Radiation Imaging Apparatus Preliminary Dose Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation imaging systems face challenges in achieving optimal radiation doses with minimal time and effort, particularly in mammography, where delays in X-ray source stop operations due to transmission and propagation delays degrade image quality and expose patients to unnecessary doses.
Innovation Solution
A radiation imaging apparatus with a dose detection sensor and automatic exposure controller performs preliminary imaging to determine the main exposure condition, allowing for quick and accurate adjustment of radiation dose for main imaging, eliminating the need for measuring breast thickness and calculating radiation doses based on image analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If automatic exposure control is used to stop X-ray emission timing, then patient radiation dose is reduced, but transmission and propagation delays cause delayed stop operation degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary imaging before main imaging to measure the actual X-ray dose received by the detection device. Based on this preliminary measurement, the main exposure condition (irradiation time or current-time product) is determined to ensure the total dose reaches the necessary value without excessive delay. This preliminary action allows the system to compensate for transmission and propagation delays by pre-measuring dose and calculating appropriate exposure parameters.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If preliminary imaging is performed before main imaging to determine exposure conditions, then optimal radiation dose is achieved, but imaging time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the preliminary imaging and main imaging processes by accumulating signal charge from both imaging stages in the same detection device without intermediate readout. The preliminary imaging data is used to determine main exposure conditions, while the detection device continuously accumulates charge from both phases, reducing total imaging time compared to separate imaging protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device maintains continuous charge accumulation mode throughout both preliminary and main imaging without resetting or reading out between phases. This continuous operation eliminates idle time and ensures that the useful imaging action continues uninterrupted, reducing overall loss of time while still benefiting from dose optimization through preliminary measurement.
3Measurement precision
If breast thickness and pressing pressure are measured to determine preliminary imaging dose, then accurate dose control is achieved, but measurement time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device performs self-measurement of the actual X-ray dose received during preliminary imaging through its built-in dose detection sensor. This eliminates the need for separate measurements of breast thickness and pressing pressure by external devices or manual assessment, as the detection device automatically determines the dose information needed to set main exposure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical measurement methods (thickness gauges, pressure sensors) with an electronic dose detection approach. The dose detection sensor electronically measures the actual X-ray dose received, substituting complex mechanical measurement systems with a simpler electronic detection method that provides accurate dose control with minimal operator effort.
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 ensures radiography is performed with optimal radiation doses efficiently, reducing patient exposure and image processing time, while avoiding delays that degrade image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a detection panel having an arrangement of a plurality of pixels each for receiving radiation emitted from a radiation source and passed through an imaged portion
Data Source
AI summary
Besides normal pixels, a plurality detection pixels are arranged in an imaging surface of an FPD. In preliminary imaging, X-rays are emitted to an imaged body portion of a patient. The detection pixels receive the X-rays passed through the body portion, and output AEC detection signals. If an integral value of the AEC detection signals has reached a threshold value, X-ray emission is stopped and the preliminary imaging is completed. A main exposure condition determination unit determines a main irradiation time, being an irradiation time with the X-rays during the main imaging, based on an irradiation time with the X-rays during the preliminary imaging and the integral value of the AEC detection signals. The main imaging is performed using the main irradiation time. The normal pixels continue a charge accumulation operation over the preliminary imaging and the main imaging to produce an X-ray image for use in diagnosis.