JP2006187422A - X-ray computed tomograph - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten an examination time by reducing working manhour of an operator when preparing the imaging of a scanner image. <P>SOLUTION: A scan control part 31 determines the position of a subject P based on an image obtained by capturing an optical image of the subject P by a first camera 4 and a second camera 5. The scan control part 31 controls a bed 2 to change the position of the subject P for the imaging of the scanner image by taking account of the determined position of the subject P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray computed tomography apparatus having a scanogram imaging function.

When a scanogram is taken with a conventional X-ray computed tomography apparatus, the operator needs to follow the following procedure.
(1) Place the subject on the bed.
(2) Move the bed manually and align the position where you want to start shooting with the shooting position.
(3) Specify the shooting range as a length based on the position where you want to start shooting.
(4) Enter the inspection plan and various requirements.

Note that automatic setting of a shooting start point and a shooting end point during helical scanning based on a scanogram is known, for example, from Patent Document 1.
JP 7-124151 A

  Each of the above procedures cannot be performed in parallel by one operator, but must be performed sequentially. For this reason, it takes a lot of time to start capturing a scanogram.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce inspection time by reducing the number of operations of an operator in preparation for scanning a scanogram. A line computed tomography apparatus is provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bed that can change the position of a placed subject, means for taking an optical image of the subject, and the position of the subject based on the optical image. X-ray computed tomography comprising: determination means for determining the position of the subject so as to change the position of the subject for taking a scanogram in consideration of the position determined by the determination means A photographing apparatus was configured.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the inspection time by reducing the number of operations of the operator in preparation for photographing a scanogram.

An X-ray computed tomography apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an X-ray CT apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an X-ray CT apparatus according to the present embodiment. The X-ray CT apparatus according to this embodiment includes a scan gantry 1, a bed 2, a computer device 3, a first camera 4, and a second camera 5. The scan gantry 1 is a component for collecting projection data related to the subject P placed on the bed 2. The projection data collected by the scan gantry 1 is subjected to processing such as image reconstruction and real prep in the computer device 3.

  The subject is inserted into the cavity (imaging port) of the scan gantry 1 while being placed on the top plate 21 of the bed 2. The couchtop 21 of the couch 2 is driven by the couch driving unit 22 and moves in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction. Usually, the bed 2 is installed such that the longitudinal direction thereof is parallel to a rotation axis RA (same as the body axis and the Z axis) described later. The scan gantry 1 is provided with an annular rotary gantry (not shown) that is driven by the gantry rotation drive unit 11 and rotates about the rotation axis RA. An X-ray tube device 12 and an X-ray detector 13 are mounted on the rotating mount in a facing relationship. Therefore, the central axis of the field of view of tomographic images coincides with the rotation axis RA.

  The X-ray tube device 12 includes an X-ray tube 121 and an X-ray filter 122. The X-ray filter 122 removes low energy components to reduce exposure. In order to supply power to the X-ray tube 121, an inverter type high voltage generator 14 is provided. The high voltage generator 14 includes a high voltage transformer, a filament current generator, and a rectifier. In addition to this, the high voltage generator 14 includes a tube voltage switch, a filament current switch, and the like in order to adjust the tube voltage and the filament current arbitrarily or stepwise.

  The output of the X-ray detector 13 is supplied to the computer apparatus 3 via a data collection unit 15 and a slip ring (not shown) that enables continuous rotation.

  The computer apparatus 3 includes a scan control unit 31, a preprocessing unit 32, an image reconstruction unit 33, a scano generation unit 34, a display unit 35, and a console 36. These scan control unit 31, preprocessing unit 32, image reconstruction unit 33, scano generation unit 34, display unit 35, and console 36 are connected to each other via a data / control bus 37.

  Data supplied from the scan gantry 1 to the computer apparatus 3 is supplied as projection data to the image reconstruction unit 33 or the scano generation unit 34 via the pre-processing unit 32, where the tomographic image data reconstruction process or scan image is generated. It is used for generation processing. The tomographic image data and scano image data are displayed on the display unit 35. The scanogram data is also supplied to the scan control unit 31 and is used to set the imaging range of the tomographic image.

  The console 36 is provided for an operator to input various information and various instructions including, for example, scanning conditions and a photographing range. The console 36 includes an operation screen. On the operation screen or display unit 35, the scan control unit 31 displays a setting screen suitably devised to assist the operator in inputting the various information and various instructions.

  The first camera 4 and the second camera 5 are provided with, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) as an image pickup device, pick up an optical image, and output image data indicating the optical image. The first camera 4 images the subject P from a bird's eye view. The second camera 5 images the subject P from the side.

  The scan control unit 31 determines the position of the subject P based on the images captured by the first camera 4 and the second camera 5 and controls the bed 2 in consideration of the determined position. It has a function.

Next, an operation for performing scano imaging with the X-ray CT apparatus configured as described above will be described in accordance with the processing procedure of the scan control unit 31.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the scan control unit 31 at the time of scanography.

  In step ST <b> 1, the scan control unit 31 receives designation of a start part and an end part by a user operation on the console 36. The start part and the end part are parts of the subject corresponding to the start position and the end position of the scan imaging. The designation of the start part and the end part is accepted by a pointer operation on a setting screen as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The setting screen shown in FIG. 3 represents an illustration showing the shape of the subject. In FIG. 3, a state in which the chest and abdomen are designated as the start part and the end part is indicated by arrows. This setting screen is displayed on the display unit 35.

  In step ST <b> 2, the scan control unit 31 acquires an image captured by the second camera 5. In step ST3, the scan control unit 31 performs pattern recognition on the image acquired in step ST2, and determines the center position of the subject P in the vertical direction. In step ST4, the scan control unit 31 adjusts the height of the top plate 21 so that the center position determined in step ST3 matches the rotation axis RA.

  In step ST <b> 5, the scan control unit 31 acquires an image captured by the first camera 4. In step ST6, the scan control unit 31 performs pattern recognition on the image acquired in step ST5, and determines the positions of the start part and the end part specified in step ST1. In step ST <b> 7, the scan control unit 31 moves the top plate 21 along the rotation axis RA and matches the position of the start site determined in step ST <b> 6 with the scan position in the scan gantry 1.

  In step ST8, the scan control unit 31 waits for an instruction to start scanography. If the start of scano imaging is instructed by a user operation on the console 36, the scan control unit 31 proceeds from step ST8 to step ST9.

  In step ST9, the scan control unit 31 starts scano imaging. Scano imaging is realized by a known operation, for example. The scan control unit 31 performs a scan imaging process as a task process different from the process illustrated in FIG. 2, for example. In step ST10, the scan control unit 31 waits for completion of scanography up to the end portion specified in step ST1. If the scano imaging up to the end part is completed, the scan control unit 31 proceeds from step ST10 to step ST11. In step ST11, the scan control unit 31 stops scano imaging. Scano imaging is performed while the top plate 21 is moved. In step ST11, the scan control unit 31 stops the movement of the top plate 21. Further, the scan control unit 31 also stops the X-ray exposure in this step ST11.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the center position of the subject P in the vertical direction can be automatically adjusted to the center axis of the imaging field of view of the tomographic image. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to manually operate the bed 2 and adjust the height of the top plate 21.

  According to the present embodiment, the part of the subject P designated as the start part can be automatically adjusted to the scan position. Therefore, the operator only has to specify the start site, and there is no need to manually operate the bed 2 and adjust the position of the top plate 21 before the start of scano imaging. Moreover, in this embodiment, the position of the part of the subject P designated as the start part by pattern recognition is determined. Therefore, the operator does not consider the physique of the subject P, the position of the subject P on the top board 21, the posture of the subject P (including foot first, head first, etc.), etc. It suffices to perform simple site designation in such a shape. Further, in the present embodiment, designation of the start part is accepted by a point operation on the illustration displayed on the setting screen. Therefore, the operation of the operator for designating the start site is very simple.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the scan imaging is completed up to the site of the subject P designated as the end site, the scan imaging can be automatically stopped. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the length of the scan imaging range, and simple site designation such as “abdomen” may be performed. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, designation of the end part is accepted by a point operation on the illustration displayed on the setting screen. Therefore, the operator's operation for designating the end part is very simple.

  According to the present embodiment, since the number of operations by the operator in each work in the scan image preparation is reduced as described above, the time required for each work can be shortened. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the number of operations of the operator in a plurality of operations is reduced, the inspection time can be greatly shortened.

This embodiment can be variously modified as follows.
Instead of an illustration, an image captured by the first camera 4 may be displayed on the setting screen for accepting the designation of the start part and the end part.
The designation of the start part and the end part may be received by accepting selection designation from a list of part names, direct input of part names, or the like.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

The figure which shows the structure of the principal part of the X-ray computed tomography apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for scano imaging by the scan control unit 31 in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the setting screen for receiving designation | designated of a start part and an end part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Scan gantry, 2 ... Bed, 3 ... Computer apparatus, 4 ... 1st camera, 5 ... 2nd camera, 21 ... Top plate, 22 ... Bed drive part, 31 ... Scan control part.

Claims (5)

A bed that can change the position of the placed subject;
Means for capturing an optical image of the subject;
Determination means for determining the position of the subject based on the optical image;
X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the bed so as to change the position of the subject for taking a scanogram in consideration of the position determined by the determination means . And further comprising means for receiving designation of the part of the subject as the scan start position of the scanogram,
The determination means determines the position of each part of the subject,
2. The X-ray computer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the bed so that a position determined by the determination unit with respect to the designated part matches an imaging position of the scanogram. 3. Tomography apparatus. And further comprising means for receiving designation of the part of the subject to be the scan end position of the scanogram,
The determination means determines the position of each part of the subject,
The control means stops the movement of the bed for photographing the scanogram when the position determined by the determination means for the designated part reaches the photographing position of the scanogram. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1.   4. The X according to claim 3, further comprising means for stopping photographing of the scanogram when the position determined by the determination means for the designated portion reaches the photographing position of the scanano image. Line computed tomography equipment. The determination means determines a center position of the subject in a vertical direction;
The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the height of the bed so that the center position is aligned with a central axis of a field of view of tomographic imaging.

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