Automatic radiography exposure control using rapid probe exposure and learned scene analysis
Inventors
Wang, Xiaohui • PESCE, Martin S.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11553891-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A digital radiographic image of a subject is captured using a reduced exposure level of an x-ray source. One or more exposure control regions in the image is mapped and associated with a predetermined exposure level. A difference between the predetermined exposure level setting and the reduced exposure level is used to set a diagnostic exposure level perhaps about twice as high as the reduced exposure level to capture a diagnostic image of the subject.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method for capturing a diagnostic quality digital radiographic (DR) image by first capturing a reduced exposure DR image of a particular anatomy using an x-ray source set at a reduced exposure level. One or more exposure control regions are mapped in the reduced exposure DR image based on previously captured diagnostic quality DR images of the same particular anatomy of other subjects, and the mapping associates the exposure control regions with exposure level information derived from the previously captured diagnostic quality DR images.
An exposure level difference is calculated between an exposure level used for the mapped regions in the previously captured diagnostic quality DR images and the reduced exposure level. Based on the calculated difference, the x-ray source is set at a diagnostic exposure level, wherein the diagnostic capture is performed to obtain a diagnostic quality DR image. In at least one implementation, setting the x-ray source includes setting an energy level and a time duration of exposure by the x-ray source.
The mapped exposure control regions are generated from an output of a machine learning algorithm trained on a plurality of archived diagnostic quality DR images of the same particular anatomy of other subjects. The invention also supports operator command entry and automated workflows for mapping and adjusting x-ray source settings, including automatically setting a diagnostic exposure level at least about twice higher than the reduced exposure level.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims provide a region-based exposure control workflow with three recurring inventive features: reduced-exposure capture with mapped exposure control regions, machine-learning-driven mapping using archived diagnostic-quality DR images, and setting diagnostic exposure level according to a calculated exposure-level difference.
Mapping exposure control regions in a reduced exposure DR image using previously captured diagnostic quality DR images
mapping one or more exposure control regions in the reduced exposure DR image based on one or more previously captured diagnostic quality DR images of the same particular anatomical region of other subjects
Calculating an exposure level difference and setting x-ray source to a diagnostic exposure level
calculating a difference between an exposure level used for the mapped regions in the previously captured diagnostic quality DR images and the reduced exposure level; setting the x-ray source at a diagnostic exposure level according to the calculated difference
Setting x-ray source with energy level and time duration
wherein setting the x-ray source includes setting an energy level of the x-ray source and a time duration of exposure by the x-ray source
Machine learning algorithm trained on archived diagnostic quality DR images for mapping exposure control regions
mapping one or more exposure control regions in the reduced exposure DR image using an output from a machine learning algorithm trained on a plurality of archived diagnostic quality DR images of the same particular anatomy of other subjects
Associating predetermined exposure levels with exposure control regions and setting exposure time
mapping one or more exposure control regions in the reduced exposure DR image and associating a predetermined exposure level with the one or more exposure control regions, using an output from a machine learning algorithm; calculating a difference between the predetermined exposure level setting and the reduced exposure level; automatically setting the x-ray source at a diagnostic exposure level according to the calculated difference; and setting an exposure time of the x-ray source according to the calculated difference
Overall, the independent claims cover a DR exposure-control approach that captures a reduced exposure DR image, maps exposure control regions using previously captured diagnostic-quality DR images and a machine-learning algorithm, computes an exposure-level difference, and then sets the x-ray source to a diagnostic exposure level for capturing a diagnostic-quality DR image. One independent claim further specifies energy level and time duration, and another specifies association of predetermined exposure levels with exposure control regions and setting exposure time according to the calculated difference.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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