Bone-Suppressed Tomographic Image Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tomographic imaging systems, such as tomosynthesis, face limitations in angle range, leading to bone artifacts that deteriorate the visibility of target parts in reconstructed images, particularly in cross-sectional images of lungs where ribs may appear, obscuring lesions.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray imaging system and image processing method that include an X-ray irradiator, detector, moving mechanism, imaging controller, and image processor with bone suppression processing to generate bone-suppressed tomographic images by suppressing bone structures and adjusting the suppression degree, using a learned model for accurate bone suppression and reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If tomosynthesis imaging is performed with limited angle range, then imaging time and complexity are reduced, but bone artifacts appear that deteriorate visibility of target parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes bone structures from the tomosynthesis images through image processing. The bone suppression processing unit specifically identifies and eliminates bone artifacts while preserving soft tissue structures, thereby resolving the contradiction between reduced imaging time and bone artifact visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate processing step between image acquisition and final display. The bone suppression processing acts as an intermediary that processes the raw tomosynthesis images to remove bone artifacts before presenting the cleaned images to users, maintaining the benefits of limited-angle imaging while eliminating harmful bone artifacts.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bone suppression processing is applied, then visibility of target parts is improved, but suppression degree needs adjustment to avoid over-suppression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of bone suppression degree through a slider interface. Users can interactively adjust the suppression level to achieve optimal results for different imaging scenarios, making the system adaptable rather than fixed, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining effective bone artifact removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the suppression parameter dynamically based on user input and image characteristics. The bone suppression processing unit adjusts its processing intensity according to the selected suppression degree, allowing optimization of artifact removal while preserving necessary anatomical details.
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 effectively suppresses bone artifacts in tomographic images, enhancing the visibility of target parts by accurately removing bone structures and allowing for adjustable suppression, thereby improving diagnostic clarity.
Implementation Method 1
an X-ray irradiator configured to irradiate a target part of a subject with X-rays
Implementation Method 2
an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays with which the subject is irradiated by the X-ray irradiator
Data Source
AI summary
An X-ray imaging system (100) according to this invention includes an image processor (9) configured to generate a bone-suppressed tomographic image (20) representing a cross-section of a subject (101) in which a bone structure of a target part is suppressed based on a plurality of X-ray images (10). The image processor (9) includes a bone suppression processing unit (92) configured to suppress the bone structure of the target part, a reconstruction processing unit (93) configured to perform reconstruction for generating the tomographic image, and an adjustment processing unit (94) configured to adjust a suppression degree of the bone structure in the bone-suppressed tomographic image (20) to be generated.