Ultrasound Misregistration Correction via Position Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses require repeated registration processes when the transmitter moves, leading to inefficiencies in diagnosis due to misregistration between ultrasound and CT or MRI images, especially when the transmitter's position changes, affecting the precision and accuracy of cancer lesion detection.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus with a position sensor and a correcting unit that detects changes in the transmitter's position using a fixed position sensor, allowing for real-time correction of misregistration between three-dimensional image data and ultrasound probe scans, eliminating the need for repeated registration processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If repeated registration processes are performed when the transmitter moves, then alignment accuracy between ultrasound and reference images is maintained, but diagnosis efficiency deteriorates due to frequent re-registration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs registration in advance when the transmitter is at an initial position, storing the registered image data. When the transmitter moves to a new position, the system calculates position changes and corrects images based on these calculations, avoiding the need for repeated full registration processes. This preliminary action establishes a baseline that enables efficient correction throughout the examination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical re-registration process with a computational correction system. Instead of physically re-aligning the ultrasound probe and performing complete registration procedures, the system uses position sensors to detect transmitter movement and applies mathematical corrections to the stored registered images, substituting mechanical alignment operations with computational image correction.
2Measurement precision
If registration is performed every time the transmitter moves, then image alignment precision is maintained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs complete registration only once at the beginning when the transmitter is at its initial position. The registered image data is stored for subsequent use. When the transmitter moves, the system calculates position changes relative to the initial position and applies corrections to the pre-registered images, eliminating the need for time-consuming repeated registration while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete registration procedures every time the transmitter moves, the system performs only partial correction actions. It calculates position changes and applies targeted corrections to specific image regions affected by the movement, rather than re-processing the entire registration pipeline, thus reducing processing time while maintaining sufficient precision.
3Measurement precision
If a magnetic position sensor is used to align cross-sectional planes, then navigation accuracy to the lesion position is improved, but system complexity increases due to the need for continuous registration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the complex registration operation only once at the beginning, establishing a coordinate system transformation between the magnetic field space and the reference image space. This preliminary registration enables subsequent navigation operations to use simple position calculations based on magnetic field changes, rather than requiring repeated complex registration procedures, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining navigation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copied coordinate system relationship through the initial registration process. The transformation parameters established during preliminary registration are stored and reused for subsequent position calculations. This copying of the coordinate relationship allows the system to maintain navigation accuracy without repeatedly executing the complex registration algorithm, thereby reducing computational complexity.
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 solution enhances the efficiency of the diagnosis process by maintaining accurate alignment between ultrasound and reference images without the need for frequent re-registration, improving precision and reducing processing load.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter 14a that transmits a reference signal; a position sensor 14b that obtains position information in a three-dimensional space by receiving the reference signal
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a transmitter transmits a reference signal. A position sensor obtains position information in a three-dimensional space by receiving the reference signal. A controlling unit associates three-dimensional image data generated by a medical image diagnosis apparatus with the three-dimensional space, on the basis of a registration between an arbitrary cross-sectional plane in the three-dimensional image data and a cross-sectional plane scanned by an ultrasound probe. A detecting unit detects if the position of the transmitter has changed within the associated three-dimensional space, on the basis of the position information obtained by the position sensor. A correcting unit corrects a misregistration between a cross-sectional plane in the three-dimensional image data and a cross-sectional plane scanned by the ultrasound probe, on the basis of a change amount of the position of the transmitter.