Time-Varying 2D Color Maps for Contrast Ultrasound Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing one-dimensional color maps in contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging fail to adequately visualize time-varying characteristics such as time-of-arrival, time-of-peak, and perfusion rates, leading to image saturation and reduced visibility of smaller vessels or structures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing two-dimensional color maps that vary both brightness and hue over time, allowing simultaneous visualization of multiple parameters like time-of-arrival, time-of-peak, and perfusion rates, using a combination of hue and intensity changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If one-dimensional color maps are used to represent ultrasound signal intensity, then the mapping is simple, but the ability to visualize time-varying characteristics is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional color maps (single brightness parameter) to two-dimensional color maps that incorporate both brightness and hue parameters. This dimensional expansion allows the color map to encode multiple parameters simultaneously - brightness represents signal intensity while hue represents temporal information such as time-of-arrival or time-of-peak, thereby preserving time-varying characteristics without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The two-dimensional color map serves multiple functions within a single visualization framework: it displays signal intensity through brightness variations, temporal characteristics through hue variations, and enables differentiation of multiple physiological parameters (perfusion rate, flow rate, time-of-arrival) simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate displays for each parameter
2Device complexity
If single color (grayscale or sepia) is used for image display, then the display is simple, but the differentiation of multiple parameters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hue variations in the color map to represent different temporal parameters and physiological characteristics. By mapping time-of-arrival, time-of-peak, and perfusion rate information to different hue values while maintaining brightness for intensity representation, the system enables visual differentiation of multiple parameters through color changes without complicating the display system architecture
3Productivity
If fixed color map is used throughout the sequence, then the processing is simple, but the visibility of smaller vessels is reduced due to saturation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic two-dimensional color map where both brightness and hue values are adjusted based on temporal information from the ultrasound sequence. The hue parameter evolves over time to reflect changes in contrast agent concentration and temporal characteristics, allowing the display to adapt to varying signal conditions throughout the bolus passage, thereby maintaining visibility of smaller vessels without sacrificing processing efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for time-varying two-dimensional (2D) color maps for visualizing images or sequences of images are disclosed. The 2D color map may include brightness values of a hue corresponding to different intensities that changes over time. In some 2D color maps, the hue used for the intensity scale may change over time while the brightness of a pixel may not. In some 2D color maps, both the hue and the brightness may change relative to intensity over time.