Medical image diagnostic apparatus, medical image processing apparatus, medical image processing method and gantry moving position determination method

• US 10,022,100 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Iijima, Yoshiaki, Seki, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US14/804,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20150320380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/487 involving fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5211 involving processing of medical diagnostic data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5223 generating planar views from image data, e.g. extracting a coronal view from a 3D image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/003 Reconstruction from projections, e.g. tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10081 Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2211/40 Computed tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a medical image diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, storage circuitry, slice image generation circuitry, a display. The X-ray tube generates X-rays from a predetermined focus. The X-ray detector detects X-rays which have been generated by the X-ray tube and passed through an object placed on a top plate. The storage circuitry stores volume data about the object. The slice image generation circuitry generates slice images corresponding to planes each including the focus based on the volume data and a relative position of the focus with respect to the top plate. The display displays the slice images.

Claims

1. A medical image diagnostic apparatus comprising:

an X ray tube configured to generate X rays from a predetermined focus;

an X ray detector configured to detect X rays which have been generated by the X ray tube and passed through an object placed on a top plate;

storage circuitry configured to store volume data about the object;

slice image generation circuitry configured to generate a plurality of slice images corresponding to a plurality of planes each including the focus based on the volume data and a relative position of the focus with respect to the top plate;

a display configured to display the slice images;

projection image generation circuitry configured to generate a projection image of the object based on an output from the X ray detector; and

angle determination circuitry configured to determine an angle, based on a position on an X ray detection surface of the X ray detector corresponding to a position designated on the projection image, the position of the focus, and a center position of the X ray detection surface, the angle being between a first plane which includes the position of the focus and the center position and is parallel to a short axis direction of the top plate and a second plane which includes the position of the focus and the position on the X ray detection surface and is parallel to the short axis direction,

wherein the slice image generation circuitry is configured to generate a slice image corresponding to the second plane based on the volume data and the angle.

2. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slice image generation circuitry is configured to generate the plurality of slice images at a predetermined interval along a long axis direction of the top plate.

4. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a support frame configured to movably support the X ray tube and the X ray detector,

wherein the angle determination circuitry is configured to determine the angle based on a tilt of the support frame, the position on the X ray detection surface, the position of the focus, and the center position.

5. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

position determination circuitry is configured to determine a moving position to which a gantry configured to execute X ray computed tomography for the object is to be moved, based on a position designated on the slice image.

6. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the position determination circuitry is configured to determine a first coordinate in the long axis direction of the top plate based on the position designated on the projection image and a predetermined height from the top plate, to determine a second coordinate in the long axis direction based on the position designated on the slice image, and to determine the moving position based on the first coordinate and a difference value between the first coordinate and the second coordinate.

7. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of planes is parallel to the short axis direction of the top plate.

8. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

input circuitry configured to input a point of interest on the slice image corresponding to the second plane,

wherein the slice image generation circuitry is configured to generate three slice images corresponding to three orthogonal slices each including the point of interest, and

the display is configured to display the three slice images.

3. The medical image diagnostic apparatus according to claim wherein the display is configured to display the plurality of slice images in an order along the long axis direction.

9. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

storage circuitry configured to store a projection image and volume data about an object placed on a top plate;

slice image generation circuitry configured to generate, based on the volume data and a relative position between the top plate and an X ray focus with respect to the projection image, a plurality of slice images corresponding to a plurality of planes each including the focus;

a display configured to display the slice images;

angle determination circuitry configured to determine an angle, based on a position on an X ray detection surface corresponding to a position designated on the projection image, a position of the focus, and a center position of the X ray detection surface, the angle being between a first plane which includes the position of the focus and the center position and is parallel to a short axis direction of the top plate and a second plane which includes the position of the focus and the position on the X ray detection surface and is parallel to the short axis direction,

wherein the slice image generation circuitry is configured to generate a slice image corresponding to the second plane based on the volume data and the angle.

10. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the slice image generation circuitry is configured to generate the plurality of slice images at a predetermined interval along a long axis direction of the top plate.

11. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display is configured to display the plurality of slice images in an order along the long axis direction.

12. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the angle determination circuitry is configured to determine the angle based on a tilt of a support frame configured to movably support an X ray tube and an X ray detector, the position on the X ray detection surface, the position of the focus, and the center position.

13. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

position determination circuitry is configured to determine a moving position to which a gantry configured to execute X ray computed tomography for the object is to be moved, based on a position designated on the slice image.

14. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the position determination circuitry is configured to determine a first coordinate in a long axis direction of the top plate based on the position designated on the projection image and a predetermined height from the top plate, to determine a second coordinate in the long axis direction based on a position designated on the slice image, and to determine the moving position based on the first coordinate and a difference value between the first coordinate and the second coordinate.

15. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of planes is parallel to the short axis direction of the top plate.

16. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

input circuitry configured to input a point of interest on the slice image corresponding to the second plane,

wherein the slice image generation circuitry is configured to generate three slice images corresponding to three orthogonal slices each including the point of interest, and

the display is configured to display the three slice images.

17. A medical image processing method comprising:

storing a projection image and volume data about an object placed on a top plate;

generating, based on the volume data and a relative position between the top plate and an X ray focus with respect to the projection image, a plurality of slice images corresponding to a plurality of planes each including a position of the focus;

displaying the slice images;

determining an angle, based on a position on an X ray detection surface corresponding to a position designated on the projection image, the position of the focus, and a center position of the X ray detection surface, the angle being between a first plane which includes the position of the focus and the center position and is parallel to a short axis direction of the top plate and a second plane which includes the position of the focus and the position on the X ray detection surface and is parallel to the short axis direction,

wherein the generating generates a slice image corresponding to the second plane based on the volume data and the angle.

18. A gantry moving position determination method comprising:

storing a projection image and volume data about an object;

determining an angle, based on a position on an X ray detection surface corresponding to a first designation position designated on the projection image, a position of an X ray focus with respect to the projection image, and a center position of the X ray detection surface, the angle being between a first plane which includes the position of the focus and the center position and is parallel to a short axis direction of a top plate and a second plane which includes the position of the focus and the position on the X ray detection surface and is parallel to the short axis direction,

generating a slice image corresponding to the second plane based on the volume data and the angle; and

determining, based on a second designation position designated on the slice image, a moving position to which a gantry configured to execute X ray computed tomography for the object is to be moved.