JPH04261279A - Digital subtraction angiography device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the image pickup efficiency by devising a contrast medium injection timing and a mask image pickup timing or the like to be confirmed at a glance at the time of selection of the image pickup mode or at the time of image pickup so as to reduce the image pickup preparation time. CONSTITUTION:An image pickup time chart display mans 18 displays an image pickup time chart in the image pickup mode on a lower part of a screen of a monitor 11 by a control signal S4 from a master controller 12 when an image pickup mode selector switch is selected. A mark representing a contrast medium injection timing, a mask image pickup timing and a succeeding picture image pickup timing are additionally displayed onto the chart. At the time of diagnosis of a picture, a cursor mark of, e.g. an arrow mark representing the image pickup point of time of the picture displayed at present is displayed in addition to indications 21, 22 and marks 23-25. The mark 26 is moved to the image pickup point of time every time the displayed picture is changed. In the case of re-mask processing to revise a mask image because of reduction of motion archifact, the display position of a MASK mark 24 is changed to a position corresponding to the change point of time.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a digital subtraction angiography apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a DSA apparatus) used for angiography examinations and the like.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, DSA devices have been put into practical use for testing and diagnosing blood vessels and cardiac function of subjects. This device is
The subject is irradiated with X-rays before and after injection of a contrast medium into the subject's blood vessels, or multiple times after the injection, and each time the transmitted X-rays are converted into light and converted into electrical signals by a TV camera. After digitizing this with an A/D converter to obtain a digital image, subtraction is performed between the two images, with the image based on the temporally preceding image signal being used as a mask image, and the image based on the subsequent image signal being used as a live image. The objective is to obtain a subtraction image with the back shadow removed and use it for examinations, diagnostic surgeries, etc.

By the way, in the conventional DSA apparatus, when selecting an imaging mode for setting various conditions for imaging, the timing of contrast medium injection, the start time of imaging, the imaging rate, etc. are entered numerically, and the image display device Only those numbers were displayed on a portion of the monitor screen, for example in the upper right corner.

[0004] Also, during image diagnosis after imaging, the frame number of the currently displayed image and the elapsed time since contrast medium injection were displayed only in numbers in the same part of the above screen. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, in the prior art, only numbers are simply displayed on a portion of the screen. Therefore, when selecting a shooting mode, the operator can check how the conditions for shooting have been set, and during shooting, the progress status such as the current point in time of shooting. It is difficult to confirm at a glance. This allows the operator to understand at a glance the type of image currently being captured, frame number, contrast agent injection timing, blood flow status, etc. in relation to the time lapse, as well as errors in the setting of imaging conditions. However, there are problems in that it takes time to prepare for shooting, it is easy to redo shooting, and shooting efficiency is low.

[0006] Furthermore, during image diagnosis after imaging, it is possible for the operator (diagnostician) to check the progress status at a glance, such as when the currently displayed image was taken. Have difficulty. For this reason, the type of image currently displayed, the frame number, etc. in relation to the passage of time,
The problem was that the operator could not understand at a glance the timing of contrast medium injection, the state of blood flow, etc., and the diagnostic efficiency was low.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a DSA apparatus that can improve photographing efficiency without requiring time for preparation for photographing or having to redo photographing.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the operator (diagnostician) to check at a glance the progress status, such as when the currently displayed image was taken, thereby improving diagnostic efficiency. The object of the present invention is to provide a DSA device that can improve the performance.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to display contrast medium injection timing and mask image imaging timing in the selected imaging mode on the monitor screen of an image display device from the time of selecting the imaging mode to the time of imaging. This is achieved by providing a photographing time chart display means for displaying a photographing time chart accompanied by a mark representing the subsequent image photographing timing.

Another object of the present invention is to display marks indicating the contrast agent injection timing, mask image capturing timing, and subsequent image capturing timing, as well as the currently displayed image, on the monitor screen of the image display device during image diagnosis after imaging. This is achieved by providing a photographing time chart display means for displaying a photographing time chart accompanied by a mark representing the photographing time point.

[0011]

[Operation] The photographing time chart display means
From the time of mode selection to the time of imaging, the image display device displays an imaging time chart in which marks representing contrast medium injection timing, mask image imaging timing, and subsequent image imaging timing are displayed in the selected imaging mode. display on the monitor screen.

[0012] This allows the operator to confirm at a glance the contrast medium injection timing, mask image capture timing, and subsequent image capture timing (and therefore the capture rate) when selecting the capture mode or during capture. , you can understand at a glance the status of the shooting you are about to do or are currently doing. This eliminates the need for time-consuming preparations for shooting and the need to retake shots.
This makes it possible to improve photographing efficiency.

[0013] In another invention, a photographing time chart
The display means displays marks indicating the timing of contrast medium injection, timing of mask image capture, and timing of subsequent image capture during image diagnosis after imaging, as well as marks indicating the time of capture of the currently displayed image. Shooting time chart
and display the image on the monitor screen of the image display device.

[0014] This allows the operator (diagnostician) to determine the timing of contrast medium injection, the timing of mask image capture, the timing of subsequent image capture (therefore the capture rate), and the time of capture of the currently displayed image during image diagnosis. etc. can be checked at a glance. Therefore, the operator can check at a glance diagnostic information such as the progress status, such as when the currently displayed image was taken, and the state of blood flow over time, improving diagnostic efficiency. This will lead to an improvement in performance.

[0015]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a DSA device according to the present invention. In this FIG. 1, 1 is an X-ray tube. This X-ray tube 1 irradiates a subject 2 with X-rays. The X-ray detector 3 converts the transmitted X-rays of the subject 2 into visible light, and is composed of, for example, an image intensifier, and connects the X-ray tube 1 with the subject 2 in between.
is placed opposite. The television camera 4
The output optical image of the line detector 3 is photographed and converted into an electrical signal.

[0016] Analog-to-digital converter (hereinafter referred to as A/
A D converter 5 converts the output signal of the television camera 4 into a digital quantity. Image storage device 6
, which stores the signal converted into a digital quantity by the A/D converter 5 as an image, and has frame memories 61, 62, . . . , 6n as separate storage media for each photographed image. The arithmetic unit 7 reads a designated image from the images stored in each of the frame memories 61 to 6n of the image storage device 6, and performs, for example, subtraction (difference calculation).

The image display device 8 displays the calculation results of the arithmetic unit 7 as an image, and includes an enhancement circuit 9 that emphasizes the contrast of the image, and a digital-to-analog converter (hereinafter referred to as "digital-to-analog converter") that converts a digital signal into a video signal. , a D/A converter) 10, and a monitor 11 that displays this video signal as an image.

The main controller 12 controls each of the above-mentioned components, controls the X-ray control circuit 13 with its control signal S1, and controls the X-rays from the X-ray tube 1 via the X-ray generator 14. The television camera 4 is controlled by the control signal S2 to control image capture. In addition, the control signal S3
The arithmetic unit 7 is controlled by the control unit 7 to control where in the frame memories 61 to 6n the captured image data is stored.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 denotes a contrast agent injector;
16 is a top plate on which the subject 2 is placed; 17 is a distributor that guides light from the X-ray detector 3 to the television camera 4.

In the present invention, a photographing time chart display means 18 is connected to the main controller 12. This photographing time chart display means 18 displays the photographing mode at the bottom of the screen (monitor screen) of the monitor 11 when a photographing mode selection switch is inputted, for example, by a control signal S4 from the main controller 12. Shooting time chart
Display the list. This imaging time chart is accompanied by marks representing at least the contrast medium injection timing, the mask image imaging timing, and the subsequent image imaging timing.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the above-mentioned photographing time chart and the contents displayed along with it. In FIG. 2, 21 is a time axis display showing the passage of time, and 22 is a seconds display showing the elapsed time on the time axis display 21, which constitute the main structure of the photographing time chart. 23 is an INJ mark indicating the timing of contrast medium injection into the subject 2; 24 is a MASK mark indicating the timing of photographing the mask image; 25 (scale-shaped vertical lines attached to the time axis display 21); is an image capture timing mark indicating the image capture timing (image after mask image capture)
(including a subsequent image shooting timing mark indicating the shooting timing of a subsequent image (mainly a live image)). These are displayed from the time the shooting mode is selected to the time of shooting.

In FIG. 2, 11 is a monitor, 11A is a monitor screen, and 11B is a monitor image display area.

During image diagnosis, in addition to the above-mentioned displays 21, 22 and marks 23 to 25, as shown in FIG. is displayed. This cursor mark 26 moves to the photographing point each time the displayed image changes.

When remasking is performed to change the mask image for reasons such as reducing motion artifacts, the display position of the MASK mark 24 may be changed to a position corresponding to the time of the change. (See Figure 4).

Furthermore, when an averaging mask is created, the range of the image photographing time point used for the averaging may be indicated, for example, by a MASK mark 24 using a halftone display (see FIG. 5).

In the mode of photographing as a live image without subtraction, the MASK mark 24 is not displayed.

Further, the image photographing timing mark 25 indicating the timing of image photographing is changed in accordance with the photographing rate. The longer the interval between the marks 25, the more time it takes to capture the next image, which can be understood at a glance.

Although the present invention has been specifically explained based on examples, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. Not even.

[0029]

As explained above, according to the present invention, the timing of contrast medium injection, the timing of mask image shooting, and the timing of subsequent image shooting (and therefore the shooting rate) can be adjusted at the time of selecting the shooting mode or during shooting. You can check it at a glance, and understand at a glance the status of the shooting you are about to do or are currently doing. Therefore, it is not necessary to take time to prepare for photographing or to redo photographing, and it is possible to improve photographing efficiency.

According to another aspect of the present invention, during image diagnosis, the contrast medium injection timing, the mask image imaging timing, and the subsequent image imaging timing (therefore, the imaging rate)
, as well as the time when the currently displayed image was taken, etc., can be confirmed at a glance. Therefore, diagnostic information such as progress status such as when the currently displayed image was taken and blood flow status over time can be confirmed at a glance, improving diagnostic efficiency. It has the effect of being able to

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of display of a photographing time chart and accompanying marks on a monitor screen of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main part of another example of the above display.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part of another example of the above display.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main part of another example of the above display.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 X-ray tube 2 Subject 3 X-ray detector 4 Television camera 5 A/D converter 6 Image storage device 7 Arithmetic unit 8 Image display device 11 Monitor 11A Monitor screen 12 Main controller 15 Contrast medium injector 18 Imaging time chart - display means 21
Time axis display 22 Second display 23 INJ mark 24 MASK mark

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: The selected shooting mode is displayed on the monitor screen of the image display device from the time of selecting the shooting mode to the time of shooting.
A digital subtraction system comprising an imaging time chart display means for displaying an imaging time chart with accompanying marks indicating contrast medium injection timing, mask image imaging timing, and subsequent image imaging timing in a mode.・Angiography equipment. 2. During image diagnosis after imaging, marks representing the contrast medium injection timing, mask image imaging timing, and subsequent image imaging timing, as well as the imaging time of the currently displayed image, are displayed on the monitor screen of the image display device. 1. A digital subtraction angiography apparatus comprising an imaging time chart display means for displaying an imaging time chart accompanied by a mark representing the image.