JPH10127607A - Device and method for positioning for medical diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the load of an operation in case of finding the data of position relation with a detector and to improve the spatial position accuracy of analytic data based on these position relation data. SOLUTION: A brain magnetic field measuring instrument (medical diagnostic system) is provided with a SQUID sensor part SS for detecting a brain magnetic field signal (biological magnetic signal) in the head (diagnostic part) of a reagent PS and a computer 9 for magnetic field source analysis for determining the spatial position of these analytic data based on the position relation data of the head corresponding to the sensor part SS through the analytic processing of that brain magnetic field signal at its main part. A positioning device 10 is loaded on this brain magnetic field measuring instrument. This positioning device 10 is provided with a contour extracting device (control part 13, light irradiation part 14, video extraction part 15 and contour extraction part 16) 11 for supplying contour data to the computer 9 for magnetic field source analysis as information for finding the position relation data of the head when possessing the three-dimensional contour data of the head and detecting the brain magnetic field signal through the sensor part SS at its main part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a positioning device and a positioning method for a medical diagnostic system such as a biomagnetic measuring device, and more particularly to a method for determining a spatial position of analysis data analyzed by a medical diagnostic system. Related to positioning technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a biomagnetism measuring device for measuring a weak magnetic field generated in a brain, a heart or the like in a living body using a high-sensitivity magnetic sensor.

[0003] This biomagnetism measuring device is usually equipped with a SQUID sensor (Superconducting Quarter), which is a high-sensitivity magnetic sensor, in a container (hereinafter, "Dewar") for containing liquid helium.
an-tum Interference Device: superconducting quantum interference device)
The SQUID sensor is driven in a superconducting state to detect a weak biomagnetic signal from the subject positioned at the dewar measurement position, and performs signal processing, analysis processing, and the like on this to perform the brain processing. This is for acquiring analysis data such as magnetic information. It is important for this device to accurately determine the spatial position of the analysis data, particularly based on the positional relationship data of the subject with respect to the SQUID sensor, in terms of measurement accuracy.

Therefore, as a positioning technique for determining the spatial position of such analysis data, a biomagnetic measurement device,
In particular, in the case of a brain magnetic field measuring device, a method for determining the positional relationship data of the subject with respect to the SQUID sensor (or Dewar) has been proposed, for example, as follows. 1): A magnetic field generator such as a magnetic field generating coil is installed on the subject's head, and the magnetic field is measured with a SQUID sensor to determine the position of the magnetic field transmitter to determine positional relationship data (for example, No. 4-303416). 2): Attach a light emitting source to the subject's head and dewar,
The positional relationship data is determined by detecting the light from the light emitting source with a PSD (Position Sensitive Device) to determine the position of the light emitting source (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H4-24-2).
No. 26631). 3): A material such as a sheet that reflects light is attached to the surface of the subject's head, a laser beam is irradiated on the head, and the reflected light is input to measure the distance from the laser irradiation position. Thus, the positional relationship data is determined (for example, see
No. 133941).

On the other hand, not only the above-described biomagnetism measuring apparatus, but also an image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT scanner, an MRI apparatus, etc., determines the spatial position (slice position) of image data obtained by image analysis or the like. Since it is necessary to obtain the data with high accuracy, a technique for determining the positional relationship data of the subject with respect to the detection device as described above is important. For this reason, in the case of an X-ray CT scanner, for example, a method of determining a measurement position with a line marker and then measuring a tomographic image in CT is known.

[0006]

However, in the above-described positioning technology for a biomagnetism measuring device of the related art, a measuring device such as a magnetic field generating coil is separately attached to a measuring portion such as a head. Therefore, the measurement is complicated for the operator, and the positional relationship data is obtained through the above-described devices, so that the accuracy is not always good. In particular, when the subject moves during the measurement, an error is likely to occur, and there is a problem in terms of device reliability.

Further, even in the case of a conventional image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT scanner, it is practically necessary to accurately associate the analyzed image data with the slice position of the subject.
Often difficult.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such a conventional problem, and determines a spatial position of analysis data processed by a medical diagnostic system based on positional relationship data with a detection device. Targeting positioning technology, reduce the burden on the operator when obtaining positional relationship data, increase the spatial position accuracy of analysis data based on the positional relationship data, and improve the device reliability of the medical diagnostic system, This is the first purpose.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a positioning technique that is optimal for a biomagnetometer equipped with a SQUID sensor.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to the present invention includes a detecting device for detecting medical data of a diagnostic part of a subject, and a medical device using the detecting device. Analyzing the data and constructing the analysis data of the diagnostic unit, and configured to be mounted on a medical diagnostic system that determines the spatial position of the analytical data based on the positional relationship data of the diagnostic unit with respect to the detection device, Data acquisition means for acquiring three-dimensional contour data of a diagnosis unit; and the contour acquired by the data acquisition means as information for obtaining positional relationship data of the diagnosis unit when the medical data is detected by the detection device. Data supply means for supplying data to the medical diagnostic system.

Preferably, the present invention is constituted by the following embodiments.

1): The data acquisition means is means for acquiring the contour data in advance before the medical data is detected by the detection device.

[0013] 2): The data acquiring means is an image photographing section for photographing image data of the diagnostic part of the subject, and a contour for extracting three-dimensional contour data of the diagnostic part from the image data by the image photographing part. And an extraction unit.

3): The image photographing section has a beam irradiation element for irradiating a patterned light beam toward the diagnosis section of the subject.

4): The beam irradiation element is an element for irradiating the light beam in at least one pattern of a multi-line system, a double multi-line system, a triple multi-line system, a concentric system, and a dot matrix system.

5): The image photographing section includes a plurality of image pickup elements for photographing the diagnosis section of the subject from different viewpoints.

6): The image photographing unit differs from an imaging element for imaging the diagnostic part of the subject, and the diagnostic part while moving the imaging element spatially around the diagnostic part of the subject. And an element for imaging from a viewpoint.

7): The data acquisition means includes means for acquiring position data relating to the distance and direction between the detection device and the diagnostic part of the subject, and the data supply means includes:
Means are provided for supplying the position data together with the contour data to the medical diagnostic system as information for obtaining the positional relationship data of the diagnostic unit.

8): The data acquisition means judges the position adjustment condition between the detection device and the diagnostic part of the subject based on the position data, and the position adjustment cannot be performed by the judgment means. Warning means for issuing a predetermined warning when it is determined that

9): The medical diagnostic system is a biomagnetic measuring device, and the detecting device is a SQUID sensor for detecting a biomagnetic signal in the diagnostic part of the subject.

10): The biomagnetism measuring device has a dewar having a diagnostic opening through which the diagnostic part of the subject can be inserted, and the diagnostic part of the subject can be moved back and forth within the diagnostic opening of the dewar. A bed for insertion, and the SQUID sensor is arranged in the dewar.

11): The biomagnetism measuring device has a mechanism for freely tilting the Dewar.

12): The biomagnetic measuring apparatus is a magnetoencephalographic measuring apparatus for measuring a cerebral magnetic field in the head of the subject, wherein the diagnostic opening of the Dewar is placed on the bed. Is formed in a concave portion corresponding to the shape of the head.

In addition, a positioning method for a medical diagnostic system according to the present invention includes a detecting device for detecting medical data of a diagnostic portion of a subject, and analyzes the medical data by the detecting device to analyze the diagnostic data. It is configured to be used in a medical diagnostic system that constructs data and determines the spatial position of the analysis data based on the positional relationship data of the diagnostic unit, acquires three-dimensional contour data of the diagnostic unit, The contour data is supplied to the medical diagnostic system as information for obtaining positional relationship data.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a positioning device and a positioning method for a medical diagnostic system according to the present invention are described using a biomagnetic measurement device (“MSI (Magnetic
Source Imaging) system).

The brain magnetic field measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is not a "sitting position" required as a measuring position on the patient side in a conventional biomagnetic measuring system for research or the like using a cylindrical cylindrical dewar, but mainly a "seated position". Measuring position to be the basis for diagnosing a diseased patient in a clinical setting, that is, a normal MRI apparatus or CT
"Supine" as well as scanners and other medical form diagnostic imaging equipment
It was designed based on

That is, in this magnetoencephalographic measuring apparatus, a bed 1 on which a subject PS typified by a diseased patient is placed, and a head, which is a diagnostic unit of the subject PS, on the bed 1 are inserted so as to be movable forward and backward. Opening OP such as lateral hole type or lateral concave type according to the head shape (helmet shape) for performing brain magnetic field measurement
And a floor-mounted gantry 3 that movably supports the dewar 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gantry 3 is integrated with the dewar 2 and integrally surrounds two side surfaces and a bottom in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the opening OP of the dewar 2. And a pair of base legs 3 extending from the body 3a onto the floor.
and a mechanism (not shown) for freely tilting, vertically moving, and horizontally moving (rotating) the body 3a integrally with the dewar 2 with respect to the legs 3b. The portion 3c is mounted at an appropriate position including the inside of the dewar 2.

The bed 1 is composed of an examination table (top plate) 1a on which the subject PS is placed in a supine position, and a base support table 1b for supporting the examination table. Non-magnetic couch drive having a mechanism (not shown) capable of finely adjusting the speed of sliding the examination table 1a to the dewar 2 side and freely moving the examination table 1a up and down, horizontal movement, and rotation as needed. The part 1c is mounted at an appropriate position. On the dewar 2 (head) side of the bed 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a support 1d (body support for the subject) for preventing the body movement of the subject PS is provided on the examination table 1a. ing.

As shown in FIG. 3, a SQUID sensor unit (magnetic field detection unit) SS and a cooling system CS for maintaining the superconducting operation environment of the sensor unit SS are provided inside the dewar 2. I have.

The SQUID sensor section SS is disposed at a position surrounding the outer periphery of the opening OP, and is connected to the drive circuit 7 in the external cover 90 attached to the upper surface of the dewar 2 by a connector 91.
And an FPC wiring 92. Specifically, the sensor section SS includes a detection coil group 40 made of a superconducting material such as NbTi which is spatially arranged via a mount material on a support member such as a helmet located at the outer periphery of the opening OP. A SQUID element group 41 made of a superconducting material such as Nb disposed on a substrate facing the detection coil group 40 via a mount material;
And a noise compensation coil group 42 mounted two-dimensionally in a container located at the upper part between 0 and 41 (the arrangement of the main parts of the two types of coil groups 40 and 42 is shown in FIG. 4).

The SQUID sensor section SS detects a weak brain magnetic field signal in the head of the subject PS inserted into the opening OP during the superconducting operation by the cooling system CS in a spatial (XYZ direction) by the detection coil group 40. ), And this detection signal is output to the FPC wiring 4 installed on the support of the detection coil group 40.
The signal is converted into an electrical signal by the SQUID element group 41 via the FPC 3 and is sent to a signal preprocessing unit (described later) via the FPC wiring 92, the connector 91, the driving circuit 7, the wiring 93, and the connector 94.

The cooling system CS is, as shown in FIG.
A gas cooling system 50 using evaporative gas (gas helium) G of liquid helium LH as a refrigerant for superconducting operation of the SQUID sensor section SS, a heat shield structure 60 for thermally isolating the inside of the dewar 2 from the outside, and gas cooling A refrigeration system 70 for suppressing re-liquefaction and evaporation of the evaporative gas G by the system 50 is provided.

The gas cooling system 50 includes a SQUID sensor S
Liquid helium L having a temperature of about 4.2 K and disposed below S
H reservoir (tank) 51 and this reservoir 51
And a plurality of evaporating passages 52... 52 for evaporating gas passages communicating between the sensor unit 4 and the sensor unit SS through which the evaporating gas G of the liquid helium LH in the reservoir 51 passes through the plurality of evaporating passages 52. The detection coil group 40 and the SQUID element group 41 are cooled by flowing through them, and their superconducting transition temperature (for example, about 9.23 in the case of NbTi).
K) is maintained. Here, the evaporation path 52
Is provided with a lid (not shown) having a multilayer arrangement of a heat insulating material and a heat radiating plate for adjusting the temperature and heat gradient between the outside and the inside. Also, a cooling stage (described later)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the evaporation path 52 arranged on the back side of the cooling stage and the SQUID element group 41
And reaches the inside of the sensor unit SS via a passage penetrating through the substrate.

The heat shield structure 60 is formed on the outer wall of the dewar 2. Specifically, the outer wall is formed of an outer wall (outer layer) 61 made of an aluminum alloy or glass fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), and an FRP. Inner wall (inner layer)
62, a vacuum heat insulating layer (high vacuum layer) 63 is formed between the inner wall 61 and the outer wall 62, and the high vacuum layer 63 shields heat entering the dewar 2 from the outside to the inside. ing.

Here, from the viewpoint of the heat shielding effect, a heat shield sheet (not shown) such as super-insulation is preferably provided inside the high vacuum layer 63, especially SQ.
More are arranged on the reservoir side than on the UID sensor section side. This is because the sheet material itself becomes a noise source and it is necessary to suppress the amount of evaporation in the reservoir. The heat shield sheet includes, in addition to the above-mentioned sheet material, a sheet in which a metal layer (thin film) having high heat reflectance and electric resistivity and having a property of not causing superconductivity transition by a used refrigerant is formed by vapor deposition or the like. It is also possible to use.

The refrigeration system 70 is preferably located at an external position separated from the dewar (outside the measurement room) to be a noise source.
, And the compressor 7
1, a refrigerator 72 disposed in the cover 90 on the upper surface of the dewar 2 and extending from the refrigerator 72 between the SQUID element group 41 in the dewar 2 and the evaporation path 52. The compressor 72 drives the refrigerator 72 by gas pressure to cool the temperature of the cooling stage 73 to a temperature at which the above-described superconducting transition is possible. Is re-liquefied and the amount of evaporation thereof is suppressed, and also serves to cool the SQUID element group 41.

In the magnetoencephalography apparatus having the bed 1, the dewar 2, and the gantry 3, the head of the subject PS placed on the examination table 1a is moved from the initial position O to the dewar, as shown in FIG. It is positioned at the measurement position P in the second opening OP, and the brain magnetic field measurement is performed in this opening OP.

That is, inside the dewar 2, the superconducting operation environment of the SQUID sensor unit SS is maintained by the cooling system CS, and the subject P
The weak brain magnetic field signal from the head of S is converted into an electric signal and detected. The signal detected by the sensor unit SS is
The signal is sent to the signal pre-processing unit 8 via the drive circuit 7, where it is analyzed by the magnetic field source analysis computer 9 after signal processing such as amplification, whereby analysis data such as magnetoencephalographic information necessary for diagnosis is obtained. Created.

As shown in FIG. 6, such a magnetoencephalography measuring apparatus includes a magnetic field source analyzing computer 9 which determines the spatial position of the analysis data by using the subject PS with respect to the SQUID sensor section SS. A positioning device 10 that acquires information for determining positional relationship data of the head and supplies the information to the computer 9 is mounted.

The positioning device 10 includes a contour extracting device 11 for extracting three-dimensional contour data of the head of the subject PS.
(Which forms a main part of the data acquisition means and the data supply means of the present invention) and a slide amount measuring device 12 (which forms part of the data acquisition means and the data supply means of the present invention) which measures the slide amount data of the bed. It has.

The contour extraction device 11 includes a control unit 13 for generalizing the entire operation, a light irradiation unit 14 for irradiating a predetermined light beam LB toward the head of the subject PS on the bed 1, A video extraction unit 15 that captures an image of the head of the subject PS on the couch 1 at the initial position from a predetermined viewpoint, and converts three-dimensional contour data of the head from image data carrying the image of the head. A contour extraction unit 16 for extracting is provided.

The light irradiator 14 includes a light source (semiconductor laser or the like) capable of irradiating a light beam LB such as infrared light, ultraviolet light, visible light, laser light, or the like, and controls the control unit 13 at least at the stage before measurement. Based on the signal, the subject PS is irradiated with the patterned light beam LB. As this beam pattern, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, at least one of a multiline system, a concentric system, a dot matrix system, a double multiline system, a triple multiline system, and the like is set in advance. When ultraviolet light is used as the light source, the ultraviolet light itself cannot be photographed by a video camera or the like described below, and it becomes difficult to extract an image of the reflected light. It is applied in advance to the diagnostic unit.

The image extracting unit 15 includes an image pickup device such as a CCD or a video camera as a main part, and the light irradiation unit 14 detects the light beam LB based on a control signal of the control unit 13 at least at a stage before measurement. While scanning toward the head of the person PS, image data of the head is captured and supplied to the contour extraction unit 16.

The contour extraction unit 16 is provided with a microcomputer capable of executing a predetermined three-dimensional contour extraction algorithm mounted on a main part, and the algorithm is executed to execute the algorithm. For example, three-dimensional contour data of a head is extracted from image data at high speed in substantially real time, and the extracted contour data is used as a data source of positional relationship data for determining the spatial position of analysis data by the computer 9 for analyzing a magnetic field source. 9.

The slide amount measuring device 12 is connected to the drive mechanism 1c of the bed 1 and converts data on the movement amount (slide distance and direction) of the examination table 1a between the SQUID sensor unit SS and the subject PS. It is measured as position data between them, and this is supplied to the magnetic field source analysis computer 9 as a part of the information source of the above-mentioned positional relationship data. Here, when the dewar 2 is tilted or slid, the computer 9 also receives data relating to the amount of movement from the gantry driving unit 3c as part of the position data.

Next, the overall operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, before the measurement, the positioning device 10 operates according to the procedure of the bed slide mode shown in FIG. That is, in step S1, the bed 1 on which the subject PS is placed is slid to the initial position by the operation of the bed driving unit 1c, and the center point (center of gravity, etc.) of the head is set to the zero point (point O) of the initial position. When set, O is set in step S2.
Position data relating to the slide amount up to the point is measured and held by the slide amount measurement device 12.

Simultaneously with the measurement of the position data, the processing of steps S10 to S13 by the contour extracting device 11 is executed in accordance with the procedure of the contour extracting mode shown in FIG. That is, the patterned light beam LB from the light irradiation unit 14 is scanned toward the head of the subject PS in step S10, and the image extraction unit 15 is driven by the image extraction unit 15 to scan the head of the subject PS in step S11. An image is photographed, and in step S12, three-dimensional contour data bearing the surface shape of the head is extracted from the image data of the subject PS, and sent to the magnetic field source analysis computer 9 in step S13.

When the pre-measurement process is completed, the process proceeds to steps S3 to S5 shown in FIG. 12, and the examination table 1a on which the subject PS is placed is moved from the initial position O to the dewar 2
Is moved to the measurement position P within the opening OP of the first position.

That is, in step S3, the examination table 1a on which the subject PS is placed is slid in the vertical direction and the reciprocation direction into the opening OP of the dewar 2 by the operation of the bed driving section 1c, and the head is moved there. Protrusions such as nose and ears are openings OP
The opening OP is adjusted so that the center point of the head is fitted to the center point (point P) of the measurement position while slowing down and fine-tuning the slide speed as appropriate to avoid the inconvenience of colliding near the camera. The head is inserted inside. The slide amount of the examination table 1a on which the subject PS is placed from the point O to the point P is appropriately adjusted within a preset allowable range (position adjustment condition).

For example, the amount of vertical sliding is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the width in the vertical direction (X direction) of the head including the projections on the face such as the nose and ears is d, and the width from point O to point P is X.
When the distance in the direction is C, the width of the diagnostic opening OP in the X direction is t, and the adjustment amount of the head is x,

(Equation 1) Range that satisfies both equations, ie,

(Equation 2) Is appropriately adjusted within the range of x satisfying the expression. This relationship is substantially the same for the allowable range of the slide amount such as the forward and backward directions. Therefore, the positioning of the subject PS based on the allowable range of the slide amount can be automatically adjusted (auto-positioning) or remote control as necessary, and in this case, the operator's operational burden is increased. It is further reduced.

If adjustment is not possible within the conditions of the above [Equation 1] and [Equation 2], it means that it is difficult to insert the head into the opening OP. As a method for preventing such a situation, for example, a warning means such as turning on a warning lamp, generating a warning from a CRT, or a slide stop means is set in the apparatus in advance so as to operate.

Next, when the positioning at the above measurement position is completed, the slide amount up to the point P is measured by the slide amount measuring device 12 in step S4, and the data is held. Therefore, in step S5, the relative slide amount from the point O to the point P is calculated based on the position data on the slide amount from the point O and the point P held as described above, and the data is used as the slide amount measurement device 12. Is sent to the computer 9 for analyzing the magnetic field source.

When the position data relating to the relative sliding amount of the couch 1 is supplied to the computer 9 together with the above-described contour extraction data, the head (surface shape) of the subject PS and the position data are based on both data. Spatial positional relationship data with the SQUID sensor unit SS fixedly arranged in the Dewar 2 is calculated.

In this state, the SQUID sensor section SS is driven, the brain magnetic field of the subject PS is measured in the opening OP of the dewar 2, and the biomagnetic signal is supplied to the computer 9 for analyzing the magnetic field source. Then, the spatial position of the brain magnetic field data analyzed there is determined based on the positional relationship data calculated above.

Thereafter, while the brain magnetic field measurement is performed, FIG.
As shown in (1), the image of the head is constantly monitored by the contour extraction device 11, and the data is sent to the computer 9 in substantially real time. As a result, even if the head moves, the positional relationship data is appropriately corrected by monitoring data such as the distance and direction of the movement.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, since it is not necessary to separately mount a measuring instrument such as a coil or a sensor on the head of the subject as in the conventional example, the trouble of the measurement is almost eliminated. And the operator's burden is greatly reduced, and the spatial position accuracy of the analysis data is increased by using the three-dimensional contour data of the diagnosis as the information for determining the position-related data. As a result, the reliability of the device is greatly improved. Be improved.

In this embodiment, the light extraction unit is provided in the contour extraction device, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this configuration. For example, by arranging a plurality of image extraction units around the subject or by moving the imaging unit spatially around the subject, a diagnostic unit of the subject is imaged from different viewpoints, and three-dimensional image data is obtained from the image data at the plurality of viewpoints. When it is possible to construct the contour data of the above, the light irradiation unit may be omitted. An example of this is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 16 illustrates a case where a plurality of video extracting units are provided. Contour extraction device 11a shown in FIG.
Includes a plurality of image extraction units 15a... 15a, which are arranged via a support (not shown) at a plurality of imaging positions Q1 to Q7 on a 180-degree circular arc around the subject PS on the examination table 1a. It has a configuration.

In the contour extracting device 11a, for example, before the measurement, the light beam LB is scanned toward the subject PS from the light irradiating section 14a disposed at the position Q4 facing the couch 1 across the subject PS. And the subject PS at that time
15a are photographed by a plurality of video extracting units 15a to 15a, and contour data is constructed by a contour extracting unit (not shown) based on the beam distortion information in the plurality of image data. In this case, since the diagnostic unit of the subject PS can be imaged from different viewpoints (for example, the imaging positions Q1 to Q7 in the figure), the light irradiation unit is not necessarily required.

FIG. 17 illustrates the case where the video extracting unit is moved. Contour extraction device 11b shown in FIG.
Is such that one image extracting unit 15b is movably attached to a moving mechanism (not shown) such as a rail mechanism.

In the contour extracting device 11b, for example, before the measurement, the light beam LB is scanned toward the subject PS from the light irradiation unit 14b set at the position Q4 facing the bed 1 with the subject PS interposed therebetween. At the same time, while moving the image extracting unit 15b spatially around the subject PS on the couch by the moving mechanism in the 180-degree arc direction, the image extraction unit 15b is moved from a different viewpoint on the arc (for example, an imaging position similar to the above). By capturing an image of the subject PS that has been viewed, contour data substantially similar to the above is constructed. Therefore, even in this case, the light irradiating unit is not always necessary. In particular, since only one video extracting unit is required as compared with the above, there is an advantage that the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

In this embodiment, since the bed and the dewar are constructed based on the "supine position", the following secondary effects are obtained. 1): The capacity of the refrigerant such as liquid helium and liquid nitrogen in the dewar can be greatly increased as compared with the conventional columnar dewar, and the height limitation of the hospital room in which the device is stored is almost unnecessary. 2): A long period of refilling of the refrigerant can be taken, and costs such as personnel costs and refrigerant transportation costs of a dedicated person for charging the refrigerant can be reduced. 3): In the conventional cylindrical dewar, there is a possibility that an inconvenient situation may occur due to the necessity of a suspension type balancer and the refrigerant capacity also changes. Thus, safety for patients, which is the most important point of general medical equipment, can be further secured. 4): The magnetic shield room only needs to deal with the floor weight, and the entire system can be constructed relatively inexpensively without the need for the aluminum skeleton required for fixing the cylindrical dewar gantry. 5): Since the dewar is not largely moved, the amount of evaporation of the refrigerant is reduced, and the maintenance cost of the refrigerant can be reduced at each stage.

In the above dewar configuration, a liquefier for liquefying gas helium on the way may be used in addition to a refrigerator for lowering the internal temperature of the dewar. Further, in this embodiment, the cooling system using the evaporating gas of liquid helium is adopted for the floor-standing dewar, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the SQUID sensor is immersed in liquid helium as in the conventional case. You may.

In this embodiment, the medical diagnostic system uses a brain magnetic field measuring apparatus equipped with a floor-mounted dewar, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a conventional cylindrical dewar may be used. In addition to the brain magnetic field measuring device, substantially the same effects as described above can be obtained by using other biomagnetic measuring devices, for example, a cardiac magnetic field measuring device or a device for measuring a magnetic field such as a stomach or a lung.

Further, the medical diagnostic system is not necessarily limited to the biomagnetic measuring device. For example, a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT scanner or an MRI apparatus may be used. In this case, the slice position of the image data obtained by CT or MRI using the three-dimensional contour data of the diagnostic unit is set to be lower than before. It can be obtained with high accuracy. Further, by driving the positioning device by remote control or automatic adjustment, there is an advantage that the operational burden on the operator can be greatly reduced.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, three-dimensional contour data of a diagnostic part of a subject is obtained, and the spatial position of the analyzed data analyzed by the medical diagnostic system is determined. Contour data is supplied to the medical diagnosis system as information for obtaining positional relationship data between the detection device and the subject, so that the measuring devices are separately mounted on the diagnosis unit of the subject as in the conventional case. Because you do n’t have to
The operator's burden on measurement is reduced, and the spatial position accuracy of the analysis data is improved by using the three-dimensional contour data of the diagnostic unit as information for determining the positional relationship data. The performance is greatly improved.

This effect can be maximized particularly when applied to a biomagnetic measurement device such as a brain magnetic field measurement device as a medical diagnostic system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a system appearance of a brain magnetic field measuring apparatus equipped with a positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an integrated dewar and gantry.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the entire configuration of the dewar.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a main configuration of a SQUID sensor unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the cooling system.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall configuration of a brain magnetic field measurement device including a positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a multi-scan pattern.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a concentric pattern.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a dot matrix type pattern.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a pattern of a double multi-line system.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a pattern of a triple line system.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a procedure of a bed slide mode.

FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the procedure of a contour extraction mode.

FIG. 14: Allowable range of bed slide amount (position adjustment condition)
FIG.

FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory diagram at the time of measurement.

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a case where a plurality of video extracting units are arranged.

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a case where a video extracting unit is moved.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 bed 1a consultation table 1b support table 1c bed drive 1d subject support 2 dewar 3 gantry 3a trunk 3b leg 3c gantry drive OP diagnostic opening 7 sensor drive circuit 8 signal preprocessing section 9 for magnetic field source analysis Computer 10 Positioning device 11, 11a, 11b Contour extraction device 12 Slide amount measurement device 13 Control unit 14, 14a, 14b Light irradiation unit 15, 15a, 15b Video extraction unit 16 Contour extraction unit SS SQUID sensor unit 40 Detection coil group 41 SQUID Element group 42 Noise compensation coil group 43 FPC wiring CS cooling system 50 Gas cooling system LH Liquid helium G Evaporation gas (Gas helium) 51 Reservoir 52 Evaporation path 60 Heat shield structure 61 Outer wall 62 Inner wall 63 Vacuum heat insulating layer 70 Refrigeration system 71 Compressor 71a Gas passage 2 refrigerator 73 cooling stage 90 the outer cover 91 connector 92 FPC wiring 93 wiring 94 connector

Claims (14)

[Claims] A detecting device for detecting medical data of a diagnostic part of a subject; analyzing the medical data by the detecting device to construct analysis data of the diagnostic part; A positioning device mounted on a medical diagnostic system that determines the diagnostic device based on the positional relationship data of the diagnostic unit with respect to the detecting device, comprising: a data acquiring unit that acquires three-dimensional contour data of the diagnostic unit; And a data supply unit for supplying the contour data acquired by the data acquisition unit to the medical diagnosis system as information for obtaining positional relationship data of the diagnostic unit when is detected. Positioning device for the system. 2. The positioning apparatus for a medical diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said data acquisition means is means for acquiring the contour data before the medical data is detected by the detection device. 3. An image capturing section for capturing image data of a diagnostic section of the subject, and a contour extraction section for extracting three-dimensional contour data of the diagnostic section from image data obtained by the image capturing section. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 4. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to claim 3, wherein the image photographing unit includes a beam irradiating element that irradiates a patterned light beam toward the diagnosis unit of the subject. 5. The element for irradiating the light beam in at least one pattern of a multi-line system, a double multi-line system, a triple multi-line system, a concentric system, and a dot matrix system. A positioning device for a medical diagnostic system as described. 6. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to claim 3, wherein the image photographing unit includes a plurality of imaging elements that image the diagnostic unit of the subject from different viewpoints. 7. An imaging element for imaging the diagnostic part of the subject, and an imaging element for spatially moving the imaging element around the diagnostic part of the subject, and the diagnostic part views the diagnostic part from different viewpoints. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising: an element configured to perform imaging. 8. The data acquisition unit includes a unit that captures position data relating to a distance and a direction between the detection device and a diagnosis unit of a subject, and the data supply unit transmits the positional relationship data of the diagnosis unit. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a unit configured to supply the position data to the medical diagnostic system together with the contour data as information to be obtained. 9. A data acquisition means for judging a position adjustment condition between the detection device and a diagnostic part of a subject based on the position data, wherein the position adjustment is impossible by the judgment means. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to claim 8, further comprising a warning unit that issues a predetermined warning when it is determined that there is a warning. 10. The medical diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the medical diagnostic system is a biomagnetic measuring device, and the detecting device is a SQUID sensor for detecting a biomagnetic signal in a diagnostic unit of the subject. Positioning device for medical diagnostic systems. 11. The biomagnetic measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a dewar having a diagnostic opening through which a diagnostic part of the subject can be inserted, and a diagnostic part of the subject being inserted into the diagnostic opening of the dewar so as to be able to advance and retreat. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to claim 10, further comprising a bed for causing the SQUID sensor to be disposed in the dewar. 12. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to claim 11, wherein the biomagnetic measurement device includes a mechanism for freely tilting the dewar. 13. The biomagnetic measurement apparatus is a brain magnetic field measurement apparatus that measures a brain magnetic field in the head of the subject, and includes a diagnostic opening of the Dewar of the subject placed on the bed. 13. The positioning device for a medical diagnostic system according to claim 11, wherein the positioning device is formed by a concave portion corresponding to a head shape. 14. A detection device for detecting medical data of a diagnosis unit of a subject, analyzing the medical data by the detection device to construct analysis data of the diagnosis unit, and a spatial position of the analysis data. In a positioning method used in a medical diagnostic system that determines based on the positional relationship data of the diagnostic unit, three-dimensional contour data of the diagnostic unit is obtained, and the contour data is used as information for obtaining the positional relationship data of the diagnostic unit. A positioning method for a medical diagnostic system, which is supplied to the medical diagnostic system.