Ultrasound Apparatus Aligning Medical Images with Diagnostic Protocols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical image diagnosis processes often rely on multiple apparatuses for accurate disease state determination, particularly for severe conditions like cancer, leading to variability in diagnosis due to operator experience and potential omission of necessary examinations.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus equipped with an image processing circuit and a processing circuit that generates ultrasound images, recognizes identification information from other medical images, and displays diagnostic protocol information to guide examinations, ensuring standardized and comprehensive assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple medical image diagnosis apparatuses are used to determine disease state, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple medical image diagnosis apparatuses into an integrated system where images from different modalities (X-ray CT, ultrasound, MRI) are merged and displayed together. The mark information from the first apparatus is overlaid on images from subsequent apparatuses, allowing comprehensive disease state determination without requiring separate analysis workflows. This merging approach maintains high measurement precision while reducing the operational complexity of using multiple independent apparatuses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal display system that can handle and process images from multiple different medical image diagnosis apparatuses through a single interface. The system is designed to accept various image types (CT images, ultrasound images, MRI images) and present them uniformly with shared mark information, making the system multi-functional and adaptable to different imaging modalities without requiring separate specialized systems for each apparatus.
2Reliability
If multiple medical image diagnosis apparatuses are used for examination, then reliability of diagnosis is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically transferring and displaying mark information from the first medical image diagnosis apparatus to subsequent apparatuses before the actual examination is completed. This ensures that the region of interest is pre-identified and ready for immediate examination by the next apparatus, eliminating the need for manual mark re-application and reducing examination time while maintaining diagnostic reliability through comprehensive multi-modal imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining mark information across all imaging modalities throughout the entire examination process. Instead of interrupting the workflow to re-mark regions or re-evaluate findings, the system continuously displays and updates mark information across different image types in real-time, allowing the examination to proceed without interruption and reducing total examination time while preserving diagnostic reliability.
3Measurement precision
If marks are manually placed on medical images, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by automatically replicating mark information from the first medical image diagnosis apparatus to all subsequent apparatuses and image types. Instead of requiring operators to manually recreate marks for each imaging modality, the system copies the mark data and displays it automatically on corresponding regions in ultrasound images, MRI images, and other modalities, maintaining precise region identification while significantly reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically manage and transfer mark information without requiring manual intervention at each step. The mark data is automatically carried forward through the examination workflow, displayed on appropriate images, and updated based on examination findings, reducing the burden on operators and simplifying the overall process while maintaining accurate region identification throughout the multi-modal examination.
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 enhances the accuracy and consistency of disease state determination by standardizing examinations based on clinical guidelines, reducing variability among operators and ensuring all necessary steps are taken, thereby improving diagnostic reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves into a patient and receives reflected waves
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes an image processing circuit and a processing circuit. The image processing circuit generates an ultrasound image. The processing circuit receives a medical image acquired by another medical image diagnosis apparatus, and aligns the ultrasound image and the medical image. The processing circuit has a function of recognizing identification information held by the medical image when the ultrasound image and the medical image are displayed side by side on a display. The processing circuit also has a function of retrieving diagnostic protocol information corresponding to the identification information and displaying it on the display, and a function of performing examinations and processes based on the diagnostic protocol information displayed.