Mammographic AEC Sensor Weighting for Region Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mammographic systems face challenges in accurately identifying the region of interest, such as the mammary gland region, due to overlapping breast muscle absorption, which can lead to inappropriate radiation exposure and image quality issues during medio-lateral oblique imaging.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a radiation dose information detector and weighting coefficients to selectively identify the correct radiation dose measuring positions, preventing breast muscle overlap and ensuring accurate exposure control for the mammary gland region by multiplying radiation dose information with position-specific coefficients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radiation dose information is detected at multiple positions without weighting, then comprehensive dose data is obtained, but breast muscle may be misidentified as the region of interest leading to incorrect exposure control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different weighting coefficients to different detection positions based on their anatomical significance. The mammary gland region is assigned a higher weighting coefficient (first weighting coefficient) while the breast muscle region is assigned a lower weighting coefficient (second weighting coefficient). This differentiation allows the system to prioritize dose information from the region of interest while still considering other areas, thereby improving identification accuracy without requiring completely separate detection systems.
2Reliability
If weighting coefficients are applied to select radiation dose measuring positions, then accurate mammary gland region identification is achieved, but breast muscle overlap is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing weighting coefficients for different detection positions before the actual radiation exposure. The system determines the appropriate weighting coefficients based on the expected anatomical structure and stores them in advance. During the actual measurement, the system simply retrieves and applies these pre-determined coefficients to the detected dose information, eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis and reducing measurement difficulty while maintaining high reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If radiation dose is increased to improve image quality of mammary gland region, then better image information is obtained, but unnecessary radiation exposure to breast muscle is avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback by using the radiation dose information detected at multiple positions to continuously monitor and adjust the exposure control. The system calculates the weighted sum of dose information from different positions, compares it with the target dose for the mammary gland region, and adjusts the radiation output accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the mammary gland region receives the necessary radiation dose for high-quality imaging while preventing excessive exposure to the breast muscle region.
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 effectively prevents breast muscle from being misidentified as the region of interest, allowing for accurate radiation image capture of the mammary gland region, enhancing image quality and exposure control in mammographic systems.
Implementation Method 1
apply a radiation emitted from a radiation source to a subject (patient), detect the radiation that has passed through the subject with a radiation detector
Implementation Method 2
detecting a dose of the radiation which has passed through the region to be imaged at a plurality of radiation dose measuring positions
Data Source
AI summary
A mammographic system as a radiation image capturing apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting a radiation, AEC sensors for detecting the radiation emitted from the radiation source and acquiring radiation image information for exposure control, a mammary gland position identifier for selecting at least one of the AEC sensors for outputting given radiation dose information based on the radiation dose information acquired by the AEC sensors thereby to identify a mammary gland position as a region of interest of a subject, a weighting coefficient allocator for multiplying output signals from the AEC sensors before the mammary gland position is identified by the mammary gland position identifier, by respective weighting coefficients depending on the installed positions of the AEC sensors, and a radiation source controller for controlling the radiation dose applied from the radiation source to the identified mammary gland position.