a first apparatus and shows the morphology of an organ of an object, and a functional image that is formed by a second apparatus different from the first apparatus and shows the state of the organ; a display; and a processor configured to cause the display to display a synthetic image based on the morphological image and the functional image.