Radiation Image Processing Apparatus Scattered Radiation Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In radiation image processing, accurately eliminating scattered radiation components is challenging, especially at the boundaries of small radiation images, and current methods require extensive computation when combining multiple images, leading to inefficiencies and image quality degradation.
Innovation Solution
A radiation image processing apparatus and method that adds an adjacent area to the processing target area to account for scattered radiation influences, performing image processing using both areas to enhance accuracy and reduce computational load, particularly by setting smaller image areas based on pixel positions and body thickness for efficient scattered radiation elimination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If scattered radiation elimination processing is performed using only the processing target area, then computational load is reduced, but image processing accuracy deteriorates at boundary portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the radiation image into multiple small radiation images and processes each separately. By segmenting the image, the system can apply scattered radiation elimination processing to each segment using its adjacent areas, reducing the overall computational load while maintaining accuracy at boundaries through local processing context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing approaches to different regions. For each small radiation image, the system selectively uses adjacent areas based on their position (boundary vs. non-boundary), applying the necessary computational effort locally where needed rather than uniformly across the entire image.
2Measurement precision
If multiple small radiation images are combined and processed together, then scattered radiation elimination accuracy is improved, but computational load increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of processing the entire combined radiation image at once, the patent segments it into multiple small radiation images that can be processed independently. This segmentation allows the system to maintain accuracy by considering adjacent areas within each segment while dramatically reducing the computational complexity compared to processing the full image together.
3Reliability
If a grid is used to eliminate scattered radiation, then image contrast is improved, but device complexity and patient burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical grid system with a computational image processing approach. Instead of physically blocking scattered radiation with a grid, the system uses digital processing to eliminate scattered radiation components from the image data, thereby eliminating the need for complex grid deployment while maintaining image contrast quality.
4Productivity
If image processing is performed on each small radiation image independently, then processing speed is improved, but accuracy at boundary portions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recognizes that boundary areas require different processing than non-boundary areas. For each small radiation image, the system selectively incorporates adjacent areas when performing scattered radiation elimination, ensuring that boundary portions receive the enhanced accuracy treatment they need while maintaining efficient processing for internal areas.
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 allows for accurate and rapid image processing by considering adjacent areas, reducing computational requirements and improving image quality by effectively handling scattered radiation components, especially in long radiation images or those obtained by long length radiography.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation detector 5 that detects radiation and obtains a radiation image
Implementation Method 2
radiation is scattered within the subject, in particular, in case that the subject is thick, whereby scattered radiation is generated
Data Source
AI summary
In a radiation image processing apparatus, method, and program, performing image processing based on scattered radiation, such as scattered radiation elimination processing, accurately by taking into account the influence of scattered radiation from an area adjacent to a processing target area. For this purpose, performing image processing on a radiation image captured by applying radiation to a subject based on scattered radiation generated by the subject. In this case, a processing target area which is the processing target in the radiation image is added with another area different from the processing target area in the radiation image. Then, the image processing based on scattered radiation is performed on the processing target area using the another area and the processing target area.