Mammography Control Device Switching Projection Image and Irradiation Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mammography apparatuses, the projection image and the range of the irradiation field often overlap, leading to unrecognizable images due to overlapping light, making it difficult to display both simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a processor that switches between projecting the projection image and the irradiation field, adjusts brightness and saturation, and uses visual cues like lines or marks to differentiate the irradiation field, ensuring the projection image is more prominent or dimmed as needed to prevent overlap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If visible light is emitted to project the range of the irradiation field while the projection image is being projected, then the irradiation field range is indicated, but the projection image becomes unrecognizable due to light overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The system alternates between projecting the projection image and projecting the irradiation field range in different time periods. The control unit determines whether to project the projection image or the irradiation field range based on timing, ensuring they are not displayed simultaneously, thus avoiding light overlap while maintaining visibility of both when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If both projection image and irradiation field are projected at the same time, then both information are available, but both become unrecognizable due to overlapping light
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses time-division multiplexing to alternate between displaying the projection image and the irradiation field range. The control unit switches between these two display modes based on timing signals, ensuring that only one is projected at a time, thereby maintaining recognizability while providing both types of information during the imaging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the display mode between projection image and irradiation field range based on real-time conditions and timing. The control unit determines the appropriate display content at each moment, making the system adaptable to different stages of the imaging process while avoiding simultaneous projection that would cause overlap.
3Illumination intensity
If visible light is emitted to indicate the irradiation field, then the range is clearly marked, but the projection image display is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic switching between displaying the projection image and the irradiation field range. The control unit uses timing control to ensure that when the irradiation field range is projected with high illumination intensity for clear marking, the projection image is not displayed simultaneously, thus maintaining display accuracy while providing clear range indication.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device including: at least one processor, wherein the processor is configured control an image projection unit which projects a projection image onto a projection surface of a compression member and an irradiation field projection unit which projects a range of an irradiation field of radiation using visible light in a mammography apparatus which irradiates a breast compressed by the compression member with the radiation to capture a radiographic image such that projection of the projection image and projection of the range of the irradiation field are switched.