Radiography Image Stitching with Overlap Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiography systems face challenges in capturing accurate images of regions of interest larger than the X-ray detector size, as existing methods require expensive tube angulating positioners and manual parallel movement of the tube and detector, leading to inaccurate images due to lack of overlap and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An image acquisition method and device that calculates the number and positions of sub-images with an overlap of 5cm to 7cm, eliminating the need for expensive tube angulating positioners and enabling automatic determination of exposure positions, reducing costs and improving image accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If tube angulating positioner is used to capture multiple sub-images by changing tube angles, then complete coverage of large regions of interest is achieved, but device cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tube angulating positioner system with a computational image processing system. Instead of physically moving the tube at different angles using expensive positioning mechanisms, the invention captures images with the tube in a fixed or simply positioned orientation and then uses software-based image stitching and geometric transformation to reconstruct the complete large-area region of interest from multiple sub-images.
2Area of stationary object
If manual parallel movement of tube and detector is used to capture sub-images, then complete coverage of large regions of interest is achieved, but working efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated control system that enables the radiography equipment to perform the sweeping motion and image acquisition process autonomously. The system automatically calculates the required number of sub-images, determines the movement parameters, controls the tube and detector to move in parallel through the region of interest, and orchestrates the sequential image capture without requiring manual intervention for each positioning and capture step.
3Area of stationary object
If manual parallel movement of tube and detector is used to capture sub-images, then complete coverage of large regions of interest is achieved, but image accuracy decreases due to lack of overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a control system that monitors the positioning of the tube and detector during the parallel movement process. The system uses feedback from position sensors and pre-calculated overlap parameters to ensure that consecutive sub-images have sufficient overlapping regions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust the movement steps and maintain consistent overlap between adjacent images, ensuring accurate image stitching and complete coverage of the region of interest.
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
Ensures accurate image acquisition by guaranteeing overlap of the region of interest in adjacent sub-images, reducing the number of images needed, and increasing working efficiency by automating the process, thus improving diagnostic quality and reducing operator time.
Implementation Method 1
the tube 1 emits X-ray through a region of interest, which then comes to the X-ray detector 4 so that the image of the region of interest is acquired
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4C
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention discloses an image acquisition method, device and a radiography system. Said image acquisition method comprises a determination step: determining the starting position, the ending position of a region of interest, and the value of overlap of the region of interest in the two adjacent sub-images; a calculation step: calculating the number of the sub-images required to be captured, the component of field of view at the direction of tube movement as well as the positions of the tube (1) and the detector (4) corresponding to each sub-image based on the starting position and the ending position of a region of interest and the value of said overlap; a capturation step: moving the tube and the detector to each position and capturing the region of interest to obtain several sub-images at said positions; a pasting step: pasting the several sub-images together to form an image of the said region of interest. Said image acquisition device comprises a determination unit, a calculation unit, a capturation unit, and a pasting unit. Said radiography system comprises an image acquisition device. The images acquired by the technical solution of the present invention are more accurate.