X-ray Imaging Apparatus with Reciprocal Rotation and Tangential Sensor Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional X-ray CT imaging apparatuses require large-area sensors, leading to high costs and mechanical challenges due to increased rotation requirements, and are limited in their ability to image objects with restricted rotational ranges, such as the head of a quadrupedal animal.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray imaging apparatus with an X-ray generator and sensor rotating in opposing directions, where the sensor moves in a tangential direction within a limited rotation range of less than 360 degrees, allowing for extended Field of View (FOV) imaging by reciprocally rotating between two positions and moving the sensor in steps along its width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large-area X-ray sensor is used to expand the FOV, then the imaging coverage is improved, but the cost and device complexity significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system divides the FOV expansion task into two parts: the sensor maintains a fixed small area, while the FOV is extended through rotational movement and tangential translation. This segmentation allows using a small, simple sensor instead of a large, complex one.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is made dynamically movable through rotation and tangential translation during the imaging sequence. This dynamic positioning allows a small sensor to cover a larger FOV over time, replacing the need for a large static sensor.
2Area of stationary object
If the X-ray sensor rotates more than 360 degrees to expand FOV, then the imaging coverage is improved, but the connection wire twisting and mechanical reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring a full 360-degree or multi-rotation imaging sequence, the system uses a limited rotation range combined with tangential sensor movement. This partial action achieves FOV expansion without the excessive rotation that causes wire twisting and mechanical wear.
3Device complexity
If the rotation range is limited to less than 360 degrees, then the mechanical complexity is reduced, but the FOV coverage capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a tangential translation dimension to the rotation movement. By moving the sensor tangentially during the imaging sequence, the FOV is expanded not just through rotation angle but also through positional displacement in a second dimension, compensating for the limited rotation range.
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
Enables the acquisition of CT images with an extended FOV compared to the sensor width while minimizing the counter-rotational range, reducing mechanical complexity and cost, and accommodating objects with limited rotational access.
Implementation Method 1
a generator part including an X-ray generator for emitting X-rays to an imaging target area and a sensor part including an X-ray sensor for receiving the X-rays transmitted through the imaging target area
Data Source
AI summary
An X-ray imaging apparatus is proposed. The proposed X-ray imaging apparatus is configured to include an imaging part including a generator part including the X-ray generator for emitting X-rays to an imaging target area and a sensor part including the X-ray sensor for receiving the X-rays transmitted through the imaging target area, a first driving part for rotating the generator part and sensor part about a rotation axis therebetween, and a second driving part for moving the X-ray sensor in a direction of rotation about the rotation axis with respect to the sensor part or a direction tangential to the rotation, wherein, during X-ray imaging, the first driving part rotates the imaging part reciprocally between first and second positions, and the second driving part moves the X-ray sensor either from the first position or from the second position.