Drug solution injection device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a drug solution injection device or the like capable of setting an injection protocol which allows acquisition of a good medical image with less physical burden on a subject. This drug solution injection device has a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as a drug solution. The injection protocol has at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected while the injection speed is decreased or increased with the passage of time. The control unit is configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount V of the contrast agent, an injection time T of the contrast agent, an injection speed Fs of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection speed Fe of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed by the injection speed Fe of the contrast agent at the end of the phase / the injection speed Fs of the contrast agent at the start of the phase.

Description

Chemical injection device

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject.

[0002] Known medical imaging diagnostic devices include a CT (Computed Tomography) scanner, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device, a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) device, an ultrasound diagnostic device, an angiography imaging device, etc. When using such imaging devices, a contrast agent, saline solution, or the like (hereinafter, these may also be simply referred to as "medicinal solution") may be injected into a patient.

[0003] Regarding contrast agent injection, a variable injection protocol is known. In this injection method, for example, the injection rate of the contrast agent is set to gradually decrease over time. It is known that this injection protocol results in a more rapid rise in CT value and a longer duration of sustained desired CT value compared to a constant injection rate (single-phase injection). Patent Document 1 discloses several examples of such variable injection protocols. Patent Document 2 also discloses a cross injection protocol for an angiography injection device used in cardiac X-ray imaging diagnosis, in which a contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate in a first phase, and the injection rates of the contrast agent and saline are varied linearly in a second phase so that the sum of the injection rates of the contrast agent and saline is constant.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4620929 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 5117376

[0005] Although good contrast effects are expected with variable injection protocols and cross-injection protocols, the development of a system that allows for the setting of injection protocols that can further improve contrast effects is desirable. Furthermore, in recent years, there has been a demand for reducing the radiation exposure of subjects in contrast-enhanced examinations using radiation. For example, prior to tumor removal surgery, contrast-enhanced examinations using CT scanners are often performed to determine the location and size of the tumor, and anatomical structures such as blood vessels, solid organs, and tumors are extracted, and medical images such as tomographic images and 3D images are created.

[0006] In imaging examinations using CT devices, the tendency for CT values ​​to increase (such as the maximum CT value, the time from the start of contrast agent injection until the maximum CT value is reached, and the time a given CT value is maintained) varies depending on the blood vessels, solid organs, and tumors. Therefore, to properly visualize all of the blood vessels, solid organs, and tumors, multiple imaging sessions are performed at different times. However, increasing the number of imaging sessions increases the subject's radiation exposure. While methods for reducing radiation exposure include using a lower tube voltage and shortening the imaging time, the most effective approach is to minimize the number of imaging sessions.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid medicine injector and the like that can set an injection protocol that can acquire good medical images while reducing the physical burden on the subject.

[0008] The inventors have considered that the reason why CT values ​​persist for a long time in a variable pattern in which the injection rate of contrast agent decreases over time is because a relatively large amount of contrast agent is injected in the initial phase of injection. On the other hand, when attempting to inject a predetermined amount of contrast agent in a predetermined time, a variable pattern tends to result in a high initial injection rate. Because a high injection rate can increase the internal pressure of the blood vessels, caution is required when applying a variable pattern to elderly patients and dialysis patients, whose blood vessels are known to be fragile. Taking this into consideration, the inventors have investigated various injection protocols and found that, if appropriate injection conditions are given, it is possible to realize an injection protocol that can visualize desired anatomical structures in a single scan and that can inject a relatively large amount of contrast agent in the initial phase of injection while suppressing the initial injection rate. This resulted in the present invention.

[0009] The liquid medicine injection device of the present invention is a liquid medicine injection device that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject, and has a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time, and the control unit is configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including the injection amount of the contrast agent, the injection time of the contrast agent, the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase / the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical imaging system comprising: a liquid injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject; a medical imaging apparatus that acquires medical images of the subject into which the liquid medicine has been injected by the liquid injector; and a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing an injection rate over time, the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as (the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase) / (the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase).

[0011] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for a drug solution injection device that injects a drug solution filled in a container into a subject, the computer causing a computer to function as a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the drug solution, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time, and the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase / the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase.

[0012] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for a medical imaging system having a liquid medicine injection device that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject, and a medical imaging device that acquires medical images from the subject into whom the liquid medicine has been injected by the liquid medicine injection device, the computer causing a computer to function as a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time, and the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase / the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase.

[0013] (Definition of Terms) The terms used in the present invention are defined below. - "Initial injection rate" refers to the injection rate of the drug solution at the start of a phase. - "End injection rate" refers to the injection rate of the drug solution at the end of a phase. - "Variable constant" indicates the magnitude of change in the injection rate during a phase and is calculated as the end injection rate / initial injection rate. If the initial injection rate = the end injection rate, the variable constant = 1. If the initial injection rate > the end injection rate, the variable constant = 1. If the initial injection rate > the end injection rate, the variable constant < 1. If the initial injection rate < the end injection rate, the variable constant > 1. - "Variable injection phase" refers to a phase in which the drug solution is injected by linearly decreasing the injection rate over time. - "Inverse variable injection phase" refers to a phase in which the drug solution is injected by linearly increasing the injection rate over time. - "Constant rate injection phase" refers to a phase in which the drug solution is injected at a constant injection rate. - "Anatomical structure" refers to a recognizable object within a subject (e.g., organs, bones, blood vessels, etc.), including fat, lesions such as tumors, etc. Furthermore, even if a single anatomical structure is viewed as a whole, if it is divided into multiple units or has separate functions, it may be treated as a separate anatomical structure. For example, arterial and venous blood vessels can be treated as separate anatomical structures. - "Medical imaging device" refers to a CT scanner, an angiography scanner, an MRI scanner, an ultrasound imaging diagnostic scanner, etc. When a "medical imaging diagnostic device" is a device that captures medical images using electromagnetic wave irradiation, it has an "electromagnetic wave irradiator" that irradiates the electromagnetic waves. CT scanners and angiography scanners have an X-ray tube as an "electromagnetic wave irradiator," while MRI scanners have a high-frequency pulse transmitter that irradiates high-frequency pulses as an "electromagnetic wave irradiator."

[0014] According to the present invention, an injection protocol can be easily set that reduces the physical burden on the subject and allows good medical images to be obtained.

[0015] 1 is a schematic diagram of a medical imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an example of a virtual TDC (time density curve) when a contrast agent is injected using a variable injection protocol. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining injection protocol parameters when the injection rate changes linearly. FIG. 3 is a diagram of injection protocol form 1. FIG. 4 is a time density curve (TDC) showing an example of a simulation result when a contrast agent is injected using the injection protocol shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram of injection protocol form 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram of injection protocol form 3. FIG. 7 is a diagram of injection protocol form 6. FIG. 8 is a diagram of injection protocol form 7. FIG. 9 is a diagram of an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (injection protocol setting screen). FIG. 10 is a diagram of an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (overlapping display of enlarged thumbnails). FIG. 11 is a diagram of an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (enlarged thumbnails). FIG. 12 is a diagram of an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (speed change in first phase). FIG. 13 is a diagram of an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (initial speed change in second phase). FIG. 14 is a diagram of an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (setting confirmation screen). FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (injection screen). FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (list of injection results). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector (injection result graph). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector when editing an injection protocol (injection pattern selection). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display device of a liquid injector when editing an injection protocol (parameter change). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a protocol selection screen that allows a user to select one of multiple injection protocols. FIG. 7 is an example of an injection setting screen including an injection simulation button. FIG. 8 is a time concentration curve (TDC) showing an example of a simulation result when injection is performed using the set injection protocol.

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, a CT (Computed Tomography) imaging system will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to an angio imaging system, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system, a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) system, an ultrasound imaging system, etc.

[0017] [A] Overall Configuration Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a medical imaging system according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown, which includes a liquid injector 10 that injects a liquid into a subject and a medical imaging device 50 that captures medical images of the subject. Liquid injector 10 includes an injection head 10a and a console 10b. Typically, injection head 10a is located in an examination room, and console 10b is located in an operation room. Liquid injector 10 and medical imaging device 50 can be connected to each other so that data can be transmitted and received between them. The connection between the two may be wired or wireless.

[0018] The medical imaging apparatus 50 includes an imaging operation unit 52 that performs imaging operations and an imaging control unit 51 that controls the operation of the imaging operation unit 52. The imaging operation unit 52 typically includes a patient bed and an electromagnetic wave irradiation unit that irradiates a predetermined space above the bed with electromagnetic waves. The imaging control unit 51 controls the overall operation of the medical imaging apparatus, such as by determining imaging conditions and controlling the operation of the imaging operation unit 52 according to the determined imaging conditions. The imaging control unit 51 may include a so-called microcomputer and may have a CPU, ROM, RAM, and interfaces with other devices. A computer program for controlling the medical imaging apparatus 50 is installed in the ROM. The CPU controls the operation of each component of the medical imaging apparatus 50 by executing various functions in accordance with the computer program. Medical images, including tomographic images and / or three-dimensional images of the patient, can be generated using data obtained when the imaging operation unit 52 performs imaging operations under the control of the imaging control unit 51.

[0019] The medical imaging apparatus 50 may further include a display device 54 such as a liquid crystal display capable of displaying imaging conditions and acquired medical images, and an input device 53 for inputting imaging conditions, etc. The input device 53 may be at least one of known input devices such as various buttons, a keyboard, and a mouse. At least a portion of the data used to determine the imaging conditions is input from the input device 53 and transmitted to the imaging control unit 51. Data displayed on the display device 54 is transmitted from the imaging control unit 51. A touch panel having a touch screen disposed as an input device on a display serving as a display device may also be used as the input device 53 and the display device 54. A portion of the input device 53, the display device 54, and the imaging control unit 51 may be incorporated into a single housing as a console for the medical imaging apparatus.

[0020] The chemical solution injector 10 is used to inject a chemical solution stored in a syringe 20, which is a container filled with the chemical solution, into a subject's blood vessel. The syringe 20 is detachably mounted on an injection head 10a. The injection head 10a incorporates a drive mechanism 15 for operating the plunger (or piston) of the syringe 20. The drive mechanism 15 may include a presser for at least advancing the plunger (or piston) of the syringe 20 and an actuator for operating the presser. In this embodiment, the injection head 10a is configured to accommodate two syringes 20 so that two types of chemical solutions, such as a contrast medium and a physiological saline solution, can be injected separately or simultaneously. The injection head 10a also includes two drive mechanisms 15 for independently operating each syringe 20. However, the injection head 10a may be configured to accommodate only a single syringe 20, or three or more syringes 20. When the injection head 10 is configured to be able to mount a plurality of syringes 20, the number of drive mechanisms 15 may be equal to or different from the number of mounted syringes 20.

[0021] Console 10b includes injection control unit 11, input device 12, and display device 13. Injection control unit 11 determines injection conditions, such as the injection amount and injection rate, using at least a portion of the data input from input device 12, controls the operation of injection head 10a so that the liquid is injected according to the determined injection conditions, and controls the display on display device 13, thereby controlling the operation of the entire liquid injector. Injection control unit 11 may include a so-called microcomputer and may have a CPU, ROM, RAM, a storage device, and interfaces with other devices. A computer program for controlling liquid injector 10 is installed in the ROM. The CPU controls the operation of each component of liquid injector 10 by executing various functions in accordance with the computer program.

[0022] The input device 12 is a device used to input data used by the injection control unit 11 to determine the injection conditions of the medicinal liquid. The input device 12 may be at least one of known input devices such as various buttons, a keyboard, and a mouse. A portion of the input device 12 may be provided separately from the console 10b. The data input from the input device 12 is transmitted to the injection control unit 11, and the data displayed on the display device 13 is transmitted from the injection control unit 11.

[0023] Display device 13 is controlled by injection control unit 11 to display data necessary for determining injection conditions for the medicinal solution, injection protocols, injection operations, various guidance messages, and various warnings. Display device 13 may be provided in injection head 10a instead of console 10b, or in both injection head 10a and console 10b. Display device 13 may be a known display device, such as a liquid crystal display. Alternatively, a touch panel with a touch screen arranged as an input device on a display device may be used as input device 12 and display device 13. Input device 12 and display device 13 function as a user interface for receiving various data inputs from the user.

[0024] An injection protocol indicates what type of medicinal liquid is to be injected, in what amount, and at what speed. The injection rate may be constant or may vary over time. When multiple types of medicinal liquids, such as a contrast medium and saline, are to be injected, the injection protocol also includes information on the order in which these liquids should be injected. The injection protocol set by the injection control unit 11 may also be modified by the user. The injection protocol may also include a maximum allowable injection pressure (pressure limit). If a pressure limit is set, the injection pressure is monitored during the injection operation, and the operation of the injection head 10a is controlled so that the injection pressure does not exceed the set pressure limit.

[0025] The above is a description of the medical imaging system. In the above description, the liquid injector 10 and the medical imaging device 50 each have a separate injection control unit 11 and an imaging control unit 51. However, the medical imaging system may include a single control unit in which these control units are integrated, instead of the injection control unit 11 and the imaging control unit 51. Alternatively, the injection control unit 11 and the imaging control unit 51 may be included in a programmable computer device (not shown) separate from the liquid injector 10 and the medical imaging device 50, either individually or as an integrated control unit. This simplifies the overall system configuration and enables good cooperation between the liquid injector 10 and the medical imaging device 50.

[0026] [B] Injection Protocol One or more injection protocols for injecting at least a contrast agent as a medicinal liquid are pre-set (registered) in the injection control unit 11. The injection protocol pre-set (registered) in the injection control unit 11 may be a normal injection protocol. However, in the present invention, an injection protocol having at least one phase, including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time, is pre-set (registered) in the injection control unit 11. Alternatively, the injection control unit 11 may be configured to be able to set (register) an injection protocol having at least one phase, including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time.

[0027] In this way, by injecting the medicinal solution using an injection protocol having at least one phase, including an injection phase in which the injection rate is decreased or increased over time to inject the contrast agent, it is possible to further improve the contrast effect of the contrast agent on anatomical structures by appropriately setting the injection conditions, or to capture images in which multiple different anatomical structures can be distinguishably extracted with as few imaging sessions as possible.

[0028] The tendency for the CT value of an anatomical structure to increase with the injection of a contrast agent (such as the time to reach a peak and the peak value) varies depending on the anatomical structure. Therefore, in order to obtain a desired image, it is important to create an injection protocol that, at a certain timing, increases the CT value of each of the multiple anatomical structures to be imaged to a sufficient degree to visualize them as images, and that obtains TDCs (time-density curves) with CT values ​​that are different enough to obtain a contrast ratio that allows each anatomical structure to be distinguished from another. The present invention makes it possible to create such an injection protocol. When creating an injection protocol, a simulation may be performed in advance, and an injection protocol that obtains a desired TDC may be created based on the simulation results. The simulation will be described later.

[0029] As an example, Figure 2 shows a hypothetical TDC of the liver when a contrast agent is injected into a subject with a liver tumor using a variable injection protocol in which the injection rate is linearly reduced over time. Figure 2 also shows the time-dependent changes in CT values ​​of the anatomical structures of the aorta, portal vein, liver (a solid organ), and liver cancer (a tumor). As shown in Figure 2, the aorta reaches a peak CT value earlier than the portal vein, liver, and liver cancer, and the peak value is higher than when the contrast agent is injected at a constant rate. In other words, the variable injection protocol can improve the contrast enhancement effect of the contrast agent. Furthermore, in the TDC shown in Figure 2, the CT value of the portal vein increases rapidly around the peak of the aorta's CT value, particularly around 40 to 50 seconds after the start of contrast agent injection, and the CT value also increases to a level that allows the liver and liver cancer to be visualized in an image. Furthermore, between 40 and 50 seconds after the start of injection, the CT values ​​of the aorta, portal vein, liver, and liver cancer are significantly different from one another. Therefore, if imaging is performed between 40 and 50 seconds after the start of contrast agent injection, images in which the aorta, portal vein, liver, and liver cancer can be distinguished based on differences in contrast ratio can be obtained with just one imaging session. The resulting images have high contrast ratios for each anatomical structure, making them easy for users to interpret and easy to create 3D images.

[0030] In the TDC shown in FIG. 2 , in addition to the period between 40 and 50 seconds after the start of injection, there is also a period between 60 and 70 seconds where the CT values ​​of the anatomical structures differ significantly, making it possible to obtain images in which the anatomical structures can be distinguished based on differences in contrast ratio. Therefore, even when imaging between 60 and 70 seconds after the start of injection, it is possible to obtain images in which the anatomical structures can be distinguished based on differences in contrast ratio with just one imaging session. However, in this case, the order of the CT value heights of the anatomical structures differs from that obtained when imaging between 40 and 50 seconds after the start of injection, so care must be taken when interpreting the images and creating 3D images. In this way, when there are multiple suitable imaging times, the user may be able to select the imaging time based on the purpose of the interpretation, etc.

[0031] The injection phase of the injection protocol may be a variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected at a linearly decreasing injection rate over time, or an inverse variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected at a linearly increasing injection rate over time. The medicinal liquid injected in the injection phase may contain at least a contrast agent. That is, in the injection phase, only the contrast agent may be injected, or a contrast agent diluted with saline may be injected by injecting saline simultaneously with the injection of the contrast agent. The dilution of the contrast agent may be achieved by injecting the contrast agent and saline simultaneously, or by injecting the contrast agent and saline alternately in a time-division manner.

[0032] When the injection phase has multiple phases, at least one of the multiple phases may be a variable injection phase or an inverse variable injection phase, and the other phases may be constant-rate injection phases in which a contrast agent or a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected at a constant rate. The multiple phases may also include a phase in which only a contrast agent is injected and a phase in which a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected. In this case, the combination and order of the phase in which only a contrast agent is injected and the phase in which a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected are not particularly limited.

[0033] The injection protocol may further include a pre-injection before a phase in which only contrast agent, contrast agent diluted with saline, or only saline is injected. Alternatively, the injection protocol may further include a post-injection after a phase in which only contrast agent, contrast agent diluted with saline, or only saline is injected. The injection protocol may also include both a pre-injection and a post-injection. If the injection protocol has multiple phases, a pre-injection may occur before at least one phase. Similarly, a post-injection may occur after at least one phase. By injecting only saline in the pre-injection, the start of the contrast agent injection (the start of the subsequent phase) can be clearly determined and / or extravasation of the drug solution can be confirmed prior to the subsequent phase. If a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected in the pre-injection, the contrast agent diluted with saline may be injected in the same pattern as the subsequent phase or phases. By performing an imaging operation at this stage to obtain a TDC, the TDC when the drug solution is injected in the subsequent phase or phases can be known in advance and appropriate imaging timing can be determined. Alternatively, by injecting the drug solution in the pre-injection in the same pattern as that of the one or more subsequent phases, but at a lower rate than that of the drug solution to be injected in the one or more subsequent phases, it is possible to know in advance the TDC when the drug solution is injected in the one or more subsequent phases and determine the appropriate timing for imaging.

[0034] When a contrast medium diluted with saline or only saline is injected in the pre-injection, and / or when a contrast medium diluted with saline or only saline is injected in the post-injection, the injection conditions for the pre-injection and / or post-injection may be set based on the injection amount and injection rate of the medicinal solution in the subsequent phase, or may be set to the same injection rate and injection time as in the subsequent phase (the injection amount can be automatically calculated from the injection rate and injection time).

[0035] Furthermore, if the infusion protocol has two phases, the infusion protocol may have a hold or interval between the two phases. If the infusion protocol has three or more phases, the infusion protocol may have a hold or interval between any of the phases, and any number of holds or intervals.

[0036] (B-a) Parameters used to set injection protocol Parameters used to set injection protocol will be described. An injection protocol has at least one phase, including an injection phase in which the contrast medium is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time. General parameters that determine an injection protocol are the injection amount, injection time, and injection rate. When the relationship between injection time and injection rate is represented by an injection rate-time graph with injection time on the horizontal axis and injection rate on the vertical axis, the injection amount is given by the area enclosed by the injection rate and injection time on the graph. Here, as shown in Figure 3, when the injection rate changes linearly, if the injection amount is V, the injection time is T, the initial injection rate is Fs, and the final injection rate is Fe, the injection amount V is given by the following: V = (F ｓ +F ｅ )T / 2 ...Equation (A) While FIG. 3 shows an injection protocol consisting of one phase in which the injection phase is an injection phase in which the drug solution is injected at an injection rate that linearly decreases over time, the same applies when the injection phase is an inverse variable injection phase in which the drug solution is injected at an injection rate that linearly increases over time. In Equation (A), for example, T and F ｅ is given, the initial injection rate F ｓ teeth,

[0037] On the other hand, the final injection rate F ｅ / Initial injection rate F ｓ Given a variable constant f, which indicates the magnitude of change in the injection rate in the phase, the initial injection rate F ｓ teeth,

[0038] It can be found by:

[0039] Here, the injection volume V can be set according to the subject's physical information, and by configuring the injection control unit 11 to further function as a user interface that accepts input of the subject's physical information by the user, the injection control unit 11 can automatically set the injection volume V by accepting the subject's physical information. Also, the injection time T can be set to an appropriate time depending on the imaging site based on past clinical data, etc. By configuring the injection control unit 11 to further function as a user interface that accepts input of the imaging site by the user, the injection control unit 11 can automatically set the injection time T by accepting input of the imaging site. Therefore, at least the initial injection rate Fs and the final injection rate F ｅ By calculating either of the above, each parameter of the injection protocol is obtained, and the injection protocol can be set using this.

[0040] As described above, when the injection volume V is set in the injection control unit 11 based on the subject's physical information, and / or when the injection time T is set in the injection control unit 11 according to the imaging site, the set values ​​may be configured so that the user can change them as needed.

[0041] If the injection protocol has multiple phases, the above concept can be applied to each phase. The change in injection rate is not limited to a linear change, but may be a stepwise change or an exponential change. Below, several forms of injection protocols will be described for cases where the injection rate changes linearly.

[0042] (B-b1) Injection Protocol Form 1 Injection protocol form 1 set in the injection control unit 11 is shown in FIG. 4. The injection protocol of this form has a first phase, which is a variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by linearly decreasing the injection rate over time, and a second phase, which is an inverse variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by linearly increasing the injection rate over time. In this form, the first and second phases are continuous, and the final injection rate of the first phase is carried over to the initial injection rate of the second phase. In other words, the final injection rate of the first phase is equal to the initial injection rate of the second phase.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the final injection rate of the first phase and the initial injection rate of the second phase are intended to be zero, and are preset in the injection control unit 11. However, if the final injection rate of the first phase and the initial injection rate of the second phase were set to exactly zero in an actual injection operation, it may be impossible to maintain the continuity of injection between the first and second phases. Therefore, it is preferable to set the final injection rate of the first phase and the initial injection rate of the second phase to values ​​as close to zero as possible. This allows the contrast medium to be injected continuously, without interruption, from the start of the first phase to the end of the second phase.

[0044] An example of a procedure for calculating each parameter of the injection protocol shown in FIG. 4, which is executed by the injection control unit 11, will be described below. In FIG. 4, T １ = injection time in the first phase (sec), T ２ = injection time in the second phase (sec), F １ｓ = initial infusion rate of the first phase (mL / sec), F １ｅ = end infusion rate of the first phase (mL / sec), F ２ｓ = initial infusion rate of the second phase (mL / sec), F ２ｅ = end infusion rate of the second phase (mL / sec), V １ = injection volume in the first phase (mL), V ２= injection volume in the second phase (mL), V = total injection volume in the first and second phases (mL),

[0045] In addition, other parameters in the calculation of the injection protocol include: １ : Variable constant in the first phase f ２ : Variable constant in the second phase I １ : Body weight-specific iodine amount (mgI / kg) of contrast agent injected in the first phase ２ : Amount of iodine in the contrast medium injected in the second phase relative to body weight (mgI / kg) C: Iodine concentration in the contrast medium (mgI / mL) BW: Subject's body weight (kg) are used.

[0046] Prior to calculating each parameter of the infusion protocol, the end infusion rate F of the first phase is calculated. １ｅ , the initial injection rate of the second phase F ２ｓ (=F １ｅ ), injection time in the first phase T １ , injection time in the second phase T ２ , injection amount in the first phase V １ and the injection volume in the second phase V ２ The values ​​of are preset in the injection control unit 11, and these values ​​can be used to calculate each parameter of the injection protocol described below. However, these values ​​preset in the injection control unit 11 may be changed by the user as needed.

[0047] In calculating each parameter of the injection protocol, first, the iodine content of the contrast medium relative to body weight, I, is calculated for each of the first and second phases. １ , I ２ , the subject's weight BW and the iodine concentration C of the contrast medium are used to calculate the injection volume V using the following equations (v1) and (v2): １ and V ２ Calculate.

[0048]

[0049] Initial injection rate of the first phase F １ｓ is the final injection rate of the first phase F １ｅ, injection amount in the first phase V １ and injection time T １ is given by the following formula (1-1): where, as mentioned above, the final injection rate F １ｅ is preset in the injection control unit 11. In this embodiment, specifically, the final injection rate F １ｅ The injection control unit 11 is set to 0.1 (mL / s) as the value of the injection amount V in the first phase. １ , injection time in the first phase T １ and the end infusion rate of the first phase F １ｅ The initial injection rate F1 of the first phase is calculated using the following formula (1-1): ｓ can be calculated.

[0050]

[0051] End infusion rate of the second phase F ２ｅ is the initial injection rate F of the second phase ２ｓ , injection amount in the second phase V ２ and injection time T ２ is given by the following formula (1-2): where, as mentioned above, the initial injection rate F ２ｓ is the final injection rate of the first phase F １ｅ In this embodiment, specifically, the initial injection rate F ２ｓ The injection control unit 11 is set to 0.1 (mL / s) as the value of the injection amount V in the second phase. ２ , injection time in the second phase T ２ and the initial injection rate of the second phase F ２ｓ The final injection rate F of the second phase is calculated using the following formula (1-2): ２ｅ can be calculated.

[0052]

[0053] As described above, the parameters of the injection protocol shown in FIG. 4 are calculated. According to this injection protocol, by executing a first phase in which the injection rate of the contrast agent decreases linearly and a second phase in which the injection rate of the contrast agent increases linearly so that the contrast agent is continuously injected in the first and second phases, it is possible to acquire image data in which the aorta, veins, and parenchymal organs can be distinguishably extracted in a single imaging session. Furthermore, since the desired image data can be acquired in a single imaging session, the subject's radiation exposure and physical burden can be reduced. Furthermore, because the desired image data can be acquired in a single imaging session, (i) the amount of image data to be handled is reduced, and (ii) positional deviations of the aorta, veins, and parenchymal organs do not occur, unlike when multiple image data obtained by capturing blood vessels and organs at different times are combined. Therefore, the injection protocol of this embodiment is useful for creating 3D images for surgical assistance.

[0054] Figure 5 shows an example of a simulation result in the form of a time-concentration curve (TDC) when a contrast agent is injected using the injection protocol shown in Figure 4. Prior to the simulation, the parameters shown in Table 1 were set in advance, and the injection volume V in the first phase was calculated from these parameters using the above-mentioned formulas (v1), (v2), (1-1), and (1-2). １ (mL), injection volume in the second phase V ２ (mL), initial infusion rate F of the first phase １ｓ (mL / sec), the end infusion rate of the second phase F ２ｅ (mL / sec) was calculated.

[0055]

[0056] The TDC simulation shown in Figure 5 simulated the time-dependent changes in CT values ​​of the pancreas and liver as solid organs, in addition to the aorta and portal vein as blood vessels. Figure 5 shows that approximately 10 to 15 seconds after the end of the first and second phase injections (35 seconds + 10 seconds) (approximately 55 to 60 seconds after the start of injection), (1) the CT value of the aorta reaches a second peak, (2) the CT values ​​of the aorta, portal vein, and solid organs differ enough to be distinguishable from each other, and (3) the CT values ​​of the pancreas and liver increase to a level at which they can be visualized. Thus, a single imaging session approximately 55 to 60 seconds after the start of contrast agent injection can obtain image data in which the aorta, portal vein, pancreas, and liver can be distinguished from each other. Although not shown in the TDC simulation in Figure 5, single imaging sessions of the splenic vein, superior mesenteric vein, inferior mesenteric vein, etc., at the above-mentioned times, can also be used to obtain image data in which they can be distinguished from other blood vessels. The acquired image data can be used to create medical images (including cross-sectional images and 3D images) that facilitate differentiation and diagnosis, as well as medical images (including cross-sectional images and 3D images) that are useful for supporting procedures such as pancreatic tumor removal surgery. Furthermore, since the pancreas and liver can be visualized simultaneously, tumors present in the pancreas as well as the liver can be visualized, and the presence or absence of tumor metastasis to the liver can also be confirmed. When a tumor is present in a parenchymal organ, the tissue penetration of the contrast agent in the tumor differs from that in normal tissues, resulting in different CT values ​​from those in normal tissues. Therefore, the presence or absence, size, etc. of the tumor can be confirmed based on the difference in CT values ​​within the parenchymal organ.

[0057] In this embodiment, the final injection rate of the first phase F １ｅ and the initial injection rate of the second phase F ２ｓAlthough the above description is based on the case where the value of is set to 0.1 (mL / sec), these values ​​may also be zero. Furthermore, although the injection protocol of this embodiment has a first injection phase and a second injection phase, it may also be possible to have only the first injection phase, which is a variable injection phase. Furthermore, although only contrast agent is injected in this embodiment, at least one of the phases may be a phase in which contrast agent diluted with saline is injected. In this case, the dilution rate may be set between 0% and 100%. Furthermore, the injection protocol may further include an additional phase after the last phase in which saline or contrast agent diluted with saline is injected, thereby boosting the drug solution injected in the previous phase. Furthermore, although the injection protocol of this embodiment has a continuous first and second phases, there may also be an interval between the first and second phases.

[0058] In this embodiment, the subject's body weight is used as the subject's physical information to calculate the injection amount of contrast agent. However, other conventional calculation methods may be used. For example, a lean body weight (LBW) calculation method, a body surface area (BSA) calculation method, a circulating blood volume (BV) calculation method, or an adjusted body weight (AdBW) calculation method may be used. Furthermore, the injection amount of contrast agent may be calculated using a value (fractional dose) obtained by dividing the amount of iodine per body weight by the injection time. Alternatively, the injection amount may be calculated using a regression equation obtained by regression analysis of statistical data, or based on other physical information, or by machine learning. Furthermore, if the calculated injection amount is greater than the amount of contrast agent loaded in the syringe, the injection control unit 11 may notify the user of this by displaying a message on the display device 13, for example, and prompt the user to replace the syringe. This also applies to the injection protocol forms described below.

[0059] The contrast effect of the contrast agent also differs depending on the magnitude of the energy of the electromagnetic waves irradiated from the electromagnetic wave irradiator of the imaging operation unit 52 of the medical imaging apparatus 50. Therefore, the calculated injection amount of the contrast agent may be adjusted depending on the operating conditions of the electromagnetic wave irradiator, etc. For example, if the medical imaging apparatus 50 is a CT apparatus, the injection amount of the contrast agent can be adjusted depending on the tube voltage and energy (two different values ​​in the case of a dual-energy CT apparatus) of the X-ray tube, which is the electromagnetic wave irradiator.

[0060] (B-b2) Injection Protocol Form 2 Figure 6 shows injection protocol form 2. This form is the same as the form shown in Figure 4 in that it has a first phase that is a variable injection and a second phase that is a reverse variable injection, but it is intended to inject the contrast medium at a certain injection rate at the end of the first phase, and also to inject the contrast medium at the end of the first phase at a certain injection rate F １ｅ and the initial injection rate of the second phase F ２ｓ is not set, but the variable constant f １ 4 in that the initial injection rate F of the first phase is set. １ｓ and the final infusion rate F １ｅ The calculation of the initial injection rate F of the first phase is different from that of the form shown in FIG. 4, and other parameters can be calculated in the same manner as that shown in FIG. １ｓ is given by the following equation (2-1), and the final injection rate of the first phase F １ｅ is given by the following formula (2-2).

[0061]

[0062] The injection control unit 11 calculates the initial injection rate F of the first phase using these equations (2-1) and (2-2). １ｓ and the final infusion rate F １ｅ Calculate.

[0063] In this embodiment, only contrast is injected, but the injection protocol may also include an additional phase of saline injection after the last phase to boost the contrast with saline, and may include intervals between phases.

[0064] (B-b3) Infusion Protocol Form 3 Figure 7 shows Infusion Protocol Form 3. In this form, the final infusion rate of the first phase, F １ｅ and the initial injection rate of the second phase F ２ｓ 6. The difference between the two is that the initial injection rate F2s and the final injection rate F2e of the second phase are different from those of the first embodiment, and that a variable constant f2 is set for the second phase. The calculation of each parameter differs from that of the first embodiment, except for the calculation of the initial injection rate F2s and the final injection rate F2e of the second phase. The other parameters can be calculated in the same manner as in the first embodiment. ２ｓ is given by the following formula (3-1), and the final injection rate of the second phase F ２ｅ is given by the following formula (3-2).

[0065]

[0066] The injection control unit 11 calculates the initial injection rate F of the second phase using these equations (3-1) and (3-2). ２ｓ and the final infusion rate F ２ｅ Calculate.

[0067] In this embodiment, only a contrast agent is injected, but at least one of the phases may be a phase in which a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected. In this case, the dilution rate can be set between 0% and 100%. The injection protocol may also include an additional phase after the final phase in which saline or a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected, thereby boosting the drug solution injected in the previous phase. An interval may also be included between phases.

[0068] (B-b4) Alternative Form 4 of Infusion Protocol Figure 8 shows Alternative Form 4 of the infusion protocol. This form has a first phase which is a constant rate infusion phase, a second phase which is a variable infusion phase, a third phase which is an inverse variable infusion phase, and a fourth phase which is a constant rate infusion phase. The initial infusion rate F of the second phase is ２ｓ is the injection rate of the first phase F １ and the initial injection rate of the third phase F３ｓ is the end infusion rate of the second phase F ２ｅ and the fourth phase injection rate F ４ is the end infusion rate of the third phase F ３ｅ The injection time T １ -T ４ may be different from each other, or T １ =T ４ And T ２ =T ３ The injection rate of the first phase F １ and the injection rate of the fourth phase F ４ The final injection rate F of the second phase may be different from each other or may be the same. ２ｅ and the initial injection rate F of the third phase ３ｓ may be an injection rate intended to be zero, or may be an injection rate intended to inject a certain amount of contrast medium. The calculation formulas for each parameter are omitted.

[0069] In this embodiment, only a contrast agent is injected, but at least one of the phases may be a phase in which a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected. In this case, the dilution rate can be set between 0% and 100%. The injection protocol may also include an additional phase after the final phase in which saline or a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected, thereby boosting the drug solution injected in the previous phase. An interval may also be included between the first and second phases, between the second and third phases, and between the third and fourth phases.

[0070] (B-b5) Another Form 5 of Infusion Protocol Figure 9 shows another form 5 of the infusion protocol. This form has a first phase that is a variable infusion phase and a second phase that is also a variable infusion phase. The initial infusion rate F ２ｓ is the end infusion rate of the first phase F １ｅ The initial injection rate of the second phase, F ２ｓ is the initial injection rate F of the first phase１ｓ Similarly, the end infusion rate F of the second phase may be higher, lower, or the same as ２ｅ is the final injection rate of the first phase F １ｅ The variable constant f of the first phase may be higher, lower, or the same as １ and the variable constant f of the second phase ２ may be the same or different. The calculation formulas for each parameter are omitted.

[0071] In this embodiment, only a contrast agent is injected, but at least one of the phases may be a phase in which a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected. In this case, the dilution rate can be set between 0% and 100%. The injection protocol may also include an additional phase after the final phase in which saline or a contrast agent diluted with saline is injected, thereby boosting the drug solution injected in the previous phase. An interval may also be included between phases.

[0072] (B-b6) Infusion Protocol Form 6 Figure 10 shows Infusion Protocol Form 6. This form has a first phase which is a variable infusion phase and a second phase which is a constant rate infusion phase. The final infusion rate F of the first phase is １ｅ is the injection rate F of the second phase ２ The formula for calculating each parameter is omitted.

[0073] In this embodiment, the second phase is a constant-rate injection phase, but the first phase may also be a constant-rate injection phase. In this case, the second phase may be a variable injection phase or a reverse-variable injection phase. In this embodiment, only contrast medium is injected, but at least one of the phases may be a phase in which contrast medium diluted with saline is injected. In this case, the dilution rate can be set between 0% and 100%. The injection protocol may also include an additional phase after the last phase in which saline or contrast medium diluted with saline is injected, thereby boosting the drug solution injected in the previous phase. An interval may also be included between phases.

[0074] (B-b7) Injection Protocol Form 7 Figure 11 shows injection protocol form 7. This injection protocol has a first phase in which the contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate, and a second phase in which the contrast agent is injected at an injection rate that varies linearly. The injection rate at the start of the second phase, i.e., the initial rate, is equal to the injection rate in the first phase.

[0075] An example of a calculation procedure for the injection protocol shown in Figure 11 will be described below. １ = injection time in the first phase (sec), T ２ = injection time in the second phase (sec), F １ = infusion rate in the first phase (mL / sec), F ２ = terminal rate of injection in the second phase (mL / sec), V １ = injection volume in the first phase (mL), V ２ = injection volume in the second phase (mL), V = total injection volume in the first and second phases (mL),

[0076] In addition, other parameters used in calculating the injection protocol include: C: variable constant (final velocity in the second phase / initial velocity in the second phase); ｎｅｅｄ : Required amount of iodine (mgI / kg), I ＣＭ : Concentration of contrast agent (mgI / mL), W: Subject's weight (kg),

[0077] In calculating the injection protocol, first, the total injection volume V is calculated using equation (7-1). １ and the injection time T in the second phase ２ The values ​​are preset in the injection control unit 11, but can be changed by the user as required.

[0078]

[0079] Once the total injection volume V is calculated, the injection conditions for the first phase and the second phase are calculated so that the contrast medium is injected in the determined total injection volume V. In this process, first, the injection rate F in the first phase is calculated by equation (7-2). １ Calculate.

[0080]

[0081] Then, the final velocity F in the second phase is calculated by equation (7-3). ２ Calculate.

[0082]

[0083] Next, the injection amount V in the first phase is calculated by equation (7-4). １ Calculate.

[0084]

[0085] Next, the injection amount V in the second phase is calculated by equation (7-5). ２ Calculate.

[0086]

[0087] As a result, the injection protocol shown in Fig. 11 is calculated. According to this injection protocol, a phase in which the contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate is executed prior to a phase in which the injection rate of the contrast agent decreases linearly, thereby enabling a relatively large amount of contrast agent to be injected in the early stages of injection while suppressing the initial injection rate. As a result, an injection protocol is achieved that reduces the physical burden on the subject and improves the contrast effect.

[0088] In the above-mentioned injection protocol, the injection time T １ The injection time T in the first phase is preferably in the range of 5 to 15 seconds. １ If the injection time T in the first phase is less than 5 seconds, the injection rate may not be reduced sufficiently. １ If the time exceeds 15 seconds, it may not be possible to maintain a CT value suitable for imaging. The variable coefficient C is preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.5.

[0089] [C] Display Screen The injection control unit 11 may be configured to display at least one screen for setting an injection protocol on the display device 13. Examples of the screen for setting an injection protocol include a screen for setting an imaging site and a screen for setting parameters of the injection protocol.

[0090] The user inputs the imaging region, subject weight, iodine concentration of the contrast agent, iodine dose relative to body weight of the contrast agent, injection time, variable constant (in the case of the variable injection phase or reverse-variable injection phase), etc., using these screens. The injection control unit 11 then calculates the remaining parameters and sets the resulting injection protocol. The iodine dose relative to body weight of the contrast agent, injection time, and variable constant may be preset in the injection control unit 11, and the user may be able to change these values ​​as needed. The iodine concentration of the contrast agent may be automatically acquired from the syringe 20. If the syringe 20 is equipped with a data carrier (e.g., an RFID tag or a barcode) on which various data, including the contrast agent concentration, is recorded, the various data recorded on the data carrier can be acquired by reading the data carrier with an appropriate reader.

[0091] An example of a display screen will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 12 to 18. The following describes a liquid injector 10 having an injection head 10a equipped with two drive mechanisms 15 so that two syringes 20 can be mounted. Each drive mechanism 15 is designated "A" and "B," with the syringe 20 operated by the drive mechanism 15 on the A side filled with contrast medium, and the syringe 20 operated by the drive mechanism 15 on the B side filled with saline. Therefore, "A" displayed on the screen shown below represents contrast medium, and "B" represents saline.

[0092] When setting an injection protocol, an imaging region selection screen is first displayed. The imaging region selection screen displays an image of a human body divided into multiple body segments, and the user specifies the imaging region by performing a predetermined input operation according to the imaging region selection screen. For example, when the user selects one of multiple body segments, multiple imaging regions included in the selected body segment are further displayed, and the user can select the imaging region from among them, thereby allowing the imaging region to be specified in multiple stages, from larger segments to smaller regions. Once the imaging region is specified, the selected imaging region is set in the injection control unit 11.

[0093] Once the imaging region is set, an injection protocol setting screen corresponding to the region is displayed. An example of the injection protocol setting screen is shown in Fig. 12. In the example shown, the injection protocol setting screen displays a human body image 201 representing the imaging region, a contrast agent concentration button 202, a required iodine amount button 203, a pressure limit button 204, a liquid amount in the syringe 205, a body weight button 206, an injection time button 207, a thumbnail 210 of the injection protocol, and the like.

[0094] Contrast agent concentration button 202 displays the concentration of the contrast agent filled in syringe 20 mounted on injection head 10a. The data for the contrast agent concentration may be automatically obtained from syringe 20 or may be input by the user. If syringe 20 is equipped with a data carrier (e.g., RFID tag, barcode) on which various data including the contrast agent concentration is recorded, the various data recorded on the data carrier can be obtained by reading the data carrier with an appropriate reader. Furthermore, if the pressure resistance value of syringe 20 and the concentration of the contrast agent filled in syringe 20 are recorded on the data carrier, these values ​​are displayed and set on contrast agent concentration button 202 and pressure limit button 204, respectively.

[0095] The Required Iodine Amount button 203 displays the amount of iodine per subject's body weight required to achieve a contrast effect. The value displayed on the Required Iodine Amount button 203 can be changed by the user via the input device 12. If the input device 12 is configured as part of a touch panel display, for example, when the user taps the Required Iodine Amount button 203, the injection control unit 11 displays a sub-screen for inputting a numerical value, overlapping the protocol setting screen. The user can change the required iodine amount by inputting a numerical value on this sub-screen.

[0096] The pressure limit button 204 displays the limit value of the internal pressure generated during the injection of the medicinal solution. If this limit value is exceeded, the injection control unit 11 controls the operation of the drive mechanism 15 so that the limit value is not exceeded (for example, by limiting the injection rate or stopping the injection), and issues an appropriate alarm to the user. The weight button 206 displays the subject's weight, and the injection time button 207 displays the injection time for the first phase. The injection time for the first phase is one of the important parameters that affects the injection rate of the contrast agent in the injection protocol of this embodiment. Therefore, displaying the injection time for the first phase on the injection protocol setting screen is preferable for the user to determine whether the injection protocol is appropriate.

[0097] The values ​​displayed in the pressure limit button 204, the weight button 206, and the injection time button 207 can be changed by the user, as can the required iodine amount button 203. The required iodine amount, weight, and injection time are stored in the memory device of the injection control unit 11 and are used to calculate the injection protocol.

[0098] The thumbnail 210 displays a protocol image that shows the change in the injection rate of the liquid drug over time in the set injection protocol as an injection rate-time graph, with the horizontal axis representing time and the vertical axis representing the injection rate. When the user selects the thumbnail 210 by performing a predetermined input operation, such as tapping on the thumbnail image, an enlarged thumbnail 211 is displayed overlapping the injection protocol setting screen, as shown in Fig. 13. In the example shown in Fig. 13, the thumbnail 211 displays an injection protocol consisting of two phases, a first phase (0 to 10 seconds) and a second phase (10 to 30 seconds), in which the contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate of 3.4 mL / sec in the first phase, and in which the injection rate in the second phase starts at 3.4 mL / sec and decreases linearly with a slope where the variable coefficient (initial rate / final rate) is 0.3, so that a total of 80 mL of contrast agent is injected.

[0099] A back button 211 a is also displayed on the thumbnail 211 , and the user can hide the thumbnail 211 by operating the back button 211 a.

[0100] The injection rate in the first phase and the initial rate in the second phase of the injection protocol displayed in thumbnail 211 can be changed by the user. To enable these changes, a first phase rate button 212 and a second phase initial rate button 213 can be displayed in thumbnail 211, as shown in FIG. 14A . Additionally, thumbnail 211 may display a total injection volume 214 of the liquid to be injected in this injection protocol. In FIG. 14A , the total injection volume 214 indicates that 80 mL of the liquid, i.e., contrast medium, will be injected on side A.

[0101] For example, the user can change the injection rate in the first phase by operating the first phase speed button 212. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14B , when the injection rate in the first phase is changed, the initial rate in the second phase is also changed accordingly, but the injection time in the first phase, the injection time in the second phase, and the variable constants are not changed. In the example shown in FIG. 14B , the injection rate in the first phase is changed to 2.4 mL / sec by operating the first phase speed button 212, and the initial rate in the second phase is also changed accordingly. Note that, as a result of changing the injection rate in the first phase and the initial rate in the second phase, the total injection volume in the first and second phases is changed from 80 mL to 55 mL.

[0102] The user can also change the initial rate in the second phase by performing a predetermined input operation on the second phase initial rate button 213. In this case, as shown in Fig. 14C, the injection time in the first phase, the injection time in the second phase, the rate in the first phase, and the variable constants are not changed. In the example shown in Fig. 14C, the initial rate in the second phase is changed to 2.4 mL / sec, and accordingly, the total injection volume in the first and second phases is changed to 65 mL.

[0103] 13 and 14A-C show thumbnails 211 that allow the user to arbitrarily change the injection rate in the first phase and the initial rate in the second phase. Alternatively, the injection time in the first phase may be displayed as a user-operable button, allowing the user to change the injection time in the first phase. Furthermore, the total injection time in the first and second phases may be displayed as a user-operable button, allowing the user to change the total injection time in the first and second phases. In this case, the button position may be configured to move along the time axis as the injection time is changed.

[0104] After setting the injection protocol, the user can perform a predetermined input operation, which causes injection control unit 11 to display a setting confirmation screen, such as that shown in Fig. 15, on display device 13. Appropriate input operations by the user at this time include, for example, operating a button provided on injection head 10a, operating a hand switch connected to injection head 10a, or operating check button 215 displayed on the injection protocol setting screen shown in Fig. 12.

[0105] The setting confirmation screen can display an injection protocol, which includes, for example, the imaging site, the subject's weight, the required iodine amount, the injection time, the amount of medicinal solution in the syringe, and the injection rate over time. The setting confirmation screen also displays a start OK button 311 and a pressure limit button 312. The user can then perform a predetermined input operation in this state to execute the medicinal solution injection. Examples of predetermined user input operations include operating a button on the injection head 10a, operating a hand switch connected to the injection head 10a, or operating the start OK button 311 displayed on the setting confirmation screen shown in FIG. 15 . The pressure limit button 312 displayed on the setting confirmation screen shown in FIG. 15 can be used by the user to change the pressure limit value.

[0106] When the injection operation is performed, the injection control unit 11 displays an injection screen such as that shown in FIG. 16 on the display device 13. The injection screen displays an injection graph in real time, which indicates the change in injection pressure over time. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the injection graph is displayed approximately 20 seconds after the start of injection. The injection graph displays a marker indicating the end of the first phase or the start of the second phase, as well as a marker indicating the current time.

[0107] When the injection is completed, the injection protocol performed in this test is saved as the injection result together with the date in the storage device of the injection control unit 11. The injection results can be displayed on the display device 13, for example, in the form of a list of previously performed injections as shown in FIG. 17 and / or in the form of an injection result graph as shown in FIG. 18. When the injection results are displayed in the form of a list as shown in FIG. 17, the list may include, for example, the injection date and time, the injection pattern, the maximum injection rate, the injection volume, and the maximum injection pressure. The injection pattern can be represented by an injection graph image 411, which pictograms the injection protocol as a rate-time graph, allowing the user to recognize at a glance the injection pattern in which the medicinal solution was injected.

[0108] (Editing Injection Protocol) On the injection protocol setting screen described with reference to Figure 12 etc., the value of each parameter displayed by default is the value preset in the injection control unit 11. Some of the displayed parameters can be changed on the injection protocol setting screen, and when a parameter required for calculating the injection protocol is changed, the injection control unit 11 recalculates the injection protocol using the changed parameter. On the other hand, it is preferable that variable constants important for calculating the injection protocol and the injection time in the second phase cannot be changed on the injection protocol setting screen (in particular, variable constants are not even displayed on the screen). This is to prevent the user from casually changing these parameters.

[0109] However, depending on the test content, it may be necessary to change variable constants, etc. Therefore, it may be possible to allow the user to edit the parameter values ​​displayed by default on the injection protocol setting screen. An example of editing an injection protocol will be described below with reference to Figures 19A and 19B.

[0110] 19A and 19B can be called up, for example, from the home screen, separately from the normal series of steps from setting an injection protocol to executing an injection operation. When editing an injection protocol, the injection pattern selection screen shown in FIG. 19A is first displayed. The injection pattern selection screen displays icons that schematically represent the injection patterns registered in the injection control unit 11. On this injection pattern selection screen, the user selects from the displayed icons an icon representing the injection pattern for which the user wishes to edit the injection protocol.

[0111] When an injection pattern is selected, a protocol editing screen is displayed, displaying various parameters for the selected injection pattern, as shown in FIG. 19B. The user can change the value of each parameter by performing a predetermined input operation on this protocol editing screen. After changing the parameter value, the user can confirm the value of each parameter by operating the "Next" button. The protocol editing screen also allows the user to change not only the required iodine amount and the injection time for the first phase, but also the injection time and variable constants for the second phase, which cannot be changed by the user on the injection protocol setting screen shown in FIG. 12.

[0112] If multiple injection protocols are registered in the injection control unit 11, the injection control unit 11 may be configured to display a protocol selection screen on the display device 13 so that the user can select an injection protocol depending on the imaging area, the purpose of imaging, etc.

[0113] FIG. 20 shows an example of a protocol selection screen. The protocol selection screen 110 shown in FIG. 20 has multiple thumbnails 110a-110f, each of which represents a pictogram of a plurality of injection protocols registered in the injection control unit 11. Each of the thumbnails 110a-110f can be represented, for example, by a pictogram that simplifies an injection graph showing the change in injection rate over time in the injection protocol. This allows the user to intuitively understand what kind of injection protocol the displayed thumbnail 110a-110f represents. When the user selects one of the multiple thumbnails 110a-110f through a predetermined input operation, the injection tips and tricks corresponding to the selected thumbnail are set in the injection control unit 11.

[0114] (Sub-Display) As shown in FIG. 1 , the liquid injector 10 may further include a sub-display 14 controllably connected to the control unit 11 as a second display device. The sub-display 14 is located in the examination room and may be integral with the injection head 10a, for example. The sub-display 14 may display the screens described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 18 . The sub-display 14 allows the user to check and set the injection protocol while observing the subject's condition in the examination room. To enable the user to set the injection protocol using the sub-display 14, the sub-display 14 is preferably a touch panel display. When the sub-display 14 is included, the display device 13 may also be referred to as the main display.

[0115] When the liquid injector 10 has a main display (display device 13) and a sub-display 14, the display contents of the two may be the same or different. Furthermore, when the main display and the sub-display 14 are touch panels, the two may be configured to exclusively accept input operations, or to simultaneously accept input operations. When the two are configured to exclusively accept input operations, input operations on one may be prohibited when the other is ready to accept input operations. When the two are configured to simultaneously accept input operations, input operations on the other may be prohibited when one is accepting input operations. Furthermore, the liquid injector 10 may be configured to display a screen prompting the user to enter input operations on the other depending on the status. Furthermore, when the main display and the sub-display 14 are located in an operation room and an examination room, respectively, the main display and the sub-display 14 may be configured to allow the user to set injection conditions for different subjects. This allows, for example, the user to set injection conditions for the current subject on the sub-display 14 while setting injection conditions for the next subject on the main display, thereby enabling efficient injections for multiple subjects.

[0116] [D] Other Embodiments Other embodiments applicable to the present invention will be described below.

[0117] (D-1) Container and Driving Mechanism In the embodiment described above, the container to be filled with the drug solution is syringe 20, and driving mechanism 15 is described as operating syringe 20. However, the container may be a bag or a bottle, in which case a known mechanism such as a tube-type pump can be used as driving mechanism 15.

[0118] (D-2) Injection Simulation To enable the user to confirm whether the set injection protocol is appropriate, the injection control unit 11 may be configured to simulate the currently set injection protocol prior to the injection operation and display the results, for example, in a TDC. To achieve this, for example, as shown in FIG. 21 , an injection simulation button 250 may be displayed on the screen for setting the injection protocol, and the injection simulation may be executed by the user operating this injection simulation button 250. The injection simulation may be executed using a known simulation algorithm.

[0119] The simulation may be performed only for the currently set injection protocol, and the TDC of the simulation may be displayed. Alternatively, the simulation may be performed for the currently set injection protocol and at least one other injection protocol, and the TDCs of the other injection protocols may be simultaneously displayed, allowing the TDC of the currently set injection protocol to be compared with the TDC of the other injection protocols. Furthermore, the injection control unit 11 may have an injection protocol optimization function that uses the simulation results to determine optimal imaging timing for each blood vessel and each solid organ, based on the magnitude of the CT number and the magnitude of the difference in CT number between other blood vessels and solid organs, and provides the determined timing to the user.

[0120] The other injection protocol to be compared may be any injection protocol, or if the currently set injection protocol is an injection protocol whose parameters have been changed by the user on the injection setting screen as described using Figures 4, 5, and 6A to 6C, it may be the injection protocol before the change, or it may be both the any injection protocol and the injection protocol before the change.

[0121] FIG. 22 shows an example of a TDC that can be displayed as an injection simulation result. In the TDC shown in FIG. 22, the solid line represents the simulation results when the currently set injection protocol is the injection protocol described in Injection Protocol Form 7 (hereinafter referred to as the trapezoidal injection protocol), while the dashed line represents the simulation results when the other injection protocol is a variable injection protocol. The trapezoidal injection protocol was simulated under the following conditions: injection time in the first phase = 10 seconds, injection time in the second phase = 20 seconds, initial rate in the first phase and initial rate in the second phase = 4.3 mL / sec, and final rate in the second phase = 1.4 mL / sec (i.e., variable constant = 0.3). The variable injection protocol was simulated under the following conditions: initial rate = 5.1 mL / sec, final rate = 1.5 mL / sec (i.e., variable constant = 0.3), and injection time = 30 seconds. It can be seen from FIG. 22 that the trapezoidal injection protocol produces a time-concentration curve equivalent to that of the variable injection protocol, while injecting at a lower initial rate than the variable injection protocol.

[0122] Here, the variable injection protocol used for comparison was simulated with the same variable constants as the trapezoidal injection protocol, but the simulation may be performed with variable constants determined separately from the trapezoidal injection protocol.

[0123] The simulation results can be displayed as a pop-up screen overlaid on the currently displayed screen. The displayed simulation results can be configured to be closed by a user's specified operation. This allows the user to adjust the injection conditions while checking the simulation results and optimize the injection conditions to achieve the desired contrast ratios for multiple anatomical structures. Furthermore, if the subject to whom the contrast agent is injected is suspected to have a tumor, the TDC displayed as the simulation results may be configured to include the TDC of the tumor. In this case, the TDC may be calculated for a modeled tumor using a statistical method. Displaying the tumor along with the anatomical structures on the TDC in this way makes it easier to find the imaging timing that maximizes the contrast ratio between the anatomical structures and the tumor. As described above, if the injection control unit 11 has an injection protocol optimization function, the injection control unit 11 may be configured to automatically simulate injection conditions that maximize the contrast ratio between each anatomical structure and the tumor and display the results, for example, as a TDC.

[0124] Since the TDC also varies depending on the subject's biological information, the TDC displayed as a simulation result may reflect the subject's biological information. In this case, the subject's biological information may be input by a user or may be input from one or more appropriate sensors for detecting the biological information. Examples of biological information include heart rate information, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure information, electrocardiogram information, pulse wave information, body temperature, respiratory rate, inhalation state, and exhalation state, and at least one of these may be reflected in the TDC.

[0125] (D-3) Linkage with Medical Network As shown in Fig. 1, injection control unit 11 of liquid injector 10 may be connected to medical network 70. This allows various information related to liquid injection by liquid injector 10 to be stored as injection data in a RIS (Radiology Information System), PACS (Picture Archiving and Management System), HIS (Hospital Information System), external cloud server, etc. via medical network 70.

[0126] Various types of information related to drug injection include the set injection protocol, injection results, the type of drug injected, the date and time of injection, and information on whether the injection was completed successfully or if an abnormality occurred (and, if an abnormality occurred, what the abnormality was). The set injection protocol includes the injection rate, injection time, and injection volume (or, in the case of a multi-phase injection, the injection rate, injection time, injection volume, and injection pressure for each phase). The data format may be text, graph, or image data. For example, the injection protocol may be saved as an image visually representing the injection pattern, such as the injection rate-time graph shown in FIG. 3 . In this case, at least one of the injection conditions may be saved as part of the image, separately from the image, or both. The injection results may include not only the injection rate, injection time, and injection volume of the drug actually injected (or, in the case of a multi-phase injection, the injection rate, injection time, and injection volume for each phase), but also injection result graphs (time-concentration curve, injection rate-time graph, injection pressure-time graph). The injection result graph may be in a format that allows the user to arbitrarily switch between an injection rate-time graph and an injection pressure-time graph, for example, by switching the vertical axis between injection rate and injection pressure. Other examples of the injection result include contrast images obtained by imaging and TDC. This makes it easier for the user to understand the relationship between the injection protocol and the injection result. Furthermore, the injection protocol and the injection result can be easily compared, which can be useful for adjusting the injection protocol or imaging protocol to obtain better contrast images during the next contrast examination.

[0127] Furthermore, if the container into which the medicinal liquid is filled is equipped with a data carrier and data is acquired from the data carrier, the acquired data can also be stored in a RIS, PACS, HIS, etc. via the medical network 70. Data recorded on the data carrier includes various data related to the medicinal liquid, such as the manufacturer, type of medicinal liquid, product number, contained ingredients (especially, iodine concentration if the medicinal liquid is a contrast agent), amount of medicinal liquid contained, lot number, expiration date, etc. Furthermore, if the container is a syringe, various data related to the syringe can be included, such as unique identification numbers such as the manufacturer and product number, allowable pressure value, syringe capacity, piston stroke, necessary dimensions of each part, lot number, etc.

[0128] The saved injection data is used to manage injection history. In particular, the injection amount can be recorded in the patient's medical record as used liquid medicine, or used for accounting purposes. Furthermore, the subject's physical information, such as weight, ID, name, examination area, and examination method can be obtained from the RIS, PACS, HIS, etc. and displayed on the liquid medicine injector, allowing appropriate injections to be performed.

[0129] (Additional Note) This specification discloses the following inventions.

[0130] A1. A liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject, the liquid medicine having a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing an injection rate over time, the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of a phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of a phase, and a variable constant expressed as (injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of a phase) / (injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of a phase).

[0131] A2. The liquid injector according to A1, wherein the injection phase is a variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected at an injection rate that decreases linearly over time.

[0132] A3. The injection volume of the contrast agent is V (mL), the injection time of the contrast agent is T (sec), and the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase is F ｓ (mL / sec), and the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase is F ｅ (mL / sec), T (sec) and F ｅ (mL / sec) is set in the control unit, and the control unit calculates V (mL) using the subject's physical information and calculates V (mL) using the following formula: By F ｓ The chemical liquid injector according to A2, configured to calculate (mL / sec).

[0133] A4. The injection volume of the contrast agent is V (mL), the injection time of the contrast agent is T (sec), and the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase is F ｓ (mL / sec) and the variable constant is f, T (sec) and f are set, and the control unit calculates V (mL) using the subject's physical information and calculates V (mL) using the following formula: By F ｓ The chemical liquid injector according to A2, configured to calculate (mL / sec).

[0134] A5. The drug solution injector according to A1, wherein the injection protocol includes a first phase that is a variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected at an injection rate that linearly decreases over time, and a second phase that is an inverse variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected at an injection rate that linearly increases over time.

[0135] A6. The injection amount of contrast agent in the first phase is V １ (mL), and the injection amount of the contrast agent in the second phase is V ２ (mL), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the first phase is T １ (sec), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the second phase is T ２ (sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F１ｅ (mL / sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｅ (mL / sec), F １ｅ (mL / sec) and F ２ｓ (mL / sec) is set in the control unit, and F １ｅ (mL / sec)=F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the control unit uses the subject's physical information to determine V １ (mL) and V ２ (mL) and calculated using the following formula: By F １ｓ (mL / sec) and F ２ｅ The chemical liquid injector according to A5, configured to calculate (mL / sec).

[0136] A7. The control unit includes a control unit for setting the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase to F １ｅ and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｓ 7. The chemical liquid injector according to claim 6, wherein the value of is set to 0.1 (mL / sec).

[0137] A8. The injection amount of contrast agent in the first phase is V １ (mL), and the injection amount of the contrast agent in the second phase is V ２ (mL), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the first phase is T １ (sec), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the second phase is T ２ (sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｅ (mL / sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｅ (mL / sec), and the variable constant of the first phase is f １ When f １is set in the control unit, and F １ｅ (mL / sec)=F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the control unit uses the subject's physical information to determine V １ (mL) and V ２ (mL) and calculated using the following formula: By F １ｓ (mL / sec), F １ｅ (mL / sec) and F ２ｅ The chemical liquid injector according to A5, configured to calculate (mL / sec).

[0138] A9. The injection amount of contrast agent in the first phase is V １ (mL), and the injection amount of the contrast agent in the second phase is V ２ (mL), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the first phase is T １ (sec), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the second phase is T ２ (sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｅ (mL / sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｅ (mL / sec), and the variable constant of the first phase is f １ and the variable constant of the second phase is f ２ When f １ and f ２ is set in the control unit, and the control unit calculates V using physical information of the subject. １ (mL) and V ２ (mL) and calculated using the following formula: By F １ｓ (mL / sec), F １ｅ (mL / sec), F ２ｓ (mL / sec) and F ２ｅ The chemical liquid injector according to A5, configured to calculate (mL / sec).

[0139] A10. A medical imaging system comprising: a liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject; a medical imaging device that acquires medical images of the subject into whom the liquid medicine has been injected by the liquid medicine injector; and a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine, wherein the injection protocol has at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing an injection rate over time, and the control unit is configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as (injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase) / (injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase).

[0140] A11. A computer program for a medical solution injector that injects a medical solution filled in a container into a subject, the computer causing a computer to function as a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the medical solution, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing an injection rate over time, the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of a phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of a phase, and a variable constant expressed as (injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of a phase) / (injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of a phase).

[0141] A computer program for a medical imaging system having a liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject, and a medical imaging device that acquires medical images of the subject into whom the liquid medicine has been injected by the liquid medicine injector, causing a computer to function as a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time, and the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of a phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of a phase, and a variable constant expressed as (injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of a phase) / (injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of a phase).

[0142] B1. A liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject, comprising: a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine in a plurality of injection phases including a first phase and a second phase subsequent to the first phase, wherein the control unit calculates a total injection amount of the contrast agent to be injected in the injection protocol based on physical information of the subject, and calculates injection conditions for the contrast agent in the first phase and the second phase such that the contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate in the first phase and the contrast agent is injected at a variable injection rate in the second phase, and the total injection amount of the contrast agent is injected in the first phase and the second phase.

[0143] B2. The liquid injector according to B1, further comprising a user interface for receiving input of physical information of the subject, a duration of the first phase, and a duration of the second phase from a user.

[0144] B3. The liquid injector according to B2, wherein the user interface includes an input device and a display device.

[0145] B4. The liquid medicine injector according to B1, wherein the physical information is the subject's weight.

[0146] B5. The liquid injection device according to B1, wherein the injection conditions include an injection time in the first phase, an injection time in the second phase, an injection rate in the first phase, a terminal rate in the second phase, an injection amount in the first phase, and an injection amount in the second phase. B6. The liquid injection device according to B5, wherein the injection time in the first phase and the injection time in the second phase are preset in the control unit. B7. The liquid injection device according to B1, wherein the total injection amount is V (mL), the required iodine amount is I (mL), and the injection conditions include an injection time in the first phase, an injection rate in the second phase, an injection amount in the first phase, and an injection amount in the second phase. ｎｅｅｄ (mgI / kg), contrast agent concentration is I ＣＭ (mgI / mL), and the subject's body weight is W (kg), the total injection volume V is The chemical liquid injector according to B4,

[0147] B8. The injection rate in the first phase is F １ (mL / sec), the injection time in the first phase is T １ (sec), the injection time in the second phase is T ２ (sec), when a variable constant C is the final velocity in the second phase / initial velocity in the second phase, the injection velocity F in the first phase １ (mL / sec) is The chemical liquid injector according to B5,

[0148] B9. The injection rate in the second phase is F ２ = the final injection rate (mL / sec) in the second phase, V １ (mL), the injection amount in the second phase is V ２ (mL), these are: The chemical liquid injector according to B8,

[0149] B10. A medical imaging system comprising: a liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject; a medical imaging device that acquires medical images of the subject into whom the liquid medicine has been injected by the liquid medicine injector; and a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine in a plurality of injection phases including a first phase and a second phase subsequent to the first phase, wherein the control unit calculates a total injection amount of the contrast agent to be injected in the injection protocol based on physical information of the subject, and calculates injection conditions for the contrast agent in the first phase and the second phase so that the contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate in the first phase and the contrast agent is injected at a variable injection rate in the second phase, and the total injection amount of the contrast agent is injected in the first phase and the second phase.

[0150] B11. A computer program for a medical solution injector that injects a medical solution filled in a container into a subject, the computer causing the computer to function as a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the medical solution in a plurality of injection phases including a first phase and a second phase subsequent to the first phase, the control unit calculating a total injection amount of the contrast agent to be injected in the injection protocol based on physical information of the subject, and calculating injection conditions for the contrast agent in the first phase and the second phase such that the contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate in the first phase and the contrast agent is injected at a variable injection rate in the second phase, and the total injection amount of the contrast agent is injected in the first phase and the second phase.

[0151] B12. A computer program for a medical imaging system having a liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject, and a medical imaging device that acquires medical images of the subject into whom the liquid medicine has been injected by the liquid medicine injector, the computer causing the computer to function as a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine in a plurality of injection phases including a first phase and a second phase subsequent to the first phase, the control unit calculating a total injection amount of the contrast agent to be injected in the injection protocol based on physical information of the subject, and calculating injection conditions for the contrast agent in the first phase and the second phase so that the contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate in the first phase and the contrast agent is injected at a variable injection rate in the second phase, and the total injection amount of the contrast agent is injected in the first phase and the second phase.

[0152] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Medical solution injector 10a Injection head 10b Console 11 Injection control unit 12 Input device 13 Display device 14 Sub-display (second display device) 50 Fluoroscopic imaging device 51 Imaging control unit 52 Imaging operation unit 53 Input device 54 Display device 70 Medical network 110 Injection protocol selection screen 110a-110f Thumbnail 201 Human body image 202 Contrast agent concentration button 203 Required iodine amount button 204 Pressure limit button 205 Amount of medical solution in syringe 206 Weight button 207 Injection time button 210, 211 Thumbnail 212 First phase speed button 213 Second phase initial speed button 214 Total injection amount 215 Check button 311 Start OK button 312 Pressure limit button

Claims

1. A liquid medicine injection device for injecting a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject, the liquid medicine comprising: a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine; the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time; and the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase / the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase.

2. The liquid drug injector according to claim 1, wherein the injection phase is a variable injection phase in which the contrast medium is injected at an injection rate that decreases linearly with time.

3. The injection volume of the contrast agent is V (mL), the injection time of the contrast agent is T (sec), and the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase is F ｓ (mL / sec), and the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase is F ｅ (mL / sec), T (sec) and F ｅ (mL / sec) is set in the control unit, and the control unit calculates V (mL) using the subject's physical information and calculates V (mL) using the following formula: By F ｓ The chemical liquid injector of claim 2 , configured to calculate (mL / sec).

4. The injection volume of the contrast agent is V (mL), the injection time of the contrast agent is T (sec), and the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase is F ｓ (mL / sec) and the variable constant is f, T (sec) and f are set, and the control unit calculates V (mL) using the subject's physical information and calculates V (mL) using the following formula: By F ｓ The chemical liquid injector of claim 2 , configured to calculate (mL / sec).

5. The chemical liquid injector according to claim 1, wherein the injection protocol has a first phase and a second phase following the first phase.

6. The drug solution injection device of claim 5, wherein the first phase is a variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected at an injection rate that decreases linearly over time, and the second phase is an inverse variable injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected at an injection rate that increases linearly over time.

7. The injection amount of contrast agent in the first phase is V １ (mL), and the injection amount of the contrast agent in the second phase is V ２ (mL), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the first phase is T １ (sec), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the second phase is T ２ (sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｅ (mL / sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｅ (mL / sec), F １ｅ (mL / sec) and F ２ｓ (mL / sec) is set in the control unit, and F １ｅ (mL / sec)=F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the control unit uses the subject's physical information to determine V １ (mL) and V ２ (mL) and calculated using the following formula: By F １ｓ (mL / sec) and F ２ｅ The chemical liquid injector of claim 6, configured to calculate (mL / sec).

8. The control unit includes a control unit for setting the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase to F １ｅ and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｓ 8. The chemical liquid injector according to claim 7, wherein the value of is set to 0.1 (mL / sec).

9. The injection amount of contrast agent in the first phase is V １ (mL), and the injection amount of the contrast agent in the second phase is V ２ (mL), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the first phase is T １ (sec), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the second phase is T ２ (sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｅ (mL / sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｅ (mL / sec), and the variable constant of the first phase is f １ When f １ is set in the control unit, and F １ｅ (mL / sec)=F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the control unit uses the subject's physical information to determine V １ (mL) and V ２ (mL) and calculated using the following formula: By F １ｓ (mL / sec), F １ｅ (mL / sec) and F ２ｅ The chemical liquid injector of claim 6, configured to calculate (mL / sec).

10. The injection amount of contrast agent in the first phase is V １ (mL), and the injection amount of the contrast agent in the second phase is V ２ (mL), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the first phase is T １ (sec), and the injection time of the contrast agent in the second phase is T ２ (sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the first phase is F １ｅ (mL / sec), and the initial injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｓ (mL / sec), and the final injection rate of the contrast agent in the second phase is F ２ｅ (mL / sec), and the variable constant of the first phase is f １ and the variable constant of the second phase is f ２ When f １ and f ２ is set in the control unit, and the control unit calculates V using physical information of the subject. １ (mL) and V ２ (mL) and calculated using the following formula: By F １ｓ (mL / sec), F １ｅ (mL / sec), F ２ｓ (mL / sec) and F ２ｅ The chemical liquid injector of claim 6, configured to calculate (mL / sec).

11. The drug solution injection device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit calculates a total injection amount of the contrast agent to be injected in the injection protocol based on physical information of the subject, and calculates injection conditions for the contrast agent in the first phase and the second phase so that the contrast agent is injected at a constant injection rate in the first phase and the contrast agent is injected at a variable injection rate in the second phase, and the total injection amount of the contrast agent is injected in the first phase and the second phase.

12. The liquid medicine injector according to claim 11, further comprising a user interface for receiving input of physical information of the subject, the duration of the first phase, and the duration of the second phase from a user.

13. The chemical liquid injector according to claim 12, wherein the user interface comprises an input device and a display device.

14. The liquid medicine injector according to claim 11, wherein the physical information is the subject's weight.

15. The chemical liquid injection device of claim 11, wherein the injection conditions include an injection time in the first phase, an injection time in the second phase, an injection rate in the first phase, a terminal rate in the second phase, an injection amount in the first phase, and an injection amount in the second phase.

16. The chemical liquid injector according to claim 15, wherein the injection time in the first phase and the injection time in the second phase are preset in the control unit.

17. The total injection volume is V (mL), and the required iodine volume is I ｎｅｅｄ (mgI / kg), contrast agent concentration is I ＣＭ (mgI / mL), and the subject's body weight is W (kg), the total injection volume V is The chemical liquid injector according to claim 14, wherein the chemical liquid injector is determined by the following formula:

18. The injection rate in the first phase is F １ (mL / sec), the injection time in the first phase is T １ (sec), the injection time in the second phase is T ２ (sec), when a variable constant C is the final velocity in the second phase / initial velocity in the second phase, the injection velocity F in the first phase １ (mL / sec) is The chemical liquid injector according to claim 15, wherein the chemical liquid injector is determined by the following formula:

19. The injection rate in the second phase is F ２ = the final injection rate (mL / sec) in the second phase, V １ (mL), the injection amount in the second phase is V ２ (mL), these are: The chemical solution injector according to claim 18, wherein the chemical solution injector is determined by the following formula:

20. A medical imaging system comprising: a liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject; a medical imaging device that acquires medical images from the subject into whom the liquid medicine has been injected by the liquid medicine injector; and a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine, wherein the injection protocol has at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time, and the control unit is configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase / the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase.

21. A computer program for a drug solution injection device that injects a drug solution filled in a container into a subject, the computer program causing a computer to function as a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the drug solution, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time, and the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase / the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase.

22. A computer program for a medical imaging system having a liquid medicine injector that injects a liquid medicine filled in a container into a subject, and a medical imaging device that acquires medical images from the subject into whom the liquid medicine has been injected by the liquid medicine injector, the computer program causing the computer to function as a control unit configured to set an injection protocol in which at least a contrast agent is injected as the liquid medicine, the injection protocol having at least one phase including an injection phase in which the contrast agent is injected by decreasing or increasing the injection rate over time, and the control unit configured to set the injection protocol using at least one of parameters including an injection amount of the contrast agent, an injection time of the contrast agent, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase, an injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase, and a variable constant expressed as the injection rate of the contrast agent at the end of the phase / the injection rate of the contrast agent at the start of the phase.

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