Tomosynthesis Display System with Localized ROI Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tomosynthesis, practitioners face difficulties in visualizing radiological signs distributed across multiple slices, as conventional methods enhance artifacts outside the sign region, contradicting the goal of reducing tissue superposition in 2D radiography, and existing slab images do not provide comprehensive information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for displaying volumes obtained by tomosynthesis, allowing practitioners to select and display bidimensional or three-dimensional images of a volume of interest, with options for slice, slab, or 3D views, and implementing background suppression and rendering techniques to enhance radiological sign visibility, while adjusting sampling intervals and memorizing display settings for efficient analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If slab images are displayed to show integration of multiple slices, then comprehensive information about radiological signs is provided, but tissue superposition artifacts are strengthened outside the region of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a region of interest (ROI) that is selectively enhanced while the rest of the image is suppressed. The ROI is defined by a bidimensional region on the displayed image, and only this local area shows the integrated slab information, while the surrounding areas are darkened or suppressed to eliminate distracting tissue superposition artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful tissue superposition artifacts by suppressing them selectively outside the region of interest. The system separates the useful information (radiological signs in the ROI) from the harmful artifacts (tissue superposition in non-ROI areas) and removes the artifacts while preserving the useful information.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If practitioners examine volume slice by slice, then tissue superposition is reduced, but comprehensive information about radiological signs distributed over multiple slices cannot be acquired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple slices into a single integrated slab image within the region of interest, allowing practitioners to view comprehensive information about radiological signs that are distributed over multiple slices simultaneously, while maintaining the benefit of reduced tissue superposition through the selective suppression outside the ROI.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the displayed image into a region of interest and a background area. The ROI contains the integrated slab information from multiple slices, while the background is suppressed. This segmentation allows the system to present comprehensive information where needed while eliminating artifacts where they would be distracting.
3Loss of information
If the entire volume is displayed to show all radiological signs, then comprehensive analysis is enabled, but artifacts and noise increase reducing visualization precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enhancing only the specific region where radiological signs are located, while suppressing the rest of the image. This localized enhancement improves the visibility and precision of radiological sign analysis by eliminating artifacts and noise from non-ROI areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes artifacts and noise from the displayed image by suppressing them outside the region of interest. This extraction of harmful elements improves the measurement precision and visibility of radiological signs while maintaining comprehensive analysis capability through the integrated slab display within the ROI.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a method for displaying a volume obtained by tomosynthesis includes displaying a two-dimensional image. It further includes receiving user input that defines on the displayed image at least one volume of interest associated with a two-dimensional region of interest located in a plane of the image. The method further includes displaying in the region of interest, according to a practitioner's wishes: (a) images of slices of the volume of interest; (b) three-dimensional images of the volume of interest; and/or (c) slabs obtained from the volume of interest.