JPH02299640A - X-ray diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an output image easy to observe, to enhance diagnostic efficiency and to prevent the oversight of a lesion part, in displaying image data due to a radiation field iris by reading detected radiation field region data and applying image processing increasing the degree of darkness of a non-radiation region thereto to display the same. CONSTITUTION:A detection means for detecting a radiation field region at least limited to a predetermined range in a radiation field iris 2, a digital radiography apparatus 11 storing the radiation field region data D from the detection means 10 along with the image data D1 inputted from a film 5 and a digital image display apparatus 12 reading the radiation field region data D2 when the image data D1 read from said apparatus 11 is displayed and applying the region shielded by the radiation field iris so as to make said region black are provided. By the above mentioned constitution, an output image is made easy to observe relatively and a reading and imaging speed is increased and, therefore, diagnostic efficiency can be enhanced and the oversight of a lesion part can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is directed to the use of X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and transmitted through a subject through an irradiation field diaphragm to an imaging member in an imaging device. The present invention relates to an X-ray diagnostic device that captures images as image data.

(Prior Art) An X-ray imaging device in an X-ray diagnostic apparatus photographs X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and transmitted through a subject onto an imaging plate as, for example, image data. This X-ray imaging device uses an irradiation field aperture to control the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube to minimize the X-ray exposure dose to the patient, and also reduces the amount of scattered X-rays. The image quality of the photographed image of the imaging plate is improved by reducing the amount of light.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of this type of X-ray imaging apparatus. In the same figure, an X-ray tube 1 transmits X-rays to a patient's foot 3.
It is something that is exposed to. The irradiation field aperture 2 limits the irradiation field of the X-rays from the X-ray tube 1 to the subject 3 to a specific irradiation range, for example, the leg 3 of the subject. A cassette 4 is placed below the leg 3 of the subject, and a fluorescent screen and a film 1 or an imaging plate are inserted into the cassette 4.

According to such an apparatus, the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 1 are restricted to a predetermined range by the irradiation field diaphragm 2. A part of the X-rays within this predetermined range pass through the patient's foot 3 and reach the film in the cassette 4, while the remaining X-rays do not pass through the patient's foot 3 and directly enter the cassette 4. image data (X-ray image) is captured on film inside the camera. When the X-ray image taken on this film is read out, an output image as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. As shown in FIG.
The high-density area 6b that the rays directly reach without passing through the patient's foot 3, and the area other than the predetermined area limited by the irradiation field diaphragm 2, are not irradiated with X-rays and are output as images. There is a non-blackened portion 7 where the color does not darken.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-mentioned conventional X-ray imaging apparatus has the following problems. When observing the output image as shown in FIG. 5 using, for example, a shark stain, the darkened area 7, which is a transparent area surrounding the leg 3 of the test subject, which is the area to be diagnosed.
is much brighter. This makes it difficult for a doctor to interpret the output image. In addition, doctors were often tired or overlooked lesions due to the difficulty in viewing the output images.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to: 1. Eliminate operator fatigue and improve diagnostic efficiency by making force images easier to see and speeding up the operator's interpretation; The object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray diagnostic apparatus that obtains the following characteristics.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems and achieve the objects, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, the present invention provides an X-ray diagnostic apparatus that captures X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and transmitted through a subject through an irradiation field diaphragm as image data on a photographing member in the imaging device. a detection means for detecting an irradiation field area limited within a predetermined range; a means for storing irradiation field area data inputted from the detection means together with image data inputted from the imaging member; and said image read from said means. The apparatus further comprises means for reading the irradiation field area data and performing image processing so as to increase the darkness of at least an area other than the irradiation field area from the predetermined range when displaying data.

(Effects) By taking such measures, the following effects are achieved. When displaying image data captured by restricting the X-ray irradiation field within a predetermined range by the irradiation field aperture, the irradiation field area data detected by the detection means is read out and the irradiation field area is divided from the predetermined range. The area to be excluded, i.e.
Since the image is processed and displayed so as to increase the darkness of the area where no line is irradiated, the output image becomes relatively easy to see. This eliminates the operator's fatigue and speeds up the operator's interpretation of images, thereby improving diagnostic efficiency. Furthermore, since it is possible to prevent the lesion from being overlooked, the accuracy of the first examination can be improved.

-5= (Example) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the main parts of an X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. Note that the same parts as shown in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and the details thereof will be omitted.

This embodiment is characterized by a detection means 10 for detecting an irradiation field area limited to at least a predetermined range by an irradiation field diaphragm 2, and a detection means 10 for detecting an irradiation field area limited to at least a predetermined range by an irradiation field aperture 2; When displaying the image data D1 read from the digital radiography apparatus 1, the irradiation field area data D2 is read out and the The present invention is further provided with a digital image display device 12 as a means for performing image processing so as to blacken an area excluding the irradiation field area from a predetermined range, that is, an area blocked by the irradiation field aperture 2.

The detection means 10 includes, for example, a potentiometer built into the irradiation field diaphragm 2, and thereby detects the position M'J during imaging.
This method detects the signal using an electrical signal.

Further, the detection means 10 may be one that one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally analyzes the intensity signals from an X-ray detector (for example, a film, an imaging plate, an image intensifier) and determines an irradiation field area and a non-irradiation field area.

The digital radiography apparatus 11 converts the output from the X-ray detector (imaging plate, image intensifier, film digitizer, etc.) into A
/D converted digital output is stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk or an optical disk. In other words, the area shielded by the irradiation field diaphragm 2 is stored in the memory as accompanying information of the image data (IJ-1 force image).

Store it on a hard disk, optical disk, etc. The information accompanying the image is generally the patient's name and date of birth.

Diagnosis subject single cylinder image size, divided imaging format, etc.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic configuration diagrams showing first and second embodiments of a method for storing the area shielded by the irradiation field diaphragm 2 as attached information in the digital radiography apparatus 11.

Only when displaying image data for diagnosis as shown in the figure, the digital image display device 12 processes the image so that the data in the area (hatched area) determined to be shielded by the irradiation field diaphragm 2 becomes completely black. . This display device 12 is, for example, a CRT imager, a device for making a film hard copy using a laser imager, or a device for displaying on a CRT image monitor.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be explained. First, the irradiation field aperture 2 is set within a predetermined range, that is, the detection means 1
0 within the effective detection range.

Then, the detection means 10 detects the irradiation field area, and this area data is stored in the recording medium of the digital radiography apparatus 1.

On the other hand, the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 1 and transmitted through the X-ray irradiation field limited within a predetermined range by the irradiation field diaphragm 2 and the feet 3 of the subject are photographed on a film 5 as image data. Furthermore, this image data D1 is stored in the recording medium of the digital radiography apparatus 11. Then, the image data D is transferred from the digital radiography apparatus Co-1.
1 is read out and displayed on the digital image display device] 2, the irradiation field area data D2 detected by the detection means 10 is read out, and the irradiation field area data D2 is read out from the predetermined range and displayed on the irradiation Kerr aperture 2.
The area excluding the area , that is, the shaded area shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (area not irradiated with X-rays) is processed to be black. In other words, the data is not directly rewritten only in the area within the effective detection range of [detection means] 0 and shielded by the irradiation field diaphragm, but is rewritten only when displaying.

Therefore, the inward image can be relatively easily viewed. This eliminates the operator's fatigue and speeds up the operator's interpretation of images, thereby improving diagnostic efficiency.

Furthermore, since it is possible to prevent the lesion from being overlooked, the accuracy of diagnosis can be improved. Furthermore, since bright light does not enter the operator's mouth and the brilliance can be adjusted to the density of the diagnostic area, the visual resolution of the operator's region of interest can be improved.

One of the reasons why we do not rewrite the data of the area occluded by the irradiation field aperture 2 and record it on the recording medium, but instead rewrite it so that it becomes black only when displayed, is to prevent errors in the information indicating the occluded area. This is to prevent data necessary for diagnosis from being destroyed in the event of a failure.

In addition, diagnostic image data may be observed with the relationship between incident X-ray dose and film density or incident X-ray dose and CRT brightness reversed (commonly referred to as negative/positive inversion). In the case of positive display, the value to be rewritten will be the opposite. Therefore, it would be inconvenient to rewrite the data when recording in such a case. According to this embodiment, when recording accompanying information indicating the area shielded by the irradiation field diaphragm 2 together with the image data, even if there is an error in the area, the CRT display device or film writing device can record the accompanying information. The function that blackens the area simply cannot be activated, and the necessary image data can be viewed. Errors in region information are likely to occur when analyzing image data to determine the region blocked by the irradiation field diaphragm 2. As a result, the image will not be disturbed by strong light from areas that do not need to be used for image diagnosis, making it easier for the doctor to interpret the image.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, X within a predetermined range by irradiation field aperture.
When displaying image data taken with the X-ray irradiation field area limited, the radiation field area data used laterally by the detection means is read, and the area excluding the irradiation field area from the predetermined range, that is, the X-ray Since the image is processed and displayed so as to increase the darkness of the area that is not illuminated, the output image can be relatively easy to see. This eliminates the operator's fatigue and speeds up the operator's interpretation of images, thereby improving diagnostic efficiency. Furthermore, since it is possible to prevent a lesion from being overlooked, it is possible to provide an X-ray diagnostic apparatus that can improve diagnostic accuracy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the main parts of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of this type of X-ray imaging apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an output image displayed on a display screen. be. 1... X-ray tube, 2... Irradiation field aperture, 3... Subject's foot, 4... Cassette, 5... Film, 6 a...
・Image area, 6b...High density gloss, 7...Darkening area, ]0
. . . Inspection 1" means, 11-. . . Digital radiography, 12 . . . Digital image display device. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue (a) 3rd (b) Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an X-ray diagnostic apparatus that captures X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and transmitted through a subject through an irradiation field diaphragm as image data on a photographing member within the imaging device, the irradiation field diaphragm limits the radiation field to at least within a predetermined range. a detecting means for detecting the irradiation field area to be detected; a means for storing the irradiation field area data inputted from the detecting means together with the image data inputted from the photographing member; An X-ray diagnostic apparatus comprising means for reading irradiation field area data and performing image processing so as to increase the darkness of at least an area excluding the irradiation field area from the predetermined range.