DXA Image Processing Apparatus for Bone Density Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accuracy of deriving bone density and bone mineral content from radiographic images generated using radiations with different energy levels is often reduced due to factors like noise, gas influence, and scattered radiation, affecting the reliability of the derived values.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that acquires and processes radiographic images from multiple detectors with different energy levels, generates a difference image, and evaluates the accuracy of bone density or bone mineral content derivation using indices for noise, gas influence, and scattered radiation, while correcting for imaging conditions and displaying results based on derived evaluation values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dual-energy radiographic images are used to derive bone density and bone mineral content, then the ability to obtain bone measurement data is improved, but the accuracy of derivation is reduced due to noise, gas influence, and scattered radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates an evaluation value that reflects the quality of the radiographic images by assessing noise levels, gas influence, and scattered radiation. This evaluation value provides feedback to determine whether the derived bone density and bone mineral content meet predetermined accuracy standards, enabling quality control and reliability assessment of the measurements
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate evaluation value is introduced as a mediator between the raw radiographic images and the final bone density measurements. This evaluation value serves as a quality indicator that assesses whether the image conditions are suitable for accurate derivation, acting as a gateway to ensure measurement reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If image data from two radiographic images with different energy levels is used for derivation, then bone mineral content can be calculated, but the accuracy is affected by image quality factors
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback through evaluation values that assess whether the dual-energy image data meets quality criteria for accurate bone mineral content derivation. This feedback mechanism ensures that the versatility of dual-energy measurement is maintained while monitoring and controlling the precision of the results
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
Improves the accuracy of bone density and bone mineral content derivation by accounting for noise, gas, and scattered radiation, ensuring higher reliability and accuracy in bone density measurement.
Implementation Method 1
one radiation detector that is provided on the incident side of the radiation mainly absorbs a low-energy component of the radiation and generates image data of a radiographic image and the other radiation detector mainly absorbs a high-energy component of the radiation and generates image data of a radiographic image
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a conversion element that generates a larger amount of charge as it is irradiated with a larger amount of radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit acquires first radiographic image data and second radiographic image data and derives bone density from an image of a derivation region of a DXA image which is a difference image between a first radiographic image and a second radiographic image. Then, the control unit derives an evaluation value of the accuracy of derivation of the bone density, on the basis of at least one of the first radiographic image, the second radiographic image, and a bone part ES image, a soft part ES image, and a DXA image which are generated using the first radiographic image and the second radiographic image.