JP2007268154A - X-ray system for circulatory organ - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray system for the circulatory organ, in which external recording of unnecessary data can be avoided, and time necessary for external recording can be shortened. <P>SOLUTION: The X-ray system for the circulatory organ is provided with means 1-4 to obtain X-ray images of a subject by detecting X-rays transmitted through the subject, and means 11 and 15 to output the obtained X-ray images to an external storage device. The output means extract the X-ray images output to the external storage device in accordance with prescribed criteria, and temporarily prohibit output of the X-ray images to the external storage device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a circulatory X-ray system capable of collecting and observing X-ray images.

  Currently, image data collected during an examination by a cardiovascular X-ray system is recorded on an external recording medium such as a CD-R or transmitted to an image server via a network for the purpose of permanent storage or diagnosis. ing. Since a large amount of such image data is generated, recording on an external medium after inspection and transmission to an image server take time and effort. Therefore, in order to shorten the time and reduce the burden on the operator, the pre-designated image data (for example, only the collected moving images, etc.) generated during the inspection is automatically triggered by the timing of the end of imaging or the end of the inspection. It has a function to record on media and send to image server.

  When external recording processing is performed on image data designated in advance, even image data that is determined to be unnecessary by the operator is automatically processed. For example, immediately after the start of imaging, if imaging of the region of interest cannot be performed due to the rebound of the catheter due to injection of contrast medium, imaging is immediately interrupted. Although it may be determined that such shooting interruption image data is not recorded on the media, the media is recorded by automatic processing. In particular, in the case of CD-R media, once data is recorded, it is not possible to delete the data, so that useless data continues to be recorded.

  In addition, post-process processing such as clinical analysis and measurement may be performed on the captured image, and as a result, the image may be recorded together with the captured image. If the above-described post-process processing is not completed during the inspection, if a setting for automatically recording to the CD-R media at the end of the inspection is used, some post-processed images cannot be recorded on the media. . On the other hand, if automatic recording processing is made to wait until all post-processing processing is completed, time cannot be shortened.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray system for circulatory organs that can avoid the external recording of unnecessary data and can reduce the time required for the external recording.

In the present invention, the following options are added to the automatic recording function in the external recording process after inspection.
(1) Is it possible to automatically exclude the cuts less than the number of frames designated in advance from the recording target in the external storage device or record the image before actually recording in the external storage device? And waits for the result to start recording processing to the external storage device.
(2) Prepare a GUI like a virtual film for an external storage device and add it when automatic recording processing to the external storage device is started after the inspection is finished and recording to the external storage device is actually started It is possible to specify image data (for example, images of clinical analysis results) to be recorded.

  An X-ray system for circulatory organs according to an aspect of the present invention includes a unit that detects X-rays transmitted through a subject and acquires an X-ray image of the subject, and a unit that outputs the acquired X-ray image to an external storage device In the circulatory X-ray system, the output means extracts an X-ray image to be output to the external storage device according to a predetermined reference and temporarily holds the output of the X-ray image to the external storage device It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to record useless data, and there is no useless waiting time for the operator, thereby improving the throughput of X-ray inspection.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a circulatory X-ray system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The X-ray system for circulatory organs according to this embodiment includes an X-ray tube 1 that generates X-rays, a bed 2 on which a subject is mounted, and an X.ray that detects X-rays transmitted through the subject and converts them into optical signals. I. (Image Intensifier) 3; I. A TV camera 4 that captures an output signal from the A3, an A / D converter 5 that converts an analog image signal from the TV camera 4 into a digital image signal, and an image memory 6 that temporarily stores the digital image signal; The D / A converter 7 that converts the digital image signal temporarily stored in the image memory 6 into an analog image signal and outputs the analog image signal to the monitor 8; and the monitor that displays the analog image signal output from the D / A converter 7 8, X-ray tube 1 and I.V. I. 3, an arm (X-ray tube holding device) 9 that moves relative to the bed 2, an arm drive device 10 that drives the arm 9, and controls and calculates each part A control unit 11, an image storage memory 12 for storing an image, an input / output device 13 including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse that accepts an input from an operator, a printing device such as a printer, and the like. An external recording temporary storage image memory 14 used as a buffer for outputting an image to a storage device, and an external input / output device 15 for data communication such as image data with the external storage device are provided.

An X-ray image capturing procedure in the circulatory X-ray system according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.
First, an instruction from an operator is received via the input / output device 13, the arm 9 is positioned at a desired observation position, and X-ray imaging conditions are determined. Next, collection of X-ray images is started by an imaging start instruction input to the input / output device 13 by the operator. The acquired X-ray image may be one frame (one-shot imaging) or a plurality of frames (cine imaging or movie imaging). The collected image is temporarily stored in the image memory 6 and displayed on the monitor 8.

  The collected X-ray image is stored in the image storage memory 12. An arbitrary X-ray image stored in the image storage memory 12 is read from the image storage memory 12 to the image memory 6 according to an instruction from the operator, displayed on the monitor 8, and observed for diagnosis. Is done. Further, various post-processing processes are performed on the image being observed as necessary. For example, a line segment is drawn on the image, and the distance between two points specified at both ends of the line segment is measured. A comment is added to a photographed object (such as a lesion site) on an image that is judged to be important, or a graphic such as a circle, square, or arrow is added to make the diagnosis easy to distinguish from others. Alternatively, an image that is judged to be important for diagnosis from a plurality of frames is extracted and recorded as a separate image (still image). Furthermore, clinical analysis such as vascular stenosis rate measurement or left ventricular motion analysis may be performed on these images to calculate quantitative values.

  On the other hand, in the routine inspection using the circulatory X-ray system, the inspection is performed using a predetermined inspection procedure and inspection conditions. In such routine inspection, an inspection protocol registered in advance in the system is called, and images are collected according to the inspection protocol. For example, in the case of routine cardiovascular examination, imaging of the left coronary artery system from 5 directions, imaging of the right coronary artery system from 3 directions, and left ventricular imaging from 2 directions, a total of 10 imaging directions. Is done. An inspection protocol is one in which arm positions and collection conditions for performing such imaging in order from each direction are registered as an imaging program. By using such an inspection protocol, images necessary for inspection can be collected easily and without omission.

  However, the image storage memory 12 cannot store all images. Therefore, image data is output (externally recorded) to the outside of the circulatory X-ray system via the external input / output device 15. As an external recording destination, an X-ray image is transmitted via a communication line to an image server equipped with a large-capacity memory existing outside the circulatory X-ray system, or to an external recording medium such as a CD-R. By recording the X-ray image, the X-ray image can be stored permanently. One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a judgment by an operator is added when an X-ray image is externally recorded.

  The operation of the circulatory X-ray system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the circulatory X-ray system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The following description will be given for the case where an image is taken and stored by an inspection protocol. Further, the following control is almost performed by the control unit 11 and is not particularly specified.

  When the operator selects an inspection protocol and starts an inspection (step S21), an image is taken according to the inspection protocol (step S22). In this image shooting, preparation processing for external recording is performed for an X-ray image (for example, a moving image collected during an inspection) that satisfies a predetermined condition without waiting for the end of the inspection (step). S23). The image data generated by this preparation process is temporarily stored in the external recording temporary storage image memory 14. Then, step S22 and step S23 are repeated until the inspection is completed (step S24). Then, at the end of the inspection, X-ray images that satisfy the conditions of external recording are displayed as thumbnails on the monitor 8, for example, without performing external recording immediately as in the prior art. At this time, the monitor 8 displays thumbnails in a state where X-ray images that do not require external storage are marked. This is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which an X-ray image that does not require external storage is marked among the X-ray images displayed as thumbnails on the monitor 8. The operator determines whether or not it is necessary to record the X-ray image of the thumbnail display displayed on the monitor 8 via the input / output device 13 (step S25). Then, the X mark remains attached to the X-ray image determined not to be recorded, and the X mark is removed from the X-ray image determined to be recorded. Conversely, if the operator determines that an X-ray image without an X mark is not to be recorded (for example, there are many recorded images and cannot be recorded on a single medium, the target image should be selected carefully). ) May be added with a new x mark. Then, it is determined by this cross mark whether it is a final external recording target or not.

Finally, the X-ray image selected by the operator is recorded externally (step S26). Here, the following can be cited as criteria for determining whether or not to perform external recording by the system.
1) Images that have not been collected last among images continuously collected by the same shooting program (because it is determined that the collected images at the same position are likely to have failed shooting)
2) Image acquisition was performed for a predetermined number of frames or less (in such a case, it was determined that a defect such as a failed injection of a contrast medium occurred immediately after imaging and that there was a high possibility of interruption in several frames. To be).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the operator can check the X-ray image to be recorded externally at the end of the examination, so that useless data is not recorded, thereby reducing the communication time. At the same time, there is no unnecessary waiting time for the operator, and the throughput of the X-ray inspection can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Since the apparatus configuration of the circulatory X-ray system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the circulatory X-ray system according to the first embodiment, illustration and description thereof are omitted.
With reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the circulatory X-ray system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the circulatory X-ray system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the following description will be given for a case where an image is taken and stored by an inspection protocol, as in the first embodiment.

  When the operator selects an inspection protocol and starts an inspection (step S41), an image is taken according to the inspection protocol (step S42). Then, step S42 is executed until the inspection ends (image shooting ends) (step S43). When the inspection is completed, a preparation process for external recording is automatically performed as a background process for an X-ray image (for example, a moving image collected during the inspection) that satisfies a predesignated condition ( Step S44). The image data generated by this preparation process is temporarily stored in the external recording temporary storage image memory 14. On the other hand, post-process processing such as clinical analysis and distance measurement, which could not be performed during the test, is performed as the foreground process after the test is finished (step S45). By this processing, a result image (as a still image of one frame for each measurement) is generated.

  When both the external recording preparation process and the post process process are completed, the X-ray image collected by the inspection and the result image generated by the post process process are displayed as thumbnails. At this time, an image that is not a target for external recording preparation processing is marked with a cross to indicate that it is not a target for external recording. With this thumbnail display, the operator determines whether or not external recording can be performed (step S46). In step S46, if an image with an X mark (for example, a result image generated by the post-processing described above) is to be recorded, the operator performs an operation to cancel the X mark. Conversely, if you do not want to record even an image that does not have a x mark (for example, if you want to select the target image carefully because there are many recorded images and cannot be recorded on a single medium), the operator will add a new x mark. Perform the addition operation. On the basis of the result of the above determination processing, the external recording final process is executed only for the image data determined to be recordable from the external recording temporary storage image memory 14. At this time, if a result image for which the preparation process has not been executed is included, the external recording final process is executed after completion of the preparation process for these images (step S47).

  As described above, in the second embodiment, since the background process and the foreground process are performed in parallel, the time can be reduced. In this case, the external recording final processing is not performed step by step, but the group of image data that has been completed up to the preparation processing is temporarily stored as one job, and when external recording is required, the job is stored from the job list. It is also possible to select and start external recording final processing. Alternatively, an arbitrary job may be selected, and editing processing such as addition or deletion of image data may be executed again. Then, the job for which the final process has been completed is stored as a recorded job, and can be called as necessary until the job is deleted, and the same process can be executed again.

  In addition, by selecting a thumbnail display image, a recording frame that reproduces a moving image of a plurality of frames and excludes frames unnecessary for diagnosis (for example, a state before the contrast agent is filled) from external recording. May be specified. Then, the external recording final process may be performed based on this frame designation.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention at the stage of implementation. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  In addition, for example, even if some structural requirements are deleted from all the structural requirements shown in each embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the effect of the invention Can be obtained as an invention.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a circulatory X-ray system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of the X-ray system for circulatory organs concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example in which the X-ray image which does not require external storage among the X-ray images displayed as the thumbnail on the monitor 8 was marked. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of the X-ray system for circulatory organs concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... X-ray tube 2 ... Bed 3 ... I. I. (Image Intensifier)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... TV camera 5 ... D converter 6 ... Image memory 7 ... A converter 8 ... Monitor 9 ... Arm 10 ... Arm drive device 11 ... Control part 12 ... Image storage memory 13 ... Input / output device 14 ... Temporary for external recording Storage image memory 15 ... External input / output device

Claims (6)

Means for detecting an X-ray transmitted through the subject and acquiring an X-ray image of the subject;
A circulatory X-ray system comprising means for outputting the acquired X-ray image to an external storage device;
The circulatory X-ray system characterized in that the output means extracts an X-ray image to be output to an external storage device according to a predetermined reference and temporarily suspends the output of the X-ray image to the external storage device. 2. The circulatory X-ray system according to claim 1, wherein the output means extracts the last collected image as an X-ray image to be output to an external storage device among images continuously collected by the same imaging protocol. An X-ray system for circulatory organs. 3. The circulatory organ X-ray system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit extracts an X-ray image acquired by acquiring an image having a predetermined number of frames or more as an X-ray image to be output to an external storage device. An X-ray system for circulatory organs. The circulatory X-ray system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Means for displaying a list of the acquired X-ray images;
A circulatory X-ray system further comprising selection means for recording only a desired X-ray image of the displayed X-ray images in an external storage device. 5. The circulatory X-ray system according to claim 1, further comprising means for instructing editing of temporarily held X-ray image data and re-outputting to an external recording device. An X-ray system for circulatory organs. 6. The circulatory X-ray system according to claim 5, wherein, when the X-ray image has a plurality of frames, the instruction means selects only an arbitrary frame for external recording. system.

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