Radio Tomography Imaging Method for Faster CT Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cone beam CT (CBCT) systems require patients to hold their breath for extended periods, leading to increased strain and limitations in scanning speed due to the need for high-speed rotation of radiation sources, which complicates the apparatus and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A radio tomography imaging method involving multiple radiation sources positioned strategically to emit calibration and reconfiguration radiations, allowing for the calculation of conversion functions to correct transmission images, thereby reducing the need for high-speed rotation and shortening image acquisition time without compromising image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotation speed of the radiation source is increased to shorten the pick-up time, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to the need for large-size detectors and protection covers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the imaging system into multiple radiation sources (first and second radiation sources) positioned at different locations. Each source captures transmission images from its specific viewpoint, and the images are integrated to form the final three-dimensional data. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high-speed imaging without requiring any single detector to rotate at extremely high speeds, thereby reducing the need for complex protection mechanisms and large-size detectors.
2Productivity
If the rotation speed of the radiation source is increased to shorten the pick-up time, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability decreases due to safety concerns with high-speed rotation
Solution Approach 1:
By using multiple stationary or slowly rotating radiation sources instead of one rapidly rotating source, the system eliminates the safety hazards associated with high-speed rotation. Each radiation source operates at a safe, manageable speed while still contributing to the overall high-speed imaging capability through parallel data acquisition.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple pairs of imaging systems are provided to reduce the rotation angle, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the data from multiple radiation sources through image integration and correction processes. The transmission images captured from different viewpoints are merged and processed to produce high-precision three-dimensional data. This merging approach achieves improved manufacturing precision without requiring each individual imaging system to be overly complex.
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 method enables faster acquisition of three-dimensional data, reducing patient strain and increasing throughput by minimizing the time patients need to hold their breath, while maintaining image quality and reducing apparatus complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a cone beam CT (CBCT: Cone Beam Computed Tomography) apparatus is known which reconfigures three-dimensional CT data of an object on the basis of a plurality of transmission images picked up by using a conically-shaped (cone-shaped) X-ray irradiated from a radiation source
Data Source
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AI summary
A radio tomography imaging method according to the present invention includes: calculating a conversion function based on a transmission image picked up by using a radiation emitted from a first radiation source and a transmission image picked up by using a radiation emitted from a second radiation source; wherein a position of the second radiation source when the radiation has been emitted coincides with a position of the first radiation source when the radiation has been emitted, and one of the first and second radiation sources emits the radiation when the other emits the radiation, picking up a plurality of first reconfiguration transmission images and a plurality of second reconfiguration transmission images by using a plurality of first reconfiguration radiations and a plurality of second reconfiguration radiations simultaneously emitted from the first radiation source and the second radiation source; correcting the plurality of first reconfiguration transmission images and the plurality of second reconfiguration transmission images into a plurality of corrected transmission images based on the conversion function; and reconfiguring the plurality of corrected transmission images into three-dimensional data.