Integrated QA Phantom for Digital Radiography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional contrast and spatial resolution phantoms for digital radiography are cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly, requiring separate alignment and setup, which complicates quality assurance testing and increases the complexity of ensuring accurate and consistent imaging.
Innovation Solution
An integrated quality assurance phantom that combines a contrast phantom, spatial resolution mechanism, and digital sensor holder into a single self-aligning device, utilizing standard PCB manufacturing processes to create precise spatial resolution patterns, allowing for quick attachment to x-ray devices and efficient testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate contrast phantom and spatial resolution phantom are used, then comprehensive quality assurance is achieved, but alignment complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate contrast phantom and spatial resolution phantom into a single integrated phantom device. The contrast layer and spatial resolution test layer are stacked together in one housing, eliminating the need for separate alignment procedures while maintaining comprehensive quality assurance capabilities for both contrast and spatial resolution evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated phantom serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a contrast resolution test object and a spatial resolution test object in a single device. The housing is designed to accommodate both the contrast layer with various density materials and the spatial resolution test layer with precision patterns, enabling dual-purpose quality assurance.
2Reliability
If manual alignment of multiple phantoms is performed, then comprehensive testing is achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging contrast testing and spatial resolution testing into a single integrated phantom, the device eliminates the sequential setup time required for separate phantoms. The integrated design allows both types of testing to be performed in one placement action, significantly reducing setup time while maintaining complete testing coverage.
3Measurement precision
If conventional spatial resolution mechanisms are used, then resolution assessment is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses printed circuit board (PCB) technology to create spatial resolution test patterns by depositing conductive traces on a substrate. This manufacturing approach copies the spatial resolution test pattern using standard PCB fabrication processes, which are more cost-effective and scalable than conventional precision-machined spatial resolution mechanisms, while maintaining the required measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A quality assurance phantom configured for connection to a x-ray device including a housing member having an opening configured to receive a digital sensor, a frame member disposed within the housing member, the frame member configured to receive a phantom device, the phantom device comprising, a contrast layer configured to assess a contrast resolution, wherein the contrast layer is configured to provide two or more different contrast levels, and a spatial resolution test layer, wherein the spatial resolution test layer includes at least one trace disposed on a first surface of a substrate, and an attachment member configured to detachably secure the housing member to the x-ray device.