Radiation Imaging Signal Processing for Energy Resolution and Artifact Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation imaging apparatuses with energy resolution face errors and artifacts when image density changes rapidly, particularly at edges or when subjects move, leading to reduced diagnostic capability.
Innovation Solution
A radiation imaging system that includes a detector and signal processor, which estimates the energy of radiation quanta by analyzing the change in pixel values over time and space, using equations to calculate the energy and variance of radiation quanta, thereby reducing errors and artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a photon counting-type sensor is used to achieve energy resolution, then diagnostic capability is improved, but operation speed becomes insufficient for large-area imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a scintillator as an intermediary substance between the radiation source and the sensor. The scintillator converts high-energy radiation photons into multiple lower-energy visible light photons, which can then be detected by standard photodetectors. This mediation allows the system to achieve energy resolution through light output intensity measurement without requiring photon counting-speed sensors, thus resolving the contradiction between energy resolution and operation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/photon-counting-based energy detection method with an optical intensity measurement method. Instead of counting individual radiation photons (which requires high-speed operation), the system measures the intensity of scintillation light produced, which can be detected by conventional photodetectors at much higher speeds, thereby resolving the speed limitation for large-area imaging.
2Measurement precision
If average image density and variance information are used to estimate radiation quanta, then energy resolution is achieved, but artifacts occur in regions with rapid image density changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging process into multiple time frames and segments the analysis of pixel values. By comparing pixel values across different frames and identifying consistent patterns, the system can distinguish between actual radiation signal variations and artifacts caused by rapid density changes or subject movement. This temporal segmentation allows energy resolution to be maintained while suppressing artifacts in challenging imaging regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of pixel value consistency across multiple frames before final energy estimation. By pre-identifying pixels that show consistent radiation patterns versus those affected by movement or density changes, the system can apply different processing strategies to different pixel regions, thereby preventing artifacts while maintaining energy resolution accuracy.
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
The system achieves energy resolution in large-area radiation imaging while minimizing artifacts, enhancing diagnostic capability by accurately estimating radiation energy and count even with rapid changes.
Implementation Method 1
a detector (101) including a plurality of pixels from which pixel values based on incident radiation are acquired
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a large-area radiation imaging apparatus that has an energy resolution while suppressing the occurrence of an artifact, the radiation imaging apparatus includes a detector and a signal processing unit. The detector includes a plurality of pixels for acquiring a pixel value in accordance with incident radiation. The signal processing unit performs signal processing for estimating energy of a radiation quantum of the incident radiation at a predetermined pixel included in the pixels using the amount of change in the pixel value of the predetermined pixel.