X-Ray Detector Artefact Detection Through Unexposed Image Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional X-ray imaging systems fail to correct disturbances such as electronic noise, electromagnetic interference, and mechanical vibrations, which vary over time and remain as artefacts in offset-corrected images, affecting image quality.
Innovation Solution
An anomaly detection apparatus that analyzes unexposed images from X-ray detectors to identify disturbances caused by external sources, generating a single image anomaly report with metadata, and providing analytical information and action proposals to mitigate these disturbances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If offset frame subtraction is used to correct detector images, then static offset errors are corrected, but time-varying disturbances (electronic noise, electromagnetic interference, mechanical vibrations) cannot be corrected and remain as artefacts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of unexposed images to detect artefacts before they affect clinical images. By identifying artefact patterns in advance using unexposed images acquired at regular intervals, the system can prepare correction strategies and prevent artefact propagation to patient images, thereby improving both offset correction accuracy and overall image quality reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where detected artefacts from unexposed images are used to generate anomaly reports that inform subsequent correction actions. The processing unit continuously monitors unexposed images, compares them against reference images, and uses the detected anomalies to adjust offset correction parameters, creating a closed-loop system that simultaneously improves correction accuracy and maintains image quality reliability
2Measurement precision
If unexposed images are analyzed to detect external disturbances, then artefact identification capability is improved, but data processing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary information from unexposed images for artefact detection, rather than processing complete clinical images. By focusing analysis on unexposed images which contain only artefact information without patient data, the system achieves high artefact detection accuracy while minimizing processing time and computational resources required
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial analysis on a subset of unexposed images acquired at regular intervals rather than continuously analyzing every image. This selective approach maintains high artefact detection accuracy by analyzing sufficient samples while reducing overall processing time and computational load compared to exhaustive analysis of all images
3Reliability
If anomaly detection and reporting system is implemented, then artefact management capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing unit performs multiple functions using the same hardware resources: it processes both clinical images for diagnosis and unexposed images for artefact detection, generates anomaly reports, and manages correction strategies. This multi-functional approach improves artefact management capability while avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects artefacts, generates anomaly reports, and initiates correction actions without requiring manual intervention. The processing unit self-manages the artefact detection workflow by automatically comparing unexposed images against reference images, identifying anomalies, and generating reports, which improves artefact management while minimizing the operational complexity burden on users
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to X-ray imaging. In order to improve artefacts management, there is provided an anomaly detection apparatus for identifying disturbance in an X-ray detector image caused by an external source. The anomaly detection apparatus comprises an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. The input unit is configured to receive an unexposed image acquired by an X-ray detector and metadata associated with the acquired unexposed image. The processing unit is configured to analyse the received unexposed image to determine whether there is an anomaly in the received unexposed image that is indicative of an image disturbance caused by an external source. In response to the detection of an anomaly that is indicative of an image disturbance caused by an external source, the processing unit is configured to generate a single image anomaly report comprising the received unexposed image in full or