Medical CT Voltage-Switching Delay Calibration for Substance Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CT systems face challenges in accurately identifying substances due to small voltage differences between high and low tube voltages in kV switching technology, leading to image quality deterioration from individual differences and part deterioration over time.
Innovation Solution
A medical system and method for determining optimal delay times by calculating effective voltage differences using a detector assembly with sub-regions and processors to adjust delay times based on energy information, ensuring a large effective voltage difference for accurate substance identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tube voltage is switched between high and low values in kV switching technology, then the ability to distinguish between substances is improved, but the accuracy of identifying substances deteriorates when the voltage difference is small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the delay time parameter in the tube voltage switching process. The control device changes the delay time based on the difference between high and low tube voltages to optimize the effective voltage difference, thereby maintaining high substance identification accuracy across different voltage settings.
2Productivity
If the tube voltage is switched quickly between high and low values, then the scanning efficiency is improved, but the rise time and fall time cause image quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-setting optimal delay times that account for the rise time and fall time of the tube voltage. The control device stores multiple delay time values corresponding to different voltage differences and selects the appropriate delay time before each voltage switching operation, thereby compensating for the transient effects in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the delay time adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The control device dynamically selects delay time values based on the actual voltage difference between high and low tube voltages, allowing the system to optimize performance for different operating conditions.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed delay time is used for tube voltage switching, then the system operation is simplified, but individual differences and part deterioration cause delay time deviation and image quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a calibration process that measures the actual rise time and fall time of the tube voltage and uses this information to determine optimal delay times. The control device stores multiple delay time values and selects the appropriate one based on the measured voltage characteristics, thereby compensating for individual differences and aging effects.
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
The system achieves improved image quality by dynamically setting delay times to maximize effective voltage differences, addressing individual system variations and part deterioration, thereby enhancing diagnostic accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a detector assembly for detecting X-rays irradiated from the X-ray tube
Implementation Method 2
a filter, the reference region including a first sub-region for detecting X-rays that have passed through the filter
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a medical system and method for setting a first delay time from when the tube voltage is switched to a high kV to when data collection starts and a second delay time from when the tube voltage is switched to a low kV to when data collection starts, determining a high-kV first effective voltage value when a high kV is applied to the X-ray tube 104, determining a low-kV second effective voltage value when a low kV is applied to the X-ray tube 104, and calculating an effective voltage difference representing the difference between the effective voltage value and the effective voltage value. Furthermore, to execute the abovementioned steps, a plurality of times to acquire a plurality of effective voltage differences, and execute obtaining of a first optimal delay time and the second optimal delay time based on the plurality of effective voltage differences.