JP3253929B2 - Tomographic imaging system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tomographic image photographing apparatus capable of photographing a slice image (tomographic image) and a scanogram image (perspective image), such as an X-ray CT scanner and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image diagnostic apparatus, according to a tomographic imaging apparatus such as an X-ray CT scanner apparatus or a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a slice image and a scano image can be obtained. In general, a scano image is often used as a positioning image for determining a slice position before capturing a slice image, but after capturing the slice image, confirming the position of the slice image on the subject when reading the slice image Often used for.

[0003] An apparatus for capturing slice images using a scano image as a positioning image and displaying them will be described below. That is, for example, X
A scano image of the subject is photographed by a line CT scanner device, and stored in an image file and displayed on a display device as needed. Then, a line ROI is set on the scano image using a coordinate input device such as a trackball, and the position of the line ROI is registered as a slice position.

Next, when taking a slice image,
The slide table on which the subject is placed moves while controlling the positioning automatically based on the data indicating the registered slice position, and the part of the subject corresponding to the slice position is photographed in the gantry. Stop in position. Next, X-ray irradiation is performed to capture a slice image, which is stored in an image file and displayed on a display device as needed. In this description, one position is taken as an example, but a plurality of positions can be set on the scano image,
Thus, slice images at a plurality of positions can be taken, stored in an image file, and displayed on a display device.

[0005] By the above-described imaging procedure, one scano image and a plurality of slice images for one or a plurality of subjects are separately stored in the image file, and the plurality of slice images are stored for convenience of recall. For this purpose, a directory screen, which is a registered image (slice image) list screen, is added.

[0006]

The above-described tomographic imaging apparatus, such as an X-ray CT scanner apparatus, performs contrast imaging for diagnosing X-ray circulatory diseases which has been frequently used by X-ray diagnostic apparatuses. be able to. This will be described below. That is, a scan plan is taken by photographing a scano image of the subject, that is, a slice image photographing position, a photographing condition, and the number of photographed images of the subject are set while observing the scano image. This setting is stored in the storage unit of the diagnostic imaging device as scanogram-based scan plan data to be used for pre-contrast imaging.

After the scan plan is completed as described above, automatic photographing is performed based on the scan plan. That is, the apparatus slides the top plate on which the subject is placed, stops at the first photographing position, performs photographing under the planned photographing conditions and the number of photographed images, and stores the photographed image. Next, the top plate is slid and stopped at the next shooting position, shooting is performed under the predetermined shooting conditions and the number of shots, and the shot image is stored. This is performed one after another, and the pre-contrast imaging is completed. With this,
The scan plan data using the scano image disappears. The above is the method of slice imaging using a normal scanogram as a positioning image. In contrast imaging, slice imaging is performed again.

After the above-described pre-contrast imaging is completed, a contrast agent is injected into the subject and imaging is performed after imaging. In this case, since the scan plan using the scano image has disappeared, automatic imaging must be performed. At present, the operator writes down the data of the scan plan using the scano image using a memo or the like, and performs post-contrast imaging corresponding to pre-contrast imaging while referring to the memo. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tomographic imaging apparatus capable of easily performing a slice imaging operation on the same subject.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tomographic image photographing apparatus for slicing a subject with a slicing position and a slicing position for slicing the subject. Having storage means for storing data on the number of images taken, using the data stored in this storage means, slice imaging after the injection of contrast agent,
Executing means for executing at the same imaging position and the same number of images as the pre-contrast-agent injection and subsequent to the slice pre-contrast-injection imaging, and executing the data after the pre-contrast injection and before the post-contrast injection. And correction means for correcting as necessary. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tomographic imaging apparatus for performing slice imaging on a subject, comprising: an imaging position for slice imaging of the subject; and data on the number of images and X-ray conditions at the imaging position. Has a storage means for storing, using the data stored in the storage means, the slice imaging after the injection of the contrast agent, the same imaging position as the imaging before the injection of the contrast agent subsequent to the slice imaging before the injection of the contrast agent, Executing means for executing the imaging with the number of images and X-ray conditions, and correcting means for correcting the data as necessary after the pre-contrast injection and before the post-contrast injection. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, the data relating to the imaging position and the number of images at the imaging position for slice imaging of the subject stored in the storage means, or the data relating to the imaging position and the number of imaging at the imaging position and X-ray conditions are stored. Since slice imaging is performed based on the same, similar slice imaging can be easily performed before and after the injection of the contrast agent, and operability can be improved. In addition, after the imaging before the injection of the contrast agent, the data on the imaging position and the number of images can be corrected as necessary, so that the inspection can be performed more accurately.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an X-ray CT as an embodiment of a tomographic imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
The scanner device will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a scano image in which a line ROI is set, FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart when performing contrast imaging according to the present embodiment, and FIG. It is a detailed flowchart in the case of performing contrast imaging.

The X-ray CT scanner according to the present embodiment is basically the same as a normal scanner. However, as a control system function, a storage means for storing data relating to an imaging position at the time of performing slice imaging is provided. Control means for retrieving the data from the storage means and performing a slice photographing again at the same photographing position based on the data, and these means are represented by a program without using hardware. It can also be configured by software.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray CT scanner according to the present embodiment comprises a data acquisition / X-ray control / bed control unit 1 mainly composed of electric elements provided in a gantry.
A control / processing unit 2 mainly for controlling a scan console image and a slice image by mainly using an electric element provided in a control console and a computer device separately provided therefrom; and a scano image generated by the control / processing unit 2 A display unit 3 for displaying an image such as a slice image, a storage unit 4 for storing data relating to an imaging position at the time of performing slice imaging, X-ray conditions as imaging conditions, and the number of images to be imaged. For example, an instruction is directly given to generate scan plan data using scanograms or to perform slice imaging, and an indirect instruction is given to the data acquisition / X-ray control / couch control unit 1, display unit 3, and storage unit 4. And an external input unit 5 mainly composed of electric elements provided in a control console to be provided.

Here, the data relating to the imaging position, the X-ray conditions as the imaging conditions, and the number of images to be captured when performing the slice imaging stored in the storage unit 4 are typically represented by a pre-contrast image shown in FIG. Scan plan data using scanograms to be used for photographing, and of course, scan plan data set by key input, not scan data set using scanograms, or data when actual pre-contrast imaging is performed may be used. . This data is provided to the control / processing unit 2 and used for slice image photographing, for example, post-contrast photographing.

Next, a procedure for performing a contrast slice imaging using a scano image using the apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, prior to step R1, a scano image is taken, a line ROI is set in the scano image, and data relating to a photographing position, an X-ray condition as a photographing condition, and the number of photographed images are created. A pre-scan is performed, and in step R2,
The storage unit 4 stores data on the imaging position when the actual pre-contrast imaging is performed, the X-ray conditions as the imaging conditions, and the number of images to be captured.

Next, in order to perform post-contrast photographing after correcting data as required in step R3, the photographing position at the time of actually performing pre-contrast photographing is stored in the storage unit 4.
X-ray conditions and data on the number of images to be photographed are called as the photographing conditions, and based on these, post-contrast imaging is performed in step R4. The flow of FIG. 3 is shown in detail in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the photographing position when the slice photographing of the pre-contrast photographing is first performed,
Since data relating to X-ray conditions and the number of images to be photographed can be used as the photographing conditions, the slice photographing of post-contrast photographing can be performed in the same manner as the above-described pre-contrast photographing, so that the operation is automated and the operation is easy.

In the above example, the contrast imaging has been described. However, various applications can be applied for the purpose of retaining and reusing the data obtained when the slice imaging is actually performed. The present invention can also be applied to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0019]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, operability can be improved and unnecessary exposure to the subject can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a tomographic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a scano image in which a line ROI is set.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart when performing contrast imaging according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart in the case of performing contrast imaging according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data collection / X-ray control / bed control part 2 ... Control / processing part 3 ... Display part 4 ... Storage part 5 ... External input part

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-222740 (JP, A) JP-A-62-204728 (JP, A) JP-A-60-28222 (JP, A) JP-A-60-111631 (JP, A) JP-A-63-177837 (JP, A) JP-B-63-47692 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 5/055, 6/03

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tomographic imaging apparatus for performing slice imaging on a subject, comprising: storage means for storing data on an imaging position for slice imaging of the subject and the number of images taken at the imaging position. Using the data stored in the means, executing the slice photographing after the injection of the contrast agent at the same photographing position and the same number of images as the photographing before the injection of the contrast agent subsequent to the slice photographing before the injection of the contrast agent; A tomographic imaging apparatus, comprising: correction means for correcting the data as necessary after imaging before injection and before imaging after injection of contrast medium. 2. The data relating to the photographing position and the number of photographed images at the photographing position are data when a scan plan is set or when the photographing before the injection of the contrast agent is performed. Tomographic imaging device. 3. A tomographic imaging apparatus for performing slice imaging on a subject, comprising a storage unit for storing an imaging position for slice imaging of the subject, and data on the number of images and X-ray conditions at the imaging position. Then, using the data stored in the storage means, the slice imaging after the injection of the contrast agent is performed at the same imaging position, the number of images, and the X-ray conditions as the imaging before the injection of the contrast agent subsequent to the slice imaging before the injection of the contrast agent. A tomographic image characterized by comprising: executing means for executing; and correcting means for correcting the data as necessary after the pre-contrast-injection imaging and before the post-contrast-injection imaging. Shooting equipment. 4. The data regarding the imaging position and the number of images and X-ray conditions at the imaging position are data when a scan plan is set or when the imaging before the injection of the contrast agent is performed. Item 4. A tomographic imaging apparatus according to item 3.