Radiographic System Irradiation Continuation Signal Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In X-ray radiographic systems, there is a risk of unnecessary radiation exposure to patients due to communication failures that prevent the timely cessation of X-ray irradiation when the target radiation dose is reached, as existing systems rely on wireless communication for irradiation stop signals, which are prone to failures.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an automatic exposure control unit that continuously transmits an irradiation continuation signal to ensure X-ray irradiation continues until the target radiation dose is reached, and the control device stops irradiation if the signal is not received, using ad-hoc communication or a beacon for reliable signal exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If wireless communication is used for irradiation stop signals, then system simplicity is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to prone failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional control signal direction by having the image detection device continuously transmit an irradiation continuation signal to the radiation source control device, rather than the radiation source control device transmitting stop signals to the image detection device. This inversion ensures that irradiation continues by default and stops only when the continuation signal is interrupted, significantly improving reliability while maintaining system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes preliminary communication protocols and continuous signal transmission mechanisms before irradiation begins. The radiation source control device is pre-configured to monitor for the continuation signal and automatically stop irradiation when the signal is interrupted, ensuring reliable control is in place before any potential communication failures occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If irradiation stop signal reception is difficult due to communication failure, then system operation simplicity is improved, but radiation safety deteriorates due to inability to stop irradiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoidunnecessary radiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally inverts the control logic by making continuous signal transmission the default state for maintaining irradiation. This ensures that any communication failure or signal interruption automatically triggers irradiation cessation, eliminating the risk of unnecessary radiation exposure while keeping the system operationally simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through the irradiation continuation signal transmission from the image detection device to the radiation source control device. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures that the radiation source control device continuously verifies communication status and automatically stops irradiation when feedback is lost, preventing harmful radiation exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 solution ensures that X-ray irradiation is reliably stopped even in cases of communication failure, preventing unnecessary radiation exposure and ensuring accurate dose delivery, thereby enhancing patient safety and system reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a radiation dose detection sensor which detects the reached radiation dose; and an automatic exposure control unit which compares an integrated value of the reached radiation dose detected by the radiation dose detection sensor and a threshold value set beforehand

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiation dose detection: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The FPD has pixels which accumulate signal charge according to a reached X-ray dose and are arranged in a matrix shape. The FPD accumulates the signal charge in every pixel and the accumulated signal charge is converted to a voltage signal by a signal processing circuit so as to detect an X-ray image showing the image information of the subject

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCharge accumulation in pixels: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9931096B2Radiographic system, drive control method for radiographic system, recording medium for drive control program and radiological image detection device

Publication Date: 2018.04.03 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

It is possible to reliably avoid a problem that radiation irradiation does not stop even when an accumulated radiation dose reaches a target radiation dose. An AEC unit starts monitoring an integrated value of a radiation dose detection signal from a detection pixel and an output of an irradiation continuation signal at the same time, and continuously transmits the irradiation continuation signal in a predetermined period while the integrated value does not reach a threshold value. When the integrated value reaches the threshold value, the output of the irradiation continuation signal is stopped. The irradiation continuation signal is transmitted to an irradiation signal I/F of a radiation source control device through an irradiation signal I/F by wireless. The radiation source control device stops X-ray irradiation by an X-ray source when the irradiation signal I/F does not receive the irradiation continuation signal.