X-ray Scatter Radiation Zone Identification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical personnel in X-ray imaging rooms are at risk of exposure to harmful scattered radiation, which existing safety devices do not fully protect against, as the intensity of scattered radiation can cause harm even if it is lower in magnitude than the primary beam.
Innovation Solution
A system that calculates and visually indicates areas of potentially harmful X-ray scatter radiation in an imaging room by determining the radiation dose scatter at different distances from the patient, using factors like the size of the irradiated area, tube voltage, body mass index, and radiation detector angle, and provides a visual alert system to identify high, medium, and low radiation zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lead aprons and radiation safety glasses are worn, then radiation protection is provided, but coverage is limited to certain body regions and protection is not 100% effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visual guidance system as an intermediary between the radiation source and medical personnel. The system uses visual indicators (colored zones on the display) to communicate radiation risk levels, enabling personnel to make informed decisions about their positioning and exposure without relying solely on physical shielding.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback about scattered radiation levels and zones to medical personnel through visual displays. This feedback loop allows personnel to adjust their positions and actions dynamically to minimize exposure, complementing the passive protection of lead aprons.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If scattered radiation intensity is reduced, then harm to personnel is reduced, but the radiation cannot be detected by human senses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a detection system and visual display as intermediaries between the scattered radiation and human perception. The system uses sensors or calculations to detect radiation levels that are imperceptible to humans, then translates this information into visual cues (colored zones) that personnel can easily understand and respond to.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces human sensory detection (which cannot detect scattered radiation) with electronic detection systems and visual display mechanisms. This substitution enables personnel to perceive and respond to radiation levels through visual cues rather than relying on human senses.
3Loss of information
If visual guidance system is implemented, then radiation zone identification is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the visual guidance system into the existing X-ray imaging system, allowing the same hardware and software infrastructure to serve multiple functions: primary imaging, scattered radiation detection/calculation, and visual zone identification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems and mitigates complexity increases.
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 system effectively minimizes the risk of radiation exposure for medical personnel by providing clear visual guidance on the location and intensity of scattered radiation zones, allowing them to avoid areas of higher radiation levels during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
calculating X-ray scatter dose at different distances from an irradiated patient area as being substantially in proportion to the size of the irradiated area and substantially inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the irradiated area
Implementation Method 2
Scattered radiation is produced when a primary X-ray beam strikes collimators, beam stops, samples or shielding
Data Source
AI summary
A system displays potential radiation zones in an angiography X-ray laboratory during an angiography procedure, for example, and identifies areas of potentially harmful radiation due to X-ray scatter in an imaging room. An input processor receives data identifying an emitted X-ray dose level applied to an area of a patient anatomy. An image data processor determines level of X-ray radiation dose scatter in different regions of an imaging room indicating regions of potentially harmful radiation, by calculating X-ray scatter dose at different distances from an irradiated patient area as being substantially in proportion to the size of the irradiated area and substantially inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the irradiated area. A visual alert system visually identifies areas of a room of potentially harmful radiation in response to the determination.