Angiography Radiation Dose Mapping System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for managing ionizing radiation dose in medical and security applications lack effective methods to accurately track and direct radiation doses, leading to potential tissue injury and stochastic effects in exposed subjects.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that calculates the angulation of radiation beams and table orientation relative to a room coordinate system, creating a two-dimensional dose map on a patient's surface, allowing for precise tracking and visualization of radiation doses applied during angiography procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If ionizing radiation is used for image acquisition, then diagnostic information is obtained, but radiation-induced tissue injury and stochastic effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic informationVSAvoidradiation-induced tissue injury
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors radiation dose in real-time during imaging procedures and provides feedback to operators through visual displays. This enables dynamic adjustment of imaging parameters to maintain diagnostic quality while preventing excessive dose accumulation that could cause tissue injury

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts imaging parameters such as tube current, voltage, and exposure time based on real-time dose monitoring and patient characteristics. This allows optimization of the balance between image quality and radiation dose, reducing harmful effects while maintaining diagnostic information acquisition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If radiation dose is increased to improve image quality, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but likelihood of deterministic and stochastic effects increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidlikelihood of radiation-induced injury
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static dose planning to dynamic dose management during imaging procedures. Real-time monitoring and adaptive parameter adjustment allow the system to respond to changing conditions, maintaining optimal diagnostic accuracy while preventing dose levels that would increase injury risk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary dose assessment and planning before imaging procedures begin, establishing safe dose thresholds and optimization strategies in advance. This preparatory action enables proactive dose management that prevents both excessive dosing and diagnostic compromises

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If complex dose tracking systems are implemented, then radiation dose management improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation dose managementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system integrates multiple functions including dose monitoring, image acquisition control, real-time visualization, and reporting capabilities into a unified platform. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices while maintaining comprehensive dose management and improving overall system efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 improved management of radiation doses, reducing the risk of radiation-induced injuries and cancers by providing detailed, graphical representations of dose distribution, facilitating safer imaging procedures.

Implementation Method 1

radiological image acquisition generally includes directing a stream of ionizing radiation at the exposed subject

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray generation: X-Ray

Implementation Method 2

measuring the attenuation of the ionizing radiation passing there through

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadiation attenuation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3171781B1A system and method for use in mapping a radiation dose applied in an angiography imaging procedure of a patient
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
  • EP3171781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3171781B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3171781B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A system and method for use in mapping a radiation dose applied in an angiography imaging procedure is provided. The system can include an image acquisition system, a table in support of the patient, and a computer processor that calculates an angulation of a radiation beam to the patient in the angiography imaging procedure relative to the table; calculating an angulation of the table; calculating an intersection of the radiation beam relative to a two-dimensional grid; calculating the radiation dose applied at the intersection of the radiation beam to each of the predefined areas of the two-dimensional grid; calculating an orientation of the patient relative to the two-dimensional grid of predefined areas; and creating a graphic display illustrative of an aggregation of the radiation dose applied to each of the predefined areas of the two-dimensional grid for viewing by a user.