Dual-Energy Imaging Signal Processing for Tube Voltage Variation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation imaging devices face challenges in maintaining image quality and reducing downtime due to variations in X-ray energy spectrum caused by tube voltage switching, requiring lengthy calibration and increased service costs.
Innovation Solution
A system and program that process detection signals to generate radiological images by alternately switching low and high tube voltages during rotation, using a waveform identification model to calculate average energy values and set parameters for image creation, thereby reducing calibration time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tube voltage is switched alternately between low and high values for dual-energy imaging, then image quality and substance differentiation are improved, but rise time and fall time occur due to transformer limitations causing energy spectrum variation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of the tube voltage waveform characteristics (rise time, fall time, steady-state intervals) before actual image acquisition. By pre-characterizing the waveform parameters, the system can compensate for energy spectrum variations during reconstruction, maintaining both substance differentiation accuracy and energy spectrum consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses waveform identification to continuously monitor and detect actual tube voltage waveform parameters during operation. This feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustment and compensation of energy spectrum variations, ensuring reliable and consistent dual-energy imaging despite transformer limitations.
2Measurement precision
If calibration is performed for each rotation speed and tube current to correct energy spectrum variations, then measurement precision is improved, but downtime and service costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The waveform identification model serves multiple functions: it characterizes tube voltage waveforms, identifies energy spectrum variations, and provides parameters for image reconstruction across different rotation speeds and tube currents. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate calibrations for each operating condition, reducing calibration time while maintaining energy spectrum accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing physical recalibration for each parameter combination, the system changes operational parameters (rotation speed, tube current) and uses waveform identification to adaptively adjust processing parameters. This allows the system to maintain measurement precision across varying conditions without time-consuming recalibration procedures.
3Productivity
If the number of views is constant, then productivity is maintained, but changing rotation speed changes sampling rate and steady-state interval duration causing energy spectrum variation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to changing rotation speeds by identifying the actual tube voltage waveform characteristics at each speed. Rather than maintaining fixed sampling parameters, the system adjusts sampling and reconstruction parameters based on the identified waveform, maintaining energy spectrum stability while allowing flexible productivity adjustments through rotation speed changes.
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 enhances image quality while minimizing downtime and service costs by accurately adjusting to variations in tube voltage waveforms, ensuring consistent energy spectrum sampling.
Implementation Method 1
The radiation includes low-energy radiation generated by applying a low tube voltage to the radiation tube, and high-energy radiation generated by applying a high tube voltage to the radiation tube
Implementation Method 2
a detection unit that detects the radiation transmitted through the imaging subject
Data Source
AI summary
A system, which includes a processor for processing a detection signal of radiation transmitted through an imaging subject to generate a radiological image, is described. The processor receives input for rotation speed and/or number of views per rotation, identifies a tube voltage waveform corresponding to the rotation speed and/or the number of views per rotation using a waveform identification model, calculates a low-energy average of radiation corresponding to a low voltage interval including the low steady-state interval of the tube voltage waveform and a part of the falling part of the tube voltage waveform, and a high-energy average of radiation corresponding to a high voltage interval including the high steady-state interval of the tube voltage waveform and another part of the falling part of the tube voltage waveform, and sets a parameter used for creating the radiological image in accordance with the low-energy average and the high-energy average.