JPS6112311B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention is based on the so-called CT (computer tomography)
This field relates to image processing devices that perform predetermined processing on raw data detected from a subject and display them as images, such as image diagnostic devices, and relates to techniques for diagnosing and detecting abnormalities such as changes over time and failures of the device. It is something.

For example, with a CT system, when trying to discover complex malfunctions or changes over time, etc., the original data obtained from the detector, i.e., a portion of the raw data that has not been processed or all of one scan, must be used. This is done either by printing it out on a printer or displaying it as a sinogram.

A sinogram is a system that converts raw data into gradation information such as brightness, and organizes and displays it on a display screen. For example, an example of a CT device is the so-called TR (traverse/rotate) X-ray system.
The case of a CT device will be explained as an example. In a TR type X-ray CT apparatus, an X-ray source and a detector are arranged to face each other with a subject in between. During imaging, the X-ray source and detector work together to scan the subject in a straight line (translate operation), and perform projections on a large number of X-ray paths distributed in parallel and at equal intervals. Get data. Usually, several hundred pieces of projection data are obtained in one translation operation. When the translation operation is completed, the X-ray tube and the detector work together to perform a rotation operation by a small angle (for example, 1°) with respect to the subject. When this rotation operation is completed, the translation operation is started again, and thereafter both operations are repeated alternately. This repetitive operation finally ends when the X-ray tube and detector have rotated 180 degrees, completing the collection of projection data, that is, the imaging operation.

In the case of this TR type CT device, as shown in Fig. 1, the translate (sometimes called ``traverse'') scanning position TP is set on the horizontal axis of the screen, and the rotate (also called ``index'') Each sampling data (raw data) at each corresponding position with the scanning position RP as the vertical axis
Displays a gray scale image.

However, the printing method requires a fairly high-speed printer because the amount of data is large. Furthermore, the sinogram method lacks quantitative properties. Moreover, in both methods, it is difficult to decipher anything other than significant failures, and these methods cannot be said to be suitable for tracking changes over time.

The present invention was made against the background of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can easily diagnose and detect failures, performance degradation, etc. without requiring a particularly high-speed printer. The purpose is

In other words, the present invention is characterized in that, in an image processing device that performs predetermined processing on original data detected from a subject and displays it as an image, it is possible to use an image processing device that performs predetermined processing on original data detected from a subject and displays it as an image. The standard original data, which is the original data obtained by performing the detection, is stored in a storage means, and the detection is performed on the standard test object at the time of diagnosis, and the new original data obtained and the standard original data are The purpose is to find the difference and display the difference data corresponding to this difference as gradation information as an image.

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a CT apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 2 shows the overall system configuration of the CT device.
An electronic computer (hereinafter referred to as "computer") 1 that controls image reconstruction processing and system operation
stores the raw data from the detector obtained by the scanner main body 2 as a detection means in the auxiliary storage device 4 via the data collection device 3, performs predetermined image reconstruction processing on this raw data, and displays it on the display means. The image is displayed as a CT image by a display device 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary storage device 4 is provided with an original data storage area OE (as storage means) and a latest data storage area NE.

In this method, in a CT device with the system configuration shown in Fig. 2, a phantom, which is a predetermined standard detection target, is transferred to the main body of the scanner after the final adjustment is completed when the CT device is assembled. is set at a predetermined position, data for one scan is collected, and the unprocessed raw data is stored in the original data storage area of the auxiliary storage device 4.
Remember it in OE.

Then, at an appropriate time after the apparatus starts operating, raw data collected on the same phantom under exactly the same conditions as when the original data was collected is stored in the latest data storage area NE. Then, the computer 1 calculates the spatial difference between these two areas, that is, the difference for each corresponding data, and displays it on the display device 5 as a gray scale image in a format substantially similar to the sinogram shown in FIG. 1, for example. That is, here, the computer 1 functions as a comparison means. The image displayed on the display device 5 allows the comprehensive difference between the most well-adjusted state and the latest state of the device to be grasped at a glance, and is useful for diagnosing comprehensive failures or changes over time in the CT device. It is extremely effective.

In addition, at the same time as displaying the grayscale image, the computer 1 performs statistical processing (for example, calculating an average value for a specified section) on part or all of the difference information obtained as described above. By numerically outputting it using an appropriately provided output means, it is also possible to quantitatively judge the change over time.

In this way, it is possible to detect a decrease in performance or an abnormal state of the CT apparatus in a relatively short time without adding any configuration to the conventional CT apparatus to the hardware configuration of the apparatus.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be implemented with various modifications without changing the gist thereof.

For example, sufficient abnormality diagnosis is possible even when only the gray scale image is used without performing statistical processing or numerical processing on the obtained difference data, that is, the difference data. Further, the image display of the difference data is not limited to an image expressing gradations using brightness and shading, but may be displayed using other gradation expressions.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to CT devices, but can be applied to various image processing devices, such as scintillation cameras, as long as the acquired data is subjected to predetermined processing and displayed as an image. can.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can diagnose and detect failures, performance degradation, etc. very easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the appearance of a conventional sinogram display screen, Fig. 2 is a system block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and Fig. 3 FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a storage area of an auxiliary storage device in an embodiment of the present invention. 1...Electronic computer, 2...Scanner main unit, 3...
...Data collection device, 4...Auxiliary storage device, 5...
Display device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. First data consisting of a detection means for detecting image information about a subject and image information obtained by the detection means using a predetermined standard detection object as the subject is stored. a storage means; a detection control means for obtaining second data consisting of image information using the standard detection target object as a subject by the detection means during abnormality diagnosis; and the second data obtained by the detection control means. a comparison means for obtaining difference data according to a difference between the corresponding data and the first data stored in the storage means; and a display means for displaying image information based on the difference data obtained by the comparison means. An image processing device comprising: 2. The image processing device according to claim 1, comprising a processing means for appropriately performing statistical processing on the difference data obtained by the comparison means, and an output means for outputting the processing result by the processing means as a numerical value. An image processing device characterized by: