X-ray machine and filter control method, system and storage medium

Abstract

Disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention is a control method, system, and storage medium for an X-ray machine and its filter. The method comprises: determining a target filter based on the current clinical operation type and the correspondence between the pre-set clinical operation type and the filter; acquiring a current image of the acquired target area; detecting whether there is an overexposed area in the current image, and when there is an overexposed area, determining the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area, matching the grayscale gradient distribution with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain the filtering position information of the target filter; and controlling the filter switching device to drive the target filter to the corresponding filtering position according to the filtering position information. The technical solution in the embodiment of the present invention can realize automatic switching of filters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the medical field, and in particular to a control method and system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine, a medical angiography X-ray machine and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In a medical angiography X-ray machine, an X-ray source and an X-ray receiver (eg, a flat panel detector) are mounted opposite each other so that X-rays generated by the X-ray source are incident on and detected by the X-ray receiver.

[0003] To constrain and guide the X-rays generated by the X-ray source, a collimator (also called a beam limiter or beam limiter) is placed between the X-ray source and the X-ray receiver. The collimator is placed in front of the X-ray source and controls the X-ray area by controlling the opening of the collimator blades.

[0004] Furthermore, to address varying filtering requirements, filters of varying thickness (also known as semi-transparent filters) are placed between the X-ray source and the X-ray receiver. These filters compensate for extreme image contrast differences, i.e., localized overexposure caused by large differences in tissue density within the region of interest. The desired image quality can be achieved by switching between different filters. For example, during interventional procedures, low-density areas, such as the lungs or air, often experience overexposure. This results in high clinical image contrast. In cardiac interventional procedures, this is particularly evident in lung overexposure, which can affect stent visibility and prevent accurate stent location determination in these overexposed areas. To avoid this, a filter with a wedge-shaped cross-section is used to filter X-rays from the lungs. For another example, when scanning the legs, the area between the legs may experience overexposure. To address this, a filter with a cross-section resembling two symmetrical trapezoids is used to filter X-rays from this area. Furthermore, when scanning the cervical spine, overexposure is common on both sides of the neck. To address this, corresponding filters are used to filter X-rays from these two sides of the neck.

[0005] In some applications, the filters are placed within a collimator, in which case the collimator serves as a filter switching device. In other applications, the filters are placed in a separate filter switching device. For example, this separate filter switching device may include a filter holder that carries filters of different thicknesses, a drive mechanism that drives the filter holder to move or rotate, and a base that supports the filter holder and the drive mechanism.

[0006] However, existing filter switching devices require manual control when switching filters. Specifically, an operator must select the target filter to be used and position the corresponding filter in the target area. This process places high demands on the operator, is difficult to operate, and suffers from poor accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, the embodiments of the present invention propose, on the one hand, a method for controlling filters in a medical angiography X-ray machine, and on the other hand, a control system for filters in a medical angiography X-ray machine, a medical angiography X-ray machine, and a computer-readable storage medium, so as to realize automatic switching of filters and thereby improve the intelligence, flexibility, and convenience of imaging.

[0008] A method for controlling a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine proposed in an embodiment of the present invention includes: determining a target filter based on a current clinical operation type and a pre-set correspondence between the clinical operation type and the filter; acquiring a current image of the acquired target area; detecting whether there is an overexposed area in the current image, and when there is an overexposed area, determining the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area, matching the grayscale gradient distribution with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain filtering position information of the target filter; and controlling a filter switching device to drive the target filter to a corresponding filtering position according to the filtering position information.

[0009] In one embodiment, detecting whether there is an overexposed area in the current image includes: based on a histogram technique, detecting pixels in the current image whose grayscale values ​​are greater than a preset grayscale threshold, obtaining overexposed pixels, and when the number of overexposed pixels reaches a preset number threshold, determining that there is an overexposed area in the current image.

[0010] In one embodiment, determining the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area includes: determining the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area using an image gradient calculation algorithm.

[0011] In one embodiment, when there is no overexposed area, the filter switching device is controlled to place the target filter outside the imaging area.

[0012] In one embodiment, the filtered position information includes coordinate information or rotation angle information.

[0013] A control system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine proposed in an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first unit, used to determine a target filter based on a current clinical operation type and a pre-set correspondence between the clinical operation type and the filter; a second unit, used to obtain a current image of a captured target area; a third unit, used to detect whether there is an overexposed area in the current image, and when there is an overexposed area, determine the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area; match the grayscale gradient distribution with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain filtering position information of the target filter; and a fourth unit, used to control a filter switching device to drive the target filter to a corresponding filtering position according to the filtering position information.

[0014] In one embodiment, the third unit includes: a detection module for detecting whether there is an overexposed area in the current image; a gradient distribution determination module for determining the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area when there is an overexposed area in the current image; and a filtering position determination module for matching the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain the filtering position information of the target filter.

[0015] In one embodiment, the detection module detects pixels in the current image whose grayscale values ​​are greater than a preset grayscale threshold based on histogram technology to obtain overexposed pixels. When the number of overexposed pixels reaches a preset number threshold, it is determined that there is an overexposed area in the current image.

[0016] In one embodiment, the gradient distribution determination module determines the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area using an image gradient calculation algorithm.

[0017] In one embodiment, the fourth unit is configured to control the filter switching device to place the target filter outside the imaging area when there is no overexposed area in the current image.

[0018] The control system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine proposed in an embodiment of the present invention includes: at least one memory and at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory is used to store a computer program; the at least one processor is used to call the computer program stored in the at least one memory to execute the control method for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0019] A medical angiography X-ray machine provided in an embodiment of the present invention includes a filter control system in the medical angiography X-ray machine as described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0020] The computer-readable storage medium proposed in the embodiment of the present invention stores a computer program thereon; the computer program can be executed by a processor and implement the control method of the filter in the medical angiography X-ray machine as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0021] It can be seen from the above scheme that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the system automatically selects the corresponding filter according to the clinical operation type, and detects whether there is an overexposed area based on the image of the target area collected before placing the filter. If there is an overexposed area, the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area is detected, and the filtering position where the filter needs to be placed is determined based on the grayscale gradient distribution, and the filter switching device is controlled to drive the corresponding filter to the corresponding filtering position, thereby realizing automatic switching of the filter and improving the intelligence, flexibility and convenience of the filter switching control, thereby improving the intelligence, flexibility and convenience of imaging. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art will understand the above and other features and advantages of the present invention more clearly. In the accompanying drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 This is an exemplary flow chart of a method for controlling a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of a current image captured before placing a filter in an example of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2B For Figure 2A Schematic diagram of the overexposed area obtained after testing and the placement of the wedge filter.

[0026] Figure 2C This is a schematic diagram of a current image captured after placing a filter in an example of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is an exemplary structural diagram of a control system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 This is an exemplary structural diagram of a control system for a filter in another medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] The accompanying drawings are numerals as follows:

[0030] Label meaning S11~S16 step A Overexposed area range B Filter cross section 310 Unit 1 320 Unit 2 330 Unit 3 331 Detection module 332 Gradient distribution determination module 333 Filter position determination module 340 Unit 4 41 Memory 42 processor 43 monitor 44 bus DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, to achieve automatic filter switching in a medical angiography X-ray machine, it is contemplated that the system first automatically selects the corresponding filter for different organ programs, such as a wedge filter for a cardiac program and a finger filter for a limb program. To this end, a correspondence between the two can be pre-set, and the corresponding filter can then be determined based on the current organ program type. Subsequently, based on the image of the target area captured before the filter is set, an overexposed area can be detected. If an overexposed area exists, the extent of the overexposed area is detected, and the filter position to be placed based on the extent of the overexposed area is determined. The filter switching device can then be controlled to drive the corresponding filter to the corresponding filtering position.

[0032] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention is further described in detail with reference to the following examples.

[0033] Figure 1 This is an exemplary flow chart of a method for controlling a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the method may include the following steps:

[0035] Step S11 : determining a target filter according to the current clinical operation type and the preset correspondence between the clinical operation type and the filter.

[0036] In this embodiment, different clinical operation types may correspond to different organ procedures, and the specific clinical operation type may be determined according to the type of examination set including the organ procedure.

[0037] Step S12: Acquire the current image of the captured target area.

[0038] In this step, the target area may be an area of ​​interest to the user in clinical operation. The target area may be changed according to actual application, and when the target area is changed, the image acquired in this step S12 also changes accordingly.

[0039] In specific implementation, after the organ program is determined, the scheme in this embodiment can be executed in real time, and accordingly, this step S12 is also executed in real time; it can also be executed periodically, and accordingly, this step S12 is also executed periodically; it can also be conditionally triggered, and accordingly, this step S12 can be triggered to execute when the target area is initially determined and when the target area changes.

[0040] Figure 2A FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a current image in an example of the present invention.

[0041] Step S13: Detect whether there is an overexposed area in the current image. If there is an overexposed area, execute step S14; otherwise, execute step S16.

[0042] Step S14: determining the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area, matching the grayscale gradient distribution with the shape and thickness of the target filter, and obtaining filtering position information of the target filter.

[0043] In this step, overexposed regions can be detected using a variety of methods. For example, a histogram technique can be used to detect pixels in the current image whose grayscale values ​​exceed a preset grayscale threshold, thereby obtaining overexposed pixels. When the number of overexposed pixels reaches a preset threshold, an overexposed region is determined to exist in the current image; otherwise, an overexposed region is determined to not exist in the current image. Furthermore, the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed region can be determined using an image gradient calculation algorithm. This can detect the overexposed edge of the exposed region and then fit an overexposure boundary line using the overexposure edge curve. The desired position of the filter edge is calculated from the overexposure boundary line. The filter position is determined based on the principle that higher exposure (i.e., greater grayscale values) correspond to thicker filter thickness, while lower exposure (i.e., smaller grayscale values) correspond to smaller filter thickness. For filter switching devices that require translation to position the filter, the filter position information may include longitudinal and / or lateral coordinate information. For filter switching devices that require rotation to position the filter, the filter position information may include the rotation angle.

[0044] Figure 2B The trapezoidal area A in FIG. 1 shows the overexposed area range obtained after detection. Figure 2B The area B between the two rays in the image is a cross-section of the wedge-shaped filter, showing the approximate placement and orientation of the wedge-shaped filter. Specifically, the thin edge of the filter coincides with the center edge of the overexposed area of ​​the image, completely covering the overexposed area. In some applications, if the filter cannot completely cover the overexposed area, the filter position is determined based on covering the area with the highest exposure. Thus, the filter's filtering position can be automatically determined based on information about the overexposed area.

[0045] Step S15 , controlling the filter switching device to drive the target filter to a corresponding filtering position according to the position information.

[0046] In this embodiment, the filtering position information obtained in step S14 may be provided to the filter switching device, and the filter switching device drives the target filter to the corresponding filtering position according to the position information.

[0047] The filter switching device may be a collimator with a filter switching function, or a dedicated filter switching device.

[0048] Step S16: controlling the filter switching device to place the target filter outside the imaging area.

[0049] Figure 2C The image of the target area collected after filtering by the filter in the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 2A By comparison, it can be found that the image quality has been greatly optimized.

[0050] The above describes in detail the filter control method for a medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The following describes in detail the filter control system for a medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The filter control system for a medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used to implement the filter control method for a medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Details not fully disclosed in the system embodiment of the present invention can be referred to in the corresponding description of the method embodiment of the present invention and will not be further elaborated here.

[0051] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is an exemplary structural diagram of a control system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the system includes: a first unit 310, a second unit 320, a third unit 330 and a fourth unit 340.

[0052] The first unit 310 is configured to determine a target filter according to a current clinical operation type and a preset correspondence between the clinical operation type and the filter.

[0053] The second unit 320 is configured to acquire a current image of the captured target area.

[0054] The third unit 330 is configured to detect whether there is an overexposed area in the current image. If there is an overexposed area, the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area is determined; and the grayscale gradient distribution is matched with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain filtering position information of the target filter.

[0055] The fourth unit 340 is configured to control the filter switching device to drive the target filter to a corresponding filtering position based on the position information. Furthermore, when there is no overexposed area in the current image, the fourth unit 340 may control the filter switching device to place the target filter outside the imaging area.

[0056] In specific implementation, the third unit 330 may include: a detection module 331 , a gradient distribution determination module 332 , and a filtering position determination module 333 .

[0057] Detection module 331 is configured to detect whether an overexposed area exists in the current image. In one example, detection module 331 may use a histogram technique to detect pixels in the current image whose grayscale values ​​are greater than a preset grayscale threshold, thereby obtaining overexposed pixels. When the number of overexposed pixels reaches a preset threshold, it is determined that an overexposed area exists in the current image.

[0058] The gradient distribution determination module 332 is configured to determine the grayscale gradient distribution of an overexposed area when there is an overexposed area in the current image. In one example, the gradient distribution determination module 332 determines the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area using an image gradient calculation algorithm.

[0059] The filtering position determination module 333 is used to match the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain the filtering position information of the target filter.

[0060] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a control system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the system may include at least one memory 41 , at least one processor 42 and at least one display 43 . In addition, other components may be included, such as communication ports, etc. These components communicate via a bus 44 .

[0061] Among them, at least one memory 41 is used to store computer programs. In one embodiment, the computer program can be understood to include Figure 3 The various modules of the filter control system in the medical angiography X-ray machine shown in FIG. In addition, at least one memory 41 can also store an operating system, etc. Operating systems include but are not limited to: Android operating system, Symbian operating system, Windows operating system, Linux operating system, etc.

[0062] At least one display 43 is used to display the captured current image and human-computer interaction information.

[0063] At least one processor 42 is configured to invoke a computer program stored in at least one memory 41 to execute the filter control method for a medical angiography X-ray machine described in an embodiment of the present invention. The processor 42 may be a CPU, a processing unit / module, an ASIC, a logic module, or a programmable gate array. The processor 42 may receive and transmit data via the communication port.

[0064] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a medical angiography X-ray machine, which includes a filter control system in the medical angiography X-ray machine in any of the above embodiments.

[0065] It should be noted that not all steps and modules in the above processes and structure diagrams are required, and certain steps or modules can be omitted based on actual needs. The execution order of the steps is not fixed and can be adjusted as needed. The division of the modules is merely for the convenience of describing the functional division adopted. In actual implementation, a module can be implemented by multiple modules, and the functions of multiple modules can be implemented by the same module. These modules can be located in the same device or in different devices.

[0066] It is understood that the hardware modules in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented mechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module may include a specially designed permanent circuit or logic device (such as a dedicated processor, such as an FPGA or ASIC) for performing a specific operation. The hardware module may also include a programmable logic device or circuit (such as a general-purpose processor or other programmable processor) temporarily configured by software to perform a specific operation. As for whether to implement the hardware module mechanically, or using a dedicated permanent circuit, or using a temporarily configured circuit (such as configured by software), it can be decided based on cost and time considerations.

[0067] In addition, embodiments of the present invention further provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program capable of being executed by a processor and implementing the filter control method for a medical angiography X-ray machine described in the embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, a system or device equipped with a storage medium can be provided, storing software program code that implements the functions of any of the aforementioned embodiments, and having a computer (or CPU or MPU) in the system or device read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium. Furthermore, instructions based on the program code can be used to cause an operating system, etc., operating on the computer to perform some or all of the actual operations. The program code read from the storage medium can also be written to a memory provided in an expansion board inserted into the computer or to a memory provided in an expansion unit connected to the computer. Subsequently, based on the instructions in the program code, a CPU, etc., installed in the expansion board or expansion unit can be caused to perform some or all of the actual operations, thereby implementing the functions of any of the aforementioned embodiments. Storage media implementations for providing program code include floppy disks, hard disks, magneto-optical disks, optical disks (such as CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW), magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, and ROMs. Alternatively, the program code can be downloaded from a server computer via a communication network.

[0068] It can be seen from the above scheme that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the system automatically selects the corresponding filter according to the clinical operation type, and detects whether there is an overexposed area based on the image of the target area collected before placing the filter. If there is an overexposed area, the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area is detected, and the filtering position where the filter needs to be placed is determined based on the grayscale gradient distribution, and the filter switching device is controlled to drive the corresponding filter to the corresponding filtering position, thereby realizing automatic switching of the filter and improving the intelligence, flexibility and convenience of the filter switching control, thereby improving the intelligence, flexibility and convenience of imaging.

[0069] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine, characterized in that: include: Determining a target filter according to the current clinical operation type and the pre-set correspondence between the clinical operation type and the filter (S11); Acquire a current image of the acquired target area (S12); detecting whether there is an overexposed area in the current image (S13), detecting pixels in the current image whose grayscale values ​​are greater than a preset grayscale threshold based on a histogram technique to obtain overexposed pixels, and determining that there is an overexposed area in the current image when the number of overexposed pixels reaches a preset threshold; When an overexposed area exists, the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area is determined using an image gradient calculation algorithm, and the grayscale gradient distribution is matched with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain filtering position information of the target filter (S14); and the filter switching device is controlled to drive the target filter to a corresponding filtering position according to the filtering position information (S15); When there is no overexposed area, the filter switching device is controlled to place the target filter outside the imaging area.

2. The method for controlling a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine according to claim 1, wherein: The filtered position information includes coordinate information or rotation angle information.

3. A control system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine, characterized in that: include: The first unit (310) is used to determine a target filter according to a current clinical operation type and a preset correspondence between the clinical operation type and the filter; A second unit (320) is used to obtain a current image of the captured target area; The third unit (330) is used to detect whether there is an overexposed area in the current image, based on the histogram technology, detecting pixels in the current image whose grayscale values ​​are greater than a preset grayscale threshold, obtaining overexposed pixels, and determining that there is an overexposed area in the current image when the number of overexposed pixels reaches the preset number threshold, and when there is an overexposed area, determining the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area using image gradient calculation; matching the grayscale gradient distribution with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain filtering position information of the target filter; The fourth unit (340) is used to control the filter switching device to drive the target filter to the corresponding filtering position according to the filtering position information when there is an overexposed area in the current image, and to control the filter switching device to place the target filter outside the imaging area when there is no overexposed area in the current image.

4. The filter control system in the medical angiography X-ray machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The third unit (330) comprises: A detection module (331) is used to detect whether there is an overexposed area in the current image; A gradient distribution determination module (332) is configured to determine the grayscale gradient distribution of an overexposed area when an overexposed area exists in the current image; The filtering position determination module (333) is used to match the grayscale gradient distribution of the overexposed area with the shape and thickness of the target filter to obtain the filtering position information of the target filter.

5. A control system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine, characterized in that: include: At least one memory (41) and at least one processor (42), wherein: The at least one memory (41) is used to store a computer program; The at least one processor (42) is used to call the computer program stored in the at least one memory (41) to execute the method for controlling the filter in the medical angiography X-ray machine according to any one of claims 1 to 2.

6. A medical angiography X-ray machine, characterized in that: A control system for a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine comprising the control system of any one of claims 3 to 5.

7. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon; characterized in that: The computer program can be executed by a processor and implements the method for controlling a filter in a medical angiography X-ray machine according to any one of claims 1 to 2.

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