JP2006122448A - X-ray video apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense with a large-scale image processing, to require only a simple and inexpensive processing and to display an image by manual operation by an operator in the case of displaying the image corresponding to the operation of a collimator camera without X-ray exposure. <P>SOLUTION: When X-ray exposure is stopped, an image signal obtained from a TV camera 15 just before the exposure stop is stored in an image memory 19. A control unit 18 reads the stored image and displays it on an operation liquid crystal display device 21 as an X-ray fluoroscopic image 23. An image generation device 20 generates image data of a pair of parallel collimator position markers 24 and 24, a circular collimator position marker 25 and a camera image erecting position marker 26 to be displayed by superposing on the X-ray fluoroscopic image 23 under control by a control unit 18. By contact with parts of a touch panel device 22 corresponding to the positions of the markers 24 to 26, the control unit 18 controls a collimator 12 and the TV camera 15 on the basis of positional information on the inputted picture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus suitable for use in the medical field or the like that performs fluoroscopy and imaging using X-rays.

In an X-ray imaging apparatus, an operator positions an X-ray tube and an X-ray imaging unit with respect to a subject as in a surgical X-ray TV apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In some cases, an X-ray condition setting operation such as a tube voltage or a tube current is performed, and a doctor or the like observes a diagnostic image monitor device placed at a location apart from the setting operation. At that time, the operator may perform not only setting operations such as X-ray conditions but also adjustment of a collimator and a TV camera. Here, the adjustment of the collimator is to determine the open / closed degree and direction (angle) of the parallel collimator according to which part of the image is covered (squeezed), and to determine the size and position of the circular collimator. The adjustment of the TV camera is to determine the rotation angle of the captured image by rotating the camera about the incident optical axis.
JP 2001-043994 A

  Adjustment of these collimators and TV cameras is surely performed during X-ray irradiation. That is, by capturing an X-ray image, displaying the image, and observing the image, it is possible to actually confirm how the image is covered and how it is rotated. However, in this case, the subject must be exposed to X-rays until adjustment can be made so as to obtain an image that matches the diagnostic purpose, and X-ray exposure becomes a problem not only for the subject but also for the operator.

  Therefore, in some recent X-ray imaging apparatuses, in order to avoid such unnecessary X-ray exposure, the same adjustment as during X-ray irradiation can be performed while the X-ray is stopped. That is, the image immediately before stopping the X-ray irradiation is stored in the image memory, read out at the time of adjustment, and when an operation such as opening / closing / rotating the collimator or rotating the TV camera is performed, it corresponds to the operation. Then, how the image is covered and how it is rotated is calculated and processed, and the image obtained by the processing is displayed on the diagnostic image monitor apparatus. Such a calculation / processing is usually configured to be performed using an image processing apparatus that performs various image processing such as spatial filter processing of X-ray images and gradation conversion.

  For this reason, an inexpensive X-ray imaging apparatus that does not include an image processing apparatus cannot perform display / adjustment without such X-ray exposure. In addition, even if the image processing apparatus is an expensive X-ray image apparatus, the image after the image processing is displayed on a diagnostic image monitor apparatus placed at a location away from the operator. Another problem is that it is inconvenient for a person to see and confirm the image.

  The problem of the present invention is that no large-scale image processing is required to display an image corresponding to the operation of the collimator / camera without exposure to X-rays. It is to provide an X-ray image apparatus which can display the image.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, X-ray generation means, collimator means for narrowing X-rays provided in front of the X-ray generation means, A rotatable imaging means for capturing an image of X-rays transmitted through a subject, a diagnostic image monitor means for displaying an X-ray image by receiving an image signal from the imaging means, and storing the image signal Image memory means, image generation means for generating a marker image indicating the collimator position and a marker image indicating the rotation position of the imaging means, image display means for operation, collimator position information from the collimator means and rotation from the imaging means Control means for causing the operation image display means to display the marker image superimposed on the X-ray image read from the image memory means based on the position information. It has become a feature.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first X-ray video apparatus, the X-ray video apparatus further comprises touch panel means arranged to overlap the operation image display means. The control means is configured to control the collimator means and the imaging means in response to an input by a contact operation on the marker image portion displayed by the operation image display means.

  According to the X-ray image apparatus of the first aspect, the image immediately before the stop of the X-ray irradiation stored by the image memory means is displayed on the operation image display means, and the marker image is displayed so as to be superimposed on the image. Observe the display of the image display means for operation with X-ray irradiation stopped with a simple configuration in which the image display position and angle correspond to the actual collimator position and angle and the rotation angle of the imaging means. However, it is possible to easily adjust the X-ray collimation and the captured image rotation visually.

  According to the X-ray image apparatus of the second aspect, since the coordinate input on the screen of the operation image display means is performed by a touch operation to the touch panel means arranged so as to overlap the operation image display means, This makes it possible to perform more straightforward operations.

  Next, an X-ray imaging apparatus embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a signal system / control system and a display form according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called surgical X-ray imaging apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance thereof. First, referring to FIG. 2, in this surgical X-ray imaging apparatus, an X-ray tube 11 and a collimator 12 are respectively disposed on end portions of a C-shaped arm 42 that is freely held in a multi-axis direction on a carriage 41. And an image pickup device in which the image intensifier 14 and the TV camera 15 are combined, a subject (not shown, for example, an upper limb or a lower limb of a subject) is disposed between them, and an X-ray image signal Can be obtained. This image signal is sent to a diagnostic image monitor apparatus installed on a cabinet 43 configured separately from the carriage 41, and an X-ray image is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a high voltage for X-ray exposure is supplied to the X-ray tube 11 by an X-ray control device 13. The X-ray controller 13 determines X-ray conditions such as tube voltage (kV) and tube current (mA) of the X-ray tube 11. The X-ray control device 13 is given a command such as an X-ray condition from the control unit 18. The X-ray control device 13 and the control unit 18 are accommodated in the carriage 41 shown in FIG. The control unit 18 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer unit. An image memory 19 and an image generator 20 are connected to the control unit 18, and these control units 18 use a memory provided in the microcomputer unit, or are configured by an arithmetic unit and image generation software. You can also.

  The carriage 41 is manually moved by an operator and the C-arm 42 is manually positioned. Further, a touch switch (not shown in the figure) is used so that the operator can perform operations such as setting X-ray conditions. ) Or the liquid crystal display device 21 for operation with the touch panel device 22 is provided on the upper surface of the carriage 41. The liquid crystal display device 21 for operation with the touch panel device 22 is an arrangement in which a transparent touch panel is superimposed on the front surface of the liquid crystal display, and a specific input displayed by the liquid crystal display is touched with a finger or the like. It is made to be able to. For example, in the X-ray condition setting mode, various buttons for inputting X-ray conditions are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 21, and a desired tube voltage or the like can be set by touching the buttons. In response to such an input, the control unit 18 gives a command such as an X-ray condition to the X-ray control device 13.

  In the X-ray fluoroscopic mode, the video signal output from the TV camera 15 via the camera control unit 16 is sent to the diagnostic image monitor device 17 to display an X-ray fluoroscopic image and operated via the control unit 18. The X-ray fluoroscopic image is displayed on the operation liquid crystal display device 21.

  The collimator 12 can adjust its collimation (diaphragm), and the direction of the collimator 12 can be changed by rotating or narrowing the opening width of the parallel collimator made of a parallel shielding plate by a driving motor or the like. The size of the opening of the circular collimator can be changed. These adjustments are made based on a command from the control unit 18, and position information of the moved or rotated collimator (shielding plate) is returned to the control unit 18.

  The same applies to the TV camera 15, and the imaging unit of the TV camera 15 is configured to rotate about the incident optical axis as a rotation center axis by motor driving or the like, and is displayed on the diagnostic image monitor device 17 or the operation liquid crystal display device 21. The angle (direction) of the X-ray fluoroscopic image to be set can be made arbitrary. The motor is driven by the command from the control unit 18 to perform this rotation, and the rotational position information is returned to the control unit 18.

  When adjusting collimation and image rotation angle, X-ray collimation and fluoroscopic image display direction for the actual subject can be confirmed by adjusting while observing the X-ray fluoroscopic image by irradiating X-rays. This creates the problem of X-ray exposure. Therefore, this adjustment is performed with X-ray irradiation stopped. In this collimation / image rotation angle adjustment mode, an X-ray fluoroscopic image taken immediately before the X-ray irradiation is stopped is stored in the image memory 19, read out, and displayed on the operation liquid crystal display device 21. Thereby, an X-ray fluoroscopic image 23 is displayed as shown in FIG.

  In this mode, a pair of parallel collimator position markers 24 and 24 and a circular collimator position marker 25 are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 21, and a camera image erect position marker 26 is displayed. That is, these images are generated by the image generator 20 and are displayed so as to be superimposed on the X-ray fluoroscopic image 23 under the control of the control unit 18. When these markers 24, 25 and 26 are touched and dragged with a finger or the like, the position information is taken into the control unit 18 and calculated to obtain a new display position, and the markers 24, 25 and 26 move to the positions. The display is made. In response to this input information, the control unit 18 issues a command to the collimator 12 and the TV camera 15, the position and direction of the shielding plate of the collimator 12 are changed, and the rotation angle of the TV camera 15 is adjusted. Then, since the information of the actually moved position and direction is returned to the control unit 18, the control unit 18 fixes the display position of the parallel collimator position markers 24, 24 or the circular collimator position marker 25 in accordance with this. The displayed X-ray fluoroscopic image 23 is rotated and the camera image erect position marker 26 is also rotated.

  Therefore, except that the displayed X-ray fluoroscopic image 23 is the immediately previous stored image, the X-ray fluoroscopic image is displayed by actually irradiating the X-ray, and the collimation and the image rotation angle are adjusted. Work can be done. In this embodiment, since the markers 24 to 26 are dragged and adjusted by the touch panel device 22, the operation is visual and straightforward and extremely easy. Moreover, the operator can make adjustments while observing with the operation liquid crystal display device 21 provided on the carriage 41, and does not have to leave the carriage 41 to observe the diagnostic image monitor device 17 on the cabinet 43.

  In this example, the X-ray fluoroscopic image 23 is displayed at the center of the liquid crystal display device 21, and various symbol marks and the like are displayed around the display surface, thereby making it easy to check other information. It is like that. The symbol mark 31 represents X-ray fluoroscopy, and the symbol mark 32 represents X-ray irradiation, which is shown in this figure, but is displayed only in the mode in which this adjustment is performed while irradiating X-rays. The control unit 18 controls the X-ray so that it disappears in the mode of adjusting in a stopped state. Numerical displays 33 and 34 indicate tube voltage and tube current when the X-ray fluoroscopic image 23 is captured. Further, the bar graph display 35 displays the temperature of the X-ray tube 11, and the numerical displays 36 and 37 respectively indicate the accumulated X-ray irradiation time and the accumulated X-ray dose. These displays are also controlled by the control unit 18. These are merely examples, and other symbol marks and the like can be displayed.

  Although the operability is somewhat different, it is also possible to perform a position input on the liquid crystal display device 21 using a coordinate input device such as a mouse, a trackball, or a touch pad without using the touch panel device 22. Further, although the liquid crystal display device 21 is used as the operation display device, it is needless to say that a conventional CRT display device can be used. Further, a combination of the image intensifier 14 and the TV camera 15 is used as a means for capturing an X-ray image. A so-called flat panel detector in which a large number of semiconductor X-ray detection elements are arranged in a plane is used. You can also. In this case, the flat panel detector is rotated about the X-ray incident axis as a central axis for image rotation. In addition, various specific configurations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to a surgical X-ray imaging apparatus configured to have a C-shaped arm having an appearance as shown in FIG. 2 but also to X-ray imaging apparatuses having other configurations.

  According to the X-ray image apparatus of the present invention, image data of a marker indicating the position and direction of the collimator and a marker indicating the rotation angle of the captured image is generated, and these are superposed on the stored immediately preceding X-ray image and the operation image is generated. With a very simple configuration of displaying on the display means, the operator can adjust the position and angle of the collimator and the angle of rotation of the picked-up image without making the X-ray irradiation without leaving the position. it can. Further, if coordinate information input on the screen is performed by the touch panel means arranged so as to overlap the operation image display means, a more straightforward adjustment work can be performed.

1 is a block diagram showing a control / signal system of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which shows typically the external appearance of the X-ray imaging device concerning the Example.

Explanation of symbols

11 ... X-ray tube 12 ... Collimator 13 ... X-ray control device 14 ... Image intensifier 15 ... TV camera 16 ... Camera control unit 17 ... Diagnostic image monitor device 18 ... Control unit 19 ... ... Image memory 20 ... Image generator 21 ... Operational liquid crystal display device 22 ... Touch panel device 23 ... X-ray fluoroscopic image 24 ... Parallel collimator position marker 25 ... Circular collimator position marker 26 ... Camera image upright Position marker 31... Symbol mark representing X-ray fluoroscopy 32... Symbol mark representing X-ray exposure 33... Numeric display representing tube voltage 34... Numeric display representing tube current 35. Bar graph display 36 ... Numerical display 37 representing the accumulated X-ray irradiation time 37 ...... Numerical display 41 representing the accumulated X-ray dose 41 ... Dolly 42 ... C-arm 3 ...... cabinet

Claims (2)

  X-ray generation means, collimator means for focusing X-rays provided in front of the X-ray generation means, rotatable imaging means for imaging an image of X-rays transmitted through the subject, and the imaging means Diagnostic image monitoring means for displaying an X-ray image by receiving an image signal from the image signal, an image memory means for storing the image signal, a marker image indicating the collimator position, and a marker image indicating the rotation position of the imaging means The marker image is superimposed on the X-ray image read from the image memory means based on the image generation means, the operation image display means, the collimator position information from the collimator means, and the rotational position information from the imaging means. An X-ray image apparatus comprising: control means for displaying on the operation image display means.   Touch panel means is provided so as to overlap the operation image display means, and the control means corresponds to the collimator means in response to an input by a touch operation on the marker image portion displayed by the operation image display means. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray imaging apparatus is configured to control the imaging means.

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