Dual-Energy Vascular Contrast Imaging for Bone-Calcium Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-ray imaging methods struggle to accurately separate iodine-filled vessels from bones and calcifications due to similar density values, leading to imprecise vessel width measurements, especially in complex anatomical structures, and require high radiation doses to improve separation, posing health risks.
Innovation Solution
A novel X-ray contrast agent with significantly different X-ray absorption characteristics at different photon energies is used, allowing for material decomposition into calcium and contrast agent regions, enabling precise vessel diameter representation and reducing radiation dose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If iodine contrast agent is used for vessel imaging, then vessel visibility is improved, but separation from bones and calcifications deteriorates due to similar density values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing dual-energy X-ray imaging to capture images at two different energy levels (low energy around 80 keV and high energy around 140 keV). The contrast agent is designed with specific atomic number properties (higher than iodine) that create distinct attenuation differences at these two energy levels, enabling mathematical decomposition to separate contrast agent signal from bone and calcification signals, thereby resolving the density value overlap problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material principles by creating a contrast agent composition with specific elemental composition (containing elements with atomic numbers higher than iodine) that exhibits composite attenuation characteristics. This composite material approach allows the contrast agent to maintain high visibility while presenting a differentiated spectral signature that can be separated from bone and calcification materials through multi-energy decomposition.
2Measurement precision
If dual energy imaging is used to separate bones and contrast agent, then material separation is improved, but image noise increases due to similar spectral absorption behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the energy parameter selection by choosing specific low and high energy levels (around 80 keV and 140 keV) that maximize the attenuation difference for the contrast agent while minimizing noise amplification. The contrast agent's atomic number is selected to create optimal contrast at these specific energy levels, improving signal-to-noise ratio in the decomposed images.
Solution Approach 2:
The contrast agent's composite material composition (with elements having atomic numbers higher than iodine) creates a unique spectral fingerprint that enhances separability from bone and calcification. This composite structure provides more distinct attenuation characteristics at dual energy levels, improving material decomposition accuracy while maintaining lower noise levels compared to conventional iodine-based agents.
3Measurement precision
If radiation dose is increased to improve material separation, then separation quality is improved, but patient health risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy parameters by implementing dual-energy imaging protocol that optimizes tube voltage and current settings for each energy level. This parameter optimization achieves superior material separation with lower total radiation dose compared to single high-dose imaging, as the multi-energy information provides additional material discrimination capability without proportionally increasing dose.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of increasing radiation dose to improve separation with a physics-based approach using photoelectric effect and Compton scattering differences at dual energy levels. By substituting dose increase with energy differentiation, the system achieves better material separation while maintaining lower patient radiation exposure.
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
The method achieves precise vessel imaging with lower radiation exposure by separating iodine-filled regions from calcium-containing structures, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing patient health risks.
Implementation Method 1
The X-ray contrast agent according to example embodiments of the present invention has an X-ray absorption the change of which between at least two different X-ray photon energies differs significantly from the change in the X-ray absorption of calcium between the at least two different X-ray photon energies
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relates to an X-ray contrast agent. The X-ray contrast agent has an X-ray absorption the change of which between at least two different X-ray photon energy levels differs from the change in X-ray absorption of calcium between the at least two different X-ray photon energy level. Embodiments of the present invention also relates to an X-ray imaging method. Embodiments of the present invention additionally relates to an image reconstruction device. Embodiments of the present invention further relates to an X-ray imaging system.