Fluoroscopy Image Buffer Threshold Management for Real-Time Display
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluoroscopy systems face delays in image processing and display, leading to non-real-time experiences and increased radiation exposure for patients due to the host processor's inability to keep up with the rate of incoming images.
Innovation Solution
A fluoroscopy system that stores images in a buffer until it reaches a predetermined threshold, then processes and displays them, while skipping images and storing them in memory if the buffer is full, ensuring real-time processing and minimizing radiation exposure by maintaining a recent image display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the host processor processes all incoming fluoroscopy images at full rate, then image processing completeness is improved, but processing speed becomes insufficient causing buffer accumulation and display delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bottleneck of real-time processing by separating image processing into two pathways: critical recent images are processed immediately by the host processor for real-time display, while less critical older images are processed offline later. This extraction of non-critical processing tasks allows the system to maintain real-time display capability without being overwhelmed by the full image stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image processing workload into two distinct segments: real-time processing of recent images and offline processing of historical images. This segmentation allows the host processor to focus on time-critical images while buffer management handles the backlog, resolving the contradiction between processing completeness and display timeliness.
2Productivity
If the buffer stores more images to maintain processing backlog, then image capture continuity is improved, but buffer filling increases causing older images to be processed non-real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic buffer management where the buffer threshold is adjusted based on host processor performance. When the processor is keeping up with the image rate, the threshold allows larger buffer accumulation. When processing falls behind, the threshold reduces to prioritize real-time processing. This dynamic adjustment maintains capture continuity while minimizing delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system selectively skips storing older images in the buffer when the threshold is exceeded, rushing through the critical path of recent images for real-time processing. This skipping of non-critical older images prevents buffer overflow while ensuring timely processing of diagnostically relevant recent images.
3Reliability
If the system processes all images in real-time, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but radiation exposure increases due to extended examination time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different processing quality levels to different images based on their diagnostic importance. Recent images are processed with full real-time quality for immediate diagnostic use, while older images receive deferred processing. This ensures diagnostic accuracy for critical recent images while reducing overall examination time and radiation exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial real-time processing on only the most recent and diagnostically critical images, rather than attempting to process all images at full real-time speed. This partial action on the critical subset maintains diagnostic accuracy for current examination needs while reducing total processing time and associated radiation exposure.
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 ensures real-time image display, reduces radiation dose to patients, and allows for offline processing and retrieval of all captured images, enhancing diagnostic reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Images are produced on a display as the un-attenuated X-rays interact with atoms in the panel through the photoelectric effect, giving their energy to the electrons. While much of the energy given to the electrons is dissipated as heat, a fraction of it is given off as visible light, producing the images.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A fluoroscopy system (1) for processing and real-time display of fluoroscopy images (100) comprising: - a buffer (13) storing a first image (101) when the buffer (13) is below a threshold (3) as a stored image (120); - a unit (11) processing the stored image (120) and generating a processed image (110); - a display (12) displaying processed images (110); - a memory (14) storing a second image (102) as a stored unprocessed image (130) when the buffer (13) is not below the threshold (3), and storing processed images (110) as stored processed images (140).