Movable ROI Filter for Dynamic X-ray Dose Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current X-ray imaging apparatuses face challenges in reducing X-ray doses while maintaining image quality, particularly in minimizing the field of view loss by ensuring that X-rays with lower doses than the region of interest (ROI) are incident on non-ROI areas.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray imaging apparatus with a movable ROI filter that filters X-rays between the X-ray source and detector, allowing X-rays with lower doses than the ROI to be incident on non-ROI areas, and is controlled to move in a three-dimensional space based on the ROI's movement and size, ensuring reduced X-ray doses on non-ROI regions without losing imaging region information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is used to reduce X-ray dose on non-ROI areas, then X-ray safety is improved, but field of view loss occurs in the X-ray image
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is made movable along the optical axis between the X-ray source and detector, allowing dynamic adjustment of its position. When the filter is moved closer to the detector, it reduces X-ray dose on non-ROI areas while maintaining field of view information. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by enabling dose reduction without permanent FOV loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter positioning is extended from static 2D plane filtering to 3D spatial control by moving the filter along the optical axis (z-axis). This additional dimensional control allows the filter to reduce dose on non-ROI areas while preserving field of view information through optimized z-positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the filter position is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to moving ROI is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from ROI position detection to control filter movement. The controller receives information about ROI position and size, then automatically adjusts the filter's position and shape accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables adaptability to moving ROI while keeping the control system integrated and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable filter serves multiple functions: it filters X-rays to reduce dose on non-ROI areas, adapts to moving ROI positions, and can be adjusted in both position and shape. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while enhancing adaptability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If X-ray dose is reduced on non-ROI areas, then patient safety is improved, but image quality in those areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filter's dynamic positioning along the optical axis allows optimization of the balance between dose reduction and image quality. By adjusting the z-position, the system can reduce dose on non-ROI areas while maintaining sufficient image quality for clinical purposes, resolving the contradiction through controlled variable adjustment.
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 solution enables low-dose X-ray imaging with minimal field of view loss, allowing for real-time video imaging and dynamic control of the ROI filter to synchronize with the movement of the ROI, thus enhancing safety and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a region of interest (ROI) filter 141 configured to filter the X-rays radiated from the X-ray source 110 so that X-rays having a dose lower than that of a region of interest (ROI) are incident on a non-ROI
Data Source
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AI summary
An X-ray imaging apparatus and method are provided. The X-ray imaging apparatus (100) according to an aspect includes an X-ray source (110) configured to radiate X-rays onto a subject region, an X-ray detector (120) configured to detect the radiated X-rays and obtain a plurality of frame images of the subject region, and an region-of-interest (ROI) filter (140), such as a collimator (141), located between the X-ray source (110) and the X-ray detector (120), configured to move toward the X-ray source (110) and the X-ray detector (120), and configured to filter the X-rays radiated from the X-ray source (110).The position and dimensions of the ROI collimator (141) can be dynamically adjusted when the region-of-interest contains an object-of-interest which needs to be tracked, like a surgical device moved inside a patient's body.