JPH06154196A - Medical care image photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate determination of a photographing procedure in a medical care image photographing device such as a DSA device. CONSTITUTION:A medical care image photographing device has an actual scale time chart display control means (such as 12) to display a scale time chart according to actual photographing sequence on a monitor 11 or a time chart exclusive display part 21 and an image displaying time chart display control means (such as 12) to display an image photographing time/time chart on the monitor 11 or the time chart exclusive display part 21 when the photographing image is displayed by the monitor 11, and has a displaying image position marking means (such as 12) so as to carry out marking display of a present displaying image position on the time chart displayed by the image displaying time chart display control means when the photographing image is displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical image photographing apparatus which facilitates determination of photographing procedure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional medical image capturing apparatus, especially DSA
(Digital subtraction angiography)
As shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-97196, the apparatus displays a typical time chart for each photographing mode on a monitor and various parameters as numerical values. Therefore, the operator (doctor or the like) determines the image capturing procedure by referring to the monitor display. Further, when observing a captured image, the only means for indicating the timing for each image is the elapsed time from the time of injection of the contrast agent.

[0003]

The conventional apparatus displays a typical time chart for each photographing mode.
The general sequence of radiation exposure is known. However, when parameters such as shooting rate and shooting time (number of shots) are changed, the scale of the time chart is not changed,
Only the numbers have changed. Therefore, the timing sequence of X-ray irradiation is not intuitively understood. During the examination, the operator (doctor, etc.) concentrates on catheter operation (operation to accurately visualize the target lesion area), so things other than catheter operation (here, determination of imaging procedure) are intuitive. It is especially required to be able to understand, but this was not achieved.

Further, when the photographed image is displayed and observed on the monitor, the photographing timing for each image is only indicated by the elapsed time from the time of injection of the contrast agent. It was impossible to know if the images were taken at the rate without displaying the previous and next images. Therefore, there is also a problem that it is difficult to determine the next photographing timing when the photographing state of the contrast state in the vicinity of the image is changed and the photographing rate is changed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image photographing apparatus capable of easily determining a photographing procedure.

[0006]

The above object is to provide an image capturing control means for capturing an image in a desired procedure within a preset range, and a numerical value input means for inputting various parameters set at the time of image capturing, In a medical image capturing apparatus equipped with a display unit for displaying various images, characters, and numerical values,
An actual scale time chart display control means for displaying the time chart of the scale corresponding to the actual photographing sequence corresponding to the parameter set by the numerical value input means on the display means or the time chart dedicated display means,
While displaying the captured image by the display means, the time chart display control means for displaying the time chart at the time of capturing the image on the display means or the dedicated display means for the time chart and the captured image displayed by the display means are currently displayed. This is achieved by providing a displaying image position marking means for displaying the position of the displayed image on the time chart displayed by the image displaying time chart display control means.

[0007]

The actual scale time chart display control means causes the display means or the time chart dedicated display means to display the time chart of the scale corresponding to the actual photographing sequence corresponding to the parameter set by the numerical value input means. As a result, a time chart suitable for the actual shooting sequence can be displayed, and the shooting rate, shooting time, and distribution of the number of times in the entire shooting sequence can be intuitively understood. Further, the displayed image position marking means displays the position of the currently displayed image on the time chart displayed by the image display time chart display control means while the captured image is being displayed by the display means. Thereby, the shooting rate at the time of shooting the image can be directly known. Therefore, the photographing procedure can be easily determined.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a DSA apparatus which is an embodiment of a medical image capturing apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 1 pass through the subject 2 and are converted into an optical image by the image intensifier 3. This optical image is collected by the tandem lens system 4 and taken by the TV camera 5.

An image taken by the TV camera 5 is converted into a digital signal by the AD converter 6, converted into image data by the look-up table 7, and recorded for each image in the image memories 8a to 8n. The recorded image in the image memory 8a is converted into an analog signal by the DA conversion unit 9, the display window and the display level are set by the display gradation processing unit 10, and then displayed on the monitor 11.

A control signal from the X-ray controller 13 is sent to the high voltage generator 14 and the X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube 1. Each of these devices is controlled by the CPU 12.

With respect to the DSA device having such a configuration, the photographing procedure determining section 20 is an operation section for selecting one of a plurality of photographing modes registered in the CPU 12 in advance and changing its control parameter. The shooting sequence / time chart display unit 21 is a display unit that displays a time chart showing the shooting sequence determined by the shooting procedure determination unit 20.

The program stored in the CPU 12 and the storage device (not shown) displays on the monitor 11 or the display unit 21 a time chart of a scale corresponding to an actual photographing sequence corresponding to the parameters set by the photographing procedure determining unit 20. An actual scale time chart display control means for displaying is configured. Further, while displaying a captured image on the monitor 11, an image displaying time chart display control means for displaying a time chart at the time of capturing the image on the monitor 11 or the display unit 21, and while displaying a captured image on the monitor 11,
The display image position marking means for marking and displaying the position of the currently displayed image on the time chart displayed by the image display time chart display control means is also configured.

Here, in the general photographing mode executed by the DSA apparatus, (1) after photographing a mask image (a photographed image before injection of a contrast medium; the same applies hereinafter), the injector 15 is used.
Serial imaging (SI) mode (see FIG. 2), in which a contrast agent is injected from the above, a live image is captured by intermittently irradiating X-rays, and a still image is subtracted from the mask image.

(2) X-rays are radiated for about 1 second to take an image, and the images are added and averaged to form a mask image. Then, a contrast agent is injected from the injector 15 to continuously expose the X-rays. Continuous imaging (CI) mode (see FIG. 3) in which a live image is shot and subtracted from the mask image to obtain a moving image.

(3) In the above (2), instead of the continuous X-ray, the pulse X is generated during the blanking period of the TV camera 5.
There is a dynamic imaging (DI) mode (see Figure 4) that exposes a line.

Further, regarding the SI mode, (a)
Biplane imaging in which X-rays are alternately emitted from the front and side surfaces of the subject 2, and (b) stereo imaging in which X-rays are alternately emitted from the X-ray tube having two focal points are performed.

As described above, there are a plurality of photographing modes, and a plurality of parameters for controlling the photographing operation are required for each of them.

In DSA imaging, subtraction is usually performed between the mask image and the live image. Therefore, when the live image is displaced from the mask image due to the movement (body motion) of the subject 2, the subtraction image is obtained. Artifacts are generated in the and deteriorate the diagnostic value.

Therefore, if the live image photographing is started immediately after the mask image photographing, less time elapses, body movement is less likely to occur, and a favorable subtraction image is obtained. However, after taking the mask image, a contrast agent must be injected,
There is a large individual difference in the time when the contrast agent reaches the target lesion, and the timing of injecting the contrast agent is difficult.

Further, in the SI mode, it is necessary to set an accurate photographing rate in order to grasp the blood circulation state of the lesion area.
That is, when the shooting rate is high, an image with good time resolution can be obtained, but the number of times of shooting increases and the exposure dose increases. Furthermore, a large number of images are required before the vein phase is visualized. In addition, when the shooting rate is low, there is a high possibility that shooting may be missed at the optimum timing.

Therefore, normally, a plurality of shooting rates for live image shooting are set, and the shooting time (number of times) for each shooting is set. A time chart of X-ray irradiation showing this state is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, (a) shows the mask image photographing. Also, (b) is a live image shooting block with a shooting rate of 4 images / second and shooting time of 1 second, and (c) is a live image shooting block with a shooting rate of 2 images / second and shooting time of 1.5 seconds, (D) shows live image capturing blocks with a capturing rate of 1 image / second and a capturing time of 3 seconds, respectively.

This X-ray exposure sequence is displayed on the monitor 11 as shown in FIG. That is, shooting rate ((c), (d), (e)), shooting time ((to),
(G), (H)), timing of contrast agent injection ((A),
(B)) other than the shooting control parameters, the image matrix size (i), and the parameter (n) such as the number of added images, if necessary, can be displayed and the values can be changed. The scale of the time chart is changed. The parameter changing method is performed by using the photographing procedure determining unit 20.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of the operation panel of the photographing procedure determining section 20. In FIG. 7, the photographing method is S
After selecting by the INGLE key, BIPLANE key, or STEREO key, the shooting mode is set to SI key, C
It is selected by selecting the I key and DI key. After this,
For example, the time chart shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the monitor 11. The parameters at this time are assumed to have been set previously. Next, a pointing device PD such as a mouse
By operating, the marker moves on the parameter display portion on the time chart displayed on the monitor 11. The parameter setting value can be changed by inputting a numerical value from the ten-key TK for the parameter for which the marker is currently displayed.

Hereinafter, a method for creating a time chart according to an actual photographing sequence will be described with reference to FIG. The time required for the whole imaging is (a) mask image shooting-contrast injection,
(B) Injection of contrast agent to first live image shooting, (f) shooting time at first shooting rate, (g) shooting time at second shooting rate, and (h) shooting time at third shooting rate It's time to do it. When this total shooting time is Ttotal and the total number of pixels for displaying the time chart is Ptotal, the number of display pixels per unit time is represented by (Ptotal / Ttotal). Further, when the X-direction address for starting the display of the time chart is Xstart, the X-direction address on the time chart showing each photographing time is expressed by (Expression 1) to (Expression 6).

[0026]

[Equation 1]

[0027]

[Equation 2]

[0028]

[Equation 3]

[0029]

[Equation 4]

[0030]

[Equation 5]

[0031]

[Equation 6]

By calculating the position of the X-ray exposure in the time chart based on these (Equation 1) to (Equation 6), the time chart can be displayed on a scale that matches the actual imaging sequence.

At the time of observing an image after photographing is performed in the sequence determined by the above procedure, a time chart showing the photographing sequence is displayed on the monitor 11 or the dedicated display section 21, and the time chart of the image currently being displayed is displayed. Position of marker M
It is indicated by K (see FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows an example in which a time chart showing a photographing sequence is displayed on the monitor 11).

When the time chart is displayed on the monitor 11, the one used at the time of photographing is reduced and displayed at a position where it does not interfere with the image. The display position of the marker MK is
It is obtained by using (Equation 1) to (Equation 5). That is, when the reduction ratio is R, it may be calculated as (Ptotal / Ttotal) × R. FIG. 8 illustrates a monitor screen displaying the 11th image. From this, it can be seen that the photographing rate of the image is 4 images after the injection of the contrast agent, and the photographing rate is 2 images / sec.
When the contrast state of the front and rear images is poor, it is required to change the imaging sequence from the current one and perform imaging again, but the set value at that time can be immediately determined.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the time chart of the scale corresponding to the actual photographing sequence is displayed on the display means, it is possible for an operator (a doctor etc.) who concentrates on the catheter operation. Thus, the next shooting sequence can be intuitively understood. Also, when displaying a shot image, a time chart showing the shooting sequence is displayed at the same time, and the position of the image is marked and displayed.
The shooting timing of the image can be understood and can be used as a reference for the next shooting. For example, in the first imaging sequence, since the blood circulation state of the subject is unknown, standard parameters are set for the time being, but during the observation of the captured image, the timing at which the lesion is best depicted by the imaging time chart. Therefore, the parameters that determine the next shooting sequence can be determined on the spot. Therefore, the photographing procedure can be easily determined.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a time chart of a shooting sequence in a serial imaging mode.

FIG. 3 is a time chart of a shooting sequence in a continuous imaging mode.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of a shooting sequence in a dynamic imaging mode.

FIG. 5 is a time chart of X-ray exposure in imaging in serial imaging mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a time chart display screen for determining a shooting procedure in a serial imaging mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation panel of a shooting procedure determination unit.

8 is a diagram showing an example in which the time chart of FIG. 6 is superimposed on a captured image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 X-ray tube 2 Subject 3 Image intensifier 4 Tandem lens system 5 TV camera 6 AD converter 7 Look-up table 8a-8n Image memory 9 DA converter 10 Display gradation processor 11 Monitor 12 CPU 13 X-ray Control unit 14 High-voltage generator 15 Injector 20 Imaging procedure determination unit 21 Imaging sequence / time chart display unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image photographing control means for photographing an image in a desired procedure within a preset range, a numerical value input means for inputting various parameters set at the time of image photographing, and displaying various images, characters and numerical values. In the medical image photographing apparatus equipped with the display means, a time chart of a scale corresponding to an actual photographing sequence corresponding to the parameter set by the numerical value input means is displayed on the display means or the time chart dedicated display means. Scale time chart display control means, image display time chart display control means for displaying the time chart at the time of image capturing on the display means or time chart dedicated display means while the captured image is displayed by the display means, and the display means While the captured image is being displayed by, the position of the image currently displayed Medical imaging apparatus characterized by comprising a display in the image position marking means for marking the display to the time chart on which is displayed by the display control means.