Tomosynthesis Slice Processing with Dual Display Increments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tomosynthesis techniques face challenges in accurately characterizing microcalcifications due to limited emission angles, leading to elongated artifacts and increased time and data storage requirements when attempting to reduce slice thickness for better characterization.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that process a greater number of tomosynthesis slices with a reduced thickness, allowing for increased probability of slices passing through microcalcifications, while implementing a dual display increment system to efficiently view and analyze relevant slices, using a processor to manage display and selection of regions of interest, and incorporating image compression for memory management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sampling interval is reduced to increase the number of slices for better microcalcification characterization, then the probability of obtaining slices passing through microcalcifications is improved, but the number of slices to be examined increases leading to more time-consuming examination and increased practitioner fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the examination process into two phases: initial review of a reduced subset of slices (every second or third slice) to identify regions of interest, followed by detailed examination of only those specific regions in adjacent slices. This segmentation allows practitioners to efficiently screen through many slices without examining each one in detail, thereby maintaining high characterization precision while reducing overall examination time and fatigue.
2Measurement precision
If the sampling interval is reduced to increase the number of slices for better microcalcification characterization, then the probability of obtaining slices passing through microcalcifications is improved, but the quantity of data to be stored increases raising memory space problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and prioritizes only the most relevant slices for detailed storage and examination. By identifying regions of interest in the initial review phase, the system focuses storage resources on storing and accessing only those specific slices and adjacent slices that contain potential microcalcifications, rather than uniformly storing all slices at full resolution. This extraction approach maintains characterization precision while significantly reducing the quantity of data that must be stored and managed.
3Measurement precision
If the sampling interval is reduced to increase the number of slices for better microcalcification characterization, then the probability of obtaining slices passing through microcalcifications is improved, but the number of slices increases leading to increased fatigue through repetitive examinations which may generate errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the examination into efficient screening (reduced subset) and focused detailed analysis (specific regions of interest). This segmentation maintains reliability by ensuring that detailed examination is concentrated on slices most likely to contain microcalcifications, thereby reducing repetitive fatigue-induced errors while preserving the ability to accurately characterize findings when they are present.
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
Enhances the characterization of radiological signs by increasing the number of relevant slices while minimizing memory congestion and analysis time, allowing for precise characterization of microcalcifications with reduced fatigue and improved diagnostic accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating image compression for memory management
Data Source
AI summary
Method to process a set of tomosynthesis slices, comprising; acquiring images of an object of interest using a detector of a machine also comprising an X-ray emitter; reconstructing a set of tomosynthesis slices of the object using a calculator, in relation to the acquired images; displaying slices on a display monitor with a first display increment; selecting a region of interest in a slice of interest; and using a second display increment that is finer than the first display increment to display on the display monitor regions of interest belonging to slices in the set, the regions of interest corresponding to the selected region of interest.