Mobile Radiography Focal-Spot Alignment With Anti-Scatter Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital mobile radiography systems face challenges with precise alignment of the anti-scatter grid, leading to degraded image quality due to misalignment, which is often not visually detectable and affects the contrast resolution of the x-ray images.
Innovation Solution
An automated system for digital mobile radiography that aligns the x-ray tube focal spot with the focal axis of the anti-scatter grid and collimates the x-ray beam using an articulated arm, collimator shutters, and a radiography computing device to ensure accurate positioning and scatter control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual alignment method is used for anti-scatter grid positioning, then operator effort is reduced, but alignment precision deteriorates leading to degraded image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual visual alignment method with an automated computer-controlled positioning system. The system uses a computer to calculate and control the position of the anti-scatter grid and x-ray source, substituting mechanical manual adjustment with automated computational control to achieve precise alignment without operator effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer as an intermediary between the operator and the positioning system. The computer receives input about the anatomy of interest, calculates optimal positioning parameters, and controls the movement of the anti-scatter grid and x-ray source, serving as a mediator that translates operational simplicity into precise alignment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high ratio anti-scatter grid is used, then scatter control improves, but alignment precision requirement increases making operation more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual alignment procedures with automated computer-controlled positioning. The system automatically calculates and adjusts the position of the high ratio anti-scatter grid and x-ray source to achieve precise alignment, eliminating the operational difficulty that would otherwise accompany using high ratio grids.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-alignment through automated computer control. The computer automatically positions the anti-scatter grid and x-ray source without requiring operator intervention for alignment adjustments, allowing the system to serve itself in achieving the precise positioning required for high ratio grid effectiveness.
3Measurement precision
If automated alignment system is implemented, then alignment precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single computer-controlled system. The computer performs image acquisition, positioning calculation, and control of both the anti-scatter grid and x-ray source movement, consolidating what would otherwise be separate systems into one multi-functional device that achieves precise alignment without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
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 system achieves rapid, accurate alignment of the x-ray focal spot with the anti-scatter grid, improving image quality by reducing scattered radiation and enhancing contrast resolution, thereby producing clearer diagnostic images with minimal operator effort.
Implementation Method 1
The anti-scatter grid reduces the contribution of the secondary out-of-focus scattered X-rays and increases the image's contrast resolution
Implementation Method 2
The x-ray image is captured by the digital image detector
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile radiography system has an x-ray source assembly configured to activate a digital x-ray detector through X-rays striking the digital x-ray detector and one or more shutters installed in a collimator in a stream of the X-rays configured to project an alignment image onto the digital x-ray detector. Further, the mobile radiography system has a processor that receives data indicative of the alignment image and the anatomy of interest, generates a first digital image indicative of the alignment image and the anatomy of interest, and analyzes the first image and determining if a focal spot of the x-ray source assembly is aligned with a focal axis of an anti-scatter grid and the digital x-ray detector based on the first digital image.