Radiation Dose Calculation Unit for Patient Exposure Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation treatment systems lack a device for calculating and managing radiation doses for patients, making it difficult to determine allowable radiation doses and formulate effective treatment plans.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that extract image and patient information from radiographic apparatuses, calculate the Effective Dose (ED) using conversion coefficients based on X-ray tube current, voltage output, and Source Image Receptor Distance (SID) values, and store this data for each patient, enabling integrated radiation dose management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiation treatment equipment is used without a radiation dose calculation device, then radiation treatment can be performed, but radiation dose management and estimation of allowable doses cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the radiation dose calculation function with the existing radiographic apparatus by integrating an effective dose calculation unit that utilizes already-acquired image information and examination parameters. This merging approach enables radiation dose management without requiring a completely separate dedicated device, thus improving reliability while controlling system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiographic apparatus is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it not only captures medical images but also calculates effective radiation doses and manages dose information. This multi-functionality allows the same device to serve both diagnostic imaging and radiation safety management purposes, addressing the need for dose calculation without adding separate specialized equipment.
2Measurement precision
If radiation dose calculation is implemented using image information and examination parameters, then accurate effective dose can be calculated, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring and storing image information and examination parameters during the normal radiographic examination process. These data are prepared in advance and organized in a structured manner, so when effective dose calculation is needed, the necessary information is already available, reducing additional processing time and maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiographic apparatus performs self-service by automatically calculating the effective dose using its own acquired image information and examination parameters. The calculation unit utilizes data that the apparatus has already collected during the imaging process, eliminating the need for external manual data collection or separate measurement procedures, thus maintaining processing efficiency while achieving accurate dose calculation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for managing radiation doses is provided. The apparatus includes an information extraction unit configured to extract information about a patient to be examined, information about an image acquired by examining a bodily region of the patient using a radiographic apparatus, and information about the examination performed by the radiographic apparatus, a radiation dose calculation unit configured to calculate, using the image information, an effective dose generated by the radiographic apparatus when acquiring the image, and a dose data storage unit configured to store effective dose data in a database, the effective dose data including the calculated effective dose, the patient information, and the examination information.