Dose Modulated X-ray Scanning for Noise Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dose modulated X-ray scanning faces challenges in noise uniformity due to significant attenuation variance in Z-direction, leading to blurred images, particularly at regions like the neck-shoulder junction where area differences cause varying X-ray exposure.
Innovation Solution
A method for dose modulated X-ray scanning that sets a target image quality standard, determines a reference data level, calculates theoretical X-ray scanning doses, and performs noise reduction on data levels with high attenuation differences relative to the reference, using formulas to adjust X-ray attenuation diameters and apply de-noising techniques to achieve uniform image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If fixed dose X-ray exposure is used in a single scanning region, then the exposure process is simple, but the noise uniformity deteriorates due to large attenuation variance in Z-direction
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning region is divided into multiple data levels along the Z-direction, with each level receiving a customized X-ray dose according to its specific attenuation characteristics. This segmentation allows different dose levels to be applied to different anatomical regions (e.g., neck vs. shoulder), resolving the contradiction between simple exposure process and noise uniformity by making the dose distribution adaptive rather than uniform.
Solution Approach 2:
Different X-ray doses are applied to different local regions (data levels) based on their attenuation variance characteristics. Regions with high attenuation variance receive higher doses, while regions with low variance receive lower doses. This local quality approach ensures optimal noise uniformity in each specific region while maintaining overall process efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If higher X-ray dose is applied to compensate for large attenuation variance, then the noise uniformity improves, but the radiation dose to patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The X-ray dose parameter is dynamically adjusted based on the attenuation variance of each data level. By changing the dose parameter locally rather than uniformly, the system achieves noise uniformity only where needed (in regions with high attenuation variance) while minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure in regions with low variance, thus resolving the contradiction between noise uniformity and radiation dose.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying a uniformly high dose to the entire scanning region, the system applies elevated doses only partially to specific data levels that require it. This partial action approach achieves the necessary noise uniformity in problematic regions while avoiding excessive radiation to the entire patient body.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple exposures are performed to achieve uniform noise, then the noise uniformity improves, but the scanning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of attenuation variance for each data level before the actual X-ray exposure. Based on this preliminary analysis, it pre-determines the optimal dose level for each region, allowing a single exposure to achieve uniform noise across all regions. This eliminates the need for multiple sequential exposures while maintaining noise uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The X-ray dose is dynamically adjusted for each data level within a single scanning operation, rather than requiring multiple static exposures. This dynamic dose modulation allows the system to adapt to varying attenuation characteristics in real-time, achieving noise uniformity in one pass and thus resolving the time-consuming issue of multiple exposures.
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 approach improves image quality by reducing noise and maintaining uniformity in X-ray scanning data across regions, ensuring clear images even in areas with large attenuation variance, such as the neck-shoulder junction.
Implementation Method 1
X-ray scanning in which the dose of the X-ray scanning varies synchronously with both attenuation difference of scanning position and angular difference of rotary scanning
Implementation Method 2
attenuation difference of scanning position and angular difference of rotary scanning
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for dose modulated X-ray scanning, where, according to an example of the method, a theoretical X-ray scanning dose for a scanning region may be calculated according to a target image quality standard set for the scanning region and a reference data level determined for the scanning region. Then, an X-ray attenuation difference between each data level corresponding to the scanning region and the reference data level may be calculated according to the theoretical X-ray scanning dose. In this way, a data level where the X-ray attenuation difference with the reference data level is higher than a threshold may be selected out from the data levels corresponding to the scanning region as a target to be de-noised, and a noise reduction may be performed for the target to be de-noised.