JP2008183017A - Imaging plan management apparatus, imaging plan management method, and X-ray CT apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A scan plan created by one X-ray CT apparatus can be used by another X-ray CT apparatus.
A scan plan management unit 120 of a scan plan management apparatus 100 manages a scan plan transmitted from an X-ray CT apparatus using a scan plan management DB 130 for each patient. When the scan plan output unit 150 receives a scan plan transmission request from another X-ray CT apparatus, the scan plan management unit 120 reads the requested scan plan from the scan plan management DB 130. Then, the scan plan conversion unit 140 converts the scan plan read by the scan plan management unit 120 into a scan plan suitable for the scan plan request source using the conversion table 141. Then, the scan plan output unit 150 transmits the scan plan converted by the scan plan conversion unit 140 to the scan plan request source.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for managing a photography plan.

  In medical imaging apparatuses such as an X-ray CT apparatus, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (MRI apparatus), and a SPECT apparatus, an imaging plan needs to be created and set in the apparatus prior to imaging. For example, when scanning from the lung field to the abdomen of the subject in an X-ray CT apparatus, a scan with a small X-ray dose is sufficient for the lung field, whereas a scan with a large X-dose is required for the abdomen. Therefore, a scan plan is set in which the first scan is performed with a small X-ray dose and the second scan is performed with a large X-ray dose.

  FIG. 7 shows a part of a scan plan that is set when scanning from the lung field to the abdomen of the subject. In the example of FIG. 7, the scan is set to be executed in the order of “S & V scan → S & S scan → helical scan”. Here, in the case of “S & V scan”, the tube voltage is set to 100 kV, the tube current is set to 200 mA, the slice thickness is set to 5 mm, and the focal point size is set to the L size. Next, in the case of “S & S scan”, the tube voltage is set to 120 kV, the tube current is set to 300 mA, the slice thickness is set to 3 mm, and the focus size is set to the L size. Under these conditions, the scan is performed up to the lower end of the lung field. Finally, in the case of “helical scan”, the tube voltage is set to 135 kV, the tube current is set to 500 mA, the slice thickness is set to 1 mm, and the focal spot size is set to the S size to cover the abdomen.

  By the way, “S & V scan” is a scanning method in which scanning and image reconstruction display are performed alternately, such as scanning again after an image is reconstructed and displayed by scanning, for example, This is used when confirming the scan position or confirming whether or not the contrast medium has spread to a desired site. The “S & S scan” is a scan-prioritized scanning method in which scanning is continuously performed, and an image is reconstructed and displayed so as to follow each scan. In addition, “helical scan” is a method in which the subject is spirally moved by continuously moving the bed on which the subject is placed at a predetermined pitch while the imaging system including the X-ray tube and the detector is continuously rotated. This is a scanning method in which a continuous tomographic image is obtained by scanning in a shape.

  Such scan plans are all transferred to the gantry control system as a set of data when scanning is started. The gantry control system controls the gantry rotating unit based on this scan plan, so that, for example, a scan from the lung field to the abdomen is executed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-116634 A

  A scan plan is created, edited, and saved for each medical imaging device that is set up, so if you need to take a photo with another medical imaging device after taking a part with one medical imaging device Has the problem that the scan plan must be created again. Here, when it is necessary to perform imaging with another medical imaging apparatus, for example, another X-ray CT apparatus (the latest version of the apparatus, etc.) is in the middle of imaging (or during imaging planning). This is the case when it is found suitable for shooting. Another example is a case where an X-ray CT apparatus has some abnormality and cannot continue scanning when the scanning plan is finished and the imaging is started or after the imaging is started.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art, and allows a scan plan created by one medical imaging apparatus to be used by another medical imaging apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging plan management apparatus, an imaging plan management method, and an X-ray CT apparatus that can reduce labor.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention as claimed in claim 1 accepts a photography plan storage request for storing a photography plan, a photography plan output request, and is requested by the accepted photography plan output request. The photographing plan management apparatus further comprises photographing plan external output means for reading out the photographing plan from the photographing plan storage means and outputting it externally.

  The present invention according to claim 7 irradiates the subject with X-rays, detects X-rays transmitted through the subject, generates image data, and displays the generated image data on a predetermined display unit. An X-ray CT apparatus, an imaging plan storage means for storing an imaging plan for imaging an object, an imaging plan output request, and an imaging plan requested by the received imaging plan output request as the imaging plan storage means And a photographing plan external output means for reading out from the camera and outputting it externally.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a shooting plan storage step for storing a shooting plan in a shooting plan database, a shooting plan output request is received, and the shooting plan requested by the received shooting plan output request is the shooting plan. An imaging plan management method characterized by including an imaging plan external output step for reading out from a database and outputting it externally.

  According to the first, seventh, or eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reuse an imaging plan that has been externally output, thereby reducing the burden of creating the imaging plan.

  Exemplary embodiments of an imaging plan management apparatus, an imaging plan management method, and an X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the concept of the scan plan management apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the concept of the scan plan management apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the scan plan management apparatus 100 manages a scan plan for each patient using a scan plan management DB (database).

  For example, for patient A, the scan plan of apparatus A, which is an X-ray CT apparatus, is that the tube current is 120 mA, the tube voltage is 120 kV, the scan mode is helical, and the scan is performed to the end. Information is managed. The scan plan for apparatus A is created by apparatus A and transmitted to scan plan management apparatus 100 via the network.

  If imaging with the apparatus B is necessary for some reason as described above after the start of scanning of the patient B with the apparatus A, the apparatus A notifies the scan plan management apparatus 100 that the scanning has been completed halfway. Then, the scan plan management apparatus 100 stores that the scan has been performed only halfway as part of the scan plan.

  On the other hand, the device B requests the scan plan of the patient B from the scan plan management device 100 via the network. Then, the scan plan management apparatus 100 converts the scan plan for the patient B created by the apparatus A into a scan plan suitable for the apparatus B using the conversion table, and transmits the scan plan to the apparatus B.

  For example, if the version of the device A is V1.00 and the version of the device B is V2.00, the scan plan management apparatus 100 converts the conversion rules (V1. 00 ⇔ V2.00), the scan parameter for V1.00 is converted to V2.00, and the converted scan plan is transmitted to apparatus B.

  In this example, since the upper limit value and mA (tube current) of the imaging slice thickness of the scan plan management apparatus 100 differ depending on the version of the apparatus, the upper limit value “15 mm” of the imaging slice thickness of the apparatus A is set to “16 mm for the apparatus B. , The mA “120 mA” of the device A is converted to “100 mA” for the device B, and the scan plan is transmitted to the device B.

  When the device B confirms or corrects the scan plan, the device B transmits the scan plan to the scan plan management device 100. Then, the scan plan management apparatus 100 receives the scan plan and stores it in the scan plan management DB as the scan plan of the apparatus B for the patient B. Thereafter, when the scan in the device B is completed, the device B notifies the scan plan management device 100 of the completion of the scan. Then, the scan plan management apparatus 100 stores as a part of the scan plan that the apparatus B has executed the scan to the end.

  Thus, in this embodiment, when the scan plan management apparatus 100 manages the scan plan created by each X-ray CT apparatus for each patient and receives a scan plan transmission request from the X-ray CT apparatus, When there is no scan plan created by a line CT apparatus, a scan plan created by another X-ray CT apparatus is selected as a scan plan suitable for a scan plan request source (an X-ray CT apparatus that has requested transmission of a scan plan). By converting the data into and transmitting it, it is not necessary to repeatedly create a scan plan in each apparatus, and the burden of creating the scan plan can be reduced.

  Next, the configuration of the scan plan management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the scan plan management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the scan plan management apparatus 100 includes a scan plan input unit 110, a scan plan management unit 120, a scan plan management DB 130, a scan plan conversion unit 140, and a scan plan output unit 150. .

  The scan plan input unit 110 is a processing unit that receives a scan plan sent from each X-ray CT apparatus via a network together with patient information, and passes the received scan plan and patient information to the scan plan management unit 120. Here, the patient information includes patient identification information that is information for identifying a patient.

  The scan plan management unit 120 is a processing unit that manages a scan plan for each patient using the scan plan management DB 130, and associates the scan plan received from the scan plan input unit 110 with patient identification information in the scan plan management DB 130. When the scan plan request specifying the patient identification information is received from the scan plan output unit 150, the scan plan management DB 130 is searched using the patient identification information, and the searched scan plan is passed to the scan plan conversion unit 140.

  The scan plan management DB 130 is a database that stores a scan plan for each patient. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of scan parameters constituting a scan plan stored in the scan plan management DB 130.

  As shown in the figure, the scan parameters include scan order (No) 1, scan start time 2 and pause time 3 until the next scan, scan start position 4 and end position 5, scan mode 6, scan Equation 7, tube voltage 8, tube current 9, FOV 10, scan speed 11, imaging slice thickness 12, scan range 13, scan details 14 for specifying scan details, reconstruction details 15 for specifying details of reconstruction, etc. is there.

  The scan plan conversion unit 140 is a processing unit that converts a scan plan for a scan plan request source using the conversion table 141, and the conversion table 141 is used between X-ray CT apparatuses as shown in FIG. It is the table which memorize | stored the conversion rule of this scan plan. The scan plan conversion unit 140 uses the conversion table 141 to convert the scan plan to the scan plan request source, thereby reducing the burden of correcting the scan plan.

  The scan plan output unit 150 receives a scan plan transmission request from the scan plan request source and passes it to the scan plan management unit 120, and also requests the scan plan converted by the scan plan conversion unit 140 for the scan plan request source. It is a processing unit that transmits to the original.

  Next, a processing procedure of processing performed by the scan plan management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example a case where imaging with another X-ray CT apparatus becomes necessary during imaging with one X-ray CT apparatus. To do. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of processing performed by the scan plan management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment when imaging with another X-ray CT apparatus becomes necessary during imaging with one X-ray CT apparatus. is there.

  As shown in the figure, in the scan plan management apparatus 100, the scan plan input unit 110 receives a scan plan from the X-ray CT apparatus together with patient information (step S1), and passes it to the scan plan management unit 120. Then, the scan plan management unit 120 receives the scan plan and stores the scan plan in the scan plan management DB 130 in correspondence with the patient (step S2).

  Thereafter, the scan plan output unit 150 receives a scan plan transmission request from another X-ray CT apparatus (step S <b> 3) and passes it to the scan plan management unit 120. Then, the scan plan management unit 120 searches the scan plan management DB 130, reads the scan plan requested by the scan plan requester from the scan plan management DB 130 (step S4), and passes it to the scan plan conversion unit 140.

  Then, the scan plan conversion unit 140 receives the scan plan, converts it into a scan plan suitable for the scan plan requester using the conversion table 141 (step S5), and passes the converted scan plan to the scan plan output unit 150. Then, the scan plan output unit 150 transmits the scan plan to the scan plan request source (step S6).

  Thereafter, the scan plan requesting source confirms or corrects the scan plan, and transmits the scan plan corrected by the scan plan requesting source together with the patient information, and the scan plan input unit 110 receives the scan plan (step S7). To the scan plan management unit 120. Then, the scan plan management unit 120 stores the scan plan in the scan plan management DB 130 corresponding to the patient (step S8).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the scan plan management unit 120 of the scan plan management apparatus 100 manages the scan plan transmitted from the X-ray CT apparatus for each patient using the scan plan management DB 130. When the scan plan output unit 150 receives a scan plan transmission request from another X-ray CT apparatus, the scan plan management unit 120 reads the requested scan plan from the scan plan management DB 130. Then, the scan plan conversion unit 140 converts the scan plan read by the scan plan management unit 120 into a scan plan suitable for the scan plan request source using the conversion table 141. Then, the scan plan output unit 150 transmits the scan plan converted by the scan plan conversion unit 140 to the scan plan request source. Therefore, it is not necessary to create a scan plan from the beginning for each X-ray CT apparatus for the same patient, and the burden of creating a scan plan can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, when it is necessary to perform imaging with another X-ray CT apparatus during imaging with a certain X-ray CT apparatus, it is not necessary to create a scan plan again with another X-ray CT apparatus. explained. However, when the scan plan management apparatus 100 manages the scan plan for each patient using the scan plan management DB 130, and periodically performs imaging for periodic examinations, the scan plan created in the previous examination is reused. You can also

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the reuse of a scan plan in the case of performing repeated imaging in a periodic inspection or the like. FIG. 5A shows the storage of the scan plan at the time of the first inspection in the scan plan management DB 130, and FIG. 5B shows the second and subsequent scan plan reuse. As shown in FIG. 5B, by editing and using the scan plan stored in the scan plan management DB 130 in the second and subsequent periodic inspections, the burden of newly creating a scan plan each time can be reduced. . It is also possible to accurately reproduce previous exams by reusing scan plans without editing.

  Further, if the image management DB 160 stores image data stored for each patient and the scan plan management DB 130 stores the scan plan stored for each patient in association with each other, the image data is transferred from the scan plan management apparatus to each X-ray CT apparatus. By transmitting this together with the scan plan, it is possible to edit the scan plan while referring to an image taken with the scan plan before editing. Therefore, it is possible to support the creation of a more appropriate scan plan that solves the problems in the previous scan plan.

  In addition, when the scan plan conversion unit 140 converts to a scan plan suitable for the scan plan requester using the conversion table 141, there may be scan parameters that cannot be converted. In such a case, the scan plan conversion unit 140 adds information about scan parameters that cannot be converted, so that the X-ray CT apparatus that has received the scan plan displays a warning about the scan parameters that could not be converted. You can also.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which the X-ray CT apparatus displays a warning regarding scan parameters that could not be converted. As shown in the figure, this example warns that there is a scan parameter that could not be converted with the message “Warning: Some parameters cannot be converted. Check.” Further, by displaying the scan parameter value 16 that could not be converted using a different color such as red, it is possible to easily display a portion that needs to be edited. In this example, the tube voltage (kV) value “120” in the new version of the device is displayed as a parameter that cannot be converted because the old version of the device is too high to be set.

  Further, in this embodiment, a case has been described in which the scan execution status is managed by the scan plan management DB 130 as a part of the scan plan, such as whether the scan has been executed to the end or interrupted in the middle. Further, the scan was interrupted. In some cases, the reason can be managed as part of the scan plan. By managing the reason for interrupting the scan, it is possible to create a more appropriate scan plan that reflects the reason for the interrupt when editing the scan plan with another X-ray CT system or another periodic checkup. .

  In this embodiment, the case where the scan plan management apparatus 100 and each X-ray CT apparatus are connected via a network has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the scan plan management apparatus 100 and The same can be applied to the case where each X-ray CT apparatus transmits and receives a scan plan via a storage medium such as a CD.

  In this embodiment, the case where the scan plan is managed using the scan plan management apparatus 100 separately from the X-ray CT apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the X-ray CT apparatus is not limited to this. A scan plan management DB is provided to manage a scan plan for each patient, and can also be applied to a case where a scan plan is exchanged with another X-ray CT apparatus.

  In this embodiment, the X-ray CT apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other scan plans such as an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, a magnetic resonance apparatus, and a SPECT apparatus need to be created. The present invention can be similarly applied to a medical imaging apparatus.

  As described above, the imaging plan management apparatus, the imaging plan management method, and the X-ray CT apparatus according to the present invention are useful for creating an imaging plan, and are particularly suitable when it is necessary to create a complex imaging plan. Yes.

It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the concept of the scan plan management apparatus concerning a present Example. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the scan plan management apparatus which concerns on a present Example. It is a figure which shows the example of the scan parameter which comprises a scan plan. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the process which the scan plan management apparatus based on a present Example performs imaging | photography with another X-ray CT apparatus during imaging | photography with a certain X-ray CT apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating reuse of a scan plan. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which a X-ray CT apparatus displays a warning about the scan parameter which could not be converted. It is a figure which shows a part of scan plan.

Explanation of symbols

1 Scan order (No)
2 Start time 3 Pause time 4 Start position 5 End position 6 Scan mode 7 Number of scans 8 kV
9 mA
10 FOV
11 Scan speed 12 Imaging slice thickness 13 Range 14 Scan details 15 Reconstruction details 16 Scan parameter value 100 that could not be converted 100 Scan plan management device 110 Scan plan input unit 120 Scan plan management unit 130 Scan plan management DB
140 Scan Plan Conversion Unit 141 Conversion Table 150 Scan Plan Output Unit 160 Image Management DB

Claims (8)

Shooting plan storage means for storing shooting plans;
An imaging plan management apparatus comprising: an imaging plan external output unit that receives an imaging plan output request, reads out the imaging plan requested by the received imaging plan output request from the imaging plan storage unit, and externally outputs the imaging plan .   The shooting plan external output means receives a shooting plan output request from a shooting device that performs shooting based on the shooting plan via a network, and sends a shooting plan requested by the received shooting plan output request from the shooting plan storage means. The photographing plan management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing plan management apparatus reads out and transmits to the photographing apparatus.   A shooting plan storage unit that receives a shooting plan storage request from a shooting device that performs shooting based on a shooting plan via a network, and stores the shooting plan requested to be stored by the received shooting plan storage request in the shooting plan storage unit. The photographing plan management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:   4. The photographing plan external output means converts the photographing plan read from the photographing plan storage means into a photographing plan suitable for the photographing apparatus that requested the photographing plan output, and transmits the photographing plan. The shooting plan management device described.   The imaging plan external output means converts the values of parameters constituting the imaging plan, and the parameters include tube current, tube voltage, FOV, scan speed, imaging slice thickness, and scan range. The photography plan management apparatus according to claim 4.   The shooting plan external output means includes a parameter that cannot be converted into parameters suitable for the shooting apparatus that requested the shooting plan output in the shooting plan parameters read from the shooting plan storage means. 6. The photographing plan management apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein warning information for warning that there is an image is transmitted to the photographing apparatus together with the photographing plan. An X-ray CT apparatus that irradiates a subject with X-rays, detects X-rays transmitted through the subject, generates image data, and displays the generated image data on a predetermined display unit,
An imaging plan storage means for storing an imaging plan for imaging the subject;
An X-ray CT apparatus comprising: an imaging plan external output unit that receives an imaging plan output request, reads out the imaging plan requested by the received imaging plan output request from the imaging plan storage unit, and externally outputs the imaging plan . A shooting plan storage step for storing the shooting plan in a shooting plan database;
An imaging plan management method comprising: an imaging plan external output step of receiving an imaging plan output request, reading out the imaging plan requested by the received imaging plan output request from the imaging plan database, and outputting the externally.

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