Radiation Imaging System Substance Discrimination via Pixel Energy Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation imaging systems struggle to effectively discriminate between two substances in a radiation image without requiring changes in radiation energy, which can lead to artifacts and reduced processing speed.
Innovation Solution
A radiation imaging system that includes a detector with multiple pixels to obtain pixel values and an information processing unit that estimates substance thicknesses using pixel values and energy information, utilizing tables to correlate pixel values with substance thicknesses and energy values, allowing for discrimination between substances without altering radiation energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radiation energy is changed to discriminate substances, then substance discrimination capability is improved, but imaging speed deteriorates and artifacts are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary energy spectrum measurement and stores attenuation coefficient data for multiple substances at different energy levels. This pre-prepared information allows the substance discrimination to be achieved through calculation rather than requiring multiple actual imaging acquisitions at different energies, thereby maintaining high imaging speed while achieving accurate substance discrimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an information processing unit that acts as an intermediary between the radiation imaging apparatus and the final image output. This unit performs calculations using stored attenuation coefficient data and measured energy spectra to discriminate substances, replacing the need for physical energy switching and multiple imaging acquisitions.
2Measurement precision
If radiation energy is switched for substance discrimination, then different attenuation coefficients are utilized, but high speed switching is required and artifacts occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically switching radiation energies, the system creates virtual copies of energy spectrum data by storing attenuation coefficient information for multiple substances at different energy levels in advance. The information processing unit then uses these stored data copies to perform substance discrimination calculations, eliminating the need for complex physical energy switching mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If photon counting sensor is used for energy resolution, then substance discrimination is improved, but operation speed becomes insufficient for large area FPD
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical/photon-counting approach with an information processing approach. Instead of using complex photon counting sensors that require high operation speeds, the system uses a flat panel detector with an information processing unit that calculates energy spectrum information from measured data and stored attenuation coefficients, achieving energy resolution capability without the operational constraints of photon counting sensors.
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 discrimination of two substances within a radiation image without changing radiation energy, improving processing efficiency and reducing artifacts, and can be applied to various imaging systems for enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a detector including a plurality of pixels which obtain pixel values corresponding to incident radiation transmitted through a subject
Implementation Method 2
a first table indicating the relationship between the pixel values of the arbitrary pixel and the thicknesses of the substances included in the subject, and a second table indicating the relationship between the average value of the energy of the radiation quanta of the arbitrary pixel and the thicknesses of the substances included in the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation imaging system includes a detector including a plurality of pixels which obtain pixel values corresponding to incident radiation transmitted through a subject, and an information processing unit configured to perform a process of estimating information on thicknesses of substances included in the subject using pixel values of an arbitrary one of the plurality of pixels, an average value of energy of radiation quanta of the arbitrary pixel calculated in accordance with the pixel values of the arbitrary pixel, a first table indicating the relationship between the pixel values of the arbitrary pixel and the thicknesses of the substances included in the subject, and a second table indicating the relationship between the average value of the energy of the radiation quanta of the arbitrary pixel and the thicknesses of the substances included in the subject.