JP4867605B2 - Specimen inspection clothing - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an examination garment used for X-ray imaging capable of long imaging such as whole spine imaging and all lower limb imaging.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an X-ray imaging apparatus installed in a medical institution such as a hospital, for example, the entire long region from the vicinity of the subject's (patient) neck to the lower limb is imaged, and the entire long region is a single X-ray. There is a case where long X-ray imaging is performed so as to fit in an image. For long shooting, a long film cassette loaded in a state in which a plurality of films are arranged side by side is set on the imaging device to perform wide-angle X-ray imaging, and a normal cassette is used to change the shooting position multiple times. X-ray imaging is performed, and the captured images are joined together.

  Using an image intensifier (hereinafter abbreviated as I · I) that is an X-ray detector that detects transmitted X-rays from the subject instead of film, I · I is moved in conjunction with the X-ray source. There has also been a method of obtaining a single long image by imaging a plurality of parts of a subject and joining a plurality of obtained image data by an image processing technique. Recently, flat panel X-ray detectors (hereinafter abbreviated as FPD) in which a large number of X-ray detection elements are arranged vertically and horizontally on the X-ray detection surface have become widespread, and in addition to being lightweight, complex image distortion has occurred. However, since the images can be easily joined by image processing, they are widely used in long-length photography (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In order to accurately join a plurality of photographed images, the photographing regions of two adjacent images are selected so as to have overlapping regions that overlap each other at the end where they are in contact with each other, so that the images in the overlapping regions are accurately matched. The two images are joined to each other by image processing. However, when the image of the overlapping region does not show clear contrast, it becomes difficult to accurately match the images. In order to solve this, a method is adopted in which a marker having a material that does not transmit X-rays is placed in the overlapping region, and the subject and the marker are imaged simultaneously. By using a clear image of a marker that does not transmit X-rays as an index for alignment at the time of bonding, two images can be accurately bonded (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  An example of a method for capturing a long image using a marker will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an X-ray imaging apparatus for capturing a long image of a subject. FIGS. 3 and 4 show two images captured by the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5 shows a long image obtained by joining the images of FIG. 3 and FIG.

  The subject 2 held on the top plate 6 is irradiated with X-rays from the X-ray tube 3 at the time of imaging, and the X-rays transmitted through the subject 2 are detected by the FPD 4 installed at the bottom of the top plate 6. The detection signal of the FPD 4 is processed by an image data processing device (not shown) and then observed as an image through an image display device (not shown).

  The X-ray tube 3 and the PDF 4 can be moved to arbitrary positions along the longitudinal direction of the top plate 6 by a position control mechanism (not shown). FIG. 2 illustrates a case in which the entire area of the subject 2 to be imaged is covered with two images. In the first image imaging, the X-ray tube 3 and the FPD 4 are set at the position A in the figure. Done. Next, the second image capturing is performed by moving / setting the X-ray tube 3 and the FPD 4 to the position B. The positions A and B are selected so that the areas photographed at the respective positions overlap each other in the overlapping area C portion shown in FIG. 2, and the positions on the top plate 6 included in the overlapping area C are A marker 5 made of a material that does not transmit X-rays (for example, a lead plate) is installed. In this example, one is placed on each of the left and right of the abdomen of the subject 2.

An image taken at position A is shown in FIG. 3, and an image taken at position B is shown in FIG. In each figure, one marker image 7 on each of the left and right sides is recorded at a position corresponding to the overlapping area C in FIG. These two images are joined by an image data processing apparatus and combined into a single long photograph. At the time of joining, the marker images 7 photographed on the two source images are accurately matched to each other. To be processed. A long image as a result of joining two images is as shown in FIG. Since the marker 5 does not transmit X-rays, the marker image 7 in FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a clear contrast. This enables accurate image joining processing.
JP 2004-242928 A JP 2006-141904 A

  In the conventional method described above, the marker is used by being installed on the top plate of the photographing apparatus. In addition, instead of holding the subject on the top board, standing long-length imaging is often performed in which the subject is erect, and in this case, the screen surface that separates the subject and the detector. The method of sticking a marker to is used. However, in any case, a mechanism for holding the marker must be added to the photographing apparatus, which causes a problem in manufacturing cost. In addition, it is often necessary to repeat the attachment / detachment work using the jig for each subject, and there is a great problem that the work efficiency is lowered.

  The present invention relates to a subject inspection garment used to solve the problems of the above-described conventional methods, and a plurality of captured images obtained by sequentially photographing a plurality of parts of a subject are subjected to image processing. A marker for obtaining a continuous long image after joining is attached to an inspection garment worn by a subject. Further, in order to eliminate interference between the image of the subject and the image of the marker, the subject inspection garment has a portion protruding outward from the body side, and the marker is attached to the protruding portion. And Further, in order to accurately join three or more images, a number of markers corresponding to the number of captured images are provided at equal intervals.

  Markers can be installed and long-length photography can be performed without making significant modifications to the existing photography device. In addition, when the marker can be attached and detached and a hook-and-loop fastener is used as an adhesion surface to the inspection garment, the marker can be attached to an arbitrary place of the inspection garment, and a flexible marker installation is possible. Furthermore, by wearing the inspection garment, it is possible to easily distinguish the subject performing the long imaging from the subject performing other imaging.

  For taking a long image that displays a long part of the subject, for example, from the neck to the lower limb, as a single image, the imaging target range is fractionated and photographed, and the resulting multiple images are processed. A joining method is used depending on the technique. An inspection garment for a subject according to the present invention is for providing means for accurately and easily joining a plurality of images. A marker that is photographed together with a subject to form an alignment index for joining, and the marker It is comprised with the inspection clothing main body to which is attached. The marker is made of a lead plate or the like that does not transmit X-rays so as to form an index as clear as possible on the image.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a test garment for a subject according to the present invention. The inspection garment body 1 uses the same specimen inspection garment that has been generally used in all the traits such as shape, material, size, etc. A marker 5 made using an X-ray opaque material such as a lead plate is attached. The shape of the marker 5 is not particularly limited as long as it has a characteristic that can easily serve as an index when overlapping, such as a disk, a disk with a central hole, or a ridge pattern (a cross in a circle). As a method of attaching the marker 5 to the inspection garment main body 1, in this embodiment, a hook-and-loop fastener attached to the back surface of the marker 5 and the body side of the inspection garment main body 1 is used. In this way, the marker 5 can be easily attached to and detached from the inspection clothing body 1. In addition, the attachment position of the marker 5 can be made sufficiently wide, and the position of the marker 5 can be selected in accordance with the photographing purpose.

  When taking a long image of a subject wearing the above-described subject inspection garment, a conventionally used imaging device can be used as it is. That is, if a subject is held in an imaging apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 and the procedure described in the section of the conventional method is applied as it is, a long image of the subject can be easily and accurately captured. It is possible.

3, 4, and 5, the marker image 7 is taken outside the body side without overlapping the subject image. However, depending on the wearing position of the inspection garment main body 1, the marker image 7 may overlap the image of the subject, and there is a possibility that an image of a part necessary for this cannot be observed. FIG. 6 shows a first modification of the present invention for solving this problem. In this modification, the inspection garment main body 1 is provided with a holder 8 attached so as to protrude outward from the body side, and a marker 5 is attached to the holder 8. The material of the holder 8 is not particularly limited as long as it can transmit X-rays. Moreover, the shape can use the thing which stuck the hook_and_loop | surface fastener on the surface, the shape of the pocket which can accommodate the marker 5, etc. as the shape. The holder 8 may be fixedly sewn on the inspection clothing main body 1 or may be attached to the inspection clothing main body 1 so as to be detachable by means such as a hook-and-loop fastener.
In the modification shown in FIG. 6, since the marker 5 is outside the body side of the examination garment, the image of the subject does not overlap the image of the subject in the imaging by the apparatus as shown in FIG. It does not interfere with observation.

  The above-described embodiment is for the case where the necessary imaging region of the subject is included by joining two captured images, and there is only one overlapping region C in FIG. 2, and the marker 5 is also at this position. Need only be attached. However, there are cases in which the required imaging region extends over a longer range and it is necessary to join three or more captured images. At this time, there are two or more overlapping areas C in FIG. 2, and the markers 5 must be attached at the same number of positions as the overlapping areas. A second modification for such a case is shown in FIG. A marker 5 is attached at a position corresponding to the overlapping area on the inspection clothing main body 1. The example of FIG. 7 is for joining four photographed images to obtain one long image.

  As described above, the use of the inspection garment for a subject according to the present invention eliminates the need for attaching / detaching the marker to / from the imaging apparatus, and the operability at the time of taking a long image is greatly improved. In addition, it is not necessary to add parts to the apparatus or use a jig, and an unnecessary increase in cost can be prevented.

  The features of the present invention are as described above, but the scope of the application is not limited to the above-described embodiments. In the embodiment, the subject is lying on the top of the table, but the present invention can also be applied to standing imaging where the subject is upright. In the embodiment, the X-ray tube and the FPD are moved in conjunction with each other. However, the X-ray tube and the FPD can be used in a method of moving the imaging region by swinging the X-ray tube. Further, as described above, various shapes can be adopted for the shape of the marker, but a button used for wearing the inspection garment can be made of lead and used as a marker.

  The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an examination garment used for X-ray imaging capable of long imaging such as whole spine imaging and all lower limb imaging.

It is a conceptual diagram of the test | inspection clothing for subjects by this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the long image imaging device by a conventional method. It is a schematic diagram of the 1st image by a conventional method. It is a schematic diagram of the 2nd image by a conventional method. It is a schematic diagram of a long image by a conventional method. It is a conceptual diagram of the 1st modification of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the 2nd modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Inspection clothing body 2 Subject 3 X-ray tube 4 FPD
5 Marker 6 Top plate 7 Marker image 8 Holder

Claims (2)

In the examination garment for a subject characterized by attaching a marker for obtaining a continuous long image by joining a plurality of photographed images obtained by sequentially photographing a plurality of parts of a subject by image processing,
A test garment for a subject having a portion protruding outward from the body side so as to eliminate interference between the image of the subject and the image of the marker , and wherein the marker is attached to the protruding portion . 2. The examination garment for a subject according to claim 1, wherein a number of markers corresponding to the number of captured images are provided at equal intervals in the vertical direction .

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