Energy Subtraction Imaging for Clear Bone and Soft Tissue Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation imaging techniques using energy subtraction methods often result in residual structures from soft tissue appearing in bone images or vice versa, hindering accurate medical diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that performs energy subtraction processing using attenuation rates from multiple radiation energies to estimate material properties, generating separate images of first and second materials within an object, such as soft tissue and bone, by utilizing information from energy subtraction processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If energy subtraction processing is performed using conventional methods, then images of bone and soft tissue can be generated, but residual structures of one material remain in the other material's image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for energy subtraction by incorporating effective atomic number information and surface density information in addition to conventional attenuation coefficients. This allows for more accurate material decomposition and reduces residual structures by better characterizing the physical properties of different materials at multiple energy levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an iterative feedback mechanism where the image processing apparatus repeatedly performs energy subtraction processing, adjusts attenuation information based on calculated effective atomic numbers and surface densities, and regenerates images until convergence is achieved. This feedback loop continuously improves separation accuracy and minimizes residual structures.
2Measurement precision
If multiple attenuation rates at different radiation energies are used, then material separation can be improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex processing into distinct functional modules: one for calculating effective atomic numbers from attenuation rates, another for calculating surface density, and a third for iterative image regeneration. This modular segmentation makes the complex processing more manageable and implementable while maintaining high material separation accuracy.
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
Effectively reduces residual structures in images post-energy subtraction, enhancing diagnostic clarity by accurately separating soft tissue and bone images.
Implementation Method 1
A radiation imaging apparatus using a flat panel detector (to be abbreviated as an FPD hereinafter) is recently widespread as an imaging apparatus used for medical imaging diagnosis or non-destructive inspection by X-rays
Implementation Method 2
An imaging method using an FPD is energy subtraction. In energy subtraction, a plurality of images of different energies are obtained by, for example, emitting X-rays of different tube voltages
Implementation Method 3
Processing such as calculating those images to separate them into a bone image and a soft tissue image can be performed
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus comprises a processing unit configured to performing energy subtraction processing using information concerning a plurality of attenuation rates corresponding to a plurality of radiation energies that are different from each other and are obtained by performing imaging in which an object is irradiated with radiation. The processing unit estimates attenuation information of a decomposition target material contained in the object using at least one image obtained by the energy subtraction processing, and generates an image concerning the decomposition target material using the attenuation information and the information concerning the plurality of attenuation rates.