X-ray Dose Estimation Correcting Automatic Exposure Control Dead Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-ray diagnosis systems face significant errors in radiation dose measurement due to 'dead time' in automatic exposure control chambers, especially during short recording times, leading to suboptimal irradiation of objects.
Innovation Solution
A method to estimate the radiation dose by determining a correction value using a second dose value calculated from the change over time of first dose values, which accounts for the non-measurable dose during the dead time of the automatic exposure control chamber, enhancing the accuracy of radiation dose estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an automatic exposure control chamber is used to measure radiation dose, then the radiation dose can be measured and controlled, but measurement errors occur during short recording times due to dead time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by estimating the dose that occurs during the dead time period before the measurement actually begins. The control unit calculates what the dose would have been during the unmeasurable dead time interval based on the relationship between subsequent measurements, effectively preparing a correction value in advance that compensates for the measurement gap.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by continuously monitoring the relationship between successive dose measurements and using this information to dynamically calculate correction values. The control unit analyzes the temporal pattern of dose values and adjusts the dead time compensation based on the observed dose rate changes, creating a closed-loop correction system.
2Measurement precision
If the dead time of the automatic exposure control chamber is considered, then the accuracy of radiation dose estimation is improved, but the complexity of the measurement system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or hardware modifications with a computational approach. Instead of modifying the physical measurement chamber to eliminate dead time, the system uses mathematical calculations in the control unit to estimate and compensate for the unmeasured dose, substituting computational complexity for hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the automatic exposure control chamber and the final dose determination. It receives the raw measurements, calculates the dead time compensation based on the relationship between successive measurements, and produces a corrected dose value, mediating the information flow without requiring direct hardware changes to the measurement chamber.
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 method significantly improves the accuracy of radiation dose estimation by dynamically increasing the precision of the correction value, ensuring more accurate and optimal irradiation of objects during X-ray imaging.
Implementation Method 1
an automatic exposure control chamber for determining first dose values of an X-ray
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments specify a method and an associated X-ray facility for estimating a radiation dose of an X-ray that is generated by an X-ray source and penetrates an object under examination. First dose values of the X-ray are determined by measurement in an automatic exposure control chamber. A second dose value is determined by estimating the radiation dose that is emitted by an X-ray source in a dead time of the automatic exposure control chamber. The estimated radiation dose is determined by the first dose value and the second dose value last determined being added. The second dose value represents a correction value for a non-measurable dose during the dead time of the automatic exposure control chamber that is taken into account when determining the estimated radiation dose.