CT Detector Data Compression Using Lossy-Lossless Staging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern computed tomography systems face challenges in efficiently compressing and transmitting massive multi-dimensional data while minimizing information loss, as lossy compression limits achievable ratios and lossless compression is slow and insufficient.

Innovation Solution

A two-stage data compression scheme is implemented, using lossy compression followed by lossless compression, leveraging noise levels and photon distribution to optimize efficiency and then employing entropy coding methods like ANS for further compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If lossy compression is used to increase compression ratio, then bandwidth and storage requirements are reduced, but information loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation lossVSAvoidcompression ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The compression process is divided into two distinct stages: first a lossy compression stage that achieves significant compression ratio, followed by a lossless compression stage that recovers information. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both high compression ratios and minimal information loss by combining the strengths of both approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the precision of detector data through controlled rounding or truncation in the lossy stage, then fully recovering these parameters in the lossless stage. This allows flexible control over the balance between compression ratio and information preservation depending on the specific application requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If lossless compression is used to minimize information loss, then data accuracy is maintained, but processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidinformation loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The compression process is divided into two distinct stages: first a lossy compression stage that achieves significant compression ratio, followed by a lossless compression stage that recovers information. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both high compression ratios and minimal information loss by combining the strengths of both approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lossy compression stage performs a partial compression action that removes only the least significant information, while the subsequent lossless stage completes the compression without further information loss. This partial action approach allows the majority of compression to occur in the faster lossy stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Quantity of substance

If higher compression ratio is achieved, then bandwidth requirements are reduced, but data transmission time may increase due to complex processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata volumeVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The compression process is divided into two distinct stages: first a lossy compression stage that achieves significant compression ratio, followed by a lossless compression stage that recovers information. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both high compression ratios and minimal information loss by combining the strengths of both approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lossy compression stage performs a partial compression action that removes only the least significant information, while the subsequent lossless stage completes the compression without further information loss. This partial action approach allows the majority of compression to occur in the faster lossy stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4629632A1Compressing data of a computed tomography system
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
  • EP4629632A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4629632A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4629632A1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

For compressing data of a computed tomography, CT, system (1), detector data (5) is received from an X-ray detector of the CT system (1), pre-compressed data (6) is generated by compressing the detector data (5) using a lossy compression method, and fully compressed data (7) is generated depending on the pre-compressed data (6) using a lossless compression method.