Virtual CT Detector via Charge Integration Merging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging modalities face challenges with photon counting detector arrays due to saturation issues and charge integrating channels have limitations such as noise and reduced resolution when using small channels, leading to suboptimal image quality and increased noise.
Innovation Solution
The system combines information from multiple charge integrating channels to generate virtual channels with a larger effective detection surface area, allowing for higher resolution images and improved noise reduction by oversampling and weighting channel contributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If photon counting channels are used, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to saturation at high photon emission rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple charge integrating channels to form a single virtual channel, merging their detection capabilities to achieve both high precision and high throughput at photon emission rates that would saturate individual photon counting channels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the high photon flux into multiple parallel charge integrating channels, each handling a portion of the total flux, then combines their outputs to maintain precision while increasing overall processing capacity
2Productivity
If small charge integrating channels are used, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines signals from multiple small charge integrating channels to form a virtual channel with improved signal-to-noise ratio, maintaining the high detection rate of small channels while achieving the precision equivalent of larger channels
3Measurement precision
If large charge integrating channels are used, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to reduced channel count
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detector array into multiple small charge integrating channels instead of using fewer large channels, increasing the total number of channels and detection coverage while maintaining precision through signal combination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines signals from multiple small channels to create virtual channels that have the effective area and precision equivalent to large channels, achieving both high precision and high detection coverage simultaneously
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 approach enhances image resolution and reduces noise, enabling more accurate and detailed imaging without the drawbacks of conventional large channels, while maintaining efficient detection and processing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
charge integrating channels that convert detected energy into signals (e.g., current or voltage signals) that are proportional to an incoming photon flux rate. The signals are processed by being integrated over a defined time period
Implementation Method 2
a radiation source configured to emit radiation photons and a detector array configured to detect radiation photons emitted by the radiation source
Data Source
AI summary
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described for creating virtual channels in an imaging modality. The imaging modality comprises a plurality of charge integrating channels. Information yielded from two or more charge integrating channels during a same or similar acquisition view may be combined to yield a virtual channel that represents a portion of the detection surface substantially equivalent to an area comprised by the two or more charge integrating channels. In one embodiment, within a same acquisition view, some virtual channels may comprise a different number of charge integrating channels than other virtual channels. Also, different sets of virtual channels may be created for a same acquisition view to produce different images from a single set of data, for example, where there may be overlap between virtual channels such that the same charge integrating channel is comprised in more than one virtual channel.