Medical image processing apparatus for scanning based on a set three-dimensional region of interest

• US 7,761,136 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Aoki, Kunio, Ohishi, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHTA, PARIKHA SOLANKI
• Application Number:
  US11/292,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 600/411, 600/420, 600/425, 600/427, 600/431, 600/437, 382130-132, 378/151, 378/157, 378/205
• US Class Current: 600/425
• 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. An X-ray diagnosis apparatus, comprising:

a radiography unit including

an arcuated arm having an X-ray tube mounted at one end of the arcuated arm;

the X-ray tube configured to irradiate a subject with an X-ray during a scan that includes a plurality of projection angles;

a camera system configured to detect an X-ray transmitted through the subject; and

a collimator 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 at least one of 2D and 3D image data based on an output from said X-ray detection unit;

a displaying unit that displays the 3D image data;

an ROI setting unit configured to set a region of interest on the displayed 3D image in accordance with a user instruction;

a mechanism configured to move said radiography unit, including rotating the arcuated arm; and

a controller configured to control said collimator based on a position and a size of the set region of interest so as to adjust the irradiation field to a range corresponding to the set region of interest, and to control said mechanism based on the position and the size of the set region of interest,

wherein said controller controls said collimator during the scan in accordance with a rotation of the arcuated arm so as to position a center of the set region of interest at a center of the camera system of the X-ray diagnosis apparatus at each of the projection angles in the scan; and

wherein said controller controls an aperture of said collimator for each of the plurality of projection angles in the scan so that only the set region of interest is irradiated at each of the plurality of projection angles in the scan.

2. An X-ray diagnosis apparatus, comprising:

a radiography unit including

an arcuated arm having an X-ray tube mounted at one end of the arcuated arm;

the X-ray tube configured to irradiate a subject with an X-ray during a scan that includes a plurality of projection angles;

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

a collimator 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 at least one of 2D and 3D image data based on an output from said X-ray detection unit;

a displaying unit that displays the 3D image data;

an ROI setting unit configured to set a region of interest on the displayed 3D image in accordance with a user instruction;

a mechanism configured to move said radiography unit, including rotating the arcuated arm; and

a controller configured to control said collimator based on a position and a size of the set region of interest so as to adjust the irradiation field to a range corresponding to the set region of interest, and to control said mechanism based on the position and the size of the set region of interest,

wherein said controller controls said collimator during the scan in accordance with a rotation of the arcuated arm, based on a center and a radius of the set region of interest; and

wherein said controller controls an aperture of said collimator for each of the plurality of projection angles in the scan so that only the set region of interest is irradiated at each of the plurality of projection angles in the scan.