Radiography Fluoroscopy Storage-Time Notification for Next-Start Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

In fluoroscopy, the storage speed of video images in a storage device may be lower than the imaging speed, leading to incomplete storage at the end of fluoroscopy, which increases the capacity of unsaved images and delays the start of the next fluoroscopy.

Innovation Solution

A radiography system that calculates the remaining time needed to complete video image storage in the storage device based on data size, storage speed, and imaging time, and notifies the operator to manage the next fluoroscopy start time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fluoroscopy continuously captures radiation images at a high frame rate, then imaging quality and temporal resolution are improved, but storage completion time increases and workflow efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidstorage completion time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by calculating the remaining storage time before the fluoroscopy ends, and provides advance notification to the operator. This allows the operator to plan the next fluoroscopy start time in advance, preventing workflow delays without compromising imaging quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the storage device writes video images at maximum speed, then storage capacity utilization is improved, but the system cannot provide advance notice of storage completion, worsening workflow planning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage speedVSAvoidstorage completion information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the storage progress and calculating the remaining storage time based on the current storage speed and remaining data size. This feedback information is then presented to the operator, enabling informed workflow decisions while maintaining maximum storage throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system waits for complete storage before allowing next fluoroscopy, then data integrity is ensured, but workflow efficiency and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidworkflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically calculating and presenting the remaining storage time information to the operator. This enables the operator to independently make decisions about the next fluoroscopy timing without system intervention, maintaining data integrity while optimizing workflow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4606311A1Radiography system, radiography method, and radiography program
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP4606311A1 patent drawingFigure 1
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AI summary

Provided are a radiography system, a radiography method, and a radiography program that can present a time until next fluoroscopy is able to be started after the end of the fluoroscopy. A radiography system calculates, in a case in which the fluoroscopy is ended, a remaining time until storage of a video image obtained by the fluoroscopy in a storage device is completed, based on a data size of the video image for which the storage in the storage device is completed among video images temporarily stored in a memory by the fluoroscopy, a data storage speed in the storage device, and a data size of the video image obtained by the fluoroscopy according to a frame rate and an imaging time of the fluoroscopy, and notifies of the calculated remaining time.