JPH0779958A - X-ray observation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To observe a living body with less X-ray exposure dose by irradiating a living body by a X-ray tube at a ratio of once in several frames which produces the image signal to be accumulated in the frame memory to display the image from the accumulated frame memory and by observe three- dimentionally with 3D glasses or a stereoscope. CONSTITUTION:The X-ray observation appratus comprises X-ray tube 1 which radiates X-ray with a synchronization taking place at a ratio of once in several frames, an X-ray image pickup tube 3 which converts the signal penetrated (or reflected) after emitted X-ray is irradiated to the object 2, into the image signal, plural frame memories 7 which circulate and accumulate the converted image signal, and a signal distribution control circuit 8 which circulates and switches over the image signal accumulated in the frame memories 7 and then reads out the image signal to the time series. Furthermore, a X-ray image and a stereographic image with the reduced X-ray exposure dose are to be shown real time in line with the time series.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray observing apparatus for observing an X-ray image with reduced X-ray exposure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an X-ray TV system irradiates a living body, for example, a human body with X-rays continuously, and then transmits the transmitted X-rays into a phosphor to convert the X-rays into light, which is then converted into an electric signal for TV monitor. I am trying to display it above.

Further, an X-ray film photographed with X-rays from a plurality of angles is observed with stereoscopic glasses and recognized as a three-dimensional object having a depth.

[0004]

The conventional X-ray TV system has a problem that the amount of exposure is increased because the living body is continuously irradiated with X-rays. Also, when trying to stereoscopically observe an image by X-ray, the film taken at various angles was stereoscopically observed through stereoscopic glasses,
There is a problem that it is not possible to observe a living body in three dimensions in real time.

The present invention solves these problems.
The object is irradiated from the X-ray tube at different angles once every several frames, the image signals at this time are accumulated in a plurality of frame memories, and the images are displayed on the screen from the accumulated frame memories. 3D glasses for stereoscopic observation,
The purpose is to observe stereoscopically with a stereoscopic mirror and to observe with a small amount of X-ray exposure.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Means for solving the problems will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, an X-ray tube 1
Generates X-rays in synchronization with the display frame displayed on the screen once every several frames.

The X-ray imaging tube 3 converts the signal, which is the X-ray generated by the X-ray tube 1 irradiated on the object 2 and transmitted (or reflected), into an image signal. The frame memory 7 circulates and stores the image signal converted by the X-ray imaging tube 3.

The signal distribution control circuit 8 circulates and switches the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories 7 to read and display them in a time series, and selects X-rays from the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories 7. The image signal of the current angle at which the object illuminates the object and the image signal different from the previous angle by a predetermined angle or more, and the stereoscopic display is performed.
The image signals of the angles at which the two designated X-rays illuminate the object are read out from the image signals stored in (3) and stereoscopically displayed.

The 3D glasses 10 are for stereoscopically observing images alternately displayed on the screen. The stereoscopic mirror 12 synthesizes two images displayed on the screen and stereoscopically observes them.

[0010]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the X-rays generated by the X-ray tube 1 are synchronized with the display frame displayed on the screen once every several frames, and the X-rays are transmitted to the object 2. The X-ray image pickup tube 3 converts the irradiated and transmitted (or reflected) signal into an image signal, which is circulated and circulated and stored in a plurality of frame memories 7. The image signals accumulated in the plurality of frame memories 7 are circulated and switched to be read out in time series, and X-ray images with a reduced X-ray exposure amount are displayed on the screen in real time in time series.

Further, among the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories 7 by the signal distribution control circuit 8, an image signal of the present angle at which the X-ray irradiates the object 2 and an image signal different from the previous predetermined angle or more. 3D synchronized with the images alternately displayed on one screen (or simultaneously displayed on two screens or divided into one screen and displayed simultaneously). Through the glasses 10 or through the two images on the screen through the stereoscopic mirror 12, X
X-ray images with reduced radiation exposure are stereoscopically observed in real time in a time series.

From the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories 7 by the signal distribution control circuit 8, the image signals of the angles at which the two designated X-rays irradiate the object are read out and alternately displayed on one screen. On the screen (or simultaneously on two screens or divided into one screen and displayed simultaneously), and the images alternately displayed on one screen are passed through the synchronized 3D glasses 10 or on the screen. One image is passed through the stereoscopic mirror 12 to stereoscopically observe an X-ray image with reduced X-ray exposure.

Therefore, the object (for example, human being who is a living body) 2 is irradiated from the X-ray tube 1 at different angles once every several frames, and the image signals at this time are accumulated in a plurality of frame memories 7. These are read out in time series from the accumulated frame memory 7 and displayed in real time on the screen,
It is possible to stereoscopically display images at different angles on the screen, and to observe time-series images and stereoscopic images in real time with a small amount of X-ray exposure.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the construction and operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, an X-ray tube 1 generates X-rays, and here, once every several frames (for example, once every 10 frames) compared to the display frame displayed on the screen. ), X-rays are generated synchronously.

The object 2 is the X generated by the X-ray tube 1.
An object that is an object to be irradiated with a ray and generates an X-ray image based on the transmitted X-rays and the reflected X-rays, and is, for example, a human being who is a living body.

The X-ray imaging tube 3 is for converting the X-rays generated by the X-ray tube 1 to the object 2 and transmitting (or reflecting) the X-rays into image signals. The X-ray high-voltage generator 4 is for applying a high voltage to the X-ray tube 1 to generate X-rays. Here, based on the control signal from the X-ray control controller 5, a high voltage is generated in synchronization with a few frames displayed on the screen once (see FIG. 2).
C))).

The X-ray controller 5 applies a control signal to the X-ray high voltage so that the X-ray tube 1 applies a high voltage for generating X-rays once in synchronization with several frames displayed on the screen. It is input to the generator 4.

The signal control circuit 6 controls the X-rays so as to generate X-rays once every several frames displayed on the screen in synchronization with the image (display frame) displayed on the screen. The controller 5 is notified, or the image signal from the X-ray imaging apparatus 3 when the object 2 is irradiated with X-rays in synchronization with this control signal is captured and written in the frame memory 7 to be accumulated, or at this time. For example, the synchronization signal is notified to the signal distribution control circuit 8.

The frame memory 7 stores the X-ray image signals from the X-ray image pickup tube 3 and stores a plurality of image signals. The signal distribution control circuit 8 circulates and switches the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories 7 once per display frame and reads them out in a time series, or among the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories 7. From the image signal of the current angle at which the X-ray irradiates the object and an image signal different from the previous predetermined angle or more, or two X-rays designated from the image signals accumulated in the plurality of frame memories 7 The image signal of the irradiation angle is read out.

The TV monitor 9 displays the image signal input from the signal distribution control circuit 8, switches the frame memory 7 to read out the image signal, and displays the X-ray image in real time in time series. Alternatively, during stereoscopic observation, the image signal of the current angle at which the X-ray irradiates the object 2 and the image signal different from the previous predetermined angle from the image signals accumulated in the plurality of frame memories 7 are read out and displayed. To do. In this latter three-dimensional observation,
An image displayed on the TV monitor 9 is synchronously viewed through the 3D glasses 10 to alternately see the image corresponding to the left eye and the image corresponding to the right eye, and observe a stereoscopic image.

The 3D glasses 10 are glasses for allowing the left eye and the right eye to see the image corresponding to the left eye and the image corresponding to the right eye displayed on the TV monitor 9, respectively. Glasses made of liquid crystal that operates in synchronism with switching and image signals.

The TV monitor 11 is a screen for displaying an image for the left eye and an image for the right eye read from the frame memory 7, respectively. The stereoscopic mirror 12 combines two images displayed on the screens of the two TV monitors 11 (or screens divided on one TV monitor 11) to enable stereoscopic observation. A combination of other 3D observations such as one using change glasses may be used.

The configuration of FIG. 1 will be sequentially described in detail below. FIG. 2 shows an X-ray irradiation explanatory diagram of the present invention. The living body 21 is irradiated with X-rays once every two frames.
The image signal is stored (accumulated) in the frame memory 7 while being rotated.

FIG. 2A shows the state of the frame. This is X for the frame displayed on the screen.
X-rays are generated from the radiation tube 1 and applied to the living body 21 (see (a) in FIG. 2C), and the X-rays that have passed through the living body 21 are converted into image signals of electric signals by the X-ray imaging tube 3. 1 frame storage (1 frame image signal is stored in the frame memory 7)
To do. From this state, the living body 21 is gradually turned clockwise here.

FIG. 2B shows the state of the frame. This is because the living body 21 is gradually rotated clockwise from the state of FIG. 2A, and at the time of the frame displayed on the screen, the X-ray tube 1 generates X-rays and irradiates the living body 21 ( 2 (c) (b)), X transmitted through the living body 21
The X-ray image pickup tube 3 converts the line into an electric signal image signal, which is stored in a frame (three frame image signals are stored in the frame memory 7) and the angles at that time are also stored. From this state, the living body 21 is further rotated in the clockwise direction here.

FIG. 2C shows the relationship between the display frame displayed on the screen and the generation of X-rays. Where (a)
2 generates X-rays at the time of FIG. 2A, irradiates the living body 21 with the X-rays, converts the transmitted X-rays into an image signal by the X-ray imaging tube 3, and uses this image signal as a frame. It is stored in the frame memory 7.

2B, the X-rays are generated at the time of FIG. 2B, and the X-rays radiated to the living body 21 and transmitted therethrough are converted into image signals by the X-ray imaging tube 3. This image signal is stored in the frame memory 7 as a frame.

As described above, the frame and the X-ray are generated in the frame to irradiate the living body 21 and the image signal at that time is stored in the frame memory 7. Then, as will be described later, it is sequentially read from the frame memory 7 and displayed. Here, the image signal of the same frame is displayed until the image signal of the next frame is stored, such as frame, frame, frame, frame ... To do. As a result, here, it is sufficient to irradiate the living body 21 with X-rays once every two frames, and the amount of X-ray exposure can be reduced to 1/2.

FIG. 3 shows an explanatory view of observation by the 3D shutter system of the present invention. In FIG. 3A, the frame memory 7-1 stores image signals of odd fields. Here, the odd field is the image signal of the odd field of the frame, and the odd field of the image signal of the frame of the X-ray in which the X-ray of (a) of FIG. (The image signal for the left eye, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3B and 3C, is stored).

The frame memory 7-2 stores image signals of even fields. Here, the even field is the image signal of the even field of the frame, and the X-ray of (b) in FIG.
Is an even field of the image signal of the X-ray frame that has been transmitted through (the image signal for the right eye, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3B and 3C, is stored).

The TV monitor 9 alternately displays the image signal of the odd field (the image signal for the left eye) and the image signal of the even field (the image signal for the right eye). The shutter control circuit 10-1 controls the opening and closing of the 3D glasses 10 with a liquid crystal shutter, and when the image signal (for the left eye) of the odd field is read out from the frame memory 7-1 and displayed, The left eye is controlled to be transparent / the right eye is controlled to be non-transparent, while the image signal of the even field (for the right eye) is read from the frame memory 7-2 and displayed, the left eye of the 3D glasses 10 is controlled to be non-transmissive / the right eye is controlled to be transparent. To do.

The 3D glasses 10 are glasses having a liquid crystal shutter mechanism capable of making the left eye transparent / right eye non-transparent or the left eye non-transparent / right eye transparent by liquid crystal. FIG. 3B shows a frame image and a state of the frame image. Here, the frame image is composed of an image signal of an odd field and an image signal of an even field. The image signals of the odd field and the even field are stored in the frame memory 7 when the living body 21 generated by X-ray irradiation in (a) of FIG. 2C is irradiated.

Similarly, the frame image is composed of an image signal of an odd field and an image signal of an even field. The image signals of the odd-numbered field and the even-numbered field are stored in the frame memory 7 when the living body 21 generated by X-ray irradiation in (b) of FIG.

In FIG. 3C, the odd-field image signal of (a) and the even-field image signal of (b) of FIG. 3B are taken out and alternately arranged and input to the TV monitor 9. The display is shown.

FIG. 3D shows the 3D glasses 1 using the images of the odd and even fields of FIG. 3C.
The figure shows a state in which the images of the odd-numbered field and the even-numbered field are transmitted (opened) by the left-eye shutter of 0 and the right-eye shutter so that they can be observed by human eyes.

As described above, a person can stereoscopically observe through the 3D glasses by viewing the images of the odd fields alternately displayed on the TV monitor 9 with the left eye and the images of the even fields with the right eye. Here, as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG.
While gradually rotating, the X-rays are generated once every plural frames as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 2C, and the X-rays transmitted through the living body 21 at that time are generated. The image signal of is stored in the frame memory 7 as a frame image and a frame image, and the images of the odd field and the even field are alternately displayed to display the 3D glasses 10
Through the three-dimensional observation, it is possible to observe the three-dimensional image of the X-ray by reducing the X-ray exposure amount of the living body 21.

FIG. 4 shows an explanatory view of observation by the stereoscopic mirror of the present invention. In FIG. 4A, the frame memory 7-3
Is a frame image stored. here,
The frame image is an image signal of an X-ray frame in which (a) in (c) of FIG. 2 is generated and the object 2 is transmitted (for the left eye, which will be described in detail using (b) of FIG. 3). The image signal is stored).

The frame memory 7-4 stores frame images. Here, the frame image is an image signal of an X-ray frame in which the X-ray of (b) of FIG. 2C is generated and the object 2 is transmitted (detailed with reference to (b) of FIG. 3). The image signal for the right eye is stored).

The TV monitor 11 has a frame image,
The frame images are displayed respectively (the image signals of the left eye and the right eye are individually displayed).

The stereoscopic mirror 12 is for synthesizing an image for the left eye and an image for the right eye on the two TV monitors 11 so that a person can simultaneously see and stereoscopically observe them. FIG. 4B
Shows a state of the frame image and the frame image. Here, the frame image is the image of the left eye,
It is composed of an image signal of an odd field and an image signal of an even field, and is alternately displayed on the TV monitor 11 for the left eye. Similarly, the frame image is an image of the right eye, and is composed of an image signal of the odd field and an image signal of the even field, and is alternately displayed on the TV monitor 11 for the right eye.

As described above, a person can stereoscopically observe the frame image and the frame image displayed on the two TV monitors 9 simultaneously with the left and right eyes through the stereoscopic mirror 12. Further, similarly, as shown in (a) to (b) of FIG. 2 described above, while the living body 21 is gradually rotated, once every plural frames, for example, (a) of (c) of FIG. ) And (b) X
X-ray image signals that have generated lines and transmitted through the living body 21 at that time are stored in the frame memory 7 as frame images and frame images, and the frame images and the frame images are stereoscopically observed through the stereoscopic mirror 12, and the living body 21
It is possible to observe a stereoscopic image by X-rays while reducing the amount of X-ray exposure.

FIG. 5 shows an X-ray generation explanatory view of the present invention.
FIG. 5A shows a frame. (A-1) of FIG.
Indicates frames 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ... This is the frame for TV, for example,
There are about 30 frames per second.

FIG. 5A-2 shows how the X-ray is generated for one frame here when the signal intensity of the X-ray image of the frame is strong. 5A to 5C show that when the signal intensity of the X-ray image of the frame is weak, the S / N is bad and 3
It shows how to integrate the frames to improve the S / N.

FIG. 5B shows a TV image and a state of X-ray generation. FIG. 5B-1 shows a TV image. Here, M represents a memory image, and shows how the previous image is repeatedly read and displayed on the TV monitors 9 and 11.

FIG. 5B-2 shows how X-rays are generated. Here, X-rays are generated once in every 10 TV images, and the X-ray image signal transmitted through the living body 21 at that time is input to the TV monitor as a 1-frame TV image and displayed. At the same time, it is stored in the frame memory 7 and the same image signal is read out from the frame memory 7 and is input to the TV monitor as a TV image to be displayed for 2 to 10 frames without generating X-rays. As a result, the X-ray exposure amount of the living body 21 could be reduced to 1/10.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The X-ray tube 1 irradiates the object (for example, human being who is a living body) 2 at different angles once every several frames, and the image signals at this time are accumulated in a plurality of frame memories 7, and these accumulated frame memories 7 are stored. Since it is configured to read out in time series from the device and display it on the screen in real time, or to stereoscopically display images at different angles on the screen, the time series image and stereoscopic image can be viewed in real time with a small amount of X-ray exposure. A device for observing can be realized. As a result, the X-ray exposure amount can be reduced and the X-ray image of the living body 21 and its stereoscopic image can be observed in real time, and the X-ray exposure amount can be minimized.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an X-ray irradiation explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of observation by the 3D shutter system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of observation by the stereoscopic mirror of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of X-ray generation according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: X-ray tube 2: Object 21: Living body 3: X-ray imaging tube 4: X-ray high-voltage generator 5: X-ray controller 6: Signal control circuit 7, 7-1 to 7-4: Frame memory 8: Signal Distribution control circuit 9, 11: TV monitor 10: 3D glasses 10-1: Shutter control circuit 12: Stereoscopic mirror

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray tube (1) for generating X-rays in synchronization with a display frame displayed on a screen every few frames, and an X-ray tube (1) for generating X-rays. X-rays are objects (2)
X-ray image pickup tube (3) for converting a signal radiated to and transmitted (or reflected) into an image signal, and a plurality of frame memories for circulatingly storing the image signal converted by the X-ray image pickup tube (3) (7) and a signal distribution control circuit (8) that circulates and switches the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories (7) to read them in time series and display them on the screen. An X-ray observation apparatus configured to display a reduced X-ray image in real time in time series. 2. From among the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories (7), an image signal of the current angle at which the X-ray irradiates an object and an image signal different from a previous predetermined angle are read out, Equipped with a signal distribution control circuit (8) for alternately displaying on one screen (or displaying on two screens at the same time, or dividing on one screen and displaying at the same time), and displayed alternately on one screen. The 3D glasses (10) synchronized with the captured images or the stereoscopic mirror (12) for the two images on the screen are used to stereoscopically observe the X-ray images with reduced X-ray exposure in real time in a time series. The X-ray observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. An image signal of an angle at which two designated X-rays illuminate an object is read out from the image signals stored in the plurality of frame memories (7) and displayed alternately on one screen ( Alternatively, a signal distribution control circuit (8) for simultaneously displaying on two screens, or dividing and displaying on one screen at the same time is provided, and 3D glasses (10) in which images alternately displayed on one screen are synchronized. ) Or the two images on the screen are passed through a stereoscopic mirror (12) to stereoscopically observe an X-ray image with reduced X-ray exposure. apparatus.