JP2020162841A - Fluoroscope and fluoroscopy method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an X-ray fluoroscope and an X-ray fluoroscopy method capable of improving treatment efficiency and preventing deterioration of tracking performance of a specific site or a marker.SOLUTION: The X-ray fluoroscopy method, when a subject is projected with a treatment beam at intervals of a time T1, detects X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and transmitted through the subject with an X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera and collects X-ray images including a marker or the like placed in the body of the subject at intervals of a time T2 larger than the time T1, thereby detecting the position of the marker or the like that moves with the body movement of the subject. X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube in a time TX shorter than the time T1 during which the treatment beam is projected, and the X-ray image acquisition operation in which the blanking of the image intensifier is disabled is performed a plurality of times during the time T2, such that X-ray images are created on the basis of image data acquired by the camera in the plurality of X-ray image acquisition operations.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an X-ray fluoroscope and an X-ray fluoroscopy method.

In radiotherapy that irradiates an affected area such as a tumor with a therapeutic beam such as X-rays or proton beams, it is necessary to accurately irradiate the affected area with the therapeutic beam. However, not only may the subject move his / her body, but the affected area itself may also move. For example, tumors near the subject's lungs migrate significantly based on respiration. Therefore, a radiotherapy device having a configuration in which a gold marker having a spherical shape is placed near the tumor, the position of the marker is detected by an X-ray fluoroscope, and the irradiation of the treatment beam is controlled has been proposed. (See Patent Document 1).

In such a radiotherapy apparatus, a first X-ray imaging system composed of a first X-ray tube and a first X-ray detector and a second X-ray imaging system composed of a second X-ray tube and a second X-ray detector are used. A marker placed in the body is photographed, and three-dimensional position information is obtained by using a two-dimensional fluoroscopic image obtained by the first X-ray imaging system and a two-dimensional fluoroscopic image obtained by the second X-ray imaging system. By continuously performing X-ray fluoroscopy in this way and calculating the three-dimensional position information of the marker in real time, the marker of the portion accompanied by movement is detected and tracked with high accuracy. Then, by controlling the irradiation of the treatment beam based on the position information of the detected marker, it is possible to execute the irradiation of the treatment beam with high accuracy according to the movement of the tumor. When obtaining the position information of this marker, image recognition such as template matching using a template image and machine learning using a classifier is executed.

As described above, in order to detect the movement of the tumor using the marker, it is necessary to place the marker in the body of the subject in advance. On the other hand, in recent years, a method called markerless tracking has been proposed in which a specific site such as a tumor region of a subject is used instead of a marker to omit the placement of a marker.

Since such an X-ray fluoroscope has a configuration in which the position of a specific site or marker is detected using an X-ray image collected by the X-ray detector, its detection performance is the X detected by the X-ray detector. It depends on the image quality of the line image. On the other hand, when the treatment beam is irradiated to the patient from the radiotherapy device, scattered rays are generated. When this scattered ray enters the X-ray detector that is collecting the X-ray image, the contrast of the X-ray image acquired by the X-ray detector is lowered, or a difference in brightness occurs. The tracking performance of a specific part or marker using a line image is reduced. Such a phenomenon becomes particularly remarkable when a treatment beam having a high dose rate is used.

Therefore, in the radiotherapy apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the treatment beam is not irradiated at the irradiation timing of X-rays from the X-ray tube, and the image-in in the X-ray detector is performed only at the irradiation timing of the X-ray tube. By controlling the output of the tensifier to be effective, the influence of scattered rays is prevented.

Japanese Patent No. 3053389

Radiation therapy preferably completes the treatment in a short time by irradiating the treatment beam as efficiently as possible. As a result, the treatment efficiency is good, and the restraint time of the subject is shortened. From this point of view, stopping the irradiation of the treatment beam in conjunction with the irradiation of the X-ray will reduce the treatment efficiency.

In order to deal with such a problem, it is conceivable to irradiate X-rays between one irradiation of the treatment beams continuously irradiated and the next irradiation to collect an X-ray image. That is, when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam is 180 Hz (hertz), the pulse interval of the treatment beam is 5.56 msec (milliseconds). On the other hand, the X-ray irradiation time required to obtain an X-ray image by fluoroscopy is, for example, about 4 msec. Therefore, by irradiating X-rays for 4 msec and acquiring an X-ray image during the pulse interval of the treatment beam of 5.56 msec, it is possible to execute the treatment without stopping the irradiation of the treatment beam. It becomes.

However, when such a configuration is adopted, when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam becomes high, the X-ray dose is insufficient and the marker placed in the body of the subject or the specific part of the subject is specified. The problem arises that the X-ray image required to identify the frequency cannot be obtained.

That is, in radiotherapy, the treatment time can be shortened by increasing the irradiation dose rate of the treatment beam. Therefore, for the purpose of doubling the efficiency of treatment, when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam is, for example, 360 Hz, the pulse interval of the treatment beam is 2.78 msec. On the other hand, since the X-ray irradiation time required to obtain an X-ray image by X-ray fluoroscopy is, for example, about 4 msec, the X-ray dose at the time of X-ray fluoroscopy is insufficient, and an appropriate X-ray image is obtained. Will be impossible to collect.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and even when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam becomes high, the treatment efficiency can be improved by collecting X-ray images during the irradiation of the treatment beam. To provide an X-ray fluoroscope and an X-ray fluoroscopy method that can be improved and can prevent a deterioration in tracking performance of a specific site or marker using an X-ray image acquired by X-ray fluoroscopy. The purpose.

One aspect of the present invention is an image intensifier and an image intensifier of X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and passed through the subject when the subject is irradiated with the treatment beam at time T1 intervals from the treatment beam irradiator. An X-ray image containing a marker placed in the body of the subject or an X-ray image including a specific part of the subject, detected by an X-ray detector equipped with a camera, is displayed for a time longer than the time T1. An X-ray fluoroscope that detects the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject by collecting at T2 intervals, and is a treatment beam emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device. X-rays from the X-ray tube a plurality of times for a time TX shorter than the time T1 between the irradiation timing acquisition unit that acquires the irradiation timing of the above and the time T1 between the irradiation of the treatment beam from the treatment beam irradiation device. By turning off the blanking of the image intensifier during the time TX when the X-ray tube is irradiated from the X-ray tube control unit, the image intensifier causes a plurality of optical images. The optical image of the image intensifier is displayed between the image intensifier control unit for acquiring the image and the period from the start of the first X-ray irradiation during the time T2 to the end of the last X-ray irradiation. It includes a camera control unit for collecting by a camera.

Another aspect of the present invention is an image intensity of X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and passed through the subject when the subject is irradiated with the treatment beam at time T1 intervals from the treatment beam irradiator. An X-ray image including a marker placed in the body of the subject or an X-ray image including a specific part of the subject, detected by an X-ray detector equipped with a fire and a camera, is obtained from the time T1. An X-ray fluoroscope that detects the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject by collecting at T2 intervals for a large time, and is irradiated from the treatment beam irradiation device. An irradiation timing acquisition unit that acquires the irradiation timing of the treatment beam, an X-ray tube control unit that irradiates X-rays from the X-ray tube during the time TY longer than the time T1 and shorter than the time T2, and the X-ray tube. When the X-ray is emitted from the X-ray and the treatment beam is not emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device, the blanking of the image intensifier is turned off, and when the X-ray is not emitted from the X-ray tube, and the above. When X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube and the treatment beam is emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device, the image intensifier control unit that turns on the blanking of the image intensifier and the X during the time T2 A camera control unit that collects an optical image of the image intensifier by the camera between the start of the line irradiation and the end of the X-ray irradiation is provided.

According to the aspect of the present invention, even when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam is increased, the treatment efficiency can be improved by collecting the X-ray image during the irradiation of the treatment beam. Since it is possible to prevent the influence of scattered rays by the treatment beam during X-ray fluoroscopy, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the tracking performance of a specific site or marker using the X-ray image acquired by X-ray fluoroscopy. ..

It is a perspective view which shows the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention together with the treatment beam irradiation apparatus 7. It is a block diagram which shows the main control system of the X-ray fluoroscope which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows the X-ray fluoroscopy operation in one aspect of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows the X-ray fluoroscopy operation in another aspect of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an X-ray fluoroscope according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a treatment beam irradiation device 7.

The treatment beam irradiation device 7 is for irradiating the affected area of the subject 57 lying on the imaging table 56 with a treatment beam such as X-rays or electron beams to perform radiotherapy, and is used on the floor of the treatment room. A gantry 53 installed on the surface 51, a head support portion 54 that swings about an axis that faces the horizontal direction with respect to the gantry 53, and a head support portion 54 that is supported by the head support portion 54 toward the subject 57. It is provided with a head 55 for irradiating a treatment beam. The swinging motion of the head support portion 54 allows the head 55 to irradiate the affected portion of the subject 57 with a treatment beam from various angles.

At the time of this radiotherapy, it is necessary to accurately irradiate the affected area with the treatment beam. Therefore, a gold marker is installed near the affected area. Then, the markers embedded in the body are continuously seen through using the first X-ray fluoroscopy mechanism and the second X-ray fluoroscopy mechanism, and the two-dimensional fluoroscopy obtained by the first X-ray fluoroscopy mechanism and the second X-ray fluoroscopy mechanism is obtained. By calculating the three-dimensional position information of the marker from the image, the marker is detected with high accuracy.

The X-ray fluoroscopy device according to the present invention for performing such fluoroscopy includes a first X-ray fluoroscopy mechanism including a first X-ray tube 1a and a first X-ray detector 2a, and a second X-ray tube 1b and a second X-ray tube. The second X-ray tube fluoroscopy mechanism including the detector 2b and the first X-ray tube 1a and the first X-ray detector 2a are moved to a plurality of fluoroscopic positions arranged opposite to each other, and the second X-ray tube 1b and the first It is provided with a moving mechanism for moving the 2X-ray detector 2b to a plurality of perspective positions arranged opposite to each other.

The first X-ray tube 1a is supported by the first pedestal 3a for the X-ray tube. Further, the second X-ray tube 1b is supported by the second pedestal 3b for the X-ray tube. On the bottom surface 52 of the recess formed on the floor surface 51 of the photographing room, a first rail 21 for a substantially U-shaped X-ray tube in which two straight portions are connected by a connecting portion including an arc portion, and the X-ray tube for the X-ray tube. Similar to the first rail 21, a second rail 22 for a substantially U-shaped X-ray tube in which two straight portions are connected by a connecting portion including an arc portion is arranged. The first rail 21 for the X-ray tube and the second rail 22 for the X-ray tube are arranged parallel to each other. Then, the first pedestal 3a for the X-ray tube and the second pedestal 3b for the X-ray tube are guided by the first and second rails 21 and 22 for the X-ray tube and move to a plurality of perspective positions.

Similarly, the first X-ray detector 2a is supported by the first pedestal 4a for the X-ray detector. Further, the second X-ray detector 2b is supported by the second pedestal 4b for the X-ray detector. From the ceiling of the photographing room, a substantially U-shaped first rail 11 for an X-ray detector in which two straight portions are connected by a connecting portion including an arc portion, and the same as the first rail 11 for this X-ray detector. A substantially U-shaped second rail 12 for an X-ray detector, which connects two straight portions by a connecting portion including an arc portion, is suspended. The first rail 11 for the X-ray detector and the second rail 12 for the X-ray detector are arranged parallel to each other. Then, the first pedestal 4a for the X-ray detector and the second pedestal 4b for the X-ray detector are guided by the first and second rails 11 and 12 for these X-ray detectors and move to a plurality of fluoroscopic positions. ..

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main control system of the X-ray fluoroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This X-ray fluoroscope device includes a control unit 30 that controls the entire device. The control unit 30 is connected to the above-mentioned first X-ray tube 1a, second X-ray tube 1b, first X-ray detector 2a, and second X-ray detector 2b. Further, the control unit 30 is also connected to the treatment beam irradiation device 7 via a signal line.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second X-ray detectors 2a and 2b described above are each composed of an image intensifier (I.I.) 5 and a CCD camera 6. The image intensifier 5 is an electron tube that converts an incident X-ray image into a visible light image, and X-rays that are irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a or the second X-ray tube 1b and pass through the subject 57 are image intensifiers. Accelerated and focused by 5 to form an optical image on the phosphor screen. Then, this optical image is captured by the CCD camera 6 to create an X-ray image. The image intensifier 5 has a blanking function that completely blocks the output image by changing the bias of the focusing electrode.

As a functional configuration, the control unit 30 turns on / off the blanking of the X-ray tube control unit 31 that controls the irradiation of X-rays from the first X-ray tube 1a and the second X-ray tube 1b and the image intensifier 5. Treatment from an image intensifier control unit (hereinafter referred to as "I.I. control unit") 32 to be controlled, a CCD camera control unit 33 to control image acquisition and data transfer by the CCD camera 6, and a treatment beam irradiation device 7. It includes an irradiation timing acquisition unit 34 that acquires the irradiation timing of the beam, and an image processing unit 35 that executes image processing such as creation of an X-ray image. The control unit 30 is composed of a computer on which software is installed. The functions of each unit included in the control unit 30 are realized by executing the software installed in the computer.

When the treatment beam irradiation device 7 irradiates the subject 57 with the treatment beam at time T1 intervals, the control unit 30 controls the X-ray tube control unit 31 and obtains from the irradiation timing acquisition unit 34 from the time T1. During the short time TX, X-rays are irradiated from the first and second X-ray tubes 1a and 1b, and I. I. The X-ray image acquisition operation of controlling the control unit 32 to turn off the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is executed a plurality of times during the time T2 for acquiring the X-ray image of one frame in X-ray fluoroscopy. , The CCD camera control unit 33 is controlled to create an X-ray image based on the image data acquired by the CCD camera 6 in a plurality of X-ray image acquisition operations.

That is, from another point of view, the control unit 30 is irradiated with the irradiation timing acquisition unit 34 for acquiring the irradiation timing of the treatment beam emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device 7 and the treatment beam from the treatment beam irradiation device 7. The X-ray tube control unit 31 that irradiates X-rays from the first and second X-ray tubes 1a and 1b multiple times with a time TX shorter than the time T1 during the time T1 and the first and second X-ray tubes 1a. By turning off the blanking of the image intensifier 5 during the time TX when the X-ray is irradiated from 1b, the image intensifier 5 acquires a plurality of optical images. I. The control unit 32 and the CCD camera 6 collects the optical image of the image intensifier 5 between the start of the first X-ray irradiation during the time T2 and the end of the last X-ray irradiation. It includes a control unit 33 and an image processing unit 35 that creates an X-ray image based on an optical image collected by the CCD camera 6.

Next, the X-ray fluoroscopy operation by the above-mentioned X-ray fluoroscope device will be described. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an X-ray fluoroscopic operation according to one aspect of the present invention. The following X-ray fluoroscopy operation is performed by a first X-ray fluoroscopy mechanism composed of a first X-ray tube 1a and a first X-ray detector 2a, and a second X-ray composed of a second X-ray tube 1b and a second X-ray detector 2b. Each is performed with a fluoroscopic mechanism. In the following description, the operation of the first X-ray fluoroscopy mechanism will be described, but the same operation is executed for the second X-ray fluoroscopy mechanism.

In FIG. 3, T1 indicates the irradiation interval of the treatment beam. The treatment beam emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device 7 is radiation such as X-rays and proton beams, and is a pulse-shaped beam of several μsec (microseconds) every time T1. The frequency of this treatment beam has been about 180 Hz in the past, but there is a request to increase this frequency for the purpose of increasing the irradiation dose rate of the treatment beam and shortening the treatment time. When the frequency of this treatment beam is 360 Hz, the time T1 is 2.78 msec.

Further, in FIG. 3, T2 is an interval for collecting X-ray images in fluoroscopy. For example, when the number of frames per unit time is 20 FPS (Fame Per Second), the time T2 is 50 msec. Further, in FIG. 3, T3 is a waiting time required from irradiating X-rays from the first X-ray tube 1a to irradiating X-rays from the first X-ray tube 1a again.

When performing X-ray fluoroscopy, X-rays are irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a under the control of the X-ray tube control unit 31 during the time TX shorter than the time T1 during which the treatment beam is irradiated. Also, at the same time, during the time TX, I. I. Under the control of the control unit 32, the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned off and the output image by the image intensifier 5 is acquired. By the X-ray image acquisition operation of turning off the blanking together with the X-ray irradiation, the X-rays irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a and passed through the subject 57 are detected by the image intensifier 5, and the image data is obtained. Detected by the CCD camera 6.

The CCD camera 6 starts collecting (exposure) image data when X-rays are irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a and the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned off, and the X-rays are irradiated. The collection of image data is continued even after the end and the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned on.

The time TX for acquiring an X-ray image that turns off blanking with X-ray irradiation needs to be shorter than T1 (2.78 msec), and is set to, for example, 2 msec. On the other hand, the X-ray irradiation time required to obtain an X-ray image by X-ray fluoroscopy is, for example, about 4 msec, and when the time TX is 2 msec, the X-ray dose is insufficient and the patient is placed in the body of the subject 57. It is not possible to obtain the X-ray image necessary for identifying the marker or the specific part of the subject 57. Therefore, the X-ray image acquisition operation is executed again.

More specifically, after irradiating X-rays from the first X-ray tube 1a, after the waiting time T3 has elapsed, during a time TX (2 msec) shorter than the time T1 during which the treatment beam is irradiated again, X X-rays are emitted from the first X-ray tube 1a under the control of the line tube control unit 31. Also, at the same time, during the time TX, I. I. The blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned off by the control of the control unit 32. By the X-ray image acquisition operation of turning off the blanking together with the X-ray irradiation, the X-rays irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a and passed through the subject 57 are detected by the image intensifier 5, and the image data is obtained. Detected by the CCD camera 6. Then, the image collection operation by the CCD camera 6 is completed, and the image data acquired by the CCD camera 6 in the two X-ray image acquisition operations is transferred to the image processing unit 35.

In this way, the X-ray image acquisition operation that turns off the blanking together with the X-ray irradiation is executed twice during the time T2 corresponding to the image acquisition time of one frame, and the two X-ray image acquisition operations. By creating a one-frame X-ray image based on the image data acquired by the CCD camera 6 in the above, it is possible to acquire an X-ray image using the interval between irradiations of the treatment beam. .. Therefore, even when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam becomes high, it is possible to improve the treatment efficiency by collecting X-ray images between the irradiations of the treatment beam. Since it is possible to prevent the influence of scattered rays by the treatment beam during X-ray fluoroscopy, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the tracking performance of a specific site or marker using the X-ray image acquired by X-ray fluoroscopy. ..

In the above-described embodiment, the X-ray image acquisition operation of turning off the blanking together with the X-ray irradiation is executed twice during the time T2 corresponding to the image acquisition time of one frame. May be executed three or more times. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the X-ray irradiation is executed after the waiting time T3 has elapsed, but when there is no waiting time, the X-ray irradiation is continuously performed while the treatment beam is irradiated. And execute it.

Next, another aspect of the X-ray fluoroscopy operation by the above-mentioned X-ray fluoroscope will be described. FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an X-ray fluoroscopic operation in another aspect of the present invention. The same operations and the like as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The X-ray fluoroscope according to this embodiment includes the control unit 30 shown in FIG. 2, as in the above-described embodiment. From another point of view, the control unit 30 is between the irradiation timing acquisition unit 34 that acquires the irradiation timing of the treatment beam emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device 7 and the time TY that is longer than the time T1 and shorter than the time T2. Image when the X-ray tube control unit 31 that irradiates X-rays from the first and second X-ray tubes 1a and 1b and the X-rays from the first and second X-ray tubes 1a and 1b are irradiated and the treatment beam is not irradiated. When the blanking of the Intensifier 5 is turned off and X-rays are not emitted from the first and second X-ray tubes 1a and 1b, and when X-rays are irradiated from the first and second X-ray tubes 1a and 1b for treatment. I. Turn on the blanking of the image intensifier 5 when the beam is being emitted. I. The control unit 32 and the CCD camera control unit 33 that collects the optical image of the image intensifier 5 by the CCD camera 6 between the start of the X-ray irradiation during the time T2 and the end of the X-ray irradiation. , Equipped with.

In the fluoroscopic operation according to this aspect, X-rays are emitted from the first X-ray tube 1a during a time TY longer than the time T1 and shorter than the time T2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, X-rays are irradiated after the treatment beam is irradiated until the treatment beam is irradiated twice (next). The X-ray irradiation time TY is, for example, about 5 msec.

Then, when the X-ray is irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a and the treatment beam is not irradiated, the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned off. On the other hand, when the X-ray is irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a and the treatment beam is irradiated, the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned on. Further, the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned on even when the X-ray is not irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a.

In this way, when the X-rays are emitted from the first X-ray tube 1a during the time TY longer than the time T1 and shorter than the time T2, and the X-rays are irradiated from the first X-ray tube 1a and the treatment beam is not irradiated. When the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned off and X-rays are not emitted from the first X-ray tube 1a, and when X-rays are emitted from the first X-ray tube 1a and the treatment beam is irradiated, the image is in. By turning on the blanking of the tensifier 5, it becomes possible to acquire an X-ray image by utilizing the time during the irradiation of the treatment beam. Therefore, even when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam becomes high, the treatment efficiency can be improved by collecting the X-ray image during the irradiation of the treatment beam. Since it is possible to prevent the influence of scattered rays by the treatment beam during X-ray fluoroscopy, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the tracking performance of a specific site or marker using the X-ray image acquired by X-ray fluoroscopy. ..

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above-described exemplary embodiments are specific examples of the following embodiments.

The X-ray fluoroscope according to the first aspect of the present invention is an X-ray that is irradiated from an X-ray tube and passed through the subject when the subject is irradiated with the treatment beam at intervals of time T1 from the treatment beam irradiation device. The line is detected by an X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera, and an X-ray image including a marker placed in the subject's body or an X-ray image including a specific part of the subject is obtained. An X-ray fluoroscope that detects the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject by collecting at time T2 intervals larger than the time T1, and irradiates the treatment beam. Between the irradiation timing acquisition unit that acquires the irradiation timing of the treatment beam emitted from the device and the time T1 between the irradiation of the treatment beam from the treatment beam irradiation device, a plurality of times in TX for a time shorter than the time T1. The image-in is performed by turning off the blanking of the image intensifier during the time TX between the X-ray tube control unit that irradiates X-rays from the X-ray tube and the X-ray irradiation time TX. The image intensifier control unit that acquires a plurality of optical images by the tensifier and the image in between the start of the first X-ray irradiation during the time T2 and the end of the last X-ray irradiation. A camera control unit for collecting an optical image of a tensifier by the camera is provided.

According to such an aspect, even when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam becomes high due to the acquisition operation of the X-ray image a plurality of times, the X-ray image is collected during the irradiation of the treatment beam. It is possible to improve the treatment efficiency. Since it is possible to prevent the influence of scattered rays by the treatment beam during X-ray fluoroscopy, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the tracking performance of a specific site or marker using the X-ray image acquired by X-ray fluoroscopy. ..

The X-ray fluoroscope according to a modification of the first aspect of the present invention irradiates a subject with a treatment beam at intervals of time T1 from the treatment beam irradiator, and irradiates the subject with an X-ray tube. The passed X-ray is detected by an X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera, and an X-ray image including a marker placed in the subject's body or an X including a specific part of the subject is included. An X-ray fluoroscope that detects the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject by collecting line images at time T2 intervals larger than the time T1. An irradiation timing acquisition unit that acquires the irradiation timing of the treatment beam emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device, and an X-ray tube that irradiates X-rays from the X-ray tube during a time TY longer than the time T1 and shorter than the time T2. When X-rays are emitted from the control unit and the X-ray tube and the treatment beam is not emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device, the blanking of the image intensifier is turned off and X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube. When not, and when X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube and the treatment beam is emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device, the image intensifier control unit that turns on the blanking of the image intensifier A camera control unit that collects an optical image of the image intensifier by the camera between the start of the X-ray irradiation during the time T2 and the end of the X-ray irradiation is provided.

According to such an embodiment, when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam is increased by turning off the blanking of the image intensifier when the X-ray is irradiated and the treatment beam is not irradiated. However, it is possible to improve the treatment efficiency by collecting X-ray images during the irradiation of the treatment beam. Since it is possible to prevent the influence of scattered rays by the treatment beam during X-ray fluoroscopy, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the tracking performance of a specific site or marker using the X-ray image acquired by X-ray fluoroscopy. ..

The X-ray fluoroscopy method according to another modification of the first aspect of the present invention is irradiated from an X-ray tube when the subject is irradiated with a treatment beam at time T1 intervals from the treatment beam irradiation device. X-rays that have passed through the subject are detected by an X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera, and an X-ray image containing a marker placed in the subject's body or a specific site of the subject is detected. An X-ray fluoroscopy method for detecting the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject by collecting the including X-ray images at time T2 intervals larger than the time T1. An X-ray image acquisition operation of irradiating X-rays from the X-ray tube and turning off the blanking of the image intensifier during a time TX shorter than the time T1 while the treatment beam is being irradiated. , Is executed a plurality of times during the time T2, and an X-ray image is created based on the image data acquired by the camera in the multiple X-ray image acquisition operations.

According to such an aspect, even when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam becomes high due to the acquisition operation of the X-ray image a plurality of times, the X-ray image is collected during the irradiation of the treatment beam. It is possible to improve the treatment efficiency. Since it is possible to prevent the influence of scattered rays by the treatment beam during X-ray fluoroscopy, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the tracking performance of a specific site or marker using the X-ray image acquired by X-ray fluoroscopy. ..

In the X-ray fluoroscopy method according to another modification of the first aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the camera is subjected to the plurality of X-ray image acquisition operations after the completion of the plurality of X-ray image acquisition operations. The image data accumulated when the X-ray image acquisition operation is executed is transferred.

According to such an aspect, it is possible to collectively transfer the image data obtained by a plurality of X-ray image acquisition operations to create an X-ray image.

The X-ray fluoroscopy method according to another modification of the first aspect of the present invention is irradiated from an X-ray tube when the subject is irradiated with a treatment beam at time T1 intervals from the treatment beam irradiation device. X-rays that have passed through the subject are detected by an X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera, and an X-ray image containing a marker placed in the subject's body or a specific site of the subject is detected. An X-ray fluoroscopy method for detecting the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject by collecting the including X-ray images at time T2 intervals larger than the time T1. X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube during the time TX longer than the time T1 and shorter than the time T2, and X-rays are irradiated from the X-ray tube and the treatment beam is irradiated from the treatment beam irradiation device. When not, the blanking of the image intensifier 5 is turned off, and when X-rays are not emitted from the X-ray tube and X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube and the treatment beam is emitted from the treatment beam irradiation device. When the image is illuminated, the blanking of the image intensifier is turned on.

According to such an embodiment, when the irradiation frequency of the pulsed treatment beam is increased by turning off the blanking of the image intensifier when the X-ray is irradiated and the treatment beam is not irradiated. However, it is possible to improve the treatment efficiency by collecting X-ray images during the irradiation of the treatment beam. Since it is possible to prevent the influence of scattered rays by the treatment beam during X-ray fluoroscopy, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the tracking performance of a specific site or marker using the X-ray image acquired by X-ray fluoroscopy. ..

The above description is for the purpose of explaining the embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention.

1a 1st X-ray tube 1b 2nd X-ray tube 2a 1st X-ray detector 2b 2nd X-ray detector 5 Image intensifier 6 CCD camera 7 Treatment beam irradiation device 30 Control unit 31 X-ray tube control unit 32 I. I. Control unit 33 CCD camera control unit 34 Irradiation timing acquisition unit 35 Image processing unit 57 Subject

Claims (5)

An X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera for X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and passed through the subject when the subject is irradiated with the treatment beam at T1 time intervals from the treatment beam irradiator. By collecting an X-ray image containing a marker placed in the body of the subject or an X-ray image including a specific site of the subject at time T2 intervals larger than the time T1. An X-ray fluoroscope that detects the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject.
An irradiation timing acquisition unit that acquires the irradiation timing of the treatment beam irradiated from the treatment beam irradiation device, and
An X-ray tube control unit that irradiates X-rays from the X-ray tube a plurality of times for a time TX shorter than the time T1 during the time T1 between irradiations of the treatment beam from the treatment beam irradiation device.
With the image intensifier control unit that acquires a plurality of optical images by the image intensifier by turning off the blanking of the image intensifier during the time TX when X-rays are irradiated from the X-ray tube. ,
A camera control unit that collects an optical image of the image intensifier by the camera between the start of the first X-ray irradiation during the time T2 and the end of the last X-ray irradiation.
An X-ray fluoroscope. An X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera for X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and passed through the subject when the subject is irradiated with the treatment beam at T1 time intervals from the treatment beam irradiator. By collecting an X-ray image containing a marker placed in the body of the subject or an X-ray image including a specific site of the subject at time T2 intervals larger than the time T1. An X-ray fluoroscope that detects the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject.
An irradiation timing acquisition unit that acquires the irradiation timing of the treatment beam irradiated from the treatment beam irradiation device, and
An X-ray tube control unit that irradiates X-rays from the X-ray tube during a time TY longer than the time T1 and shorter than the time T2.
When the X-ray tube is irradiated with X-rays and the treatment beam is not irradiated from the treatment beam irradiation device, the blanking of the image intensifier is turned off and the X-ray tube is not irradiated with X-rays. And the image intensifier control unit that turns on the blanking of the image intensifier when the X-ray is irradiated from the X-ray tube and the treatment beam is irradiated from the treatment beam irradiation device.
A camera control unit that collects an optical image of the image intensifier by the camera between the start of the X-ray irradiation during the time T2 and the end of the X-ray irradiation.
An X-ray fluoroscope. An X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera for X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and passed through the subject when the subject is irradiated with the treatment beam at T1 time intervals from the treatment beam irradiator. By collecting an X-ray image containing a marker placed in the body of the subject or an X-ray image including a specific site of the subject at time T2 intervals larger than the time T1. An X-ray fluoroscopy method for detecting the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject.
An X-ray image acquisition operation of irradiating X-rays from the X-ray tube and turning off the blanking of the image intensifier during a time TX shorter than the time T1 while the treatment beam is being irradiated. An X-ray fluoroscopy method that is executed a plurality of times during the time T2 and creates an X-ray image based on the image data acquired by the camera in a plurality of X-ray image acquisition operations. In the X-ray fluoroscopy method according to claim 3,
The camera is an X-ray fluoroscopy method for transferring image data accumulated when the plurality of X-ray image acquisition operations are executed after the plurality of X-ray image acquisition operations are completed. An X-ray detector equipped with an image intensifier and a camera for X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and passed through the subject when the subject is irradiated with the treatment beam at T1 time intervals from the treatment beam irradiator. By collecting an X-ray image containing a marker placed in the body of the subject or an X-ray image including a specific site of the subject at time T2 intervals larger than the time T1. An X-ray fluoroscopy method for detecting the position of the marker or the specific site that moves with the body movement of the subject.
The X-ray tube is irradiated with X-rays during the time TY longer than the time T1 and shorter than the time T2, and the X-ray tube is irradiated with X-rays, and the treatment beam is not irradiated from the treatment beam irradiation device. When the blanking of the image intensifier is turned off, when X-rays are not emitted from the X-ray tube, and when X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube and the treatment beam is irradiated from the treatment beam irradiation device. An X-ray fluoroscopy method that turns on the blanking of the image intensifier when it is done.

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