Dual-Spectral Tomography for Material Composition Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tomography methods, such as X-ray computed tomography, face challenges in deducing material composition from attenuation values due to the influence of both atomic number and density, leading to difficulties in distinguishing materials with different chemical and physical compositions, and are affected by patient movement during imaging.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a tomography machine with at least two recording systems operating with different spectral distributions to acquire spectral data in a single scan, allowing for simultaneous measurement of attenuation data by detectors, which reduces scanning time and enables the calculation of material composition by evaluating density and atomic number distributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple recordings with different spectral distributions are made sequentially, then additional information on material composition is obtained, but recording time increases and patient movement artifacts worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple recording systems with different spectral distributions into a single tomography machine, allowing simultaneous acquisition of multiple spectral datasets during one scanning operation. This merging approach enables obtaining material composition information from different spectral distributions without requiring sequential scans, thereby reducing total recording time and minimizing patient movement artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spectral distribution as an additional dimension for data acquisition by equipping the tomography machine with multiple recording systems that capture data across different spectral ranges. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous measurement of attenuation coefficients at multiple energy levels, providing material composition information without extending the temporal dimension (recording time) or spatial dimension (patient exposure duration).
2Loss of information
If multiple recordings with different spectral distributions are made sequentially, then material composition information is obtained, but patient movement artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple recording systems with different spectral distributions into a single integrated tomography machine, enabling simultaneous data acquisition. This eliminates the temporal gap between sequential scans that causes patient movement artifacts, ensuring that all spectral data are captured from the same patient position and physiological state, thereby maintaining high image reliability and quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous data acquisition across all spectral distributions during a single scanning operation. By maintaining uninterrupted measurement of attenuation coefficients at multiple energy levels simultaneously, the system captures consistent anatomical and physiological information without the breaks inherent in sequential scanning, thus eliminating movement-related artifacts and preserving image reliability.
3Loss of information
If different spectral distributions are used to determine material composition, then additional information is obtained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multiple recording systems with different spectral distributions within a single tomography machine, making the device multi-functional. Each recording system can be configured for specific spectral ranges, allowing the same machine to perform various imaging tasks (standard CT, spectral CT, material decomposition) without requiring separate specialized equipment, thus managing complexity through universal design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the recording function into multiple independent recording systems, each optimized for specific spectral distributions. This modular segmentation allows flexible configuration and independent optimization of each subsystem while maintaining overall system integration, making the complexity manageable through functional decomposition and parallel operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If attenuation values from single-energy X-ray images are used, then imaging is simple, but material composition cannot be distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy parameter of X-ray radiation by implementing multiple recording systems with different spectral distributions. By measuring attenuation coefficients at multiple energy levels simultaneously, the system obtains sufficient information to solve for material composition parameters (electron density and effective atomic number) without complicating the basic imaging principle, thus maintaining simplicity while enhancing material discrimination capability.
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 enhanced image data evaluation, reducing patient movement artifacts and enabling precise segmentation of soft tissue and bone, improving the informativeness of tomographic images by providing quantitative information on material composition without the need for additional native scans.
Implementation Method 1
X-ray computed tomography machines or C arc machines are used for recording and evaluating images
Implementation Method 2
The result of radiographic methods such as, for example, computed tomography... is firstly the representation of the attenuation of an X-ray beam along its path from the X-ray source to the X-ray detector
Data Source
AI summary
A method is for recording and evaluating image data with the aid of a tomography machine. At least two recordings with different spectral distribution are made of an examination area of an object. Further, measured data obtained from the two recordings are evaluated such that additional information relating to the examination area and/or a specific representation of the image of the examination area are/is obtained from the different spectral distributions. The tomography machine includes at least two separate recording systems. Further, it is operated such that the two recording systems operate with a different spectral distribution. As such, the additional information and the specific representation of an image can be obtained in conjunction with a reduced scanning time.