JPH105209A - X-ray ct scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray CT scanner capable of accessing diagnostic pictures on the basis of retrieved information in parallel. SOLUTION: This X-ray CT scanner is provided with a picture processing part 2. This picture processing part 2 is provided with a first MDI/F 201 (a first MD 202) connected to a first CPU 3 and controlled by the first CPU 3 and a second MDI/F 207 (a second MD 208) connected to a second CPU 210 and controlled by the second CPU 210. With such constitution, each CPU independently controls the first MD 202 or the second MD 208 respectively.

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 having at least two or more storage means for reading or writing (referred to as "access") such as tomographic images, fluoroscopic images, etc. (referred to as "diagnosis images"). More particularly, the present invention relates to an X-ray CT apparatus having a plurality of storage means for storing the diagnostic images, and having a control means for independently controlling these storage means, and capable of processing access to these storage means in parallel. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional X-ray CT apparatus includes X-ray detecting means, image processing means, storage means, control means, and input means. The X-ray detection means is, for example, an X-ray that has passed through the subject among X-rays applied to the subject from the X-ray generation unit, such as an ionization chamber X-ray detector or a solid-state X-ray detector. To detect. The image processing unit reconstructs a diagnostic image of the subject from the transmitted X-rays, for example, as in an image processing arithmetic unit. The storage unit stores the diagnostic image and its index information, such as a magnetic disk. Here, the index information includes an image ID, a patient name,
This indicates information such as an examination region, a slice number (a number obtained by adding a number to the number of slices obtained from the start point to the end point of the examination), a slice thickness, and a pitch between slices. The control means includes a control unit (hereinafter, referred to as a “CPU”),
It controls each of the X-ray detecting means, the image processing means, and the storage means. The input means is such as a keyboard, a mouse and a trackball,
An operator inputs desired control information such as the index information to the control means. By the way, in such a conventional X-ray CT apparatus, the magnetic disk is often one unit. Also, there is an example in which the magnetic disk is a plurality of units, but this is the sum of the magnetic disks of the second and subsequent units when the data cannot be stored in one unit of the magnetic disk. The diagnostic image corresponding to the index information in one of the units is accessed.

[0003]

In the conventional X-ray CT apparatus described above, the diagnostic image corresponding to the index information can be accessed only from one unit of the magnetic disk, and if the access of one diagnostic image is not completed, There was a problem that the next diagnostic image could not be accessed. That is, in the case of performing a three-dimensional image processing on a diagnostic image stored on the same magnetic disk as the diagnostic image while outputting the diagnostic image to a laser printer photographic device as a film, in one unit of magnetic disk, One of the laser printer output and the three-dimensional image processing must wait for the end, and the laser printer output and the three-dimensional image processing cannot be performed simultaneously. Because of such a problem, there is a problem that a desired image diagnosis may not be quickly performed when a magnetic disk access request is made at the same time.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray CT apparatus capable of accessing diagnostic images in parallel based on index information.

[0005]

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring a subject
X-ray detection means for irradiating the X-ray and detecting the transmitted X-ray, image processing means for reconstructing a diagnostic image of the subject from the transmitted X-ray, and first storage for storing the diagnostic image and index information thereof Means for controlling reconfiguration of the image processing means and access to the first storage means, and means for an operator to input control information including the index information to the first control means. In the line CT apparatus, a second storage unit that stores at least one diagnostic image including or not including the diagnostic image and index information thereof, a second control unit that controls access to the second storage unit, Means for transmitting the control information from the control means to the second control means, wherein the first control means stores the diagnostic image stored in the first storage means, and the second control means stores the diagnostic image in the second storage means. Medical examination to be memorized The image is accomplished by respective parallel access based on the control information.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing unit in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an example of an operation of the X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention. Flowchart shown, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of control information recorded on a first MD in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention includes an X-ray detector 1, an image processing unit 2, a first CPU 3, and a console 4 (corresponding to input means). The X-ray detector 1 irradiates the subject O with the X-rays of the X-ray tube apparatus XT, and detects the X-ray transmitted through the subject O. The transmitted X-rays are obtained by rotating the X-ray tube apparatus XT and the X-ray detector 1 to actually measure a half or more of the circumference of the cross section including the desired tomographic image, or by interpolating and calculating the actually measured values. Need to get. The image processing unit 2 reconstructs and calculates the transmitted X-rays obtained for a half-turn or more into a tomographic image. The first CPU 3 comprises an X-ray tube device XT and an X-ray detector 1
And each of the image processing units 2 is controlled. The console 4 is at least one of an operator's input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a trackball, or a combination thereof. The operator inputs desired control information to the first CPU 3. Here, the control information includes, in addition to the index information, scan conditions such as a slice number and a photographing time, and a unit of a magnetic disk in which an image is stored. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the image processing unit 2 includes a main storage memory 200, a first magnetic disk interface (first MDI / F) 201, a first magnetic disk (first MD) 202, and a laser imager interface ( LII / F) 203 and laser imager (LI)
204 and first CPU data transfer bus (first DTB) 2
05, image reconstruction arithmetic unit 206, second magnetic disk interface unit (second MDI / F) 207, second magnetic disk (second MD) 208, 3D arithmetic unit 209, and 2C
PU 210 and second CPU data transfer bus (second DTB)
211. The main storage memory 200 stores the first CP
U program or image I read from the first MD 202
A memory for storing data such as index information such as D. The first MDI / F 201 is a first DDI controlled by the first CPU 3.
The first MD 202 is connected to the TB 205 and buffers the diagnostic image, its accompanying information, and measured raw data via the first DTB 205 so as to be stored in the first MD 202 having a slower access time than the semiconductor memory. The first MD 202 is a first MD
The first MDI / F 201 is connected to the I / F 201 and accesses the diagnostic image and its accompanying information and the raw data to and from the buffer memory of the first MDI / F 201. LII / F203 is the first CP
U data transfer bus 205, and stores the diagnostic image in the first
Through the DTB 205, the time for laser print output on a film that is slower than the access time than the semiconductor memory is buffered. The LI 204 is connected to the LII / F 203, and outputs the diagnostic image by laser printing on the film. The first DTB 205 is connected to the first CPU 3 and the first
MDI / F201, LII / F203 and second CPU
210 are mutually connected, and the first PU 3 controls mutual data transfer. The image reconstruction arithmetic unit 206 includes the X-ray detector 1
And reconstructs a tomographic image from raw data corresponding to at least half the circumference of the subject described above. Also, the second CPU
It is also connected to a second DTB 211 controlled by 210. It is connected to the second DTB 211 controlled by the second CPU 210, and buffers the diagnostic image and the accompanying information and the measured raw data via the second DTB 211 so as to be stored in the second MD 208 having a slower access time than the semiconductor memory. The second MD 208 is a second MDI / F 207
Connected to the buffer memory of the second MDI / F 207 for accessing the diagnostic image and its accompanying information and the raw data. Here, the second MD 208 is the first MD 20
It is assumed that the access time is faster than 2. 3D calculator 2
Reference numeral 09 is connected to the second DTB 211, and obtains a three-dimensional image by stacking a plurality of tomographic images continuously obtained in the body axis direction of the subject in the body axis direction of the subject. Second CPU 210
Controls the image reconstruction arithmetic unit 206, the second MDI / F 207, and the 3D arithmetic unit 209 via the second DTB 211. The second DTB 211 includes an image reconstruction calculator 206,
Second MDI / F 207, 3D arithmetic unit 209 and second C
The PU 210 is connected.

Next, the operation of the X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The first CPU 3 reads out the control information stored in the first MD to the main storage memory 200.
As the control information, for example, a table as shown in FIG. 4 is stored (step 301). The operator uses the console 4
In step S3, a diagnostic image of the patient name "a" is output as a film using a laser imager, and an input indicating that a three-dimensional image is formed using a tomographic image among the diagnostic images of the patient name "b" is input.
02). The first CPU 3 stores the MD of each patient.
And transfers the control information to each MDI / F. 1st MD
The data is transferred to the I / F 201 via the first DTB 205. The second MDI / F 207 transfers the data to the second CPU 210 via the first DTB 205,
0 through the second DTB 211 (step 3
03). The first CPU 3 sends the first MD 202 to the first MD 202 based on the control information transferred to the first MDI / F 201.
Through the I / F 201, the LI via the first DTB 205
The diagnostic image data corresponding to the patient name "a" is transferred to the I / F (step 304-1). Based on the control information transferred to the second MDI / F 207, the second CPU 210 transmits the second MD 208 through the second MDI / F 207 to the second MDI / F 207.
The patient name “b” is input to the 3D calculator 209 via the TB 211.
Is transferred (step 304-2). The LI 204 outputs the diagnostic image transferred to the LII / F 203 as a film (step 305-1).
The 3D calculator 209 forms a three-dimensional image from the transferred tomographic image (step 305-2). Here, since Step 304 and Step 305 can be processed in parallel, they are particularly indicated with “−1” and “−2”. Also, the first MD
If the same diagnostic image is stored in 202 and the second MD 208 and the operator inputs control information to perform laser imager output and three-dimensional image processing for these same diagnostic images, the laser imager output for the same diagnostic image is performed. It goes without saying that the three-dimensional image processing can be performed in parallel.

[0009] As described above, the present embodiment is the first embodiment.
A first CPU 3 for controlling access to the MD 202 and a second C for controlling access to the second MD 208
Since each CPU controls the first MD 202 and the second MD 208 independently since each CPU has a PU,
Can be accessed in parallel.

[0010]

Since the X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it has an effect of providing an X-ray CT apparatus capable of accessing diagnostic images in parallel based on index information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of control information recorded on a first MD in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Image processing unit 3 First control unit (first CPU) 201 First magnetic disk interface unit (1M
DI / F) 202 First magnetic disk (first MD) 207 Second magnetic disk interface unit (second M
DI / F) 208 Second magnetic disk (second MD) 210 Second control unit (second CPU).

Claims (1)

[Claims] An X-ray detecting unit configured to irradiate the subject with X-rays and detect transmitted X-rays; an image processing unit configured to reconstruct a diagnostic image of the subject from the transmitted X-rays; First storage means for storing the index information, first control means for controlling reconfiguration of the image processing means and access to the first storage means, and control for the operator to include the index information in the first control means X-ray CT with means for inputting information
A second storage unit that stores at least one diagnostic image including or not including the diagnostic image and index information thereof, a second control unit that controls access to the second storage unit, and the first control unit Means for transmitting the control information from the first control means to the second control means, wherein the first control means stores a diagnostic image stored in the first storage means, and the second control means stores the diagnostic image in the second storage means. An X-ray CT apparatus, wherein diagnostic images are accessed in parallel based on the control information.