X-ray television diagnostic apparatus

• US 4,612,572 A
• Filed: 03/30/1984
• Issued: 09/16/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Honda, Michitaka, Komatsu, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wieland, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US06/595,440
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 378/99, 378/100, 378/62, 358/110, 358/111, 128/654
• US Class Current: 378/98.12
• 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: H04N 5/3205 using subtraction imaging techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/60 Circuit arrangements for obtaining a series of X-ray photographs or for X-ray cinematography
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/64 Circuit arrangements for X-ray apparatus incorporating image intensifiers

Abstract

In an X-ray television diagnostic apparatus, the blanking operation of the grid control circuit for the image intensifier and also the scanning operation of the television camera are interrupted during the projection of pulsatory X-rays from the X-ray tube, and at least the blanking operation for the image intensifier commences immediately after the projection of the pulsatory X-rays is accomplished.

Claims

1. An X-ray television diagnostic apparatus for examining an object, comprising:

a source for generating pulsatory X-rays delivered to the object to produce pulsed X-ray images;

visible imaging means for receiving said pulsatory X-ray images and converting said X-ray images to corresponding optical images;

television means, including a television camera operating at a predetermined field rate and having a target that is scanned, for producing analog video signals representative of said optical images stored in said target;

synchronizing generating means for generating field synchronizing signals at the field rate of said television camera;

exposure control means responsive to said field synchronizing signals for generating X-ray control signals so as to cause said source to emit said pulsatory X-rays with a predetermined exposure time;

visible imaging control means for generating image blanking signals for said visible imaging means so as to cause said corresponding optical image to be delivered to said television means only during emission of said X-rays by said X-ray source;

television control means for generating field blanking signals relative to said X-ray control signals so as to cause said television means to be blanked out during emission of said X-rays by said X-ray source;

memory means for storing said analog video signals from said television means;

subtracting means for producing analog difference video signals corresponding to a subtraction between analog video signals recently supplied by said television means and analog video signals previously stored in said memory means; and

display means for producing visible difference video signals.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said visible imaging means includes an auto-shutter connected to receive image blanking signals from said visible imaging control means, and

the visible imaging control means controls the visible imaging means in such a manner that immediately after each of the pulsatory X-rays have been emitted, the blanking operation of the auto-shutter commences.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said visible imaging means includes a grid control circuit connected to the visible imaging control means for receiving said image blanking signals, and

said visible imaging control means controls the visible imaging means in such a manner that immediately after emmission of each one of the pulsatory X-rays, the grid control circuit causes blanking of said corresponding optical images.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

injector means for administering an X-ray contrast medium into the object in response to the field synchronizing signals.

5. An X-ray television diagnostic apparatus for examining an object, comprising:

first and second means for producing analog video signals representative of an optical image corresponding to a pulsed X-ray image of the object,

said first and second means each including a respective X-ray source for generating pulsatory X-rays delivered to the object, an imaging intensifier for receiving said X-rays transmitted through the object and for converting said transmitted X-rays to corresponding optical images, and a television camera operating at a predetermined field rate for producing analog video signals representative of said optical images, and

said first and second means being disposed relative to the object at two different angles so as to obtain X-ray images of the object in different directions;

synchronizing generating means for generating field synchronizing signals at the field rate of said television camera;

memory means coupled to said first and second means for storing said analog video signals supplied from said respective television cameras;

subtracting means for producing analog difference video signals by performing a subtraction between analog video signals currently supplied by said first and second means and preceding video signals previously stored in said memory means;

display means for producing visible difference images corresponding to said analog difference video signals; and

system control means coupled to said first and second means for generating (1) control signals relative to said field synchronizing signals so as to cause said X-ray sources alternately to emit said pulsatory X-rays with a predetermined exposure time, (2) image blanking signals responsive to said control signals so as to cause the imaging intensifier of the respective one of said first and second means whose X-ray source is being activated to produce said corresponding optical images only during the emission of X-rays from said X-ray source, and (3) field blanking signals responsive to said image blanking signals so as to cause the television camera of the respective one of said first and second means whose X-ray source is being activated to be blanked out during emission of said X-rays wherein said camera has a target for storing said optical images.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each imaging intensifier of said first and second means comprises a grid control circuit connected to an optical blanking control means receiving said image blanking signals for controlling the respective imaging intensifier in such a manner that immediately after the pulsatory X-rays from the respective one of said first and second means are emitted, the grid control circuit is blanked.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising;

injector means for administrating an X-ray contrast medium into the object, the injection of the X-ray contrast medium being controlled by the system control means synchronously with the field synchronizing signals.