X-ray fluoroscopy device

Abstract

Provided is an X-ray fluoroscopy device capable of more easily performing an operation of continuously rotating a C-arm using a sequence mode function. The device comprises: a C-arm (9) supporting an X-ray tube (5) and an X-ray detector (7) in a manner facing each other; a storage unit (37) storing a plurality of position information related to the C-arm (9) in correspondence with information on the order in which the C-arm (9) rotates to the position as sequence information (SQ1); a touch panel (43) arranging and displaying the position information included in the sequence information (SQ1) in the order in which the C-arm (9) rotates; and a display control unit (55) controlling the touch panel (43) so that each time the X-ray tube (5) irradiates X-rays, the position information included in the sequence information (SQ1) corresponding to the position of the C-arm (9) to be irradiated with X-rays next, i.e., the target rotation position, is displayed in a predetermined fixed area of ​​the touch panel (43).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an X-ray fluoroscopy device that rotates an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector in a state where they are supported facing each other, along and around the body axis of a subject, to perform X-ray fluoroscopy or X-ray photography from multiple directions. Background Art

[0002] In medical settings, for example, when inspecting the circulatory organ region such as the cardiovascular system or performing a surgery using a catheter technique, an X-ray fluoroscopy device for performing X-ray fluoroscopy or X-ray photography is indispensable. In this surgery, X-rays are irradiated from any direction to the circulatory organ region of the subject to perform fluoroscopy photography. The operator performs the inspection or surgery while referring to the X-ray image data obtained by the fluoroscopy photography.

[0003] The X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device includes a top plate for placing a subject, an imaging system including an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector, and a C-arm (C-arm) supporting the imaging system. The X-ray tube and the X-ray detector are arranged at one end and the other end of the C-arm, and the C-arm is configured in a manner that the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector are arranged opposite to each other with the subject sandwiched therebetween. The C-arm is configured to be able to rotate along the body axis direction and around the body axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the "rotation direction") of the subject at a predetermined rotation angle. By rotating the C-arm to an arbitrary rotation position (arbitrary rotation direction and rotation angle), the subject can be irradiated with X-rays from an arbitrary direction to obtain an X-ray image.

[0004] In the case of inspection or surgery of circulatory organs, the target part is photographed from multiple directions for diagnosis, so it is necessary to perform an operation of rotating the C-arm to multiple rotation positions in sequence. If all the operations are performed manually, the burden on the operator increases. Therefore, in recent years, an X-ray fluoroscopy device having a sequence mode function (sequential operation mode function) that pre-sets the position to which the C-arm is to be rotated and the order of rotating to the position has been proposed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0005] When the sequence mode is executed, the operator registers information of a plurality of rotational positions and sets information of the order of movement to the rotational positions before the operator performs the inspection. Through the setting operation, information associating the information of a plurality of rotational positions with information of the order of rotation to the rotational positions, i.e., sequence information, is stored in the memory.

[0006] Furthermore, at the stage of the examination, the sequence information is read from the memory and the sequence information is displayed on the monitor in a list. The operator refers to the sequence information displayed on the monitor and instructs the C-arm to start rotating according to the sequence information. By instructing, the C-arm rotates to a plurality of rotation positions set in the sequence information in sequence, and the X-ray tube irradiates the subject with X-rays at each rotation position.

[0007] That is, after irradiating X-rays at a predetermined rotational position, the C-arm rotates to a rotational position (target rotational position) to which the C-arm is to be rotated for the next X-ray irradiation. Then, when the C-arm rotates to the target rotational position, X-rays are irradiated from the X-ray tube according to the operator's instructions. In this way, the sequence mode function of repeatedly rotating to the target rotational position and irradiating X-rays at the target rotational position in a predetermined rotational sequence can automatically rotate the C-arm to multiple rotational positions while acquiring X-ray images at each rotational position.

[0008] Prior art literature

[0009] Patent Literature

[0010] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-197621 Summary of the invention

[0011] Problem that the invention aims to solve

[0012] However, in the case of the conventional example having such a structure, there are the following problems.

[0013] In the previous structure, the sequence information displayed on the monitor during the execution of the sequence mode function is a state in which the items representing the rotational position information of the C-arm are arranged in the order of rotation. That is, each rotational position information contained in the sequence information is displayed on the monitor at a glance. Then, in this case, the operator needs to determine the rotational position information corresponding to the target rotational position at the current time point from all the rotational positions listed. Therefore, the operator needs to direct his sight toward all the rotational position information displayed on the monitor, so it is difficult to grasp the target rotational position of the C-arm at the current time point.

[0014] As a structure that makes it easy to grasp the information of the target rotational position of the C-arm at the current time point, a structure that emphasizes and displays only the target rotational position information at the current time point among all the rotational position information in a manner different from other items has been conceived. As an example, a structure can be cited in which only the area that displays the target rotational position information at the current time point is displayed in a different color. However, in this structure, the operator needs to move his or her sight across the entire monitor while searching for the rotational position information displayed in a different manner from all the rotational position information. Therefore, even with a structure that displays the target rotational position information at the current time point in a different manner, it is difficult to solve the problem of accumulated fatigue caused by grasping the target rotational position information at the current time point.

[0015] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus that can more easily perform an operation of continuously rotating a C-arm using a sequence mode function.

[0016] Solutions for solving problems

[0017] The present invention adopts the following structure to achieve such an object.

[0018] That is, the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an X-ray tube that irradiates an object with X-rays; an X-ray detector that is arranged opposite to the X-ray tube and detects the X-rays that have passed through the object; a support mechanism that supports the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector in a manner that they face each other, and the support mechanism is rotatable about each of two orthogonal axes; a rotation position detection unit that detects information related to the position of the support mechanism as position information; a storage unit that stores a plurality of position information corresponding to information on the order in which the support mechanism rotates to the positions as sequence information; a position information display unit that arranges and displays the position information included in the sequence information in the order in which the support mechanism rotates; and a display control unit that controls the position information display unit so that each time the X-ray tube irradiates X-rays, the position information corresponding to a target position among the position information included in the sequence information is displayed in a predetermined fixed area of ​​the position information display unit, wherein the target position is the position of the support mechanism at which the X-ray irradiation is to be performed next.

[0019] In this structure, the storage unit stores the position information related to the position of the support mechanism and the information of the order of rotation to the position as sequence information in correspondence. The position information display unit arranges and displays each position information included in the sequence information in the order of rotation of the support mechanism. When the position information display unit displays each position information, the display control unit controls the position information display unit so that the position information corresponding to the position of the support mechanism to be irradiated with the X-ray next, that is, the target position, is displayed in a predetermined fixed area in the position information display unit.

[0020] The position information corresponding to the position of the support mechanism to be irradiated with the X-ray next, that is, the target position, is always displayed in a fixed area, so that the operator can reliably grasp the position information of the target position at the current time point by directing the line of sight toward the fixed area in the position information display unit. Therefore, even in the case where the position information included in the sequence information is displayed in a large amount in the position information display unit, the operator can easily and quickly find the position information of the target position from a large amount of position information. In addition, even in the case where the target position of the support mechanism is changed sequentially due to the progress of the sequence mode, the operator can confirm the information of the target position of the support mechanism that is changed sequentially without moving the line of sight from the fixed area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the accumulation of operator fatigue caused by constantly moving the line of sight during the execution of the sequence mode function.

[0021] Furthermore, in the above invention, preferably, the fixed area is a central area of ​​the position information display portion.

[0022] [Action / Effect] According to the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device of the present invention, the operator can reliably confirm the information of the target position of the support mechanism by directing the line of sight toward the central area of ​​the position information display unit. The central area of ​​the position information display unit is an area that is relatively easy to visually confirm, so by fixing the area that displays the information of the target position of the support mechanism at the current time point to the central area, the operator can more easily grasp the information of the target position of the support mechanism.

[0023] In addition, in the above-mentioned invention, it is preferred that the display control unit controls the position information display unit so that the position information corresponding to the position to which the support mechanism is to rotate for irradiating the X-rays immediately after the target position at the current time point is displayed adjacent to the position information corresponding to the target position displayed in the fixed area.

[0024] [Function / Effect] According to the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device involved in the present invention, the position information corresponding to the target position of the support mechanism at the current time point is displayed in a fixed area in the position information display unit, and the position information corresponding to the position to which the support mechanism will next rotate is displayed adjacently. In this case, the operator can grasp the information of the position to which the support mechanism will next rotate for X-ray irradiation, that is, the next target position, in addition to the target position of the support mechanism at the current time point by slightly shifting the line of sight away from the fixed area. Therefore, the operator can quickly grasp the information of the position to be the next target position, and appropriately perform an inspection or surgery while predicting the trajectory of the support mechanism rotating from the target position at the current time point to the next target position and the timing of the support mechanism rotation.

[0025] In addition, in the above-mentioned invention, it is preferred that the display control unit controls the position information display unit so that the position information corresponding to the position to which the support mechanism rotates and performs the X-ray irradiation immediately before the target position at the current time point, the position information corresponding to the target position of the support mechanism at the current time point, and the position information corresponding to the position to which the support mechanism is to rotate and performs the X-ray irradiation immediately after the target position at the current time point are displayed adjacent to each other in sequence.

[0026] [Function / Effect] According to the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device involved in the present invention, the position information corresponding to the position where the support mechanism rotates to and performs X-ray irradiation immediately before the target position at the current time point, the position information corresponding to the target position displayed in a fixed area, and the information of the position where the support mechanism is to rotate to and performs X-ray irradiation immediately after the target position at the current time point are displayed adjacent to each other in sequence.

[0027] The information of the position to which the support mechanism rotates and to which X-ray irradiation is performed immediately before the target position at the current time point, that is, the information of the position that was the previous target position, is highly important information that is arranged in parallel with the information of the target position at the current time point and the information of the position that will be the next target position during the execution of the sequence mode. Moreover, since these three pieces of position information are displayed adjacent to each other, the operator can grasp these three pieces of position information by slightly shifting his or her line of sight away from a fixed area. That is, the operator can grasp the trajectory of the support mechanism's rotation from immediately before the target position at the current time point to immediately after the target position at the current time point without fatigue. Therefore, the operator can predict the rotation trajectory and rotation timing of the support mechanism with higher accuracy, and can therefore perform an inspection or surgery more appropriately.

[0028] In addition, in the above-mentioned invention, it is preferred that there is also a position information selection unit, which selects a specified number of the position information including the position information corresponding to the target position of the supporting mechanism at the current time point from the multiple position information included in the sequence information, and the display control unit causes the position information display unit to display the specified number of the position information selected by the position information selection unit.

[0029] [Function / Effect] According to the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device involved in the present invention, a predetermined number of position information including position information corresponding to the target position of the support mechanism at the current time point among a plurality of position information included in the sequence information is selectively displayed on the position information display unit through the position information selection unit and the display control unit. That is, even if the sequence information includes a large amount of position information, the number of position information displayed on the position information display unit can be limited to a predetermined number. Therefore, the visibility of the position information displayed on the position information display unit, especially the visibility of the information related to the target position of the support mechanism at the current time point, can be improved.

[0030] Effects of the Invention

[0031] According to the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device involved in the present invention, the storage unit stores the position information related to the position of the support mechanism in association with the information of the order of rotation to the position as sequence information. The position information display unit arranges and displays the respective position information contained in the sequence information in the order of rotation of the support mechanism. The display control unit controls the position information display unit so that when the position information display unit displays the respective position information, the position information corresponding to the position of the support mechanism to be irradiated with the X-ray next, i.e., the target position, is displayed in a predetermined fixed area in the position information display unit.

[0032] The position information corresponding to the position of the support mechanism to be irradiated with the X-ray next, i.e., the target position, is always displayed in a fixed area, and the operator can reliably grasp the position information of the support mechanism at the current time point by directing the line of sight toward the fixed area in the position information display unit. Therefore, even when a large amount of position information included in the sequence information is displayed in a row on the position information display unit, the operator can easily and quickly find the position information of the support mechanism at the current time point from a large amount of position information.

[0033] In addition, even when the position of the support mechanism is sequentially changed due to the execution of the sequence mode, the operator can confirm the information of the current position of the support mechanism that is sequentially changed without moving the line of sight from the fixed area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the accumulation of fatigue of the operator caused by constantly moving the line of sight during the execution of the sequence mode function, and thus it is possible to more easily perform the operation of continuously rotating the support mechanism using the sequence mode function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Figure 1 It is a front view for explaining the overall structure of the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0035] Figure 2 It is a right side view for explaining the overall structure of the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a functional block diagram for explaining the outline of the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0037] Figure 4 This is a list showing information on rotational positions included in the sequence information according to the embodiment.

[0038] Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing an outline of an input unit according to the embodiment.

[0039] Figure 6 It is a diagram showing a display screen in the sequence mode of the touch panel according to the embodiment.

[0040] Figure 7 This is a flowchart for explaining the sequence mode process in the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0041] Figure 8 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining the main parts of the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus when the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F1 in the embodiment.

[0042] Fig. 9 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of the touch panel in step S4 when the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F1 in the embodiment.

[0043] Fig.10 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of the touch panel in step S5 when the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F1 in the embodiment.

[0044] Fig.11 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining the main parts of the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus when the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F2 in the embodiment.

[0045] Fig.12 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of the touch panel in step S4 when the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F2 in the embodiment.

[0046] Fig.13 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of the touch panel in step S4 when the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F9 in the embodiment.

[0047] Fig.14 It is a diagram showing a display screen of a touch panel according to a conventional example.

[0048] Fig.15 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of the touch panel when the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F6 in the comparative example.

[0049] Fig.16 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of the touch panel when the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F8 in the comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] <Description of overall structure>

[0052] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is configured to face each other via a top plate 3 for placing a subject M in a supine position. The X-ray tube 5 irradiates the subject M with X-rays. The X-ray detector 7 detects the X-rays irradiated from the X-ray tube 5 to the subject M and transmitted through the subject M, converts the X-rays into electrical signals, and outputs the X-ray detection signals. As an example of the X-ray detector 7, an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) can be cited.

[0053] The X-ray tube 5 and the X-ray detector 7 are respectively arranged on the C-arm 9. The C-arm 9 is bent in a substantially C-shape. The X-ray tube 5 is arranged on one end side of the C-arm 9, and the X-ray detector 7 is arranged on the other end side of the C-arm 9. The C-arm 9 is held by the arm holding member 11, and is configured to slide along the arc path of the C-arm 9 indicated by the reference numeral RA. The C-arm 9 rotates around an axis orthogonal to the body axis of the subject M (hereinafter also referred to as the "body axis direction") by sliding along the direction indicated by the reference numeral RA.

[0054] The arm holding member 11 is disposed on the side surface of the support 13 and is configured to rotate and move around an axis (hereinafter also referred to as "around the body axis direction") of a horizontal axis RB parallel to the x direction (the long side direction of the top plate 3). The C-arm 9 held by the arm holding member 11 rotates along the around the body axis direction of the subject M as the arm holding member 11 rotates.

[0055] As described above, in the embodiment, the C-arm 9 independently rotates around two orthogonal axes (for example, the body axis direction and the direction around the body axis of the subject M). In addition, the body axis direction and the direction around the body axis of the subject M are referred to as "rotation directions" below. The C-arm 9 is configured to be freely rotatable around two orthogonal axes along each of the arc paths RA and RB, thereby being able to irradiate the subject M with X-rays from any direction. The C-arm 9 is equivalent to the support mechanism of the present invention.

[0056] In addition, if Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the state in which the X-ray tube 5 and the X-ray detector 7 are located in the vertical direction relative to the subject M is set as the initial state of the C-arm 9. Furthermore, the rotation position of the C-arm 9 in this initial state is set as the initial position of the C-arm 9. With respect to the initial position of the C-arm 9, the rotation angle of the C-arm is set to 0° in the body axis direction and the direction around the body axis, respectively.

[0057] The support column 13 is supported by a support base 15 disposed on the ground, and is configured to be horizontally movable in the y direction (the short side direction of the top plate 3). The arm support member 11 and the C-arm 9 supported by the support column 13 move in the y direction along with the horizontal movement of the support column 13. The collimator 17 is provided below the X-ray tube 5, and is used to limit the X-rays irradiated from the X-ray tube 5 to a predetermined shape. As an example of the shape into which the X-rays are limited, a pyramidal cone is cited.

[0058] Next, the rotation mechanism of the C-arm 9 is described. The rotation of the C-arm 9 along the body axis direction of the subject M is achieved by the driving mechanism inside the arm holding member 11. A part of a transmission belt 19 whose both ends are fixed to the C-arm 9 is accommodated inside the arm holding member 11, and the transmission belt 19 is stretched on the driving roller 23 via the guide roller 21.

[0059] A drive motor M1 and a rotary encoder R1 are attached to the arm holding member 11. The drive motor M1 rotates the drive roller 23. The rotary encoder R1 detects the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M1. The C arm 9 is configured to rotate along the body axis direction of the subject M via the transmission belt 19 due to the rotation of the rotary motor M1. Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , the driving motor M1 and the rotary encoder R1 are shown outside the arm holding member 11 .

[0060] The rotation of the C-arm 9 in the direction around the body axis of the subject M is achieved by rotating the arm support member 11 around the horizontal axis RB, that is, in the direction around the body axis of the subject M. The base of the arm support member 11, that is, the end on the side opposite to the side holding the C-arm 9, is rotatably supported by the side surface of the support 13, and a gear 25 is fixed near the support surface.

[0061] The gear 25 meshes with a pinion 27, and the pinion 27 is mounted on the output shaft of a drive motor M2 provided inside the support column 13. The C-arm 9 rotates along the circumferential axis of the subject M together with the arm holding member 11 due to the rotation of the drive motor M2. The rotation direction and amount of the drive motor M2 are detected by a rotary encoder R2.

[0062] In addition, a drive motor M3 and a rotary encoder R3 are attached to the interior of the support base 15. The drive motor M3 rotates a drive mechanism (not shown), thereby rotating the support base 15 around the vertical axis RC. As an example, the vertical axis RC passes through Figure 1 The axes extending in the vertical direction of the X-ray tube 5 and the X-ray detector 7 at the initial position shown. The rotary encoder R3 detects the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M3. As the support base 15 rotates, the arm holding member 11 and the C-arm 9 supported by the support base 15 rotate and move around the vertical axis RC.

[0063] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging apparatus 1 further includes an X-ray irradiation control unit 29, an image generating unit 30, an image display unit 31, a motor control unit MD1, a motor control unit MD2, a rotation position detecting unit 33, a main control unit 35, a storage unit 37, and an operation console 39. The X-ray irradiation control unit 29 is configured to output a high voltage to the X-ray tube 5. Based on the high voltage output provided by the X-ray irradiation control unit 29, the amount of X-rays irradiated by the X-ray tube 5 and the timing of irradiating the X-rays are controlled.

[0064] The image generator 30 is provided at a later stage of the X-ray detector 7, and generates an X-ray image based on the X-ray detection signal output from the X-ray detector 7. The image display unit 31 is provided at a later stage of the image generator 30, and displays the X-ray image generated by the image generator 30. As an example of the image display unit 31, a liquid crystal monitor and the like can be cited. As an example of a structure in which the image display unit 31 is provided, a structure suspended from a ceiling or a structure mounted on a mobile carriage can be cited.

[0065] The motor control unit MD1 is provided upstream of the drive motor M1 to control the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M1. The motor control unit MD2 is provided upstream of the drive motor M2 to control the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M2. The X-ray fluoroscopy device 1 includes a motor control unit MD3 (not shown) that controls the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M3.

[0066] The rotation position detector 33 detects the rotation position of the C-arm 9 based on the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M1 detected by the rotary encoder R1 and the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M2 detected by the rotary encoder R2. The rotation position of the C-arm 9 is determined based on the rotation direction and rotation angle of the C-arm 9.

[0067] The rotation direction of the C-arm 9 is shown as follows. Figure 1 As shown, the direction of the head side of the body axis direction of the subject M is hereinafter represented as "CRA" (Cranial), and the direction of the foot side is hereinafter represented as "CAU" (Caudal). Figure 2 As shown, the rotation direction of the subject M around the body axis when viewed from the head side toward the left is represented as "LAO" (Left Anterior Oblique), and the rotation direction toward the right when viewed from the head side is represented as "RAO" (Right Anterior Oblique).

[0068] The rotation direction of the C-arm 9 is represented by a combination of the direction in which the C-arm 9 is rotating in the body axis direction of the subject M (CRA or CAU) and the direction in which the C-arm 9 is rotating in the direction around the body axis of the subject M (LAO or RAO). Furthermore, the rotation angle of the C-arm 9 is represented by a combination of the angle at which the C-arm 9 rotates in the body axis direction of the subject M and the angle at which the C-arm 9 rotates in the direction around the body axis of the subject M.

[0069] The rotation position detection unit 33 calculates information about the rotation direction and rotation angle of the C-arm 9 along the body axis direction of the subject M based on information about the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M1 sent by the rotary encoder R1. Furthermore, the rotation position detection unit 33 detects information about the rotation direction and rotation angle of the C-arm 9 along the body axis direction of the subject M based on information about the rotation direction and rotation amount of the drive motor M2 sent by the rotary encoder R2. Then, the rotation direction and rotation angle of the C-arm 9 are calculated based on this information.

[0070] As an example, the main control unit 35 includes an information processing unit such as a central processing unit (CPU) and the like. The main control unit 35 centrally controls various components of the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus 1, such as the motor control unit MD1, the motor control unit MD2, the X-ray irradiation control unit 29, the image generation unit 30, and the image display unit 31.

[0071] The storage unit 37 stores various information, such as information on X-ray imaging conditions such as tube voltage and tube current, various X-ray images generated by the image generator 30, and information on image processing performed by the image generator 30. A nonvolatile memory can be cited as an example of the storage unit 37. In addition, the storage unit 37 is configured to store information on the rotation position of the C-arm 9 and to store sequence information.

[0072] The sequence information includes a plurality of information on the rotational positions of the C-arm 9, and each of the plurality of rotational position information corresponds to information on the rotation order of the C-arm 9. In addition, the storage unit 37 is not limited to storing one piece of sequence information, and the storage unit 37 may be configured to store a plurality of sequence information individually.

[0073] In this embodiment, the storage unit 37 stores in advance Figure 4 The sequence information SQ1 shown. The sequence information SQ1 includes information on nine rotation positions F1 to F9. In the sequence information SQ1, the information on the rotation positions F1 to F9 is arranged in accordance with the order in which the C-arm 9 rotates. That is, the rotation position F1 is set as the position to which the C-arm 9 first rotates for X-ray irradiation, and the rotation position F2 is set as the second rotation position of the C-arm 9 for X-ray irradiation. The rotation position F9 is set as the position to which the C-arm 9 last rotates for X-ray irradiation.

[0074] like Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the rotation position F1 is the position after rotating 30° from the initial position to the LAO direction and 30° to the CRA direction. The rotation position F2 is the position after rotating 20° from the initial position to the LAO direction and 40° to the CRA direction. Figure 4 As shown, the description is omitted.

[0075] The console 39 is used to input the operator's instructions related to the operation of the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device 1, and the main control unit 35 performs overall control according to the instructions input by the operator to the console 39. Examples of the console 39 include a keyboard input type panel, a touch input type panel, a mouse, a dial, a toggle switch, a push button switch, etc.

[0076] In this embodiment, if Figure 1 As shown, the operation table 39 is provided to be attached to the side of the top board 3. In this case, the operator operates the operation table 39 while standing near the top board 3. By attaching the operation table 39 to the top board 3, the operator can perform various operations on the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus 1 while performing a surgery such as catheter technology or an examination on the subject M.

[0077] In addition, the operating table 39 is not limited to the structure attached to the side of the top plate 3, and the operating table 39 can also be set to the upper surface of the movable trolley. In addition, the operating table 39 is not limited to the structure arranged on the side of the long side of the top plate 3, and the operating table 39 can also be attached to the side of the short side of the top plate 3.

[0078] Next, the main operating equipment provided on the operating table 39 will be described. Figure 5 As shown, the operation console 39 includes an arm operation lever 41 , a touch panel 43 , a rotation instruction switch 45 , and a photography instruction switch 47 .

[0079] The arm operating lever 41 is configured to be tiltable forward, backward, left, and right, and is used to adjust the rotational position of the C-arm 9. As an example, the operator holds the arm operating lever 41 and tilts it forward, thereby rotating the C-arm 9 in the LAO direction. The rotational angle of the C-arm 9 changes depending on the angle or the tilting time of the arm operating lever 41. In addition, the operator holds the arm operating lever 41 and tilts it to the left, thereby rotating the C-arm 9 in the CRA direction. The operator can manually make fine adjustments to the rotational position of the C-arm by using the arm operating lever 41.

[0080] The touch panel 43 is used to perform various operations such as storing the rotation position of the C-arm 9 or storing the sequence information for continuously rotating the C-arm 9, and a large number of icon-type switches are displayed on the touch panel 43. In addition, when the rotation operation of the C-arm 9 based on the sequence mode is performed, the touch panel 43 displays the sequence information during the execution. The structure of the touch panel 43 displaying the sequence information is described later. The touch panel 43 is equivalent to the position information display unit of the present invention.

[0081] The rotation instruction switch 45 is a push-button switch for moving the C-arm 9 to a predetermined rotation position. That is, by pressing the rotation instruction switch 45 in a state where a specific rotation position is selected, the C-arm 9 rotates toward the specific rotation position.

[0082] The imaging instruction switch 47 is a push-button switch, and is operated when an instruction to generate an X-ray image is input. When the operator presses the imaging instruction switch 47, X-rays are irradiated from the X-ray tube 5 to the subject M. The X-rays irradiated from the X-ray tube 5 are detected by the X-ray detector 7, and the image generator 30 performs various calculation processes (image processing) based on the detection signal detected by the X-ray detector 7 to generate an X-ray image.

[0083] In addition, although the description is limited to four operating devices related to the adjustment of the rotation position of the C-arm 9, the operating devices provided on the operating table 39 are not limited to these four devices. That is, operating devices related to the operation of the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus 1, such as a switch for switching the main power on / off, a switch for setting X-ray imaging conditions, a switch for adjusting the position of the top plate 3, or an emergency stop switch, can also be appropriately provided.

[0084] like Figure 3 As shown, the main control unit 35 further includes a target position determination unit 51, a reading unit 53, a display control unit 55, and an information adding unit 57. The target position determination unit 51 determines the target rotation position of the C-arm 9 at the current time point according to the progress of the rotation operation of the C-arm 9 based on the sequence mode.

[0085] The target rotation position refers to the rotation position to which the C-arm 9 is to be rotated in order to irradiate X-rays from the X-ray tube 5 next. As an example, at the time point when the sequence mode based on the sequence information SQ1 is started, the target rotation position is the rotation position F1. Then, the C-arm 9 rotates to the rotation position F1, and at the time point when the X-rays are irradiated at the rotation position F1, the target rotation position is changed from the rotation position F1 to the rotation position F2. In this way, every time the X-ray tube 5 irradiates the subject M with X-rays, the information of the target rotation position determined by the target position determination unit 51 is changed.

[0086] The reading unit 53 selects and reads a predetermined number of rotational position information from among the plurality of rotational position information included in the sequence information stored in the storage unit 37. In the present embodiment, it is set that the reading unit 53 reads a maximum of four rotational position information including the information of the target rotational position at the current time point. The content of the rotational position information read by the reading unit 53 can be appropriately changed according to the progress of the sequence mode. The reading unit 53 is equivalent to the position information selection unit of the present invention.

[0087] The display control unit 55 causes the touch panel 43 to display the information of the rotational position read by the reading unit 53. In addition, the display control unit 55 controls the display mode in the touch panel 43 so that the information of the target rotational position of the C-arm 9 at the current time point among the information of the rotational position read is always displayed in a predetermined fixed area in the touch panel 43. In the present embodiment, the touch panel 43 is controlled so that the information of the target rotational position of the C-arm 9 at the current time point is always displayed in the first area R1.

[0088] The information adding unit 57 causes the touch panel 43 to display additional information related to the rotation position information read by the reading unit 53. As an example of the additional information, there can be listed information for prompting information on the target rotation position at the current time point in the read rotation position information (target display information) and information for prompting that the C-arm 9 has reached the target rotation position (reaching completion information).

[0089] <Structure of Touch Panel>

[0090] Next, the structure of the touch panel 43 will be described in detail. Figure 6 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of the touch panel 43 in a state where the sequence mode is being executed.

[0091] The touch panel 43 includes a display region R. The display region R is a region where information on the rotation position is displayed, and in the present embodiment, the display region R includes four regions, ie, display regions R1 to R4.

[0092] The display areas R1 to R4 are fixed areas for displaying the rotational position information read by the readout unit 53, and the display areas R1 to R4 are arranged from the upper part of the touch panel 43 to the lower part in the order of display areas R4, R1, R2, and R3. In the present embodiment, the display area R1 is arranged in the central area of ​​the screen of the touch panel 43. Therefore, the display area R2 is arranged in the area below the display area R1 and adjacent to the display area R1. The display area R3 is arranged in the area below the display area R2 and adjacent to the display area R2. Moreover, the display area R4 is arranged in the area above the display area R1 and adjacent to the display area R1.

[0093] The display area R1 is configured to always display information on the rotational position corresponding to the target rotational position at the current time point, among the rotational position information read by the reading unit 53. Therefore, during the execution of the sequence mode, the operator can reliably grasp the information on the target rotational position at the current time point by directing his / her sight toward the display area R1 arranged in the central area of ​​the screen of the touch panel 43.

[0094] The display region R2 is configured to display information about the rotational position that becomes the target rotational position immediately after the target rotational position at the current time point. The display region R3 is configured to display information about the rotational position that becomes the target rotational position immediately after the rotational position displayed in the display region R2. Therefore, the operator can quickly grasp the path that the C-arm 9 takes after the target rotational position at the current time point by moving the line of sight slightly toward the bottom of the screen of the touch panel 43 from the display region R1 to visually confirm the display region R2 and the like.

[0095] The display area R4 is configured to display information of the rotation position that is the target rotation position immediately before the target rotation position at the current time point. As an example, when the target rotation position at the current time point is the rotation position F6, the information of the rotation position F7 is displayed in the display area R2, the information of the rotation position F8 is displayed in the display area R3, and the information of the rotation position F5 is displayed in the display area R4. The operator can quickly grasp the path taken by the C-arm 9 from the previous target rotation position to the target rotation position at the current time point by slightly moving the line of sight from the display area R1 to the upper side of the screen of the touch panel 43 to visually confirm the display area R4.

[0096] The touch panel 43 further includes a drag bar 58 and a scroll bar 59. The drag bar 58 is used to indicate the relative order of the rotational positions displayed in the display areas R1 to R4 among all the rotational positions of the sequence information SQ1. As an example, the operator can visually confirm the position of the drag bar 58 in the scroll bar 59 to understand the approximate order of the rotational positions currently displayed in the display areas R1 to R4 among all the rotational positions of the sequence information SQ1.

[0097] The scroll bar 59 is a structure for manually changing the information of the rotational position displayed in the display areas R1 to R4. That is, the information of the rotational position displayed in the display area R1 can be temporarily changed from the information of the target rotational position at the current time point to the information of the rotational position before or after the target rotational position by operating the scroll bar 59. In addition, the information of the rotational position displayed in the display area R1 can be quickly returned to the information of the target rotational position at the current time point by pressing a reset button (not shown).

[0098] <Overview of Sequence Mode Operation>

[0099] Next, an overview of operations performed using the sequence mode in the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described. Figure 7 The flowchart shows an operation of acquiring X-ray images from a plurality of positions by continuously rotating the C-arm 9 in the sequence mode.

[0100] Step S1 (Start Sequence Mode)

[0101] First, the operator activates the touch panel 43 of the operation console 39 and operates a start button (not shown) disposed on the touch panel 43, etc., to output an instruction to start the sequence mode (step S1). In the present embodiment, the operator selects sequence information SQ1 from a plurality of sequence information stored in the storage unit 37, and inputs an instruction to start the sequence mode using the sequence information SQ1.

[0102] Step S2 (determine the target rotation position)

[0103] When an instruction to start the sequence mode is input, the target rotation position at the current time point is determined by the target position determination unit 51. The target position determination unit 51 determines the rotation position at which the X-ray irradiation is to be performed next as the target rotation position. In addition, in the present embodiment, the "rotation position at which the X-ray irradiation is to be performed next" refers to the rotation position of the C-arm 9 at the timing of irradiating the X-ray in the nearest future based on the current time point. In other words, the target rotation position refers to the position equivalent to the destination to which the C-arm 9 is to be rotated in order to perform the X-ray irradiation next based on the current time point.

[0104] At the start time of the sequence mode, the rotation position to which the C-arm 9 is to be rotated for the next X-ray irradiation is the rotation position F1. Figure 8 As shown, the target position determination unit 51 determines the rotational position F1 among the rotational positions F1 to F9 included in the sequence information SQ1 as the target rotational position at the current time point. The target rotational position corresponds to the target position of the present invention.

[0105] Step S3 (Reading rotation position information)

[0106] When the target rotational position is determined, information on a predetermined number of rotational positions among the information on a plurality of rotational positions included in the sequence information SQ1 is read from the storage unit 37. That is, as a first stage of step S3, the reading unit 53 determines information on the rotational position to be read from the storage unit 37 based on the information on the target rotational position. Then, as a second stage of step S3, the reading unit 53 reads information on the rotational position determined as the object of reading from the storage unit 37.

[0107] The information of the rotational position to be read is determined based on the information of the rotational position to be displayed in the display area R of the touch panel 43. At the start time of the sequence mode, the position to which the C-arm 9 is first rotated, that is, the rotational position F1 is the target rotational position. In addition, when the target rotational position is the rotational position F1, as described later, the rotational positions to be displayed in the display areas R1 to R3 are the rotational positions F1 to F3, and on the other hand, there is no information of the rotational position to be displayed in the display area R4.

[0108] Therefore, when the position to which the C-arm 9 is initially rotated, that is, the rotation position F1, the rotation position F2, and the rotation position F3 are the target rotation positions displayed on the touch panel 43. Figure 8 As shown, the reading unit 53 specifies the information of the rotational position F1, the rotational position F2, and the rotational position F3 from the sequence information SQ1 as the information of the rotational position of the object to be displayed on the touch panel 43. Then, the reading unit 53 reads the information of the rotational position F1, the rotational position F2, and the rotational position F3 from the storage unit 37.

[0109] Step S4 (displaying rotation position information)

[0110] The display control unit 55 determines the area where the information of the read rotational position is displayed based on the correlation with the target rotational position. First, the rotational position F1 among the rotational positions F1 to F3 is determined as the target rotational position. Then, the display object of the display area R1 is the target rotational position at the current time point. Therefore, the display control unit 55 controls the touch panel 43 so that the information of the rotational position F1 is displayed in the display area R1.

[0111] Next, in the display area R2, the rotation position that becomes the target rotation position immediately after the target rotation position at the current time point becomes the display object. In the sequence information SQ1, the position to which the C-arm 9 is to be rotated immediately after the rotation position F1 is the rotation position F2. In other words, the position that becomes the target rotation position immediately after the rotation position F1 is the rotation position F2. Therefore, in the case where the target rotation position at the current time point is the rotation position F1, the rotation position F2 is the display object of the display area R2. Therefore, the display control unit 55 controls the touch panel 43 so that the information of the rotation position F2 is displayed in the display area R2.

[0112] Then, the display object of the display area R3 is the rotation position that becomes the target rotation position immediately after the display object of the display area R2. The rotation position that becomes the target rotation position immediately after the rotation position F2 is the rotation position F3. Therefore, when the target rotation position at the current time point is the rotation position F1, the rotation position F3 is the display object of the display area R3. Therefore, the display control unit 55 controls the touch panel 43 so that the information of the rotation position F3 is displayed in the display area R3.

[0113] The display object of the display area R4 is the information of the previous target rotational position. When the target rotational position is the rotational position F1, there is no previous target rotational position, so the display object of the display area R4 does not exist. Therefore, the display control unit 55 controls the touch panel 43 to make the display area R4 blank. As a result, when the target rotational position determined in step S2 is the rotational position F1, the display screen of the touch panel 43 is as follows: Fig. 9 As shown.

[0114] In each display region R1 to R4, sequence information J for indicating the order in which the C-arm 9 rotates to the rotation position is displayed corresponding to the information of each rotation position. That is, the position information of the rotation position F1 corresponds to the sequence information J1 for indicating that the rotation order of the C-arm 9 is the first. Then, the rotation position F1 and the sequence information J1 are displayed in the display region R1. The sequence information J2 for indicating that the rotation order of the C-arm 9 is the second is displayed in the display region R2 corresponding to the position information of the rotation position F2. The sequence information J3 for indicating that the rotation order of the C-arm 9 is the third is displayed corresponding to the position information of the rotation position F3.

[0115] The display control unit 55 controls the touch panel 43, and the information adding unit 57 adds additional information TA to the display area R2 displaying the target rotation position. The additional information TA is information for prompting that the position information displayed in the display area R2 among the rotation positions displayed on the touch panel 43 is the target rotation position and the C-arm 9 has not reached the target rotation position. In the present embodiment, the additional information TA is set to be information that causes the display area R2 as a whole to be displayed in a color different from that of the other display areas R1, R3, and R4. Fig. 9 In FIG. 1 , the additional information TA is shown by giving halftone dots to the entire display region R2.

[0116] The operator can visually check the position information of the rotation position F1, the sequence information J1, and the additional information TA by directing his / her sight toward the display area R2 corresponding to the center portion of the touch panel 43, and confirm the information of the target rotation position at the current time point. That is, by visually confirming the information displayed in the display area R2, the operator can grasp the information that the target rotation position at the current time point is the rotation position F1, which is the first position to which the C-arm 9 rotates, and the C-arm 9 has not rotated to the rotation position F1.

[0117] Step S5 (rotate to target rotation position)

[0118] After the operator confirms the target rotation position at the current time point, the operator performs an operation to rotate the C-arm 9 toward the target rotation position. That is, since the operator presses the rotation instruction switch 45, the C-arm 9 starts to rotate from the initial position toward the rotation position F1. In this embodiment, the rotation operation of the C-arm 9 is performed while the operator presses the rotation instruction switch 45. In addition, when the operator releases his hand from the rotation instruction switch 45, the rotation operation of the C-arm 9 is interrupted.

[0119] Step S6 (reaching the target rotation position)

[0120] Since the operator continues to press the rotation instruction switch 45, the C-arm 9 reaches the rotation position F1 from the initial position. When the C-arm 9 reaches the rotation position F1 as the target rotation position, the rotation position detection unit 33 sends information indicating that the rotation position F1 has been reached to the main control unit 35. Since the information indicating that the C-arm 9 has reached the target rotation position is received, as shown in FIG. Fig.10 As shown, the information adding unit 57 changes the information added to the display region R2 from the additional information TA to the new additional information TB.

[0121] The additional information TB is information for indicating that the position information displayed in the display area R2 among the rotational positions displayed on the touch panel 43 is the target rotational position and that the C-arm 9 has reached the target rotational position. In this embodiment, the additional information TB is information for displaying the outer periphery of the display area R2 in a color different from that of the other display areas R1, R3, and R4. Fig.10 As shown, the additional information TB is displayed by displaying the outer periphery of the display region R2 with oblique lines. The operator can visually confirm that the information added to the display region R2 is changed from the additional information TA to the additional information TB, thereby confirming that the C-arm 9 has reached the target rotation position and can irradiate X-rays.

[0122] Step S7 (X-ray irradiation)

[0123] After confirming the target rotation position at the current time point, the operator performs an operation of irradiating the subject M with X-rays to obtain an X-ray image. That is, the operator inputs an instruction to irradiate X-rays by pressing the imaging instruction switch 47 provided on the operation table 39. As the imaging instruction switch 47 is operated, X-rays are irradiated from the X-ray tube 5 provided on the C-arm 9 to the subject M. The X-ray detector 7 detects X-rays and sends an X-ray detection signal, and the image generator 30 performs various image processing based on the X-ray detection signal to generate an X-ray image.

[0124] After the X-ray irradiation is performed, the following process is branched depending on whether there is a rotation position to which the C-arm 9 should be rotated next. If there is a rotation position to which the C-arm 9 should be rotated next, the process proceeds to step S8. If the target rotation position is the rotation position F1, the C-arm 9 needs to be rotated to the rotation position F2 next, so the action related to step S8 is performed.

[0125] Step S8 (changing the target rotation position)

[0126] When there is a rotation position to which the C-arm 9 should rotate next, that is, when there is a next target rotation position, an action of changing the target rotation position is performed after the X-ray irradiation is performed. That is, the target position determination unit 51 changes the information of the rotation position determined as the target rotation position by the action of irradiating X-rays from the X-ray tube 5. Since the X-ray irradiation is completed at the rotation position F1, the rotation position to be irradiated with X-rays next becomes the rotation position F2. Therefore, if Fig.11 As shown, the target position determination unit 51 changes the rotation position determined as the target rotation position from the rotation position F1 to the rotation position F2 with the X-ray irradiation action at the rotation position F1 as a trigger. In this way, in the X-ray fluoroscopy imaging device 1 involved in this embodiment, the target rotation position is automatically changed when the X-ray irradiation is completed.

[0127] When the action of step S8 is completed and the target rotational position is changed, the process returns to step S3, and the above-mentioned action is repeated. That is, the actions of steps S3 to S7 are performed in a state where the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F2. When the target rotational position at the current time point is the rotational position F2, the previous target rotational position is the rotational position F1. Therefore, the object displayed in the display area R4 is the rotational position F1. In addition, the object displayed in the display area R2 is the rotational position F3, and the object displayed in the display area R3 is the rotational position F4.

[0128] Therefore, since the target rotational position at the current time point is changed to the rotational position F2, in step S3, the reading unit 53 reads the information of the four rotational positions F1 to F4 from the storage unit 37. Then, in step S4, as shown in FIG. Fig.12 As shown, the touch panel 43 is controlled by the display control unit 55 so that the information of the rotational position F2 is displayed in the display region R1 together with the sequence information J2.

[0129] Furthermore, the information of the rotational position F3 is displayed together with the sequence information J3 in the display region R2, and the information of the rotational position F4 is displayed together with the sequence information J4 in the display region R3. Furthermore, the information of the rotational position F1 is displayed together with the sequence information J1 in the display region R4. In step S4, the C-arm 9 has not reached the target rotational position at the current time point, so the information adding unit 57 adds the additional information TA to the display region R1.

[0130] The operator can easily and quickly grasp the rotation path of the C-arm 9 when the rotation instruction switch 45 is operated in step S5 by visually checking the display area R1 and the display area R4 arranged adjacent to the display area R1. That is, the specific information of the rotation position F1 is displayed in the display area R4, and the specific information of the rotation position F2 is displayed in the display area R1 with the additional information TA added.

[0131] Therefore, the operator can know in advance that the C-arm 9 will rotate from the rotation position F1 to the rotation position F2 when the rotation instruction switch 45 is pressed at the current time point. Therefore, when there is an obstacle in the path from the rotation position F1 to the rotation position F2, the operator can intuitively know the situation that the C-arm 9 interferes with the obstacle during the rotation process before executing the process of step S5. Therefore, by operating the rotation instruction switch 45 after removing the obstacle in advance, the rotation action of the C-arm 9 in step S5 can be appropriately performed.

[0132] In addition, the operator can visually check the display area R1 and the display area R2 arranged adjacent to the display area R1 to grasp the path of the C-arm 9 rotation from the target rotation position at the current time point to the next target rotation position and the time required for the rotation. That is, by visually checking the information of the rotation position F2 and the rotation position F3, the position and timing of the C-arm 9 to be moved in the future can be predicted. Therefore, the operator can grasp in advance the process required for appropriately performing surgery or examination in view of the speed of his own technology and the position to which the C-arm 9 is rotated.

[0133] The display area R1 is a fixed area arranged in the center of the touch panel 43, and the display area R2 is an area adjacent to the display area R1. Therefore, the operator can reliably grasp the information of the target rotation position at the current time point and the information of the next target rotation position by a simple action of directing the line of sight toward the center of the touch panel 43. Therefore, when confirming this information that is important for properly performing the sequence mode, it is not necessary to direct the line of sight toward the entire area of ​​the touch panel 43 to find the target information. As a result, the burden on the operator due to the confirmation of information can be reduced, and the time required for the confirmation of information can be shortened.

[0134] The operator visually observes the display area R, and in addition to the rotation position F2 as the target rotation position, the operator also grasps the information of the rotation positions F1 and F3 displayed adjacent to the rotation position F2, and performs the subsequent steps. That is, the C-arm 9 is rotated from the rotation position F1 to the rotation position F2 by operating the rotation instruction switch 45 (step S5). When the C-arm 9 reaches the rotation position F2, Fig.12 The additional information TA displayed in the image is changed to the additional information TB (step S6). The operator confirms the additional information TB and operates the irradiation instruction switch 47 to irradiate X-rays (step S7). The target position determination unit 51 uses the action of irradiating X-rays as a trigger to change the target rotation position from the rotation position F2 to the rotation position F3 (step S8).

[0135] After that, the steps from step S3 to step S8 are repeated in sequence according to the number of rotation positions. When the X-ray irradiation operation related to step S7 is performed at the rotation position F9 to which the C-arm 9 is last rotated, the end switch (not shown) is operated to end the sequence mode.

[0136] In this embodiment, even when the sequence information SQ1 has 9 pieces of rotational position information, not all of the rotational position information is displayed on the touch panel 43. That is, the number of rotational positions that can be simultaneously displayed on the touch panel 4 is limited to a predetermined number (four in this embodiment) by the reading unit 53. That is, only a limited number of information including information on rotational positions important for the progress of the sequence mode, such as the current target rotational position, the next target rotational position, and the previous target rotational position, can be displayed on the touch panel 43. Therefore, the visibility of the displayed information can be improved, so that important information, such as the current target rotational position information, can be quickly and easily confirmed.

[0137] In addition, in the present embodiment, the number of information on the rotational position read by the reading unit 53 in step S3 is four at most, but the number of information read varies depending on the progress of the sequence mode. When the target rotational position is the rotational position F1, there is no information to be displayed in the display area R4, so the number of information read by the reading unit 53 is three. When the target rotational position is the rotational position F2 to F7, the information on the rotational position is displayed in the display areas R1 to R4, so the number of information read by the reading unit 53 is four.

[0138] When the target rotation position is the rotation position F8, there is no information to be displayed in the display area R3, so the number of information read by the reading unit 53 is three. When the target rotation position is the rotation position F9, there is no position information to be the next target rotation position, so there is no information to be displayed in the display area R2 and the display area R3. Therefore, the number of information read by the reading unit 53 is two. As a result, the display screen of the touch panel 43 becomes as follows. Fig.13 That is, the information of the rotational position F9 which is the target rotational position at the current time point is displayed in the display area R1, and the information of the rotational position F8 which is the previous target rotational position is displayed in the display area R4.

[0139] <Effects of the Structure of the Embodiment>

[0140] (Item 1) The X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises: an X-ray tube 5 for irradiating an object M with X-rays; an X-ray detector 7 for detecting X-rays transmitted through the object M, which is arranged opposite to the X-ray tube 5; a C-arm 9 for supporting the X-ray tube 5 and the X-ray detector 7 opposite to each other, and the C-arm 9 can rotate around two orthogonal axes; a rotation position detection unit 33 for detecting information related to the position of the C-arm 9 as position information; and a storage unit 37 for storing a plurality of position information and the rotation position of the C-arm 9 to the position. The information on the order of movement is stored correspondingly as sequence information SQ1; the touch panel 43 arranges and displays the position information contained in the sequence information SQ1 according to the order of rotation of the C-arm 9; the display control unit 55 controls the touch panel 43 so that each time the X-ray tube 5 irradiates X-rays, the position information corresponding to the target rotation position in the position information contained in the sequence information SQ1 is displayed in a predetermined fixed area R1 in the touch panel 43, wherein the target rotation position is the position of the C-arm 9 that is to be irradiated with the X-rays next.

[0141] use Figures 14 to 16 The effects of the X-ray fluoroscopy device 1 described in the first item will be described. Fig.14 FIG. 1 shows a display screen of a touch panel TP used in a conventional X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus having a sequence mode. In addition, it is assumed that the contents of the sequence information used in the conventional apparatus are the same as those in FIG. Figure 4 The sequence information SQ1 shown is the same.

[0142] In previous devices, such as Fig.14As shown, the touch panel 43 is made to simultaneously display information of all rotation positions F1 to F9 included in the sequence information SQ1. In such a structure, the amount of information displayed on the touch panel 43 increases in proportion to the number of rotation positions included in the sequence information SQ1. Therefore, when the C-arm is operated to move to a large number of rotation positions using the sequence mode, the operator needs to find the target rotation position from the huge number of rotation positions displayed on the touch panel 43. As a result, in order to grasp the information of the target rotation position, which is particularly important information among the rotation positions, it is necessary to continuously move the line of sight over the entire area of ​​the touch panel 43 for a long time, so the burden on the operator increases and the operation time becomes longer.

[0143] As a comparative example of improving the visibility of such a conventional touch panel TP, it is conceivable to display a target rotational position differently from other target positions and to limit the number of rotational positions simultaneously displayed on the touch panel TP to a predetermined value or less. Fig.15 A touch panel TP according to a comparative example is shown. In the touch panel TP according to the comparative example, the number of rotational positions simultaneously displayed on the touch panel TP is limited to four or less, and the rotational position corresponding to the target rotational position is displayed in a different color. Fig.15 The state in which the rotational positions F5 to F8 are displayed on the touch panel TP and the target rotational position is the rotational position F6 is shown.

[0144] However, even in such a comparative example, it is difficult to sufficiently improve the visibility of the touch panel in the sequence mode. That is, the positions of the rotational positions displayed on the touch panel TP are not changed on the screen of the touch panel TP. Therefore, when the action based on the sequence mode is performed and the target rotational position is changed, the position of the area displayed in a different manner is also changed together with the target rotational position.

[0145] Fig.16 FIG. 1 shows the touch panel TP in a state where the target rotation position is the rotation position F8 in the comparative example. That is, the positions of the display rotation positions F5 to F8 are fixed, so when the target rotation position is the rotation position F6, as shown in FIG. Fig.15 As shown, the central area of ​​the touch panel TP which is fixedly displaying the rotation position F6 is highlighted in a different color (halftone dots in this case).

[0146] On the other hand, when the target rotational position is changed to the rotational position F8 due to the progress of the operation based on the sequence mode, as shown in FIG. Fig.16As shown in FIG. 1 , the lower end area of ​​the touch panel TP, which is fixedly displaying the rotation position F8, is highlighted in a different color. As described above, when the sequence mode is performed, the area highlighted as the target rotation position is constantly changing, so the operator needs to move the line of sight across the entire area of ​​the touch panel TP to find the area highlighted as the target rotation position each time the operator moves the line of sight away from the touch panel TP and then toward the touch panel TP again. As a result, the time required to confirm the target rotation position at the current time point becomes longer, and the burden on the operator increases.

[0147] In the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device 1 according to the present embodiment, the position information of the target rotational position of the C-arm 9 at the current time point among the rotational positions F1 to F9 included in the sequence information SQ1 is displayed in a predetermined fixed area of ​​the touch panel 43. In other words, even if the rotational position corresponding to the target rotational position at the current time point is changed due to the progress of the sequence mode, the newly changed target rotational position can be newly displayed in the fixed area.

[0148] Therefore, even if the operator temporarily moves his / her sight away from the touch panel 43, he / she can reliably confirm the target rotational position at the current time point by directing his / her sight toward the fixed area in the touch panel 43. In other words, when confirming the position information of the target rotational position, it is not necessary to move the sight across the entire area of ​​the touch panel 43 to find the target rotational position. Therefore, the operator can quickly confirm the most important information in the rotational position information, i.e., the position information related to the target rotational position at the current time point, in the sequence mode without fatigue.

[0149] (Second Item) In addition, in the X-ray fluoroscopy device described in the first item, the predetermined fixed area in the touch panel 43 that displays the target rotation position is the central area of ​​the touch panel 43. In such a structure, even if the target rotation position at the current time point is changed due to the progress of the sequence mode, the information of the position determined as the target rotation position at the current time point can be always displayed in the central area of ​​the touch panel 43. The central area of ​​the touch panel 43 is an area with particularly high visibility and is an area where information can be easily grasped by visual observation. Therefore, by controlling the touch panel 43 so that the information of the target rotation position at the current time point is always displayed in the central area, the operator can more quickly and easily confirm the information of the target rotation position at the current time point.

[0150] (Item 3) In addition, in the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device described in Item 1 or Item 2, the display control unit 55 controls the touch panel 43 so that the position information corresponding to the target rotation position of the C-arm 9 is displayed adjacent to the position information corresponding to the position to which the C-arm 9 is to be rotated immediately after the target rotation position displayed in a fixed area of ​​the touch panel 43.

[0151] According to the X-ray fluoroscopy apparatus described in the third item, the target rotational position at the current time point is always displayed in a fixed area of ​​the touch panel 43, and the position information of the rotational position that will become the next target rotational position is always displayed in an area adjacent to the information of the target rotational position. In such a structure, the operator can reliably and easily grasp both the target rotational position at the current time point and the rotational position that will become the next target rotational position by slightly moving the line of sight from the fixed area to the adjacent area after directing the line of sight toward the fixed area.

[0152] As a result of in-depth discussions, the inventors have come to the following understanding: when performing an operation based on a sequence mode, it is important to always grasp the information of the next rotational position to be the target rotational position, as well as the information of the target rotational position at the current time point among the information of multiple rotational positions included in the sequence information. In addition, the following problem has been grasped in the conventional devices: it is difficult to always grasp the information of the next rotational position to be the target rotational position.

[0153] use Fig.15 and Fig.16 The problem in the conventional device is explained below. Conventionally, when the rotational position included in the sequence information is displayed, the position where each rotational position is displayed is fixed. Therefore, when the target rotational position changes due to the progress of the sequence mode operation, the position where the target rotational position, which is information of high importance, is displayed on the screen of the touch panel TP constantly changes. That is, due to the progress of the operation, the target rotational position is displayed in the central area of ​​the touch panel TP, and the position where the target rotational position is displayed is changed. Fig.15 ) changes to a state where the target rotation position is displayed at the lower end of the touch panel TP ( Fig.16 ).

[0154] exist Fig.16 In , the target rotation position at the current time point is rotation position F8, so the next target rotation position is rotation position F9. Fig.16In the embodiment, the information of the rotation position displayed on the touch panel TP is the rotation position F5 to F8, so the operator cannot confirm the position information related to the next target rotation position even if he or she directs his or her sight toward the touch panel TP. Therefore, it is difficult to intuitively grasp the path taken by the C-arm when the C-arm rotates from the target rotation position at the current time point to the next target rotation position and the timing of reaching the next target rotation position. In this way, in the previous structure where the display area of ​​the target rotation position at the current time point changes, it may happen that the information of the next target rotation position cannot be confirmed, so it is difficult to properly perform an examination or surgery while predicting the rotation position and timing of the C-arm.

[0155] On the other hand, according to the X-ray fluoroscopy device 1 involved in this embodiment, the target rotation position at the current time point is always displayed in a fixed area in the touch panel 43, and the information of the position that will become the next target rotation position is displayed adjacent to the target rotation position at the current time point. In other words, the target rotation position is changed in sequence due to the progress of the sequence mode, and on the other hand, the information of the target rotation position at the current time point and the information of the next target rotation position are always displayed on the touch panel 43. Therefore, the operator can reliably grasp these two position information by directing the line of sight toward the touch panel 43. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately perform an examination or surgery while predicting the rotation position and timing of the C-arm.

[0156] In addition, the information of the position that will become the next target rotation position is always displayed adjacent to the target rotation position at the current time point. Therefore, the operator can confirm the target rotation position at the current time point and the next target rotation position by slightly moving the line of sight away from the fixed area that displays the target rotation position at the current time point. Therefore, the operator can avoid fatigue when grasping these two position information.

[0157] (Item 4) In addition, in the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device described in any one of items 1 to 3, the display control unit 55 is configured to control the touch panel 43 so that position information corresponding to the position to which the C-arm 9 rotates immediately before the target rotation position at the current time point, position information corresponding to the target rotation position of the C-arm 9 at the current time point, and position information corresponding to the position to which the C-arm 9 is to rotate after the target rotation position at the current time point are displayed adjacent to each other in sequence.

[0158] According to the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device described in the fourth item, the target rotational position at the current time point is always displayed in the fixed area of ​​the touch panel 43, and the position information corresponding to the position to which the C-arm 9 rotated immediately before the target rotational position is always displayed in the area adjacent to the information of the target rotational position. In such a structure, the operator can reliably and easily grasp both the target rotational position at the current time point and the rotational position that will become the next target rotational position by slightly moving the line of sight from the fixed area to the adjacent area after directing the line of sight toward the fixed area.

[0159] The inventors have found that when performing an operation based on a sequence mode, it is important to always know the information of the last rotational position that was the target rotational position, as well as the information of the target rotational position at the current time point among the information of multiple rotational positions included in the sequence information. In addition, it has been found that it is difficult to always know the information of the last rotational position that was the target rotational position in the conventional apparatus.

[0160] In the previous structure, Fig.15 or Fig.16 As shown, when the rotation positions F5 to F8 are displayed on the touch panel TP, if it is assumed that the target rotation position at the current time point is the rotation position F5, the previous rotation position as the target rotation position is equivalent to the rotation position F4. However, the rotation position F4 is not displayed on the touch panel TP at the same time as the rotation position F5, so it is difficult for the operator to grasp the path from the rotation position F4 to the rotation position F5. In this way, when the rotation position F5 displayed at the upper end is the target rotation position at the current time point, the position information of the rotation position F4 as the previous target rotation position cannot be confirmed from the touch panel TP.

[0161] The target rotation position refers to the rotation position of the target position to which the C-arm is to be rotated in order to irradiate the next X-ray. That is, the previous target rotation position is equivalent to the current position of the C-arm during the period from just after the X-ray is irradiated to before the C-arm is rotated. Therefore, at the time of starting the rotation of the C-arm, the information of the previous target rotation position is highly important in terms of pre-understanding the result of the rotation operation, that is, the path taken by the C-arm.

[0162] In the X-ray fluoroscopy device 1 according to the present embodiment, the touch panel 43 is controlled so that the information of the position that was previously the target rotation position, the information of the target rotation position at the current time point, and the information of the position that will be the next target rotation position are displayed in sequence adjacent to each other. In such a structure, even if the rotation position determined as the target rotation position is changed due to the progress of the sequence mode, the information of the position that was previously the target rotation position, the information of the target rotation position at the current time point, and the information of the position that will be the next target rotation position are always displayed on the touch panel 43. Therefore, the operator can reliably grasp these three pieces of position information by directing his / her sight toward the touch panel 43. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately perform an inspection or surgery while predicting the rotation path and rotation timing of the C-arm 9.

[0163] In addition, the information of the previous target rotational position and the information of the position to be the next target rotational position are always displayed adjacent to the information of the target rotational position at the current time point. Therefore, the operator can confirm the target rotational position at the current time point, the next target rotational position, and the previous target rotational position by slightly moving the line of sight away from the fixed area displaying the target rotational position at the current time point. Therefore, the operator can avoid fatigue when grasping these three position information.

[0164] (Fifth Item) In addition, in the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device described in any one of the first to fourth items, there is also a readout unit 53, which selects a specified number of position information including position information corresponding to the target rotation position of the C-arm 9 at the current time point from the information of multiple rotation positions F1 to F9 included in the sequence information SQ1, and the display control unit 55 causes the touch panel 43 to display the information of the specified number of rotation positions selected by the readout unit 53.

[0165] According to the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device described in the fifth item, information on a predetermined number of rotational positions including information on the target rotational position at the current time point among the positional information on the plurality of rotational positions F1 to F9 included in the sequence information SQ1 is selectively displayed on the touch panel 43 by the reader 53 and the display controller 55. That is, even when the sequence information SQ1 includes information on a large number of rotational positions, the number of positional information displayed on the touch panel 43 can be limited to a predetermined number or less. Therefore, the visibility of the positional information displayed on the touch panel 43, in particular, the visibility of the information on the target rotational position at the current time point can be improved.

[0166] <Other Implementation Methods>

[0167] In addition, the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative and non-restrictive in all aspects. The scope of the present invention includes the claims and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. As an example, the present invention can be implemented in the following modified forms.

[0168] (1) In the above-mentioned embodiment, the touch panel 43 is shown to have a structure with four display areas R1 to R4, but the number of display areas is not limited to this. As an example, it can also be configured to have two fixed display areas R1 and R2, so that the display area R1 always displays the target rotation position at the current time point, and the display area R2 always displays information related to the position that will become the next target rotation position.

[0169] (2) In the above-mentioned embodiment or modification, the configuration in which the information of the last rotational position as the target rotational position, the information of the target rotational position at the current time point, and the information of the rotational position to be the next target rotational position are simultaneously displayed on the touch panel 43 is used as an example for explanation, but the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which all three information are displayed simultaneously. That is, the configuration in which the information of the last rotational position as the target rotational position and the information of the target rotational position at the current time point are simultaneously displayed on the touch panel 43 may be adopted. In addition, the configuration in which the information of the target rotational position at the current time point and the information of the rotational position to be the next target rotational position are simultaneously displayed on the touch panel 43 may be adopted.

[0170] (3) In the above-mentioned embodiment or modification, the configuration in which the display area R1 that always displays the information related to the target rotational position at the current time point is the central area of ​​the touch panel 43 is used as an example for description, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as long as the information related to the target rotational position at the current time point is always displayed in a predetermined fixed area, the fixed area in which the display area R1 is configured in the touch panel 43 can be set at any position in the touch panel 43.

[0171] (4) In the above-mentioned embodiment or modification, the rotation position information including the rotation angle in the body axis direction of the subject M and the rotation angle around the body axis direction of the subject M is used as the position information of the C-arm 9, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As an example, the information of the rotation angle around the vertical axis RC obtained by the rotary encoder R3 may be used as the position information of the C-arm 9. In addition, the information of the rotation angle in the body axis direction obtained by the rotary encoder R1, the rotation angle around the body axis direction obtained by the rotary encoder R2, and the rotation angle obtained by the rotary encoder R3 may be combined as the position information of the C-arm 9.

[0172] Description of Reference Numerals

[0173] 1: X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device; 3: top plate; 5: X-ray tube; 7: X-ray detector; 9: C-arm (support mechanism); 17: collimator; 29: X-ray irradiation control unit; 30: image generating unit; 31: image display unit; 33: rotation position detecting unit; 35: main control unit; 37: storage unit; 39: operating table; 41: arm operating lever; 43: touch panel; 45: rotation indication switch; 47: imaging indication switch; 51: target position determining unit; 53: readout unit; 55: display control unit; 57: information adding unit.

Claims

1. An X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device, comprising: An X-ray tube that irradiates an object with X-rays; An X-ray detector is arranged opposite to the X-ray tube and is used to detect X-rays that have passed through the subject; a support mechanism that supports the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector so that they face each other, and the support mechanism is rotatable about each of two orthogonal axes; a rotational position detection unit that detects information related to the position of the support mechanism as position information; a storage unit that stores a plurality of position information and information on the order in which the support mechanism rotates to the positions as sequence information in correspondence with each other; a position information display unit which arranges and displays the position information included in the sequence information in the order in which the support mechanism rotates; as well as A display control unit controls the position information display unit so that each time the X-ray tube irradiates X-rays, the position information corresponding to the target position included in the sequence information is displayed in a predetermined fixed area in the position information display unit, wherein the target position is the position of the support mechanism where the X-ray irradiation is to be performed next.

2. The X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed area is a central area of ​​the position information display portion.

3. The X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The display control unit controls the position information display unit so that the position information corresponding to the position to which the support mechanism is to rotate for irradiation with the X-rays immediately after the target position at the current time point is displayed adjacent to the position information corresponding to the target position displayed in the fixed area.

4. The X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The display control unit controls the position information display unit so that the position information corresponding to the position to which the support mechanism rotates immediately before the target position for performing the X-ray irradiation, the position information corresponding to the target position of the support mechanism at the current time point, and the position information corresponding to the position to which the support mechanism is to rotate immediately after the target position at the current time point for performing the X-ray irradiation are displayed adjacent to each other in sequence.

5. The X-ray fluoroscopic imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: further comprising a position information selection unit that selects a predetermined number of the position information including the position information corresponding to the target position of the support mechanism at a current time point from among the plurality of the position information included in the sequence information, The display control unit causes the position information display unit to display a predetermined number of the position information selected by the position information selection unit.

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