Tomography Motion Artifact Correction via Predictive Voxel Warping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motion artifacts in CT images reconstructed from moving objects degrade image quality, making it difficult for medical professionals to accurately diagnose diseases due to blurred edges and unclear images.

Innovation Solution

A tomography apparatus and method that acquires images at multiple time points, predicts and corrects motion information using motion vector fields, and reconstructs images by warping voxel centers to minimize motion artifacts, thereby improving image clarity and diagnostic accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a tomography scan is performed on a moving object, then the scan can capture dynamic structures, but motion artifacts occur causing blurred edges and degraded image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to scan moving objectsVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring images at multiple time points (first image at time t1, second image at time t2) before reconstruction, and predicts motion information in advance to correct the raw data. This preliminary motion prediction and correction prevents motion artifacts from degrading image quality while maintaining the capability to scan moving objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces feedback by predicting motion information from acquired images and using this predicted motion data to correct the raw data during reconstruction. The motion prediction acts as a feedback mechanism that continuously adjusts the reconstruction process to compensate for object motion, thereby maintaining image quality despite the object being in motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If images are acquired at multiple time points to capture motion, then motion information can be extracted, but the reconstruction process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion information extractionVSAvoidreconstruction process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical motion correction mechanisms with computational methods. Instead of using complex hardware to physically stabilize or track moving objects, the patent uses image processing algorithms to predict motion from the acquired images at different time points and applies computational corrections to the raw data, thereby extracting motion information while keeping the physical system relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If motion correction is applied to reduce artifacts, then image clarity improves, but the processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage clarityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial motion correction by focusing on the essential motion information needed to reduce artifacts. Instead of performing exhaustive motion analysis and correction on all possible parameters, the patent extracts key motion information from the images at different time points and applies targeted corrections to the most critical aspects of the raw data, thereby improving image clarity while limiting the increase in processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 effectively reduces motion artifacts in reconstructed CT images, enhancing image quality and allowing for more accurate diagnosis by stabilizing object positions within the images, even when scanning moving objects.

Implementation Method 1

acquire first information which relates to a motion vector field between the first image and the second image

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMotion vector field analysis:

Data Source

PatentUS9576391B2Tomography apparatus and method of reconstructing a tomography image by the tomography apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.02.21 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A tomography apparatus includes a data acquirer which acquires a first image which corresponds to a first time point and a second image which corresponds to a second time point by performing a tomography scan on an object; an image reconstructor which acquires first information which relates to a relationship between a motion amount of the object and the time based on a motion amount between the first image and the second image, predicts a third image which corresponds to a third time point between the first and second time points based on the first information, corrects the first information by using the predicted third image and measured data which corresponds to the third time point, and reconstructs the third image by using the corrected first information; and a display which displays the reconstructed third image.