X-ray diagnosis apparatus including a collimater

• US 20020156368A1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kunio Aoki, Satoru Ohishi
• Original Assignee: Kunio Aoki, Satoru Ohishi
• Inventors: Ohishi, Satoru, Aoki, Kunio
• Application Number:
  US10/162,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/420
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/466 adapted to display 3D data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2211/404 Angiography
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing

Abstract

In a storing unit of a medical image processing apparatus, first 3D image corresponding to a first period and second 3D image data corresponding to a second period are stored. The first 3D image data corresponds to a period before contrast agent injection operation and/or therapeutic operation. The second 3D image data corresponds to a period after the contrast agent injection operation and/or therapeutic operation. A 3D subtracting unit subtracts the first 3D image data from the second 3D image data. In 3D subtraction image data, a portion having undergone a change due to contrast agent injection operation and/or therapeutic operation is emphasized. A pseudo 3D image data generating unit generates pseudo 3D image data on the basis of 3D subtraction image data. A displaying unit displays the pseudo 3D image data.

Claims

1. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a storing unit configured to store first 3D image data corresponding to a first period and second 3D image data corresponding to a second period, the first and second periods defining a period therebetween in which a condition of a subject is changed;

a 3D subtracting unit configured to subtract the first 3D image data from the second 3D image data to generate 3D subtraction image data;

a pseudo 3D image data generating unit configured to generate pseudo 3D image data on the basis of the 3D subtraction image data; and

a displaying unit configured to display the pseudo 3D image data.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition is changed by contrast agent injection operation and/or therapeutic operation.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a radiography unit configured to radiograph a subject to obtain multiangle 2D image data, acquire first multiangle 2D image data (A) before the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation, acquire second multiangle 2D image data (B) before the therapeutic operation after the contrast agent injection operation, acquire third multiangle 2D image data (C) after the therapeutic operation before the contrast agent injection operation, and acquire fourth multiangle 2D image data after the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation;

a 2D subtracting unit configured to subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the second multiangle 2D image data (B) to acquire first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (E), and subtract the third multiangle 2D image data (C) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) to acquire second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (I); and

a reconstructing unit configured to reconstruct the first 3D image data (J) from the first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (E) and reconstruct the second 3D image data (N) from the second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (I) said 3D subtracting unit subtracting the second 3D image data (N) from the first 3D image data (J).

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pseudo 3D image data generating unit generates first pseudo 3D image data from the first 3D image data and generates second pseudo 3D image data in the same line-of-sight direction as the first pseudo 3D image data from the second 3D image data, and said displaying unit displays the first and second pseudo 3D image data side by side on the same screen.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a mechanism configured to change a positional relationship between said X-ray tube, said X-ray detection unit, and said collimator, and said controller controls said mechanism on the basis of the position and size of the set region of interest so as to change the positional relationship between said X-ray tube, said X-ray detection unit, and said collimator.

4. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a radiography unit configured to radiograph a subject to acquire multiangle 2D image data, acquire first multiangle 2D image data (A) before therapeutic operation and contrast agent injection operation, acquire second multiangle 2D image data (B) before the therapeutic operation after the contrast agent injection operation, acquire third multiangle 2D image data (C) after the therapeutic operation before the contrast agent injection operation, and acquire fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) after the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation;

a 2D subtracting unit configured to subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the second multiangle 2D image data (B) to acquire first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (E), subtract the third multiangle 2D image data (C) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) to acquire second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (I), and subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (C) to acquire third multiangle 2D subtraction image data (F);

a reconstructing unit configured to reconstruct the first 3D image data (J) from the first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (E), reconstruct the second 3D image data (N) from the second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (I), and/or reconstruct the third 3D image data (K) from the third multiangle 2D subtraction image data (F); and

a 3D adding unit configured to three-dimensionally add the first 3D image data (J) to the third 3D image data (K) to acquire the first 3D addition image data (O) and/or three-dimensionally add the second 3D image data (N) to the third 3D image data (K) to acquire the first 3D addition image data (Q).

5. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a radiography unit configured to radiograph a subject to obtain multiangle 2D image data, acquire first multiangle 2D image data (A) before therapeutic operation and contrast agent injection operation, acquire second multiangle 2D image data (B) before the therapeutic operation after the contrast agent injection operation, acquire third multiangle 2D image data (C) after the therapeutic operation before the contrast agent injection operation, and acquire fourth multiangle 2D image data after the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation;

a 2D subtracting unit configured to subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the third multiangle 2D image data (C) to acquire first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (F) and subtract the second multiangle 2D image data (B) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) to acquire second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (H); and

a reconstructing unit configured to reconstruct 3D image data (K) from the first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (F) and/or reconstruct 3D image data (M) from the second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (H).

6. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a radiography unit configured to radiograph a subject to obtain multiangle 2D image data, acquire first multiangle 2D image data (A) before therapeutic operation and contrast agent injection operation, acquire second multiangle 2D image data (B) before the therapeutic operation after the contrast agent injection operation, acquire third multiangle 2D image data (C) after the therapeutic operation before the contrast agent injection operation, and acquire fourth multiangle 2D image data after the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation;

a 2D subtracting unit configured to subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the second multiangle 2D image data (B) to acquire first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (E), subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the third multiangle 2D image data (C) to acquire second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (F), subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) to acquire third multiangle 2D subtraction image data (G), subtract the second multiangle 2D image data (B) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) to acquire fourth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (H), and subtract the third multiangle 2D image data (C) from the fourth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (D) to acquire fifth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (I); and

a reconstructing unit configured to respectively reconstruct first 3D image data (J), second 3D image data (K), third 3D image data (L), fourth 3D image data (M), and fifth 3D image data (N) from the first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (E), the second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (F), the third multiangle 2D subtraction image data (G), the fourth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (H), and/or the fifth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (I).

7. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a radiography unit configured to radiograph a subject to obtain multiangle 2D image data, acquire first multiangle 2D image data (A) before therapeutic operation and contrast agent injection operation, acquire second multiangle 2D image data (B) before the therapeutic operation after the contrast agent injection operation, acquire third multiangle 2D image data (C) after the therapeutic operation before the contrast agent injection operation, and acquire fourth multiangle 2D image data after the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation;

a 2D subtracting unit configured to subtract an arbitrary pair of multiangle 2D image data selected from the first, second, third, and fourth multiangle 2D image data (A-D) in accordance with a user instruction to acquire multiangle 2D subtraction image data; and

a reconstructing unit configured to reconstruct 3D image data from the multiangle 2D subtraction image data.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said pseudo 3D image data generating unit generates first pseudo 3D image data from the first 3D image data and generates second pseudo 3D image data in the same line-of-sight direction as the first pseudo 3D image data from the second 3D image data, and said displaying unit displays the first and second pseudo 3D image data side by side on the same screen.

8. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a radiography unit configured to radiograph a subject to obtain multiangle 2D image data, acquire first multiangle 2D image data (A) before therapeutic operation and contrast agent injection operation, acquire second multiangle 2D image data (B) before the therapeutic operation after the contrast agent injection operation, acquire third multiangle 2D image data (C) after the therapeutic operation before the contrast agent injection operation, and acquire fourth multiangle 2D image data after the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation;

a 2D subtracting unit configured to subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the second multiangle 2D image data (B) to acquire first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (E), subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the third multiangle 2D image data (C) to acquire second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (F), subtract the first multiangle 2D image data (A) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) to acquire third multiangle 2D subtraction image data (G), subtract the second multiangle 2D image data (B) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) to acquire fourth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (H), and subtract the third multiangle 2D image data (C) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) to acquire fifth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (I); and

a reconstructing unit configured to respectively reconstruct first 3D image data (J), second 3D image data (K), third 3D image data (L), fourth 3D image data (M), and fifth 3D image data (N) from the first multiangle 2D subtraction image data (E), the second multiangle 2D subtraction image data (F), the third multiangle 2D subtraction image data (G), the fourth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (H), and/or the fifth multiangle 2D subtraction image data (I), and

said 3D subtracting unit three-dimensionally subtracts an arbitrary pair of image data selected from the first 3D image data (J), the second 3D image data (K), the third 3D image data (L), the fourth 3D image data (M), and the fifth 3D image data (N) in accordance with a user instruction.

11. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a radiography unit configured to radiograph a subject to obtain multiangle 2D image data, acquire first multiangle 2D image data (A) before therapeutic operation and contrast agent injection operation, acquire second multiangle 2D image data (B) before the therapeutic operation after the contrast agent injection operation, acquire third multiangle 2D image data (C) after the therapeutic operation before the contrast agent injection operation, and acquire fourth multiangle 2D image data (D) after the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation; and

a reconstructing unit configured to reconstruct first 3D image data (A′

) from the first multiangle 2D image data (A), reconstruct second 3D image data (B′

) from the second multiangle 2D image data (B), reconstruct third 3D image data (C′

) from the third multiangle 2D image data (C), and/or reconstruct fourth 3D image data (D′

) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D), and

said 3D subtracting unit three-dimensionally subtracts an arbitrary pair of image data selected from the first, second, third, and fourth 3D image data (A′

-D′

) in accordance with a user instruction.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus further comprises a mechanism configured to change a positional relationship between said X-ray tube, said X-ray detection unit, and said collimator, and said controller controls said mechanism on the basis of the position and size of the set region of interest so as to change the positional relationship between said X-ray tube, said X-ray detection unit, and said collimator.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus further comprises a bed configured to lay a subject thereon, and a mechanism configured to change a positional relationship between said X-ray tube, said X-ray detection unit, said collimator, and said bed, and said controller controls said mechanism on the basis of the position and size of the set region of interest so as to change the positional relationship between said X-ray tube, said X-ray detection unit, said collimator, and said bed.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said apparatus further comprises a unit configured to add the X-ray image data and the projection image data upon positioning the data, and said displaying unit displays addition image data of the X-ray image data and the projection image data.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said 3D image processing unit projects the 3D image data along projection lines corresponding to rays of light dispersing from an X-ray focal point of said X-ray tube toward a detection surface of said X-ray detection unit.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said 3D image processing unit generates the projection image data from part of the 3D image data corresponding to a region of interest set in accordance with a user instruction.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a unit configured to set a plurality of sub-regions of interest with respect to the 3D image data, and a unit configured to add the plurality of sub-regions of interest to obtain the region of interest.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said 3D image processing unit comprises a unit configured to extract a surface of a target region from the 3D image data, a distance calculating unit configured to calculate a distance from a projection surface to the surface, and a unit configured to project the 3D image data on the basis of the calculated distance.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said distance calculating unit includes a unit configured to select a distance associated with a surface which is selected in accordance with a user instruction and located near said X-ray tube or said X-ray detection unit when a plurality of surfaces overlap.

24. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said distance calculating unit includes a unit configured to extract a central line of a tubular region from the 3D image data, a unit configured to calculate a distance from a projection surface to the central line, and a unit configured to project the 3D image data on the basis of the calculated distance.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said distance calculating unit includes a unit configured to project only a region located on the central line on the basis of the calculated distance to obtain first projection image data, and a unit configured to project a region other the region located on the central line to obtain second projection image data, the first projection image data being added to the second projection image data.

12. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a radiography unit configured to radiograph a subject to obtain multiangle 2D image data, acquire first multiangle 2D image data (A) before therapeutic operation and contrast agent injection operation, acquire second multiangle 2D image data (B) before the therapeutic operation after the contrast agent injection operation, acquire third multiangle 2D image data (C) after the therapeutic operation before the contrast agent injection operation, and acquire fourth multiangle 2D image (D) data after the therapeutic operation and the contrast agent injection operation;

a reconstructing unit configured to reconstruct first 3D image data (A′

) from the first multiangle 2D image data (A), second 3D image data (B′

) from the second multiangle 2D image data (B), reconstruct third 3D image data (C′

) from the third multiangle 2D image data (C), and reconstruct fourth 3D image data (D′

) from the fourth multiangle 2D image data (D); and

an adding unit configured to three-dimensionally add an arbitrary pair of image data selected from the first, second, third, and/or fourth 3D image data (A′

-D′

) in accordance with a user instruction.

13. An X-ray diagnosis apparatus comprising:

an X-ray tube configured to irradiate a subject with an X-ray;

an X-ray detection unit configured to detect an X-ray transmitted through the subject;

a collimater arranged between said X-ray tube and said X-ray detection unit and configured to variably limit an irradiation field in which the subject is irradiated with the X-ray;

an image data generating unit configured to generate 2D and/or 3D image data on the basis of an output from said X-ray detection unit;

a displaying unit configured to display the image data;

an ROI setting unit configured to set a region of interest on the displayed image in accordance with a user instruction; and

a controller configured to control said collimater on the basis of a position and size of the set region of interest so as to adjust the irradiation field to a range corresponding to the set region of interest.

17. An X-ray diagnosis apparatus comprising:

an X-ray tube configured to irradiate a subject with an X-ray;

an X-ray detection unit configured to detect an X-ray transmitted through the subject;

an image data generating unit configured to generate 3D image data on the basis of an output from said X-ray detection unit;

a 3D image processing unit configured to generate projection image data projected in substantially the same direction as a observation direction of the X-ray diagnosis from the 3D image data; and

a display unit configured to display X-ray image data and the projection image data side by side on the same screen.