JP5154291B2 - Shooting system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging system for imaging an ossicle of a subject and / or a tissue around the ossicle.

Chimpanometry is widely used as a method for diagnosing middle ear conduction disorders. This method is a method of diagnosing middle ear disease by applying a test sound to the eardrum and measuring acoustic impedance from the sound reflected from the eardrum. By using this method, it is possible to diagnose the presence or absence of ossicular detachment and the presence or absence of ossicular fixation (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-9-308621

  With the method of Patent Document 1, it is possible to know the presence or absence of ossicle separation and the presence or absence of ossicular fixation, but more detailed information such as the detachment position of ossicle separation and the fixation position of ossicle fixation is known. Cannot be obtained, and the diagnostic results obtained are limited.

  An object of this invention is to provide the imaging | photography system which can obtain the more detailed information regarding an ossicle in view of said situation.

The photographing system of the present invention that solves the above problems
An imaging device for imaging the ossicle of the subject and / or the surrounding tissue of the ossicle;
Pressure supply means for supplying pressure to the ear canal of the subject;
The imaging device and the pressure supply means are controlled so that an imaging mode for imaging the ossicle and / or tissue around the ossicle is executed a plurality of times while the internal pressure of the ear canal is maintained at a constant value. Control means,
A photographing system comprising:
The fixed value is changed for each shooting mode.

When the ossicle is normal, when pressure is supplied to the external auditory canal, the ossicle and the surrounding tissue of the ossicle are displaced according to the magnitude of the supplied pressure.
However, when the ossicle separation is occurring, when pressure is supplied to the external auditory canal, there are otic bones that are displaced and otic bones that are not displaced depending on the separation position. For example, when the tibia bone and the kinuta bone are separated from each other, the tibia bone and the surrounding tissue are displaced according to the pressure value of the ear canal, but the quinuta bone, the abumi bone and the surrounding tissue are not displaced.
In addition, when the ossicle is fixed, even if pressure is supplied to the external auditory canal, the ossicle and the surrounding tissue are not displaced around the position where the ossicle is fixed.
As described above, when ossicle separation or ossicle fixation occurs, even if pressure is supplied to the external auditory canal, a portion that does not displace in the ossicle and / or tissue around the ossicle is generated. The present invention focuses on this point and changes the internal pressure of the ear canal of the subject for each imaging mode. When ossicular separation or ossicular fixation occurs, even if the value of the internal pressure of the external auditory canal is changed, a site where displacement does not occur in the ossicle and / or the surrounding tissue of the ossicle appears. Therefore, it is possible to know the position where the ossicle is disconnected, the position where the ossicle is fixed, and more detailed information about the ossicle.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the best mode for carrying out the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system 100 which is an embodiment of an imaging system of the present invention.

  The MRI system 100 includes an MRI apparatus 11, a pump 15, a control device 21, and an operation unit 22 that operates the control device 21.

  The MRI apparatus 11 includes a transmission coil 12 that transmits an RF pulse, a gradient coil 13 that applies a gradient pulse, and a reception coil 14.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the receiving coil 14.

  In the present embodiment, it is considered to obtain MR images useful for diagnosis of ossicle separation or ossicle fixation of the subject SU. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the entire ear EA is imaged so that such an MR image can be obtained. In order to photograph the ear EA, the receiving coil 14 has a structure that sandwiches the ear EA from above and below. By using the receiving coil 14 having such a structure, an MR signal from the ear EA can be received. Since the ear EA is imaged as a whole, the receiving coil 14 can receive MR signals of the ossicle AO and the tissues around the ossicle AO (muscle MU, cochlea CO, semicircular canal SD, etc.).

Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued.
The MRI system 100 includes a pump 15 that supplies pressure to the ear canal AC (see FIG. 2) of the subject SU.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the pump 15.

  The pump 15 includes a pump main body 151, a tube 152, and an earplug 153.

  The pump main body 151 includes a pressure pump 151a that generates pressure supplied to the ear canal AC of the subject SU. The pressure generated by the pressure pump 151 a is supplied to the tube 152. An earplug 153 is attached to the tip of the tube 152. The earplug 153 is detachably attached to the ear canal AC.

  The pump main body 151 includes a pressure sensor 151 b that detects the pressure in the tube 152. The pressure sensor 151b outputs the detected pressure signal Sp to the pump control unit 21b described later. The role of the pressure sensor 151b will be described later.

  The MRI apparatus 11 and the pump 15 configured as described above are controlled by a control device 21 (see FIG. 1).

The control device 21 controls the MRI apparatus 11 and the pump 15 so that the following three imaging modes M1, M2, and M3 are executed.
(M1) A first imaging mode for imaging the ear EA of the subject SU with the internal pressure of the ear canal AC of the subject SU set to atmospheric pressure.
(M2) a second imaging mode for imaging the ear EA of the subject SU in a state where the internal pressure of the ear canal AC of the subject SU is larger than the atmospheric pressure;
(M3) A third imaging mode for imaging the ear EA of the subject SU in a state where the internal pressure of the ear canal AC of the subject SU is smaller than the atmospheric pressure.

  In order to execute the photographing modes (M1) to (M3), the control device 21 includes a coil control unit 21a and a pump control unit 21b.

  The coil control unit 21a controls the transmission coil 12 and the gradient coil 13 so that the ear EA of the subject SU is imaged. The pump control unit 21b controls the magnitude of the pressure generated by the pressure pump 151a.

  The control device 21 executes the photographing modes (M1) to (M3) using the coil control unit 21a and the pump control unit 21b.

  Hereinafter, how these photographing modes (M1) to (M3) are executed will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a flow performed by the operator OP before the MRI system 100 executes the imaging modes (M1) to (M3).

  The operator OP of the MRI system 100 confirms whether or not the pump 15 is driven before starting imaging (step S11). When the pump 15 is operating, the operator OP stops the pump 15 (step S12). After stopping the pump 15, the operator OP attaches the earplug 153 to the ear canal AC of the subject SU (step S13).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the earplug 153 is attached to the ear canal of the subject SU.

  The earplug 153 has a structure that can be deformed according to the shape of the inner wall Wac of the ear canal AC so as to be in close contact with the inner wall Wac of the ear canal AC. When such an earplug 153 is attached to the ear canal AC, the inside of the ear canal AC is separated from the outside. By mounting the ear plug 153 on the subject SU with the pump 15 stopped, the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is prevented from changing suddenly from atmospheric pressure to another pressure when the ear plug 153 is mounted. The OP can wear the earplug 153 without causing the subject SU to feel uncomfortable.

  If the pump 15 is not operating in step S11, step S12 is skipped and the process proceeds directly to step S13.

  After the earplug 153 is attached to the subject SU, the imaging flow is executed as follows.

  FIG. 6 is an example of an imaging flow of the MRI system 100.

  In step S21, the pressure in the ear canal AC is detected. The pressure is detected by the pressure sensor 151b (see FIG. 5). The pressure sensor 151 b detects the pressure in the tube 152. The inside of the tube 152 is spatially connected to the ear canal AC. Therefore, when the pressure sensor 151b detects the pressure in the tube 152, the pressure in the ear canal AC is detected.

  When detecting the pressure, the pressure sensor 151b generates a pressure signal Sp and transmits the pressure signal Sp to the pump control unit 21b.

  In step S22, the pump control unit 21b analyzes the pressure signal Sp and determines whether or not the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is atmospheric pressure. When the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is not atmospheric pressure, the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, the pump control unit 21b controls the pressure pump 151a so that the internal pressure of the ear canal AC becomes atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the internal pressure of the ear canal AC becomes atmospheric pressure. The position of the eardrum TM when the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is atmospheric pressure is set as a reference position Pos1 (see FIG. 5). As described above, the earplug 153 has a structure that can be deformed according to the shape of the inner wall Wac of the ear canal AC so as to be in close contact with the inner wall Wac of the ear canal AC. Therefore, the earplug 153 is in close contact with the inner wall Wac of the ear canal AC. Since the pressure pump 151a is controlled in a state where the ear plug 153 is in close contact with the inner wall Wac of the ear canal AC, the pressure supplied from the pump body 151 to the inside of the ear canal AC does not leak to the outside. Therefore, the internal pressure of the ear canal AC can be adjusted with high accuracy.

  After adjusting the internal pressure of the ear canal AC, the process proceeds to step S24. If it is determined in step S22 that the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is atmospheric pressure, step S23 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S24, the coil control unit 21a controls the transmission coil 12 and the gradient coil 13 so that a pulse sequence for imaging the ear EA of the subject SU is executed. Since the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is atmospheric pressure, the ear EA is imaged when the eardrum TM is present at the reference position Pos1 (first imaging mode M1). After the first shooting mode M1 ends, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, the pump control unit 21b controls the pressure pump 151a so that the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is greater than the atmospheric pressure. In the present embodiment, the pressure pump 151a is controlled so that the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is 400 daPa (depascal). Therefore, the pressure applied to the eardrum TM increases from atmospheric pressure to 400 daPa. As a result, the position of the eardrum TM is displaced to a position Pos2 that is deeper than the reference position Pos1.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the eardrum TM is displaced to a position Pos2 that is deeper than the reference position Pos1.

  In FIG. 7, the ossicle AO when the eardrum TM is located at the reference position Pos1 is indicated by a broken line, and the ossicle AO when the eardrum TM is located at the position Pos2 is indicated by a solid line. Yes.

  It can be seen that the ossicular AO is displaced to the right by increasing the pressure of the external auditory canal AC from atmospheric pressure to 400 daPa.

  After the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is increased to 400 daPa, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S26, the coil control unit 21a controls the transmission coil 12 and the gradient coil 13 so that a pulse sequence for imaging the ear EA of the subject SU is executed. Since the internal pressure of the external auditory canal AC is 400 daPa, the ear EA when the eardrum TM exists at the position Pos2 deeper than the reference position Pos1 is imaged (second imaging mode M2). After the second shooting mode M2 ends, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S27, it is determined whether or not shooting is finished. At the present time, the first and second shooting modes M1 and M2 are executed, but the third shooting mode M3 has not been executed yet. Therefore, in step S27, it is determined that shooting is not finished. Therefore, the process returns from step S27 to step S25.

  In step S25, the pump control unit 21b controls the pressure pump 151a so that the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is smaller than the atmospheric pressure. In the present embodiment, the pressure pump 151a is controlled so that the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is −400 daPa. Therefore, the pressure applied to the eardrum TM decreases from 400 daPa to -400 daPa. As a result, the position of the eardrum TM is displaced from the position Pos2 (see FIG. 7) to a position Pos3 before the reference position Pos1 (see FIG. 8).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the eardrum TM is displaced from the position Pos2 to the position Pos3.

  In FIG. 8, the ossicle AO when the eardrum TM is located at the position Pos2 is indicated by a broken line, and the ossicle AO when the eardrum TM is located at the position Pos3 is indicated by a solid line. .

  By reducing the pressure of the external auditory canal AC from 400 daPa to −400 daPa, it can be seen that the ossicle AO is displaced from the position Pos2 to the position Pos3 beyond the reference position Pos1.

  After the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is reduced to −400 daPa, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S26, the coil control unit 21a controls the transmission coil 12 and the gradient coil 13 so that a pulse sequence for imaging the ear EA of the subject SU is executed. Since the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is −400 daPa, the ear EA is imaged when the eardrum TM is present at the position Pos3 (third imaging mode M3). After the third shooting mode M3 ends, the process proceeds to step S27.

  Since all of the first to third shooting modes M1 to M3 have been executed, it is determined that shooting has ended, and the flow ends.

  In the present embodiment, the internal pressure of the external auditory canal AC is changed in three stages of atmospheric pressure, 400 daPa, and −400 daPa, and the ear EA at each internal pressure is photographed. Therefore, the ear EA when the position of the eardrum TM exists at Pos1, Pos2, and Pos3 is photographed. When the position of the tympanic membrane TM changes, the ossicle AO is displaced. When the ossicle AO is displaced, the position and shape of the surrounding tissues (muscle MU, cochlea CO, semicircular canal SD, etc.) of the ossicle AO change accordingly. Therefore, it is possible to diagnose the ossicle AO. In the following, a case where ossicular transection has occurred will be considered as an example of possible diagnosis of ossicle AO.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the position and shape of the ossicle AO when the ossicle separation has occurred.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which the ossicular transection DI occurs between the heel bone AOm and the quinuta bone AOi. When the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is atmospheric pressure, the eardrum TM is located at the reference position Pos1. At this time, the heel bone AOm is indicated by a solid line. When the internal pressure of the external auditory canal AC increases from atmospheric pressure to 400 daPa, the tympanic membrane TM is displaced from the reference position Pos1 to the position Pos2, and the heel bone AOm is displaced to the right (the horn bone AOm at this time is indicated by a broken line). However, when the ossicle separation DI occurs, the chin bone AOm is displaced, but the quinuta bone AOi and the stapes bone AOs are not displaced. Further, when the internal pressure of the external auditory canal AC becomes −400 daPa, the eardrum TM is displaced to the position Pos3, and the tuchi bone AOm is displaced to the left side (the tuft bone AOm when the eardrum TM is located at the position Pos3 is not shown). However, since the ossicle separation DI has occurred, the chin bone AOm is displaced to the left side, but the chinuta bone AOi and the stapes bone AOs are not displaced.

  As described above, since there are displaceable bones and non-displaceable bones, whether or not the ossicle dissection DI has occurred by observing the ossicle AO or the surrounding tissues (muscles, etc.) of the ossicle AO from the MR image. And where the disconnection DI occurs.

  In this embodiment, the entire ear EA is imaged. However, if the ear ossicle AO can be diagnosed, it is not always necessary to image the entire ear EA.

  In the present embodiment, the internal pressure of the ear canal AC is changed in the order of atmospheric pressure, 400 daPa, and −400 daPa. However, the internal pressure of the ear canal AC may be changed in another order (for example, the order of 400 daPa, −400 daPa, and atmospheric pressure).

  In the present embodiment, imaging is performed by changing the internal pressure of the ear canal AC into three stages (atmospheric pressure, 400 daPa, and −400 daPa). However, the internal pressure of the external auditory canal AC can be adjusted to another pressure other than atmospheric pressure, 400 daPa, and −400 daPa, and photographing can be performed. Further, the internal pressure of the ear canal AC does not necessarily have to be changed in three stages, and may be more or less than three stages.

  In the present embodiment, the MRI system 100 includes a pump 15 for supplying pressure to the ear canal AC of the subject SU. However, pressure may be supplied to the ear canal AC of the subject SU using a device other than the pump 15.

  In the present embodiment, the operator OP executes the flow shown in FIG. 4 before the MRI system 100 executes the imaging modes (M1) to (M3). However, the operator OP does not have to execute the flow shown in FIG. 4, and may execute another flow different from the flow in FIG. In the present embodiment, the MRI system 100 executes the imaging flow shown in FIG. 6, but may execute another flow different from the imaging flow shown in FIG.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the otic ossicle AO is diagnosed using the MRI system 100, but the MRI system 100 is not necessarily used. Instead of the MRI system 100, another imaging system (for example, a CT (Computed Tomography) system) can be used. Since the CT system can capture bones with higher quality than the MRI system 100, a CT image useful for diagnosing the ossicular AO can be obtained by using the CT system.

1 is a perspective view of an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system 100 that is an embodiment of an imaging system of the present invention. 2 is a schematic diagram of a receiving coil 14. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a pump 15. It is an example of the flow performed by the operator OP before the MRI system 100 executes the imaging modes (M1) to (M3). It is a figure which shows a mode that the earplug 153 was mounted | worn with the external auditory canal of the subject SU. 2 is an example of an imaging flow of the MRI system 100. It is a figure which shows a mode that the eardrum TM was displaced to position Pos2 in the back rather than the reference position Pos1. It is a figure which shows a mode that the eardrum TM was displaced from position Pos2 to position Pos3. It is the figure which showed schematically the position and shape of the ossicle AO when the ossicle separation occurs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 MRI apparatus 12 Transmission coil 13 Gradient coil 14 Reception coil 15 Pump 21 Control apparatus 21a Coil control part 21b Pump control part 22 Operation part 100 MRI system 151 Pump main body 151a Pressure pump 151b Pressure sensor 152 Tube 153 Ear plug

Claims (7)

An imaging device for imaging the ossicle of the subject and / or the surrounding tissue of the ossicle;
Pressure supply means for supplying pressure to the ear canal of the subject;
The imaging device and the pressure supply means are controlled so that an imaging mode for imaging the ossicle and / or tissue around the ossicle is executed a plurality of times while the internal pressure of the ear canal is maintained at a constant value. Control means;
A photographing system comprising:
The imaging system, wherein the constant value is changed for each imaging mode. The pressure supply means includes
A pressure generator that generates pressure supplied to the ear canal of the subject;
A tube that supplies the pressure generated by the pressure generator to the ear canal,
An earplug attached to the distal end of the tube and attached to the ear canal;
The imaging system according to claim 1, comprising:   The imaging system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit includes a pressure generation control unit that controls the magnitude of the pressure generated by the pressure generation unit. The pressure supply means includes a pressure sensor that detects a pressure in the tube and outputs a pressure signal.
The imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the pressure generation control unit controls the pressure generation unit based on the pressure signal. The control means includes
A first imaging mode for imaging the ossicles and / or tissues around the ossicles in a state where the internal pressure of the ear canal of the subject is atmospheric pressure;
A second imaging mode for imaging the ossicles and / or tissues around the ossicles in a state where an internal pressure of the ear canal of the subject is greater than the atmospheric pressure;
A third imaging mode for collecting the ossicles and / or tissues around the ossicles in a state where an internal pressure of the ear canal of the subject is smaller than the atmospheric pressure;
The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the imaging apparatus and the pressure supply unit are controlled so as to be executed. The imaging apparatus is an MRI apparatus,
The said control means controls the said MRI apparatus so that the said ear ossicle and / or the surrounding tissue of the said ear ossicle may be image | photographed for every said imaging | photography mode. The shooting system described. The imaging apparatus is a CT apparatus,
The said control means controls the said CT apparatus so that the said surrounding tissue of the said ossicle and / or the said ossicle can be image | photographed for every said imaging | photography mode. The shooting system described.

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