X-ray Image Orientation Processing for Radiography and Fluoroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual mode imaging systems face challenges in accurately identifying and displaying the correct orientation of radiographic and digital fluoroscopy images, as they originate from the same image acquisition system, making it difficult to distinguish and reorient images correctly between the two modalities.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that process x-ray images with specific image processing steps to display both radiographic and DFR images with correct historical orientation information, utilizing pre-processing and post-processing stages to differentiate between system flip/rotation, pre-flip/rotation, and post-flip/rotation, ensuring accurate orientation preservation and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single dual mode imaging system is used to generate both radiographic and DFR images, then system integration and resource utilization are improved, but accurate identification and display of correct orientation information becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments orientation information into three distinct types: system flip/rotation (detector readout direction), pre-flip/rotation (applied during data acquisition), and post-flip/rotation (applied after acquisition). By dividing the orientation data into separate categories, the system can track and display the correct orientation information for each image type without confusion, even though both image types come from the same acquisition system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that acts as a mediator between the image acquisition system and the display system. This intermediary tracks the orientation history of each image through pre-processing and post-processing stages, maintaining separate records of system flip/rotation, pre-flip/rotation, and post-flip/rotation. This intermediary layer ensures that radiographic and DFR images receive appropriate orientation handling despite originating from the same source.
2Ease of operation
If radiologists need to view stored DFR images after examination with modified orientation, then diagnostic flexibility is improved, but tracking original orientation information becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by recording the original orientation information (system flip/rotation, pre-flip/rotation, post-flip/rotation) at the time of image acquisition, before any display or diagnostic operations occur. This preliminary recording of orientation history allows the system to later retrieve and apply the correct original orientation when displaying stored images, maintaining accuracy while enabling diagnostic flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds another dimension to image data by incorporating orientation history information as a separate metadata layer. Instead of only storing the image pixels, the system stores additional dimensional information about the sequence of flips and rotations applied. This extra dimension allows the system to reconstruct the original orientation independently of any modifications made during display or storage.
3Measurement precision
If orientation labels are added to identify patient position, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but image complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts orientation information from the visual image data and separates it into dedicated metadata fields (system flip/rotation, pre-flip/rotation, post-flip/rotation). Instead of embedding orientation labels within the image itself, the system extracts orientation data into separate structured fields. This extraction reduces visual clutter in the image while maintaining diagnostic accuracy, and simplifies processing by allowing orientation to be handled independently from the image pixels.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method, apparatus, and computer program encoded with a data structure, for processing radiographic images and digital fluoroscopy radiographic (DFR) images acquired with the same imaging system using a single detector, three different types of image orientation are defined. These are a “system flip/rotation” that is dependent on the imaging system, a “pre-flip/rotation” orientation that is applied before the images are shown on a monitor, and a “post-flip/rotation” that is applied after an image is shown on the monitor. For this orientation change, the original image must be stored and subsequently manipulated. For pre-processing, DFR images are subjected only to the system flip/rotation, whereas radiographic images are subjected to the system flip/rotation as well as the pre-flip/rotation. For post-processing, both the DFR images and the radiographic images are subjected to the post-flip/rotation.