Rotating Frame Data Transmission for X-ray CT Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional X-ray CT apparatuses face challenges in transmitting large amounts of medical data at high speeds without increasing installation space, as existing communication methods either require more space or face issues with propagation delay when increasing transmission speed.

Innovation Solution

The system divides medical data into multiple channels for parallel transmission using a configuration of transmission and receiving media arranged around the circumference of the rotating frame, allowing simultaneous communication without expanding the apparatus's width, employing charge-coupling or electromagnetic-coupling to maintain signal phase coherence across channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the transmission speed is increased to transmit large amounts of medical data, then the data transmission rate is improved, but the propagation delay and signal phase inconsistency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidsignal phase consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the transmission medium into multiple independent sections, each handling a portion of the data stream. This segmentation allows parallel transmission of multiple channels while maintaining controlled propagation delay in each section, thereby improving overall data transmission rate while preserving signal phase consistency within each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-channel sequential transmission to multi-channel parallel transmission by utilizing multiple transmission media arranged in specific geometric patterns (triangular, rectangular, or circular configurations). This dimensional expansion enables simultaneous data flow across multiple paths, increasing throughput while maintaining phase coherence through synchronized signal injection at multiple points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple transmission media are used to increase data transmission capacity, then the data rate is improved, but the apparatus width and installation space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidapparatus width
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent arranges multiple transmission media in nested or overlapping configurations where they share common spatial pathways. The transmission media are positioned such that they occupy overlapping volumes or are bundled together, allowing multiple channels to coexist within a compact cross-sectional area, thereby increasing transmission capacity without proportionally increasing apparatus width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of arranging transmission media side-by-side in a linear fashion that increases width, the patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement and angular distribution (e.g., triangular, rectangular, or circular patterns). This allows multiple media to be packed more efficiently in the available space, increasing capacity while minimizing the horizontal footprint of the apparatus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If the number of X-ray detector element arrays is increased to improve image precision, then the measurement precision is improved, but the amount of communication data increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage precisionVSAvoidcommunication data volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the large volume of data from multiple detector element arrays into multiple smaller channels, each handled by a dedicated transmission medium. This segmentation enables parallel processing and transmission of data subsets, maintaining the high precision requirements for each detector element while managing the overall data volume through distributed communication paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent resolves the data volume issue by transitioning from single-channel bulk transmission to multi-channel distributed transmission. Multiple transmission media carry parallel streams of data from different detector elements or data subsets, effectively increasing the communication bandwidth to handle the large data volume generated by high-precision detector arrays without requiring a single high-capacity channel that would exacerbate propagation delay issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 enables high data rate transmission of large amounts of medical data without increasing the physical space required for the X-ray CT apparatus, ensuring continuous signal reception and reducing data errors by maintaining signal phase consistency across channels.

Implementation Method 1

The carrier signal is transmitted to a reception unit 310 through a receiving medium 110 in the stationary frame 100. Using the transmission medium 260 and the receiving medium 110, the carrier signal is transmitted/received by charge coupling.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCharge coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

employing charge-coupling or electromagnetic-coupling to maintain signal phase coherence across channels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP1810617B1X-ray CT apparatus and medical data communication link system
Publication Date: 2008.12.03 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP1810617B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP1810617B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP1810617B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A receiving medium comprising N components is assigned to N channels, respectively, and provided along the circumference of a stationary frame around which a rotating frame rotates. A transmission medium of M components (M≥2N,N represents an integer more than 1) is arranged separately in a line along the circumference of the rotating frame with intervals therebetween. A signal generation device produces a signal containing data relating to an object obtained by an X-ray detector device. As the transmission medium is rotated to face anyone of the receiving media and the interval between two adjacent transmission media passes nearby one of said receiving medium, a switching device switches the signal from said generation device such that the signal from the same channel may be transmitted to the two adjacent transmission media. Due to this switching, a signal containing the data from the X-ray detector device distributed to each channel can be transmitted continuously to the stationary frame without fail.