JP4996795B2 - X-ray computed tomography system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention prevents misunderstanding of a subject who collects medical images or receives medical treatment when collecting medical images or performing medical treatment using medical devices such as medical image diagnostic devices or radiotherapy devices. The present invention relates to a subject confirmation apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For disease diagnosis, follow-up observation, treatment, etc., for example, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an X-ray CT apparatus), a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an MRI apparatus). .), Large-scale medical devices such as nuclear medicine devices, radiation therapy devices, shock wave therapy devices, and thermal therapy devices are frequently used to advance medical treatment. Among these, the X-ray diagnostic apparatus, the X-ray CT apparatus, the MRI apparatus, and the nuclear medicine apparatus are mainly for collecting medical images for diagnosis, and the radiation therapy apparatus, shock wave therapy apparatus, and thermal therapy apparatus are It is used to treat a lesion of a patient.
In addition, hospitals and other sites where these medical devices are installed and operated have been systematized and labor-saving has progressed, and the work of medical staff has also been shared. In addition, each of these medical devices is generally installed in a dedicated examination room or treatment room for each device, and the subject enters the examination room or the treatment room by himself or is called a stretcher. The medical image is collected and treated by being brought into the examination room or treatment room by a medical staff such as a nurse while being placed on the bed.
[0003]
In addition, when collecting or treating medical images, the patient information (subject ID, name, gender, date of birth, etc.) and conditions related to imaging / treatment are entered into the medical device in advance. I can keep it. Under such circumstances, the medical staff confirms the name of the subject, collects medical images designated by the doctor for the subject, and performs treatment. However, the work of the medical staff was extremely busy, and it could not be said that there was no risk of collecting medical images and performing medical treatment by mistaking the subject due to simple misunderstandings, misunderstandings, or contact mistakes. .
As one countermeasure for such a problem, for example, a personal authentication system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-31194.
In this personal authentication system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-31194, a non-contact data carrier in which personal data is written is directly attached to a part of the person's body, and the non-contact data carrier is written into the non-contact data carrier. The personal authentication is performed by reading the received personal data with a portable reading device, and it has been proposed to be particularly suitable for avoiding misidentification of hospitalized patients.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Although the personal authentication system disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-31194 can confirm whether or not the patient is a person, a diagnostic device that collects medical images and a treatment device that performs treatment, This apparatus is not associated with a patient who is trying to collect medical images or receive treatment, and is not satisfactory in terms of preventing patient confusion.
In addition, the introduction of the above system will cause a large amount of capital investment and work on the hospital side, and a new problem of increasing running costs. Furthermore, in order to expand the application range of the above system to outpatients, it is necessary to secure a staff for that purpose, and the amount of work is also generated, resulting in a problem that a great burden is imposed.
The present invention has been made for the purpose of eliminating such problems and reliably preventing a patient from being mistaken.
[0005]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an X-ray tube that irradiates a subject with X-rays, an X-ray detector that detects the X-rays transmitted through the subject, A data collection unit that collects data from the X-ray detector, a setting unit for setting at least the subject information among the subject information and imaging conditions regarding the subject, and setting in the setting unit An extraction means for extracting at least a subject name from the subject information, a gantry in which the X-ray tube, the X-ray detector, and the data collection unit are installed, and the subject are mounted. A bed, a display device that is provided in an inclined portion around the opening of the gantry and displays the subject name extracted by the extraction means, and the display content of the display device, along with the start of the examination, From the display of the subject name, the progress of the examination or instructions to the subject An X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprising: display content changing means for changing to display .
As a result, the name of the subject can be confirmed by the subject himself / herself who is going to be examined or treated, or by an attendant who has been accompanied by the subject, and an accident such as a mistake of the subject can be confirmed. It can be surely prevented.
In addition, since the display of the name of the subject on the display device is routinely displayed based on the subject information set in the imaging device or the treatment device, it does not bother the staff of the medical staff. No mistakes will occur.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, various embodiments of a subject confirmation apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a very rough configuration of an embodiment of a subject confirmation apparatus according to the present invention. This figure shows a perspective view of a pedestal 2 of a known X-ray CT apparatus installed in an examination room 1 such as a hospital and a bed 3 on which a subject is placed. A console 5 for controlling the gantry 2 is shown in the operation room 4 adjacent to the examination room 1. A display device 6 is provided on the surface of the gantry 2 of the X-ray CT apparatus. The broken lines in the figure indicate signal lines connecting the console 5 to the gantry 2, the bed 3, and the display device 6.
The display device 6 is provided to display the name of a subject who is going to be examined by the X-ray CT apparatus. The display device 6 preferably uses a color liquid crystal display device or a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode, but various other known display devices can be employed. However, when using light-emitting elements such as liquid crystal display devices and light-emitting diodes, the name of the subject can be easily displayed in any format such as kanji, katakana, romaji, and for example, different colors for men and women. It is also possible to make the recognition of the subject described later very easy.
[0007]
Since the configuration of such an X-ray CT apparatus is schematically shown in FIG. 2 in a little more detail, the subject confirmation of the present invention applied to the X-ray CT apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. The apparatus will be further described.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the base 2 of the X-ray CT apparatus has an opening 21 (see FIG. 1) for inserting the subject P laid on the top plate 31 on the bed 3. The surface of the gantry 2 is covered with a cover 22. Therefore, although it cannot normally be seen from the outside, the X-ray tube 23 and the X-ray detector 24 are arranged facing each other inside the gantry 2 with the subject P inserted into the opening 21 in between. A high voltage generating unit 25 for applying a tube voltage and a tube current to the X-ray tube 23, a data collecting unit 26 for collecting X-ray transmission data of the subject P detected by the X-ray detector 24, an X-ray tube A rotation drive unit 27 and the like for rotating the X-ray detector 23 and the X-ray detector 24 around the subject P are provided.
The couch 3 has a couch driving unit 32, and the couch driving unit 32 moves the top plate 31 in the longitudinal direction to send the subject P to a predetermined imaging position in the opening 21. ing.
The console 5 includes an image reconstruction unit 51 for reconstructing an image based on the X-ray transmission data of the subject collected by the data collection unit 26, a data collection unit 26 and an image reconstruction unit 51, and a high voltage A system control unit 52 having a computer or a memory that performs a central function of organically controlling each component unit constituting the X-ray CT apparatus, such as the generation unit 25, the rotation drive unit 27, and the bed drive unit 32, is provided. It has been. Further, an operation unit 53 for an operator to input various setting values and instructions to the system control unit 52, and a monitor for displaying an input screen by the operation unit 53 and displaying a reconstructed image. 54 is also provided.
[0008]
Next, a case where the operation of the subject confirmation apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the X-ray CT apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for collecting a medical image (that is, tomography) of the subject P by the X-ray CT apparatus. First, prior to imaging, the operator uses the operation unit 53 while viewing the input screen displayed on the monitor 54 on the subject information such as the subject ID, name, gender, date of birth, etc. of the subject P in advance. The data is input and stored in the memory of the system control unit 52 (step 1). If multiple subjects are scheduled to be photographed on the day, information on all scheduled subjects may be entered in advance. In this case, the previous subject's photographing is completed. When the operation is performed, the subject information of the next subject is displayed on the monitor 54.
When the previous subject's imaging is completed and the subject information of the next subject is displayed on the monitor 54, or when the subject information of a new subject is input and the content is confirmed, the step 2, the operator performs a subject information input confirmation operation by the operation unit 53 and continues to input an examination plan and the like. In response to the subject information input confirmation operation, the name of the subject P is extracted from the patient information previously input from the operation unit 53 and stored in the memory of the system control unit 52. The name of the examiner P is displayed on the display device 6 provided on the surface of the gantry 2 of the X-ray CT apparatus (step 3). Further, a medical staff such as an operator calls a new subject P waiting in the waiting room into the examination room 1 and the called subject P enters the examination room 1 (step 4).
[0009]
Thus, when the subject P enters the examination room 1, first, the subject P sees his / her name displayed on the display device 6 provided on the surface of the gantry 2 of the X-ray CT apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to confirm the person's name displayed on the display device 6 by himself and recognize that the person undergoing the inspection is himself. That is, a match between the subject who is going to be examined by the operator and the subject himself / herself is confirmed. Then, the subject P changes into an inspection garment at a changing corner 11 provided in a corner of the examination room 1 with a curtain or the like (step 5). (Step 6).
Next, the medical staff gives the subject P explanation regarding imaging, etc., and lays the patient at a predetermined position on the bed 3 (that is, on the top board 31) (step 7). Now that the preparation for photographing has been completed, the medical staff moves to the operation room 4 and performs photographing according to a predetermined photographing routine (step 8). After predetermined imaging (collection of medical images) is completed, the reconstructed image is confirmed, and if there is a problem, the imaging is continued, and if there is no problem, the operator performs an operation for ending the imaging (step 9). As a result, the predetermined imaging routine is cleared, and at the same time, the name of the subject P displayed on the display device 6 disappears (step 10). Then, the medical staff informs the subject P of the end of imaging, and the subject P changes from the examination garment to the plain clothes and leaves the examination room 1 (step 11).
After that, the medical images collected by the X-ray CT system are read on an X-ray film or displayed on a monitor for interpretation, and are interpreted by a specialist doctor to produce a report describing the findings. (Step 12). At this time, the medical image displayed on the X-ray film and the medical image displayed on the monitor are subject to the subject such as the name of the subject P and the subject ID based on a series of control routines by the system control unit 52. The examiner information is also displayed. The same subject information is also displayed on the generated report.
[0010]
Thus, since the subject information input to the system control unit 52 is extracted and the name of the subject is displayed on the display device 6 as an imaging routine in the X-ray CT apparatus, the subject name is displayed. When P can enter the examination room 1 by himself / herself, the examinee P himself / herself confirms the name displayed on the display device 6 so that the examinee does not mix up. If the name displayed on the display device 6 is not his / her own name, an error is promptly corrected by making a request to the medical staff. In addition, when the subject is placed on a stretcher and carried to the examination room 1, the accompanying medical staff or attendant confirms the name displayed on the display device 6, It is possible to prevent the subject from being mistaken.
In addition, the name of the subject P, the subject ID, etc., which are input as an imaging routine, are also included in the medical image displayed on the X-ray film, the medical image displayed on the monitor, and the report indicating the interpretation result. Since the subject information is displayed, the subject P and the interpretation result can be matched even after the examination.
[0011]
As described above, the case where the name of the subject P is displayed on the display device 6 provided on the surface of the gantry 2 of the X-ray CT apparatus has been described as one embodiment of the subject confirmation apparatus of the present invention. Since the present invention can be implemented in various other forms, various other embodiments will be described below.
FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the X-ray CT apparatus viewed from the side of the gantry 2. A gentle slope is usually provided around the opening 21 of the gantry 2. Accordingly, the display device 6 is provided in the opening 21 or in the inclined portion so that the subject P lying in the top plate 31 is inserted into the field of view of the subject P when the subject P is inserted. Although FIG. 4 shows the display device 6 provided on the inclined portions of both surfaces, it may be provided on one surface.
In this embodiment, various kinds of information as shown in FIG. 5 can be displayed on the display device 6. That is, until the examination is started, the name of the subject is displayed on the display device 6 as shown in FIG. After the test is started, a display that shows the progress of the test and the time until completion is displayed with characters and symbols, and instructions to the subject such as breath holding are displayed. It may be. FIG. 5B shows the time until the end of the inspection in characters, and FIG. 5C shows, for example, that a star mark is lit in time. Further, (d) and (e) show a state in which a breath holding instruction is displayed in characters. In this way, not only the confirmation of the subject but also the anxiety of the subject under examination can be removed.
In addition, the display device 6 may be provided at a site such as the bed 3 that is easily visible to the subject.
[0012]
Further, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which a display device 6 a similar to the display device 6 is provided on the wall surface of the examination room 1, and the display apparatus 6 a faces the entrance 12 of the examination room 1. It is installed on the inner wall. On the display device 6a, the name of the subject for which the input confirmation operation has been performed by the operator is displayed. Therefore, when the subject P opens the door 13 of the entrance 12 and enters the examination room 1, first, the display device 6a enters the eyes, confirms his / her name displayed there, and undergoes examination. Can recognize that he is himself. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those in FIG. Also in this case, the display device 6a may be provided in a place where the subject in the examination room 1 can easily see. The display device 6a may be installed not on the wall surface in the examination room 1 but on the wall surface outside the examination room 1 (near the entrance / exit), and may be installed on a dedicated installation table.
In addition, the present invention is not limited to medical devices installed in hospital facilities and the like, but is also applied to mobile medical examination vehicles that are equipped with medical devices in self-propelled vehicles that are active in, for example, patrol examinations in depopulated areas. be able to. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to the X-ray CT apparatus but also to various medical apparatuses. For example, as a diagnostic device, the display device 6 may be installed on the surface of an X-ray diagnostic device, an MRI device, and a nuclear medicine device, a bed on which a subject is placed, or the like. In addition, the display device 6a may be installed on a wall or the like facing the entrance / exit in an examination room in which the X-ray diagnostic apparatus, MRI apparatus, and nuclear medicine apparatus are installed. Needless to say, the names of the subjects are displayed on the display devices 6 and 6a based on the subject information set in the X-ray diagnostic device, the MRI device, the nuclear medicine device, or the like.
[0013]
Furthermore, as a therapeutic device, a radiation treatment device such as a linear accelerator, a microtron, or a betatron, a radiation treatment device using cobalt 60, a shock wave treatment device such as an external shock wave lithotripsy device, heating by microwaves or ultrasonic waves The display device 6 may be installed on the surface of the thermotherapy device to be performed or a bed on which the subject is placed. Further, the display device 6a may be installed in a treatment room in which each of these treatment devices is installed, and on a wall surface facing the entrance. Needless to say, the names of the subjects are displayed on the display devices 6 and 6a based on the subject information set in the radiation therapy device, the shock wave therapy device, the thermal therapy device, or the like.
The various diagnostic devices and treatment devices described above are disclosed in, for example, the “Medical Imaging / Radiological Device Handbook” (issued on March 25, 1995), which is edited by the Japan Radiological Equipment Manufacturers Association. It has been detailed.
In addition, when a changing room where a subject changes clothes is provided adjacent to the examination room or the treatment room, the display device 6a may be installed in the changing room, or the examination room or the treatment room. When there is a changing corner for the subject in the room, a display device 6a may be provided in the changing corner.
[0014]
Furthermore, the display device 6a may be provided in a waiting room where a subject undergoing examination or treatment is waiting. In this case, if the subject enters the laboratory, there is no need to display it, so instead of waiting for the end of the examination, take another means of confirming the patient's entry and extinguishing the display. Is good. In addition, a voice generator for converting the subject information into voice is provided, and a message such as “Please enter Mr. XX!” Is voiced in accordance with the display of the name of the subject on the display device 6a. You may make it flow.
In addition, not only providing the display device 6 or the display device 6a alone, but providing them at a plurality of locations so as to display the name of the same subject on each display device 6 or display device 6a, More effective.
[0015]
【Effect of the invention】
As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the name of a subject who is about to undergo imaging or treatment is displayed near the medical device for imaging or treatment. Therefore, the name of the subject can be confirmed by the subject himself / herself or by the attendant who has accompanied the subject, and accidents such as a mistake in the subject can be reliably prevented. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display of the name of the subject is routinely displayed based on the subject information set in the imaging device or the treatment device. It doesn't bother you and it makes no mistakes.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a very rough configuration of an embodiment of a subject confirmation apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing an outline of an X-ray CT apparatus as an example of a medical apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention in accordance with the operation procedure of the X-ray CT apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a very schematic cross-sectional view of a gantry of an X-ray CT apparatus shown for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining display contents on a display device;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a very rough configuration of still another embodiment of a subject confirmation apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Examination room 2 X-ray CT apparatus stand 3 Sleeper 4 Operation room 5 Console 6 Display device 11 Changing corner 21 Opening 22 Cover 31 Top plate 53 Operation part 54 Monitor

Claims (2)

An X-ray tube that irradiates the subject with X-rays;
An X-ray detector for detecting the X-ray transmitted through the subject;
A data collection unit for collecting data from the X-ray detector;
Of the subject information related to the subject, the setting means for presetting at least the subject information among the imaging conditions;
Extraction means for extracting at least a subject name from the subject information set in the setting means;
The X-ray tube, the X-ray detector, and a stand on which the data collection unit is installed,
A bed on which the subject is placed;
A display device provided on an inclined portion around the opening of the gantry and displaying the subject name extracted by the extraction means;
Display content change means for changing the display content of the display device from the display of the subject name to the display of the progress of the test or instructions to the subject, along with the start of the test,
An X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprising: Recognition means for recognizing the subject name;
The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a voice conversion unit that converts the subject name recognized by the recognition unit into a voice.

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