CT Baffle Control for Partial Area Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current oral CBCT systems require unnecessary radiation and reduced image resolution when capturing partial areas, as they are designed for panoramic imaging, leading to inefficiencies in resource usage and clarity.

Innovation Solution

A computed tomography apparatus with a baffle and control module that adjusts the rotation center and through-hole position to focus X-rays on specific partial areas, reducing radiation dosage and improving image resolution by allowing targeted imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If CT photographing is performed for the whole area of the target object, then complete coverage of the object is achieved, but photographing time increases and radiation dosage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidphotographing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the imaging task into two modes: panoramic imaging for complete coverage and partial area imaging for focused examination. The control module enables users to select specific regions of interest, segmenting the overall imaging process into targeted subsets that reduce photographing time and radiation exposure while maintaining complete coverage when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial area photographing capability where only the necessary region of interest is imaged instead of the entire object. This partial action approach reduces photographing time and radiation dosage by limiting the imaging scope to only those areas requiring examination, while still achieving complete coverage when panoramic mode is selected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Area of stationary object

If CT photographing is performed for the whole area of the target object, then complete coverage of the object is achieved, but radiation dosage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidradiation dosage
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the radiation exposure by allowing selective imaging of specific regions of interest. The control module enables users to define partial areas that require examination, thereby segmenting the radiation dosage to only those necessary areas rather than exposing the entire object to radiation, thus reducing overall radiation dosage while maintaining complete coverage capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by implementing partial area photographing mode where radiation is applied only to the necessary region of interest rather than the entire object. This reduces the harmful radiation dosage exposure while still achieving complete coverage when panoramic imaging is selected, balancing medical necessity with radiation safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of time

If a partial image is extracted from a panoramic image, then resource usage is reduced, but image resolution and clarity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage processing timeVSAvoidimage resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by capturing the complete panoramic image first, then extracting and processing only the necessary partial regions for detailed examination. This preliminary capture ensures that high-resolution data is available for all areas, and subsequent partial image extraction maintains original resolution quality while reducing processing time and resource usage for the final displayed images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts specific partial areas from the panoramic image for focused examination. This extraction process isolates regions of interest while preserving their original high-resolution quality from the panoramic capture, allowing users to view detailed images of specific teeth or areas without processing or displaying the entire panoramic dataset, thus reducing processing time while maintaining image resolution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This approach saves time and reduces radiation exposure while enhancing the definition and clarity of partial images, allowing for more efficient and precise imaging of specific areas without the need for full panoramic captures.

Implementation Method 1

a radiation source, configured to emit X rays; the X rays pass through the radiation source window and penetrate through the through-hole and the partial area to an area array detector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray penetration: X-Ray

Implementation Method 2

the area array detector, configured to convert the received X rays penetrating through the through-hole and the partial area to a projection image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray detection and conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3251599B1Method for capturing tomographic image by a computer tomography apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 HEFEI MEIYA OPTOELECTRONICS TECH
  • EP3251599B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3251599B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3251599B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A computed tomography device and a method for shooting a tomographic image using same. The device comprises: a radiation source (10) for emitting an X ray; a radiation source window (20); a baffle (30), a through-hole (31) provided in the baffle; a control module (40), connected to the baffle (30) via a drive device (A), and used for controlling a rotation centre of a rotation arm on the computed tomography device according to a pre-set shooting condition to determine a shooting position where an image is to be shot, when the shooting position where the image is to be shot is a local area of a target object (D), the control module regulating the baffle (30) via the drive device (A) according to the position of the local area, such that the X ray passes through the radiation source window (20), penetrates through the through-hole (31) and the local area and is emitted to a planar array detector (50); and the planar array detector (50) used for converting the received X ray penetrating through the through-hole (31) and the local area into a projection image. Compared with total field-of-view CT shooting, the device saves on shooting time, reduces the radiation dose and improves resolution.