Medical Image Tracking Using Multi-Angle X-Ray Likelihood Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation therapy methods struggle to accurately track objects like lesions or markers in patients' bodies, especially when they overlap with low X-ray transmittance organs, leading to unclear images and potential misalignment during treatment.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing device that acquires multiple transparent images from different directions, calculates likelihood distributions to determine trackability, and tracks the object's position using a tracking unit to ensure precise alignment for radiation therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional single-angle radiographic imaging is used to track lesions or markers, then the imaging process is simple and fast, but the tracking precision deteriorates when lesions overlap with low X-ray transmittance organs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-angle 2D radiographic imaging to multi-angle 3D imaging by acquiring images from multiple directions and performing three-dimensional reconstruction. This dimensional change enables precise tracking of lesions that overlap with low X-ray transmittance organs, as the 3D reconstruction can separate overlapping structures spatially, resolving the tracking precision problem while accepting increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processing device as an intermediary that performs three-dimensional reconstruction and misalignment calculation. This intermediary component processes the multi-angle radiographic images to generate accurate 3D position information, enabling precise lesion tracking without requiring direct complex multi-angle imaging analysis by the radiation therapy system itself.
2Measurement precision
If multiple transparent images from different angles are acquired and processed, then tracking precision improves, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs three-dimensional reconstruction and misalignment calculation in advance, before the actual radiation therapy treatment begins. By completing the computationally intensive image processing and position calculation preliminarily, the system establishes accurate 3D position information that can be used directly during treatment without requiring real-time processing, thus improving tracking precision while minimizing processing time loss during the critical treatment phase.
3Measurement precision
If visual comparison of radiographic images with DRR images is performed for alignment, then alignment accuracy can be verified, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual visual comparison method with an automated computer-based misalignment calculation system. The image processing device automatically calculates misalignment based on three-dimensional reconstruction data and radiographic image analysis, eliminating the need for manual visual inspection. This substitution maintains high alignment accuracy while dramatically improving efficiency by removing the time-consuming and labor-intensive visual comparison process.
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
Enables high-precision tracking of objects in patients' bodies, reducing the risk of misalignment and ensuring targeted radiation therapy by accurately determining the object's position and timing.
Implementation Method 1
a first image acquiring unit configured to acquire a plurality of first images which are transparent images of a patient and of which imaging directions are different, and a second image acquiring unit configured to acquire a plurality of second images which are transparent images of a patient generated at a time different from that of the first images and of which imaging directions are different
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing device includes a first image acquiring unit, a second image acquiring unit, a first likelihood distribution calculating unit, a trackability determining unit, and a tracking unit. The first image acquiring unit acquires first images which are transparent images of the patient. The second image acquiring unit acquires second images which are transparent images of the patient generated at a time different from that of the first images. The first likelihood distribution calculating unit calculates a first likelihood distribution indicating a distribution of likelihoods indicating a likeness to the object in the first images. The trackability determining unit determines whether the object is trackable on the basis of the first likelihood distribution. The tracking unit tracks the position of the object in the second images on the basis of the result of determination.