X-Ray Collimation Error Visualization for Retake Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mistakes in setting the field of view during X-ray imaging can result in organs being omitted from the image, requiring retakes and exposing patients to unnecessary radiation doses.
Innovation Solution
A display unit for X-ray systems that analyzes X-ray image data to identify boundary errors, generates an indication of these errors, and projects or displays them on the patient or user interface, allowing for real-time correction of the field of view settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual field of view setting is used by radiographer, then flexibility in image composition is improved, but risk of boundary errors and retakes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides immediate visual feedback by projecting boundary error indications directly onto the patient's body or displaying them on a monitor. This real-time feedback allows the radiographer to recognize and correct field of view errors before the exposure is finalized, thereby maintaining operational flexibility while significantly reducing boundary errors and retakes
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the field of view settings before the actual X-ray exposure. By detecting potential boundary errors in advance and displaying correction indications, the system enables the radiographer to adjust settings proactively, preventing errors rather than detecting them after the fact
2Productivity
If field of view errors are not detected, then imaging process speed is improved, but patient radiation exposure increases due to retakes
Solution Approach 1:
The immediate visual feedback system allows for rapid detection and correction of field of view errors during the imaging process. This enables the radiographer to correct issues on the spot without requiring retakes, thereby maintaining high imaging productivity while preventing additional patient radiation exposure that would result from repeated exposures
3Measurement precision
If boundary error analysis is performed on X-ray image data, then detection accuracy of field of view errors is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs boundary error analysis on the captured image data immediately after acquisition, before the radiographer finalizes the exposure. This preliminary processing maintains high detection accuracy while minimizing the time penalty by utilizing the already-captured data and providing rapid visual feedback for correction
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The field of view of an X-ray imaging system should be set appropriately to ensure that anatomical information of interest is not omitted. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that the operator of an X-ray system does not allow a patient to leave the X-ray imaging system until it is certain that the correct anatomy has been imaged. This application discusses a technique enable the visualization of a field of view boundary error caused by the incorrect configuration of an X-ray imaging system. Optionally, the boundary error is displayed either on a user display of a system console, or by projecting the field of view error onto the patient in the X-ray system. Thus, an operator of the system may be alerted to the presence of a boundary error, enabling a new X-ray exposure to be taken, if necessary.