JPS6050473A - Scintillation camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain to enhance the scintillation detection efficiency of a concerned region, by performing the display of the concerned region by blocking scintillation light itself. CONSTITUTION:A light blocking means 8 is interposed between a scintillator 7 and a light guide 11 and can change the color of scintillation light so as to make said light impervious in an appropriate shape. A discoloration region indicating means 17 indicates the discoloration region of the means 8 on the basis of a concerned region set by a concerned region setting means 15 and a light blocking control means 61 discolors the specific region of the means 8 corresponding to the output data of the means 17 so as to make scintillation color impervious. Therefore, scintillation color itself is blocked and the scintillation detection efficiency of the concerned region can be enhanced.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention expresses as an image the distribution status of radioisotope (hereinafter abbreviated as "R") that is administered to the human body and collects at a specific site of 7'C%. The present invention relates to a scintillation camera for diagnosing the function of a specific region, and particularly relates to a scintillation camera with improved scintillation detection efficiency.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Diagnosis using a scintillation camera detects scintillation caused by R-I radiation administered to the subject, displays the scintillation position on the detector surface in an X-Y coordinate system, and diagnoses the diseased area using the integrated image. , conventionally 9
It is being done.

By the way, in the scintillation camera, setting of a so-called region of interest, which expresses only a specific part on a monitor, is performed by transmitting a position signal electronically or by using a data processing device.
This was done by inhibiting software.

For example, when the target region shown as 2 in Figure 1 (e.g., a specific region of a subject) is captured by the detector surface 1 of a scintillation camera, the integrated image will capture the target region as shown in Figure 2. In addition to 2, a background part 4 is included, and the region of interest is set as shown by 5.

However, according to the conventional method, since the region of interest is set after the background region is also electrically processed, the counting rate of the region of interest is reduced accordingly.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention is the above-mentioned item 4! TILF, and aims to provide a scintillation camera that improves the efficiency of scintillation detection and allows easy setting of a region of interest.

[Summary of the invention]

The outline of the invention for achieving the above object is to include a scintillator capable of converting radiation generated from a radioisotope administered to a subject into scintillation light, and a scintillator that responds to the scintillation light via a light guide laminated on the scintillator. a photomultiplier tube that generates photoelectrons and multiplies the photoelectrons; a position signal conversion means that converts an output signal of the photomultiplier tube into a position signal; a display means for displaying an image;
A scintillation camera comprising a region of interest setting means for setting a region of interest in an image displayed by the display means, the scintillation camera being interposed between the scintillator and the light guide and transmitting scintillation light in an appropriate shape. a light speed closing means capable of irreversibly changing color; a color change region specifying means for specifying a color change region of the light speed closing means based on the region of interest set by the region of interest setting means; and output data of the color change region specifying means. Accordingly, the present invention is characterized by comprising light speed closing control means for discoloring a specific region of the light speed closing means so that scintillation light cannot pass therethrough.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a scintillation camera according to the present invention. 15, discoloration area designation means 17, and liquid crystal control means 16.

The detection means 6 includes a scintillator 7 that converts radiation generated from R.
a liquid crystal film 8 interposed between the light guide and the scintillator and capable of changing color so as not to transmit scintillation light; and a plurality of photoelectron multipliers arranged on the light guide 11. tube (RM
T) 12a to 12n, and the photomultiplier tube 1
The outputs of 2a to 12n, that is, the output of the detection means B, are
The signal is input to the position signal converting means 13 arranged at the subsequent stage.

The position 1g signal detection means converts the output signal of the detection means B into a position signal, and the output signal is provided for image display on the display means 140 disposed at the subsequent stage.

Further, the ROI setting means 15 is configured by, for example, a joystick, a trackball, or a light rail, and is used by the operator to set a region of interest (hereinafter also referred to as rROIJ) in the image displayed by the display means 14. The output thereof is inputted to the display means 14 and the discoloration area designation means 17 arranged at the subsequent stage via the display means 14.

The discoloration area specifying means 17 is configured by, for example, a central processing unit (C
PU), and generates information (data) for setting the discoloration area of the liquid crystal film 8 in the detection means B based on the region of interest set by the ROI setting means 15. The report is transferred to the liquid crystal control means 16 disposed at a later stage.

The liquid crystal control means 16 changes the color of a specific area of the liquid crystal film 8 based on the information transferred from the color change area specifying means 17, and its output is applied to a transparent electrode (not shown) of the liquid crystal film 80. It is supposed to be done.

Next, the operation of the scintillation camera configured as described above will be explained.

Due to the radiation generated from R・■ projected onto the subject,
The scintillator 7 generates scintillation light. The scintillation light is transmitted through the liquid crystal M8 (at this time, the liquid crystal film 8
has not changed color. Therefore, it is transparent) and the light guide 11
The light enters the photomultiplier tubes 12a to 12n via the . The L child multipliers 12a to 12n generate zero electrons (photoelectric effect) in response to the scintillation light on their photocathode, multiply the photoelectrons, and transmit them to the position signal conversion means 16. The photoelectrons are then converted into a position signal by the position signal converting means 13 and then displayed as an image on the display means 14.

The operator uses the ROI setting means 15 to select the display means 14.
A target region, that is, a region of interest, is set in the displayed image. The set region of interest is input to the discoloration region specifying means 17 via the display means 14, and is used to generate information for setting the discoloration region of the liquid crystal film 8. Based on the information generated by the discoloration area specifying means 170, the liquid crystal control means 16:
By the liquid crystal film 8, the specific region of the liquid crystal film 8 refers to the R
This is a region outside the region of interest set by the OI setting means 15, and is an unnecessary dorsal region. However, the liquid crystal film 8
In this way, the Sekinohi region is set by changing the color of the liquid crystal film 8 interposed between the light guide 11 of the detection means B and the scintillator 7 according to the region of interest. Since the scintillation light from other parts (organs) is blocked, the display means 14 shows
Only the image of the target area with the region of interest set is displayed without distortion, and the counting rate is significantly improved, especially when there are many background areas compared to the target area. It turns out.

Further, as described above, the photomultiplier tubes 12a to 12z1
The light guide 11 between and the liquid crystal/I demon 8 becomes a space for light, and the photomultiplier tubes 12a to 1 are blocked by the liquid crystal.
Since light is also incident on 2n, distortion during position calculation is reduced.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and that modifications can be made as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the discoloration area specifying means 17 is
Although the configuration is not limited to this, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the above embodiment by using 4G using hardware or microprogramming firmware.Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a liquid crystal display is used as the light speed closing means. Although the membrane has been explained, it can also be implemented by replacing it with other members that do not have the same function.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described above, since the region of interest is displayed by blocking the scintillation light itself,
It is possible to provide a scintillation camera that improves the efficiency of scintillation detection of a target region (region of interest) and allows easy setting of a region of interest of any shape.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the setting of a region of interest in a conventional device, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a scintillation camera according to the present invention. Electron multiplier tube, 16...Position signal conversion means, 14...
Display means, 15...ROI setting means (region of interest setting means), 17...Liquid crystal control means (light transmission/closing control means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] a scintillator capable of converting radiation generated from a radioisotope administered to a subject into scintillation light;
Generating photoelectrons in response to the scintillation light via a light guide laminated on the scintillator, and a photomultiplier tube for multiplying the photoelectrons, and converting an output signal of the photomultiplier tube into a position signal. A scintillation camera comprising a position signal conversion means, a display means for displaying an image based on an output signal of the position signal conversion means, and a region of interest setting means for setting a region of interest in the image displayed by the display means. , a light blocking means which is interposed between the scintillator and the light guide and which can change color to prevent the transmission of scintillation light in an appropriate shape; and the region of interest setting means! A discoloration area specifying means for specifying a colored area of the optical port/claw closing means based on the set region of interest, and a specific area of the light blocking means according to output data of the discoloration area specifying means. and light speed closing control means for changing color so that the scintillation source cannot be transmitted through.