Multi-Beam Cephalometric X-Ray Imaging in Compact Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cephalometric x-ray imaging requires a large source-to-detector distance, necessitating a significant physical space and limiting the applicability of such systems to environments with sufficient space, and existing methods do not efficiently utilize multiple x-ray sources to capture comprehensive craniofacial images without duplication or missing information.
Innovation Solution
A multi-beam x-ray source system with an array of individual x-ray sources and corresponding detector areas, employing a combination of projections and weighting processes to generate a combined cephalometric x-ray image, allowing for quasi-parallel geometry and reduced spatial requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large source-to-detector distance is used in conventional cephalometric x-ray imaging, then the imaging quality is improved, but the space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single x-ray source into multiple individual x-ray sources arranged in an array. Each source projects x-rays through different regions of the object to the detector, enabling comprehensive imaging without requiring a large source-to-detector distance. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide coverage and high imaging quality in a compact configuration.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple x-ray sources are used to capture comprehensive craniofacial images, then the imaging coverage is improved, but the information duplication and missing data occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the x-ray source array and detector, where different sources are activated at different time periods based on the object region being imaged. The system dynamically adjusts which sources are active and how their images are combined, ensuring comprehensive coverage while minimizing duplication and information loss through coordinated temporal and spatial management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a weighting process that combines images from multiple sources with optimized weighting factors. This feedback mechanism adjusts the contribution of each source's image to the final composite, ensuring that overlapping regions are properly weighted and all anatomical structures are captured without excessive duplication or missing information.
3Device complexity
If a single x-ray source is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the imaging efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual x-ray sources and their corresponding detector areas into a unified imaging system. By combining the capabilities of multiple sources operating in coordination, the system achieves comprehensive craniofacial imaging in a single setup, significantly improving imaging efficiency compared to sequential single-source methods while maintaining manageable device complexity through integrated control.
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 high-quality cephalometric imaging without the need for large source-to-detector distances, facilitating compact setups and minimizing duplication or missing information through efficient use of multiple x-ray sources and detector areas.
Implementation Method 1
a source array including a plurality of individual x-ray sources... projecting through the object, during a plurality of distinct time periods, x-rays from individual x-ray sources
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects relate to generating cephalometric x-ray images by placing a source array including a plurality of individual x-ray sources, at a first location of one side of an object to be irradiated, placing a detector including a plurality of detector areas corresponding to the plurality of individual x-ray sources at another location on another side of the object opposite the first side, and projecting through the object, during a plurality of distinct time periods, x-rays from individual x-ray sources corresponding to the distinct time periods, and combining images generated by the projections to generate a combined cephalometric x-ray image.