JP2012187142A - X-ray computed tomography apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate instruction to a subject for holding breath in an X-ray computed tomography apparatus.SOLUTION: The X-ray computed tomography apparatus including an X-ray tube 101 for generating an X-ray, an X-ray detector 103 for detecting an X-ray transmitted through the subject, and a support mechanism 102 for freely rotatably supporting the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector, is provided with a cradle 100 placed in an inspection room; an image reconstruction unit 114 for reconstructing an image data based on the output from the X-ray detector; and an illumination control section 215 for generating an illumination control signal to change an illumination mode of the inspection room in response to the start and end of generating an X-ray from the X-ray tube.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an X-ray computed tomography apparatus.

  The X-ray computed tomography apparatus may instruct the subject to hold his / her breath because an abnormal image is output when the subject moves during the period of data collection (scanning). Currently, the start and end timing of breath holding, as well as the breath holding time and its remaining time, are guided through automatic voice, a monitor, lamp, and speaker incorporated in the gantry.

  However, not all subjects can visually recognize a monitor or a lamp, and cannot recognize sound from a speaker.

JP 2003-180673 A

  The purpose is to improve the transmission of guidance regarding breath holding in an X-ray computed tomography apparatus.

  An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to this embodiment includes an X-ray tube that generates X-rays, an X-ray detector that detects X-rays transmitted through a subject, and the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector. A support mechanism rotatably supported, a gantry installed in the examination room, an image reconstruction unit for reconstructing image data based on the output of the X-ray detector, and an X-ray from the X-ray tube And an illumination control unit that generates an illumination control signal for changing the illumination mode of the examination room according to generation and stop of the line.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a monitor or the like equipped on the gantry of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a portion related to examination room illumination control according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure for determining the breath-holding guide tool by the breath-holding guide tool determining unit in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the timing of breath holding guidance using the contrast density by the breath holding guidance control unit of FIG.

  The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the X-ray computed tomography apparatus, a rotation / rotation (ROTATE / ROTATE) type in which an X-ray tube and a radiation detector are rotated as one body, and a number of detection elements are arrayed in a ring shape. There are various types such as a fixed / rotation (STATIONARY / ROTATE) type in which only the X-ray tube rotates around the subject, and the present embodiment can be applied to any type. Here, the rotation / rotation type that currently occupies the mainstream will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to this embodiment. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus of this embodiment has a gantry 100. The gantry 100 is installed in the examination room. The gantry 100 includes an annular rotating frame 102. The rotating frame 102 is driven by the rotation driving unit 107 and rotates about the rotation axis RA. An X-ray tube 101 and an X-ray detector 103 are mounted on the rotating frame 102 so as to face each other. The X-ray tube 101 receives an application of tube voltage and supply of filament current from a high voltage generator (HV) 109 via a slip ring 108, and generates X-rays. The X-ray detector 103 detects X-rays that have passed through the subject and outputs an electrical signal that reflects the dose of incident X-rays. A signal (referred to as pure raw data) output from the X-ray detector 103 is supplied to the preprocessing device 106 via the data collection circuit 104 and the non-contact data transmission device 105. Data (referred to as projection data or raw data) that has undergone processing such as sensitivity correction and logarithmic conversion in the preprocessing device 106 is stored in the data storage device 112. The reconstruction device 114 reconstructs two-dimensional or volume image data based on the projection data stored in the data storage device 112. The display device 116 is provided for displaying image data. The operation device 115 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like for inputting an operator's instruction. The scan control unit 110 generates a scan start signal, a scan end signal, and an operation control signal for each unit in order to control the operation of each unit related to scanning, such as the rotation drive unit 107 and the high voltage generator 109.

  The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to this embodiment has a configuration for transmitting guidance related to breath holding for a subject. As shown in FIG. 2, a gantry lamp 209, a gantry speaker 210, and a gantry monitor 211 are mounted on the gantry 100. The gantry lamp 209 is typically composed of a single color light emitting diode (LED) or a light emitting diode set capable of changing the hue, and the opening of the gantry 100 can be visually recognized so that a subject inserted on its back can be visually recognized. It is an upper part and is attached to the insertion slot inclined in a mortar shape. The gantry speaker 210 is attached to the side of the opening of the gantry 100 where the subject can hear the sound and buzzer guidance sound well. The gantry monitor 211 is typically composed of a liquid crystal panel, and is displayed on the upper part of the opening of the gantry 100 where a character inserted in the opening of the gantry 100 can be visually recognized. And mounted near the gantry lamp 209.

  The breath holding guide control unit 213 is connected to the gantry lamp 209, the gantry speaker 210, and the gantry monitor 211 via the interface 208. The breath-holding guide control unit 213 generates a lamp control signal corresponding to various colors and lighting / flashing / extinguishing for the gantry lamp 209. By switching on / flashing / extinguishing, and changing the color as necessary, it is possible to notify the subject of normal breathing / inhalation of large breaths / stop of breathing / respiration resumption guidance to the subject. The breath-holding guidance control unit 213 can control the supply of audio signals to the gantry speaker 210 to output guidance based on normal breathing / inhalation / stop breathing / respiration restart voice. These audio signals are stored in advance in the item storage unit 212. By the selective read control from the item storage unit 212 to the gantry speaker 210 by the breath-holding guidance control unit 213, automatic guidance by voice synchronized with the progress of scanning is realized. The breath-holding guidance control unit 213 can control the supply of the video signal to the gantry monitor 211 to output a guidance based on a video representing normal breathing / inhalation / stopping breathing / respiration resumption. These video data are stored in the item storage unit 212 in advance. Automatic guidance by video synchronized with the progress of the scan is realized by selective reading control from the item storage unit 212 to the gantry monitor 211 by the breath holding guidance control unit 213.

  The breath-holding guidance control unit 213 guides the breath-holding using tools such as a lamp, voice, and video through the gantry lamp 209, the gantry speaker 210, and the gantry monitor 211, and in the examination room in which the gantry 100 is installed. The breath-holding guide is generated by changing the examination room illumination in cooperation with the illumination system 301. The breath holding guide control unit 213 controls the examination room illumination system 301 via the examination room illumination control unit 215. The examination room illumination control unit 215 generates a control signal in a format that can be handled by the control panel.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the examination room illumination system 301 includes a plurality of illumination devices 303, a rotating red light (patlight) 305, and an illumination control box 317 that controls lighting of the illumination devices 303 and the patrol light 305. , Switches 313 and 315. The plurality of lighting devices 303 are typically attached in a distributed manner on the ceiling surface or wall surface of the examination room. The lighting control box 317 is connected to the switch 313 so that the plurality of lighting devices 303 can be individually turned on, turned off, dimmed (in this case, dimmed), and the illumination color can be changed. The plurality of lighting devices 303 are configured such that the illumination color can be further changed, and typically have a configuration in which LEDs of three primary colors are combined. By turning on / off the examination room lighting / dimming (dimming) / changing the lighting color, normal breathing / inhalation / stop breathing / discontinuation of breathing and their transferability are indicated by lamps, voice and video. In particular, it can be improved for a subject in which a decrease in vision, color vision, and hearing is observed. This improvement in transmission can be further improved by using the patrolite 305. For example, during the breath-holding period, the illumination in the examination room is dimmed or turned off, and the patrol light 305 is turned on / off via the switch 315 to recognize the breathing period / normal breathing period. Can be increased.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the conventional lamp, sound and video as a tool for breath-holding guidance, examination room illumination and patrol light are used to change the visual, color and auditory states of the subject. By appropriately combining them accordingly, it is possible to improve the transferability of the breath-holding guide. The engineer can arbitrarily select or use these tools through operation of the operation device 115.

  Selection of these tools can be supported by the interactive decision support function of the breath-holding guide tool decision unit 214. FIG. 4 shows a procedure for determining a combination of tools by the breath holding guide tool determining unit 214. Prior to the start of shooting, the interactive decision support function is activated. First, the breath-holding guide tool determination unit 214 displays a message asking the display device 116 whether or not there is a color vision abnormality, along with two types of icons as answers. The engineer inputs the presence / absence of color blindness by clicking one of the icons. In step S1, the breath-holding guide tool determining unit 214 determines whether or not there is a color vision abnormality according to the input of the operator. Thus, a message for inquiring about the presence or absence of visual acuity or hearing loss is displayed on the display device 116 together with two types of icons as the answer. The engineer inputs the presence or absence of visual acuity or hearing loss by clicking any icon. In step S2, the breath-holding guide tool determination unit 214 determines whether or not there is a decrease in visual acuity or hearing in accordance with an input from the operator. A certain lamp, voice and video are adopted as a voice guidance tool.

  In step S1, if the breath-holding guide tool determining unit 214 determines that there is a color vision abnormality (Yes), the breath-holding guide tool determining unit 214 then sends a message asking the display device 116 whether there is visual loss or hearing loss. Are displayed with two types of icons as the answer. The engineer inputs the presence or absence of visual acuity or hearing loss by clicking any icon. In step S4, the breath-holding guide tool determination unit 214 determines the presence or absence of visual acuity or hearing loss according to the operator's input. Under the determination that there is no visual acuity or hearing loss (No), in step S3, A certain lamp, voice and video are adopted as a voice guidance tool. If the breath-holding guidance tool determination unit 214 determines that there is visual acuity or hearing loss in step S4 (Yes), in step S5, lighting / extinguishing / darkening (dimming) the examination room illumination as a voice guidance tool. ). For example, it is lit (all lights) during the normal breathing period, gradually dimmed during the period when inhaling a large amount of breath, kept off in the breath holding period, or dimmed to half brightness, and gradually during the breathing resume period Restore all points.

  If it is determined in step S2 that visual acuity or hearing loss is present (Yes), a change in the illumination color of the examination room illumination is employed as a breath-holding guide tool in step S6. For example, the white light is turned on during the normal breathing period, the color gradually shifts to blue during the period when the breath is greatly inhaled, the blue color is maintained during the breath holding period, and the white state is gradually returned during the breath resumption period.

  As described above, when the breath-holding guide tool is determined according to the visual or hearing state of the subject through steps S1-S6 (S7), the determined breath-holding is controlled under the control of the breath-holding guidance control unit 213. A trial of breath holding guidance is performed using the guidance tool (S8). That is, instead of actually irradiating X-rays and scanning, with the scanning operation stopped, the determined breath-holding guide tool is used to guide the breath-hold, and in response, the subject's normal Check if it is possible to breathe, inhale a great deal, stop breathing, and restore breathing. The engineer confirms the state of breathing movement of the subject as the breath-holding guide progresses, and after the trial, a message asking whether or not the breathing can be correctly performed is displayed on the display device 116 together with two types of icons as the answer. . When the engineer determines that he can hold his breath properly, he clicks on the corresponding icon. Thereby, the breath-holding guide tool determination process is completed, and the actual scanning start is waited (S9). When the engineer determines that the breath cannot be properly held according to the breath holding guide, the engineer clicks on the icon corresponding to that. As a result, the process returns to step S1, and the breath-holding guide tool determination process is executed again. Note that the breath-holding guide tool determination unit 214 may use any of the tools when it is determined that the breath-holding guide tool determination process is repeated twice, and even if two trials are performed. A notice indicating that the subject cannot correctly hold his breath according to the guidance is displayed. In that case, the engineer should consider a breath-holding guide combining two or more tools, in which case the tool selection and combination should be set manually.

  The breath holding guidance is executed during the period from the start to the end of the scan. However, the breath holding guide control unit 213 starts and ends the scan, and the scan start / end that the scan control unit 110 transmits to each control target. It is specified by a signal or an X-ray exposure signal. As shown in FIG. 5, the breath-holding guidance control unit 213 immediately monitors the image luminance of the region of interest, that is, the CT value of the region of interest under real-time CT (also referred to as CT fluoroscopy). The breath holding start guidance may be generated when the value is reached, and the breath resumption guidance may be generated when the value falls below a predetermined value.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Base, 101 ... X-ray tube, 102 ... Rotating frame, 103 ... X-ray detector, 104 ... Data acquisition circuit, 105 ... Non-contact data transmission apparatus, 106 ... Pre-processing apparatus, 107 ... Rotation drive part, 108 ... Slip ring, 109 ... High voltage generator, 110 ... Scan control unit, 112 ... Data storage device, 114 ... Reconstruction device, 115 ... Operation device, 116 ... Display device, 208 ... Interface, 209 ... Mounting lamp, 210 ... Mounting frame Speakers 211... Stand monitor 212. Breath holding guidance item storage unit 213. Breath holding guidance control unit 214. Breath holding guide tool determination unit 215. Examination room lighting control unit 217. Emergency lighting return switch 301. Laboratory lighting system.

Claims (6)

An X-ray tube that generates X-rays, an X-ray detector that detects X-rays that have passed through the subject, and a support mechanism that rotatably supports the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector. A stand installed in the room;
An image reconstruction unit for reconstructing image data based on the output of the X-ray detector;
An X-ray computed tomography comprising: an illumination control unit that generates an illumination control signal for changing an illumination mode of the examination room in accordance with generation and stop of X-rays from the X-ray tube apparatus.   The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination control unit generates the illumination control signal to turn off all or part of the illumination in the examination room.   The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination control unit generates the illumination control signal for dimming the illumination of the examination room.   The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the illumination control unit generates the illumination control signal to diminish the illumination of the examination room.   The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination control unit generates the illumination control signal to blink the illumination of the examination room.   The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination control unit generates the illumination control signal in order to change the illumination color of the examination room.

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