X-ray CT apparatus and X-ray CT method

• US 7,197,107 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nihon University Educational Association
• Original Assignee: J Morita Manufacturing Corporation (J. Morita Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Masakazu, Yoshimura, Takahiro, Yoshikawa, Hideki, Arai, Yoshinori, Wada, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick; Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corbett; John M.
• Application Number:
  US10/834,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20040247069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 378/20, 378/205, 378/11, 378/62, 378/4, 378/15, 378 38- 40, 378/41, 378/42, 382/131, 345/642, 345157-167
• US Class Current: 378/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/488 involving pre-scan acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/51 for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/588 Setting distance between source unit and detector unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/589 Setting distance between source unit and patient
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/612 biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]

Abstract

An X-ray computer tomography apparatus wherein a conical X-ray beam is radiated on a local area of an object while a rotary means with an X-ray generator and a two-dimensional X-ray image sensor faced to each other is rotated relative to the object which is disposed between the X-ray generator and the two-dimensional X-ray image sensor. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus comprises a preliminary imaging means for imaging the object under plural positional conditions wherein positional relations among the X-ray generator, the object and the two-dimensional X-ray image sensor are varied, a processing means for obtaining a three dimensional position of a target region of the object by calculating a two-dimensional positional data of a target region of the object which is determined on plural fluoroscopic images obtained by the preliminary imaging means, a position adjustment means for controlling the positional relation among the X-ray generator, the object and the two-dimensional X-ray image sensor in such a manner that the rotary center comes to the three dimensional position obtained by the processing means; and a main imaging means for obtaining a sectional image of the object while the rotary means and the object are relatively rotated after adjusting by the position adjustment means.

Claims

1. An X-ray computer tomography apparatus wherein a conical X-ray beam is radiated on a local area of an object while a rotary means with an X-ray generator and a two-dimensional X-ray image sensor faced to each other is rotated relative to the object which is disposed between the X-ray generator and the two-dimensional X-ray image sensor, and the obtained image is shown, said X-ray computer tomography apparatus comprising:

a preliminary imaging means for imaging said object under plural positional conditions wherein positional relations among said X-ray generator, said object and said two-dimensional X-ray image sensor are varied;

a positioning operation means for specifying the two-dimensional position of a target region in said object on plural fluoroscopic images, which are obtained by said preliminary imaging means and shown on a display means in array, with a crosswise cursor for specifying horizontal position and a vertical cursor for specifying longitudinal position, wherein when the horizontal position is being specified with said crosswise cursor, the same horizontal position is being positioned on other fluoroscopic images;

a processing means for obtaining a three dimensional position of said target region in said object by calculating a two-dimensional positional data of said target region in said object;

a position adjustment means for adjusting said positional relation among said X-ray generator, said object and said two-dimensional X-ray image sensor in such a manner that the rotary center comes to said three dimensional position of said target region in said object obtained from said processing means;

a main imaging means for obtaining a tomogram of said object while said rotary means and said object are relatively rotated after adjusting with said position adjustment means;

a display means; and

an image invocation means having a function for displaying the tomogram in said target region as specified on said display means when said target region in said object is specified on said fluoroscopic image selected from those stored in said image storage means and displayed on said display, and/or a function for displaying the fluoroscopic image used for obtaining said region corresponding to the tomogram displayed on said display means while said tomogram selected from said plural tomograms stored in said image storage means is displayed on said display means.

2. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a proportion change means capable of changing the proportion of the distance between said object and said two-dimensional X-ray image sensor to the distance between said X-ray generator and said two-dimensional X-ray image sensor; and

a proportion setting means for making said proportion at the time of obtaining a fluoroscopic image smaller than at the time of obtaining a tomogram.

3. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a scan imaging means for shifting said two-dimensional X-ray image sensor in a direction orthogonal to the conical X-ray beam radiated from said X-ray generator while said preliminary imaging means is imaging a fluoroscopic image.

4. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, further comprising:

a display means for showing plural fluoroscopic images on a screen in array; and

a positioning operation means for specifying said three-dimensional position in such a manner that a target region is first directed on any one of said fluoroscopic images shown on the display means with one cursor in the crosswise and/or vertical direction then the target region is secondly directed on another fluoroscopic images other than said fluoroscopic image with the other cursor or cursors in the vertical and/or crosswise direction.

5. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a control means for indicating a projection area of said target region specified by said three-dimensional position on the fluoroscopic image displayed on said display means when said three-dimensional position of said target region is obtained from said processing means.

6. An X-ray computer tomography method wherein a conical X-ray beam is radiated on a local area of an object while a rotary means with an X-ray generator and a two-dimensional X-ray image sensor faced to each other is rotated relative to the object which is disposed between the X-ray generator and the two-dimensional X-ray image sensor, and the obtained image is shown, said X-ray computer tomography method comprising the steps of:

imaging said object under plural positional conditions wherein positional relations among said X-ray generator, said object and said two-dimensional X-ray image sensor are varied;

specifying the two-dimensional position of said target region in said object on plural fluoroscopic images of said object shown in array with a crosswise cursor for specifying horizontal position and a vertical cursor for specifying longitudinal position, wherein when the horizontal position is being specified with said crosswise cursor, the same horizontal position is being positioned on other fluoroscopic images;

obtaining a three dimensional position of said target region in said object by calculating a two-dimensional positional data of said target region in said object which is determined on plural fluoroscopic images obtained by said preliminary imaging means;

adjusting said positional relation among said X-ray generator, said object and said two-dimensional X-ray image sensor in such a manner that the rotary center comes to said three dimensional position of said target region in said object obtained by a processing means; and

obtaining a tomogram of said object while said rotary means and said object are relatively rotated after adjusting said positional relation.