KR102116666B1 - Apparatus for modulating radiation beam intensity and digital tomosynthesis system having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A radiation intensity modulation device is provided. The radiation intensity modulation device includes an intensity control unit that controls the size of a passage area through which the radiation passes when irradiating the subject; And a light source that outputs light so as to display the radiation and a reflector that adjusts a path of light irradiated from the light source, and the intensity control unit is sequentially positioned along different irradiation directions of irradiating radiation to the subject and is different from each other. It includes a first adjusting portion and a second adjusting portion forming a passing region of the shape.

Description

Radiation intensity modulator and digital tomographic image synthesis system including the same {APPARATUS FOR MODULATING RADIATION BEAM INTENSITY AND DIGITAL TOMOSYNTHESIS SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a radiation intensity modulation device and a digital tomography image synthesis system including the same.

In general, 3D medical images, such as computed tomography images, have the advantage of being able to grasp the subject in an overview and at a glance, but in order to observe the internal structure of the subject in more detail, high X-ray imaging conditions and a large number of projection images are required. Acquisition is essential, which causes the high dose problem that the subject is subject to.

Recently, a digital tomosynthesis system (DTS) capable of improving the dose problem and image quality of such a subject has been developed, and many studies are being conducted for clinical application.

Unlike a digital tomography composite imaging system that acquires an image by rotating a 360-degree rotating object and reconstructs 3D data, a digital tomography composite imaging system uses multi-angle within a limited angle, that is, projection image data obtained for each angle. It is a system that reconstructs tomographic images.

For this reason, the tomography composite imaging system is recognized as a meaningful and highly efficient diagnostic technology while providing a three-dimensional tomography image of a subject while solving the limitations of the irradiation dose and rotation angle of the computed tomography system.

However, the digital tomography composite imaging system also has a limitation in obtaining an image at a lower dose because information outside the region of interest is also used to provide a 3D tomographic image.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the radiation dose is limited to only the region where the lesion is located and the peripheral portion of the lesion to obtain an image, thereby reducing the radiation dose to an organ having high radiation sensitivity among the internal structures of the subject, thereby effectively reducing the lesion area. To provide a radiation intensity modulator capable of imaging and a digital tomography image synthesis system including the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when irradiating radiation to a subject, an intensity control unit that controls a size of a passage region through which the radiation passes; And a light source that outputs light so as to display the radiation and a reflector that adjusts a path of light irradiated from the light source, and the intensity control unit is sequentially positioned along different irradiation directions of irradiating radiation to the subject and is different from each other. It may include a first adjustment portion and a second adjustment portion to form a passage region of the shape.

At this time, the first control unit and the second control unit may be formed of a material that shields radiation.

At this time, the first adjustment unit may include a rotating member having a ring-shaped cross section and a rotating blade positioned inside the rotating member and rotating in one direction or the other in accordance with the rotation of the rotating member to adjust the size of the passage area.

At this time, the rotary blades are formed in a plurality, and the plurality of rotary blades may form the passage area in a circular or elliptical shape.

At this time, the rotating member is formed with a first tooth on the inner periphery, coupled to one end of the rotating blade and formed to engage with the first tooth, a rotating transmission member transmitting the rotational force of the rotating member to the rotating blade It can contain.

At this time, the rotating member is formed with a second tooth on the outer periphery, and is formed to engage with the first tooth, and may include a rotation adjusting member for generating a rotational force to the rotating member and adjusting the rotation direction of the rotating member. .

At this time, the first teeth and the second teeth may be formed in different sizes.

In this case, the second adjustment unit may include a shielding member disposed above or below the first adjustment unit to adjust the size of the passage area.

At this time, the shielding member may be formed in a plurality, and the plurality of shielding members may form the passage area in a square shape.

At this time, the intensity control unit may include a control unit for adjusting according to the position and size of the subject.

According to another aspect of the invention a radiation generating device for generating radiation; A radiation intensity modulator described above located in a path where radiation is irradiated from the radiation generating device; And it provides a digital tomography image synthesis system including a detector for detecting the radiation that is irradiated through the radiation intensity modulating device passes through the subject.

The radiation intensity modulator according to an embodiment of the present invention and the digital tomography image synthesis system including the same are already used when the digital tomography image synthesis system is used as a follow-up measure of a patient who has undergone a surgical operation on the chest including an intensity control unit. When the location is determined, the intensity of the radiation can be adjusted so that the radiation can be focused on only the extra area around the lesion.

The radiation intensity modulating apparatus and the digital tomography image synthesizing system including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention acquire an image by irradiating radiation only to a region where there is a lesion and a peripheral portion of the lesion during tomography imaging including an intensity control unit By reducing the radiation dose to an organ with high radiation sensitivity among the internal structures of the subject, it is possible to efficiently image the lesion site.

The radiation intensity modulation apparatus and the digital tomography image synthesizing system including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an intensity control unit to adjust the intensity of radiation so that a patient can be photographed with a minimum dose.

The radiation intensity modulation device and the digital tomography image synthesis system including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention include an intensity control unit to control the position and shape of the lesion, as well as the range required for observation according to the arrangement of the shielding layers, for convenience Can provide

The radiation intensity modulator according to an embodiment of the present invention and the digital tomography image synthesis system including the same are used for a wide area of the chest, as well as other bodies such as knee joints, back of the hand bones, sinuses, mammography, and various other diagnostic systems. This may be possible.

The radiation intensity modulator according to an embodiment of the present invention and the digital tomography image synthesizing system including the same may be used as a database for entering the medical image diagnosis system and contribute to industrialization and technology development of the domestic digital tomography image synthesis system. Can be.

1 is a perspective view showing a digital tomography image synthesis system including a radiation intensity modulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing an intensity control unit of the radiation intensity modulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a plan view showing a state in which the intensity control unit of the radiation intensity modulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention rotates in one direction.
4 is a plan view showing a state in which the intensity control unit of the radiation intensity modulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention rotates properly.
5 is a schematic diagram showing the intensity of radiation using a radiation intensity modulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily practice. The present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In the drawings, parts not related to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and the same reference numerals are attached to the same or similar elements throughout the specification.

In this specification, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to indicate that a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification exists, and that one or more other features are present. It should be understood that the presence or addition possibilities of fields or numbers, steps, actions, components, parts or combinations thereof are not excluded in advance. In addition, when a part such as a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is said to be "above" another part, this includes not only the case "directly above" the other part but also another part in the middle. Conversely, when a portion of a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is said to be “under” another portion, this includes not only the case “underneath” another portion, but also another portion in the middle.

1 is a perspective view showing a digital tomography image synthesis system including a radiation intensity modulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view showing an intensity control unit of the radiation intensity modulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the present invention, the digital tomography image synthesis system 1 includes a radiation generating device 10, a radiation intensity modulation device 20, a control unit 70, and a detector (not shown). It can contain.

Through this, in the digital tomography image synthesis system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the location of the lesion has already been identified as a follow-up measure of a patient who has undergone surgical surgery on the chest, radiation is concentrated only in the extra area around the lesion. The intensity of the radiation can be adjusted so that it can be irradiated and the patient can be imaged with a minimum dose.

On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention, the radiation generating device 10 may be a cylindrical radiation (X-ray) tube 11. In this case, the radiation tube 11 may generate X-rays, which are electromagnetic waves having a short wavelength and a strong transmittance when colliding high-speed electrons with an object.

In addition, the radiation tube 11 may include a filament that emits hot electrons and an electrode that forms a strong electric field with high voltage. At this time, when high voltage is applied to the radiation tube 11, hot electrons are emitted from the filaments forming the cathode.

The radiation tube 11 drifts by the strong electric field where the emitted electrons are emitted and collides with the anode, and the local size point where the electrons collide generates radiation at this point as the radiation generation point 13.

Meanwhile, the radiation intensity modulating device 20 may be disposed at a position where radiation generated by the radiation generating device 10 is irradiated. In this case, the irradiated radiation may be irradiated through the radiation intensity modulating device 20 so that the radiation can be intensively irradiated only to the area of irradiation of the lesion and the area around the lesion.

Referring to FIG. 1, the radiation intensity modulator 20 may include a housing 21, a light source (not shown), a reflector (not shown), and an intensity control unit 23. Through this, the radiation intensity modulator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention can reduce the exposure of unnecessary radiation by varying the radiation absorption rate when attempting to photograph a patient through the digital tomography image synthesis system 1. By adjusting it according to the diagnostic image of the patient, the radiation range of the patient is reduced and the scattering line is reduced to improve the image quality.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing 21 may be formed with a hollow portion in which a light source, a reflector, and an intensity control unit 23 can be installed. In addition, the housing 21 may be formed with a first opening (not shown) at a location where radiation is irradiated, and a second opening (not shown) at a location where X-rays are emitted.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the light source may irradiate visible light toward a path through which radiation is irradiated. At this time, since the radiation is invisible to the human eye, in order to visually check the irradiation area of the radiation irradiated to the outside through the radiation intensity modulator 20, the area irradiated with visible light is irradiated with the visible light. Can be visually confirmed.

In addition, the light source is a light source that blinks at a predetermined frequency, and a semiconductor light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED), a laser diode (LD), and a gas discharge lamp such as a halogen lamp or a xenon lamp may be used. It is not limited.

On the other hand, in order to represent the region irradiated with radiation as visible light, the light source outputting visible light must be located at the same point as the radiation generating point, but the light source outputting visible light at the same position as the radiation generating point 13 is used. Since it cannot be arranged, the light source can be provided outside the irradiation path of radiation to irradiate visible light toward the irradiation path of radiation.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the reflector is disposed on the irradiation path of visible light irradiated from the light source to change the irradiation path of visible light. At this time, in order to match the irradiation region of the visible light reflected by the reflecting mirror with the irradiation region of the radiation, the reflecting mirror may be arranged to form a constant angle with the irradiation direction of the visible light. The irradiation area of the radiation can be displayed as visible light by changing the irradiation path of visible light using the reflector.

1 and 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the intensity control unit 23 selectively shields radiation to form a first control unit 30 and a second control unit to form a passage region S of radiation. (60).

Meanwhile, in an embodiment of the present invention, the first adjustment unit 30 and the second adjustment unit 60 may be sequentially positioned along a direction in which radiation is radiated to the subject. At this time, the second adjustment unit 60 may be located above or below the first adjustment unit 30. In addition, the passage region S through which the radiation passes through the first adjustment unit 30 and the second adjustment unit 60 may have different shapes.

Referring to FIG. 2, in an embodiment of the present invention, the first adjusting part 30 may include a rotating body 31, a rotating blade 41, a rotating transmission member 43, and a rotating adjusting member 51 have. The radiation intensity modulator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention restricts radiation only to a region having a lesion and a peripheral portion of the lesion by adjusting the size of the passage region S of the radiation through the first adjusting unit 30. By obtaining the image by irradiating it, it is possible to reduce the irradiation dose to an organ with high radiation sensitivity among the internal structures of the subject, thereby efficiently imaging the lesion site.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotating body 31 may have a ring-shaped cross-section and an installation hole 32 may be formed at the center. At this time, the rotating body 31 may include a first fixing member 33, a second fixing member 35 and a rotating member 37.

In addition, the first fixing member 33 and the second fixing member 35 may be formed in a ring-shaped cross section. At this time, a rotating member 37 may be rotatably installed between the first fixing member 33 and the second fixing member 35.

On the other hand, the rotating member 37 may have a ring-shaped cross-section and a first tooth 37a may be formed on the inner periphery, and a second tooth 37b may be formed on the outer periphery. At this time, since the first teeth 37a and the second teeth 37b are formed in different sizes, they may have different rotational speeds through the same rotational force.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the rotation transmission member 43 is formed to mesh with the first teeth 37a, thereby transmitting the rotational force of the rotation member 37 to the rotation blade 41. At this time, the rotation transmission member 43 may be formed to have a circular cross section and a first pin member 39 is installed at the center to rotate around the first pin member. The rotation transmission member 43 may be formed with a third tooth 43a on the outer periphery so as to be rotated by being engaged with the first tooth 37a.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, one end of the rotary blade 41 may be fixed to one side of the rotary transmission member 43. At this time, in the radiation intensity modulator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the rotation transmission member 43 transmits the rotational force to the rotating blades 41 so that the rotating blades are rotated in one direction or the other, thereby controlling the first adjustment unit 30. The size of the passage area S of the radiation passing through may be adjusted.

At this time, a plurality of rotating blades 41 may be formed, and the other ends of the plurality of rotating blades may form a passage area (S). Referring to FIG. 3, when the rotation transmission member 43 rotates in one direction, the size of the passage area S may be reduced by rotating the plurality of rotating wings in one direction. Also, referring to FIG. 4, when the rotation transmission member 43 rotates in the other direction, the plurality of rotation blades 41 may overlap and be folded to increase the size of the passage area S. At this time, the passage area formed by the plurality of rotary blades 41 may be circular or elliptical.

On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention, the second tooth 37b is formed to mesh with the rotation adjusting member 51 so that the rotating member can be rotated through the rotational force of the rotation adjusting member. At this time, the rotation adjusting member 51 has a circular cross-section, and a second pin member 53 is installed at the center to rotate around the second pin member. In addition, the rotation adjustment member 51 may be formed with a fourth tooth (51a) on the outer periphery so as to be rotated in engagement with the second tooth (37b).

The radiation intensity modulating device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention rotates the rotating member 37 to one side or the other through the rotation adjusting member 51, thereby folding or unfolding the rotating blade 41. 1 It is possible to adjust the size of the passage area (S) of the radiation passing through the control unit.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the second adjustment unit 60 may be installed on the lower side of the first adjustment unit 30, but is not limited thereto and may be installed on the upper side. Referring to FIG. 2, in an embodiment of the present invention, the second adjusting part 60 may include a shielding member 61a.

The radiation intensity modulator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention irradiates limited radiation only to a region having a lesion and a peripheral region of the lesion by adjusting the passage region S of the radiation through the second control unit 60. By acquiring an image, it is possible to reduce the irradiation dose to an organ with high radiation sensitivity among the internal structures of the subject, thereby efficiently imaging the lesion site.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the shielding member 61a may be formed in a bar shape. At this time, a plurality of shielding members 61a may be formed, and the plurality of shielding members 61a may form a passage region S in the center. At this time, the plurality of shielding members 61a may be spaced apart from the lesion at a predetermined interval so as to include the irradiation range S1 of the lesion and the peripheral portion S2 of the lesion.

In addition, the second adjustment unit 60 may move the plurality of shielding members 61a to adjust the size of the passage area S of radiation passing through the second adjustment unit. At this time, the passage area formed by the plurality of shielding members 61a may be rectangular.

Meanwhile, in an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of shielding layers 61 made of a plurality of shielding members 61a may be sequentially stacked. At this time, the number of shielding layers 61 may be adjusted to adjust the shielding rate. In addition, the plurality of shielding members 61a may have different shielding ratios and thus different ratios for transmitting radiation.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of shielding layers 61 may be disposed along the longitudinal direction of the subject (lesion, P) by connecting the plurality of shielding members 61a to each other in the lateral direction. In addition, the plurality of shielding layers 61 may have a plurality of shielding members 61a connected to each other in the lateral direction along the longitudinal direction of the lesion.

The radiation intensity modulator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention controls lesions by adjusting a range required for observation according to the position and shape of the lesion, as well as the arrangement and shielding rate (material) of the plurality of shielding members 61a. It is possible to efficiently image the lesion by reducing radiation dose to the organs with high radiation sensitivity among the internal structures of the subject by obtaining images by irradiating radiation only to the periphery of the site and the lesion.

Radiation intensity modulator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a large area of the chest through the first control unit 30 and the second control unit 60, as well as knee joints, hand back bones, sinus, breast imaging It can be used in various diagnostic systems such as other bodies.

In addition, the radiation intensity modulator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 5, has a first control unit 30 and a second control unit 60 for controlling the arrangement of the shielding layer in order to have different radiation absorption rates. ) To effectively image the lesion by reducing X-rays to the organs with high radiation sensitivity in the internal structure of the subject by obtaining X-rays by limiting X-rays only to the lesions and the periphery of the lesions. have.

On the other hand, referring to Figure 1, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 70 controls the rotation adjusting member 51 and the plurality of shielding members 61a to position the rotary blades 41 and the positions of the plurality of shielding members. It can be adjusted according to the angle change of the X-ray tube, the location and size of the lesion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the detector (not shown) may detect radiation that has passed through the subject P. At this time, the detector may be a display that allows the natural color of visible light to be viewed from a different perspective.

In addition, the detector converts radiation into visible light and converts it back into electrical signals, which can act as a kind of photo sensor that generates electrical signals through radiation. Therefore, if you connect a monitor to the detector, you can view the captured image.

The operation of the digital tomography image synthesis system including the radiation intensity modulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

First, the patient is placed on a table, the patient is placed in a posture for the chest tomography composite imaging through a digital tomography image synthesis system, and then the positions of the radiation tube and the detector are set.

In addition, after setting the outline of the target organ (subject) with reference to the patient's chest imaging dictionary image, the controller 70 is operated to set an X-ray irradiation range including the entire target organ contour.

At this time, the contour is set in consideration of the error of the irradiation range according to the change in the position of the patient in comparison with the pre-image, and the radiation irradiation range is the size of a circular or elliptical through the first adjustment unit 30, and the passage area of the radiation S It is possible to control and through the second control unit 60 to adjust the passage area (S) of the radiation in a square size. At this time, the first adjustment unit 30 and the second adjustment unit 60 may be adjusted through the control unit 70.

Through this, in one embodiment of the present invention, the digital tomography image synthesis system is set so that the intensity of radiation is controlled to be irradiated to a minimum in the peripheral region of the lesion and focused on only the lesion. In addition, when all the contours of the target organ to be viewed are included in the irradiation range, the digital tomography imaging system is ended.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented herein, and those skilled in the art to understand the spirit of the present invention can add elements within the scope of the same spirit. However, other embodiments may be easily proposed by changing, deleting, adding, or the like, but it will also be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

1: Digital tomography image synthesis system S1: lesion site
S2: part around the lesion 10: radiation generating device
11: Radiation tube 13: X-ray generation point
20: radiation intensity modulation device 21: housing
23: intensity control unit 30: first adjustment unit
31: rotating body 32: installation hole
33: first fixing member 35: second fixing member
37: rotating member 37a: first tooth
37b: second tooth 39: first pin member
41: rotating blade 43: rotating transmission member
43a: third tooth 51: rotation adjusting member
51a: 4th tooth 53: 2nd pin member
60: second control unit 61: shielding layer
61a: shielding member 70: control unit
P: Subject

Claims (11)

An intensity control unit that controls the size of a passage area through which the radiation passes when irradiating the subject;
A light source that outputs light to display the radiation, and
It includes a reflector for adjusting the path of light emitted from the light source,
The intensity control unit
It includes a first adjustment unit and a second adjustment unit that is sequentially positioned along the irradiation direction to irradiate the subject to form a passage region of a different shape,
The first adjustment unit
Ring-shaped rotating member and
It is located inside the rotating member and includes a plurality of rotating blades formed to adjust the size of the passage area according to the rotation of the rotating member,
The plurality of rotating blades is a radiation intensity modulation device that is formed to change the size of the passage area by adjusting the size of the overlapping portion of the plurality of wings as one or the other rotates. According to claim 1,
The plurality of rotating blades is a radiation intensity modulator for forming the passage area in a circular or elliptical shape. delete According to claim 1,
The rotating blades are formed of a plurality of, and the plurality of rotating blades is a radiation intensity modulation device for forming the passage area in a circular or elliptical shape. According to claim 1,
The rotating member is formed with a first tooth on the inner periphery,
A radiation intensity modulation device comprising a rotating transmission member coupled to one end of the rotating blade and formed to engage the first tooth to transmit the rotational force of the rotating member to the rotating blade. The method of claim 5,
The rotating member is formed with a second tooth on the outer periphery,
Radiation intensity modulating device formed to mesh with the first tooth and includes a rotation adjusting member for generating a rotational force to the rotating member and adjusting the rotation direction of the rotating member. The method of claim 6,
The first tooth and the second tooth radiation intensity modulation device is formed in different sizes. According to claim 1,
The second adjustment unit
A radiation intensity modulation device including a shielding member disposed above or below the first adjustment unit to adjust the size of the passage area. The method of claim 8,
The shielding member is formed of a plurality of, and the plurality of shielding members is a radiation intensity modulation device for forming the passage area in a square. According to claim 1,
The intensity control unit is a radiation intensity modulation device comprising a control unit for adjusting according to the position and size of the subject. A radiation generating device that generates radiation;
The radiation intensity modulator according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 to 10, which is located in a path where radiation is irradiated from the radiation generating device; And
A digital tomography image synthesizing system comprising a detector that detects radiation from the radiation irradiated through the radiation intensity modulating device passing through the subject.

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