X-ray Angiography C-arm Rotation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current X-ray angiography techniques face challenges in generating high-resolution three-dimensional images of blood vessels and soft tissues due to the limited visibility of soft tissues caused by the slow rotation of the X-ray tube, which increases contrast medium usage and reduces image quality.
Innovation Solution
The X-ray angiography apparatus employs a system that acquires mask images before contrast medium injection at a finer angle sampling pitch and contrast images after injection at a coarser pitch, allowing for high-speed rotation and separate reconstruction of blood vessel and non-blood vessel images, using scattered radiation and beam hardening corrections to enhance image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the X-ray tube rotates slowly to acquire many projection images (400-500 frames) for high-resolution three-dimensional reconstruction, then the visibility of soft tissue improves, but the amount of contrast medium used increases and imaging time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into two distinct phases: a first imaging mode that acquires a limited number of projection images with fine angle sampling pitch for three-dimensional reconstruction, and a second imaging mode that acquires projection images with coarse angle sampling pitch for conventional DSA. This segmentation allows the system to obtain sufficient data for high-resolution soft tissue visualization without requiring the large number of images (400-500 frames) that would otherwise be necessary, thereby reducing contrast medium usage while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If the X-ray tube rotates slowly to acquire many projection images, then three-dimensional reconstruction quality improves, but imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging protocol into two modes with different sampling strategies. The first imaging mode uses fine angle sampling pitch to acquire a small number of high-quality projection images suitable for three-dimensional reconstruction, while the second imaging mode uses coarse angle sampling pitch for standard DSA applications. This segmentation enables the system to achieve high-resolution three-dimensional reconstruction without requiring prolonged imaging sessions, thus reducing imaging time while maintaining reconstruction quality.
3Measurement precision
If the angle sampling pitch is made finer to improve three-dimensional reconstruction resolution, then the number of required projection images increases, but this is limited by the acquisition rate of the X-ray detector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by acquiring only the minimum necessary number of projection images with fine angle sampling pitch required for high-quality three-dimensional reconstruction, rather than continuously acquiring images at fine pitch until a large total number is reached. The system determines that a limited set of strategically acquired images at fine pitch is sufficient for reconstruction purposes, avoiding the detector acquisition rate limitations that would arise from attempting to acquire hundreds of images at fine pitch.
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 enables the generation of high-resolution three-dimensional images with improved visibility of both blood vessels and soft tissues, reducing the impact of contrast medium artifacts and shortening imaging time, thus enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an X-ray tube 12 and an X-ray detector 14
Implementation Method 2
an X-ray tube 12 and an X-ray detector 14
Implementation Method 3
The C-arm 60 can rotate about three orthogonal axes A, B, and C
Data Source
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AI summary
An X-ray angiography apparatus includes a C-arm (60), a support mechanism (63, 64) which rotatably supports the C-arm, a rotation driving unit (22) which drives rotation of the C-arm, an X-ray tube (12) mounted on the C-arm, an X-ray detector (14) mounted on the C-arm in a direction to face the X-ray tube, and a rotation control unit (23) which controls the X-ray detector (14) and the rotation driving unit (22) to make the angle sampling pitch of contrast images become larger than that of mask images.