X-ray Protocol Dose Reduction Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of computed tomography apparatuses often fail to adopt manufacturer-provided dose reduction measures in software updates or new apparatus types, leading to suboptimal x-ray radiation dose application due to lack of knowledge or automated adaptation, resulting in potential missed opportunities for reducing patient exposure.
Innovation Solution
An x-ray device method that automatically compares user-defined protocols with installed dose reduction measures, visualizing additional available measures for dose reduction, allowing users to activate them, thereby ensuring optimal dose reduction and simplifying workflow during software updates or apparatus changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manufacturers introduce new dose reduction measures in software updates, then dose reduction capability is improved, but user adoption decreases due to lack of automated adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary comparison between existing protocols and available dose reduction measures before the user needs to operate the device. The processor automatically identifies which measures from the protocol library can be applied to the selected protocol, preparing the adaptation in advance so the user simply needs to activate the suggested measures without manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the user by displaying a list of available dose reduction measures that can be applied to the selected protocol. This feedback mechanism informs users about new measures introduced in software updates and guides them to activate appropriate measures, ensuring they benefit from the improved dose reduction capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users manually adapt protocols to their requirements, then protocol customization is improved, but time consumption increases during software updates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and suggestion of applicable dose reduction measures before the user needs to configure protocols. The processor compares the selected protocol with the protocol library, automatically determines which measures can be applied, and presents them as suggestions, eliminating the need for users to manually search and configure during software updates.
3Loss of time
If automatic protocol adaptation is implemented, then user training time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the complex comparison and adaptation logic from the user's manual configuration process. The processor handles the complex tasks of comparing protocols with the protocol library, identifying applicable measures, and determining compatibility, while the user only needs to activate the suggested measures through a simplified interface.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method and x-ray device to assist in the reduction of the dose of x-ray radiation applied to the patient in the acquisition of at least one x-ray projection of the patient, a selected protocol is entered by a user into an x-ray device, the selected protocol being defined for the acquisition of the at least one x-ray projection and including a measure or measures for reduction of the dose of x-ray radiation to be applied to the patient in the acquisition of the at least one x-ray projection. The does reduction measure or measures in the selected protocol are automatically compared in a processor of the x-ray device, with the dose reduction measures that are installed at the x-ray device for reduction of the dose of x-ray radiation to be applied to a patient in the acquisition of the at least one x-ray projection. If the result of the comparison indicates a discrepancy between the dose reduction measure or measures in the selected, defined protocol and those installed in the x-ray device, at least one such measure installed at the x-ray device is visualized as a measure that can be set or activated by the user, that is not yet included in the selected protocol.