Adaptive X-ray Exposure Control for Region-Specific Dose Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing x-ray imaging systems fail to tailor radiation exposure to specific patients or regions within patients, leading to excessive radiation exposure during procedures, which poses health risks to both patients and medical personnel.
Innovation Solution
An x-ray imaging system that includes a controller and filtering device to selectively reduce x-ray radiation to areas outside the region of interest, using a scanning-beam x-ray source and energy-resolving detector to optimize radiation doses based on the region of interest, allowing for real-time video imaging while minimizing exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If x-ray radiation is increased to improve image quality and enable real-time video imaging, then imaging quality and procedural capability are improved, but radiation exposure to patients and personnel increases posing health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating radiation exposure across different spatial regions. The system identifies a region of interest (ROI) and applies adaptive exposure control specifically to that region, allowing higher radiation doses only where diagnostically necessary while reducing exposure in surrounding areas. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining image quality in the ROI without unnecessarily increasing overall radiation exposure to patients and personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics through real-time adaptive exposure adjustment. The system continuously monitors imaging conditions, patient anatomy, and procedural requirements to dynamically modify radiation parameters during the procedure. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize the balance between image quality and radiation exposure moment-by-moment, rather than using fixed exposure settings, thereby resolving the contradiction adaptively throughout the imaging procedure.
2Measurement precision
If uniform radiation exposure is applied to the entire imaging field to ensure adequate image quality across all regions, then image quality is maintained, but radiation exposure to unnecessary areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating radiation exposure across different spatial regions. The system identifies a region of interest (ROI) and applies adaptive exposure control specifically to that region, allowing higher radiation doses only where diagnostically necessary while reducing exposure in surrounding areas. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining image quality in the ROI without unnecessarily increasing overall radiation exposure to patients and personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by delivering radiation only to the extent necessary for diagnostic purposes. Rather than uniformly exposing the entire imaging field, the system applies radiation selectively to the ROI and immediately adjacent areas where scatter radiation may affect image quality. This partial exposure strategy maintains adequate image quality in critical regions while minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure elsewhere, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive coverage and radiation efficiency.
3Productivity
If real-time video imaging is performed continuously to enable image-guided procedures, then procedural capability and safety are improved, but cumulative radiation exposure to patients and medical personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics through real-time adaptive exposure adjustment. The system continuously monitors imaging conditions, patient anatomy, and procedural requirements to dynamically modify radiation parameters during the procedure. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize the balance between image quality and radiation exposure moment-by-moment, rather than using fixed exposure settings, thereby resolving the contradiction adaptively throughout the imaging procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying radiation exposure parameters (such as tube current, voltage, or pulse duration) based on real-time assessment of imaging needs. The system adjusts these parameters dynamically during the procedure to deliver the minimum necessary radiation for adequate real-time imaging, thereby reducing cumulative exposure while maintaining procedural capability.
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
The system achieves high-quality imaging with reduced radiation exposure, minimizing patient and personnel dose by dynamically adjusting x-ray radiation to the minimum required for image quality, thereby reducing health risks and improving procedural safety.
Implementation Method 1
an x-ray source for producing x-ray radiation
Implementation Method 2
modulating a current of electrons incident on a target in the x-ray source
Implementation Method 3
a filtering device...configured to reduce x-ray radiation to areas outside the region of interest
Implementation Method 4
an x-ray detector for measuring amount of x-ray radiation passing through the human patient
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for adaptive exposure in imaging systems. An x-ray source for producing x-ray radiation and an x-ray detector for measuring amount of x-ray radiation passing through the human patient and striking the detector can be used. A tomographic image of the human patient or a tomosynthetic image of the human patient can be generated. Region of interest filtering and equalization filtering can be utilized. Filtering can be accomplished with a mechanical shield or shutter or with electronic control of the x-ray source.