Radiation Imaging Dose Control With Irradiation Stop-Delay Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radiation imaging systems face difficulties in accurately recognizing communication delays that cause radiation generators to fail to immediately stop irradiation, leading to repeated imaging in the same environment.

Innovation Solution

A radiation imaging system with detection and correction pixels that measure and correct for delays in stopping radiation irradiation, incorporating a control unit to manage exposure and communication units for precise dose control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If automatic exposure control is implemented to stop irradiation based on measured radiation dose, then radiation dosage control is improved, but communication delays cause the radiation generator to not immediately stop irradiation leading to excessive dosage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation dose measurement accuracyVSAvoidirradiation stop timing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system measures the communication delay between the radiation imaging apparatus and generator in advance during a calibration phase. This pre-measured delay value is then used to compensate for timing errors in subsequent imaging operations, ensuring that the stop signal is sent at the correct time to account for the known communication lag.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the actual stop timing of the radiation generator and compares it with the expected timing. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts the delay compensation value to optimize the stop timing, creating a closed-loop control system that improves reliability over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If communication delay compensation is implemented, then irradiation stop timing accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional measurement and correction mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveirradiation delay timeVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-calibration by automatically measuring its own communication delay without requiring external equipment or manual intervention. The radiation imaging apparatus uses its existing components to measure the delay and generate compensation values, reducing the need for additional hardware while improving timing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If delay measurement and correction functions are added to the radiation imaging system, then dosing accuracy is improved, but the system requires additional detection and control components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation dosage precisionVSAvoiddetection and control components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit in the radiation imaging apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the imaging process, measures the communication delay, calculates compensation values, and adjusts the stop timing. By making the control unit multi-functional, the system achieves improved dosing precision without requiring separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4420611B1Radiation imaging system
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 CANON KK
  • EP4420611B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4420611B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4420611B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A radiation imaging system (500) includes an irradiation system (501) including a generator (506) configured to emit radiation and a controller (505) configured to control irradiation with the radiation, a radiation imaging apparatus (100) configured to detect the radiation and request the irradiation system to stop the irradiation with the radiation based on an irradiation dose of the radiation, and calculation means configured to calculate a delay time caused at a stop of irradiation with the radiation based on first time information specified by the radiation imaging apparatus with respect to the stop of the irradiation with the radiation and second time information specified by the irradiation system with respect to the stop of the irradiation with the radiation.