Ventilator Image Analysis for Detecting Airway and Pulmonary Complications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies do not adequately address the risk of complications associated with wearing a ventilator, particularly airway, pulmonary, and cardiac complications, and there is a lack of evaluation methods for these issues.
Innovation Solution
An image analyzer system that includes a hardware processor to acquire images before and after ventilator use, analyzing them for features indicative of complications such as vocal cord paralysis, laryngeal edema, tracheal stenosis, pneumothorax, pneumonia, atelectasis, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, and heart failure, generating information on the presence or absence of these complications based on image analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If still image capturing or dynamic imaging is performed to monitor subject condition, then the ability to detect complications is improved, but the complexity of the imaging system and analysis process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complication detection process into distinct modules: image acquisition module, image processing module, and complication determination module. Each module handles specific tasks (capturing images, processing images to extract features, and determining complications based on extracted features), reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary image processing step that extracts features from acquired images before complication determination. This intermediary processing layer simplifies the complexity by transforming raw image data into meaningful features that are easier to analyze for complication detection.
2Measurement precision
If multiple types of imaging (still and dynamic) are performed to comprehensively assess complications, then the measurement precision of complication detection is improved, but the time required for imaging and analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial imaging actions by selecting either still image capturing or dynamic imaging based on the specific clinical situation and complication type being assessed. This avoids the time cost of performing both types of imaging in all cases while maintaining sufficient detection precision for the specific clinical need.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes imaging parameters (selecting between still and dynamic modes) based on the specific complication being detected. For example, dynamic imaging may be selected for assessing airway movement while still imaging suffices for other complications, optimizing the balance between detection precision and time efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image analyzer includes a hardware processor that acquires an image obtained by performing still image capturing or dynamic imaging of a subject at least while wearing a ventilator or within a predetermined time after removing the ventilator and generates information regarding presence or absence of complications related to the ventilator of the subject based on the acquired image.