Radiography Control Apparatus Excluding Low-Transmittance Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiographic images are often degraded due to structures with lower radiation transmittance, such as wheelchairs or stretchers, which can affect image quality by introducing low-density images that reduce contrast and impact the visibility of the subject.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus and method that uses a processor to detect structures with lower radiation transmittance in the imaging region before radiation exposure, adjusting the imaging region to exclude these structures and employing image processing techniques like contrast enhancement to improve image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image processing is executed on the radiographic image including structures with lower radiation transmittance, then the structure image affects the image processing, but the image quality of the radiographic image is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus extracts and identifies structures with lower radiation transmittance (such as wheelchairs or stretchers) from the imaging region using a learned model. The imaging region is then adjusted to exclude these identified structures, removing the harmful interference before radiographic imaging occurs, thereby preventing degradation of image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of low-transmittance structures using a learned model before the actual radiographic imaging. Based on this preliminary detection, the imaging region is pre-adjusted to exclude these structures, preventing image quality degradation before it occurs rather than attempting to correct it after imaging.
2Loss of information
If the imaging region includes structures with lower radiation transmittance, then the structure can be imaged, but the contrast and visibility of the subject are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus extracts and identifies structures with lower radiation transmittance (such as wheelchairs or stretchers) from the imaging region using a learned model. The imaging region is then adjusted to exclude these identified structures, removing the harmful interference before radiographic imaging occurs, thereby preventing degradation of image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and adjusts the imaging region to maintain optimal imaging conditions by excluding low-transmittance structures. This continuous adjustment ensures that the radiographic imaging always captures the subject with maximum contrast and visibility, preventing information loss throughout the imaging process.
3Measurement precision
If the imaging region is adjusted to exclude structures, then the image quality is improved, but additional detection and control processing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus introduces a learned model as an intermediary component that automatically detects and identifies low-transmittance structures. This intermediary processing layer translates complex imaging region adjustment decisions into automated control actions, improving image quality while managing the complexity through specialized intermediate processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a learned model that automatically detects low-transmittance structures and enables autonomous adjustment of the imaging region without requiring manual intervention. The control apparatus self-adjusts the imaging parameters based on the learned model's detection, improving image quality while minimizing the need for complex manual control processing.
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
The solution effectively improves the image quality of radiographic images by excluding structures with lower transmittance, enhancing contrast and visibility of the subject, thereby improving diagnostic visibility and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a radiography apparatus that captures a radiographic image with radiation emitted from a radiation source
Implementation Method 2
the distance image capturing apparatus captures the distance image using a time-of-flight (TOF) system
Data Source
AI summary
A CPU specifies whether or not a structure of a specific shape having transmittance of radiation lower than a patient is present in an imaging region of a radioscopy apparatus that captures a radiographic image with the radiation emitted from a radiation source, based on the specific shape. The CPU performs control for setting an imaging region excluding the structure as the imaging region before irradiation of the radiation is performed from the radiation source in a case where the structure is present.