Radiation Imaging Sensor Array Exposure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation imaging apparatuses lack effective exposure control for regions of interest during diagnosis, as they cannot accurately detect the exposure state of soft tissues or bones due to monitoring outputs from detection elements that do not account for radiation passing through objects.
Innovation Solution
A radiation imaging apparatus with a processing unit that samples outputs from sensors, excluding those exceeding a threshold in the initial period and increasing sampling frequency for the remaining effective sensor group in a second period to control irradiation accurately, thereby improving exposure control for regions of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If monitoring is performed using a preselected high-sensitivity detection element, then the detection of radiation start and end timing is improved, but the exposure state of diagnostic regions (soft tissue or bone) cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The detection element array is divided into multiple regions of interest, each monitored by dedicated detection elements. Instead of using a single preselected high-sensitivity element, the system segments the monitoring function across multiple elements corresponding to different anatomical regions (soft tissue, bone, etc.), allowing simultaneous monitoring of exposure states in multiple diagnostic regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiation imaging apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect radiation start and end timing, monitor exposure states in multiple diagnostic regions, and control radiation irradiation. By making the detection system multi-functional through the use of multiple detection elements with different characteristics, the system achieves both high-sensitivity timing detection and diagnostic region exposure monitoring.
2Measurement precision
If all sensors are monitored continuously at high frequency, then the exposure control accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling frequency of each sensor is made dynamic rather than static. The processing unit adjusts the sampling frequency of each detection element based on its output characteristics and the current irradiation phase. Sensors showing significant changes are sampled more frequently, while stable sensors are sampled less frequently, optimizing the balance between monitoring accuracy and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the sampling parameter (frequency) based on the output values from detection elements. By monitoring the output characteristics and adapting the sampling frequency accordingly, the system achieves high exposure control accuracy when needed while reducing processing load during stable periods, thus managing system complexity effectively.
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 enhances the accuracy of exposure control by focusing on relevant sensors, reducing unnecessary monitoring and increasing sampling frequency for precise decision-making on stopping irradiation, thus improving diagnostic imaging.
Implementation Method 1
a pixel array in which pixels each including a conversion element configured to convert radiation into charges
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels for acquiring a radiation image and a plurality of sensors for detecting radiation, a processing unit for sampling outputs from sensors constituting an effective sensor group, out of the plurality of sensors, and outputting information for control of irradiation in accordance with the sampled outputs. In a first period after the irradiation to the radiation imaging apparatus starts, the processing unit excludes, from the effective sensor group, a sensor, a value corresponding to an output from which has exceeded a first threshold, out of the plurality of sensors, and in a second period after the first period, the processing unit outputs the information in accordance with outputs from the sensors constituting the effective sensor group.