Radiographic Imaging System Estimated Exposure Dose Calculator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radiographic image capturing techniques often result in increased exposure doses for subjects due to a lack of prior dose recognition and improper setting of image capturing conditions, particularly in manual processes without automatic exposure control, leading to meaningless exposure and reduced focus on subject safety.

Innovation Solution

A radiographic image capturing system and method that calculates and outputs the estimated exposure dose before the imaging process, allowing technicians to adjust conditions to minimize exposure while maintaining image quality, incorporating an estimated exposure dose calculator and adjuster to automatically adjust mAs values and tube voltage settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pre-exposure process is performed to determine image capturing conditions, then image capturing conditions can be determined, but the accumulated exposure dose applied to the subject increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage capturing condition determination accuracyVSAvoidaccumulated exposure dose
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs a pre-exposure process before the actual radiographic image capturing to determine optimal image capturing conditions. This preliminary action allows the system to calculate estimated exposure doses in advance and present multiple condition options to the operator, enabling informed decision-making about the actual exposure parameters without requiring an additional full-dose test exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-exposure process uses a reduced exposure dose compared to a full radiographic capture, obtaining sufficient information to determine image capturing conditions while minimizing the additional radiation dose to the subject. This partial action approach provides the necessary data for condition determination without the excessive dose of a complete imaging exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Manufacturing precision

If manual image capturing conditions are set without AEC function, then image quality can be controlled, but the subject may receive meaningless exposure dose

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiographic image qualityVSAvoidmeaningless exposure dose
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to the operator by displaying calculated estimated exposure doses for different image capturing condition options. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to see the projected radiation dose before committing to an actual exposure, enabling informed adjustments to achieve both image quality and dose optimization without unnecessary exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculations of estimated exposure doses based on the manually set image capturing conditions before the actual radiographic capture. This preliminary assessment allows the operator to review and adjust conditions to avoid meaningless exposure while maintaining desired image quality, preventing wasted radiation dose on suboptimal settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If two radiographic image capturing processes are performed to acquire a desired radiographic image, then image capturing conditions can be determined and radiographic image can be acquired, but the accumulated exposure dose applied to the subject increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiographic image acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidaccumulated exposure dose
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the condition determination function and the image capturing function into a unified workflow. The pre-exposure process combines dose calculation, condition optimization, and imaging parameter determination in a single integrated step, eliminating the need for separate condition-testing exposures and reducing the total number of radiation exposures required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary determination of optimal image capturing conditions through calculation and display of estimated exposure doses before the actual radiographic capture. This preliminary action ensures that the single subsequent exposure is optimally configured, achieving reliable image acquisition without requiring a second exposure for condition verification or adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 the accumulated exposure dose applied to subjects by enabling informed adjustments in image capturing conditions, ensuring proper exposure settings and maintaining image quality without unnecessary radiation exposure.

Implementation Method 1

a radiation source for applying radiation to a subject

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadiation: Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a radiation detector for converting radiation which has passed through the subject into a radiographic image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadiation detection and conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2923644B1Radiographic imaging system, radiographic imaging method and recording medium
Publication Date: 2018.01.10 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP2923644B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2923644B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2923644B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a radiographic imaging system (10), a radiographic imaging method and a recording medium (82). In the present invention, an estimated exposure dose-calculating unit (70) calculates an estimated exposure dose, which is an estimate of the exposure dose of a subject (16) by irradiation of radiation (20), on the basis of the imaging conditions after the imaging conditions are set and prior to the radiation imaging. An exposure dose-outputting unit (66) outputs the calculated estimated exposure dose to the outside.