Tomosynthesis Imaging With Movable Irradiation Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tomosynthesis imaging apparatuses using multiple radiation tubes face issues with unnecessary exposure due to radiation leakage from irradiation openings corresponding to adjacent tubes, which is not effectively addressed by current irradiation field limiters.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a movable plate-like member with through holes that function as irradiation openings, positioned to avoid overlap with adjacent radiation tubes, and a displacement mechanism to adjust the position of these openings, ensuring radiation is directed only to intended areas, thereby preventing unnecessary exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple radiation tubes are arranged close to each other to improve SN ratio, then image quality is improved, but radiation leakage from adjacent tubes causes unnecessary exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The irradiation field limiter employs a movable plate-like member that can dynamically adjust the position of through holes to align with active radiation tubes. This dynamic repositioning ensures that when multiple radiation tubes are arranged close together, only the intended tube's radiation passes through its corresponding opening, preventing leakage to adjacent areas while maintaining high SN ratio imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The plate-like member acts as an intermediary between multiple radiation tubes and the imaging detector. By introducing this intermediate component with selectively positionable through holes, the system controls radiation paths from multiple close-spaced tubes, allowing beneficial close arrangement for SN ratio while blocking harmful radiation leakage to adjacent regions
2Reliability
If irradiation openings are formed to correspond to each radiation tube, then radiation control is improved, but radiation still leaks from adjacent openings
Solution Approach 1:
The plate-like member is designed to move and reposition through holes dynamically based on which radiation tube is active. This dynamic adjustment ensures that through holes align precisely with the intended radiation source, preventing static misalignment that causes leakage from adjacent openings while maintaining reliable radiation field control
3Device complexity
If a fixed irradiation field limiter is used, then device complexity is reduced, but it cannot prevent radiation leakage from adjacent tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a movable plate-like member with adjustable through hole positions, transforming a static irradiation field limiter into a dynamic one. This added complexity enables precise control of radiation paths from multiple close-spaced tubes, preventing leakage while maintaining manageable device structure through coordinated movement control
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a tomosynthesis imaging apparatus that can prevent unnecessary exposure. Fifteen radiation tubes are arranged in a radiation source of the mammography apparatus. An irradiation field limiter includes a plate-like member having a plurality of through holes that function as irradiation openings. Adjacent through holes are arranged at an interval of one radiation tube. In the plate-like member, the position of the through holes which are irradiation openings are moved to a first set position in a case in which radiation is emitted from first radiation tubes which are some of three or more radiation tubes and a second set position in a case in which the radiation is emitted from second radiation tubes different from the first radiation tubes among the three or more radiation tubes. Therefore, one through hole is shared by two radiation tubes.