Tumor Tracking Apparatus Windowing for Marker Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tumor tracking irradiation systems face challenges in accurately tracking targets like tumors due to erroneous detection of structures similar to the marker, especially when these structures have different pixel value ranges, leading to incorrect positioning during radiation therapy.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a tumor tracking apparatus that performs a windowing process on captured images to determine the position of the marker, setting a specific pixel value range and converting values outside this range to limits, thereby reducing the likelihood of erroneous detection and improving tracking accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If template matching is used to detect the marker position in captured images, then the marker position can be determined automatically, but structures similar to the marker may be erroneously detected as the marker leading to incorrect positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by performing windowing process on the captured image to enhance the local characteristics of the marker. By setting a specific pixel value range and converting values outside this range to limits, the marker's local image features are emphasized while similar structures are suppressed, enabling accurate differentiation between the marker and similar anatomical structures during template matching
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter distribution of the image by applying windowing transformation. The pixel values are transformed from their original distribution to a bounded distribution within a specific range, which enhances the contrast between the marker and background structures, thereby improving the reliability of template matching for marker detection
2Productivity
If template matching is performed on the captured image without preprocessing, then the processing is simple and fast, but erroneous detection occurs when similar structures are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing windowing process on the captured image before template matching. This preprocessing step prepares the image data in advance by enhancing marker characteristics and suppressing similar structures, ensuring that the subsequent template matching operates on optimized data, thereby improving detection reliability without significantly increasing processing time
Data Source
AI summary
A tumor tracking control device (41) performs windowing process on a captured image A (61) and a captured image B (62), measures a position of a marker (29) using the captured image A (61) and the captured image B (62) after performing the windowing process, and generates a signal capable of controlling irradiation with radiation based on the position of the marker (29). Accordingly, it is possible to provide a tumor tracking apparatus and an irradiation system which are capable of tracking an object to be tracked without erroneous detection, even in a case where a structure similar to the object to be tracked is in the vicinity of the object to be tracked, in tumor tracking.