X-ray Diagnostic Apparatus Marker Tracking for Reduced Radiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Endovascular intervention treatments in organs with pulsating or moving structures, such as the heart, pose challenges in precisely positioning medical devices due to the movement of X-ray image markers, leading to increased radiation exposure and complexity for doctors.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray diagnostic apparatus with processing circuitry that generates X-ray images, detects marker positions, and performs image processing to display moving images with the device appearing virtually stationary, while reducing radiation exposure by controlling X-ray irradiation doses and frame rates, and adjusting image deformation to maintain visibility of stent markers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If X-ray images are continuously captured to track device position in real-time, then positioning accuracy can be improved, but radiation exposure to the patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary tracking of marker positions across multiple frames before the actual intervention positioning. By pre-establishing the relationship between marker movements and device position, the system can determine device location without continuous high-rate imaging, thereby reducing radiation exposure while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors marker positions in captured X-ray images and uses this feedback to adjust tracking algorithms. The feedback mechanism allows the system to optimize the balance between image capture frequency and positioning accuracy, capturing images only when necessary to update device position information, thus reducing unnecessary radiation exposure.
2Ease of operation
If image processing is performed to make the device appear stationary in moving images, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy of the device position information by tracking markers and generating synthesized stationary images. Instead of physically stabilizing the device, the system copies the positional data and presents it in a stationary format, simplifying the operator's task while managing complexity through software-based image synthesis rather than hardware modifications.
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
Facilitates precise positioning of medical devices during endovascular interventions with reduced radiation exposure and improved image stability, enhancing the accuracy and safety of treatments.
Implementation Method 1
processing circuitry configured to successively generate X-ray images based on X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and transmitted through a subject
Data Source
AI summary
An X-ray diagnostic apparatus of an embodiment includes an image generator, a detection unit, and an irradiation control unit. The image generator successively generates X-ray images based on X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and transmitted through a subject. The detection unit detects a position of a predetermined target included in the successively generated X-ray images. The irradiation control unit identifies, based on the detected position of the predetermined target, a region in which the predetermined target can be visualized in the X-ray images, and performs control to reduce an X-ray irradiation dose to a region other than the identified region.