JPH03251232A - Angiographic photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the switching of the angiographic photographing device to a radiographic mode and a map mode by an operator himself by switching the device to both modes when the foot switch installed in an inspection room is treaded. CONSTITUTION:The foot switch 8 is disposed on the floor surface near a body M to be inspected and the on signal (a) of the foot switch 8 is applied to a single shot circuit 9, a counter circuit 10 and an on signal clock circuit 11. The single shot circuit 9 outputs the pulse signal (b) of the single shot having the pulse width of the preset time through an inverter 12 to an AND gate 13 when the on signal (a) is inputted thereto. The counter circuit 10 counts and records the number of output times of the on signal (a) and clears at the two counts. The on signal clock circuit 11 operates the counting of the counter circuit 10 and outputs a count effective signal (d) when the output time of the on signal (a) is within the predetermined time. A mode switching section 14 selects the radiographic mode and the map mode and switches the output destination of the video signal from a camera 5 according to the count signal (e) from the counter circuit 10 and the output signal from an OR gate 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application This invention provides a fluoroscopic mode for displaying a fluoroscopic image of a subject;
The present invention relates to an angiography imaging apparatus capable of switching between a map mode that displays a blood vessel map image for catheter operation, and particularly relates to a technique for switching between the two modes.

B. Prior Art There is a medical method in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel of a subject to examine and treat the affected area of the subject. For example, when treating a patient with vascular stenosis, a so-called balloon catheter, which is a thin tube with a balloon attached to its tip, is inserted into the subject's blood vessel. After insertion, the balloon catheter is advanced to reach the stenosis site, and the balloon attached to the tip is inflated. This restores the narrowed blood vessel.

When performing such testing and treatment using a catheter, the catheter must be advanced to the affected area.

Therefore, angiography imaging devices are now capable of switching between a map mode, which collects and displays blood vessel map images to monitor the catheter's entry point, and a fluoroscopic mode, which displays a fluoroscopic image of the subject. There is. Conventionally, switching between these two modes was performed by an operator in the examination room (the room where the subject is housed) using an X-ray operator in the operating room separated by an
The X-ray technologist is asked to switch between the two modes, and the X-ray technologist presses a button to switch between the two modes.

C1 Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the above-mentioned conventional angiography apparatus has the following problems:
There are the following problems.

That is, a fluoroscopic mode for displaying a fluoroscopic image of a subject;
When switching to the map mode for displaying blood vessel map images for catheter monitoring, the operator must send a signal to the X-ray technician in the operation room and request the switch, so he cannot control the catheter's entry. This poses a problem in that it is very inconvenient for the surgeon who is using the system, and it hinders the smooth progress of examinations and treatments.

In addition, tests and treatments using catheters are often performed mainly on the circulatory system. When testing and treating the circulatory system, it is important to perform tests and treatments quickly, and there is an increasing demand for operators to switch modes themselves.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an angiography apparatus that allows the operator to switch between a blood vessel map image and an X-ray fluoroscopic image. There is.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object.

That is, the angiography imaging apparatus according to the invention described in claim (1) has a fluoroscopic mode for displaying a fluoroscopic image obtained by irradiating a subject with X-rays on a monitor, and a fluoroscopic mode for displaying a fluoroscopic image obtained by irradiating a subject with X-rays, and An angiography imaging device capable of switching to a map mode for displaying a blood vessel map image on the monitor for monitoring the entry point of a catheter inserted into the body, the device being attached to the device body on which a subject is placed, A foot switch that outputs an ON signal related to a radiation exposure command, and when the output time of the ON signal of the foot switch is shorter than a predetermined setting time, invalidating the X-ray radiation command based on the ON signal. a counting means for counting the number of outputs of the invalid ON signal; and a mode switching means for switching between the perspective mode and the map mode based on a count signal from the counting means. It is characterized by

The angiography apparatus according to the invention as set forth in claim (2) includes a movement detection means for detecting relative movement between the X&'X system that irradiates the subject with X-rays and the subject, and has a fluoroscopy mode and a map mode. The switching is performed based on the count signal from the counting means and also on the detection signal from the movement detecting means.

Switching between the fluoroscopic mode and the map mode by the angiography imaging apparatus of the 80th action claim (+) is performed as follows.

That is, when switching between the two modes, the operator depresses the foot switch attached to the main body of the apparatus for a short period of time within the set time.

The ON signal of the footsinch caused by this stepping is output to the ON signal determining means and the counting means. If the output time of the ON signal (depression time of the foot switch) is within the set time, the ON signal determination means invalidates the X-ray exposure command related to the ON signal. Therefore, X&! iQi
No shooting will take place. The counting means counts the number of times the invalid ON signal is output, and sends a count signal to the mode switching means. The mode switching means switches from the perspective mode to the map mode or from the map mode to the perspective mode based on the count signal. Further, in the case of the angiography apparatus according to claim (2), switching between both modes is also performed when the movement detection means detects relative movement between the X-ray system and the subject.

In this way, switching between the two modes is performed only by the operator's foot switch operation.

Note that after switching between both modes, when the operator depresses the foot switch for a set time or more, the ON signal determining means validates the X-ray radiation command related to the ON signal.

As a result, X-rays are emitted from the X-ray system, and images are collected and displayed in the switched mode.

F. Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 in the figure is a bed on which the subject M is placed, and is supported horizontally movably on the upper part of a base 2 installed on the floor. The bed 1 is provided with a position detector 7a for detecting its horizontal movement.
A drive unit (not shown) that horizontally moves the is provided.

An X-ray tube 3 and an XTS image intensifier 4 are installed vertically facing each other with the subject M and the bed 1 in between. A camera 5 is provided on the output side of the X-ray image intensifier 4 to scan the output visible light image of the X-ray image intensifier 4 and output a video signal. These X-ray tubes3. X-ray image intensifier 4. Camera 5 is an X-ray system. In addition, the code 6 is X
This is a support arm that supports the ray tube 3 and the X-ray image intensifier 4, and is movable in the body axis direction of the subject M and in the vertical direction.

This support arm 6 is provided with a movement detector 7b for detecting movement of the support arm 6, which, together with the position detector 7a, corresponds to movement detection means of the present invention.

A foot switch 8 is placed on the floor near the subject M to be operated by the operator.

The signal outputted by the operator's depression operation is configured to be applied to the ON/N signal of the switch 8, the single shot circuit 9, the counter circuit 10, and the ON signal timing circuit 11. Single shot circuit 9 is ON
When the N signal furnace is input, a preset time (e.g.
A single-shot pulse signal having a pulse width of 1 second) is outputted to an AND gate 3 through an inverter 12. The counter circuit 10 is a counter that counts and records the number of ONN signal furnace outputs and clears the count at 2 counts. ON signal clock circuit 11 is ON
When the N-signal furnace output time is within a predetermined time (for example, 1 second), a count valid signal d is output that makes the counting operation of the counter circuit 10 valid.

Hereinafter, the count determined to be valid by the count valid signal d will be referred to as the valid count. , is configured to output a count signal f of [2] to the OR gate 15 in the case of "2".

The mode switching unit 14 receives "l" from the counter circuit lO.
According to the count signal e and the output signal from the OR gate 15, the perspective mode and the map mode are selected and the output light of the video signal from the camera 5 is switched. Output signals from the movement detector 7b and the position detector 7a are provided as extraction inputs.

The counter circuit 10 and the ON signal timing circuit 11 correspond to the counting means in the present invention, the single shot circuit 9, the inverter 12 and the AND gate 13 correspond to the ON signal discriminating means, and the mode switching section 14 corresponds to the counting means in the present invention. and O
The R gate 15 corresponds to mode switching means.

Note that 6 is a high voltage generator that applies a high voltage for χ&'il II radiation to the X-ray tube 3 according to the output signal of the AND gate 13, and 17 is an image when the mode switching section 14 selects the map mode. This is a subtraction processing unit that outputs signal light and generates a subtraction image that highlights the blood vessel image. Reference numeral 18 denotes a black and white image inversion unit which performs black and white inversion processing on the subtraction image to obtain a blood vessel image with the blood vessel portion white; 19, a black and white image inversion unit which superimposes the inverted blood vessel image and a fluoroscopic image of the tip of the catheter 21;
This is an adder that outputs a blood vessel map image to the monitor 20, which serves as an index for operation of the catheter 21.

Next, regarding the operation of the above-mentioned angiography imaging device, the second
This will be explained with reference to the figures.

FIG. 2 is a time chart of output signals from various parts within the device.

First, the operator makes an incision on the body surface of the subject M, for example, the thigh, and inserts the catheter 21 into the blood vessel of the subject M. In order to confirm the insertion position of this catheter 21,
It is assumed that the mode switching unit 14 has selected the perspective mode in advance. In this state, in order to display a fluoroscopic image of the insertion site of the catheter 21 on the monitor 20, the operator depresses the foot switch 8. This operation
This is not an operation for switching modes, but an operation for instructing X*llI injection, so the operator must
Depress the foot switch 8 at T (see Figure 2) or more.
At this time, the output ON signal a of the foot switch 8 is transmitted to the single shot circuit 9 and the counter circuit 10. The ON signal is sent to the clock circuit 11. Note that the number of times the foot switch 8 is depressed at this time is one time.

The single shot circuit 9 is as shown in FIG.
In response to the ONN signal input, a single-shot pulse signal having a pulse width of a set time T is output to the inverter 12. The inverter 12 inverts this pulse signal S and outputs an inverted pulse signal C to one input of the AND gate 3.

The other input terminal of the AND gate 13 is provided with an ONN signal furnace, and the inverted pulse signal C changes from "LJ level to r".
If the ONN signal furnace is output when it rises to the HJ level () after the set time T after the foot switch is pressed, open the gate and delay the ONN signal furnace set time T, and then It is output to the high pressure generator 16 as a direct sunlight start command signal g.

The high voltage generator 16 applies a high voltage to the X-ray tube 3 while this X-ray exposure start command signal g is applied. As a result, X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube 3. The X-ray image transmitted through the subject M is converted into a visible light image by an X-ray image intensifier 4, then converted into a video signal by a camera 5, and sent to a mode switching unit 4. At this time, since the mode switching unit 14 is set to the perspective mode, it outputs the sent video signal as it is to the monitor 20 to display a perspective image.

Further, the counter circuit 10 is connected to the ON/OFF state of the foot switch 8.
Count the number of signal furnace signals (number of pulses). In this case, since the foot switch 8 is depressed only once, the counter circuit 0 records the count number of rl. At this time, the ONN signal furnace output time (depression time of the foot switch 8) is operated by the operator so that it is longer than the set time T, so as shown in FIG.
Do not output N signal 8 lines. Therefore, counter circuit 1
0 invalidates the recorded count number and does not output a signal to the mode switching section 14 and OR gate 15. As a result, the mode switching unit 14 does not perform a mode switching operation and continues the fluoroscopy mode.Next, in the process of advancing the catheter 21 to treatment site 0, a blood vessel map image serving as an index of the tip of the catheter 21 is displayed. If the operator wishes to display the information, the operator depresses the foot switch 8 only once within the set time T.

FIG. 2(b) shows a time chart of output signals from various parts within the apparatus due to the operation of the foot switch 8.

The output signals of the single shot circuit 9 and the inverter 12 in response to the ONN signal of the foot switch 8 are shown in FIG.
). Therefore, the inverted pulse signal C given as one input of the AND gate 3 is in the rH, level state, but the ONN signal provided as the other input is in the "LJ level state (the depression time of the foot switch 8 is set within time T), therefore, A
The ND gate 13 remains closed and does not output to the ONN signal furnace high pressure generator 16, making the ONN signal furnace ineffective.
As a result, the high voltage generator 16 does not apply a high voltage to the X-ray tube 3, and no X-rays are emitted.

The counter circuit 10 counts the number of pulses of the ON signal a of the foot switch 8 in the same manner as described above.

In this case as well, since the foot switch 8 has been depressed only once, the count number is recorded as "1".

Further, the ON signal clock circuit 11 measures the output time of the ON signal a. In this case, the foot switch 8
is depressed for a short time within the set time T, so the ON signal timing circuit 11 determines that the ON signal a time is within the set time T and outputs a one-shot pulse count valid signal d to the counter circuit 10. When the counter circuit 10 is given this count valid signal d, the mode switching unit 10 assumes that the recorded count number "1" is valid.
4. The mode switching section 14 outputs the "IJ count signal e" to the "1" count signal e, thereby switching from the perspective mode to the map mode. By this mode switching, the perspective image displayed on the monitor 20 is erased. Then, the operator injects a contrast medium into the blood vessel of the subject M, and continues to press the foot swing 8 for a set time T or more. As a result, X-rays are emitted, and the obtained video signal is sent to the subtraction processing section 17 by the mode switching section 14. Subtraction processing section 17
performs subtraction calculation processing between a previously collected mask image (a fluoroscopic image before contrast agent injection) and a given video signal, and converts the subtraction image into a black-and-white image inversion unit 1.
Send on 8th. The subtraction image, which is inverted by the black-and-white image inverting unit 18 and the blood vessel region becomes white, is displayed on the monitor 20 via the adder 19. When X-ray exposure is continued by the operator's operation of the foot switch 8, the obtained fluoroscopic image is sent to the adder 19, where it is superimposed with the subtraction image displayed on the monitor 20. be exposed. The catheter 21 is made of a material that does not transmit X-rays, and appears black in a fluoroscopic image. That is, the black catheter 21 is displayed in the white blood vessel image, and an image convenient for determining the entry point of the catheter 21 can be displayed on the monitor 20, and this is a blood vessel map image.

If the catheter 21 advances further while looking at the displayed blood vessel map image and the catheter 21 advances beyond the range of the displayed blood vessel map image, the displayed blood vessel map image is no longer necessary. Therefore, the mode is switched to a fluoroscopic mode in which the displayed blood vessel map image is erased and a normal fluoroscopic image is displayed.

A time chart at the time of switching from the map mode to the perspective mode is shown in FIG. 2(C).

This switching operation is performed by the operator pressing the foot switch 8 twice within a short period of time T, or by
This is performed when a relative movement between the bed l and the support arm 6 shown in the first figure is detected. This relative movement means a change in the part to be monitored, and the image currently displayed on the monitor 20 becomes invalid.

When the operator depresses the foot switch 8 twice in the short period of time, the counter circuit 1o outputs rl and the count signal e during the first depressing operation as described above. The mode switching unit 14 continues the map mode. When the second depression operation is performed, the ON signal timing circuit 11 outputs the second count valid signal as shown in FIG. 2(C). d to the counter circuit IO. With this second count valid signal d, the counter circuit 10 determines that the count number "2" is valid, stops outputting the "l" count signal e, and instead sends the "2" count signal f to the OR gate 15. Output to.

As a result, OR game 5 opens the gate and r
The H level signal is sent to the mode switching unit 14. The mode switching section 14 switches from the map mode to the perspective mode in response to the "H" level signal from the OR gate 5. Further, when the bed l or the support arm 6 moves, a detection signal for detecting the movement is output to the OR gate 15, and the OR gate 15 similarly
to rH.

Sends a level signal to instruct mode switching.

By switching the perspective mode, the mode switching section 1
Step 4 erases the blood vessel map image displayed on the monitor 20, and displays the images taken after this as they are on the monitor 20.
The perspective image is displayed on the monitor 20 by outputting the image to the monitor 20.

In this manner, the operator himself/herself operates the foot switch 8 to switch between the fluoroscopy mode and the map mode.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of times the foot switch 8 is pressed to switch modes is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the mode can be switched an arbitrarily set number of times.

Effects of the G1 Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the angiography imaging apparatus according to the invention set forth in claim (1) switches between the fluoroscopy mode and the map mode by pressing a foot switch installed in the examination room. , the user can switch between the two modes themselves. Therefore, it is not necessary to ask the X-ray technician to switch the mode, unlike in the past, and the operator can conveniently switch the mode, contributing to rapid catheter inspection and treatment.

Further, according to the invention described in claim (2), when the chi-ray system and the subject move relative to each other, the mode is automatically switched to the fluoroscopy mode, so it is not necessary to switch the mode every time the χ-ray system and the subject move. This allows testing and treatment to be carried out even more quickly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an angiography imaging apparatus, and FIG. (b) is the output signal time chart when switching from perspective mode to map mode, and (C) is the output signal when switching from map mode to perspective mode. This is a time chart. 3... X-ray tube 4... X-ray image intensifier 5... Camera 7a... Position detector 7b... Movement detector 8... Foot switch 9... Single silat circuit 10 ... Counter time B 11 ... ON signal clock circuit 12 ... Inverter 13 ... AND gate 1
4...Mode switching section 15...OR gate 20
...Monitor Figure 1

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A fluoroscopic mode for displaying a fluoroscopic image obtained by irradiating a subject with X-rays on a monitor, and a vascular map image for monitoring the entry point of a catheter inserted into a blood vessel of a subject on the monitor. The angiography imaging apparatus is capable of switching between a map mode and a map mode for displaying images, and includes a foot switch that is attached to the main body of the apparatus on which a subject is placed, and that outputs an ON signal related to an X-ray exposure command. , ON signal determining means for invalidating the X-ray exposure command based on the ON signal when the output time of the ON signal of the foot switch is shorter than a predetermined setting time; and outputting the invalid ON signal. An angiography imaging apparatus comprising: a counting means for counting the number of times; and a mode switching means for switching between the fluoroscopic mode and the map mode based on a count signal from the counting means. (2) The angiography imaging apparatus according to claim (1), comprising a movement detection means for detecting relative movement between the X-ray system that irradiates the subject with X-rays and the subject, and has a fluoroscopic mode and a map mode. 1. An angiography imaging apparatus, wherein the switching is performed based on a count signal from a counting means, and also based on a detection signal from the movement detecting means.