Ultrasound Image Display Apparatus Lesion Position Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical image systems struggle to efficiently display and order ultrasound images of a lesion part, making it difficult for radiologists to interpret the images effectively.

Innovation Solution

The system acquires probe positional information and imaging feature information for each ultrasound image, allowing it to extract and display images based on user-selected layouts, ensuring that images of the same lesion part are properly ordered by position and imaging range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ultrasound images are classified only into grayscale and color images, then basic image separation is achieved, but it becomes difficult to select images of the same lesion part and decide display order according to position and imaging range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage classification capabilityVSAvoidimage selection and ordering efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image selection process by introducing multiple classification dimensions beyond just grayscale/color. Images are divided and organized based on probe position, imaging range, and lesion part position, allowing radiologists to systematically navigate and select relevant images without being overwhelmed by the entire dataset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds new dimensions to the image organization system by incorporating probe position information and imaging range data as additional classification criteria. This transforms the simple 2D grayscale/color classification into a multi-dimensional sorting system that enables more precise image retrieval and logical display ordering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If all acquired ultrasound images are stored, then complete image data is preserved, but interpretation efficiency decreases due to the large number of images including various types and positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage data completenessVSAvoidinterpretation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary organization and classification of ultrasound images based on probe position and imaging range before the radiologist needs to interpret them. This advance sorting reduces the time required during interpretation by presenting images in a logical sequence, thereby maintaining data completeness while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and highlights key images that are most relevant to lesion interpretation by organizing them according to probe position and imaging range. This allows radiologists to quickly identify and focus on the most important images while knowing that complete data is still available if needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If images are sorted only by time series, then chronological order is maintained, but images of the same lesion part cannot be easily selected from various image types and positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay order consistencyVSAvoidlesion position and imaging context information
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent supplements time-series ordering with additional sorting dimensions including probe position and imaging range. This multi-dimensional approach maintains chronological stability while preserving and utilizing lesion position information to improve image selection and display logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the sorting parameters from solely time-based to a combination of time, probe position, and imaging range. This allows the system to maintain temporal consistency while also grouping images by spatial and contextual parameters, preventing information loss and improving interpretability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4295781B1Image display apparatus and control method of image display apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP4295781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4295781B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4295781B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

There are provided an image display apparatus and a control method of the image display apparatus which can improve interpretation efficiency of a plurality of ultrasound images. An analysis unit (25, 25A) acquires probe positional information of an ultrasound probe (10), and imaging feature information regarding a position of a lesion part (F) and an imaging range in each of the plurality of ultrasound images, an image extraction unit (27) extracts an ultrasound image conforming to a display layout, from the plurality of ultrasound images by referring to the probe positional information and the imaging feature information, and a display controller (22) displays the extracted ultrasound image on a monitor according to the display layout.