GB2030698A - Medical diagnostic apparatus using combined X-ray and ultrasonic wave measurements - Google Patents

Medical diagnostic apparatus using combined X-ray and ultrasonic wave measurements Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2030698A
GB2030698A GB7925482A GB7925482A GB2030698A GB 2030698 A GB2030698 A GB 2030698A GB 7925482 A GB7925482 A GB 7925482A GB 7925482 A GB7925482 A GB 7925482A GB 2030698 A GB2030698 A GB 2030698A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
section
values
velocity
density
unwanted portions
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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GB7925482A
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Compagnie Generale de Radiologie SA
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Compagnie Generale de Radiologie SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Compagnie Generale de Radiologie SA filed Critical Compagnie Generale de Radiologie SA
Publication of GB2030698A publication Critical patent/GB2030698A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B6/00—Apparatus for radiation diagnosis, e.g. combined with radiation therapy equipment
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B6/00—Apparatus for radiation diagnosis, e.g. combined with radiation therapy equipment
    • A61B6/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
    • A61B6/5211—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving processing of medical diagnostic data
    • A61B6/5229—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving processing of medical diagnostic data combining image data of a patient, e.g. combining a functional image with an anatomical image
    • A61B6/5247—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving processing of medical diagnostic data combining image data of a patient, e.g. combining a functional image with an anatomical image combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/13—Tomography
    • A61B8/14—Echo-tomography
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/5215—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of medical diagnostic data
    • A61B8/5238—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of medical diagnostic data for combining image data of patient, e.g. merging several images from different acquisition modes into one image
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S15/89—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications for mapping or imaging
    • G01S15/8906—Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
    • G01S15/899—Combination of imaging systems with ancillary equipment
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/52—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00
    • G01S7/52017—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S15/00 particularly adapted to short-range imaging
    • G01S7/5205—Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

The values of density and the values of acoustic impedance in the structure of a section of a patient's body are determined, respectively, by means of X-radiation or gamma- radiation, use being made of a computer-controlled scanning and calculating device, and by means of an emitter-receiver system or ultrasonic- wave emitter and receiver, under control of the computer. The values of the velocity of propagation of ultrasonic waves in the section considered are then determined from these two sets of values and displayed in two-dimensional form on a visualization device.

Description

SPECIFICATION A method for examining a patient The present invention relates to a method for examining a patient by means of radiations in which the structure of a section of the patient is determined and represented in two-dimensional form on a visualization device by means of a computer.
In the medical field, it has always been endeavored to obtain information on the internal body structure of a patient without making it necessary for the patient to undergo an operation.
From this point of view it has long been a known practice to examine the body by means of X-rays. The beam of radiation emitted by an X-ray tube is attenuated to a varying degree in different parts or organs of the body and forms a corresponding image on a screen or on an X-ray film. In this case, however, the only parts which are represented are those which give the maximum contrast, that is to say parts which are sufficiently differentiated in density and therefore in X-ray absorption. The critical limit at which differences in absorption can still be detected by this method of representation is 10 to 20%. This is sufficient for the representation of bones or blood vessels in which contrast enhancement media have been introduced but proves inadequate for the representation of tissues in which differences in density are less than 5% in the majority of instances.
Although such small differences in absorption cannot be represented directly, it has recently been demonstrated that they can be measured, thereby making it possible to obtain a representation of these tissues. This method has been introduced into the field of medicine under the name of "tomodensitometry" and is applied tc the examination of transverse sections of the body.
Another known technique which has now been in use for some time consists in examining a patient's body by means of ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves produced by an emitter system are received either after reflection from transitional surfaces between parts having different values of acoustic impedance or, after traversal of the section under examination, by a suitable receiving system. The values thus determined are then transmitted to a visualization device by means of a computer, for example, and utilized in order to obtain a two-dimensional image. The values of acoustic impedance (namely the product of the velocity of propagation of ultrasonic waves within a medium times the density of said medium) in the section under examination are thus determined.
It is not possible, however, to establish a reliable diagnosis on the basis of either acoustic impedance or density values since the resolution obtained by these two methods is still too low.
The present invention is therefore directed to a method for ensuring a reliable diagnosis.
This objective can be achieved using the method of the invention which consists in determining and if necessary in displaying on the one hand the values of density in the section with the aid of X-radiation or gamma-radiation by making use of a scanning and calculating device controlled by a computer and, on the other hand, the values of acoustic impedance in the section considered by means of an emitter-receiver system or ultrasonic-wave emitter and receiver and by partly utilizing the scanning and calculating device, the values of the velocity of propagation of ultrasonic waves in the section considered being then determined from the two sets of values aforesaid and displayed.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for determining and displaying the structure of a section of a body in two-dimensional form, the apparatus comprising: an X- or radiation emitter-receiver system for obtaining a measure of density distribution in said section, an acoustic or ultrasonic emitter-receiver system for obtaining a measure of the acoustic impedance distribution in said section, a scanning and calculating device controlled by a computer and connected to both said emitterreceiver systems to calculate the velocity of propagation distribution of the acoustic or ultrasonic waves from said measures, and a visualization device for displaying the structure of said section in dependence upon the velocity of propagation distribution so calculated.
It is accordingly an advantage to remove the unwanted portions of the acoustic impedance spectrum as well as the unwanted portions of the density spectrum through an electronic window.
In addition, the unwanted portions of the velocity spectrum are removed through an electronic window in certain cases.
Further advantages and distinctive features of the method according to the invention will now be explained in greater detail.
As stated earlier, a scanning and calculating device already known perse and designated as a "tomodensitometef' is employed for the practical application of the method. By means of this device, the values of density in a section of the patient are determined and displayed on a screen, for example. In addition to the tomodensitometric inspection, a further inspection is carried out directly on the same section of the patient by means of ultrasonic waves. The corresponding values of acoustic impedance in this section are thus determined and displayed on another screen, for example. This is achieved by employing the computer as well as other means which are necessary for the construction of the image of the tomodensitometer. Finally, the values of density and acoustic impedance which have thus been determined are related in such a manner as to form, for example, an image of the values of the velocity of propagation of ultrasonic waves in the section considered.
The representation of the values of velocity makes it possible by means of the so-called window technique to establish a diagnosis in regard to tissue changes brought about, for example, by tumors, carcinomas and so forth which correspond to very small variations in density since these tissue changes are related to changes in temperature which have an influence on the value of the velocity of propagation of the ultrasonic waves.

Claims (7)

1. A method for examining a patient by means of radiations in which the structure of a section of a patient's body is determined and displayed in two-dimensional form on a visualization device by means of a computer, characterized in that the method consists in determining and if necessary in displaying on the one hand the values of density in the section with the aid of X-radiation or gammaradiation by making use of a scanning and calculating device controlled by a computer and on the other hand the values of acoustic impedance in the section considered by means of an emitter-receiver system or ultrasonic wave emitter and receiver and by partly utilizing the scanning and calculating device, and that the values of the velocity of propagation of ultrasonic waves in the section considered are then determined from the two sets of values aforesaid and displayed.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the unwanted portions of the acoustic impedance spectrum as well as the unwanted portions of the density spectrum are removed through an electronic window.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the unwanted portions of the velocity spectrum are removed through an electronic window.
4. A method for examining a patient by means of radiations substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. Apparatus for determining and displaying the structure of a section of a body in twodimensional form, the apparatus comprising: and X- or y- radiation emitter-receiver system for obtaining a measure of density distribution in said section, an acoustic or ultrasonic emitter-receiver system for obtaining a measure of the acoustic impedence distribution in said section, a scanning and calculating device controlled by a computer and connected to both said emitterreceiver systems to calculate the velocity of propagation distribution of the acoustic or ultrasonic waves from said measures, and a visualization device for displaying the structure of said section in dependence upon the velocity of propagation distribution so calculated.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 comprising an electronic window arranged for removing unwanted portions of the spectrum obtained from the acoustic impedence distribution and unwanted portions of the spectrum obtained from the density distributions.
7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 comprising an electronic window for removing unwanted portions of the velocity spectrum.
GB7925482A 1978-07-24 1979-07-20 Medical diagnostic apparatus using combined X-ray and ultrasonic wave measurements Withdrawn GB2030698A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19782832459 DE2832459A1 (en) 1978-07-24 1978-07-24 PATIENT EXAMINATION PROCEDURE

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GB7925482A Withdrawn GB2030698A (en) 1978-07-24 1979-07-20 Medical diagnostic apparatus using combined X-ray and ultrasonic wave measurements

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DE (1) DE2832459A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2435939A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2030698A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2507321A1 (en) * 1981-06-04 1982-12-10 Instrumentarium Oy DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE STRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF FABRICS
EP0081527A1 (en) * 1981-06-22 1983-06-22 The Commonwealth Of Australia Improvements in or relating to ultrasound tomography
EP0112582A1 (en) * 1982-12-27 1984-07-04 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Superposed image display device
FR2545349A1 (en) * 1983-05-04 1984-11-09 Duret Francois Device for detecting the shape of human organs or of pathological anomalies or device for implementation thereof
DE4029581A1 (en) * 1990-09-18 1992-03-19 Siemens Ag METHOD FOR THE CORRECT ANATOMICAL ASSIGNMENT OF THE EXCITATION CENTERS OF BIOMAGNETIC SIGNALS

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2943643A1 (en) * 1979-10-29 1981-05-07 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München LAYER DEVICE FOR PRODUCING TRANSVERSAL LAYER IMAGES
NL8003355A (en) * 1980-06-09 1982-01-04 Philips Nv MEDICAL RADIATION EXAMINATION DEVICE.

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3448606A (en) * 1965-10-01 1969-06-10 Magnaflux Corp Medical diagnostic system
US3547101A (en) * 1967-05-24 1970-12-15 Magnaflux Corp Medical ultrasonic diagnostic system
US3866047A (en) * 1968-08-23 1975-02-11 Emi Ltd Penetrating radiation examining apparatus having a scanning collimator
AU490105B2 (en) * 1972-06-08 1974-12-05 Commonwealth Of Australia, The 'ultrasonic echogram display' accompanied by a provisional specification
CA1050654A (en) * 1974-04-25 1979-03-13 Varian Associates Reconstruction system and method for ultrasonic imaging
US4072289A (en) * 1976-09-10 1978-02-07 Xonics, Inc. Axial tomography

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2507321A1 (en) * 1981-06-04 1982-12-10 Instrumentarium Oy DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE STRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF FABRICS
DE3220490A1 (en) * 1981-06-04 1982-12-30 Instrumentarium Oy, 00101 Helsinki DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS
EP0081527A1 (en) * 1981-06-22 1983-06-22 The Commonwealth Of Australia Improvements in or relating to ultrasound tomography
EP0081527A4 (en) * 1981-06-22 1985-11-25 Commw Of Australia Improvements in or relating to ultrasound tomography.
EP0112582A1 (en) * 1982-12-27 1984-07-04 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Superposed image display device
US4598368A (en) * 1982-12-27 1986-07-01 Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Superposed image display device
FR2545349A1 (en) * 1983-05-04 1984-11-09 Duret Francois Device for detecting the shape of human organs or of pathological anomalies or device for implementation thereof
DE4029581A1 (en) * 1990-09-18 1992-03-19 Siemens Ag METHOD FOR THE CORRECT ANATOMICAL ASSIGNMENT OF THE EXCITATION CENTERS OF BIOMAGNETIC SIGNALS

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Publication number Publication date
FR2435939A1 (en) 1980-04-11
DE2832459A1 (en) 1980-02-07

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