CT Surview Scan Automation via Bed Graduation Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the context of computed tomography (CT) systems, operation technicians face a significant health risk during surview scans due to the need for direct contact with potentially infectious subjects, necessitating a method to perform scans without entering the scan room.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a camera to collect images of graduation patterns on a stationary scan bed, determine the scan beginning position and distance to a surview collection plane, and control the scan bed to move towards the plane, allowing for automated initiation of the surview scan without direct contact, using graduation patterns marked on the bed to maintain accurate positioning and distance measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the operation technician enters the scan room to position the subject manually, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the health risk to the operation technician increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary positioning system consisting of a camera, graduation patterns on the scan bed, and image processing algorithms. This intermediary system enables remote positioning without direct contact between the operation technician and the subject, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while eliminating infection risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical positioning process with an automated optical measurement system. The camera captures images of the subject and graduation patterns, and software algorithms automatically calculate positioning information, substituting the mechanical manual adjustment with an optical-digital hybrid system
2Manufacturing precision
If the operation technician manually positions the subject, then the scan setup accuracy is improved, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system performs self-service by automatically capturing images, processing the image data, calculating positioning information, and guiding the scan bed movement without requiring continuous manual intervention. The system uses the graduation patterns on the scan bed as self-reference markers to achieve automatic positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by capturing real-time images of the subject and graduation patterns, processing the image data to determine positioning accuracy, and automatically adjusting the scan bed position based on the calculated offset between the subject's actual position and the target position
3Reliability
If automated positioning is implemented using image processing, then the operation safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system serves multiple functions: it captures images for positioning, records video for monitoring, and provides visual feedback to the operation technician. The image processing system performs multiple tasks including detecting graduation patterns, identifying subject boundaries, calculating positions, and determining movement distances, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated components
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the physical scan scene by capturing images with the camera and processing them to extract positioning information. This optical-digital copy allows for precise measurement and calculation without requiring complex mechanical measurement devices in the scan room
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses and systems for surview scans are provided. In one aspect, a method includes: collecting an image for a subject on a scan bed of a computed tomography system when the scan bed is stationary; determining a scan beginning position for a surview scan in the image, where graduation patterns are marked on the scan bed, and a relative position between the graduation patterns and the scan bed remains unchanged; obtaining a first distance between the scan beginning position and a surview collection plane perpendicular to the scanning bed according to the graduation patterns in the image; controlling the scan bed to move toward the surview collection plane; and in response to determining that a scan bed moving distance reaches the first distance, starting the surview scan to obtain a surview image.