JP2002165781A - Ct scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a CT scanner which permits a CT scanning position to be identified on a fluoroscopic image, makes a bed move to the CT scanning position so as to enable a CT scan for a specified section, and furnishes image data on an accurate region by conducting the CT scan few times. SOLUTION: The CT scanning object region of a subject 6 is identified by fluoroscopy. The identified position is detected by a position detecting means 19 installed in the bed 6. Positional information, brought about by the detection of the position, is stored in a position storing part 21 and used as control data for moving the bed 6 to a prescribed position of a trestle 1 so as to conduct the CT scan. The region identified by the fluoroscopy is accurately located in the prescribed position of the trestle 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to determination of an imaging part in a CT imaging apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional CT imaging apparatus (X
2. Description of the Related Art In CT imaging using an X-ray tomography apparatus, various operations are performed to satisfactorily image a region to be subjected to CT imaging of a subject (patient) to be imaged and obtain image data. For example, when it is necessary to simultaneously acquire a CT image and an X-ray image of a subject, the subject is first laid on a bed. Next, after the gantry of the CT imaging apparatus is evacuated, X-ray imaging of the subject is performed by the X-ray imaging apparatus, and X
Obtain line image data. Next, the support of the X-ray generation device included in the X-ray imaging device is retracted, and instead, the gantry of the CT imaging device is moved to the imaging target site of the subject, and CT image data is obtained by the CT imaging device. Is being done.

In radiography using such a CT radiographing apparatus and an X-ray radiographing apparatus together, it is necessary that both radiographing apparatuses accurately photograph the same part of a subject to be radiographed. The two imaging devices accurately image the same site to obtain CT image data and X-ray image data, and the two image data are compared to be used as diagnostic material. For this reason, it is necessary to accurately position the imaging part, and conventionally, light is applied to a part to be imaged by the CT imaging apparatus with respect to the body surface of the imaging part of the subject,
The operator who observes the range irradiated with the light estimates the in-vivo structure of the subject and determines the CT imaging site. In addition, a technique of determining an imaging region using a scano image is also performed.

[0004]

However, the prior art has the following problems to be solved.

In the conventional method of locating an imaging part, for example, the body surface of the subject is irradiated with light to visually estimate the internal structure, so that the operator relies on proficiency based on the experience of the operator. Variation in positioning was large.

In order to determine a plurality of imaging parts,
The operator memorizes each part, and the imaging is performed based on the principle cultivated by experience, so it is difficult to determine an accurate CT imaging part in advance, and an unintended unnecessary part is imaged. The possibility could not be denied.

In view of these problems, the present invention can specify a CT imaging position on an X-ray fluoroscopic image, can move a bed to a CT imaging position, and can perform CT imaging of a specific location, and can perform accurate imaging with a small number of imaging times. It is an object of the present invention to provide a CT imaging apparatus that obtains image data of (1).

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image capturing apparatus for obtaining image data by switching between X-ray fluoroscopy and CT imaging of a subject to be imaged. In a CT imaging apparatus, a bed moving means for freely moving a bed on which a subject is placed between the X-ray fluoroscopic position and the CT imaging position, and a bed moving means for moving the couch from the X-ray fluoroscopic position. Position information storage means for storing the amount of movement as position information, wherein the image data of the imaging target site can be obtained by the CT imaging based on the position information stored in the position information storage means. C
The T photographing device is a solution.

Further, according to the present invention described in claim 2,
An X-ray detecting unit provided at a lower portion of the bed, which is moved directly below an X-ray tube for emitting X-rays in the X-ray fluoroscopy, and is moved and retracted in the CT imaging, The CT imaging apparatus according to claim 1 is a solution.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a CT imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) shows X-ray fluoroscopy, and FIG. (B) in the middle is C
This shows T imaging. In FIG. 1, a gantry 1 and
X-ray tube 2, subject 5, bed 6, X-ray flat panel detector 7
, A bed driving unit 22, an X-ray tube 23, an X-ray flat panel detector 24, and a detector storage unit 26 are shown.

A subject 5, who is a patient, is laid on a bed 6 on his back to receive CT imaging. The subject 5 is at rest on the bed 6, and X-rays are generated by the X-ray tube 23, and the X-ray is irradiated to the imaging target site of the subject 5. In FIG. 1A, the head of the subject 5 is used as an imaging target part for explanation. An X-ray flat panel detector 24 is arranged below the bed 6, and detects the irradiated X-rays and converts them into electric signals to obtain image data. The fluoroscopic image data of the imaging target site of the subject 5 is obtained by X-ray fluoroscopy, and the operator can grasp the internal structure of the imaging target site based on the image data.

At the same time, the position of the region to be photographed is detected by position detecting means provided inside the bed driving unit 22, and stored as position information. The configuration relating to position detection and position information will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

Next, after the position of the subject to be imaged of the subject 5 is determined based on the image data obtained by fluoroscopy, and after the position data of the portion to be imaged is stored, the bed 6 is moved to a predetermined position on the gantry 1 for CT imaging. The subject 5 is moved to the position with the subject 5 placed thereon. In FIG. 1B, the head, which is the imaging target site of the subject 5, has moved into the gantry 1. Here, the moving amount of the bed 6 is calculated and calculated based on the position data obtained by X-ray fluoroscopy. The configuration for obtaining the movement amount will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The head, which is the subject to be imaged, of the subject 5 that has moved to the gantry 1 is located below an X-ray tube 2 for generating and emitting X-rays for CT imaging. A CT detector 8 is located at a position facing the X-ray tube 2. By moving the bed by the amount of movement previously calculated,
The imaging target part of the head is located exactly below the X-ray tube 2 in the gantry 1, and the imaging target part determined by X-ray fluoroscopy can be accurately subjected to CT imaging. At this time, the X-ray flat panel detector 24 is connected to the detector storage unit 2 provided in the bed driving unit 22.
6 and evacuated.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration for explaining a CT imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The CT imaging apparatus shown in FIG.
, X-ray diaphragm 3, CT bed 6, X-ray flat panel detector 24
, CT detector 8, high voltage generator 9, X-ray controller 1
0, A / D conversion unit 11, image calculation unit 12, display processing unit 13, monitor 14, A / D conversion unit 15, image calculation unit 16, display processing unit 17, monitor 18, ,
Position detecting section 19, movement controlling section 20, position storing section 21
It is composed of The X-ray flux 4 and the subject 5 are shown in FIG.

The subject 5 is placed on a CT bed 6 on his / her back for CT imaging. In a state where the subject 5 is placed, the CT bed 6 is stationary by moving the head of the subject 5, which is an imaging target site, to a predetermined position of the gantry 1. The X-ray flat panel detector 24 is housed in the bed driving unit 22.

An X-ray beam 4 is emitted from the X-ray tube 2 provided on the gantry 1 for CT imaging of the subject 5 toward the subject 5. The X-ray tube 2 is driven by a high-pressure generator 9, which is controlled by an X-ray controller 10. The irradiated X-ray flux 4 passes through the subject 5 and is detected by the CT detector 8. The X-ray flux 4 detected by the CT detector 8 is converted into an electric signal, and is converted into an A / A signal as a detection signal.
The signal is input to the D conversion unit 15, where the signal is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. Next, the detection signal converted into a digital signal is converted into image data by the image calculation unit 16. In this conversion, image correction and data correction are performed by a predetermined algorithm, and the conversion is obtained by calculation as image data. The display processing unit 17 generates image data for displaying the image data on the monitor 18.
The image is displayed on the monitor 18.

In order to perform a series of CT scans as described above, it is necessary to accurately specify a portion to be imaged of the subject 5. Therefore, as described above with reference to FIG. 1, the exact position of the imaging target site is specified by performing X-ray fluoroscopy before performing CT imaging. In this X-ray imaging, X-ray irradiation is performed by the X-ray tube 23 shown in FIG. 1, and the X-ray plane detector 24 detects this irradiated X-ray and converts it into an electric signal. The signal is input to the A / D converter 11 as a detection signal, where the signal is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. Next, the detection signal converted into a digital signal is converted into image data by the image calculation unit 12. In this conversion, image correction and data correction are performed by a predetermined algorithm, and the conversion is obtained by calculation as image data. The display processing unit 13 generates image data for displaying the image data on the monitor 14 and displays the image data on the monitor 14.

The bed 6 is moved in the horizontal direction by the series of X-ray fluoroscopy. The bed 6 is provided with a position detection unit 19 having a configuration such as an encoder.
The information on the amount of movement and the current position of the bed 6 due to the movement of the bed 2 is detected as position information and output as an electric signal. This position information is input to the movement control unit 20, where the bed 6
Is generated, and the bed driving unit 22 is also controlled.

The position storage unit 21 stores the position and the amount of movement of the bed 6,
Control data and the like are stored. The position information stored in the position storage unit 21 stores, as the position of the bed 6, the exact position of the imaging target portion specified by X-ray fluoroscopy of the subject 5. Based on the stored position information of the bed 6, the imaging target portion of the subject 5 is positioned by moving the bed 6 to a predetermined position for CT imaging of the gantry 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration for obtaining the position information of the subject 5, and FIG.
Is a reference position for movement, (b) shows a portion to be imaged, and (c) is a diagram for explaining a diaphragm device.

FIG. 3A shows an object 31 on a bed 30.
Schematically shows a person sleeping on his back. The couch 30 is freely slid in the lateral direction by the couch driving unit 29. X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube 28. For example, when the imaging target region of the subject 31 is a limited area of the head, the imaging target region set by the operator with respect to a predetermined relative reference distance L0 between the X-ray tube 28 and the bed 30 is set. Is detected. The bed 3 based on the displacement amount S
1 is moved to a predetermined position on a gantry (not shown) to accurately perform CT imaging of the imaging target portion.

In FIG. 3B, it is assumed that the subject to be imaged of the subject 31 is the head, and the bed 30 is irradiated with the optical marker 32. The portion where the optical marker 32 hits can be specified as an imaging target site, and CT imaging is performed.
(C) schematically shows a diaphragm device 33 provided in the X-ray tube 28, in which the movement of the vertical diaphragm plate 34 and the horizontal diaphragm plate 35 is controlled to determine the X-ray irradiation range.

The C according to the embodiment of the present invention described above.
According to the T imaging apparatus, by attaching the detector to the bed, the subject and the detector can be brought close to each other, so that a good image can be obtained.

Further, it is possible to automatically move the couch to the CT imaging position by designating the CT imaging position in the X-ray fluoroscopic image.

In the aperture device, the lateral direction is fixed within the CT imaging range, and the body axis direction is switched between CT and X-ray fluoroscopy.

[0027] The convenience of the system is improved, and the size and the price of the system can be reduced.

The embodiments described above are described for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0029]

According to the present invention, CT is performed on a fluoroscopic image of X-rays.
It is possible to provide a CT imaging apparatus capable of specifying an imaging position, moving a couch to a CT imaging position, performing CT imaging of a specific location, and obtaining image data of an accurate site with a small number of imagings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a CT imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) in FIG. 1 shows X-ray fluoroscopy, and (b) in FIG. Shows shooting.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration for describing a CT imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are schematic diagrams for explaining a CT imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a reference position for movement, (b) is a portion to be imaged, and (c) () Shows a diagram for explaining the aperture device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Stand, 2 ... X-ray tube, 3 ... X-ray aperture, 6 ... Bed, 10
... X-ray controller, 19 ... Position detection, 20 ... Movement control unit, 2
1. Position storage unit 22. Bed driving unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray fluoroscopy and a CT scan of a subject to be imaged.
CT that can switch between shooting and image data
In the imaging apparatus, the bed on which the subject is placed is moved to the X-ray fluoroscopic position and the CT.
A bed moving unit that freely moves between the imaging position; and a position information storage unit that stores, as position information, a movement amount of the bed from the X-ray fluoroscopic position, and is stored in the position information storage unit. A CT imaging apparatus, wherein image data of the imaging target site is obtained by the CT imaging based on the obtained position information. 2. An X-ray tube provided at a lower portion of the bed and directly under an X-ray tube for emitting X-rays in the X-ray fluoroscopy,
The CT imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an X-ray detection unit that moves and retracts during the CT imaging.