Automated UWFA Image Selection via Vascular Structure Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual selection of ultra-widefield angiography (UWFA) images is time-consuming and subjective, limiting workflow efficiency and introducing variability in disease burden and activity assessment.

Innovation Solution

An automated system that utilizes a processor and computer-readable medium to segment UWFA images, generate vascular structure maps, and select images with extreme image quality metrics for each phase of the UWFA acquisition process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual selection of UWFA images is performed, then subjective assessment can be made, but time consumption increases and workflow efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubjective assessment accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical selection process with an automated computer-based system that uses image processing algorithms and quality metrics to objectively evaluate and select UWFA images, eliminating the time-consuming manual review while maintaining assessment accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the UWFA image selection process to be performed automatically by the computer system itself using pre-defined quality criteria and algorithms, without requiring continuous human intervention for each image selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual selection of UWFA images is performed, then flexibility in assessment can be maintained, but variability in disease burden and activity assessment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment flexibilityVSAvoidassessment consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the assessment parameters from subjective human judgment to objective quantitative metrics including image quality scores, vascular structure completeness, and disease feature detectability, which provide consistent and reliable assessment across different users while maintaining flexibility through configurable criteria

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If automated image processing is implemented, then time efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the automated image processing system into distinct functional modules including image quality assessment, vascular structure analysis, and disease feature detection, which can operate independently and be implemented incrementally, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12223646B2Automated selection of ultra-widefield angiography images

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUND

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for provided for automated selection of UWFA images. A first set of images representing an early phase of a UWFA image acquisition and a second set of images representing a late phase of the UWFA image acquisition are received and segmented to provide a vascular structure map for each of the first set of images and the second set of images. An image quality metric is assigned to each of the first set of images and the second set of images from the vascular structure map associated with each image. An image of the first set of images having an extreme value for the image quality metric across the first set of images and an image of the second set of images having an extreme value for the image quality metric across the second set of images are selected.