JPH07148153A - X-ray ct apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an X-ray CT apparatus which relieves a load of an operator and improves a diagnosing efficiency on the whole. CONSTITUTION:There are provided: a bed 2 which supports a top board 2a on which a patient H is laid so as to be movable in the vertical and horizontal directions; and a gantry 1 having an opening for a diagnosis from which the top board 2a is inserted into the gantry at the time of an X-ray photography. A vertical direction driving section 8 and a horizontal direction driving section 9 are driven by processes of a CPU 11 in response to an instruction signal for instructing a conveyance of the top board 2a so that the top board 2a is automatically conveyed between an initial position where the patient gets on/off the top board 2a and a scanning position at the opening for a diagnosis.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray CT apparatus, and more particularly to an X-ray CT apparatus having means for automatically carrying a top plate when performing scan imaging or after completion of scan imaging.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An X-ray CT apparatus, as shown in FIG.
A gantry 20 having a ray tube, an X-ray detector, and the like, and a bed 21 that supports a patient placement top plate 21a so as to be vertically movable and horizontally movable. The gantry 20 and the bed 21 are installed in a scanner room, and a console for an operator to set scanning conditions and the like is installed in an operation room separated from the scanner room.

According to such an X-ray CT apparatus, at the time of starting imaging (hereinafter, also referred to as scan imaging), an operator is placed in an initial position for getting on and off a patient who has entered the scanner room. For example, the top 21a is instructed to be placed in a supine posture, and it is confirmed that the patient is placed in a state capable of photographing.

Next, the operator pushes the top plate upward movement switch of the top plate movement input unit 22 provided on the side of the bed to raise the top plate 21a. At this time, the operator continues to press the top plate upward movement switch until the top plate 21a rises to a height corresponding to a position where scanning starts in the diagnostic opening 20a of the gantry 20 (hereinafter referred to as a scan start position). After the top plate 21a is lifted, the operator pushes the top plate horizontal movement switch to move the top plate 21a in the horizontal direction (IN direction in FIG. 7). At this time, the operator continues to push the top plate horizontal movement switch until the top plate 21a horizontally moves to the scan start position. As a result, the tabletop 21a is transported from the initial position for getting on and off the patient on the bed 21 to the scan start position in the diagnostic opening 20a of the gantry 20.

In this way, after confirming that the top plate 21a has been conveyed to the scan start position, the operator returns from the scanner room to the console room, and the number of scans and the scan range from the console (the scan position by the horizontal movement of the top plate 21a). Setting of the movement range of, for example, about 200 mm max)
Scanning was performed by appropriately setting scan conditions such as.

Further, when the scan photographing is completed, the operator reenters the scanner room from the console room,
By pressing the top plate horizontal movement switch of the top plate movement input unit 22 provided integrally with the bed 21, the top plate 21a is moved horizontally (see FIG. 7).
Move in the OUT direction). At this time, the operator continues to push the tabletop horizontal movement switch until the tabletop 21a reaches the horizontal position corresponding to the initial position for getting on and off the patient. After the horizontal movement of the tabletop 21a is completed, the operator pushes the tabletop downward movement switch to lower the tabletop 21a. On this occasion,
The operator continues to push the top plate downward movement switch until the top plate 21a reaches the height corresponding to the initial position for getting on and off the patient. As a result, the top plate 21a is transported from the scan end position to the patient loading / unloading initial position of the bed 21.

In this way, the operator confirms that the top plate 21a has been transported to the patient loading / unloading initial position of the bed 21, and then instructs the patient to get off the bed 21 (in the case of a seriously ill patient, the patient should take it down. ), Followed the same procedure again to scan the next patient.

[0008]

However, the movement of the top plate to the scan start position and the movement to the patient loading / unloading initial position as described above are performed by the operator from the operation room to the scanner room one by one for each patient. Since the operator had to go in and out, the operator had to go back and forth between the scanner room and the operation room for each patient. For example, when a large number of people have to be scanned in a short time, such as a group medical examination, the operator's burden is particularly large and it is easy to cause a malfunction. In addition, the round trip time increases the diagnosis time of each patient and deteriorates the overall diagnosis efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and by providing means for automatically conveying the top plate between its scan position and the initial position for getting on and off the patient, It is an object of the present invention to provide an X-ray CT apparatus that reduces the burden and improves the overall diagnosis efficiency.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 is a bed which supports a table on which a patient is placed so as to be vertically movable and horizontally movable. In an X-ray CT apparatus provided with a gantry having a diagnostic opening into which the top plate is inserted during X-ray imaging, a command means for generating a command signal for instructing the transfer of the top plate, and a patient getting on and off the top plate. Between the initial position for scanning and the position of the scanning range in the diagnostic opening of the top plate,
There is provided a table top automatic carrying means for automatically carrying the tabletop in response to the command signal.

In the X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention, in particular, the command signal is given through the console by an operator who confirms that the patient is laid on the tabletop in a scannable state. Is a command signal for loading the tabletop at the start of imaging, the tabletop automatic transfer means,
Means for transporting the top plate from the initial position toward the scan start position in response to a command signal for loading the top plate from the operator.

Further, in the X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention, in particular, the command signal is a command signal for returning the tabletop upon completion of imaging, and the tabletop automatic transfer means is for returning the tabletop. In response to the command signal of (3), the top plate is conveyed from the scan end position to the initial position.

[0013]

According to the X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention, when the command for outputting the tabletop is output from the commanding means, the tabletop automatic carrying means automatically moves the tabletop from the initial position for getting on and off the patient on the bed. First, it is transported to a position within the scanning range in the diagnostic opening, or automatically from the position in the scanning range at the diagnostic opening to the initial position for getting on and off the patient on the bed.

Specifically, at the time of starting the photographing, the operator operates the operation switches and the like of the console after confirming that the patient is safely placed on the top plate located at the initial position for getting on and off the patient. And outputs a command signal for carrying in the top.

In response to the command signal, the tabletop automatic carrying means automatically carries the tabletop from the initial position for getting on and off the patient to the scan start position of the diagnostic opening.

When the photographing is completed, the tabletop automatic carrying means automatically moves the tabletop from the scan end position to the initial position for getting on and off the patient in response to the command signal accompanying the completion of the photographing. Transport to.

That is, the transportation of the top plate is automatically performed from the time the patient is placed on the top plate to the time when he / she descends from the top plate.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the X-ray CT apparatus in this embodiment. Further, FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the X-ray CT apparatus shown in FIG.

This X-ray CT apparatus includes a gantry (hereinafter also referred to as a gantry) 1 equipped with an X-ray output unit, an X-ray detection unit, and the like, which will be described later, and a bed 2 for carrying a patient H into the gantry 1. And a console (not shown) for operating the gantry 1. Also, this gantry 1 and bed 2
Is installed in the scanner room, and the console is installed in an operation room separated from the scanner room. It should be noted that the console is provided with a microphone so that the sound through the operator's microphone can be heard from a speaker installed at a required position in the scanner room.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gantry 1 has a diagnostic opening 1a for inserting a patient in the center. The bed 2 is arranged so that its horizontal direction is along the central axis of the diagnostic opening 1a. In addition, on the upper part of the bed 2, a patient placing top plate 2a is provided.
Are supported so that they can move up and down and move horizontally (IN and OUT directions shown in FIG. 1). The top plate 2a is
Before the scan is started (normal state), the height of the center of the bed 2 is sufficient to allow the patient to get in and out (for example, about 30 on the floor).
It is supported by 0 mm;). Hereinafter, the center position of the bed 2 will be referred to as the return position, and the height thereof will be referred to as the initial height. And the position before this scan starts (return position, initial height)
Are collectively called the initial position for getting on and off the patient.

The system configuration of this X-ray CT apparatus is shown in FIG. The gantry 1 controls the X-ray output unit 3 that irradiates the patient H inserted in the diagnostic opening 1a with X-rays, the X-ray output from the X-ray output unit 3, and the exposure timing.
The X-ray detection unit 5 includes a line control unit 4 and an X-ray detection unit 5 that converts the X-rays emitted toward the patient H and transmitted through the patient H into electric charges.

Further, the X-ray CT apparatus has an image reconstructing section 6. The image reconstruction unit 6 creates projection data from the output value from the X-ray detection unit 5, and forms a tomographic image from this projection data by image reconstruction calculation processing based on a calculation method such as back projection. An image display unit 7 is provided on the output side of the image reconstruction unit 6, and the formed tomographic image is displayed by the image display unit 7.

On the other hand, the X-ray CT apparatus raises and lowers the top plate 2a and raises and lowers the driving unit 8 which is, for example, a hydraulic mechanism.
And a horizontal drive unit 9 including, for example, a slide mechanism that moves the top plate 2a in the horizontal direction, and a gantry control unit 10 that controls the rotation operation, tilt, and the like of the gantry (frame) 1 associated with scanning. The lifting drive unit 8, the horizontal drive unit 9, and the gantry control unit 10 are each connected to the CPU 11 and operate according to a control signal from the CPU 11.

The CPU 11 controls the entire system of the apparatus and also performs processing (processing shown in FIG. 4 described later) associated with automatic conveyance of the top plate before the start of scanning and after the end of scanning. It should be noted that the CPU 11 includes the CPU 1
A memory 12 in which the procedure of the process in 1 and data necessary for the process are stored in advance, and a console 13 which is a system drive condition setting unit based on an operation of an operator are connected.

As shown in FIG. 3, the console 13 has an automatic transfer setting switch for setting whether or not the top plate is automatically transferred, and a carry-in command for instructing the top plate 2a to be carried into the diagnostic opening 1a. An operation switch 13a including a switch, an automatic interruption switch for interrupting automatic conveyance of the top plate 2a, and a scanning condition setting unit 13b for setting scanning conditions such as the number of scans, a scan range, and a slice thickness. A movement amount setting unit 13c for setting a movement amount when the bed 2 is raised and lowered and a horizontal movement amount of the tabletop,
A control signal output from the operation switch 13a, the scan condition setting unit 13b, and the movement amount setting unit 13c, and a CPU
The console input / output interface 13d for interfacing with the output signal sent from the console 11 to the console 13 and the CPU 1 when the automatic transportation of the top plate 2a is completed.
Indicator lamp 1 that lights up in response to the end command sent from
3e and.

In the present embodiment, the scan range means the scan start position (collectively the height at which the scan at the diagnostic opening is desired to start and the horizontal position) to the scan end position (the diagnostic opening). The height and horizontal position at which the scan is to be ended are collectively referred to as the range of scan positions up to).

Further, the bed 2 is provided with a detector (not shown) for detecting the amount of vertical movement of the top 2a and the amount of horizontal movement.

Here, the processing associated with the automatic conveyance of the tabletop by the CPU 11 before the start of scanning and after the end of scanning will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when starting the scan, C
In step 101, the PU 11 reads a command from the operation switch 13a of the console 13 as to whether or not the top board is automatically conveyed. Then in step 102,
Based on this command, it is determined whether or not the top plate 2a is automatically conveyed. If the result of this determination is NO, it is determined that the top plate 2a is not automatically conveyed, and the processing ends.

On the other hand, as a result of the judgment in step 102, YE
In the case of S, it is determined that the top plate 2a is automatically conveyed, and in step 103, it is determined whether or not the top plate loading command is input from the operation switch 13a. If the result of this determination is NO, the process returns to the step before execution of step 103 and waits until the top plate loading command is input. And
As soon as the placement command is input, the determination in step 103 is Y.
The process becomes ES, and the process proceeds to step 104.

In step 104, the scanning conditions set by the scanning condition setting unit 13b are read, and the top plate 2 from the movement amount setting unit 13c of the console 13 is read.
The amount of upward and downward movement of a and the horizontal direction of the top plate 3 (IN
Direction and OUT direction). Then, in step 105, a command for raising the top 2a based on the set movement amount is sent to the elevating / lowering drive unit 8. At this time, CP
In step 106, the U11 constantly determines whether or not the top plate 2a has risen by the set movement amount based on the movement amount detection signal from the detection unit. If the result of this determination is NO, this determination is repeated, and if the top 2a has risen by the set amount of movement, the determination in step 106 becomes YES and the process proceeds to step 107.

At step 107, the CPU 11
An IN-direction movement command for the top plate 3 based on the set movement amount is sent to the horizontal drive unit 9. At this time, the CPU 11 constantly determines in step 108 whether or not the top plate 2a has moved in the IN direction by the set movement amount based on the movement amount detection signal from the detection unit. And the result of this judgment is N
In the case of O, this determination is repeated, and when the top 2a moves by the set movement amount, the determination in step 108 is Y.
The status becomes ES, and the process proceeds to step 109.

From step 109, the CPU 11 causes the memory 12 and the scan conditions read in step 104.
Create a scan plan by referring to the data stored in. Then, in step 110, a scan execution command based on the created scan plan is sent to the X-ray control unit 4, the image reconstruction unit 6, the horizontal drive unit 9, and the gantry control unit 10.

At this time, the CPU 11 causes the step 111
In step 1, it is always determined whether or not the scan based on the created scan plan is completed. If the result of this determination is NO, the determination in step 111 is repeated. When the scan is completed in this way, step 111
Is YES. This YES determination of the CPU 11 becomes a command for returning the top plate, and the process proceeds to step 112.

At step 112, the CPU 11
Whether or not the gantry (stand) 1 is tilted during scanning (for example, assuming that the tilt angle is 0 ° in the normal state, the tilt angle is 0 ° ±
θ °), and if the result is NO, it is determined that the tilt has not occurred, and the process proceeds to step 114. When the determination in step 112 is YES, the tilt of the gantry (frame) 1 is returned to the normal state (inclination angle 0 °) in step 113. Then, the process proceeds to step 114.

Then, in step 114, the CPU
11 is O based on the set movement amount of the top 2a this time.
A UT direction movement command is sent to the top driving unit 10. At this time,
In step 115, it is always determined whether or not the top plate 2a has moved in the OUT direction by the set movement amount based on the movement amount detection signal from the detection unit. If the result of this determination is NO, this determination is repeated until the top plate 2a
If is moved by the set movement amount, the determination in step 115 is YES and the process proceeds to step 116.

Then, in step 116, a command for lowering the top 2a based on the set movement amount is sent to the lifting drive unit 8. At this time, in step 117, the CPU 11 constantly determines whether or not the top plate 2a has descended by the set movement amount based on the movement amount detection signal from the detection unit. Then, if the result of this determination is NO, this determination is repeated, and when the top 2a is lowered by the set movement amount, the determination in step 117 becomes YES, and step 1
The process moves to 18.

Finally, in step 118, the CPU
11 is a command for the console 1
Then, the process is terminated by sending the result to No. 3.

Incidentally, the console 13 in this embodiment,
And the processing of steps 102, 103, and 111 of the CPU 11 forms the command means, and the lifting drive unit 8, the horizontal drive unit 9,
Also, the processing of steps 105 to 108 and step 114 to step 117 of the CPU 11 forms the automatic top board conveying means.

Next, the overall operation will be described.

When automatically carrying the top plate 2a, the operator in the operation room instructs the patient H who has entered the scanner room through the microphone to place it on the top plate 2a located at the initial position for getting on and off the patient. At the same time, the automatic transfer setting switch of the operation switch 13a in the console 13 is operated to output a command to automatically transfer the top 2a. At this time, the CPU 11 receives the command and executes step 101.
Then, the processing of step 102 is performed and it is determined that the top plate 2a is automatically conveyed, and the next command from the console 13 is awaited.

Then, the operator confirms that the patient H has the top plate 2a.
After confirming that the user has slept in the scannable state, the carry-in command switch of the operation switch 13a is operated to output the top-board carry-in command to the CPU 11. Then, by the scan condition setting unit 13b, the slice start position, the slice end position (slice range), the slice thickness 2 mm, the number of scans 10
The scanning conditions such as the above are set and output to the CPU 11, and the movement amount setting unit 13c causes the movement amount of the ascent and descent of the top plate 2a and the horizontal direction (IN direction and OUT
The movement amount (direction) is set and output to the CPU 11.

Of these, the amount of movement when the top plate 2a is raised is the amount of movement from the initial height to the height of the scan start position, and the amount of movement when it is lowered is the amount of movement from the height of the scan end position to the initial height. Is the amount. In addition, in the case of the present embodiment, the moving amount in the ascent and the moving amount in the descent are both set to 500 mm. The amount of movement of the tabletop 2a in the IN direction is the amount of movement in the IN direction from the return position to the scan start position, and the amount of movement in the OUT direction is the amount of movement in the OUT direction from the scan end position to the return position. Is. In the case of the present embodiment, the moving amount in the IN direction and the moving amount in the OUT direction are both 500 mm.

The CPU 11 confirms that the patient placement command has been input by the processing of step 103 to step 104, and sets the scan conditions, the moving amount of the ascent and descent of the table 2a, and the IN of the table 2a. The amount of movement in both the OUT and OUT directions (both 500 mm) is read.

Then, step 105 and step 10
6. Process 6 is performed. That is, as shown in FIG.
The lifting drive unit 8 is driven to raise the top plate 2a to the height of the scan start position by 500 mm (see FIG. 5B).

Then, step 107 and step 10
8. Process 8 is performed. That is, as shown in FIG.
The horizontal drive unit 9 is driven to move the top plate 2a to the scan start position in the diagnostic opening 1a based on the set movement amount.
It is horizontally moved by 500 mm in the N direction (see FIG. 5 (c)).

Thus, the top plate 2a is conveyed to the scan start position within the diagnostic opening 1a. And step 1
The processing from 09 to step 110 sends a control signal to the X-ray output unit 3, the image reconstructing unit 6, the elevation drive unit 8, the gantry control unit 10, etc., based on the scan condition for the patient H on the top 2a. The scan is executed according to the scan plan created by.

On the other hand, by the processing of step 111, the required scan for the patient H is completed, that is,
It is determined that the top plate return command has been output. And
By the processing of steps 112 to 113, the gantry 1a
The tilt is corrected and the processes of steps 114 to 115 are performed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the horizontal drive unit 8 is driven to move the top plate 2a to the return position by 500.
It is moved in the mmOUT direction (see FIG. 6B). Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6B, the elevation drive unit 8 is driven to lower the top plate 2a to the initial height by 500 mm (see FIG. 6C).

When the lowering of the top plate 2a is completed, a transfer end command is sent to the console 13 by the processing of step 118. This command signal is sent to the display lamp 13e via the console interface 13d,
The lamp 13e lights up.

The operator recognizes that the display lamp 13e is turned on, confirms that the patient H has descended to the initial height, and then instructs the patient H to descend from the top plate 2a by the microphone. The patient H descends from the top plate 2a based on the instruction.

As described above, when the patient H is scanned, the top plate 2a is moved up and down and IN / OUT is moved.
By automatically performing the movement in the direction, the operator can place the patient H on the tabletop 2a without automatically entering the scanner room and automatically convey the patient H to the scan start position within the diagnostic opening 1a. After the end, the patient H can be automatically transported to the initial height. Therefore, the operator can save the labor of reciprocating between the operation room and the scanner room for each patient H, and can shorten the time required for the reciprocation.

If an abnormal situation occurs during the automatic conveyance of the top plate 2a, the automatic interruption switch of the operation switch 13a is turned on to interrupt the processing of the CPU 11 according to FIG. The drive of the unit 8 and the horizontal drive unit 9 can be stopped, and the automatic conveyance can be interrupted. Therefore, even in the event of an abnormality, it is possible to accurately deal with it manually.

A handrail or a safety belt may be provided on the top plate 2a for the convenience of getting on and off and for maintaining the posture while the top plate is moving. The handrail is more effective if it can be moved, removed, and folded at the installation position.

Further, in this embodiment, the patient H placed on the top plate 2a is automatically conveyed to the scan start position of the diagnostic opening 1a (conveyance before the scan is started), and the patient H after the scan is initialized. Although it is automatically conveyed to the height (conveyance after completion of scanning), the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only one of conveyance before start of scanning and conveyance after completion of scanning is automatically performed. May be.

[0057]

As described above, according to the X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention, since the top plate conveying means for automatically conveying the top plate in response to the top plate conveying command from the command means is provided, The patient placed on the table can be automatically transported to the scan start position, and the patient after the scan can be automatically transported to the initial position for getting on and off the patient on the bed. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to directly enter the scanner room and carry the top plate manually,
The burden on the operator is reduced. Also, the operator
Each patient can be diagnosed from the console room. As a result, a large number of patients can be diagnosed in the same time as the conventional method, and the overall diagnostic efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the X-ray CT apparatus in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a console in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of processing by a CPU in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the rising and horizontal movement of the top plate in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the lowering and horizontal movement of the top plate in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an X-ray CT apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 gantry 1a diagnostic opening 2 bed 2a top plate 3 X-ray output unit 4 X-ray control unit 5 X-ray detection unit 6 image reconstruction unit 7 image display unit 8 bed drive unit 9 top drive unit 10 gantry control unit 11 CPU 12 memory 13 console

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An X provided with a bed supporting a table on which a patient is placed so as to be vertically movable and horizontally movable, and a gantry having a diagnostic opening into which the table is inserted during X-ray imaging. In the line CT apparatus, between the command means for generating a command signal for commanding the transportation of the top plate, the initial position of the top plate for getting on and off the patient, and the position of the scanning range in the diagnostic opening of the top plate. An X-ray CT apparatus, which is provided with a tabletop automatic carrying means for carrying the tabletop automatically in response to the command signal. 2. The command signal is a command signal for carrying-in a top plate at the start of imaging, which is given through an console by an operator who has confirmed that the patient has been laid on the top plate in a scannable state. 2. The automatic table top conveying means is means for conveying the tabletop from the initial position to the scan start position in response to a command signal for carrying in the tabletop from the operator. X-ray CT system. 3. The command signal is a command signal for returning a tabletop upon completion of photographing, and the tabletop automatic carrying means responds to the command signal for tabletop returning from the scan end position to the initial stage. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1, which is a means for transporting the top plate toward a position.