Digital Panoramic Imaging Weighting Function Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panoramic imaging technologies face challenges in adapting to individual needs, particularly in varying the thickness of the sharply imaged layer, which is influenced by the distance of the instantaneous center of rotation, magnification, and X-ray beam width, leading to inconsistent imaging quality across the dental arch.
Innovation Solution
The method employs a digital shift-and-add operation with weighting functions that modulate the effective sensor width by assigning higher weights to central pixels and lower weights to off-center pixels, allowing for adaptive adjustment of the panoramic layer thickness based on specific imaging needs, including the use of symmetric or asymmetric weighting functions that vary along the frame and across the dental arch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the thickness of the sharply imaged layer is increased by reducing the width of the X-ray beam, then the imaging sharpness is improved, but the radiation dose to the patient increases and the field of view decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different beam widths at different positions along the dental arch. The X-ray beam width is reduced in the central region to increase sharpness for the focal plane, while maintaining a larger beam width at the periphery to reduce radiation dose and maintain field of view. This local variation in beam width resolves the contradiction between sharpness and radiation dose.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the effective sensor width through software weighting functions during the panoramic imaging process. By varying the weighting function parameters, the system can adaptively control the thickness of the sharply imaged layer without physically changing the X-ray beam width, thus avoiding increased radiation dose while maintaining imaging sharpness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the thickness of the sharply imaged layer is varied to accommodate different anatomical regions, then the adaptability to individual patient needs is improved, but the complexity of the imaging system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical systems (such as physical shutters or variable beam width devices) with a software-based weighting function approach. The effective sensor width is modulated through digital signal processing during the shift-and-add operation, eliminating the need for complex mechanical adjustments while achieving adaptability to different anatomical regions and patient needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the weighting function (such as the width and shape) to adapt the imaging characteristics to different anatomical regions. By adjusting these parameters in the software, the system can vary the thickness of the sharply imaged layer without changing the physical hardware, thus reducing system complexity while improving adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed weighting function is used for all frames, then the ease of operation is improved, but the imaging quality consistency across different regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic weighting function that automatically adapts to the position and characteristics of each frame based on the dental arch geometry and patient anatomy. The weighting function parameters are adjusted according to the frame number and spatial position, ensuring consistent imaging quality across different regions without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving imaging quality consistency.
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 approach enables precise control over the thickness of the panoramic layer, ensuring optimal imaging quality by enhancing the sharpness of the focal plane and accommodating the unique anatomy of individual patients, such as imaging both upper and lower jaws in a single scan.
Implementation Method 1
a source, which generates X-ray radiation; a sensor provided with a two-dimensional array of pixels, which are suitable for generating frames based on the X-ray radiation, which is generated by the source and passes through the patient
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for digital panoramic imaging in the head region of a patient is proposed. The apparatus comprises an X-ray source and X-ray sensor (12) as well as a control unit for processing the frames (14) provided by the sensor (12), in particular for performing a shift-and-add-operation on the frames (14) for generating a digital panoramic image of a focal plane (34) situated in a dental arch of the patient (2). In the digital shift-and-add operation, the frames (14) are weighted by weighting coefficients obtained from a weighting function (42) having, along a line extending across the frame (14)in the moving direction of the sensor (12), a maximum in a central region of the frame (14) and smaller values towards the edge of the frame (14), thus reducing the effective width of the sensor (12). The modulation of the effective width of the sensor (12) can be used for varying the width of the sharply imaged panoramic layer.