Tomographic Positioning Clock Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tomographic imaging systems face inaccuracies in recording positional information of moving image modality components due to latency issues in data reporting, leading to inaccuracies in image reconstruction.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a series of accurate digital clocks synchronized via a single hardware trigger to provide time-stamped positional information, allowing for accurate interpolation and calculation of positional data during tomographic image capture, ensuring precise reconstruction of image acquisition geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If digital communication interfaces are used to transmit positional data, then data transmission capability is improved, but latency in reporting positional information occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces digital communication interfaces with direct hardware connections ( cables) between the positioner module and clocks. This mechanical/electrical substitution eliminates software-based data transmission latency while maintaining high data transmission capability through dedicated hardware signal paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a positioner module as an intermediary device that directly receives positional information from movable components via hardware connections and transmits time-stamped data to clocks. This intermediary eliminates the latency inherent in digital communication interfaces by using dedicated hardware signal paths.
2Measurement precision
If positional information is recorded at multiple time intervals, then measurement accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary time-stamping of positional information at the source (movable image modality components) before data collection. By pre-tagging each positional measurement with an accurate time stamp from synchronized clocks, the system simplifies subsequent data processing and interpolation operations while maintaining high measurement precision across multiple time intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable image modality components self-record their positional information with time stamps from synchronized clocks. This self-service approach at the data source eliminates the need for complex centralized data collection and processing, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If interpolation is used to calculate positional information, then accuracy at acquisition moments is improved, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex computational interpolation methods with a hardware-based time-stamping system using synchronized clocks. By directly recording positional information with precise time stamps at the moment of acquisition, the system achieves high accuracy without requiring intensive computational interpolation, thereby reducing power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-measurement at the exact moment of image acquisition through synchronized clocks that automatically time-stamp positional data. This eliminates the need for post-acquisition computational interpolation, reducing computational requirements while maintaining high positional accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to a method and a system that allows to accurately calculate positional information of moving image modality components for a sequence of tomographic exposures. The method allows to accurately determine the exact positions of said movable image modality components, and thus the acquisition geometry at the time of the tomographic acquisition, which allows a more accurate image reconstruction.