X-ray CT Bed Positioning with Movable Region Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional X-ray CT apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining the movable and imageable regions of a bed along the transverse and height directions due to limitations in gantry opening size and imaging conditions, leading to potential bed collisions with the gantry and incorrect imaging settings.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray CT apparatus with a movable region calculating unit that considers bed positional information, subject size, and gantry tilt angle to determine safe movement destinations, and an imageable region calculating unit that accounts for filter size and radiation intensity, both displayed alongside reference images to ensure correct positioning and imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the bed is moved along the transverse direction or height direction to place the imaging region at the revolution center, then the spatial resolution of CT images is improved, but the risk of bed collision with the gantry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and displays the movable region in advance before bed movement occurs. By showing the operator the safe movement range on the reference image, the system prevents bed collision with the gantry while enabling optimal positioning for improved spatial resolution.
2Reliability
If the bed movement range is limited by the gantry opening diameter, then the structural safety is maintained, but the flexibility of positioning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable region is calculated and displayed in advance based on the current bed position and gantry opening constraints. This allows the operator to plan safe bed movements that maximize positioning flexibility while maintaining structural safety within the gantry opening diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference image with overlaid movable region information acts as an intermediary tool. It translates the physical constraints of the gantry opening into visual guidance, helping operators achieve flexible positioning without exceeding safety limits.
3Device complexity
If the bow tie filter size is fixed, then the radiation intensity control is simplified, but the adaptability to different imaging regions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and displays the imageable region in advance based on the selected bow tie filter size. This allows operators to pre-determine the optimal filter size and imaging region combination, simplifying the filtering process while adapting to different imaging requirements.
4Manufacturing precision
If the imageable region changes with bed position, then the imaging coverage is optimized, but the operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback by displaying the movable region and imageable region on the reference image. As the operator adjusts bed position and filter settings, the system updates the displayed regions to show the current imaging coverage, simplifying the operational complexity through continuous visual guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an X-ray CT apparatus that allows easy and correct confirmation of which position a bed can be moved to and which region can be imaged. The X-ray CT apparatus performs imaging for obtaining a scanogram 301 (S101), displays the scanogram 301 (S102), and calculates a transversely movable region 304 (S103). Further, the X-ray CT apparatus inputs size of a bow tie filter 103 (S201), inputs a transverse movement destination of a bed 106 (S105), calculates an imageable region on the basis of the size of the bow tie filter and the transverse movement destination 302 (S202), and displays the imageable region 305 (S203).