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Review and investigation of automatic brightness/dose rate control logic of fluoroscopic imaging systems in cardiovascular interventional angiography

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Abstract

In this article, we review automatic brightness control (ABC) for fluoroscopy imaging systems. Starting from the simple manual control, the discussion is extended to the kV-primary ABC system, and then to the most recent contrast-to-noise ratio optimized (CNR Optimized) automatic dose rate control system (ADRC). The nature of this review article is trifold. First, it describes the ABC/ADRC and associated circuits governing the operation of the fluoroscopy imaging chain. Second, we show the characteristics of a control logic from a radiation physics point of view. Third, we introduce the most recent activities in the evaluation of CNR-optimized fluoroscopy systems and the phantom design that would be compatible with the design concept of the ADRC. Because of these three subject items in the discussion process, this article is also educational in nature written for medical physicists and radiological technologists who might be less familiar with the design concept of fluoroscopy operation, specifically on the ABC and ADRC. We insert a few related matters associated with fluoroscopy automatic control circuits where they seem applicable and appropriate to enhance the understanding of fluoroscopy operation logic.

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Abbreviations

AI:

Artificial intelligence

ABC:

Automatic brightness control

ADRC:

Automatic dose rate control

AEC:

Automatic exposure control

AGC:

Automatic gain control

CCTV:

Closed circuit television

CNR:

Contrast-to-noise ratio

CNROF:

Contrast-to-noise ratio optimized fluoroscopy

FPIRIDR:

Flat panel image receptor input dose rate

FOV:

Field-of-view

FGI:

Fluoroscopy guided interventional (angiography)

FPIR:

Flat panel image receptor

FPIDR:

Flat panel input dose rate

FPIRDR:

Flat panel image receptor dose rate

HLC:

High level control

IEC:

International electrotechnical commission

I I:

Image intensifier, image intensified

IRIDR:

Image receptor input dose rate

mgI/cc:

Milligram(s) of iodine per cubic centimeter

mmAl:

Millimeter(s) of aluminum

mmCu:

Millimeter(s) of copper

PEDR:

Patient entrance dose rate

PERP:

Patient exposure reference point

PET:

Patient equivalent thickness

PIDR:

PMMA input dose rate

PMMA:

Polymethyl methacrylate

pps:

Pulses per second

PW:

Pulse width

ROI:

Region of interest

SDDA :

Source-to-detector A

SDDB :

Source-to-detector B

SID:

Source-to-image receptor distance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box: 980615, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA

    Pei-Jan Paul Lin & Frank D. Corwin

  2. Department of Radiology & Medical Imaging, University of Virginia Health, PO Box 800170, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    Allen R. Goode

Authors
  1. Pei-Jan Paul Lin
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  2. Allen R. Goode
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  3. Frank D. Corwin
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Correspondence to Pei-Jan Paul Lin.

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Lin, PJ.P., Goode, A.R. & Corwin, F.D. Review and investigation of automatic brightness/dose rate control logic of fluoroscopic imaging systems in cardiovascular interventional angiography. Radiol Phys Technol 15, 6–24 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-022-00649-3

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