Tomosynthesis X-ray Source Segmentation for Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tomosynthesis systems with multiple X-ray sources integrated in a single vacuum chamber face difficulties in maintenance and angle adjustment, as the entire system needs to be disassembled for repairs and angle adjustments are cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The tomosynthesis system design features multiple X-ray sources protruding from the vacuum chamber, allowing for independent adjustment and replacement of each source, with electric field emission sources and target metal modules for precise X-ray emission, enabling easy maintenance and optimal angle control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If multiple X-ray sources are integrated in a single vacuum chamber, then the system structure is compact, but maintenance becomes difficult requiring entire system disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vacuum chamber into multiple independent chambers, each housing a separate X-ray source. This segmentation allows individual chambers to be accessed, removed, or replaced without disassembling the entire system, thus resolving the contradiction between compact structure and ease of maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts individual X-ray sources from a unified vacuum chamber environment, placing them in separate chambers that can be independently handled. This extraction enables maintenance personnel to work on specific sources without affecting others, solving the maintenance difficulty while preserving overall system compactness.
2Volume of moving object
If multiple X-ray sources are integrated in a single vacuum chamber, then the system is compact, but angle adjustment becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the vacuum chamber into independent units, each containing a single X-ray source, the patent enables individual angle adjustment of each source without affecting others. This resolves the contradiction by allowing compact overall structure while facilitating easy operational adjustment of specific components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow each X-ray source chamber to be independently positioned at different angles. This dynamic capability enables flexible angle adjustment while maintaining a compact system footprint, resolving the contradiction between structural compactness and operational ease.
3Reliability
If the entire system is disassembled for source replacement, then malfunctioning sources can be fixed, but system downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into independent chambers, each housing a replaceable X-ray source. When a source malfunctions, only the specific chamber containing that source needs to be accessed and replaced, not the entire system. This dramatically reduces system downtime while ensuring reliable operation of functional sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a replaceable source architecture where malfunctioning X-ray sources can be quickly removed and replaced with functional units. This approach minimizes the time the system is non-operational while maintaining high reliability through rapid source replacement rather than complex repairs.
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 design facilitates easy maintenance and optimal X-ray direction adjustment, allowing for efficient operation and reduced downtime when a source malfunctions, while enabling precise three-dimensional image creation with adjustable X-ray angles.
Implementation Method 1
a first coupling module configured to include an electric field emission source that emits electrons
Implementation Method 2
a target metal module configured to collide with the electrons to emit X-ray
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a tomosynthesis system in which the maintenance is easily performed. The tomosynthesis system of the present disclosure includes a vacuum chamber, a plurality of X-ray sources configured to be coupled to the vacuum chamber so as to protrude from the vacuum chamber to generate X-rays in a direction of a subject, and an image sensor configured to detect an X-ray projection image that passes through the subject.