JP3741503B2 - X-ray diagnostic imaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to I.D. I. The present invention relates to an automatic filter control device that can assign a filter to be controlled based on angle information from a support device, prevent unnecessary insertion of a filter other than the assigned filter to be controlled, and calculate a filter insertion region at high speed.
The present invention also relates to an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus provided with the filter automatic control device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional automatic filter control device of this type is a fluoroscopic image storage device that stores a fluoroscopic image output from a television camera of an X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus as image data, as disclosed in JP-A-8-103436. A filter insertion area calculation means for reading out image data from the fluoroscopic image storage device and calculating a filter insertion area of the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the shape and position of an area equal to or greater than a preset threshold; and There is provided a filter control device that inserts or retracts the filter into the insertion area calculated by the filter insertion area calculation means. The image data used for the calculation of the filter insertion area covers all data read from the fluoroscopic image storage device, and controls a plurality of filters so as to cover all areas above a preset threshold. Was.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional automatic filter control device, all the image data read from the fluoroscopic image storage device is targeted, and a plurality of filters are controlled so as to cover all the regions above a preset threshold value. Therefore, as in the filter insertion region H shown in FIG. 6, the filter is inserted into the filter insertion region that occurs in the image due to individual differences such as the patient's body thickness and internal gas, regardless of necessity. Therefore, as can be seen from the insertion region of the lower filter in FIG. 6, there is a problem that the contrasted blood vessel and the filter are overlapped, resulting in a low concentration and a decrease in diagnostic ability.
[0004]
In addition, since the filter insertion area calculation unit performs processing for all image areas read from the fluoroscopic image storage device, there is a problem that it takes time from capturing a fluoroscopic image to starting the filter operation.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to address these problems, and its purpose is to provide angiographic imaging. I. A filter automatic control device capable of preventing unnecessary insertion by a filter other than the assigned control target filter and assigning a filter insertion region at high speed by assigning the control target filter based on angle information from the support device It is to provide.
[0006]
Another object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus including the automatic filter control apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An object of the present invention is to detect an X-ray from an X-ray source that irradiates a subject with X-rays and to be opposed to the X-ray source. I. And these X-ray sources and I.I. I. Is supported so that it can be rotated at a preset center of rotation. I. An image storage device that stores an angiographic image of the fluoroscopic image output from the television camera of the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus equipped with the support device as image data, and the image data is read from the image storage device and set in advance. Filter insertion area calculation means for calculating the insertion area of the filter of the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus based on the shape and position of the area above the threshold value, and the filter is inserted into the filter insertion area calculated by the filter insertion area calculation means Alternatively, in the automatic filter control device including the filter control device to be retracted, the I.D. I. This is achieved by an automatic filter control device comprising filter assignment means for obtaining assignment information for assigning the filter to be controlled based on angle information from a support device, and outputting the assignment information to the filter insertion region calculation means. The
[0008]
Also, an X-ray generator that generates X-rays, a filter that attenuates X-rays provided in the X-ray generation direction of the X-ray generator, and an I.D. I. An X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: a detected image display system that detects and displays an image of the X-ray as an optical image, and the filter automatic control device that controls insertion or withdrawal of the filter. Achieved.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of an automatic filter control apparatus employed in the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an automatic filter control device 13 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a configuration example of a filter 4 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing I. of FIG. I. FIG. 8 shows an example of control object filter assignment assigned by the filter assignment means 134 of FIG. 2 based on the angle information of the support device 6. FIG. 8 shows a case where the control object filter is assigned to the right filter by the filter assignment means 134 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a processing region for calculating a filter insertion region, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a filter insertion example according to the present invention.
[0011]
First, the configuration of the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus includes a bed 2 on which a subject 1 is placed, an X-ray generation unit (X-ray tube) 3 that generates X-rays and irradiates the subject 1 with X-rays, and an X-ray tube 3 is arranged in front of the filter 4 for attenuating the X-rays to be irradiated, and the X-ray tube 3 is placed opposite to the X-ray tube 3 with the subject 1 interposed therebetween, and the transmitted X-rays of the subject 1 are converted into a visible light image. . I. 5 and I.V. I. 5 and the X-ray tube 3, and the X-ray tube 3 and the I.V. I. Is supported so that the angle of incident X-rays to the subject 1 can be changed while maintaining the rotation center set in advance. I. The supporting device 6 and the I.I. I. A support device control section 7 for driving and controlling the support device 6 at a desired incident X-ray angle with respect to the subject 1; I. TV camera 8 that converts the output optical image from 5 into an electrical signal, A / D converter 9 that outputs the output signal from TV camera 8 as a digital signal, and digital signal from A / D converter 9 An image processing unit 10 that performs image processing so as to obtain fluoroscopic image data suitable for diagnosis, a D / A conversion unit 11 that converts image data processed by the image processing unit 10 into a video signal for display, and D / An image display unit 12 that displays a video signal from the A conversion unit 11, an automatic filter control device 13 that controls the filter 4 based on the fluoroscopic image data from the A / D conversion unit 9, and the X-ray tube 3 An X-ray controller 14 for controlling tube voltage, tube current, X-ray irradiation time, etc., an operator console 15 for inputting various information such as an X-ray generation condition from an operator, an X-ray compensation filter 4, I.V. I. 5, the central control device 16 that controls the support device control unit 7, the TV camera 8, the filter automatic control device 13, and the X-ray control unit 14 so as to exhibit the above-described functions.
[0012]
The application of the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus in cardiovascular angiography will be described.
FIG. 4 shows I.D. I. The angle of the support device and an example of a fluoroscopic image to be obtained are shown. The hatched portion in the figure indicates a region that is equal to or greater than a threshold value that is preset by the filter automatic control device, that is, a filter insertion region. . Further, RAO 30 ° and LAO 60 ° shown in the angle information column in the figure are defined as shown in FIG. In other words, the X-ray incidence angle (II support device angle) to the subject in the cardiovascular angiography is shown. I. Is tilted 30 degrees to the right of the drawing from the state of being brought right above the subject is called RAO 30 °, and tilted 60 degrees to the left of the drawing is called LAO 60 °.
[0013]
The fluoroscopic image data here is limited to angiographic image data represented by cardiovascular angiography. This limitation is based on a technique that allows the filter insertion region to be substantially specified only by the so-called X-ray incident angle when obtaining an angiographic image with an X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus (as can be seen from FIG. (It is empirically known that if the angle of the support device is determined, the filter insertion region is generated at substantially the same position in the image), the inventor used it.
[0014]
Further, the automatic filter control device 13 is not limited to the fluoroscopic image data output from the A / D conversion unit 9 as described above, and is not limited to the fluoroscopic image data such as the output signal of the TV camera 8 and the image data output of the image processing unit 10. It may be controlled by corresponding control data.
[0015]
Next, the configuration of the automatic filter control device 13 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The filter automatic control device 13 includes a perspective image memory 131 that stores a digital signal from the A / D conversion unit 9 as perspective image data, I.D. I. Filter assignment means 132 that reads the angle information given by the X-ray incident angle of the support device 6 via the central control device 16 and assigns a control target filter; angiographic image data and filter assignment stored in the fluoroscopic image memory 131 An insertion area calculating means 133 for calculating the insertion area of the filter 4 based on the shape and position of an area equal to or greater than a preset threshold value for the operation area of the filter 4 to be controlled assigned by the means 132; The filter control unit 134 inserts or retracts the filter 4 into / from the insertion area calculated by the calculation unit 133.
[0016]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the filter 4 is composed of four blades, U being the upper one, D being the lower, L being the left, and R being the right. U, D, L, and R are the size of the opening formed by the four blades by moving in parallel back and forth or left and right around the display area of the fluoroscopic image indicated by the circle in the drawing. It is adjusted.
[0017]
Next, the operation of the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus of the present invention, particularly the operation of the automatic filter control apparatus will be mainly described.
[0018]
The X-ray tube 3 exposes the subject 1 with X-rays. I. I. 5 receives the X-ray transmitted through the subject 1, converts the X-ray into an optical image, and outputs the optical image to the output surface. The TV camera 8 receives the optical image on the imaging surface, converts it into an analog video signal, and outputs it. The A / D converter 9 converts the analog video signal into digital data and outputs it. The automatic filter control device 13 stores the digital data from the A / D converter 9 in the fluoroscopic image memory 131 as fluoroscopic image data. The filter assigning means 132 is sent from the support device control unit 7 to the I.D. I. The angle information of the supporting device 6 is received, and the control target filter of FIG. I. A control target filter corresponding to the angle information of the support device is assigned. The insertion area calculation means 133 determines the processing area from the perspective image data stored in the perspective image memory 131 and the control target filter information assigned by the filter assignment means 132. For example, as shown in FIG. In the case of the above, the right half area of the image is set as the processing area, the area within the area exceeding the preset threshold (for example, the area where the halation phenomenon occurs) is calculated, and the filter insertion area is calculated from the shape and position. Is calculated. Here, the processing area is the right half of the image. I. Depending on the angle of the support device 6, the processing area may be set in the upper right part (¼ of the image). I. It is set in advance according to the angle of the support device 6. FIG. 9 is an image example in which a filter is inserted according to the present invention with respect to an image in which filter insertion regions exist at various positions depending on individual differences such as patient thickness and body gas. I. I. The filter insertion region generated outside the operation region of the control target filter (right filter in FIG. 9) assigned by the angle information of the support device 6 is not subjected to filter control. It is possible to provide images that do not overlap.
[0019]
The filter control unit 134 inserts or retracts the filter 4 into the filter insertion area calculated by the insertion area calculation unit 133. Further, the image processing unit 10 performs image processing calculation in order to display the digital data obtained by inserting or retracting the filter 4 on the image display unit 12 in order to display an image suitable for diagnosis. Output as processed data. The D / A converter 11 converts the processed data into an analog video signal and outputs it as a front video signal. The image display unit 12 displays the display video signal on a monitor.
[0020]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the I.D. I. By assigning the control target filter based on the angle information from the support device, unnecessary insertion by a filter other than the assigned control target filter can be prevented, and the filter insertion area can be calculated at high speed.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention has the above-described configuration, and these configurations operate. I. A filter automatic control device capable of preventing unnecessary insertion by a filter other than the assigned control target filter and assigning a filter insertion region at high speed by assigning the control target filter based on angle information from the support device There is an effect of providing.
[0022]
In addition, there is an effect that an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus provided with the automatic filter control apparatus is provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an automatic filter control device 13 of FIG.
3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a filter 4 in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating I.D. I. The figure which showed the relationship between the angle of the support apparatus 6, and the example of a fluoroscopic image obtained.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of an incident angle of X-rays in a cardiovascular examination.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an image when filters are inserted into all filter insertion regions in the image.
7 is a diagram illustrating the I.D. of FIG. I. The figure which showed the example of the control object filter which the filter allocation means 134 of FIG. 2 allocated from the angle information of the support apparatus 6. FIG.
8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a target area for filter insertion area calculation processing when a control target filter is assigned to the right filter by the filter assigning unit 134 of FIG. 2;
9 is a diagram showing an example of filter insertion when the present invention is applied to the image shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
13 filter automatic control device 131 fluoroscopic image memory 132 filter assigning means 133 insertion area calculating means 134 filter drive control section

Claims (1)

An X-ray source that irradiates the subject with X-rays, an image intensifier (abbreviated as “I.I.”) that is disposed opposite to the X-ray source and detects X-rays from the X-ray source, and these X-ray source and I.V. I. Is supported so that it can be rotated at a preset center of rotation. I. A support device, a filter for attenuating X-rays provided in the X-ray irradiation direction of the X-ray source, and an I.D. I. Through the subject X An X-ray comprising: a detection image display system that converts and outputs an optical image from a line to an optical image, and displays and displays the converted optical image with a television camera; and a filter automatic control device that controls insertion or withdrawal of the filter A diagnostic imaging apparatus,
The automatic filter control device stores an angiographic image of a fluoroscopic image output from the television camera as image data, and reads out the stored image data and exceeds a preset threshold value. Filter insertion region calculation means for calculating an insertion region of a density compensation filter (abbreviated as “filter”) of the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the shape and position of the region, and inserting the filter into the calculated filter insertion region Or a filter control device for retracting,
The automatic filter control device includes the I.D. I. Assign the filter to be controlled according to the angle information from the support device,
The filter insertion area calculation means sets a processing area of the assigned control target filter, calculates an insertion area of the assigned control target filter within the set processing area,
The filter control device inserts or retracts a filter in the calculated insertion region of the control target filter, and controls a filter that is not assigned to the control target filter by the filter automatic control device. There is no X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus.

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