CT apparatus

Abstract

To provide a CT apparatus that makes each preset imaging condition correctable and facilitates setting an imaging condition.SOLUTION: The CT apparatus comprises: a storage unit 74 in which a plurality of preliminarily stored imaging times and imaging conditions corresponding to the imaging times are stored; an input unit 6 that accepts input of an imaging time preliminarily stored by the storage unit 74 or a discretionary imaging time from a user; an imaging condition calculation unit 75 which, when the input unit 6 accepts the discretionary imaging time, calculates an imaging condition at the imaging time on the basis of the imaging times and imaging conditions stored in the storage unit 74; a display unit 5 for displaying the imaging condition; and a mode switching unit 76 for switching to an expert mode that makes the imaging condition displayed by the display unit 5 to be changeable. The input unit 6 accepts a change of the imaging condition from the user in the expert mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a CT device. [Background technology]

[0002] Industrial CT devices are widely used to inspect small electronic components such as lithium-ion batteries at high resolution. In this CT device, a radiation source that irradiates radiation, such as an X-ray beam, and a detector that detects the X-ray beam from the radiation source with two-dimensional resolution are arranged facing each other. A rotatable inspection table is provided between the radiation source and the detector. While the X-ray beam is irradiating the object placed on the inspection table, the inspection table rotates once, irradiating the object with the X-ray beam in all directions.

[0003] To perform imaging using a CT scanner, various imaging conditions must be set. These include tube current, tube voltage, material and thickness of metal filter, exposure time, number of views, binning, number of images accumulated, radiation dose, and many other setting items. To obtain optimal images, these various imaging conditions must be set appropriately. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 077627 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is difficult for an inexperienced user to set detailed shooting conditions from scratch. Even for an experienced user, it is time-consuming to set each shooting condition from scratch. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, a method has been proposed in which preset shooting conditions are selected based on two-dimensional indices such as air resolution and concentration resolution.

[0006] However, there is a limit to the number of preset shooting conditions, so if the shooting conditions that the user wants to set are not preset, the user still needs to set each shooting condition from scratch.

[0007] The embodiment of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a CT device that makes it possible to modify each of the preset imaging conditions and to simplify the setting of the imaging conditions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A CT device in an embodiment of the present invention includes a memory unit that stores a plurality of shooting times stored in advance and shooting conditions corresponding to the shooting times; an input unit that accepts input of a shooting time stored in advance in the memory unit or an arbitrary shooting time from a user; an shooting condition calculation unit that, when the input unit accepts the arbitrary shooting time, calculates the shooting conditions for the shooting time based on the shooting time and the shooting conditions stored in the memory unit; a display unit that displays the shooting conditions; and a mode switching unit that switches to an expert mode that makes the shooting conditions displayed by the display unit changeable, and the input unit accepts changes to the shooting conditions from a user in the expert mode. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view diagrammatically illustrating a CT apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a preset mode displayed on a display unit. [Diagram 3] 11 is a table showing an example of various shooting conditions corresponding to shooting times stored in a storage unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an expert mode displayed on the display unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting imaging conditions in the CT apparatus of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting imaging conditions in the CT apparatus of the fourth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, the CT apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view showing the CT apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0011] The CT device 100 is a device used for non-destructive testing of an object to be inspected A. The CT device 100 irradiates the periphery of the object to be inspected A with a radiation beam that passes through the object to be inspected A, and detects the amount of radiation attenuated by passing through the object to be inspected A. Then, based on the detection result, the CT device 100 generates a CT image, which is a cross-sectional image of the object to be inspected A. The CT device 100 also generates a 3D image from the multiple CT images generated.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the CT device 100 includes an inspection table 1, a radiation source 2, a detector 3, a metal filter unit 4, a display unit 5, an input unit 6, and a control unit 7. The inspection table 1 is a table having a mounting surface on which an object A to be inspected is placed. The inspection table 1 is movable in a direction parallel to the mounting surface or in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface. The inspection table 1 is also rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the mounting surface. The inspection table 1 includes an XY mechanism 11, a rotating table 12, and a lifting mechanism 13.

[0013] The XY mechanism 11 places the object to be inspected A on it. For example, a ball screw mechanism driven by a servo motor can be used as the XY mechanism 11. The XY mechanism 11 is movable in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the radiation beam, a direction parallel to the placement surface, and a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the radiation beam.

[0014] The rotating table 12 is provided under the XY mechanism. The rotating table 12 is configured, for example, by an actuator including a drive source such as a motor, and is provided rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the mounting surface. During irradiation with the radiation beam, the rotating table 12 rotates, whereby the radiation beam is irradiated in all directions on the object A to be inspected.

[0015] The lifting mechanism 13 is provided below the rotary table 12. A ball screw mechanism driven by a servo motor can be used as the lifting mechanism 13. The lifting mechanism 13 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface. That is, the height of the object A to be inspected can be adjusted by moving the lifting mechanism 13 in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface.

[0016] The radiation source 2 irradiates, for example, a radiation beam that penetrates the inspection object A. The radiation beam is a bundle of radiation that spreads in a cone shape with a fan angle and a cone angle, with the focus of the radiation source as its apex. In this embodiment, the radiation source 2 is, for example, a reflection type or transmission type microfocus X-ray tube or nanofocus X-ray tube, and the radiation beam is an X-ray beam. Note that the radiation beam is not limited to an X-ray beam, and any beam that penetrates the inspection object A, such as gamma rays, can be used.

[0017] The detector 3 is provided facing the radiation source 2 across the inspection table 1 and the object to be inspected A. The detector 3 is provided so that the center of the imaging area coincides with the optical axis of the radiation source 2. The detector 3 detects a two-dimensional distribution of radiation intensity attenuated according to the transmission path of the radiation beam, and outputs a fluoroscopic image. The detector 3 is formed, for example, of a flat panel detector (FPD). The detector 3 has a moving mechanism for adjusting the distance to the object to be inspected A. The detector 3 can be moved by the moving mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the imaging area (parallel to the optical axis of the radiation source 2). The detector 3 can also be moved by the moving mechanism in a direction parallel to the imaging area in order to align the optical axis of the radiation source with the center of the imaging area.

[0018] The metal filter unit 4 is disposed in a position close to the radiation source 2 and between the object A to be inspected and the radiation source 2. The metal filter unit 4 is a thin plate member having a thickness of about several mm. The metal filter unit 4 is a metal plate made of copper, aluminum, iron, or an alloy containing these. A plurality of metal filter units 4 are provided, and each metal filter unit 4 is made of a different material and has a different thickness.

[0019] The metal filter part 4 is provided so as to be movable by a moving mechanism (not shown). For example, a ball screw mechanism driven by a servo motor can be used as the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism moves the metal filter part 4, which is made of a material and has a thickness corresponding to the imaging time selected by the user, onto the optical axis of the radiation source 2. A radiation beam is irradiated onto the metal filter part 4 arranged on the optical axis, and the radiation beam that has passed through the metal filter part 4 is irradiated onto the object A to be inspected. By transmitting the radiation through the metal filter part 4, the occurrence of metal artifacts is suppressed.

[0020] The CT device 100 may also include a collimator (not shown). The collimator is a device that limits the path and incident area of ​​the radiation beam B. The collimator is made of a material with a high specific gravity and high shielding ability, such as tungsten or molybdenum. The collimator is provided between the radiation source 2 and the object A to be inspected, symmetrically above and below the optical axis of the radiation beam B from the radiation source 2.

[0021] The collimator comprises two thin plates arranged to form an opening, and these two thin plates are movable in a direction perpendicular to the placement surface of the object A to be inspected. The two thin plates are moved by a drive mechanism (not shown). The drive mechanism is composed of a drive power supply, a motor, rails, belts, etc. The width of the opening of the collimator is adjusted by adjusting the position of the thin plates with the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is connected to a control unit 7, and adjusts the width of the opening of the collimator according to commands from the control unit 7.

[0022] The display unit 5 is, for example, a monitor such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, etc. The display unit 5 displays various images such as a fluoroscopic image, a CT image, and a 3D image of the object A, an imaging area, an imaging time, an imaging condition, and the like.

[0023] The display unit 5 also switches between a preset mode and an expert mode. The preset mode is a mode for selecting a shooting time. The expert mode is a mode for displaying various shooting conditions and allowing the shooting conditions to be changed.

[0024] A keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc. can be used as the input unit 6. The input unit 6 accepts various operations such as menu selection for actual photography or test photography, correction of photography time and photography conditions, manual operation of the movement mechanism, start of photography, and selection of a part of the inspection object A to be observed.

[0025] The input unit 6 also accepts switching between the preset mode and the expert mode. For example, there are tabs for the preset mode and the expert mode, and switching is performed by selecting one of these tabs.

[0026] The input unit 6 also accepts the shooting time of the displayed icon. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a preset mode displayed on the display unit 5. In the preset mode, icons of multiple shooting times set in advance are displayed. The shooting time is displayed as an approximate scan time corresponding to a range from "fast" to "clear," and shooting conditions corresponding to each shooting time are stored. In the example of Fig. 2, four icons of 1 minute, 2 minutes, 12 minutes, and 16 minutes are displayed.

[0027] Fig. 3 is a table showing an example of various imaging conditions corresponding to imaging times stored in the storage unit 74. As shown in Fig. 3, various imaging conditions that are optimal for each imaging time are stored in advance in association with the imaging time of each icon. That is, when the user selects an icon with an imaging time of 1 minute, the following imaging conditions are set: tube voltage 200 kV, tube current 100 mA, filter material is copper, thickness is 1 mm, binning is 2, exposure time 100 ms, number of views 600, number of accumulated frames 1, and dose 40,000.

[0028] In addition, the input unit 6 can receive a desired shooting time from the user, instead of the shooting time displayed on the icon. By clicking on the part above the 12-minute icon shown in FIG. 2, the user can input the desired shooting time.

[0029] When the user selects the expert mode in the state shown in Fig. 2, the display unit 5 switches to the expert mode. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the expert mode displayed on the display unit 5. In the expert mode, as shown in Fig. 4, various shooting conditions (see Fig. 3) that are set in advance can be modified.

[0030] Although Fig. 4 does not include the tube voltage, tube current, and exposure time shown in Fig. 3, these values ​​may be displayed and modified. In the expert mode, for example, reconstruction conditions such as a filter function and beam hardening correction, and the position of the object A may also be set. That is, the imaging conditions include all imaging conditions to be set in CT imaging, such as the reconstruction conditions and the position setting of the object A, and can be changed in the expert mode.

[0031] The control unit 7 is configured with a computer and a driver circuit. The computer is configured with a storage such as an HDD or SSD, a RAM, a CPU, etc. The control unit 7 is connected to the input unit 6, and a user causes the control unit 7 to control each component of the CT device 100 via the input unit 6.

[0032] Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 7. As shown in Fig. 3, the control unit 7 includes an examination table control unit 71, a radiation source control unit 72, an imaging time determination unit 73, a storage unit 74, an imaging condition calculation unit 75, a mode switching unit 76, and a condition change determination unit 77.

[0033] The inspection table control unit 71 controls the XY mechanism 11, the rotating table 12, and the lifting mechanism 13. By controlling the inspection table control unit 71, the object A placed on the inspection table 1 can be aligned with the optical axis of the radiation beam B, and the object A can be rotated once during irradiation with the radiation beam B. In addition, by moving the inspection table 1 under the control of the inspection table control unit 71, the distance (FCD) between the radiation source 2 and the center of the inspection table 1 can be adjusted.

[0034] The radiation source control unit 72 controls the radiation source 2 to irradiate the inspection object A with the radiation beam B. That is, under the control of the inspection table control unit 71 and the radiation source control unit 72, the inspection object A is irradiated with the radiation beam B in all directions.

[0035] The shooting time determination unit 73 determines the shooting time selected in the preset mode. More specifically, the shooting time determination unit 73 determines whether the user has selected a shooting time that is set in advance or a shooting time that the user desires.

[0036] The storage unit 74 stores the imaging time and various imaging conditions corresponding to the imaging time. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, when the imaging time is 1 minute, the imaging conditions are: tube voltage 200 kV, tube current 100 mA, filter material is copper, thickness is 1 mm, binning is 2, exposure time 100 ms, number of views 600, number of accumulated images is 1, and dose 40000. The storage unit 74 also stores the captured fluoroscopic images, CT images, etc.

[0037] When a user inputs a desired shooting time, the shooting condition calculation unit 75 calculates optimal shooting conditions for the shooting time. The shooting condition calculation unit 75 calculates shooting conditions for the input shooting time based on the shooting time and the shooting conditions corresponding to the shooting time stored in advance in the storage unit 74. Each shooting condition calculated by the shooting condition calculation unit 75 is displayed in expert mode.

[0038] The mode switching unit 76 switches between the preset mode and the expert mode. The mode switching unit 76 determines whether the user has selected the expert mode, and when the user has selected the expert mode, causes the display unit 5 to display a screen for the expert mode.

[0039] The condition change determination unit 77 determines whether the shooting conditions, etc. have been modified in the expert mode. When the shooting conditions, etc. have been modified, the condition change determination unit 77 issues a command to the display unit 5 to indicate the modified items. Examples of the method of indicating the modified items include coloring or blinking.

[0040] Next, a method for setting the imaging conditions will be described. Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing the procedure for setting the imaging conditions. First, the user places the object A to be inspected on the inspection table 1 (step S01). Then, the user selects the imaging time in the preset mode (step S02).

[0041] The shooting time determination unit 73 determines whether the user has selected an icon of a shooting time stored in advance or has input an arbitrary time (step S03). If the user has selected an icon of a shooting time set in advance (step S03 No), the process proceeds to step S05. On the other hand, if the user has input an arbitrary shooting time (step S03 Yes), the shooting condition calculation unit 75 calculates optimal shooting conditions for the input shooting time (step S04).

[0042] For example, suppose that on the screen of FIG. 2, the user inputs 10 minutes instead of the shooting time displayed. The shooting time is calculated by "exposure time x number of views x accumulated number of frames." Therefore, for example, based on the shooting conditions of a shooting time of 12 minutes shown in FIG. 3, the number of views is set to 1500 (1800 x 10 / 12). The other shooting conditions are the same as for a shooting time of 12 minutes. In this way, the shooting condition calculation unit 75 calculates the shooting conditions for the input shooting time.

[0043] The photographing condition calculation unit 75 may calculate the optimum photographing condition for the photographing time input by the user by correcting the exposure time or the number of accumulated images instead of the number of views. Also, the photographing condition calculation unit 75 does not need to correct one item of the photographing condition, and may calculate the optimum photographing condition by correcting multiple photographing conditions.

[0044] When the calculation of the photographing conditions by the photographing condition calculation unit 75 is completed, the mode switching unit 76 judges whether or not the user has selected the expert mode via the input unit 6 (step S05). If the mode switching unit 76 judges that the expert mode has not been selected (step S05 No), shooting is started based on the shooting conditions set at this point (step S09).

[0045] On the other hand, when the mode switching unit 76 determines that the user has selected the expert mode (Yes in step S05), it switches to the expert mode (step S06). That is, the screen of the display unit 5 switches from the preset mode screen to the expert mode screen, and the set imaging conditions are displayed. By switching to the expert mode, the user can modify the imaging conditions including the currently set reconstruction conditions.

[0046] The condition change determination unit 77 determines whether there is a change in the shooting conditions, etc. in the expert mode (step S07). The user checks the shooting conditions, etc., and if there is no problem with the settings, selects to start shooting without changing the shooting conditions, etc. In this case, the condition change determination unit 77 determines that there is no change (step S07 No) and starts shooting based on the shooting conditions in the settings (step S09).

[0047] On the other hand, if the user changes the shooting conditions, etc., the condition change determination unit 77 determines that there is a change (Yes in step S07) and colors the changed items (step S08). The condition change determination unit 77 repeats steps S07 and S08 until the user finishes making changes, and when the user selects to start shooting, shooting starts (step S09).

[0048] (effect) As described above, the CT device 100 of this embodiment includes the storage unit 74 storing a plurality of pre-stored imaging times and imaging conditions corresponding to the imaging times, the input unit 6 receiving an input of an imaging time pre-stored in the storage unit 74 or an arbitrary imaging time from a user, the imaging condition calculation unit 75 calculating, when the input unit 6 receives an arbitrary imaging time, the imaging condition at the imaging time based on the imaging time and imaging conditions stored in the storage unit 74, the display unit 5 displaying the imaging conditions, and the mode switching unit 76 switching to an expert mode that makes it possible to change the imaging conditions displayed by the display unit 5. The input unit 6 receives a change of the imaging conditions from the user in the expert mode.

[0049] This allows the preset photographing conditions to be modified in advance, eliminating the need to set photographing conditions that are not preset from scratch, and allows the user to easily set desired photographing conditions.

[0050] In the expert mode, the camera further includes a condition change determination unit 77 that determines whether or not the photographing conditions have been changed, and when the photographing conditions have been changed, the condition change determination unit 77 issues a command to the display unit 5 to display the changed photographing conditions in color or by blinking. Based on the command from the condition change determination unit 77, the display unit 5 displays the changed photographing conditions in color or by blinking.

[0051] Since there are many setting items for the shooting conditions, it is difficult for the user to know which items have been modified. Therefore, by coloring or blinking as in this embodiment, the user can easily visually confirm the modified shooting conditions. Therefore, the efficiency of the modification work is improved, and the time required for setting the shooting conditions can be shortened.

[0052] (Variation 1) A CT device 100 according to Modification 1 will be described. The same configurations and functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the CT device 100 according to Modification 1, when a user inputs an arbitrary imaging time, the imaging condition calculation unit 75 calculates imaging conditions so that the dose of the radiation source 2 does not change.

[0053] The dose is calculated according to the following formula (1).

[0054] Dose = tube current x binning 2 × exposure time × number of frames (1) Since the shooting time is calculated by "exposure time x number of views x number of accumulated frames," changing the exposure time or number of accumulated frames changes the dose of the radiation source 2. Therefore, the shooting condition calculation unit adjusts the number of views. This makes it possible to calculate the optimal shooting conditions for the input shooting time without changing the dose of the radiation source 2.

[0055] It is optimal for imaging in the CT device 100 to be performed with a dose according to the material of the object A to be inspected. Therefore, it is not desirable to change the dose set according to the material of the object A to be inspected. Therefore, as in the present modified example 1, the imaging condition calculation unit 75 calculates imaging conditions corresponding to the imaging time input by the user by adjusting the number of views. Therefore, imaging can be performed without changing the dose of the radiation source 2, and imaging corresponding to the material of the object A to be inspected can be performed.

[0056] (Variation 2) A CT apparatus 100 according to the second modification will be described. The same configurations and functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the condition change determination unit 77 issues a command to the display unit in the expert mode to clearly indicate the correction points of the changed imaging conditions by coloring or blinking, etc.

[0057] In the CT apparatus 100 of the second modification, the user sequentially selects a plurality of imaging times in the preset mode. For example, in the preset mode shown in Fig. 2, the user first selects the icon of the imaging time of 1 minute. Then, the user selects the expert mode and switches from the preset mode to the expert mode.

[0058] After checking each shooting condition in the expert mode, the user returns to the preset mode, selects a shooting time of 2 minutes, and switches back to the expert mode. The condition change determination unit 77 compares the shooting conditions for the shooting time of 1 minute that were initially selected with the shooting conditions for the shooting time of 2 minutes, and the display unit 5 displays the changed shooting condition items by coloring or blinking, etc. This allows the user to immediately grasp the corrected shooting conditions, and allows efficient setting of the shooting conditions.

[0059] In addition, three or more shooting times may be selected in the preset mode. For example, assume that three shooting times are selected in the preset mode in the order of shooting time 1 minute, shooting time 2 minutes, and shooting time 12 minutes. In this case, the changes for each selected shooting time may be colored or blinked, or only the changes between the last selected shooting condition and the shooting condition selected immediately before may be colored or blinked.

[0060] In the former case, for example, the changes in the shooting conditions between a shooting time of 1 minute and a shooting time of 2 minutes may be shown in red, and the changes in the shooting conditions between a shooting time of 2 minutes and a shooting time of 12 minutes may be shown in blue.

[0061] When three or more shooting times are selected, items of the same shooting conditions may be changed. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 3, the number of views is 600 when the shooting time is 1 minute, 1200 when the shooting time is 2 minutes, and 1800 when the shooting time is 12 minutes. In this case, the item for the number of views may be colored both red and blue. The user can easily confirm that the number of views is different for each shooting time.

[0062] In the latter case, when the shooting time is changed from 1 minute to 2 minutes, only the item for the number of views is colored red or blinks according to the example shown in Fig. 3. If the shooting time is then changed to 12 minutes, the condition change determination unit 77 compares the shooting conditions for the shooting times of 2 minutes and 12 minutes, and issues a command to the display unit 5 to color or blink items with different shooting conditions. According to the example of Fig. 3, the binning, exposure time, and number of views are colored or blinked.

[0063] In this way, in the CT device 100 of the modified example 2, when a plurality of imaging times are selected in sequence in the preset mode, the points different from the imaging conditions at each imaging time are colored or blinked. Therefore, the changed imaging conditions can be seen at a glance, and the efficiency of setting the imaging conditions is improved.

[0064] (Variation 3) A CT device 100 according to a third modification will be described. The same configurations and functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment, only one imaging time is selected in the preset mode, but in the CT device 100 according to the third modification, the input unit 6 accepts input of two imaging times simultaneously from the user.

[0065] If two shooting times are selected at the same time, the shooting time will be the middle time between the selected shooting times. For example, in the preset mode shown in Figure 2, if the 2 minute and 12 minute icons are selected at the same time, the shooting time will be 7 minutes.

[0066] The imaging condition calculation unit 75 calculates the imaging conditions when the imaging time is 7 minutes. The imaging condition calculation unit 75 obtains values ​​obtained by multiplying the parameters that affect the imaging time for the imaging conditions of 2 minutes and 12 minutes, which are the selected imaging times, as follows. 2 minutes: 100 ms (exposure time) x 1200 (number of views) x 1 (accumulated number of images) = 120,000 12 minutes: 400 ms (exposure time) x 1800 (number of views) x 1 (accumulated number of images) = 720,000

[0067] Then, the imaging condition calculation unit 75 obtains a value obtained by multiplying the calculated parameters by the parameters that affect the imaging time when the imaging time is 7 minutes. The calculation method is as follows: the parameters that affect the selected imaging times of 2 minutes and 12 minutes are added together and the result is divided by 2. 7 minutes: (120,000+720,000) / 2=420,000

[0068] Here, if we set the exposure time to 200 ms and calculate the number of views, we get 420,000 / 200=2100, and the number of views for 7 minutes is calculated to be 2100. If the exposure time cannot be set in detail and can only be set to 100 ms or 400 ms, the number of views is calculated using the following formula. Note that for items with the same shooting conditions, the same shooting conditions can be set as is. If the exposure time is 100 ms: 420,000 / 100 = 4200 If the exposure time is 400 ms: 420,000 / 400=1050

[0069] Since an inexperienced user has difficulty selecting an appropriate imaging time (entering an arbitrary imaging time), the imaging conditions can be easily set by simply selecting a presented imaging time in the preset mode, which increases convenience. In the CT device 100 of the third modification, two imaging times can be selected, increasing the number of imaging time options. In addition, since the imaging condition calculation unit 75 calculates the imaging conditions at the intermediate time, the user does not need to set the imaging conditions from scratch, and the imaging conditions can be easily set.

[0070] In the above, the imaging condition calculation unit 75 calculates the imaging conditions for 7 minutes based on the imaging conditions for 2 minutes and 12 minutes. However, the imaging conditions for 7 minutes may be stored in the storage unit 74 in advance.

[0071] (Variation 4) The CT device 100 of the modified example 4 will be described. The same configurations and functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the CT device 100 of the modified example 4, when an item of an imaging condition related to imaging time is changed in expert mode, the imaging time under the imaging condition is recalculated.

[0072] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting imaging conditions in the CT device 100 of the modified example 4. Note that the explanation of the steps explained in the first embodiment may be omitted. For example, in the preset mode shown in Fig. 2, an imaging time of 1 minute is selected (step S02, step S03 No), and the mode is switched to the expert mode (step S04).

[0073] In the expert mode, the user changes the shooting conditions (Yes in step S07). If the shooting conditions not related to the shooting time are changed (No in step S21), the process returns to step S07.

[0074] On the other hand, if the photographing conditions related to the photographing time (exposure time, number of views, or number of accumulated images) are changed, the condition change determination unit 77 determines that a change in the photographing time has occurred (Yes in step S21). The photographing condition calculation unit 75 calculates the photographing time based on the changed photographing conditions (step S22). When the calculation of the photographing time is completed, the display unit 5 displays the calculated photographing time (step S23). After that, the process returns to step S07, and steps 21 to S23 are repeated, including step S08, until the photographing conditions are no longer changed.

[0075] In this way, when the imaging conditions related to the imaging time are changed, the CT apparatus 100 of the fourth modification calculates the imaging time and displays the calculated imaging time on the display unit 5. This allows the imaging time to be grasped.

[0076] (Variation 5) The CT device 100 of the modified example 5 will be described. The same configurations and functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment, in the preset mode, an icon of the presented imaging time is selected, but in the CT device 100 of the modified example 5, the imaging time is not selected.

[0077] Specifically, the user does not select a shooting time in the preset mode shown in Fig. 2, but switches to the expert mode. Then, the user inputs optimal shooting conditions in the expert mode.

[0078] In this way, in the CT apparatus 100 of the modification 5, the user can input the desired imaging conditions without selecting the imaging time. Therefore, an experienced user can freely set the imaging conditions, and the degree of freedom in setting the imaging conditions is increased.

[0079] Also, when switching to the expert mode without selecting a shooting condition, the shooting condition with the shortest shooting condition may be displayed. That is, according to the example shown in FIG. 2, the shooting condition with a shooting time of 1 minute may be displayed. After that, the user changes the displayed shooting condition to a desired shooting condition. In this way, even when switching to the expert mode without selecting a shooting time, the shooting condition with the shortest shooting time is displayed, so that it is not necessary to input all items from scratch, and the shooting condition can be set efficiently. Also, if you do not care about image quality and want to shoot in the shortest time, you can select the shooting condition with the shortest time by simply changing from the preset mode to the expert mode with one click, without having to bother to look at the displayed shooting time.

[0080] (Other embodiments) In this specification, an embodiment of the present invention has been described, but this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above-mentioned embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 100 CT equipment 1 Examination table 11 XY mechanism 12 Rotating table 13 Lifting mechanism 2 Radiation source 3. Detector 4 Metal filter part 5 Display section 6 Input section 7 Control section 71 Examination table control unit 72 Radiation Source Control Section 73 Shooting time determination unit 74 Memory section 75 Shooting condition calculation unit 76 Mode switching section 77 Condition change judgment section A. Inspection item

Claims

1. A storage unit that stores a plurality of photographing times and photographing conditions corresponding to the photographing times; an input unit that receives an input of a shooting time stored in advance in the storage unit or an arbitrary shooting time from a user; a photographing condition calculation unit that calculates, when the input unit receives the arbitrary photographing time, a photographing condition at the arbitrary photographing time based on the photographing time and the photographing condition stored in the storage unit; A display unit that displays the imaging conditions; a mode switching unit for switching to an expert mode that enables the imaging conditions displayed on the display unit to be changed; Equipped with The input unit is a CT apparatus that accepts changes to imaging conditions from a user in the expert mode.

2. the display unit displays a plurality of pre-stored shooting times; the input unit simultaneously accepts two of the plurality of shooting times displayed on the display unit, thereby accepting an intermediate time between the two shooting times as a shooting time; The photographing condition calculation unit calculates a photographing condition at the intermediate time based on each photographing condition at the two photographing times. The CT apparatus according to claim 1.

3. a condition change determination unit that determines whether or not the photographing conditions have been changed in the expert mode, the condition change determination unit issues a command to the display unit to display the changed photographing conditions in a colored or blinking manner when the photographing conditions are changed; the display unit displays the changed photographing conditions by coloring or blinking the changed photographing conditions based on a command from the condition change determination unit.

3. A CT apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a condition change determination unit that determines whether or not the photographing conditions have been changed in the expert mode, the condition change determination unit determines whether the photographing condition related to the photographing time has been changed; the photographing condition calculation unit, when the photographing condition related to the photographing time is changed, calculates the photographing time under the changed photographing condition.

3. A CT apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the imaging condition calculation unit changes the number of views to calculate imaging conditions for the imaging time input by the user; 3. A CT apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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