Whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone mineral density instrument using dual-source dual-detector array
By adopting a dual source dual detector array design in a full-body dual energy X-ray bone density meter, including vertical and horizontal detector combinations, the problem of partial overlap between vertebral body and vertebral process is solved in the traditional scanning method, and the accurate assessment of vertebral bone density and the improvement of lumbar fracture risk assessment is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411978137.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-18
AI Technical Summary
Traditional whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone density instruments cannot effectively avoid the overlap between the vertebral body and the vertebral process during lumbar spine scanning, resulting in interference in the bone density results and the optimal risk assessment of lumbar fractures cannot be achieved.
Design a full-body dual energy X-ray bone density meter using a dual source dual detector array, including a vertical and horizontal detector combination, which can quickly and easily select the patient's scanning angle and obtain the optimal scanning image and data.
By combining the bulb and detector parallel to the bed surface of the scanning X-ray beam, the overlap between the vertebral body and the vertebral process in the two-dimensional scan results can be effectively avoided, and the accurate assessment of vertebral bone density is achieved, and the accuracy of lumbar fracture risk assessment is improved.
Smart Images
Figure CN119632591A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of medical imaging, in particular to a whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array. Background Art
[0002] The dual-energy X-ray-based bone densitometer is an important medical radiological imaging diagnostic device developed in the late 1970s. Its principle is to measure and analyze the attenuation image of dual-energy X-rays after passing through human tissues and bones, deduct the influence of soft tissues, and thus obtain a quantitative assessment of the mineral content in human bones and the degree of osteoporosis in the human body, supporting the clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis. The world's first bone densitometer based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was launched on the market in 1987. After more than 30 years of continuous development and improvement, dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer products have become recognized as the most accurate and reliable standard means of diagnosing osteoporosis, and are increasingly widely used around the world.
[0003] A typical dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer system is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, the relative positions of the tube and the detector can be interchanged, for example Figure 1 Different solutions of tube-upper and detector-lower do not affect the workflow and performance of the entire system. When the system is working, the patient on the bed usually remains still, and the tube and detector move synchronously to complete the dual-energy X-ray scanning and data collection of the patient's target part, and then obtain the bone density results of the patient's target part through image and data analysis.
[0004] At present, the whole body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer usually scans the hip joint and lumbar spine, which are prone to fractures. In the traditional lumbar spine scan, the patient lies on his back on the bed, keeps the hip flexed at 90 degrees to make the spine straight, and the X-ray beam passes through the patient's lumbar spine and is received by the detector to form an image, such as Figure 2 As shown in the figure. Fractures are usually more likely to occur in the vertebral body of the lumbar spine. An ideal bone density scan should only include the results of the vertebral body, so that the risk of lumbar fracture can be assessed most accurately. However, using the traditional scanning method, in the two-dimensional projection of the lumbar spine scan results, it is impossible to avoid the overlap of the vertebral body and the vertebral process, so that the lumbar spine bone density results are interfered by the vertebral process, and the optimal lumbar fracture risk assessment cannot be achieved. Summary of the invention
[0005] To overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array, which can quickly and conveniently select the patient's scanning angle as needed to obtain the best scanning image and data.
[0006] To achieve the above purpose, a whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array is designed, including a frame, a detector, a tube, and a bed, and its characteristics are: the frame is connected to the outer side of the upper part of the bed, a group of vertical detectors and tubes are provided on the top of the frame and the bottom of the bed, and another group of horizontal detectors and tubes are provided on the left and right sides of the frame.
[0007] The vertical detector and tube include a first detector and a first tube. The scanning X-ray beams of the first detector and the first tube are perpendicular to the bed surface of the bed. The first detector and the first tube move synchronously in the X and Z directions.
[0008] The horizontal detector and tube include a second detector and a second tube. The scanning X-ray beams of the second detector and the second tube are parallel to the bed surface. The second detector and the second tube move synchronously with the frame in the Z direction or synchronously or asynchronously along the Y direction on the frame.
[0009] The second detector is a rectangular structure or an arc structure.
[0010] The detector and the tube in the vertical direction, and the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction scan simultaneously or separately.
[0011] The scanning data of the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction are used in conjunction with the scanning data of the detector and the tube in the vertical direction during scanning.
[0012] The scanning X-ray beam formed by the horizontal detector and the tube is arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically.
[0013] The scanning X-ray beam formed by the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction is a narrow fan beam or a pencil beam.
[0014] The top of the frame is a flat support structure, and the left and right sides of the frame are trapezoidal or arc-shaped support structures.
[0015] The detector is a detector array formed by splicing a plurality of detector modules, and a plurality of detector modules in the detector array are arranged in a plane, an arc surface or a spherical surface.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention adopts a whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer design with dual sources and dual detectors, which can quickly and conveniently select the patient's scanning angle as needed to obtain the optimal scanning image and data; for example, when performing lumbar spine bone density scanning on a supine patient, a tube and detector combination parallel to the scanning X-ray beam and the bed surface can be used to effectively avoid overlapping of the vertebral body and vertebral process in the two-dimensional scanning results, thereby achieving accurate evaluation of vertebral bone density. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of the whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer module.
[0018] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the scanning mode of the traditional whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
[0019] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0020] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0021] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the detector module structure.
[0023] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the arrangement of modules in the detector matrix.
[0024] See also Figure 3 , 1 is a bed, 2 is a rack, 3 is a first detector, 4 is a first tube, 5 is a second detector, and 6 is a second tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0026] like Figure 3 As shown, a whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array includes a frame, a detector, a tube, and a bed, and is characterized in that: a frame 2 is connected to the outer side of the upper part of the bed 1, a group of vertical detectors and tubes are provided on the top of the frame 2 and the bottom of the bed 1, and another group of horizontal detectors and tubes are provided on the left and right sides of the frame 2.
[0027] The detectors and tubes in the vertical direction include a first detector 3 and a first tube 4. The scanning X-ray beams of the first detector 3 and the first tube 4 are perpendicular to the bed surface of the bed 1. The first detector 3 and the first tube 4 move synchronously in the X and Z directions.
[0028] The scanning X-ray beams of the first detector 3 and the first tube 4 are perpendicular to the bed surface. During scanning, the first tube 4 and the first detector 3 can move synchronously in the X and Z directions to cover the target part of the patient that needs to be scanned, and obtain the same images and data as the traditional whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer.
[0029] The detectors and tubes in the horizontal direction include a second detector 5 and a second tube 6. The scanning X-ray beams of the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 are parallel to the bed surface of the bed 1. The second detector 5 and the second tube 6 move synchronously with the frame 2 in the Z direction or move synchronously or asynchronously along the Y direction on the frame 2.
[0030] The scanning X-ray beams of the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 are parallel to the bed surface and can work independently, providing the option of scanning from the side of the patient. During scanning, the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 can move synchronously with the frame 2 in the Z direction, and can also move synchronously or asynchronously on the frame 2 in the Y direction to ensure full coverage of the target part of the patient. For example, when scanning and evaluating the lumbar spine bone density of a supine patient, the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 provide a method for scanning the lumbar spine from the side of the patient, so as to obtain accurate scanning images and bone density data of the vertebral body part that is not interfered by the vertebral process part, while achieving clinically better lumbar fracture risk assessment, avoiding the use of a complex and precise rotating motion frame design.
[0031] The second detector 5 is a rectangular structure or an arc structure.
[0032] The detector and the tube in the vertical direction, and the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction can scan simultaneously or separately.
[0033] The scanning data of the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction are used in conjunction with the scanning data of the detector and the tube in the vertical direction during scanning.
[0034] The scanning data of the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 can also be used in conjunction with the scanning data of the first detector 3 and the first tube 4 during scanning. For example, when the first detector 3 and the first tube 4 scan a patient, the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 work synchronously to provide the scanning results of the first detector 3 and the first tube 4 with accurate position information of the patient's scanning part in the Y direction, so that the geometric magnification effect in the wide fan beam X-ray scanning results can be accurately corrected, thereby effectively eliminating the systematic deviation of the scanning results caused by the position change of the patient's scanning part.
[0035] The scanning X-ray beam formed by the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction is arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically.
[0036] The scanning X-ray beam formed by the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction is a narrow fan beam or a pencil beam.
[0037] The top of the rack 2 is a flat support structure, and the left and right sides of the rack 2 are trapezoidal or arc-shaped support structures.
[0038] like Figures 3 to 5As shown, the scanning X-ray beam formed by the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 is of symmetrical or asymmetrical design; the second detector 5 is designed with a low-cost small sensitive area, and the scanning X-ray beam formed by the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 is a narrow fan beam or a pencil beam. When the patient is scanned laterally, the second detector 5 and the second tube 6 need to move synchronously in the Z direction with the rack 2 on the one hand, and move synchronously or asynchronously in the Y direction on the rack 2 as needed to ensure full coverage of the target part of the patient by the scanning X-ray beam; to match the arc design of the side of the rack 2, the second detector 5 also adopts an arc design, including but not limited to an arc design, so that each module in the second detector 5 array is at the same distance from the focus of the second tube 6.
[0039] The detector is a detector array composed of multiple detector modules, and several detector modules in the detector array are arranged in a plane, a curved surface, or a spherical surface.
[0040] The detector array used in the present invention is composed of multiple detector modules. The typical structure of a detector module is as follows: Figure 6 As shown, it is composed of a rear collimator 9, a scintillator array 7, a photosensitive array 10, an analog-to-digital conversion circuit 8 and a module substrate 11. The rear collimator 9 can be a one-dimensional or two-dimensional collimator according to the overall performance requirements of the detector. The multiple detector modules in the detector array can be arranged in a plane, or in an arc or sphere, such as Figure 7 The arc surface or spherical surface arrangement can make the distance between each detector module and the focus of the tube the same, and ensure that the scintillator array 7 is perpendicular to the incident X-ray, so that the geometric shape of the scanned image can be effectively controlled.
[0041] The important features of the present invention are as follows: 1. In the whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer, a dual-source dual-detector design is adopted. Two sets of X-ray tubes and detectors are integrated on a system frame that can move parallel to the bed. The two sets of scanning X-ray beams formed are perpendicular to each other, one set is perpendicular to the bed surface, and the other set is parallel to the bed surface.
[0042] 2. When the bone densitometer of the present invention is used to scan a patient, one of the two groups of X-ray tubes and detectors works to obtain scanned images and data of a target part of the patient along a target scanning angle.
[0043] 3. When using the bone densitometer of the present invention to scan a patient, two sets of X-ray tubes and detectors work simultaneously to obtain two sets of scanned images and data of the patient's target parts at different scanning angles. Each set of scanned images and data provides the other set of images and data with the patient's target part position information required for geometric magnification effect correction.
[0044] 4. In the scanning mode of the present invention, one of the two mutually perpendicular scanning angles is a main scanning angle, and its scanned image and data are used as the basis for bone density analysis of the patient's target part; the other scanning angle is auxiliary, and the scanned image and data generated are used to extract the position information of the patient's target part, and then the image and data generated by the main scanning angle are corrected for the geometric magnification effect; when performing auxiliary angle scanning, a low-dose exposure mode can be selected to ensure that while providing sufficiently accurate patient target part position information, the overall patient scanning dose is optimized.
[0045] 5. Using the scanning mode of the present invention, two groups of X-ray tubes and detectors can work simultaneously to complete the planned scanning and data acquisition in the shortest time; the two groups of X-ray tubes and detectors can also work in time-sharing to avoid the negative impact of scattered X-rays generated by one group of X-ray tubes and detectors on the scanning results of the other group.
[0046] 6. Bone densitometers that use a dual-source dual-detector design, in which one or both sets of detectors are equipped with anti-scatter grids to reduce the negative impact of X-ray scatter on the scanning results.
[0047] Advantages of the present invention include: 1. The dual-source dual-detector whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer design can quickly and easily select the patient's scanning angle as needed to obtain the optimal scanning image and data; for example, when performing lumbar spine bone density scanning on a supine patient, a tube and detector combination parallel to the scanning X-ray beam and the bed surface can be used to effectively avoid the overlap of the vertebral body and vertebral process in the two-dimensional scanning results, thereby achieving accurate assessment of vertebral bone density.
[0048] 2. The whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer with dual sources and dual detectors is designed. The switching of patient scanning angles no longer requires a complex and precise rotating motion frame design, saving the hardware cost of the system.
[0049] 3. For whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometers that use wide fan-beam X-ray scanning, due to the geometric magnification effect in the scanning, the position change of the patient's scanning part will bring systematic deviations to the scanning results; while with the whole-body dual-source dual-detector dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer design of the present invention, the position change of the patient's scanning part can be accurately determined by scanning in different directions, so that the systematic deviation brought to the scanning result can be effectively eliminated through correction.
Claims
1. A whole-body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array, comprising a frame, a detector, a tube, and a bed, characterized in that: A frame (2) is connected to the outer side of the upper part of the bed (1), a group of vertical detectors and tubes are provided at the top of the frame (2) and the bottom of the bed (1), and another group of horizontal detectors and tubes are provided on the left and right sides of the frame (2).
2. A whole body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vertical detector and tube include a first detector (3) and a first tube (4); the scanning X-ray beams of the first detector (3) and the first tube (4) are perpendicular to the bed surface of the bed (1); and the first detector (3) and the first tube (4) move synchronously in the X and Z directions.
3. A whole body dual energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual source dual detector array according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horizontal detector and the tube include a second detector (5) and a second tube (6); the scanning X-ray beams of the second detector (5) and the second tube (6) are parallel to the bed surface of the bed (1); the second detector (5) and the second tube (6) move synchronously with the frame (2) in the Z direction or move synchronously or asynchronously on the frame (2) in the Y direction.
4. A whole body dual energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual source dual detector array according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second detector (5) is a rectangular structure or an arc structure.
5. The whole body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array according to claim 1, characterized in that: The detector and the tube in the vertical direction, and the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction scan simultaneously or separately.
6. A whole body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The scanning data of the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction are used in conjunction with the scanning data of the detector and the tube in the vertical direction during scanning.
7. A whole body dual energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual source dual detector array according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The scanning X-ray beam formed by the horizontal detector and the tube is arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically.
8. A whole body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The scanning X-ray beam formed by the detector and the tube in the horizontal direction is a narrow fan beam or a pencil beam.
9. The whole body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the frame (2) is a flat support structure, and the left and right sides of the frame (2) are trapezoidal or arc-shaped support structures.
10. The whole body dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer using a dual-source dual-detector array according to claim 1, characterized in that: The detector is a detector array formed by splicing a plurality of detector modules, and a plurality of detector modules in the detector array are arranged in a plane, an arc surface or a spherical surface.