X-ray dose adjustment method, device, medical imaging system, medium and product

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an X-ray dose adjustment method, apparatus, medical imaging system, medium, and product. The X-ray dose adjustment method for a medical imaging system includes: obtaining a set first frame rate; sending at least an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to the maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system; determining whether the dose adjustment has reached a stable state; and in response to determining that the dose adjustment has reached a stable state, sending at least an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate. Using the method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, dose adjustment can be performed based on a higher frame rate, shortening the dose adjustment time and improving imaging quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of medical imaging, and in particular to an X-ray dose adjustment method for a medical imaging system, an apparatus for a medical imaging system, a medical imaging system, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program product. Background Art

[0002] X-rays have been widely used in the field of medical imaging. When using X-ray imaging equipment to examine patients, it is often necessary to adjust the X-ray dose for different patients before the examination to obtain images that meet quality requirements.

[0003] The approaches described in this section are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or employed. Unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any approach described in this section is prior art simply by virtue of its inclusion in this section. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated, the issues raised in this section should not be considered as having been recognized in any prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for X-ray dose adjustment for a medical imaging system is provided, comprising: obtaining a set first frame rate; sending at least an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to the maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system; determining whether the dose adjustment reaches a stable state; and in response to determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, sending at least an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate.

[0005] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an X-ray dose adjustment device for a medical imaging system is provided, comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a set first frame rate; a first instruction sending unit configured to at least send an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to the maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system; a determination unit configured to determine whether the dose adjustment has reached a stable state; and a second instruction sending unit configured to, in response to determining that the dose adjustment has reached a stable state, at least send an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate.

[0006] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a medical imaging system is provided, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the computer program implements the above method when executed by the at least one processor.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program implements the above method when executed by a processor.

[0008] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program, wherein the computer program implements the above method when executed by a processor.

[0009] By using the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, dose adjustment can be performed based on a higher frame rate, thereby shortening the dose adjustment time and improving the imaging quality.

[0010] It should be understood that the contents described in this section are not intended to identify the key or important features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become readily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the description of the specification, they serve to explain exemplary implementation of the embodiments. The illustrated embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the claims. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.

[0012] The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can better understand the above and other features and advantages of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:

[0013] Figure 1 is a flow chart of an X-ray dose adjustment method for a medical imaging system according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 2A and Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of the pulse sequence used for the X-ray generator;

[0015] Figure 3 A flowchart of at least sending an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate in an X-ray dose adjustment method according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 4 A flowchart of determining a second frame rate in a method for adjusting an X-ray dose according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 5 A flowchart of determining whether dose adjustment reaches a stable state in an X-ray dose adjustment method according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 6is a flow chart of an X-ray dose adjustment method for a medical imaging system according to some other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of an X-ray dose adjustment device for a medical imaging system according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0020] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary configuration of an electronic device that can be used to implement the methods described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to have a clearer understanding of the technical features, purposes and effects of the present disclosure, specific embodiments of the present disclosure are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals represent the same parts.

[0022] In this document, “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration”, and any diagram or implementation described in this document as “illustrative” should not be interpreted as a more preferred or more advantageous technical solution.

[0023] To simplify the drawings, only the parts related to the present disclosure are schematically shown in each figure, and they do not represent the actual structure of the product. In addition, to simplify the drawings and facilitate understanding, in some figures, only one of the components with the same structure or function is schematically depicted or labeled.

[0024] In this article, "one" not only means "only one" but also "more than one". In this article, "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish one from another, and do not indicate their importance or order, or the premise of each other.

[0025] While various operations are depicted in the drawings as following a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that these operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, nor should it be understood that all illustrated operations must be performed to achieve desirable results.

[0026] X-ray imaging equipment, a type of medical imaging system, emits X-rays using an X-ray generator consisting of an X-ray tube and a high-voltage generator. An X-ray tube typically consists of an anode target and a cathode. The cathode filament generates thermal electrons when energized. Driven by the high voltage between the cathode and anode, these electrons travel at high speeds and strike the anode target, generating X-rays that are then emitted through a window. While the X-ray tube is operating, the object being examined is exposed to the X-rays. Using X-rays, the operator can irradiate any area of ​​the body to be examined, and an image is then generated using film or an imaging device.

[0027] Exposure parameters may include, for example, tube voltage (or exposure voltage, in kV), tube current (or exposure current, in mA), exposure time (or expressed as exposure pulse width, in s or ms), and exposure milliampere seconds (i.e., the product of tube current and exposure time, in mAs). Tube voltage refers to the voltage output by a high-voltage generator to the X-ray tube, which characterizes the penetrating power of the X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube. The higher the tube voltage, the greater the kinetic energy obtained by the electrons emitted by the cathode of the X-ray tube, and the greater the energy (i.e., penetrating power) of the generated X-rays. Tube current refers to the current output by a high-voltage generator to the X-ray tube, which characterizes the number of X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube. The greater the tube current, the more electrons emitted by the cathode of the X-ray tube, the more electrons that strike the anode target surface per second, and thus the more X-rays generated. Exposure pulse width describes the pulse width of the X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube.

[0028] X-ray imaging technology can be used to monitor dynamic processes in a target area within a subject's body. The number of frames imaged per unit time is called the "frame rate." In this document, "frame rate" refers to the frequency with which a medical imaging system, such as an X-ray imaging device, presents images. The lower the frame rate, the longer the time interval between images presented to the operator of the medical imaging system. The "maximum allowable frame rate" refers to the highest frame rate achievable by the medical imaging system.

[0029] A fluoroscopy curve is used to describe the exposure parameters of an X-ray tube at each exposure point during the exposure process. Each exposure point corresponds to the X-ray tube's exposure dose, which is related to the tube voltage, tube current, and exposure time. Fluoroscopy curves include one or more of the following: a voltage curve, a current curve, an exposure time curve (or pulse width curve), and a milliampere-second curve. The horizontal axis of each of these curves represents different exposure points, while the vertical axis describes the voltage, current, exposure time, or milliampere-second value, respectively. Fluoroscopy curves are typically calibrated before a medical imaging system leaves the factory.

[0030] Exposure parameter adjustment is a crucial step in the workflow of medical imaging systems, such as X-ray imaging equipment. Selecting appropriate exposure parameters not only optimizes image quality for diagnosis but also prevents patients from being exposed to excessive X-ray radiation. In the related art, dose adjustment based on a preset perspective curve is the primary method used by medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray imaging equipment) to find appropriate exposure parameters (e.g., to achieve a target average grayscale value). Specifically, in actual use, medical imaging systems employ a variety of imaging techniques, patients in various conditions, and various patient sites to be imaged. To achieve optimal image quality during patient imaging, medical imaging systems typically pre-set imaging protocols for users, which can be manually selected. Multiple imaging protocols are pre-defined for different imaging sites, patient sizes, and patient positions. These protocols are typically related to operating parameters to be implemented by the medical imaging system's control device, such as the X-ray imaging equipment's frame rate, exposure dose, noise processing, and signal post-processing. This allows users to select a clear imaging mode based on the target site of the patient currently being imaged. This imaging protocol is also called "Organ Program (OGP)" in medical imaging systems. In actual use, generally, users of medical imaging systems can select the corresponding organ program (OGP) according to the organ / part to be detected, the patient's body shape and body position (such as frontal or lateral position) through human-computer interaction devices (such as touch screen, keyboard, mouse, etc.). As a result, the medical imaging system can automatically determine the expected X-ray dose corresponding to the organ / part based on the preset perspective curve corresponding to the organ program, and determine the tube voltage value, tube current value, exposure time length, etc. of the X-ray tube. Then, the X-ray imaging device usually Exposure parameters can be adjusted through a double exposure method to accommodate individual differences in the subject. For example, a short pre-exposure is performed to adjust the dose according to a preset fluoroscopic curve to obtain more appropriate exposure parameters, and then the exposure is performed using these exposure parameters. Alternatively, multiple exposures can be performed on the patient, and based on the quality of the images obtained through these multiple exposures, multiple dose adjustments can be made to obtain more appropriate exposure parameters. However, if multiple exposures are performed at the frame rate specified by the organ program, the dose adjustment time may be too long, and the user of the X-ray imaging device may begin fluoroscopy or radiography before the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, resulting in poor image quality.

[0031] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for adjusting X-ray dose for a medical imaging system (e.g., an X-ray imaging device) is proposed, which can complete dose adjustment in a shorter time, avoid starting fluoroscopy or photography operations before the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, and avoid the resulting degradation of imaging quality.

[0032] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 An X-ray dose adjustment method 100 for a medical imaging system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0034] The method 100 includes:

[0035] S110, obtaining a set first frame rate;

[0036] S120, sending at least an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to a maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system;

[0037] S130, determining whether the dosage adjustment has reached a stable state; and

[0038] S140 . In response to determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, at least send an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to a first frame rate.

[0039] The medical imaging system may include a direct digital X-ray imaging system or a digital X-ray imaging system using a stitching technology, such as a mobile or fixed C-arm X-ray medical device.

[0040] By using the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, X-ray dose adjustment can be performed based on a higher frame rate, thereby shortening the dose adjustment time. Figure 2A and Figure 2B A schematic diagram of a pulse sequence of an X-ray generator used in a medical imaging system is shown. Figure 2A FIG. 4 shows a pulse sequence for an X-ray generator when a first frame rate is used. Figure 2A As shown, in the dose adjustment stage T1 and the stable imaging stage T2 after the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, the frame rate of the medical imaging system is set to the set first frame rate. Figure 2B FIG. 1 shows a pulse sequence diagram for an X-ray generator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2B In the illustrated scenario, during the dose adjustment phase T1, the frame rate is set to a second frame rate greater than the first frame rate, and during the stable imaging phase T2, the frame rate is switched to the set first frame rate. Figure 2BAs shown, during the dose adjustment phase, the interval between each two adjacent pulses in the pulse sequence of the X-ray generator is shortened, thereby shortening the dose adjustment phase and achieving the desired target dose more quickly. For example, if the first frame rate is set to 0.5 fps and dose adjustment is iteratively completed within 10 frames, the dose adjustment phase lasts for 20 seconds. If dose adjustment is performed at the maximum allowable frame rate of 30 fps and dose adjustment is also iteratively completed within 10 frames, the dose adjustment phase lasts only one-third of a second, significantly shortening the dose adjustment time.

[0041] In step S110, the medical imaging system, for example, an X-ray control unit, obtains a set first frame rate. The set first frame rate may be, for example, a frame rate pre-set in a user-selected organ program or a frame rate input by the user. Furthermore, the X-ray control unit may transmit information including the first frame rate to the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, so that the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector can perform a fluoroscopy operation according to the first frame rate.

[0042] In step S120, the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector are triggered to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is between the set first frame rate and the maximum allowable frame rate that the medical imaging system can achieve, or is equal to the maximum allowable frame rate.

[0043] Figure 3 A flowchart of at least sending an instruction for performing dose adjustment based on a second frame rate in a dose adjustment method 100 according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0044] In some embodiments, step S120, at least sending an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on the second frame rate, includes: S310, sending a perspective curve based on the first frame rate, the perspective curve specifying exposure parameters for each exposure point based on the first frame rate, and the perspective curve is configured to enable the medical imaging system (specifically, its X-ray tube) to operate at the second frame rate with the exposure parameters specified by the perspective curve.

[0045] See also Figure 2B At higher frame rates, the interval between each two adjacent pulses in the pulse sequence used by the X-ray tube becomes shorter, thus increasing the average power of the X-ray tube and its workload. For example, the X-ray tube generates a large amount of heat during X-ray emission, and thus, the thermal load on the X-ray tube increases at higher frame rates. Therefore, selecting a perspective curve that is applicable to both the first and second frame rates ensures that, even at the higher second frame rate, the X-ray tube can still operate normally according to the perspective curve based on the first frame rate, that is, operate according to the same exposure parameters as at the first frame rate, and will not be interrupted due to excessive workload (e.g., thermal load).

[0046] In some other embodiments, further, step S120, at least sending an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on the second frame rate, includes sending a perspective curve based on the first frame rate, the perspective curve specifying exposure parameters for each exposure point based on the first frame rate, and the perspective curve being configured to enable the X-ray tube of the medical imaging system to operate at the exposure parameters specified by the perspective curve at the maximum allowable frame rate. Thus, regardless of how the second frame rate is determined, the perspective curve sent based on the first frame rate is applicable to the second frame rate.

[0047] In some embodiments, step S120, at least sending an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on the second frame rate, also includes: S320, determining the second frame rate based on at least one of the response delay time of the hardware of the medical imaging system and the communication delay time between the software; and sending information about the second frame rate.

[0048] In some embodiments, the second frame rate is determined so that the hardware of the medical imaging system can operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate, wherein the hardware includes at least one of the following: an X-ray generator, an X-ray detector, and a system timing control unit (STU). Specifically, the second frame rate is determined to be greater than the set first frame rate and less than or equal to the maximum possible frame rate at which the hardware of the medical imaging system does not need to switch the operating mode during operation, so that the hardware of the medical imaging system can operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate. If the set first frame rate is less than the mode switching frame rate of the hardware (after reaching the mode switching frame rate, the hardware needs to switch the operating mode), the maximum possible frame rate is the mode switching frame rate. If the set first frame rate is greater than or equal to the mode switching frame rate of the hardware, the maximum possible frame rate is the maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system. In one or more examples, if the set first frame rate is less than the mode switching frame rate of the hardware of the medical imaging system, the second frame rate is determined as the mode switching frame rate so as to quickly achieve dose adjustment; if the first frame rate is greater than or equal to the mode switching frame rate of the hardware of the medical imaging system, for example, the second frame rate is determined as the maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system so as to achieve dose adjustment as quickly as possible.

[0049] In a medical imaging system, when switching between different frame rates, the system's hardware may need to switch to different operating modes, and in different operating modes, the system's hardware operates with different configurations. Typically, upon receiving an operating mode switch instruction, the X-ray imaging device's hardware cannot immediately switch to the next mode; instead, it requires a corresponding response time. By determining the second frame rate so that the system's hardware can operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate, the system's hardware does not need to switch operating modes even when switching between the second and first frame rates, thus avoiding the response delay associated with switching operating modes. In some examples, the second frame rate is determined so that the X-ray detector can operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate. For example, if the first frame rate is lower than the X-ray detector's mode switching frame rate, the second frame rate is determined to be greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to the mode switching frame rate, particularly the mode switching frame rate of the X-ray detector, thereby accelerating the dose adjustment process. Typically, switching operating modes of an X-ray detector requires a longer response time, so this ensures that a smooth frame rate switch is not interrupted due to a response delay in the X-ray detector. In other examples, the second frame rate is determined so that all hardware components of the medical imaging system can operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate. For example, if the first frame rate is lower than the mode switching frame rate of all hardware components of the medical imaging system, the second frame rate is determined to be greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to the mode switching frame rate of all hardware components of the medical imaging system, and in particular, the second frame rate is determined to be the smaller of the mode switching frame rates of all hardware components of the medical imaging system, thereby accelerating the dose adjustment process. This ensures smooth frame rate switching for all hardware components.

[0050] For example, an X-ray detector is designed to operate at a maximum frame rate of 30 fps, operate in a first operating mode at a frame rate of 0 to 20 fps, and operate in a second operating mode at a frame rate of 20 to 30 fps. That is, if the frame rate switches from 10 fps to 30 fps, the X-ray detector needs to switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. If the set first frame rate is 10 fps, the second frame rate can be determined as the mode switching frame rate of 20 fps of the X-ray detector, rather than the maximum allowable frame rate of 30 fps. This ensures that dose adjustment can be achieved quickly and that the second frame rate is smoothly switched to the first frame rate after the dose adjustment is completed, without any response delay of the X-ray detector. If the set first frame rate is greater than the mode switching frame rate of the X-ray detector, for example, 25 fps, the second frame rate can be determined as the maximum allowable frame rate of 30 fps of the X-ray detector, so that dose adjustment can be achieved as quickly as possible.

[0051] Figure 4A flowchart of determining a second frame rate in the dose adjustment method 100 according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. According to some embodiments, step S320, determining the second frame rate based on at least one of a response delay time of hardware and a communication delay time between software of the medical imaging system, includes:

[0052] S410, obtaining the communication delay time required for communication between software of the medical imaging system;

[0053] S420, obtaining the response delay time required for switching the working mode of the hardware of the medical imaging system; and

[0054] S430: Based on the communication delay time and the response delay time, determine whether the second frame rate is determined to enable the hardware of the medical imaging system to operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate.

[0055] In the above embodiment of determining the second frame rate, the delay time of the software and hardware of the medical imaging system is taken into account. If the delay time of the software and hardware is too long, the second frame rate is determined to be greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to the maximum possible frame rate when the hardware is working without switching the working mode. For example, in the case where the first frame rate is lower than the mode switching frame rate of the hardware, the second frame rate is determined to be the mode switching frame rate of the hardware. If the delay time of the software and hardware is within the allowable range, for example, the software and hardware can react in time to present the medical imaging image, the second frame rate can be arbitrarily set within the range greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to the maximum allowable frame rate of the system. For example, in order to make the dose adjustment process faster, the second frame rate can be determined as the maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system.

[0056] As described above, when switching between different frame rates, the hardware of the medical imaging system needs to switch to different operating modes when necessary, resulting in a response delay. In addition, communication between the software of the X-ray imaging device (e.g., the X-ray control unit for controlling exposure, the generator interface for communicating with the system, the software for image processing, etc.) is not instantaneous and takes a certain amount of time. In steps S410 to S420, the communication delay time and the hardware response delay time are obtained. In step S430, if the sum of the communication delay time and the hardware response delay time is greater than the time it takes to present a frame of image based on the first frame rate, this means that when switching from the second frame rate to the first frame rate, the time it takes for the X-ray control unit to notify the hardware to switch modes and for the hardware to perform the mode switch is greater than the time it takes to generate a frame of image. In fact, the switch from the second frame rate to the first frame rate will be delayed, resulting in the inability to generate the fluoroscopic image in a timely manner. In this case, the second frame rate is determined to enable the hardware of the medical imaging system to operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate, that is, the second frame rate is determined to be a frame rate at which the hardware does not switch operating modes, thereby avoiding the adverse effects on the fluoroscopic image caused by the operating mode switch. If the communication delay time and the hardware response delay time are less than or equal to the time for presenting a frame of image based on the first frame rate, that is, the hardware of the medical imaging system can complete the switching of the working mode within one frame, then the second frame rate can be selected as needed without considering whether the hardware of the medical imaging system needs to switch the working mode at the second frame rate and the first frame rate.

[0057] In other embodiments, instead of step S430, it is determined based on the communication delay time and the response delay time whether the second frame rate is determined to enable the hardware of the medical imaging system to operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate. If the communication delay time and the hardware response delay time are greater than the time for presenting a frame of image based on the first frame rate, an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate is sent in advance in the last frame or frames of the dose adjustment stage.

[0058] Figure 5 A flow chart of determining whether the dose adjustment has reached a stable state in the X-ray dose adjustment method 100 according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. In some embodiments, step S130, determining whether the dose adjustment has reached a stable state, includes:

[0059] S510, determining whether the deviation between the actual dose and the target dose is within an allowable range;

[0060] S520, in response to a deviation between the actual dose and the target dose being within an allowable range, determining that the dose adjustment has reached a stable state; and

[0061] S530: In response to the deviation between the actual dose and the target dose not being within an allowable range, determine that the dose adjustment has not yet reached a stable state.

[0062] In steps S510-S530, the actual dose of X-rays emitted by the medical imaging system is determined. For example, the actual dose of X-rays emitted by the medical imaging system when capturing the original image is determined based on the relationship between the original image's brightness, image contrast, signal-to-noise ratio, and other factors and the X-ray dose. The actual dose is then compared with the target dose. If the deviation between the two is within an allowable range, the dose adjustment is determined to have reached a stable state, and the subsequent steps of method 100 are continued. If the deviation between the two is not within the allowable range, the dose adjustment is continued, and steps S510-S530 are repeated.

[0063] In some embodiments, step S140, in response to determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, at least sending an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate, also includes: sending an instruction to enable the medical imaging system to perform fluoroscopy based on the first frame rate.

[0064] Figure 6 An X-ray dose adjustment method 600 for a medical imaging system according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The method 600 includes:

[0065] S610, obtaining a set first frame rate, and sending information about the first frequency to hardware of the medical imaging system;

[0066] S620: Send a perspective curve based on the first frame rate, where the perspective curve specifies exposure parameters for each exposure point based on the first frame rate, and the perspective curve is configured to enable an X-ray tube of the medical imaging system to operate at the second frame rate with the exposure parameters specified by the perspective curve;

[0067] S630, obtaining an instruction indicating whether to start dosage adjustment;

[0068] S640: In response to the instruction indicating whether to start dose adjustment indicating that dose adjustment is started, sending an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to a maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system;

[0069] S650, determining whether the dosage adjustment has reached a stable state; and

[0070] S660: In response to determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, at least send an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate.

[0071] In method 600, steps S610, S650 to S660 are similar to steps S110, S130 to S140 described above, and step S620 is similar to step S310 described above, and will not be repeated here. Through the X-ray dose adjustment method 600 according to other embodiments of the present disclosure, an option of whether to turn on dose adjustment is provided. In some examples, the above-mentioned instruction indicating whether to turn on dose adjustment can be a user instruction. In steps S630 and S650, it is determined whether the user instructs to turn on dose adjustment. If the user instructs to turn on dose adjustment, an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on the second frame rate is sent similar to step S120. If the user does not instruct or instructs not to turn on dose adjustment, a perspective or exposure operation is performed based on the set first frame rate. Thus, the user is provided with the option of choosing whether to turn on dose adjustment.

[0072] Figure 7 FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an X-ray dose adjustment device 700 for a medical imaging system according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 7 As shown, an X-ray dose adjustment device 700 for a medical imaging system includes: an acquisition unit 710, configured to acquire a set first frame rate; a first instruction sending unit 720, configured to at least send an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to the maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system; a determination unit 730, configured to determine whether the dose adjustment reaches a stable state; and a second instruction sending unit 740, configured to, in response to determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, at least send an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate.

[0073] It should be understood that Figure 7 The modules of the apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 7 can be used in conjunction with the reference Figure 1 The steps in the method 100 described above correspond to each other. Therefore, the operations, features and advantages described above for the method 100 are also applicable to the apparatus 700 and the modules included therein. For the sake of brevity, some operations, features and advantages are not repeated here.

[0074] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a medical imaging system is provided, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; wherein the memory stores a computer program that, when executed by the at least one processor, implements the steps of method 100 or 600 described above. The medical imaging system may be an X-ray imaging device, such as a direct digital X-ray imaging system or a digital X-ray imaging system using stitching technology, such as a mobile or fixed C-arm X-ray medical device.

[0075] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein the memory stores a computer program that, when executed by the at least one processor, implements the steps of method 100 described above. A medical imaging device includes such an electronic device.

[0076] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program is provided, wherein the computer program implements the steps in the method 100 or 600 described above when executed by a processor.

[0077] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps in the method 100 or 600 described above are implemented.

[0078] In the following, combined Figure 8 Illustrative examples of such electronic devices, non-transitory computer-readable storage media, and computer program products are described.

[0079] Figure 8 An example configuration of an electronic device 800 that can be used to implement the methods described herein is shown. The electronic device 800 can be a variety of different types of devices, such as a server of a service provider, a device associated with a client (e.g., a client device), a system on a chip, and / or any other suitable computer device or computing system. Examples of the electronic device 800 include, but are not limited to, a desktop computer, a server computer, a laptop or netbook computer, a mobile device (e.g., a tablet computer, a cellular or other wireless phone (e.g., a smartphone), a notepad computer, a mobile station), and the like.

[0080] The electronic device 800 may include at least one processor 802, memory 804, communication interface(s) 806, a display device 808, other input / output (I / O) devices 810, and one or more mass storage devices 812, all capable of communicating with one another, such as via a system bus 814 or other appropriate connections.

[0081] The processor 802 may be a single processing unit or multiple processing units, all of which may include a single or multiple computing units or multiple cores. The processor 802 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuits, and / or any device that manipulates signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor 802 may be configured to retrieve and execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 804, mass storage device 812, or other computer-readable media, such as program code for an operating system 816, program code for application programs 818, program code for other programs 820, and the like.

[0082] The memory 804 and the mass storage device 812 are examples of computer-readable storage media for storing instructions that are executed by the processor 802 to implement the various functions described above. For example, the memory 804 may generally include both volatile memory and non-volatile memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.). In addition, the mass storage device 812 may generally include a hard drive, a solid-state drive, removable media, including external and removable drives, memory cards, flash memory, floppy disks, optical disks (e.g., CDs, DVDs), storage arrays, network attached storage, storage area networks, etc. The memory 804 and the mass storage device 812 may all be collectively referred to herein as memory or computer-readable storage media, and may be non-transitory media capable of storing computer-readable, processor-executable program instructions as computer program code, which may be executed by the processor 802 as a specific machine configured to implement the operations and functions described in the examples herein.

[0083] A plurality of program modules may be stored on the mass storage device 812. These programs include an operating system 816, one or more application programs 818, other programs 820, and program data 822, and they may be loaded into the memory 804 for execution. Examples of such applications or program modules may include, for example, computer program logic (e.g., computer program code or instructions) for implementing the following components / functions: the apparatus 700 (including the acquisition module 710, the first instruction sending module 720, the determination module 730, and the second instruction sending module 3740), the method 100 or 600 (including any suitable steps of the method 100 or 600), and / or another embodiment described herein.

[0084] Although Figure 8800, but modules 816, 818, 820, and 822, or portions thereof, may be implemented using any form of computer-readable media accessible by the computer device 800. As used herein, "computer-readable media" includes at least two types of computer-readable media, namely, computer storage media and communication media.

[0085] Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVDs), or other optical storage devices, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transmission media that can be used to store information for access by a computer device.

[0086] In contrast, communication media may embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Computer storage media as defined herein does not include communication media.

[0087] The electronic device 800 may also include one or more communication interfaces 806 for exchanging data with other devices, such as via a network, direct connection, and the like, as previously discussed. Such communication interfaces may be one or more of the following: any type of network interface (e.g., a network interface card (NIC)), a wired or wireless (such as an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN)) wireless interface, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-MAX) interface, an Ethernet interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a cellular network interface, a Bluetooth™ interface, a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, and the like. The communication interface 806 may facilitate communication within a variety of network and protocol types, including wired networks (e.g., LAN, cable, and the like) and wireless networks (e.g., WLAN, cellular, satellite, and the like), the Internet, and the like. The communication interface 806 may also provide for communication with external storage devices (not shown), such as storage arrays, network attached storage, storage area networks, and the like.

[0088] In some examples, a display device 808 such as a monitor may be included for displaying information and images to the user. Other I / O devices 810 may be devices that receive various inputs from the user and provide various outputs to the user, and may include a touch input device, a gesture input device, a camera, a keyboard, a remote control, a mouse, a printer, an audio input / output device, and the like.

[0089] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure shall be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting X-ray dose for a medical imaging system, comprising: Get the set first frame rate; sending at least an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to a maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system; determining whether the dosage adjustment has reached a steady state; and In response to determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, at least an instruction is sent to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein At least sending an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on the second frame rate, including: A perspective curve based on a first frame rate is sent, wherein the perspective curve specifies exposure parameters for each exposure point based on the first frame rate, and the perspective curve is configured to enable an X-ray tube of a medical imaging system to operate at the exposure parameters specified by the perspective curve at a second frame rate.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The second frame rate is determined so that the hardware of the medical imaging system can operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate, wherein the hardware includes at least one of the following items: an X-ray generator, an X-ray detector, and a system timing control unit.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: Obtaining a communication delay time required for communication between software of the medical imaging system; Obtaining a response delay time required for switching an operating mode of hardware of the medical imaging system; as well as Based on the communication delay time and the response delay time, it is determined whether the second frame rate is determined so that hardware of the medical imaging system can operate in the same operating mode at the second frame rate as at the first frame rate.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: Obtaining an instruction indicating whether to start dosage adjustment; as well as In response to the instruction indicating whether to start dose adjustment indicating to start dose adjustment, an instruction to perform dose adjustment at a second frame rate is sent.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: In response to determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, at least sending an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate further includes: An instruction is sent to cause the medical imaging system to perform fluoroscopy based on the first frame rate.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Determining whether the dosage adjustment has reached a steady state comprises: Determine whether the deviation between the actual dose and the target dose is within the allowable range; In response to a deviation between the actual dose and the target dose being within an allowable range, determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state; and In response to a deviation between the actual dose and the target dose not being within an allowable range, it is determined that the dose adjustment has not reached a stable state.

8. An X-ray dose adjustment device for a medical imaging system, comprising: an acquiring unit, configured to acquire a set first frame rate; a first instruction sending unit configured to send at least an instruction to perform dose adjustment based on a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is greater than the first frame rate and less than or equal to a maximum allowable frame rate of the medical imaging system; a determining unit configured to determine whether the dosage adjustment reaches a stable state; and The second instruction sending unit is configured to, in response to determining that the dose adjustment reaches a stable state, at least send an instruction to switch the medical imaging system to the first frame rate.

9. A medical imaging system comprising: at least one processor; as well as a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; in The memory stores a computer program, which, when executed by the at least one processor, implements the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, wherein: The computer program implements the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when executed by a processor.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer program, wherein The computer program implements the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when executed by a processor.

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