Intraoral X-ray Sensor Pulse Termination for Patient Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing x-ray imaging technologies in dental care often expose patients to unnecessary radiation due to the transmission of a fixed number of x-ray pulses regardless of image quality, posing a risk to patient safety, especially in cases of image overexposure or underexposure.
Innovation Solution
An intraoral x-ray sensor system that captures multiple dental x-ray images and identifies image quality issues, generating an error indicator to terminate further x-ray pulse transmission when images are unsatisfactory, thereby reducing radiation exposure by integrating x-ray pulse energy at an array of pixels, performing analog-to-digital conversion, and transmitting error indicators over a USB to control x-ray pulse transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fixed number of x-ray pulses are transmitted regardless of image quality, then the imaging process is simple and fast, but unnecessary radiation exposure occurs to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors image quality parameters (mean pixel value, standard deviation, contrast) during x-ray pulse transmission and provides feedback to control the transmission process. When image quality metrics indicate satisfactory results, the system terminates x-ray pulse transmission early, preventing unnecessary radiation exposure while maintaining imaging speed through intelligent control rather than fixed-duration exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of image quality parameters during the initial phase of x-ray pulse transmission to determine whether to continue or terminate the exposure process. This preliminary assessment allows the system to make real-time decisions about radiation exposure duration based on actual image quality rather than predetermined fixed timing
2Object-affected harmful factors
If x-ray pulse transmission is terminated early when image quality is satisfactory, then radiation exposure is reduced, but image quality control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the x-ray sensor itself to monitor its own output quality by calculating image parameters (mean, standard deviation, contrast) from the captured images. This self-monitoring capability eliminates the need for separate complex monitoring equipment, reducing overall system complexity while enabling early termination of x-ray pulse transmission based on real-time image quality assessment
3Reliability
If multiple x-ray pulses are transmitted to ensure adequate image quality, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cumulative radiation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms that monitor image quality parameters (mean pixel value within thresholds, standard deviation indicating uniformity, contrast ratios) after each x-ray pulse and use this information to determine whether additional pulses are necessary. This feedback-driven approach ensures adequate diagnostic quality when needed while avoiding unnecessary cumulative radiation exposure by terminating transmission when quality criteria are met
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts x-ray pulse transmission based on real-time image quality parameter changes. When parameters indicate satisfactory image quality (mean within acceptable range, appropriate contrast, sufficient detail), the system changes the transmission parameter from continuing to multiple pulses to terminating after the current pulse, thereby controlling cumulative radiation risk while maintaining diagnostic reliability
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 enhances patient safety by preventing unnecessary radiation exposure and ensuring adequate diagnostic image quality by terminating x-ray exposure when images are deemed unsatisfactory, thereby reducing cumulative radiation risks.
Implementation Method 1
integrating energy associated with a received x-ray pulse at an array of pixels
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for x-ray image data monitoring and signaling for patient safety. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes integrating energy associated with a received x-ray pulse at an array of pixels. The method also includes multiplexing a readout of the integrated energy from the array of pixels, as analog signals, into channels, and performing analog to digital conversion of the analog signals of the channels into digital signals. The method further includes generating an error indicator in response to determining that a calculated mean of the digital signals is either greater than an upper threshold value associated with saturation or less than a lower threshold value associated with underexposure. The method further includes transmitting the error indicator over a Universal Serial Bus, to an imaging system, to terminate transmission of further x-ray pulses.