X-Ray Imaging Control Settings for Short Contrast Bolus Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing x-ray imaging methods using contrast agents face challenges in achieving high image quality while minimizing patient radiation exposure and contrast agent dosage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a 'short intensive bolus' of high-concentration contrast agent with a high frame rate, along with specific control settings for frame rate, infusion rate, and infusion duration, to optimize x-ray image quality and reduce overall x-ray dose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high frame rate is selected for x-ray image recording, then image quality is improved, but the overall x-ray dose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using a high frame rate (at least 90% of maximum adjustable frame rate) to capture the contrast agent flow at multiple discrete time points. This periodic imaging approach allows optimal capture of the contrast bolus passage while limiting total exposure duration, thereby achieving high image quality without proportionally increasing overall dose
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously: frame rate is set to at least 90% of maximum, contrast agent infusion rate is optimized to create a bolus of specific length, and infusion duration is calculated to achieve minimal overlap (at most 25%) between consecutive images. This coordinated parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between image quality and radiation dose
2Measurement precision
If the contrast agent bolus length is increased to improve image quality, then the quantity of contrast agent increases, but the kidney load on the patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the contrast agent infusion parameters by calculating a specific infusion rate R and duration t based on vessel diameter and flow speed. This ensures the bolus length L is precisely controlled to achieve minimal overlap (at most 25%) between consecutive images, thereby using the minimum necessary contrast agent quantity for adequate image quality
3Measurement precision
If the x-ray dose per image is increased to improve image quality, then the overall x-ray dose increases, but radiation exposure to patient and personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a high frame rate to create multiple copies (images) of the contrast agent flow at different time points. By capturing the dynamic flow process through repeated low-dose imaging rather than fewer high-dose images, the overall radiation exposure is reduced while maintaining diagnostic image quality through the temporal series of images
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 achieves surprisingly high image quality with a surprisingly low overall x-ray dose, ensuring safer and less strenuous examinations for patients and personnel.
Implementation Method 1
These contain an element that absorbs particularly strong (or particularly weak) x-ray radiation, in order as a result to achieve a high image contrast with the surrounding tissues
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a good x-ray quality with as low a radiation exposure for a patient as possible. The method provides control settings for recording a series of x-ray images by an x-ray device during a flow of contrast agent through a liquid-filled hollow organ of a patient. The method includes the following steps: selecting a frame rate f, which, with respect to the x-ray device used, contributes to at least 90% of the maximum adjustable frame rate, determining a contrast agent infusion rate R for the hollow organ, which generates a fill level of at least 75% in the hollow organ, using a vessel diameter d of the hollow organ and a flow speed v of the liquid of the hollow organ, determining an infusion duration t which represents a contrast agent bolus length as a function of the selected frame rate f, which infusion duration t generates an overlap of at most 25% between two consecutive x-ray images using the selected frame rate f, providing a first control setting in respect of the selected frame rate f for the x-ray device for recording the series of x-ray images and providing a second control setting in respect of the determined contrast agent infusion rate R and the determined infusion duration t.