Dental X-ray Imaging System with Optical Tracking for Artifact Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental X-ray imaging systems face challenges in maintaining patient stability during exposure, leading to image artifacts due to unwanted patient movement, which affects the accuracy of reconstructed CT volumes.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray imaging system with a rotating gantry housing both the X-ray source and detector, equipped with a depth information-producing camera and position information-producing component, allowing for simultaneous localization and continuous tracking of geometry changes, enabling X-ray exposure without head support and indirect geometry calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If head supporters are used to support patient during exposure, then patient stability is improved, but device complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical head supporters with an optical tracking system consisting of cameras and position information-producing components. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact with the patient while achieving equivalent or superior stability through continuous geometric tracking and artifact correction algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces depth information-producing cameras and position information-producing components as intermediaries to monitor and track patient geometry. These intermediaries enable indirect measurement of patient position and orientation, allowing for computational correction without direct mechanical support.
2Stability of the object's composition
If head supporters are used to support patient during exposure, then patient stability is improved, but imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs geometry calibration using the camera system before the actual X-ray exposure. This preliminary action establishes the initial geometric relationship between the patient and imaging system, allowing for rapid tracking during exposure without requiring time-consuming mechanical positioning adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous tracking of patient geometry throughout the entire exposure duration using the camera system. This continuous monitoring enables real-time detection of any patient movement, allowing for immediate computational correction without interrupting the exposure or requiring repeated mechanical adjustments.
3Productivity
If patient movement occurs during exposure, then imaging speed is maintained, but image quality deteriorates due to artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the camera system continuously monitors patient geometry during exposure, and this information is fed back to the reconstruction algorithm. The system uses this feedback to detect and correct for any patient movement, maintaining image quality despite the patient's natural movements during the imaging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from trying to maintain fixed physical parameters (mechanical support) to dynamically adjusting computational parameters. The system adapts the reconstruction algorithm based on real-time geometric changes detected by the camera system, allowing image quality to be maintained through software compensation rather than physical constraint.
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
This solution effectively reduces image artifacts by synchronously acquiring location data with image data, improving the accuracy of 3D volume reconstruction and reducing the need for patient support during exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a depth information-producing camera, which is configured to produce a depth information
Implementation Method 2
The gantry comprises the source and detector. The controller is configured to control the source to emit X-ray radiation and the detector for receiving the emitted radiation in order to acquire an X-ray image data
Data Source
AI summary
The application relates to an X-ray imaging system (100) for dental X-ray imaging. The system comprises a controller, a rotating gantry (120), an X-ray source (124) for emitting X-rays, and an X-ray imaging detector (126) for receiving the X-rays from the source. The gantry comprises the source and detector (124, 126). The controller is configured to control the source to emit X-ray radiation and the detector for receiving the emitted radiation in order to acquire an X-ray image data. The system further comprises a depth information-producing camera (177), which is configured to produce a depth information, and a position information-producing component (183), which is configured to produce a position information, for acquiring at least a location data of the depth information-producing camera and detector during the irradiation, synchronously with the image data to be reconstructed.