Radiography Image Processing Apparatus Excluding Low-Density 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
An image processing apparatus and method that uses a processor to acquire radiographic images, specify structure images with lower radiation transmittance, and execute image processing to exclude these structures from the irradiation field, improving image quality by enhancing contrast and focusing on the subject region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the entire imaging region is processed without excluding structures, then the complete subject and surrounding structures are captured, but the image quality is degraded due to low-density structures reducing contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging region into a subject region and a structure region by detecting and excluding low-density structures (wheelchairs, stretchers) from the radiographic image. This segmentation allows independent processing of each region, improving image quality of the subject while maintaining complete capture of the imaging region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes low-density structures from the radiographic image through region-based processing. By identifying and excluding these structures, the system enhances the contrast and visibility of the subject matter while preserving the complete imaging coverage.
2Illumination intensity
If structures with lower radiation transmittance are included in the imaging region, then complete coverage is achieved, but contrast and visibility of the subject are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different regions of the imaging region. The subject region receives enhanced processing to improve contrast, while the structure region is excluded or processed differently. This local quality approach maintains high contrast in the subject area while preserving complete imaging coverage.
3Reliability
If image processing is applied to the entire radiographic image, then all regions are processed uniformly, but the low-density structures adversely affect the processing results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing method into separate handling for subject regions and structure regions. By detecting low-density structures and excluding them from the main processing pipeline, the system improves processing accuracy for the subject matter while maintaining a manageable processing method complexity through automated detection and exclusion.
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 isolating and processing the subject region from structures with lower radiation transmittance, enhancing contrast and visibility, thereby reducing the impact of low-density images on the patient's image.
Implementation Method 1
using radiation emitted from a radiation source and applied to an irradiation field adjusted by a collimator
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 acquires a radiographic image obtained by imaging an imaging region where a patient is present, with a radioscopy apparatus using radiation emitted from a radiation source and applied to an irradiation field adjusted by a collimator. The CPU specifies a structure image that is included in the radiographic image and represents a structure of a specific shape having transmittance of radiation lower than the patient, based on the specific shape. The CPU executes image processing corresponding to the structure image on a patient image region imaged by a radioscopy apparatus in a case where an irradiation field excluding a position of the structure is set as the irradiation field, in a region in the radiographic image.