Automated Dose Control in 3D Dental X-Ray Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-ray imaging systems are not user-friendly and inefficient, often resulting in excessive radiation exposure to patients due to suboptimal exposure parameters, which can lead to unnecessary time consumption and increased radiation doses.
Innovation Solution
An automated method and system that determine exposure parameters based on scout images, considering physical characteristics of the patient and user-input image quality, to optimize radiation dose and image quality in three-dimensional dental X-ray imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If automated dose control is implemented, then radiation dose is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-measurement by acquiring scout images and automatically determining patient anatomical characteristics (size, density, attenuation properties) without requiring manual input from operators. The system then self-adjusts exposure parameters based on these measurements, enabling automated dose optimization that reduces radiation exposure while minimizing the need for complex external control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scouting before the main imaging procedure by acquiring low-dose scout images to characterize the patient's anatomy. Based on these preliminary measurements, the system pre-calculates optimal exposure parameters (kV, mA, exposure time) that will achieve the desired image quality with minimal radiation dose during the actual imaging procedure, thereby reducing overall radiation exposure.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual exposure parameter selection is used, then system complexity is low, but image quality deteriorates due to excessive radiation or insufficient exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses scout images as feedback to automatically adjust exposure parameters. By measuring patient-specific anatomical characteristics from the scout images and using this information to optimize kV, mA, and exposure time settings, the system achieves consistent high-quality images with appropriate radiation dosing without requiring manual operator intervention or complex trial-and-error adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically modifies exposure parameters (kilovoltage, current, exposure time) based on measured patient characteristics such as size, density, and attenuation properties. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures optimal image quality for each patient while minimizing radiation dose, eliminating the need for manual parameter selection and reducing variability in image quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If higher exposure parameters are used to improve image quality, then image quality improves, but radiation dose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different exposure parameters to different regions of the patient's anatomy based on local characteristics measured from scout images. By identifying areas with varying density and attenuation properties, the system optimizes exposure settings for each region, achieving high image quality where needed while minimizing radiation dose in less critical areas, thereby resolving the trade-off between image quality and radiation exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies the minimum necessary exposure parameters required to achieve adequate image quality for the specific imaging task and patient characteristics, rather than using excessive exposure settings. By calculating the precise exposure needed based on measured anatomical properties, the system avoids unnecessary radiation dose while maintaining sufficient image quality for diagnostic purposes.
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
The system reduces patient radiation exposure while maintaining or improving image quality by automatically calculating optimal exposure parameters and noise filtering, thus minimizing unnecessary radiation and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
acquire at least one scout image with an X-ray emitter and an X-ray receiver
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1D
Figure 2
AI summary
X-ray imaging systems and methods for dose control in three-dimensional dental X-ray imaging include acquiring at least one image of an object with an X-ray emitter and an X-ray receiver. A noise level is determined from the at least one image. At least one exposure parameter value based is determined based upon the noise level. The X-ray emitter and X-ray receiver acquire a plurality of projection images about the object using the at least one exposure parameter value. A three-dimensional X-ray image is reconstructed from the plurality of projection images.