CT Scan Protocol Reference System for Radiation Dose Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a significant subjective variation among doctors in setting CT scan protocols, particularly irradiation doses, leading to either inadequate or excessive radiation exposure during CT scans, affecting image quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that provide reference information for setting accurate CT scan protocols by retrieving and outputting a second pilot image, reconstructed image, and scan protocol from a database of patients with similar physical conditions, ensuring appropriate irradiation doses are set.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a high irradiation dose is applied to both a fat patient and a thin patient, then the scan image quality of the fat patient is improved, but the thin patient is subjected to excessive and unnecessary radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different irradiation doses to different patients based on their individual body characteristics (fat vs. thin). By retrieving reference scan protocols from the database that match the current patient's body type, the system ensures each patient receives a locally optimized dose - high enough for fat patients to achieve good image quality, but appropriately reduced for thin patients to avoid excessive radiation exposure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a low irradiation dose is applied to both a fat patient and a thin patient, then the patient radiation exposure is reduced, but the scan image noise of the fat patient becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The system retrieves reference scan protocols from the database that are matched to the patient's specific body characteristics. For fat patients, the system selects reference protocols with higher irradiation doses to ensure adequate image quality, while for thin patients, it selects protocols with lower doses. This local optimization ensures each patient group receives the minimum necessary radiation dose for acceptable image quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different doctors set scan protocols based on their subjective judgment, then the scan protocol can be customized, but significant variations in irradiation doses occur leading to inconsistent image quality and radiation exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a database of reference scan protocols from experienced doctors that serve as standardized templates. When a doctor needs to set a scan protocol, the system retrieves the appropriate reference protocol from the database based on patient characteristics, allowing doctors to copy and adapt proven protocols rather than creating them from scratch. This ensures consistency in irradiation dosing while maintaining the ability to customize for different patient types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides reference information including irradiation dose recommendations based on the retrieved scan protocols. This feedback mechanism guides doctors in setting appropriate doses by showing them what doses have been successfully used for similar patients, reducing subjective variation and promoting consistent, evidence-based dosing decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for providing reference information for a scan protocol are provided. The method includes: obtaining first basic information and a first pilot image of a patient to be scanned as index information; retrieving a second pilot image that matches the index information from a preset scan protocol database; and outputting a second pilot image, and a second reconstructed image and a second scan protocol in the preset scan protocol database which correspond to the second pilot image as reference information. If the second pilot image matches the index information, the physical condition of a scanned patient corresponding to the second pilot image is similar to that of the patient to be scanned, and the second pilot image, and the second reconstructed image and the second scan protocol in the preset scan protocol database which correspond to the second pilot image are outputted as reference information.