Universal Image Processing Platform Using Cell Broadband Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical and biomolecular imaging technologies require dedicated computing resources for each modality, leading to inefficient use of computing power and high costs, as they cannot share resources or visualize images across different devices without high-performance graphical display cards.
Innovation Solution
A universal and centralized image processing system utilizing the Cell Broadband Engine processor with a highly parallel architecture, allowing computation and visualization sharing across multiple imaging devices and client devices, including those without high-performance graphical display cards, by implementing a 2D linear registration algorithm and exploiting high memory bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated imaging processing system is used for each modality, then processing reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal image processing system that can handle multiple imaging modalities (MRI, CT, PET, ultrasound, etc.) on a single platform. The system uses a Cell Broadband Engine processor with generic processing modules that can be configured to work with different imaging devices through standardized interfaces, eliminating the need for separate dedicated processing systems for each modality while maintaining processing reliability through modular architecture
2Measurement precision
If separate processing systems are used for each imaging device, then processing precision is improved, but loss of computing resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple imaging processing functions into a single unified system. The Cell Broadband Engine processor consolidates what would traditionally require separate processing systems for different imaging modalities into one platform, enabling resource sharing and eliminating redundant computing hardware while maintaining processing precision through consistent algorithmic implementations
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system is designed with universal interfaces and modular processing modules that can accommodate different imaging modalities. This multi-functional architecture allows a single system to serve multiple purposes, reducing overall computing resource requirements while preserving the precision needed for various imaging types through configurable processing pipelines
3Speed
If dedicated processing systems are used, then processing speed is sufficient for each modality, but productivity decreases due to inability to share resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple imaging processing tasks onto a single Cell Broadband Engine platform, enabling resource sharing and increasing overall system productivity. The unified architecture allows efficient allocation of processing power across different modalities, reducing idle time and maximizing utilization of computing resources while maintaining high processing speeds through the parallel capabilities of the Cell BE architecture
4Device complexity
If imaging devices without high-performance graphical display cards are used, then device complexity is reduced, but visualization capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized processing system as an intermediary between the imaging device and the display. The Cell Broadband Engine processor performs all complex image processing and rendering operations, then delivers processed images to various display devices. This intermediary approach allows simple display devices to function effectively by offloading the visualization burden to the powerful processing platform, eliminating the need for high-performance graphics cards at the display end
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a universal and centralized image (e.g., medical, bio-molecular, etc.) processing system platform. The invention permits sharing both computation and visualization across a single universal platform, thus allowing for sharing of computing resources and visualization of images on a variety of imaging (client) devices without high-performance graphical display cards. In a typical embodiment a (e.g., medical) image 2D linear registration algorithm is implemented on a Cell Broadband Engine processor, which has nine processor cores on a chip and has a 4-way SIMD unit for each core.