Radiation Modulator With Articulating Absorbers For Intensity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation imaging systems deliver a uniform radiation intensity across the imaged subject, leading to unnecessary radiation exposure and inefficient imaging, particularly when imaging areas with varying thickness or regions of interest, as they do not allow for dynamic adjustment of radiation intensity to match the subject's anatomy or areas of interest.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a control device with independently articulating radiation absorbing structures to create a combined transmittance pattern with a moiré pattern of lower frequency, allowing for selective adjustment of radiation intensity distribution by superposing and adjusting the positions of these structures based on modulator configuration signals, enabling precise control of radiation intensity without increasing system size or reducing the field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a uniform radiation intensity is delivered across the imaged subject, then sufficient radiation dose is transmitted through all areas to ensure adequate image quality, but unnecessary radiation exposure occurs in areas that do not require high intensity (e.g., thinner portions, reference areas)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform radiation beam with spatially varying intensity distribution. The modulator device (including attenuator and collimator) selectively adjusts radiation intensity in different regions of the beam, delivering high intensity only to areas requiring detailed imaging while reducing intensity in areas where lower dose suffices, thus resolving the contradiction between minimizing harmful radiation and maintaining necessary image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics through the adjustable and reconfigurable nature of the modulator device. The attenuator and collimator can be dynamically adjusted to change the radiation intensity distribution in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to different imaging scenarios, anatomies, and projection angles, thereby maintaining optimal image quality while minimizing radiation exposure across varying conditions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the radiation beam intensity is reduced for areas not requiring high dose, then radiation exposure is minimized, but the system requires complex control mechanisms to dynamically adjust intensity distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary modulator device positioned between the radiation source and the subject. This intermediary includes an attenuator for intensity control and a collimator for directional control, which together manage the radiation beam's intensity distribution without requiring direct modification of the radiation source itself, thus achieving complex intensity modulation with manageable system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the radiation beam control into separate functional components: an attenuator for intensity modulation and a collimator for directional control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall control strategy, reducing the complexity of managing intensity distribution across different beam regions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the radiation beam is collimated to pass through specific regions of interest, then radiation exposure to non-interest areas is reduced, but the field of view and imaging flexibility are constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics through the adjustable collimator that can dynamically change its aperture size and shape. This allows the field of view to be flexibly adjusted between narrow (for focused imaging of specific regions with reduced exposure) and wide (for broader anatomical coverage), enabling the system to adapt to different imaging requirements without permanent constraint on the field of view
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 reduces radiation exposure to the subject and operator by dynamically adjusting radiation intensity to match the anatomy and areas of interest, enhancing imaging efficiency and quality by ensuring adequate radiation only where needed, while maintaining minimal user intervention and workflow continuity.
Implementation Method 1
creating a combined transmittance pattern that includes a moiré pattern having a lower frequency of transmittance relative to a remainder of the combined transmittance pattern
Implementation Method 2
control device comprising a first radiation absorbing structure in superposing alignment relative a second radiation absorbing structure
Data Source
AI summary
A system for and a method of controlling a spatial distribution of radiation intensity in a beam of radiation is provided. The system includes a control device located to receive the initial beam of radiation from the radiation source. The control device includes a first radiation absorbing structure located at a position in generally superposing alignment relative a position of a second radiation absorbing structure. Each first and second radiation absorbing structure is operable to independently articulate. The modulator configuration signal is operable to cause adjustment of the position of at least one of the first and second radiation absorbing structures relative to the other so as to selectively adjust a spatial distribution of radiation intensity of a modulated beam.