Dynamic Slice Configuration Selection for CT Scan Dose Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CT scanning technologies face challenges in optimizing scan doses for subjects of varying sizes, as fixed slice configurations can result in excessive radiation exposure due to inappropriate pre-scan lengths, leading to either excessive radiation or prolonged scan times.
Innovation Solution
A method for selecting a slice configuration that determines candidate configurations based on minimizing scan doses, calculating pre-scan lengths, and selecting the configuration with the minimum dose to ensure optimal radiation exposure during CT scans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a wider slice configuration is selected, then the pre-scan length increases and scan time decreases, but the scan dose increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the slice configuration parameters based on subject characteristics and scan requirements. By selecting from multiple predefined slice configurations with different widths, the system optimizes the balance between pre-scan length and scan dose, avoiding excessive radiation exposure while maintaining efficient scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The slice configuration is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically selects appropriate slice configurations from multiple options based on real-time considerations of subject size, scan protocol, and required image quality, allowing optimal adaptation to different scanning scenarios.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a narrower slice configuration is selected, then the pre-scan length decreases and scan dose reduces, but the scan time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts slice configuration parameters to find the optimal balance point. By selecting from multiple predefined configurations, it identifies the narrowest slice width that still maintains acceptable scan time, thereby reducing scan dose without causing excessive scanning duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects slice configurations based on subject characteristics and scan requirements, adapting the slice width to minimize scan dose while keeping scan time within acceptable limits for each specific scanning scenario.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed slice configuration is used for all subjects, then the system operation is simplified, but the scan dose becomes inappropriate for subjects of varying sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal slice configuration selection mechanism that works across different subject types and scan protocols. By maintaining a library of multiple slice configurations and automatically selecting the appropriate one, the system achieves both operational simplicity and dose optimization for diverse scanning scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes slice configuration parameters based on subject characteristics and scan requirements. This automatic parameter adjustment maintains operational simplicity while ensuring appropriate scan doses for subjects of varying sizes through intelligent selection from multiple predefined configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of selecting a slice configuration of a medical imaging apparatus is provided. The method includes: picking out two or more candidate slice configurations from available slice configurations of the medical imaging apparatus; determining a scan dose corresponding to each of the two or more candidate slice configurations; and selecting a candidate slice configuration corresponding to a minimum scan dose as a target slice configuration, where the target slice configuration is used for a current scan protocol.