Quarantine CT Inspection System for Organic Contraband Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation imaging technologies, such as single-view and multi-view X-ray machines, are inadequate for effectively inspecting diverse contraband in quarantine settings, including organic materials like plants, animals, fruits, vegetables, and insects, due to limitations in imaging quality and the lack of a dedicated CT system for quarantine applications.
Innovation Solution
A CT inspection system for quarantine that includes a CT scan device, a computing unit for reconstructing image data, and a display unit to enhance the visibility of organic or contraband parts by distinguishing physical attributes, shape features, and texture, and optionally using dual-energy CT scans, grayscale adjustments, and color coding to highlight contraband.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single-view or multi-view X-ray machine is used for inspection, then the device complexity is low, but the imaging quality and ability to eliminate object overlap is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the imaging task into multiple views (front view, rear view, left view, right view) and processing each view separately through dedicated processing modules. This allows each module to focus on specific contraband types in specific views, improving detection precision while keeping individual module complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 2D X-ray imaging to 3D CT imaging by adding the depth dimension. The CT inspection system reconstructs three-dimensional images from multiple projection angles, enabling operators to view contraband from different spatial perspectives and effectively eliminate object overlap effects that plague 2D imaging.
2Measurement precision
If a CT system is used to eliminate object overlap, then the imaging quality improves, but the ability to provide notable display effect for various categories of contraband is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different display characteristics to different regions and types of contraband. The processing modules enhance display effects specifically for organic contraband, metallic contraband, and mixture contraband separately, rather than applying uniform processing to all objects. This provides notable and elaborate display effects for each category.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes to differentiate and highlight various types of contraband. The display module assigns different colors to represent different contraband categories (organic, metallic, mixture), making it easier for operators to rapidly identify and distinguish contraband types in the three-dimensional images.
3Measurement precision
If a quarantine-dedicated CT system is developed, then the accuracy of identifying organic contraband improves, but the device complexity and development difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a CT inspection system that can handle multiple types of contraband (organic, metallic, mixture) and multiple viewing angles (front, rear, left, right views) within a single integrated platform. The system performs substance identification and three-dimensional reconstruction for all contraband types, eliminating the need for separate specialized systems for each contraband category.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance identification module that acts as a mediator between the CT scanning system and the display system. This module analyzes the scanned objects, identifies their material composition, and provides enhanced display effects based on the identified substance types, thereby improving identification accuracy without requiring complex modifications to the core CT scanning hardware.
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
Improves the accuracy and efficiency of identifying contraband in quarantine by providing enhanced imaging capabilities, allowing human operators to rapidly and accurately distinguish organic and contraband materials.
Implementation Method 1
a CT scan device configured to perform CT scan on an object to obtain projection data
Implementation Method 2
reconstruction, based on the projection data, to obtain image data reflecting internal features of the object being scanned
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses an inspection system for quarantine and a method thereof. The CT technology is applied to the field of quarantine supervision, overcoming a problem of objects in an image of a single-view or a multi-view X-ray machine being overlapped, as well as a problem of organics including contrabands in a conventional CT image being not highlighted, not elaborated, and having bad contrast. Accuracy and efficiency of inspecting an object by human operator for quarantine inspection can be considerably improved, which is of a high application value.