JP3263134B2 - CT device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CT apparatus which facilitates a scanning operation by an operator for obtaining a desired tomographic image of a patient.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to obtain a tomographic image showing a lesion most in order to diagnose a patient using a CT apparatus (computer tomography apparatus), first, data obtained by scanning is scanned with a scanner. From the computer, reconstructs the image, and displays tomographic images one by one on a monitor. Then, the operator refers to the monitor to determine whether or not the tomographic image has a lesion. If an abnormal tomographic image is found, the operator sets the number of slices to be inspected, the slice thickness, the scanning range, and the like, and then again sets the CT. By driving the device, a site considered to be a lesion is closely examined, and a target tomographic image is obtained.

[0003]

However, the above C
In the T device, after searching for a tomographic image and finding an abnormal tomographic image, a troublesome operation of resetting a scan range, that is, a slice position and a scan width, in order to closely examine the vicinity of the obtained tomographic image. Is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the examination time for obtaining a desired tomographic image is lengthened, the patient is restrained for a long time, and the CT apparatus cannot be efficiently driven.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a CT apparatus capable of quickly examining the vicinity where a lesion of a patient is found.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a CT apparatus which captures data obtained by scanning and performs image reconstruction to obtain a tomographic image.
Specifying means for specifying a predetermined tomographic image from the acquired tomographic images; specifying means for specifying a scan range based on a slice position of the tomographic image specified by the specifying means; and specifying means for specifying the scan range. Means for executing a close inspection scan in the scan range.

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

According to the present invention, when a predetermined tomographic image is designated from among tomographic images obtained by scanning a subject, a scan range is specified based on a slice position of the designated tomographic image. Then, a close scan is performed in this scan range. This enables quick inspection with a simple operation.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the CT apparatus.

The CT apparatus includes a bed 1 provided with a table or the like on which a patient P is placed, a scanner 2 provided with an X-ray detector and the like, a computer 3 constituting data processing such as image reconstruction and a control system of various devices, An image file device 4 for storing image data and the like obtained by scanning, a memory 5 for temporarily storing image data, a monitor 6 for displaying a data image stored in the memory 5, an image search and driving of the scanner 2, etc. A console 7 having various operation buttons and the like is provided.

Although not shown, the console 7 reads data from the image file device 4 into the memory 5 after the scan of the patient P is completed, and an image feed button for sequentially displaying a tomographic image on the monitor 6. An image return button for displaying an image on the monitor 6 again, a close button for executing close inspection near the tomographic image displayed on the monitor 6, and the like are provided.

Next, a method of operating the CT apparatus will be described.

After the operator first places the patient P on the bed 1, the operator operates the console 7 to input various scanning conditions to the computer 3 and execute the scanning. Next, the data obtained by the scanning is reconstructed by the computer 3, and the data is stored in the image file device 4. Then, while the patient P remains on the bed, the image feed button is pressed to sequentially retrieve data from the image file device 4 to the memory 5, display a tomographic image on the monitor 6, and perform an image search.

When a tomographic image having an abnormality is found by this image search, when the inspecting button is pressed while the image is displayed on the monitor 6, an instruction signal for the inspecting is transmitted to the computer 3. Then, information indicating the slice position of the patient at which the currently displayed image is obtained is read, the slice position to be examined and the scan width, that is, the scan range are obtained by the computer, and the inspection program is executed. Then, the bed is moved so that the start position of the scan range to be examined is located at a predetermined portion of the X-ray detector, and the scan is performed.

In the above embodiment, for example, the following method can be considered as a method of determining the range to be rescanned.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the slice position of the tomographic image designated by the close inspection button is set as the center (XC) of the scanning range, and the width W smaller than the previous scanning width.
A method in which slicing intervals (ΔX) are narrowed so as to obtain a large number of tomographic images at (X0 to X1) and scrutinize.

Second, as shown in FIG. 3, a width W (X0 to X1) proportional to the slice width (W0) of the designated tomographic image and smaller than the previous scan width is obtained as a new scan width. Then, a method of closely examining a predetermined number of tomographic images as a center (XC) of a scanning range of a slice position of the designated tomographic image.

Third, as shown in FIG. 4, a button for selecting a scan width is provided on the console 7, and each time the button is pressed, the scan width can be selected from W1, W2 and W3. Then, the slice position of the designated tomographic image is set to the center (XC) of the scan range, and the scanning interval (ΔX) is narrowed by the selected scan width compared to the previous scan, and the close inspection is performed.

The relationship between the number (N) of tomographic images obtained by such scanning and the interval (ΔX) can be expressed by the following equation.

N = [W / ΔX] = [(X 1 −X 0) / ΔX] where [a] indicates the smallest integer not less than a.

The slice positions at which a tomographic image is obtained by performing a scan or the like are X0 + ΔX, X0 + 2ΔX, X0 + 3Δ
X,...

In the above-described embodiment, the method of specifying the center (XC) of the scan range has been described by way of example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the start (X0) of the scan range may be specified. The scan is automatically executed by specifying the end (X1) or the start of the scan range (X0) and the scan direction, and the scan is terminated when an appropriate tomographic image is obtained. Is also good. X0 and the number of sheets may be given, or X0 and the width (mm) of the range to be inspected may be given.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, a close examination can be performed quickly with a simple operation, so that the time for restraining the patient for the close examination can be shortened, and the throughput can be improved. In addition, since the scan can be re-executed in a short time, the positional deviation of the patient can be reduced, and an abnormal portion of the patient can be reliably captured during the close scan.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a CT apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a scan range of close inspection in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a scan range of close inspection in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a scan range of close inspection in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bed 2 Scanner 3 Computer 4 Image file device 5 Memory 6 Monitor 7 Console

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A CT device for acquiring data obtained by scanning and reconstructing an image to acquire a tomographic image, a designating means for designating a predetermined tomographic image from the acquired tomographic images, A CT apparatus comprising: a specifying unit that specifies a scan range based on a slice position of a tomographic image specified by (1); and a unit that performs a detailed scan in the scan range specified by the specifying unit. 2. The CT apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies a slice position and a slice width to be inspected as the scan range.