Dynamic Imaging Quality Control Device for Medical Radiography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dynamic imaging quality control in medical fields is inefficient due to the need for manual and time-consuming evaluation of multiple frame images, which can lead to misdiagnosis and increased exposure doses, and existing methods fail to accurately assess low contrast resolution and image lag.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic imaging quality control device and method that determines a target frame image from among multiple frame images to generate quality information, including low contrast resolution and image lag assessment, to output quality control data efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If quality control is performed on every frame image in dynamic imaging, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the quality control process by dividing multiple frame images into groups and selecting only specific representative frames (e.g., first frame, last frame, or frames with significant quality changes) for detailed QC evaluation. This segmentation approach maintains measurement precision for critical frames while reducing overall processing time by excluding unnecessary frames from intensive analysis.
2Productivity
If multiple frame images are averaged for QC, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to loss of minimum value information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing quality evaluation on individual frame images before averaging them. The system first assesses each frame for low contrast resolution and other quality metrics, then uses these pre-evaluated results to determine the final QC outcome. This ensures that the minimum value information is captured in the individual frame assessments before any averaging occurs, maintaining measurement precision while still benefiting from productivity gains through automated processing.
3Productivity
If dynamic imaging is performed with longer irradiation time, then productivity is improved, but temperature of radiation source increases causing harmful factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the radiation source temperature during dynamic imaging and using this temperature information to adjust QC evaluation parameters. The system correlates temperature changes with pixel value variations and compensates for these effects in the quality assessment. This feedback mechanism allows longer irradiation times for improved productivity while correcting for the harmful temperature-induced radiation dose variations, preventing misdiagnosis.
4Measurement precision
If manual QC is performed individually by radiologists, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary automated QC system that processes dynamic imaging data and generates preliminary quality assessments. This intermediary system performs initial quality control evaluations, identifies frames requiring detailed review, and prepares structured reports. Radiologists then focus their expertise on reviewing only the flagged cases or making final decisions based on the automated analysis, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while significantly improving productivity through the division of labor between automated processing and human expertise.
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamic imaging quality control device performs quality control of dynamic imaging in which a dynamic state of a subject is imaged by irradiating the subject with radiation. The device includes a hardware processor that: determines a target frame image as a target of quality control from among multiple frame images constituting a dynamic image obtained by the dynamic imaging; generates quality information regarding quality of the dynamic imaging by using the determined target frame image; and outputs the quality information