Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/48—Diagnostic techniques
  • A61B6/488—Diagnostic techniques involving pre-scan acquisition
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/46—Arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
  • A61B6/461—Displaying means of special interest
  • A61B6/464—Displaying means of special interest involving a plurality of displays
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/46—Arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
  • A61B6/461—Displaying means of special interest
  • A61B6/465—Displaying means of special interest adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/46—Arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
  • A61B6/467—Arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient characterised by special input means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a medical image diagnostic apparatus, and in particular, when capturing a medical image using a medical image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus, an MRI apparatus, etc.
• the present invention relates to a medical image diagnostic apparatus capable of setting imaging conditions such as an imaging position and a range, the number of image reconstructions and an image reconstruction position, and a scanana angle when photographing a tomographic image.
• an entire image of the subject to be examined is taken along the body axis direction of the subject.
• the photographer takes a perspective image (scanogram image) and displays the scanogram image 20 on the monitor as shown in FIG.
• an imaging condition setting screen for designating an imaging protocol and imaging conditions is separately provided on another window on the same screen as the display screen of the scanogram image 20 or on a separately provided sunset panel.
• the shooting conditions are set on this screen.
• a list of frequently used protocols that have already been registered is listed from among the protocol names 100 in FIG. 6, and the necessary protocol is selected. For example, if you select the protocol name 100 in FIG. 6, the pull-down menu 101 in FIG. 7 appears. As shown in Fig. 7, when the user points to the mark 102 corresponding to "cervical vertebra (Y)" in the pull-down menu 101, the protocol is selected and the protocol name 100 in Fig. 6 is selected. Will be displayed.
• the protocol can be selected by being displayed as shown in Fig. 7, for example. In this way, it is possible to fine-tune the scan conditions after selecting the buttocks. In that case, the selection button in Fig. 6 is pointed and changed. For example, "5 mm If you select “Thickness”, you can change the slice thickness to 5 mm.
• a frame 21A indicating a scan range and a plurality of lines 21B indicating a slice interval are displayed according to the selected conditions as shown in FIG. .
• Such a method of designating photographing conditions is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-3133476 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-104340.
• imaging conditions such as the imaging position and range, the number of image reconstructions, and the image reconstruction position at the time of tomographic imaging are changed using a frame 21A and a line 21B.
• imaging conditions such as the imaging position and range, the number of image reconstructions, and the image reconstruction position at the time of tomographic imaging are changed using a frame 21A and a line 21B.
• this is performed using an external operating means such as a mouse.
• frame 21 A is enlarged or reduced to increase or decrease the number of shootings and image reconstructions.
• the frames and lines indicating the imaging conditions displayed on the scanogram image correspond to the actual scan range, imaging and image reconstruction positions and angles, and the like.
• multiple imaging conditions are specified by protocol selection as shown in Fig. 7 (for example, imaging conditions for the face vertebra (Y) in the figure), or when the same region is imaged multiple times (for example, when the contrast agent is used)
• the frames and lines for the multiple shots are displayed overlapping, and the corresponding frames and lines are changed to change the desired shooting conditions.
• the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a frame indicating desired shooting conditions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical image diagnostic apparatus capable of quickly and accurately operating lines and lines. Disclosure of the invention
• the present invention provides a medical image diagnostic apparatus which captures a whole image of a subject to be inspected and captures a plurality of tomographic images according to imaging conditions set on the whole image.
• Operating means for setting shooting conditions at the time of shooting; and shooting positions of a plurality of tomographic images on the entire image displayed on the first display means based on the shooting conditions set by the operating means.
• an imaging condition setting screen for setting imaging conditions such as the number of imaging and image reconstruction and the position of imaging and image reconstruction is displayed on a display means on which a scanogram image is displayed. In another window or on another display means such as a touch panel.
• a desired shooting of each shooting can be designated by operating the external operation means, and the shooting conditions relating to the designated shooting can be individually set. ing. For example, when multiple shooting sequences are performed, when changing the shooting conditions of the first shooting sequence, specify the first shooting sequence, and then specify the first shooting sequence. Set the shooting conditions. In this case, the setting of the photographing condition does not affect the photographing condition of the other photographing sequence other than the first photographing sequence.
• a plurality of shooting sequences can be specified at the same time, and in this case, the same shooting conditions are set for the specified plurality of shooting sequences.
• the shooting conditions set in this way include a frame indicating the shooting conditions on the scanogram image and This is reflected in the display of lines and the like. Rather than directly operating the frame or line displayed on the scanogram image with a mouse or the like in this way, by specifying the desired shooting on the shooting condition setting screen independent of the scanogram image, it exists at the same position This makes it possible to avoid the problem of erroneously operating other frames, lines, or the like, and to quickly and accurately set desired photographing conditions for designated photographing.
• FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a medical image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a flowchart used to explain a procedure for setting photographing conditions according to the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a display screen of a monitor on which a scanogram image and the like used for explaining the present invention are displayed;
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the shooting condition setting screen displayed in Fig. 3;
• Figure 5 is a diagram used to explain a conventional method of setting imaging conditions using a scanogram image
• Figure 6 is a diagram showing a conventional shooting condition setting screen
• FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a pull-down menu that appears when a protocol is selected in a conventional shooting condition setting screen.
• FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a medical image diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention.
• the medical image diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, an X-ray CT apparatus, and includes a scanner 10 for capturing a scanogram image or a tomographic image of a subject, a central processing unit for controlling the entire apparatus, and an image processing apparatus.
• Image processing device 11 having a magnetic disk or the like storing a program for realizing the imaging conditions according to the present invention, a tomographic image and the like, and an external operation means It is composed of a keyboard 1 2, point means 1 3 (it will be described below using a mouse as an example, but any point means such as a track pole, a track pad, a keyboard, a touch panel, etc.) and a monitor 14. I have.
• An X-ray tube and an X-ray detector are arranged on the gantry of the scanner 10 so as to face each other.
• X-rays generated from the X-ray tube pass through a subject lying on a couch, are detected by an X-ray detector, are converted into electric signals, and are transmitted to the image processing apparatus 11.
• the image processing apparatus 11 reconstructs a tomographic image from the data input by the measurement by the scanner by a known image reconstruction technique.
• the reconstructed tomographic image is displayed on the monitor 14 and stored on a magnetic disk for redisplay.
• a scanogram image is taken and the scanogram image is monitored for the purpose of setting the imaging conditions such as the number of imaging of the subject and the number of image reconstructions and the positions of the imaging and the image reconstruction. It is displayed on 14 (step S40).
• a scanogram image is an X-ray image that is first taken to accurately capture the area of the target organ.Only the bed on which the subject is placed is rotated without rotating the X-ray tube and X-ray detector. It is created by exposing X-rays while moving only a gantry having an X-ray tube and X-ray detector in the body axis direction.
• FIG. 3 shows an example of a display screen of the monitor 14 on which a captured scanogram image and the like are displayed.
• a frame 32 A indicating a scan range, and a line 32 B indicating a tomographic image capturing and image reconstruction position are displayed on a monitor 14 together with a scanogram image 31.
• a photographing condition setting which is an operation screen for setting a photographing condition
• Screen 33 is displayed.
• the operator of the X-ray CT apparatus specifies the desired imaging for setting the imaging conditions on the imaging condition setting screen 33 (step S41). For example, there are cases where a plurality of imagings are performed, such as imaging before and after injection of a contrast agent, or imaging of different organs separately. In this case, desired imaging (first imaging) is performed. , Second shot, etc.) in box 40.
• Step S42 shooting conditions such as a shooting position and a shooting range, the number of image reconstructions, and an image reconstruction position are set using external operation means such as a mouse 13 and a keyboard 12.
• external operation means such as a mouse 13 and a keyboard 12.
• the photographing conditions set on the photographing condition setting screen 33 are reflected on the frame 32A and the line 32B displayed on the scanogram image 31 via the CPU (step S43). Also, when the imaging conditions are displayed on separate display means, they are reflected by communication between each CPU provided for each display means.
• step S44 the processing from step S41 to step S43 is repeatedly executed (step S44).
• the image processing apparatus 11 performs tomographic image imaging and image reconstruction according to the determined imaging conditions (step S45).
• the photographing conditions set using the independent photographing condition setting screen 33 as described above are immediately changed to the square frame 3 2A displayed on the scanogram image 3 1 and the line 3 2B dividing the frame. Therefore, desired photographing conditions can be easily set while checking the frame 32A and the line 32B.
• the photographing conditions may be set by directly pointing the rectangular frame 32A or the line 32B on the scanogram image 31.
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the photographing condition setting screen 33 shown in FIG.
• ⁇ Setting example 1 Example of specifying desired shooting sequence for setting shooting conditions> Using the external operation means such as a mouse or keyboard, specify the desired shooting sequence for which you want to set the shooting conditions.
• a numerical value input box 40 is provided on the shooting condition setting screen 33 to specify a desired shooting sequence
• a numerical value corresponding to the order of the shooting sequence is provided in the numerical value input box 40. Enter the desired photographing sequence by inputting on the keyboard.
• numerical values "1" and "3" are displayed in the numerical value input box 40, which indicates that the first and third photographing sequences have been designated. Become.
• the upper or lower side of the rectangular imaging condition setting frame 4 1 displayed on the imaging condition setting screen 33 Move the pointer (not shown) to and drag the selected side up and down.
• the vertical size of the square frame 32 A indicating the shooting conditions on the scanogram image 31 set for the shooting specified in the setting example 1 changes, and according to the size, The number of lines 32B that divide this frame parallel to any side of this square frame changes, and the number of images and the number of image reconstructions are set.
• the first and third imaging sequences are specified, so that the number of imaging and the number of image reconstructions at the time of these imaging are set at the same time.
• ⁇ Setting example 3 Example of increasing / decreasing the imaging range and effective field of view (FOV) of image reconstruction> Using an external operation means such as a mouse or keyboard, increasing / decreasing the imaging range and effective field of view (FOV) of image reconstruction .
• the shooting angle and image reconstruction angle using a mouse
• the dotted line 43 is tilted right or left around the mark 42.
• the angles of the square frame 32A and the dividing line 32B indicating the shooting conditions on the scanogram image 31 set for the shooting specified in the setting example 1 are changed as a whole, and the shooting and the The image reconstruction angle is set.
• the scanner angle (tilt angle) of the scanner 10 can be set.
• the outline of the square frame is a parallelogram.
• the photographing specification described in the setting example 1 is performed prior to the setting in the setting examples 2 to 5.
• the shooting condition setting frame 41 displayed on the shooting condition setting screen 33 shown in FIG. 4 is similar to the square frame 32 A and the dividing line 32 B indicating the shooting conditions on the scanogram image 31.
• the image may be moved from the scanogram image 31 to the shooting condition setting screen 33 by dragging with the mouse, or vice versa.
• the shape may be the same, similar, or similar.
• the desired shooting conditions can be set using another screen (shooting condition setting screen 3 3) while observing the frame 3 2 A and the line 3 2 B indicating the shooting conditions on the scanogram image 3 1 Good.
• the photographing condition setting screen 33 is not limited to the case where the scanogram image 31 is displayed on the monitor 114 on which the scanogram image 31 is displayed in a picture-in-picture manner, and may be displayed on another monitor.
• an X-ray CT apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to setting of imaging conditions in other medical image diagnostic apparatuses such as an MRI apparatus.
• a photographing condition setting screen for setting photographing conditions such as a photographing position and a range, an image reconstruction number and an image reconstruction position, and a scan angle is displayed for displaying an entire image.
• the photographing condition setting screen can be used to specify the desired photographing sequence of each photographing sequence and individually set the photographing conditions for the specified photographing sequence. Yes, and the settings are reflected in the square frames and lines indicating the shooting conditions displayed on the scanogram image, thereby avoiding the problem of erroneously operating other frames and lines at the same position. This makes it possible to quickly and accurately set desired photographing conditions for the designated photographing.

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• 2002
  • 2002-07-22 JP JP2002212482A patent/JP4331444B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-07-22 CN CN038174308A patent/CN1671325B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-07-22 US US10/521,978 patent/US7689266B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-07-22 WO PCT/JP2003/009239 patent/WO2004008966A1/ja not_active Ceased

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