Mobile Radiographic Imaging With Pre-Imaging Scatter Dose Mapping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radiographic imaging systems, particularly mobile types, fail to estimate the exposure dose accurately before dynamic imaging, especially in non-radiation management areas where external factors like room layout and patient bed arrangement affect scattering, necessitating appropriate evacuation guidance for operators and surroundings.

Innovation Solution

A radiographic imaging apparatus with an inputter, controller, and outputter that estimates and displays a scattered radiation dose map based on imaging settings, considering external factors and conditions, to guide safe evacuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a mobile radiographic imaging apparatus is used in a general hospital room (non-radiation management area), then imaging flexibility and accessibility are improved, but accurate estimation of scattered radiation dose before imaging becomes difficult due to varying external factors such as room layout and patient bed arrangement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging flexibilityVSAvoidradiation dose estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary estimation of scattered radiation dose before imaging by acquiring room layout information and calculating dose distribution in advance. The controller estimates the scattered radiation dose based on the imaging conditions and room layout, and displays the estimated dose to the operator before the actual imaging begins, allowing for advance safety assessment and operator positioning decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual model or map of the room layout and uses it to simulate and estimate radiation dose distribution. By copying the physical room layout into a digital representation, the system can perform calculations and display scattered radiation dose maps without requiring physical measurement devices in the actual imaging environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If radiation dose maps are displayed to manage operator exposure, then exposure management is improved, but the ability to estimate cumulative exposure dose before current imaging is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexposure managementVSAvoidcumulative exposure dose information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback by detecting the movement trajectory of the subject and storing the operator's position in association with X-ray irradiation history. The controller calculates the cumulative exposure dose based on past imaging data and current imaging conditions, then displays both the cumulative dose and the estimated additional dose from current imaging, providing continuous feedback to the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If scattered radiation dose is estimated based on imaging conditions such as imaging time, then dose estimation accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the estimation system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose estimation accuracyVSAvoidestimation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs multiple functions: it manages imaging conditions, calculates scattered radiation dose based on those conditions, tracks cumulative exposure, and displays dose maps. By integrating these functions into a single control unit, the system achieves accurate dose estimation considering imaging time and other parameters without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables accurate estimation and display of scattered radiation dose maps, providing safe evacuation guidance for operators and surroundings during dynamic imaging outside radiation management areas.

Implementation Method 1

a radiation generating apparatus repeatedly emitting radiation pulses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray generation: X-Ray

Implementation Method 2

there are various external factors such as the layout of the room of the imaging location and the arrangement of the patient bed, and the situation of scattering also varies depending on the imaging location

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScattered radiation: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP4640157A1Radiographic imaging apparatus of mobile type, program, and moving image capturing method
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP4640157A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4640157A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4640157A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a radiographic imaging apparatus of a mobile type that includes: an inputter that receives an input of a setting of moving image capturing; a controller that estimates a scattered radiation dose of the radiographic imaging apparatus of the mobile type based on the setting; and an outputter that outputs a scattered radiation dose map based on the scattered radiation dose.