JPH028440B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for adjusting exposure parameters, for carrying out a radiography process consisting of a series of up to n exposure steps each with a different set of exposure parameters. a first storage device configured as a processor memory; a plurality (m);
a non-volatile second storage device having a storage section, each storage section of the second storage device is divided into n sub-storage sections to each assign a set of exposure parameters; an input device coupled to a selected one of the plurality (m) of storage units of the second storage device, through which exposure parameters can be freely adjusted; You can tell the address;
The present invention relates to an X-ray generating device comprising a control device which can be influenced by said input device and which controls the transfer of data between said two storage devices.

An X-ray generating device of this type is known in principle from DE 2318367 A1. The radiographic method that can be carried out with such an X-ray generating device is for angiographic examinations in which the patient is moved in the beam path in steps of predetermined length on a table which can be displaced intermittently during the examination. This is especially important. Since the absorption conditions change during each of these steps, it is necessary in known devices of this type to vary the x-ray tube voltage. However, in general, it is not enough to simply change the X-ray tube voltage in order to obtain optimal exposure results; it is also necessary to change other exposure parameters, such as the current mA.

It is an object of the present invention to be able to adjust an arbitrary set of exposure parameters in the X-ray generator for each of the n steps in radiography, including at least the adjustment of the X-ray tube voltage and current mA;
Each exposure parameter set can be changed individually and the exposure parameter sets stored in different storage sections of the second storage device for different radiography methods can be changed by activating the input device for the radiography method. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray generator that can be addressed.

In order to achieve such an object, the X-ray generator of the present invention includes a third storage device, and the third storage device is divided into n sub-storage units that store a set of exposure parameters for each imaging. , and each time one of these sub-storage units can be addressed by the input device; the contents of the sub-storage unit thus addressed are transferred to the first storage unit in accordance with the step order. and when the exposure parameters are changed, the contents of the first storage device can be transferred to the sub-storage section of the third storage device whose address is specified; The contents of the third storage device can be transferred to the storage portion of the second storage device by addressing one storage section of the second storage device, and the contents of the third storage device can be transferred by a second command. The present invention is characterized in that it is configured such that the data can be reset depending on the contents of the storage section of the second storage device.

The present invention is based on the following idea, and its advantages are as follows.

A plurality (m) of different standard X-ray examination methods are stored in the second storage device, each standard X-ray examination method having n steps. For a unique and specific examination, operators often perform standard imaging procedures in which one or more parameters deviate from the accumulated values. This situation may arise, for example, if a very obese patient has to be examined. In theory, the operator could change the contents of the second storage device to adapt the imaging method to a particular examination. However, in this case the contents of the second storage device must be brought back to their original (standard) state after this special check. The third storage device of the present invention is useful for the following purposes. If the operator wishes to perform an examination that deviates from the standard imaging method in one or more steps, the operator first transfers the standard imaging method from the second storage device to the third storage device. The operator then changes the contents of the third storage device to adapt it to the particular test. This special test can then be started. This special test can be performed without interruption to change the exposure data before it is stored in the processor memory (first storage). When the special examination is completed, the contents of the third storage device can be discarded, since the standard radiography is still in the second storage device. Of course, in some cases, a specialized test may give better results than a modified standard test. In such a case, a new standard imaging method can be created by transferring the contents of the third storage device to the second storage device.

Exposure parameters can be adjusted freely,
can be freely assigned to the sub-storage section of the third storage device by corresponding activation of the input device;
That is, by energizing the input device to address the associated sub-storage section of the third storage device,
Exposure parameters can be assigned individually to each sub-storage part of the storage device or to each of the n exposures of the radiography method. After the address instruction, these exposure parameters can be transferred to the first storage device again, and in the first storage device, parameters for exposure are determined based on these exposure parameter sets. The exposure parameter set stored in the third storage device can be transferred to this storage section via the input device by addressing the storage section of the second storage device, and then the exposure parameter set stored in the third storage device can be transferred to this storage section by addressing the storage section of the second storage device. The parameter set can be first transferred to a third storage device and then transferred from the third storage device to the first storage device.

The input device can in principle be provided with a common input keyboard for all three storage devices in a known manner. However, according to the present invention, the input device includes an input keyboard for freely inputting exposure parameters, and a first key device including n keys that can address one of the sub-memories of the third storage device. , a second key device including a number of keys corresponding to the number (m) of storage units of the second storage device and each capable of specifying an address of one of the storage units of the second storage device. So,
Operation becomes significantly easier. Each storage device will therefore have a number of inputs associated with it. for example
The exposure parameters can be preset via the decimal numeric keyboard and transferred to the first storage device, ie the exposure parameters can be adjusted freely. Via one of the n keys of the first key device, one of the sub-memories of the third storage device is addressed in each case, while the second storage device is in each case addressed for one radiography procedure. Addressing of one memory of the second key device takes place via one of the m keys of the second key device.

In order to be able to transfer the contents of the third storage device in one case to one of the storage sections of the second storage device and in other cases to transfer the contents of the storage section of the second storage device to the third storage device. requires two different commands that tell the controller in which direction the exposure parameter set should be transferred. To this end, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the input device comprises at least one further key, and when the further key is activated and the key of the second key device is activated, the input device comprises at least one further key. The contents of the third storage device can be transferred to the storage section addressed by the key of the second key device. Therefore, the storage section addressed by the activation of a certain key of the second key device can accept the contents of the third storage device only when another key is activated, and the contents of the third storage device can be stored in this storage section first. The exposure parameters that have been set will be lost.

The invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

The patient placed on the upper part 16 of the patient table 15 is
It is irradiated by a wire tube 17. The upper part 16 of the platform can be displaced stepwise in the direction of the arrow. The displacement of the upper part 16 of the platform 15 is determined by a position detector 19 and is fed via a connection 22 to a control device 60 (FIG. 2) in the X-ray generator 20. The formed X-ray image is transmitted to the X-ray generator 20
The radiation from the X-ray tube 17 is recorded in the film changer 18 via the connection 23 in synchronization with the film rest period. X-ray generator 20 that energizes the X-ray tube 17
are the control field 27 on the control console 21,
28 (FIG. 2) as desired by the operator.

The first control field 27 of the control console 21 is, for example,
an input device 270 in the form of a decimal numeric key, an indicator 271 for the relevant exposure parameters (only two indicators for kV and mA are shown to simplify the drawing), and an indicator 271 for modifying a given exposure parameter; (thickness) correction key 272.
This first control field is for the usual free adjustments, instructions and modifications of exposure parameters, and the input data is transferred via data and control lines (bus) 26 to random access storage 25, where it is stored. The device 25 acts as a processor memory and is coupled to the control and regulation section 24 of the X-ray generator 20 via a further bus 26'. The storage device 25 comprises storage locations necessary for storing exposure parameters, as well as storage locations for data necessary for controlling and monitoring the X-ray generator 20. This storage device, which operates as a processor memory, will hereinafter be referred to as a first storage device.

It also includes a non-volatile second storage device, which is divided into a number of storage sections 30, 40, 50, the number of which is the number (m) of different standard radiography methods (in this example, three (assuming different radiography methods). Each storage unit has a large number (4 in this example).
The number of sub-memories corresponds to the number of steps n in one radiography method (in this example, to simplify the drawing, two parameters kV and mA are shown, but in principle other parameters, e.g. exposure time, focus, correction amounts for fat and thin patients, could be stored separately in each sub-memory). A complete set of exposure data and possibly correction data is stored in the secondary storage.

Furthermore, a third storage device 10 that is non-volatile is provided, and this storage device includes a large number of sub-storage units 11, 1.
2, 13, and 14, the number of these sub-memories corresponds to the steps of the radiography (4 in this example), and these sub-memories operate to store one set of exposure parameters each time. various storage devices,
Transfer of data between the storage units 25, 30, . . . 50, 10 is controlled by a control device 60. Preferably, controller 60 comprises a microprocessor with read only storage and input/output ports. Data is stored in read-only storage and transferred via data path 68 according to one of several programs addressed by control signals provided to the input ports. For this purpose, a first key device is provided with a number of keys 1, 2, 3, 4 corresponding to the number of sub-memories (four in this example) for the steps in the radiography method, and a memory in a second memory device. A second key device is provided which has a number of keys 5, 6, and 7 corresponding to the number of keys (3 in this example). Both key devices are connected to the control console 21 (first
(Fig.) is stored in the second control field 28 above.

A first key device comprising keys 1, 2, 3, 4 is connected to a control device 60 via a connection 61 and a switch 70, which is shown diagrammatically. When one key, e.g., key 1, in the first key device is activated, the control device 60 is supplied with information "key", and in response, the control device 60 controls the sub-storage section 11 of the third storage device 10. The contents are transferred to a first storage device 5, which acts as a processor memory. A similar operation is performed when the other keys 2, 3, and 4 of the first key device are activated, and the secondary storage units 12, 13, and 1
4 are transferred to the first storage device 25, respectively. Therefore, keys 1...4 are assigned (1) to each of the sub-storage units 11...14 as shown by broken lines. Exposure parameters for one step of one radiography method are stored in each sub-storage section of the third storage device 10, so a symbol representing the radiography in question is written in each key as shown in FIG. 3, for example. It is preferable to leave it there.

In the X-ray generator, the contents of the storage device 5 are stored in the first
The control and regulating unit 2 according to the relevant data indicated on the indicator 271 of the control field 27
4 is adjusted. Input device 27 on first control field 27 after activating key 1, 2, 3 or 4
0, the storage device 25 corresponds to this.
is changed via the bus 26, which, under the control of the control device 60, causes the activated keys 1, 2,
3 or 4 is transferred to the sub storage section 11, 12, 13, or 14 of the third storage device 10. Therefore, due to the free adjustment function of the X-ray generator, the memory device 1 corresponding to each individual step of the X-ray generator
The sub-memory section 0 can be programmed freely and can be freely changed as desired.

The keys 5, 6, 7 of the second key device in the second control field 8 are connected to the control device 60 via a connection 65.
join to. When one of the keys 5...7 is energized, a program in the control device 60 causes the storage section 30 of the second storage device to be associated with this key.
...50 is designated as an address.

This relationship is stored in the storage units 30, 40 of the second storage device,
50 and the keys 5, 6, 7 of the second key device. Exposure parameters for the entire step of a given radiographic procedure are stored in each of these memories, and keys 5, 6, 7 are assigned, depending on the radiographic procedure, e.g. It is preferable to write “aortography” or the like.

When one of the keys 5, 6, 7 is activated, the memory 30, 40 or 5 associated with the activated key
0 is transferred to the third storage device 10 and transferred from the third storage device 10 to the first storage device 25 in the manner described above.
The data is transferred step by step and can be changed in the first storage device 25 as required. Further, when it is confirmed that the exposure parameter set stored in the third storage device 10 is appropriate for a predetermined inspection method, the contents of the third storage device 10 are transferred to the storage units 30...50 of the second storage device. You can also transfer it to one of them. In that case, it is first necessary to activate a command key 71 connected to the control device 60 via a line 72 and then to activate the command key 71 associated with the storage section 30, 40 or 50 to which the contents of the storage device 10 are to be transferred. It is necessary to activate keys 5, 6 or 7 of the two-key device. The command key 71 is suitably covered (covered) so that by accidental activation of the command key 71, the contents of the third storage device 10 can be used to read the contents of one of the storage units 30...50 of the second storage device. It is preferable to prevent the data from being erased.

Radiography is performed as follows. After the normal preparation signal, the position sensor 19 (FIG. 1) connects the connection 22.
via connection 69, which signal switches the control input of control device 60 to which input, instead of the signals from keys 1 to 4, the signal from the position transducer is sent to connection 61'. Since signals are now supplied via the keys 1 to 4, the control device 60 can no longer be controlled by the keys 1 to 4 from then on. Then, the control input terminal of the control device 60 corresponding to the relevant position of the upper part 16 of the platform 15 or the relevant step is energized, so that the sub-storage section 11 of the storage device 10 associated with the imaging at this step position... . . 14 are addressed and their contents are then used to coordinate and display the relevant data. Via the connection 23, the control device of the film changing device 8 supplies an exposure start signal to the X-ray generator in a known manner in synchronization with the film rest period. If a step movement adjustment is carried out, the control signal on the connection 22 will change upon its execution, and new data will be transferred from one of the sub-memories of the third memory device 10 to the first memory device. 2, from the first storage device 25 the first control field 27 (display) of the X-ray generator as well as the control and adjustment section 24.
Transferred to (adjustment).

Although it is generally advantageous in terms of cost to use a volatile storage device for the first storage device 25, which acts as processor memory, it is in principle possible to combine three storage devices and It is possible to use only one large storage device or a portion thereof, in which case each of the three storage devices is allocated a predetermined number of storage locations. There is also a memory location 30, 40 or 50 storing a complete set of exposure parameters for one completed radiography procedure.
can be addressed each time via an input device, and furthermore, there is a memory location 1 for storing each exposure parameter set for one step of radiography.
1...14 can be addressed via an input device, the contents of the latter storage location can be transferred to a storage section coupled to the display and adjustment section of the X-ray generator, while the exposure obtained by free adjustment can be It is important that the parameter set can be transferred to this addressed storage.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an X-ray device equipped with the X-ray generator of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an implementation of the first and second key devices. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example. 1 to 7...Key, 10...Third storage device, 1
1, 12, 13, 14... Sub-storage unit, 15... Patient table, 16... Upper part of table 15, 17... X-ray tube, 18... Film changing device, 19... Position detector, 20...X-ray generator, 21...control console,
24... Control and adjustment unit, 25... Random access first storage device, 26... Data and control bus, 27... First control field, 28... Second control field, 30, 40, 50... 2 storage unit of storage device, 31, 32, 33, 34... sub-storage unit of storage unit 30, 60... control device, 68...
...Data bus, 70...Switch, 71...Command key, 270...Input device, 271...Indicator,
272...Modification key.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In order to carry out a radiography process consisting of a series of up to n exposure steps with each time a different set of exposure parameters, a processor memory is coupled to an adjustment device for adjusting the set of exposure parameters and a processor memory is provided. a non-volatile second storage device having a plurality (m) of storage sections; each storage section of the second storage device is configured to store n exposure parameters so as to allocate a set of exposure parameters to each storage section; an input device coupled to both of the storage devices, through which exposure parameters can be freely adjusted; (m) a control device capable of addressing a selected one of the storage devices; a control device capable of being influenced by said input device and controlling the transfer of data between said storage devices; The X-ray generator comprises a third storage device 10, the third storage device storing a set of exposure parameters for each imaging.
sub-storage units 11...14, and each time one of these sub-storage units is stored in the input device 1...
7; address can be specified by 270; the contents of the sub-memory section (for example, 11) addressed in this way are stored in the first step according to the step order.
When the exposure parameters are changed, the contents of the first storage device 25 can be transferred to the sub-storage unit 11 of the third storage device 10 whose address is specified; One storage section 30, 40, 50 of the second storage device according to a first command via device 1...7; 270
By giving an address instruction, the contents of the third storage device 10 can be transferred to the storage section of the second storage device, and by a second command, the contents of the third storage device can be transferred to the storage section of the second storage device. An X-ray generator characterized in that it is configured such that it can be rewritten depending on the contents of the section. 2. The input device includes an input keyboard 270 for freely inputting exposure parameters, and the third
A first key including n keys 1...4 that can specify an address for one of the sub-storage units 11...14 of the storage device 10.
a key device and a storage section 3 of the second storage device corresponding to the number (m) of storage sections of the second storage device;
2. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second key device including a plurality of keys 5, 6, and 7 capable of specifying an address of one of 0, 40, and 50, respectively. 3 the input device has at least one further key 7;
1, and when the other key is activated and keys 5...7 of the second key device are activated, the contents of the third storage device 10 are addressed by the second key device key. The X-ray generator according to claim 2, which is capable of transmitting information to the storage units 30, 40, and 50. 4. The control device 60 includes a microprocessor, and the microprocessor transfers data between the storage devices according to a program stored in the read-only storage device and the input device 27.
The X-ray generator according to claim 1, which is controlled under the control of 0; 1...7. 5. An X-ray generator according to claim 1, cooperating with a stepwise displaceable patient table having an upper part 16, in which said patient table has a position detector 19 connected to said control device 60. An X-ray generating apparatus characterized in that the position detector is configured to transfer an exposure data set from one of the sub-storage sections 11...14 of the third storage device to the first storage device 25.