Ultrasonic Image Blending for Boundary Ruggedness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging in color Doppler mode faces challenges in reducing ruggedness between heart chamber and heart wall boundaries while avoiding blurring of blood flow information, which is essential for diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method that detects the boundary region between blood flow and tissue regions, and applies image correction by blending original and smoothed ultrasonic image data in a predetermined ratio, specifically increasing the weight of smoothed data in peripheral regions to reduce ruggedness without blurring diagnostic information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If smoothing processing is applied to reduce ruggedness at boundaries and blackening, then image visibility is improved, but blood flow information becomes blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different regions of the ultrasonic image. By detecting boundary regions between heart chambers and heart walls, the system applies smoothing processing selectively to these boundary areas while preserving the original high-resolution data in blood flow regions. This local differentiation allows improvement of image visibility at boundaries without blurring diagnostic blood flow information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ultrasonic image into distinct regions: boundary regions (where smoothing is applied to reduce ruggedness), blood flow regions (where original data is preserved), and other peripheral regions. This segmentation enables targeted processing that resolves the contradiction between improving overall visibility and preserving critical diagnostic information.
2Manufacturing precision
If smoothing processing is applied to reduce blackening in normal flow, then image quality is improved, but diagnostic information may be blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies smoothing processing with different weights to different regions based on their diagnostic importance. In regions identified as containing normal blood flow, the smoothing weight is reduced or set to zero, preserving the original image quality and diagnostic information. In other regions where smoothing improves quality without harming diagnostics, the full smoothing effect is applied.
3Productivity
If smoothing processing is applied to reduce boundary ruggedness, then drawing efficiency is improved, but effective diagnostic information is blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements region-specific processing where boundary regions benefit from smoothing that improves drawing efficiency and visual appearance, while blood flow regions maintain their original high-resolution characteristics to preserve diagnostic information. This localized approach resolves the contradiction between aesthetic improvement and diagnostic utility.
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
This approach effectively reduces ruggedness in ultrasonic images while maintaining high-resolution blood flow information, improving image visibility and diagnostic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave with respect to a predetermined region of a tested body in a Doppler mode
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral region is detected by using original image data acquired by ultrasound scan. Blend processing is executed in the peripheral region such that a rate of a smoothed image increases and a rate of an original image decreases as a distance from a blood flow region increases.