Radiation Imaging Apparatus Material Contrast via Multi-Energy Reconstruction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation imaging technologies face challenges in reconstructing radiation images for multiple materials without tomographic images, as attenuation characteristics vary with each material, requiring different radiation energies to be set for accurate imaging.
Innovation Solution
A radiation imaging apparatus that generates material characteristic images using different radiation energies and reconstructs images based on monochromatic radiation images, allowing for the separation and enhancement of specific materials by setting distinct radiation energies for each material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single radiation energy is used for imaging multiple materials, then the imaging process is simple, but the contrast and imaging quality for different materials deteriorate due to varying attenuation characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into multiple energy levels, acquiring images at different radiation energies and then separating the contributions of different materials through computational processing. This allows optimal imaging conditions for each material type while maintaining overall process manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the radiation energy parameter across multiple acquisition steps, capturing images at different energy levels. By varying this physical parameter, the system exploits the different attenuation characteristics of materials at various energies to enable subsequent material separation and enhancement.
2Measurement precision
If different radiation energies are set for each material, then the contrast and imaging quality for specific materials improve, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary acquisitions at multiple energy levels before final image reconstruction. By collecting all necessary raw data first, the system prepares the foundation for subsequent material separation processing, organizing the complex task into manageable sequential steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces computational processing as an intermediary between raw multi-energy acquisitions and final reconstructed images. This intermediary step performs material separation and synthesis, managing the complexity by breaking down the transformation into discrete algorithmic operations.
3Measurement precision
If material separation is performed using multiple radiation energies, then the noise reduction and contrast enhancement improve, but the imaging time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by focusing computational resources on separating and enhancing specific materials of interest rather than processing all materials equally. This selective approach reduces the overall computational burden and can accelerate the imaging process while maintaining noise reduction benefits for target materials.
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
Enables the reconstruction of radiation images that enhance specific materials, improving contrast and reducing noise, even in general and fluoroscopic imaging without the need for tomographic images, by optimizing radiation energy settings for each material.
Implementation Method 1
the attenuation characteristics of radiation energy vary with each material
Implementation Method 2
a radiation detecting unit configured to detect the radiation that has passed through the subject to generate radiation images
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation imaging apparatus comprises a generating unit configured to generate a material characteristic image with respect to a plurality of materials included in a radiation image that has been captured using different radiation energies; and a reconstructing unit configured to set different radiation energies for the respective plurality of materials, and to generate a reconstructed image based on monochromatic radiation images of the respective materials, the monochromatic radiation images being based on the different radiation energies.