Virtual Collimator Overlay for Radiation Exposure Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical imaging technologies face challenges in accurately determining which patient regions are subject to radiation during x-ray exposure and aligning imaging devices, such as O-arms, with the patient's head efficiently, leading to increased setup time and radiation exposure.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a virtual collimator overlay on images captured by an imaging device to segment patient regions subject to different radiation levels, allowing for precise alignment of the imaging device with the patient's head and adjusting the collimator's shape based on the radiation source's orientation, enabling efficient radiation exposure planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a virtual collimator overlay is used to segment patient regions, then radiation exposure control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the collimator (virtual collimator overlay) that replicates the radiation exposure pattern without requiring physical adjustment. This virtual model allows prediction and visualization of radiation zones before actual exposure, reducing harmful radiation effects while avoiding the complexity of multiple physical collimator configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary segmentation of patient regions into radiation and non-radiation zones before actual radiation exposure occurs. By pre-visualizing and planning the radiation fields using the virtual collimator overlay on anatomical images, the system allows for advance optimization of exposure zones, reducing unnecessary radiation while maintaining operational simplicity
2Measurement precision
If the imaging device is manually aligned with the patient's head, then alignment precision is improved, but setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback by overlaying the virtual collimator on anatomical images, showing the predicted radiation zones. This feedback mechanism allows operators to verify alignment precision in real-time and make adjustments as needed, achieving high precision without requiring extensive manual trial-and-error alignment procedures that would increase setup time
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual collimator overlay is prepared and displayed before actual radiation delivery, allowing preliminary verification of device alignment with the patient's head. This pre-visualization step enables operators to confirm proper positioning and make necessary adjustments before committing to the actual procedure, thereby achieving precise alignment efficiently
3Manufacturing precision
If the collimator shape is adjusted based on radiation source orientation, then radiation exposure accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring physical collimator adjustments to match radiation source orientation, the system creates a virtual copy that automatically adapts to the radiation source position. The virtual collimator overlay dynamically represents the radiation field geometry based on the source orientation, providing accurate exposure prediction without mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical collimator adjustment system with a computational approach. Rather than physically repositioning collimator components to match radiation source orientation, the system uses software-based virtual collimator modeling that automatically calculates and displays the radiation zones based on source position and orientation, eliminating mechanical complexity while maintaining exposure accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A method according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: receiving, from an imaging device in a pose relative to a patient, a first two-dimensional image depicting a first region of the patient from a perspective of the pose; overlaying, over the first two-dimensional image, a virtual collimator to produce a second two-dimensional image, the second two-dimensional image depicting the first region as seen by a radiation source from the perspective of the pose; and segmenting the second two-dimensional image into at least two segments, where a first segment of the at least two segments is subject to radiation produced by the radiation source while the radiation source is in the pose, and where a second segment of the at least two segments is subject to less radiation than the first segment of the at least two segments while the radiation source is in the pose.