Photon-Counting Detector Pixel Energy Bin Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photon-counting CT systems face challenges in managing the increasing amount of data required for high image quality, particularly due to the linear increase in data with the number of energy bins used, which demands higher memory and faster data transfer rates.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of pixel-based energy bin number modulation in a photon-counting imaging system, where different energy bin settings are applied to different detector pixels or regions based on the required image quality, allowing for a higher number of energy bins to be used in regions of high image quality while reducing the number of bins in regions of lower image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a larger number of energy bins are used to achieve high image quality, then image quality is improved, but data memory requirements and data transfer rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detector pixels into different groups, with each group using a different number of energy bins. This segmentation allows different regions to have different data requirements based on their specific imaging needs, rather than uniformly applying high data requirements across the entire detector array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different energy bin configurations to different spatial regions of the detector. Regions requiring high image quality use a larger number of energy bins, while regions where lower quality is acceptable use fewer energy bins. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between image quality and data requirements.
2Measurement precision
If a larger number of energy bins are used to achieve high image quality, then image quality is improved, but data transfer rates must increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the detector into regions with different energy bin counts, the patent reduces the overall data transfer rate requirement. Only regions needing high quality transfer large amounts of data, while other regions transfer less data, thereby reducing the peak and average data transfer rate requirements of the system.
3Measurement precision
If a larger number of energy bins are used to achieve high image quality, then image quality is improved, but data memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different numbers of energy bins to different detector pixel groups based on their specific imaging requirements. This approach ensures that memory is allocated efficiently - high-quality regions get sufficient memory resources while lower-priority regions use less memory, optimizing overall memory utilization.
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 maintains high image quality while significantly reducing the overall data requirements, thereby alleviating the memory and transfer rate demands of the system.
Implementation Method 1
a photon-counting detector configured to acquire, from an imaging object, projection data for a plurality of projection views
Implementation Method 2
The processing circuitry processes, with a first energy bin setting, the first projection data, the first energy bin setting indicating use of m energy bins, and processes, with a second energy bin setting, the second projection data, the second energy bin setting indicating use of n energy bins
Data Source
AI summary
A photon-counting imaging system is provided. The system includes a photon-counting detector and processing circuitry. The detector acquires, from an imaging object, projection data for a plurality of projection views. The detector has a plurality of detector pixels that are arranged in both a channel direction and a segment direction on a surface of the detector. The processing circuitry obtains the projection data acquired by the detector. The projection data includes first and second projection data. The processing circuitry processes, with a first energy bin setting, the first projection data, the first energy bin setting having m energy bins, and processes, with a second energy bin setting, the second projection data, the second energy bin setting having n energy bins, where n>m. The processing circuitry generates, based on the processed first projection data and the processed second projection data, a material decomposition image of the imaging object.