X-Ray Image Filtering for Electromagnetic Noise During Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
X-ray images acquired during catheter ablation treatments are degraded by electromagnetic field noise generated from mapping systems, leading to reduced image quality and difficulty in locating treatment tools due to striped artifacts, necessitating increased X-ray irradiation doses to compensate for noise attenuation by permalloy shielding.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray image processing apparatus with a specifying unit that identifies noise characteristics unique to electromagnetic field noise and a decision unit that determines filter characteristics for a noise reduction filter, applied to the X-ray images to remove electromagnetic field noise without affecting treatment tool regions, thereby enhancing image clarity and reducing the need for higher X-ray doses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If permalloy is placed in front of the FPD to reduce electromagnetic field influence, then electromagnetic field noise is reduced, but X-ray attenuation increases requiring higher irradiation dose
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes electromagnetic field noise components from the X-ray image data through signal processing techniques. The noise reduction processing separates and eliminates the harmful electromagnetic field interference without requiring physical shielding materials, thereby avoiding the X-ray attenuation problem that would result from using permalloy shields.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If permalloy shielding is used to reduce electromagnetic field noise, then noise attenuation is achieved, but image quality degrades due to X-ray attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical shielding approach (permalloy placement) with an electronic/digital signal processing approach. By substituting the physical noise reduction method with computational techniques, the system eliminates electromagnetic field noise without the detrimental X-ray attenuation effects that compromise image quality.
3Loss of information
If electromagnetic field noise is present in X-ray images, then treatment tool visibility is reduced, but increasing X-ray dose to compensate increases patient exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and exploits the characteristic striped artifact pattern generated by electromagnetic field noise, converting this harmful interference into a recognizable signal feature. By detecting these characteristic patterns, the system can selectively remove the noise components while preserving the actual treatment tool images, thereby maintaining visibility without increasing radiation dose.
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
The solution effectively reduces electromagnetic field noise in X-ray images, improving the visibility of treatment tools and maintaining image quality without requiring increased X-ray irradiation, thus enhancing the technical efficiency of catheter ablation treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The image data acquired by the FPD is mixed with noise upon being influenced by the electromagnetic field generated from a system (to be referred to as a mapping system hereinafter) which executes the mapping method
Implementation Method 2
A permalloy is placed in front of the FPD to reduce the influence of an electromagnetic field. However, the permalloy attenuates not only an electromagnetic field from the mapping system but also X-rays
Data Source
AI summary
An X-ray image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a specifying unit and a decision unit. The specifying unit processes a first X-ray image based on an output signal from an X-ray detector influenced by the action of an electromagnetic field, and specifies noise characteristics unique to noise components which are contained in the first X-ray image and originate from the action of the electromagnetic field on the X-ray detector. The decision unit decides filter characteristics for reducing the noise components which are contained in the first X-ray image and originate from the action of the electromagnetic field on the X-ray detector based on the specified noise characteristics.