JP2001289611A - Pointer for position measurement - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer for position measurement which makes it easy to grasp a marker position and has excellent contactness corresponding to a marker shape. SOLUTION: Plural kinds of tip shapes corresponding to shapes of a marker are prepared for a contactor 10 that a pointer 6 is equipped with. A grip 2 and the contactor 10 are coupled freely detachably by providing a threadable engagement part 4, an insert 12, and a coupling part 13. The tip 1 has hemispherical and cylindrical shapes, etc., so as to come into excellent contact with the shapes of the marker and they are used by being replaced according to the purpose of use and the marker shapes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position measurement pointer used when measuring a marker position for spatial alignment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various medical image diagnostic apparatuses for obtaining a three-dimensional medical image by non-invasively imaging a lesion site or the like of a subject have been developed and applied. As such a medical image diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasonic image diagnostic apparatus, a CT image diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus, an MRI image diagnostic apparatus, and the like are generally used, and are generally referred to as multi-modality. According to these multi-modalities, it is possible to obtain a high-definition three-dimensional medical image in a short time, especially with the recent development of image processing technology.

[0003] Based on these three-dimensional medical images, image diagnostic techniques utilizing characteristics unique to each modality have been established, and research presentations have been actively made at medical societies in various specialized fields. ing. like this,
One of the common features of image diagnostic techniques using medical images today is that interpretation of a lesion site such as a tumor has become an important position.

[0004] Compared with the past medical image diagnostic apparatuses, the three-dimensional medical image provided by the present medical image diagnostic apparatus has a high resolution and a large amount of information. In particular, the ROI (Region) as a region of interest is provided. of
Interest) In depiction of a lesion site such as a tumor, for example, spatial position identification and RO
It is remarkable in I's depiction ability.

[0005] The three images captured by these multi-modalities
2. Description of the Related Art Positioning is performed by superimposing three-dimensional medical images on three-dimensional medical images for each modality. This positioning is performed using a plurality of (at least three or more) markers, and by superimposing, a three-dimensional medical image with a larger amount of information can be obtained. Such alignment image processing is performed by an image processing device built in each modality or provided separately.

[0006] The marker referred to here is a mark as a guide for understanding the imaging direction, angle, and the like of the target region of the subject to be imaged, and is affixed to the vicinity of the target site. As the material of the marker, a material that can be imaged by each modality is selected, for example, a glass material or an oil or fat material is used, and can be imaged by any of a CT image diagnostic apparatus and an MRI image diagnostic apparatus. Further, by providing an adhesive material on the back surface, it can be attached to the body surface of the subject.

The superposition of the three-dimensional medical images described above is performed, for example, as follows. Here, the position of the marker is determined on the three-dimensional original image of the CT image diagnostic apparatus and the MRI image diagnostic apparatus, and the alignment of the captured image when the imaging target site of the subject is the head will be described as an example. I do.

[0008] Since positioning of the head image requires positioning accuracy of about 1 mm or more, it is common to take a three-dimensional image with a slice thickness of about 1 mm by scanning in each modality. Since the size of the head to be imaged is about 100 mm, when the slice thickness is 1 mm, CT
The number of images taken by the image diagnostic apparatus and the MRI image diagnostic apparatus is extremely large, each being about 100 sheets. A plurality of markers are searched for from about 100 three-dimensional medical images captured in this way, and the markers and M
The marker is associated with the marker shown in the image of the RI image diagnostic apparatus. The association between the markers is performed in the following procedure.

(1) The coordinates of a plurality of markers and the registered number of each marker are recorded while moving the scanning slice position of the three-dimensional original image of the CT image diagnostic apparatus with the Prev and Next buttons of a keyboard or the like. .

(2) Similarly, the coordinates of a plurality of markers and the registered number assigned to each marker are recorded while manipulating the scanning slice position of the three-dimensional original image of the MRI image diagnostic apparatus back and forth.

(3) The registered numbers assigned to the respective markers of the three-dimensional original image by the CT image diagnostic apparatus and the MRI image diagnostic apparatus are associated with each other.

(4) The three-dimensional original images are aligned with each other by the CT image diagnostic apparatus and the MRI image diagnostic apparatus. The markers used are donut-shaped markers 21 as shown in FIG. 6 (a) or spherical markers 22 as shown in FIG. 6 (b). ing.

A position measuring pointer 27 as shown in FIG. 7 is used to measure the positions of these markers. The position measuring pointer (hereinafter, referred to as a pointer) 27 includes a distal end portion 20 having a substantially needle-like distal end shape as shown in FIG. 7, and a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as a pointer).
It is described as LED. ) 18 is disposed on the grip 19.
The relative distance between the LED 18 and the distal end portion 20 of the pointer 23 is determined by a predetermined arrangement.
For example, the coordinates of D18 are obtained by a configuration as shown in FIG.

The position measuring device 24 shown in FIG.
The coordinates of the tip of the contact 32 of the pointer 28 can be obtained by measuring the position of the LED 31 of the pointer 8 by light detection. The tip of the contact 32 is in contact with a plurality of markers 30 a to 30 d attached to the subject 29. The tip of the contact 32 has a parabolic outer shape as shown by the tip 20 in FIG. Further, these pointers 23 are integrally formed so that the distal end portion 20 and the grip portion 19 cannot be divided.

In the configuration of the position measuring device 24 shown in FIG.
The spatial coordinate position of the LED 31 is displayed on the image monitor 27, and the operator operates the position capturing switch 26 connected to the control device 25 to determine and capture the spatial coordinate position displayed on the image monitor 27. Markers 30a-3
The positions of the markers 30a to 30d affixed to the subject 29 are specified by capturing the spatial coordinate positions up to 0d.

[0016]

However, the conventional position measuring pointer has the following problems to be solved.

When the shape of the marker is spherical, for example, it is difficult to point the marker when the tip of the pointer has a parabolic shape having a substantially stylus shape because the pointer slips. In particular, in the case of a marker attached to the skin, unless the marker is lightly touched, the marker sinks into the skin and it is difficult to measure an accurate position. For this reason, delicate procedures such as light touching are required, and it has been difficult to say that anyone can easily point the marker.

The pointer during the operation is also used to indicate the position of the affected part. However, it was more convenient if the tip of the pointer had a parabolic shape during the operation.

Further, since the pointer body and the tip of the pointer are integrated, if the shape of the tip is to be changed, it is necessary to recreate the whole.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention solves these problems, and it is possible to easily obtain good contactability according to the shape of the marker and easily and accurately grasp the center position of the marker. It is an object of the present invention to provide a position measurement pointer capable of performing the following.

[0021]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position measuring pointer used for measuring the position of a marker member provided at an imaging target portion of a subject. The position measuring pointer is characterized in that it has a marker contacting means which has a substantially fittable shape corresponding to the shape of the marker member at the distal end thereof and comes into contact with the marker member.

According to the present invention described in claim 2,
The marker contact means can be exchanged with the tip part having a shape corresponding to a marker member different from the marker member by detachable connecting means provided at a base part of the end part opposite to the tip part. The solution pointer is the position measurement pointer described in item 1.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
The position according to claim 1, wherein the marker contact unit has a substantially concave shape or a substantially cylindrical shape capable of easily maintaining contact with the marker member. 4. The solution pointer is a measuring pointer.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of a pointer 6 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1
, Contact 10, screw portion 4, grip portion 2, LED 3
And a power cable 5.

The grip section 2 is a section for the operator to hold the pointer 6 in a space by holding it with a hand. Power cable 5
Supplies power for emitting light to the LED 3, and is connected to and supplied to a control device (not shown) or the like. The contact 10 is coaxially arranged in the direction of the tip of the pointer 6, and the end of the contact 10 is provided with the tip 1. The distal end portion 1 is a portion that contacts a marker (not shown) that is arranged in a predetermined manner on the body of the subject. The screw portion 4 is a component for connecting the grip portion 2 and the contact 10, and the contact 10 can be screwed to the grip portion 2 by turning in the direction of the arrow S in the figure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining in detail the portion of the pointer 6 in the direction of the contact 10 shown in FIG. The tip 1 of the contact 10 that contacts the marker 9 is
For example, when the marker 9 is spherical, the shape of the tip 1 has a shape depressed in a hemispherical shape. The tip 1 is shown in cross section in FIG. 2. When the spherical diameter of the marker 9 is, for example, about 5 mm or less, the hemispherical diameter of the tip 1 is about 5 mm or more. Since the tip 1 can be fitted into the marker 9, stable contact of the contact 10 without displacement can be obtained.

The screw portion 4 is configured to connect the contact 10 and the grip portion 2. The male screw 7 is provided on the contact 10 side, and the female screw 7 is provided on the grip portion 2 side. 8 are provided. With these two configurations, the arrow S shown in FIG.
The male screw 7 is screwed into the female screw 8 by turning the contact 10 in the direction of. This fastening can be easily removed by rotating in the direction opposite to the arrow S. For example, if the tip 1 needs to have a shape other than a hemispherical shape, the contact 10 differs only in the shape of the tip 1. It is possible to obtain good contact with markers of various shapes only by replacing.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a pointer 33 has a configuration similar to that of the above-described first embodiment. However, there is a difference in that an insertion portion 12 is provided in place of the screw portion 4.

The insertion portion 12 is formed by inserting the end of the contact 10 into a hole provided at the end of the grip 2 so that the contact 1
0 is fixed to the grip portion 2. Although the size and depth of the hole are changed depending on the design intention, the hole 10 has such a fitting force that the contact 10 does not easily fall off the grip portion 2. The distal end of the contact 10 that contacts the marker (not shown) in the distal direction is formed so that good contact can be made according to the shape of the marker. When there are a plurality of types of marker shapes, or a plurality of contacts 10 whose tip portions are changed in shape according to the purpose of use of the pointer 33 are prepared, and the contacts 10 are inserted according to a request generated during the operation. It can be replaced by detaching it from the unit 12.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a pointer according to the embodiment. The contact 10 and the grip part 2 are connected by a coupling part 13. The connecting portion 13 is shown in a schematic cross section in FIG. 4, and a connecting claw 14 is provided on the contact 10 side. Section.

The coupling claw 14 can be elastically deformed by a predetermined amount of deformation to fit into the coupling protrusion 15. Due to this elastic deformation, the coupling claw 14 goes over the convex portion of the coupling protrusion 15 and fits into the groove portion. In the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the tip of the contact 10 that is in contact with the marker is appropriately replaced depending on the shape of the marker and the purpose of the operation. Used.

FIG. 5 shows one example of the shape of the tip described in the first to third embodiments. The end of the contact 10 that contacts the marker 17 has a tip 16
Is provided. The marker 17 has a donut shape as shown in the figure, and has a recess or hole at the center. The distal end has a substantially cylindrical outer shape so that it can be easily inserted into this hole. This tip 16 is attached to marker 1
By inserting the tip portion 16 into the hole at the center portion of the mark 7 in the direction shown by the arrow T, the tip portion 16 can maintain a favorable and stable contact state with the marker 17.

It should be noted that, depending on the shape of the tip and the mutual shape of the marker described above, the distance from the LED specified by the needlepoint like the conventional tip may change. . For this reason, the distance between the LED and the reference point of the distal end is adjusted according to the size of the portion to be coupled to the gripping portion according to the shape of the distal end. Thus, even if the contact is replaced, the distance between the LED and the reference point at the tip does not change, and accurate marker position measurement is provided.

The embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0035]

According to the present invention configured as described above,
It is possible to provide a position measurement pointer that can easily obtain good contactability according to the shape of the marker and can easily and accurately grasp the center position of the marker.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a pointer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a configuration of a contact according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a pointer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a pointer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a tip portion applied to the first to third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the shape of a conventionally used marker;
(A) is a donut-shaped marker, and (b) is a spherical marker.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a pointer according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of marker position measurement according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tip part, 2 ... Grip part, 3 ... LED, 4 ... Screw part, 5
... power cable, 6 ... pointer, 7 ... male screw, 8 ... female screw, 10 ... contactor, 12 ... insertion part, 13 ... coupling part, 14
... Coupling claws, 15 ... Coupling protrusions, 16 ... Tip

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F065 AA04 AA20 BB05 BB29 CC16 FF04 FF44 FF61 GG07 GG12 HH04 JJ03 JJ26 MM13 QQ28

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A position measurement pointer used for position measurement of a marker member provided at an imaging target portion of a subject, wherein the position measurement pointer has a substantially fittable shape corresponding to the shape of the marker member at a distal end thereof. A position measuring pointer comprising a marker contacting means for contacting a marker member. 2. The marker contacting means can be exchanged with the tip part having a shape corresponding to a marker member different from the marker member by detachable connecting means provided at a base part on an end part opposite to the tip part. The position measurement pointer according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The marker contacting means according to claim 1, wherein the marker contacting means has a substantially concave shape or a substantially cylindrical shape capable of easily maintaining contact with the marker member. The position measurement pointers described in (1).