Virtual Grid Radiography Apparatus Scattered Radiation Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing radiography techniques require significant user effort to set imaging conditions, especially when using a grid to reduce scattered radiation, which can lead to increased operation burden and image quality issues due to the inclusion of a fine stripe pattern (moire) in radiographic images.
Innovation Solution
A radiography apparatus and method that performs a virtual grid process by receiving virtual grid characteristics to derive and set imaging conditions, allowing for the removal of scattered radiation without a physical grid, thereby reducing user burden and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a physical grid is provided between the subject and radiation detector to remove scattered radiation, then the contrast of the radiographic image is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to additional setup requirements and moire pattern issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual grid by generating an image that mimics the effect of a physical grid. The virtual grid image is synthesized based on detected scattered radiation characteristics, reproducing the scattered radiation removal effect without requiring actual physical grid placement, thereby eliminating moire patterns and setup complexity while maintaining image contrast improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical grid system with a computational image processing system. Instead of using actual grid structures that require physical placement and adjustment, the system uses algorithms to generate virtual grid images that achieve the same scattered radiation removal effect, substituting mechanical complexity with computational simplicity
2Manufacturing precision
If a physical grid is used to remove scattered radiation, then the image contrast is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased user burden in setting imaging conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines imaging conditions by detecting scattered radiation characteristics and autonomously generating the virtual grid image. The imaging condition setting process is performed self-service by the system itself rather than requiring manual user configuration, thereby maintaining image contrast improvement while eliminating the operational burden on users
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from scattered radiation detection to automatically adjust and determine appropriate imaging conditions. By detecting the actual scattered radiation characteristics and using this information to generate the virtual grid image, the system self-regulates imaging parameters without requiring manual user input, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining image quality
3Manufacturing precision
If image processing is performed to remove the stripe pattern from radiographic images, then the image quality is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual grid image is generated in advance based on detected scattered radiation characteristics, before final image composition. By preparing the scattered radiation removal component beforehand and integrating it with the subject image, the processing is optimized to reduce final processing time while maintaining image quality improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the subject image and virtual grid image in a single processing step to create the final radiographic image. By merging the scattered radiation removal effect with the subject image acquisition process rather than treating them as separate sequential operations, the overall processing time is reduced while maintaining image quality
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 virtual grid process effectively reduces the user's operational burden and enhances image quality by accurately removing scattered radiation, eliminating the need for a physical grid and its associated setup challenges, while maintaining image contrast.
Implementation Method 1
a radiographic image of a subject is captured using radiation that is transmitted through the subject
Implementation Method 2
the radiation is scattered in the subject and the scattered radiation (hereinafter, also referred to a 'scattered ray') causes a reduction in the contrast of the captured radiographic image
Data Source
AI summary
A derivation unit derives imaging conditions corresponding to virtual grid characteristics (grid ratio) received by a receiving unit on the basis of a table stored in a storage unit. The derivation unit sets the derived imaging conditions in a radiation source control unit. The radiation source control unit controls a radiation source on the basis of the set imaging conditions such that a radiographic image is captured. An execution unit of an image processing device acquires the radiographic image captured by the radiation detector through a detector control unit. The execution unit performs a virtual grid process for the acquired radiographic image on the basis of the virtual grid characteristics received by the receiving unit and the imaging conditions derived by the derivation unit to generate a radiographic image from which the influence of scattered radiation has been removed and displays the radiographic image on a display unit.