CT Imaging System K-Edge Flow Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CT imaging systems for determining substance flow within an object are influenced by effects related to the passage of X-ray radiation through the object, leading to diminished quality of determined flow values.
Innovation Solution
A CT imaging system utilizing a polychromatic X-ray source, energy-resolving X-ray detector, and a calculation unit to determine the k-edge component of the substance, reconstructing time series of k-edge images that isolate the substance from the object, thereby reducing the influence of object-related effects on flow value determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional CT imaging systems use X-ray radiation to determine flow values, then flow values can be determined, but the quality of determined flow values is diminished due to influence from object-related effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the X-ray spectrum into multiple energy ranges and processes each energy range separately through energy-resolved detection. This allows the system to isolate and analyze the k-edge component of the substance independently from other attenuating materials in the object, thereby eliminating object-related interference and improving flow value measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the k-edge component of the substance from the total attenuation signal by using energy-resolved detection and mathematical decomposition. This extraction process separates the substance-specific signal from the background object effects, enabling accurate flow determination without contamination from object-related artifacts.
2Measurement precision
If energy-resolving detection is implemented to isolate substance signal, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the energy dimension to the detection process by implementing energy-resolved detection that measures X-ray attenuation across multiple energy ranges. This dimensional enhancement allows the system to distinguish substance-specific k-edge effects from general object attenuation, improving measurement precision while the computational processing handles the increased data complexity.
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 enhances the quality of determined flow values by isolating the substance from the object, allowing for improved measurement of mean transit time and substance flow, particularly in applications like cerebral blood flow determination.
Implementation Method 1
a polychromatic X-ray source for emitting polychromatic X-ray radiation
Implementation Method 2
an energy-resolving X-ray detector for obtaining detection signals depending on said X-ray radiation after passing through said object energy-resolved
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a CT imaging system for determining the flow of a substance within an object, wherein the CT imaging system comprises a polychromatic X-ray source and an energy-resolving X-ray detector for obtaining detection signals depending on the X-ray radiation after passing through the object. A calculation unit (12) determines a k-edge 5 component of the substance from the detection signals, and a reconstruction unit (13) reconstructs a time series of k-edge image from the determined k-edge component. A flow determination unit (14) determines flow values indicative for the flow within the object from the time series of k-edge images.