JPH04276241A - X-ray diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prepare an optimum frieze image with very simply operation and in a short time. CONSTITUTION:An X-ray diagnostic apparatus having a monitor 21 for projecting a frieze image comprises a time establishing means 15 for determining the time width from the start of imaging until the contrast medium reaches an observation site, a timing establishing means 15 for catching a point of time when the heart movement of a body to be examined becomes a predetermined shape, and a frieze image-preparing means14 for preparing the frieze image at the point of time determined by the timing establishing means within the time width determined by the time establishing means. The frieze image having a shape allowing easy observation for the observation site is obtained with the contrast medium sufficiently impregnated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an X-ray diagnostic device.
In particular, the present invention relates to an X-ray diagnostic apparatus that is effective in imaging so-called frozen images.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art When displaying a frozen image, which is a still image, it is necessary to capture the timing well.

For example, percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTC)
A) is known as a treatment in which a catheter is inserted into a coronary artery and a balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated to widen the narrowed blood vessel from within the blood vessel.

[0004] In PTCA, a contrast medium is usually injected into the coronary artery before and after surgery, and a video is taken for several seconds at a rate of about 30 frames per second, in order to evaluate the degree of improvement resulting from the surgery.

On the other hand, when inserting the balloon into the pinched area, the catheter is operated while confirming the balloon position through fluoroscopy, but since contrast agent cannot be injected while the balloon is being inserted, it is difficult to insert the balloon into the pinched area. It is not possible to confirm with a perspective image whether or not this is the case. For this reason, from among the video images taken before the surgery, one image that allows the best observation of the pinched area is selected and displayed on the monitor as a frozen image, and the balloon is inserted while comparing and observing the fluoroscopic image and the frozen image. I do.

[0006]

Conventionally, in order to select a frozen image, it was necessary to reproduce the photographed image and manually select it while observing it.

[0007]Accordingly, it goes without saying that obtaining a frozen image through such operations is extremely complicated and hinders diagnostic efficiency.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been made based on these circumstances, and its purpose is to select an optimal frozen image with extremely simple operation and in a short time. The present invention provides an X-ray diagnostic device that can perform

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve such an object, the present invention basically provides temporal correspondence between the start of X-ray imaging and the injection of a contrast medium into the subject. In an X-ray diagnostic apparatus equipped with a monitor that performs radiography and displays the obtained X-ray image as a frozen image, a time setting means for determining a time interval from the start of radiography until the contrast agent reaches an observation site. and a timing setting means for capturing the point in time when the heart movement of the subject reaches a predetermined shape, and creating a frozen image at a time determined by the timing setting means within a time width determined by the time setting means. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a freeze image creating means.

0010

[Effect] The conditions for selecting the optimal frozen image are: ・The contrast medium should be distributed throughout the narrowed blood vessel, making it easy to observe the narrowed area ・The coronary artery When the heart is dilating, the coronary arteries are also lengthening, and when the heart is contracting, the coronary arteries are also constricting and tortuous. With respect to such changes in the shape of the coronary artery, there are two points: the narrowed portion is in a state that is easy to observe.

[0011] Generally, a contrast medium is injected by a practitioner operating a syringe. Therefore, the time from "start of imaging to start of imaging agent injection to contrast agent reaching the observation site" varies depending on the operator, but is approximately constant for the same operator. Therefore, by setting the time interval from the start of imaging until the contrast agent reaches the observation site using the time setting means, it is possible to select an image in which the contrast agent has spread to the observation site.

[0012] Furthermore, the period during which the contrast medium is spread is not instantaneous, but usually lasts for one to two heartbeats. Therefore,
After the time set by the time setting means has elapsed, an optimal frozen image can be obtained by selecting an image at a time when the movement of the heart takes on a predetermined shape using the timing setting means.

[0013] The timing means may be configured as a means for capturing the movement of the heart as a waveform and automatically setting a point in time when the movement of the heart takes on a predetermined shape from this waveform.
Further, it may be configured to include a monitor that displays the heart movement as a waveform, and a timing input means that inputs information that determines the point in time when the heart movement becomes a predetermined shape based on the waveform displayed on the monitor.

In the latter case, the most suitable frozen image is selected for each practitioner depending on his/her sensibilities, so that the practitioner himself/herself can set the optimal timing based on his or her own empirical rules.

[0015] As described above, since a frozen image can be automatically selected by the time setting means and timing setting means, the complexity required for selecting a frozen image as in the past can be eliminated, and the The frozen image will be the best.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 3 indicates a subject, and this subject 3 is placed on a bed (not shown). An X-ray tube device 2 and an image intensifier 4 for inputting X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube device 2 and transmitted through the subject 3 are arranged with the subject 3 in between.

The X-ray tube device 2 is capable of irradiating X-rays by receiving power from the X-ray high voltage device 1, and the X-ray high voltage device 1 is controlled by the output from the CPU 14, which will be described later. It has become so.

The image intensifier 4 receives an input X-ray image and converts the X-ray image into an optical image, and displays the optical image on the output (secondary) phosphor screen of the image intensifier 4 as a video image. A TV camera 5 is provided for converting into a signal.

[0020]The output from the TV camera 5 is directly inputted to a TV monitor 6 for viewing, and a perspective image is displayed on the TV monitor 6 for viewing.

[0021] Furthermore, the output from the TV camera 5 is A
The digital signal is converted into a digital signal by the /D converter 7, and is input to and stored in the photographing frame memory 8. The output from the shooting frame memory 8 is D/
The A converter 9 converts the signal into a video signal, which is an analog signal, and inputs the signal to a TV monitor 10 for photographing. A photographed image is displayed on this TV monitor 10 for photographing.

Further, the output from the A/D converter 7 is input to a frozen image frame memory 19, and a frozen image is recorded in this frozen image frame memory 19. In this case, a command signal (memory write signal 18) indicating the timing to record (create) a frozen image is input from the CPU 14.

The output from the frame memory 19 for frozen images is converted into a video signal which is an analog signal by a D/A converter 20, and is input to a TV monitor 21 for frozen images.

On the other hand, the subject 3 is provided with means for extracting an electrocardiographic waveform signal, and this electrocardiographic waveform signal is transmitted to the polygraph 11.
The polygraph 11 is used to measure electrocardiographic waveforms. And this polygraph 11
The output from the CPU is sent via the electrocardiographic waveform input circuit 12.
14.

The electrocardiographic waveform input circuit 12 is configured to detect a so-called R wave in the electrocardiographic waveform using a voltage comparator or the like. In the CPU 14, an interrupt signal is generated by this R wave.

The electrocardiogram waveform is as shown in FIG. 2(a), and the portion indicated by R in the figure is an R wave, and the interrupt signal is as shown in FIG. 2(b). As shown in
This is a signal that generates a pulse at a location corresponding to the R wave.

[0027] Furthermore, the output from the polygraph 11 is as follows:
After being inputted to the A/D converter 23 and converted into a digital signal, it is inputted to the electrocardiographic waveform memory 24 and the electrocardiographic waveform is recorded.

The signal corresponding to the electrocardiographic waveform recorded in the electrocardiographic waveform memory 24 is converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 25, and is input to the electrocardiographic waveform monitor 26. There is.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electrocardiographic waveform monitor 26 displays, for example, a scale 30 together with the electrocardiographic waveform. An arbitrarily selected position between the R wave and the R wave can be recognized as the distance d from the R wave.

This distance d is the point at which the practitioner has determined, based on his or her own empirical rules, that the shape of the heart is optimal for obtaining a frozen image.

Furthermore, output from an operation panel 15 is input to the CPU 14. This operation panel 15 is equipped with various operation keys for controlling the X-ray diagnostic apparatus, and in this embodiment, in particular, after the contrast medium is injected into the subject 3, the contrast medium is observed. An operation key for inputting a numerical value corresponding to the time t taken to reach the site, and an operation key for inputting a numerical value corresponding to the distance d are provided.

By operating the operation keys in this manner, a signal corresponding to the time t and a signal corresponding to the distance d are input to the CPU 14.
The operation of U14 will be explained using FIG.

In the figure, (a) shows the photographing start signal 1
6 is input. Simultaneously with the input of the imaging start signal 16, the X-ray tube apparatus 2 starts emitting X-rays, as shown in FIG. X-ray radiation by the X-ray tube device 2 is controlled by a control signal sent from the CPU 14 to the X-ray high voltage device 1.

Note that the X-ray tube device 2 emits X-rays intermittently, and each X-ray is emitted during the vertical synchronization signal 17 of the TV camera 5 [see (e)]. It has become so.

On the other hand, from the electrocardiographic waveform input circuit 12, (d)
As shown in FIG. 2, when an interrupt signal 13 (same as that shown in FIG. 2B) is being input, an interrupt mask is set as shown in FIG. 2C. This interrupt mask is released to accept the interrupt signal after the time t has elapsed from the time when the photographing start signal 16 was input. Once an interrupt is accepted, the interrupt mask is set again to ignore future interrupt signals.

Then, after a time corresponding to the above-mentioned d from the accepted interrupt signal, as shown in (f), a memory write signal 18 consisting of a pulse to be output to the frozen image frame memory 19 is sent out. It has become.

Note that this memory write signal 18 is
It is synchronized with the vertical synchronization signal 17 [see (e)] of the V camera, and is sent out until the next vertical synchronization signal 17.

When the memory write signal 18 is input to the frozen image frame memory 19, the frozen image is recorded in the frame memory 19 in synchronization with the input of the memory write signal 18, as described above. It has become. Further, the frozen image formed in this way is sent to a guide image monitor 2 via a D/A converter 20.
1 is also displayed as described above.

As is clear from the embodiments described above,
By operating the operation panel 15, it becomes possible to determine the time width from the start of imaging until the contrast agent reaches the observation site (in the embodiment, the time t from the start of imaging until the reception of an interrupt signal). .

[0040] The operator can determine the time interval for the contrast agent to reach the observation site based on his or her own empirical rules.

On the other hand, it is possible to input information from the monitor 26, which displays the heart movement as a waveform, through the operation panel 15, which determines the point in time when the heart movement takes on a predetermined shape. It is designed to detect the point in time when a predetermined shape is achieved.

[0042] For this reason, if a frozen image is formed when the movement of the subject's heart assumes a predetermined shape within the time period until the contrast medium reaches the observation area, the observation area can be In this step, the contrast medium is sufficiently injected and a frozen image in an easily observable shape can be obtained.

In the embodiment described above, a scale 30 is displayed on the frozen image monitor 26 along with the electrocardiogram waveform, and the d value can be recognized based on this scale 30. However, it goes without saying that the d value may be recognized by moving a cursor instead of the scale 30.

In the embodiment described above, the practitioner recognizes the electrocardiogram waveform on the monitor 26, determines the time point corresponding to the optimal heart shape based on the d value, and inputs information corresponding to this d value. This is what I did. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the CPU 14 stores the d value, which is determined objectively and not based on the sensibilities of individual practitioners, as a fixed value, and the optimal cardiac It goes without saying that the shape may be specified.

[0045] The present invention also provides percutaneous coronary angioplasty (
Although it becomes effective when applied to PTCA), it is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that it may be applied to other observation sites.

[0046]

[Effect of the invention] As is clear from the above explanation,
According to the X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, an optimal frozen image can be created with extremely simple operation and in a short time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are explanatory diagrams each showing an embodiment of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and are explanations for explaining an electrocardiographic waveform and an interrupt signal obtained from this electrocardiographic waveform. It is a diagram.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram showing an electrocardiogram waveform displayed on a monitor.

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(f) are timing diagrams showing one embodiment of the operation of a CPU in the X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

3. Subject 11 Polygraph 12 Electrocardiographic waveform input circuit 14 CPU 15 Operation panel 24 Memory for electrocardiogram waveforms 26　ECG waveform monitor

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: An X-ray machine that performs X-ray photography with temporal correspondence between the start of X-ray photography and the injection of a contrast medium into the subject, and is equipped with a monitor that displays the obtained X-ray image as a frozen image.
In the radiographic diagnostic apparatus, a time setting means for determining a time interval from the start of imaging until the contrast agent reaches an observation site, and a timing setting means for determining a time point when the movement of the heart of the subject becomes a predetermined shape. and a frozen image creating means for creating a frozen image at a time point determined by the timing setting means within a time width determined by the time setting means.