Scanning system and scanning equipment control method

Abstract

The invention relates to a scanning system and a scanning equipment control method, the scanning system comprises a control device, first scanning equipment and second scanning equipment, the first scanning equipment comprises an X-ray generator, and the second scanning equipment comprises a PET detector; wherein when the exposure signal generated by the first scanning device is not smaller than a preset value, the detection range of the PET detector contains X-rays generated by the X-ray generator; and the control device is used for responding to the exposure signal and controlling the disconnection of the circuit between the PET detector and the power supply. By adopting the scanning system, the power-off stability of the PET detector can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of scanning imaging technology, and particularly to a scanning system and a method for controlling a scanning device. Background Art

[0002] A system that can achieve multiple types of detections can perform different types of scans according to requirements. When such a system performs a scan, it is often necessary to protect the detector, which is a core component. For example, in a PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography) system, the system includes an X-ray generator and a PET detector. When the X-ray generator outputs rays, it is necessary to power down the PET detector to avoid the PET detector responding to the X-rays. If all pixels detect photons simultaneously, the output signal of the silicon photomultiplier in the PET detector will saturate, causing the voltage of the detection chip to be unstable, and thus resulting in device damage.

[0003] The currently adopted method is to trigger the PET software to form a control signal when the X-ray generator outputs rays, so as to turn off the PET detector. However, this method has problems of instability and low efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on this, in view of the above technical problems, it is necessary to provide a scanning system and a method for controlling a scanning device that can improve the power-down stability of the PET detector.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a scanning system, which includes: a control device, a first scanning device, and a second scanning device. The first scanning device includes an X-ray generator, and the second scanning device includes a PET detector; wherein,

[0006] When the exposure signal generated by the first scanning device is not less than a preset value, the detection range of the PET detector includes the X-rays generated by the X-ray generator;

[0007] The control device is configured to control the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the exposure signal.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first scanning device further includes: a transmission module, which is connected to the control device and is configured to transmit the exposure signal generated by the first scanning device to the control device.

[0009] In one embodiment, the transmission module includes: a slip ring, one end of the slip ring is connected to the X-ray generator, and the other end of the slip ring is connected to the control device.

[0010] In one embodiment, the X-ray generator includes a high-voltage generator and a tube; wherein,

[0011] The high-voltage generator is configured to output the exposure signal to the tube;

[0012] The tube is configured to output the X-ray based on the exposure signal.

[0013] In one embodiment, the control device includes: a control unit and a switch unit; wherein,

[0014] The control unit is configured to generate a control signal in response to the exposure signal;

[0015] The switch unit is configured to control the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the control signal.

[0016] In one embodiment, the switch unit includes: a magnetically controlled switch, and the magnetically controlled switch controls the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the control signal. In one embodiment, the switch unit includes: an armature, a first contact, and a second contact, wherein, the first end of the armature is connected to the first contact, the second end of the armature is movably connected to the second contact, the first contact is connected to the second scanning device, and the second contact is connected to the power supply.

[0017] In one embodiment, the scanning system further includes: a display device for displaying the scanning results of the first scanning device and / or the second scanning device.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present application further provides a method for controlling a scanning device, including:

[0019] Controlling the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the second scanning device and the power supply in response to an exposure signal; wherein, when the exposure signal is not less than a preset value, the detection range of the PET detector includes X-rays; the exposure signal and the X-rays are generated by the X-ray generator of the first scanning device.

[0020] In one embodiment, controlling the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the first scanning device and the power supply in response to an exposure signal includes:

[0021] Judging whether the exposure signal is less than the preset value;

[0022] If the exposure signal is not less than the preset value, control the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply to be disconnected.

[0023] In the above scanning system and scanning device control method, the control device directly responds to the exposure signal to control the on / off of the circuit. The operation of the control device is independent of the operation of the first scanning device and the second scanning device. The control signal is directly transmitted through the hardware link, not affected by software instability, and the signal transmission is direct, efficient, with small delay, improving the stability of the power-down of the PET detector in the scanning system. Description of the Drawings

[0024] Figure 1 It is a structural block diagram of a scanning system in an embodiment;

[0025] Figure 2 It is a structural block diagram of a control device in an embodiment;

[0026] Figure 3 It is a structural block diagram of a scanning system including a transmission module in an embodiment;

[0027] Figure 4 It is a structural block diagram of an X-ray generator in an embodiment;

[0028] Figure 5 It is a structural block diagram of a Mirco PET-CT scanning system in an embodiment. Detailed Embodiments

[0029] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0030] Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms involved in this application shall have the general meanings understood by those with ordinary skills in the technical field to which this application belongs. In this application, words such as "a", "an", "one kind", "the", "these", etc. do not indicate a limitation in quantity, and they can be singular or plural. The terms "comprising", "including", "having" and any variants thereof involved in this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or modules (units) is not limited to the listed steps or modules (units), but may include unlisted steps or modules (units), or may include other steps or modules (units) inherent in these processes, methods, products or devices. The terms "connected", "coupled" and other similar words involved in this application are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether directly or indirectly. The term "plurality" involved in this application refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Usually, the character " / " indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. The terms "first", "second", "third", etc. involved in this application only distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific order for the objects.

[0031] In the traditional technology, the first scanning device generates a signal for notifying the second scanning device to power off according to the output situation of the current X-ray, and transmits the signal to the second scanning device. If the software operation of any one of the first scanning device and the second scanning device is unstable, the PET detection in the second scanning device cannot power off successfully based on the signal.

[0032] Based on the above problems, in one of the embodiments, Figure 1 A scanning system is provided, and the system includes: a control device, a first scanning device and a second scanning device. The first scanning device includes an X-ray generator, and the second scanning device includes a PET detector. Among them, when the exposure signal generated by the first scanning device is not less than a preset value, the detection range of the PET detector includes the X-ray output by the X-ray generator. The control device is used to control the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the exposure signal.

[0033] Among them, the first scanning device and the second scanning device can perform scans in different modalities: the first scanning device realizes X-ray detection based on the X-ray generator, and the second scanning device realizes PET detection based on the PET detector. The first scanning device and the second scanning device operate independently, and the first scanning device and the second scanning device can scan the same scanning object successively according to user needs.

[0034] Among them, the first scanning device performs scanning based on an exposure signal. Specifically, the exposure signal generated by the first scanning device is used to indicate the scanning time of the first scanning device: when the exposure signal in the first scanning device is not less than a preset value, the X-ray generator of the first scanning device outputs X-rays in response to the exposure signal to achieve exposure and scanning; when the exposure signal in the first scanning device is less than the preset value, the X-ray generator of the first scanning device stops exposure, no longer outputs X-rays, and stops scanning.

[0035] In the scanning system, the first scanning device and the second scanning device can perform scans of different modalities on the same scanning object, so the detection ranges of the first scanning device and the second scanning device overlap. This overlapping detection range causes the detection range of the PET detector of the second scanning device to also include X-rays when the X-ray generator of the first scanning device outputs X-rays. If the PET detector detects while the first scanning device is exposing, the PET detector responds to the X-rays, and each pixel detects photons, causing the output signal of the photomultiplier to saturate and the voltage of the chip to be unstable, which in turn leads to damage to the internal components of the PET detector of the second scanning device.

[0036] In this embodiment, the control device of the scanning system responds to the exposure signal and disconnects the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply, so that when the first scanning device realizes scanning based on the X-ray generator, the PET detector in the second scanning device stops detecting, thereby avoiding damage to the PET detector. Moreover, compared with the solution of the traditional technology, the operation of the control device in this embodiment is independent of the operation of the first scanning device and the second scanning device. The control device directly responds to the exposure signal to control the on / off of the circuit, without waiting for the first scanning device to generate a signal for notifying the second scanning device to power off, nor involving signal transmission between different scanning devices. The control device will not fail to power off the PET detector successfully due to the unstable operation of the first scanning device and the second scanning device, thereby improving the efficiency and stability of powering off the PET in the scanning system.

[0037] In one of the embodiments, Figure 2 a structural block diagram of a control device is provided. As Figure 2 shown, the control device includes: a control unit and a switch unit. Among them, the control unit is used to generate a control signal in response to the exposure signal. The switch unit is used to control the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the control signal.

[0038] Among them, the control signal can be a magnetic signal, and the control unit generates a magnetic signal in response to the exposure signal, which is an electrical signal. Optionally, the control unit can be a coil; it can also be a combination of a coil and a magnetic core, with the magnetic core disposed in the coil; or other devices that generate a magnetic field in response to an electrical signal. When the control unit is a combination of a coil and a magnetic core, the coil of the control unit generates a changing magnetic field in response to the change of the exposure signal; and the magnetic core amplifies the change of the magnetic field generated by the coil.

[0039] Among them, both ends of the switch unit are respectively connected to the PET detector and the power supply, and in response to the control signal, it changes from the closed state to the open state to disconnect the circuit between the PET detector and the power supply. Correspondingly, the switch unit whose conduction state changes in response to the control signal may include: an armature, a first contact, and a second contact. Among them, the first end of the armature is connected to the first contact, the second end of the armature is movably connected to the second contact, the first contact is connected to the second scanning device, and the second contact is connected to the power supply. If the switch is in the conducting state, the second end of the armature is connected to the second contact, and the PET detector in the second scanning device is connected to the power supply; if the switch is in the open state, the second end of the armature is not connected to the second contact, and the PET detector in the second scanning device is not connected to the power supply and cannot operate. Alternatively, the switch unit can also be a magnetically controlled switch, and the magnetically controlled switch controls the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the control signal. Among them, one end of the magnetically controlled switch is connected to the PET detector, and the other end is connected to the power supply. When the exposure signal is not less than the preset value, the control unit generates a large enough magnetic field to change the conduction state between the two ends of the magnetically controlled switch, thereby changing the on-off state of the circuit.

[0040] The control signal can also be other signals, such as electrical signals, etc. If the control signal is an electrical signal, the switch unit can be set as a switching device that changes its on-off based on the magnitude of the current.

[0041] Optionally, the control device can be a relay. When the exposure signal is less than the preset value, the control signal is the initial signal, and the PET detector is connected to the power supply; when the exposure signal is not less than the preset value, the control signal undergoes a step change, and the PET detector is not connected to the power supply.

[0042] In one of the embodiments, to achieve the transmission of the exposure signal in the first scanning device, the first scanning device further includes: a transmission module. Figure 3 A structural block diagram of a scanning system including a transmission module is provided, as Figure 3 shown, the transmission module is connected to the control device and is used to transmit the exposure signal to the control device.

[0043] If the X-ray generator of the first scanning device is located on the rotor of the gantry of the first scanning device, and during the exposure process of the X-ray generator, the rotor of the gantry rotates based on the set scanning angle and speed, so that the X-ray generator, driven by the rotor, performs rotational scanning on the object to be scanned. If the exposure signal is directly transmitted based on a cable, the cable will be twisted when the X-ray generator rotates, resulting in a large loss of the exposure signal during transmission, poor stability of the exposure signal transmitted to the control device, and reduced stability of the power-down of the PET detector. To avoid the influence of the rotation of the rotor in the gantry on signal transmission, optionally, the transmission module includes: a slip ring, one end of the slip ring is connected to the X-ray generator, and the other end of the slip ring is connected to the control device. The stationary control device is connected to the rotating X-ray generator by the slip ring. Since the slip ring includes a rotating part and a stationary part, its rotating part is connected to the rotating X-ray generator and rotates accordingly, and its stationary part is connected to the fixed control device, which satisfies the transmission of the exposure signal in the case of the rotation of the X-ray generator, reduces the loss of the exposure signal during transmission, and improves the stability of the power-down of the PET detector.

[0044] In one embodiment, Figure 4 A structural block diagram of an X-ray generator is provided. The X-ray generator includes a high-voltage generator and an X-ray tube; wherein, the high-voltage generator is used to output an exposure signal to the X-ray tube; the X-ray tube is used to output X-rays based on the exposure signal.

[0045] Optionally, the high-voltage generator is located in the X-ray tube. When the first scanning device needs to perform a scan, the high-voltage generator generates an exposure signal, the X-ray tube outputs X-rays in response to the exposure signal, and the first scanning device obtains a scan result based on the X-rays output after penetrating the object to be scanned.

[0046] Optionally, the scanning system further includes: a display device, which is used to display the scan results of the first scanning device and / or the second scanning device. If only one scanning device has performed a scan, the scan result of the corresponding first scanning device or second scanning device is displayed. If the first scanning device and the second device have performed scans successively, the scan results of the first scanning device and the second scanning device are displayed.

[0047] In one embodiment, Figure 5A structural block diagram of a PET-CT scanning system is provided. Among them, the PET-CT scanning system includes a control device, a first scanning device, and a second scanning device. Among them, a relay is selected for the control device. The first scanning device is a CT device, including a transmission module, an X-ray tube, and a high-voltage generator. Among them, a slip ring is selected for the transmission module. The second scanning device is a PET device, including a PET detector. Specifically, the slip ring is respectively connected to the X-ray tube and the high-voltage generator in the first scanning device and the first end of the relay; the second end and the third end of the relay are respectively connected to the detector power supply and the PET detector in the second scanning device.

[0048] In some embodiments, the first scanning device is a Mirco CT (micro CT) device, including an X-ray tube and a high-voltage generator. Among them, the X-ray tube is located inside the high-voltage generator, and the X-ray generator is installed on the rotor of the gantry of the CT device. During the scanning process, the X-ray generator and the high-voltage generator rotate with the rotor of the Mirco CT device, so that the Mirco CT device performs a rotational scan on the object to be scanned based on the X-rays output by the X-ray generator, and the detector receives the X-rays passing through the object to be scanned, and a CT scan image of the scanned object is obtained according to the processed X-rays. The second scanning device is a Mirco PET (micro PET) device, including a PET detector. During the detection process of the PET in the second scanning device, the bioactive molecules carrying the radioactive tracer are first introduced into the body of the object to be scanned, and then the PET detector in the Mirco PET device detects the gamma rays emitted by the tracer, and a three-dimensional image of the tracer concentration in the body is constructed by analyzing the detected signals. The PET-CT scanning system is a Mirco PET-CT scanning system, and the Mirco PET-CT scanning system can obtain the CT scan data and positron emission tomography measurement data of the same object to be scanned based on the Mirco CT device and the Mirco PET device.

[0049] However, if the Mirco CT device and the Mirco PET device in the scanning system simultaneously perform CT scanning and PET scanning on the same scanning object, when the X-ray tube and the high-voltage generator of the Mirco CT device output X-rays, the detection range of the PET detector in the Mirco PET device also includes X-rays. Each pixel of the PET detector detects photons, which will cause the output signal of the photomultiplier in the PET detector to saturate and the voltage of the chip to be unstable, thereby causing damage to the internal components of the PET detector.

[0050] To solve this problem, the scanning system of this embodiment is arranged with a relay and a slip ring. In the case of the tube exposure in the first scanning device, the high-voltage generator in the tube generates an IO signal, the IO signal includes an exposure signal, and the slip ring transmits the IO signal to the relay. After the first end of the relay receives the exposure signal, the second end and the third end of the relay are disconnected, so that the connection between the PET detector and the detector power supply is disconnected, thereby disconnecting the power supply line of the PET detector and achieving the purpose of protecting the PET detector.

[0051] In the traditional Micro PET-CT system, when the CT releases the wire, the device for controlling CT detection generates a signal to notify the software for controlling PET detection to turn off the PET detector. The power-down stability of the PET is affected by the operation of the PET software and the CT software, and the power-down stability of the PET is poor. Moreover, the communication of the signal between the software for controlling PET detection and the software for controlling CT detection also takes time, making the method of software-controlled power-down of the PET detector lack real-time performance.

[0052] Compared with the traditional method, the hardware link of this embodiment responds to the exposure signal, quickly powers down the PET detector, has a simple structure and is not prone to problems, ensuring the stability of powering down the PET detector and also ensuring the real-time performance of powering down the PET detector.

[0053] This embodiment is only described by taking the Mirco PET-CT scanning system as an example. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the second scanning device including the PET detector in this embodiment can also be combined with other medical imaging devices including X-ray generators. The scanning system can also include a third scanning device, etc., which will not be elaborated here.

[0054] In one embodiment, based on the same inventive concept, the embodiment of the present application also provides a method for controlling a scanning device. This method for controlling a scanning device can be applied to a scanning system, and the scanning system can include: a control device, a first scanning device and a second scanning device. The first scanning device includes an X-ray generator, and the second scanning device includes a PET detector. Wherein, when the exposure signal generated by the first scanning device is not less than a preset value, the X-ray generator of the first scanning device will generate X-rays, resulting in X-rays being included in the detection range of the PET detector. Optionally, the X-ray generator includes a high-voltage generator and a tube. Among them, the high-voltage generator is used to output an exposure signal to the tube; the tube is used to output X-rays based on the exposure signal.

[0055] Taking this method applied to the above scanning system as an example, this method includes the following steps:

[0056] In response to the exposure signal, the control device controls the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the second scanning device and the power supply. Among them, the control device can control the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the second scanning device and the power supply when the first scanning device generates an exposure signal. The control device can also control the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the second scanning device and the power supply when the first scanning device generates an exposure signal and the exposure signal is not less than a preset value.

[0057] In some embodiments, the control device detects the exposure signal and compares the value of the exposure signal with the preset value. If the control device detects that the exposure signal is not less than the preset value, it controls the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply.

[0058] In some embodiments, the control device includes a control unit and a switch unit. The control device controls the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the second scanning device and the power supply in response to the exposure signal, including: the control unit generates a control signal in response to the exposure signal output by the X-ray generator; the switch unit controls the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the control signal. Among them, the switch unit includes: an armature, a first contact, and a second contact. One end of the armature is connected to the first contact, and the other end of the armature is movably connected to the second contact. The first contact is connected to the second scanning device, and the second contact is connected to the power supply. Before the control device generates a control signal, the other end of the armature is connected to the second contact, and the circuit between the PET detector and the power supply is conducting; after the control device generates a control signal, the other end of the armature is not connected to the second contact, so that the circuit between the PET detector and the power supply is disconnected.

[0059] In some embodiments, before the control device controls the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the second scanning device and the power supply in response to the exposure signal, the scanning device control method further includes: transmitting the exposure signal output by the X-ray generator to the control device through a transmission module. Optionally, the transmission module includes a slip ring, one end of the slip ring is connected to the X-ray generator, and the other end of the slip ring is connected to the control device.

[0060] It can be understood that the scanning device control method in some embodiments of the present application can be based on the scanning system in any of the above embodiments and has the same technical effects.

[0061] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity of description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered to be within the scope described in this specification.

[0062] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation manners of the present application. The description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation to the patent scope of the present application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A scanning system, characterized in that, Comprising: A control device, a first scanning device, and a second scanning device. The first scanning device includes an X-ray generator, and the second scanning device includes a PET detector; wherein, When the exposure signal generated by the first scanning device is not less than a preset value, the detection range of the PET detector includes the X-rays generated by the X-ray generator; The control device is configured to control the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the exposure signal.

2. The scanning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first scanning device further includes: a transmission module, which is connected to the control device and is configured to transmit the exposure signal generated by the first scanning device to the control device.

3. The scanning system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transmission module includes: a slip ring, one end of the slip ring is connected to the X-ray generator, and the other end of the slip ring is connected to the control device.

4. The scanning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The X-ray generator includes a high-voltage generator and an X-ray tube; wherein, The high-voltage generator is configured to output the exposure signal to the X-ray tube; The X-ray tube is configured to output the X-rays based on the exposure signal.

5. The scanning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control device includes: a control unit and a switch unit; wherein, The control unit is configured to generate a control signal in response to the exposure signal; The switch unit is configured to control the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the control signal.

6. The scanning system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The switch unit includes: a magnetically controlled switch, which controls the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply in response to the control signal.

7. The scanning system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The switch unit includes: an armature, a first contact, and a second contact. One end of the armature is connected to the first contact, the other end of the armature is movably connected to the second contact, the first contact is connected to the second scanning device, and the second contact is connected to the power supply.

8. The scanning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scanning system further includes: a display device, which is configured to display the scanning results of the first scanning device and / or the second scanning device.

9. A method for controlling a scanning device, characterized in that, Comprising: Controlling the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the second scanning device and the power supply in response to an exposure signal; wherein, when the exposure signal is not less than a preset value, the detection range of the PET detector includes X-rays; the exposure signal and the X-rays are generated by the X-ray generator of the first scanning device.

10. The method for controlling a scanning device according to claim 9, characterized in that, Controlling the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector of the first scanning device and the power supply in response to an exposure signal, including: Judging whether the exposure signal is less than the preset value; If the exposure signal is not less than the preset value, then controlling the disconnection of the circuit connection between the PET detector and the power supply.

Images