Dose-Sparing Tomographic Imaging via Variable Arc Beam Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current three-dimensional imaging systems, such as CT systems, expose healthy tissues to significant radiation during procedures like image-guided radiotherapy, leading to concerns about radiation-induced cancer in non-cancerous tissues.
Innovation Solution
The system emits radiation beams from multiple locations along arcs with varying densities and divergence angles, acquiring projection images to generate a three-dimensional image while minimizing the radiation dose to non-target volumes, using techniques like Algebraic Reconstruction Technique for image reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional CT imaging is used to generate three-dimensional images, then adequate imaging of the target volume is achieved, but significant radiation dose is exposed to healthy tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging process is segmented into two distinct phases: a first arc emission phase with lower beam density for reduced dose, and a second arc emission phase with higher beam density for enhanced imaging quality. This segmentation allows the system to balance radiation exposure with imaging requirements by acquiring data at different density levels from different angular positions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the circular emission path are assigned different beam densities. The first plurality of locations along the first arc has a lower density than the second plurality of locations along the second arc. This local differentiation in beam density allows the system to minimize radiation dose in certain angular directions while maintaining adequate imaging quality in other directions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If radiation beams are emitted from multiple locations along arcs with varying densities, then radiation dose to surrounding tissues is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the emission parameters including beam density, divergence angle, and intensity at different locations along the arcs. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt the radiation emission profile to minimize dose to surrounding tissues while maintaining imaging quality, thereby managing complexity through controlled variability rather than fixed high-dose protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies multiple parameters including beam density, divergence angle, and intensity across different emission locations. By changing these parameters systematically along the arcs, the system achieves dose reduction while maintaining imaging capability, managing the complexity through parameter optimization rather than requiring fundamentally different hardware.
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 allows for effective imaging of the target volume while reducing the radiation dose to surrounding tissues, thereby minimizing the risk of radiation-induced cancer in healthy tissues.
Implementation Method 1
The X-ray source then emits X-ray radiation that passes through the portion of interest and is received by the radiation receiver
Implementation Method 2
The receiver produces a set of data that represents the attenuative properties of tissues that lie between the X-ray source and the receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes emission of a first plurality of radiation beams from respective ones of a first plurality of locations along a first arc, acquisition of a first plurality of projection images of a target based on the first plurality of radiation beams, emission of a second plurality of radiation beams from respective ones of a second plurality of locations along a second arc, acquisition of a second plurality of projection images of the target based on the second plurality of radiation beams, and generation of a three-dimensional image of the target based on the first plurality of projection images and the second plurality of projection images, wherein a density of the first plurality of locations along the first arc is less than the density of the second plurality of locations along the second arc.