X-ray CT Rotor Speed Control for Power and Reacceleration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Medical image diagnostic apparatuses, such as X-ray CT machines, consume excessive power during scan waiting times and require a significant amount of time to regain rotation speed after stopping, leading to inefficiencies in energy usage and operational delays.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates processing circuitry that controls the rotation speed of the rotor during scan waiting times by reducing it to a lower speed, allowing it to maintain rotation and minimize power consumption, and uses a rotation speed controlling function to accelerate the rotor back to the required speed before the next exposure, thereby avoiding complete stops and reducing reacceleration time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the imaging system stops rotation during scan waiting time to reduce power consumption, then electric power consumption is reduced, but the time to regain rotation speed increases enormously
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the imaging system based on operational state. During scan waiting time, the rotation speed is reduced to a lower speed rather than stopping completely, and during imaging operation, it increases to a higher speed. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining motion (avoiding restart delays) while reducing energy consumption through speed modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the rotation speed parameter of the imaging system according to different operational phases. By transitioning between a first rotation speed (during imaging) and a second rotation speed (during waiting time), the system optimizes both power consumption and readiness for next imaging operation, avoiding the penalty of complete stops and restarts.
2Speed
If the imaging system maintains high rotation speed during scan waiting time, then the rotation speed is ready for immediate imaging, but electric power is wastefully consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic speed adjustment, transitioning between a higher rotation speed during imaging operations and a lower rotation speed during scan waiting time. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the capability for quick imaging resumption while significantly reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system periodically adjusts its rotation speed based on operational requirements - maintaining high speed during imaging phases and reducing to low speed during waiting phases. This periodic modulation of the rotation parameter allows the system to balance between energy efficiency and operational readiness.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a medical image diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray tube, a rotor and processing circuitry. The X-ray tube radiates an X-ray. The rotor holds the X-ray tube, and rotates together with the X-ray tube at least any of a first rotation speed used for scanning an object and a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed. The processing circuitry acquires information on a waiting time up to timing of exposure by the X-ray tube. The processing circuitry further controls a rotation speed of the rotor during the waiting time in accordance with the information on the waiting time.