Radiation Tomography Scan Condition Setting for Sensitive Tissue Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation tomography apparatuses face challenges in effectively utilizing radiation while maintaining image quality, particularly when scanning areas with highly radiosensitive tissues such as the breast, crystalline lens, or thyroid gland, as shields used to reduce exposure can degrade image quality.
Innovation Solution
A radiation tomography apparatus and scan condition setting device that set specific scan areas for lower radiation exposure doses, allowing for effective radiation use and improved image quality by adjusting scan conditions, such as tube current values and scan angles, to minimize exposure to sensitive areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shield is placed on the breast of the subject to reduce radiation exposure to the mammary gland, then radiation exposure to sensitive areas is reduced, but the quality of the tomographic image is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging area is divided into a general scan area and a specific scan area (the breast area). Different scan conditions are applied to different segments: the general area uses standard radiation parameters while the specific breast area uses reduced radiation parameters, allowing simultaneous optimization of both image quality and radiation safety
Solution Approach 2:
Different radiation exposure levels are applied to different local areas of the subject. The breast area receives reduced radiation exposure while other areas receive standard exposure, enabling localized protection of radiosensitive tissues without compromising overall image quality
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a shield is placed on highly radiosensitive portions near the body surface to reduce radiation exposure, then radiation exposure to sensitive areas is reduced, but image quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The scan area is segmented to identify and isolate regions containing highly radiosensitive portions (crystalline lens, thyroid gland, breast). These segmented areas are then scanned under reduced radiation conditions while maintaining standard conditions for other regions, resolving the contradiction between protection and image quality
Solution Approach 2:
Radiation exposure parameters are adjusted locally based on the presence of radiosensitive tissues. Areas with radiosensitive portions receive reduced exposure parameters while other areas maintain standard parameters, enabling simultaneous optimization of radiation safety and image quality without requiring physical shields
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
Enables effective radiation utilization and enhances image quality by reducing radiation exposure to sensitive areas without the need for shields, thereby preventing image degradation.
Implementation Method 1
performing a main scan in which radiation beams are irradiated to the imaging area of the subject and the radiation beams having passed through the imaging area of the subject are detected
Data Source
AI summary
The quality of an image can be improved and radiation can effectively be utilized. In an imaging area of a subject where a main scan is performed, a specific scan area setting unit sets a specific scan area where a scan is performed under a specific scan condition allowing radiation exposure dose on the subject to be low. Then, the scan condition setting unit sets a main scan condition so that the specific scan area is scanned under the specific scan condition allowing the radiation exposure dose on the subject to be low.