X-ray computed tomography apparatus
View Patent ↗An X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus comprising a gantry which scans a patient with X-rays in order to acquire data on the patient, a decision unit which decides completion of the acquisition of the data on the basis of an electrocardiac waveform of the patient, and a scan controller which controls the gantry in order to end the scan or irradiation with the X-rays when the completion of the data acquisition has been decided.
1. An X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus, comprising:
a scan unit configured to scan a patient with X-rays in order to acquire data on the patient;
a decision unit configured to decide completion of the acquisition of the data based on an electrocardiac waveform of the patient such that a period of the scanning includes at least one heart beat; and
a control unit configured to control said scan unit in order to end the scan and/or irradiation with the X-rays when the completion of the data acquisition has been decided,
wherein said decision unit includes an irregular-heart-beat detection unit configured to detect an irregular heart beat based on the electrocardiac waveform of the patient; and
wherein said decision unit is configured to render the decision in order to acquire data of a view corresponding to the irregular heart beat.
2. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a reconstruction unit configured to reconstruct image data based on data acquired in normal heart beat periods, excluding the irregular heart beat.
3. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is configured to extend a time period for the data acquisition when the irregular heart beat has been detected.
4. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said decision unit is configured to count the number of heart beats except the irregular heart beat since a start of the data acquisition, and to decide the completion of the data acquisition when the counted number has reached a preset number.
5. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said decision unit is configured to count a total number of heart beats except the irregular heart beat since a start of the data acquisition.
6. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said decision unit is configured to count the continuous number of heart beats except the irregular heart beat since a start of the data acquisition.
7. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said decision unit is configured to count the number of heart beats except a heart beat subsequent to the irregular heart beat, when the irregular heart beat has been detected.
8. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an input-screen creation unit configured to create a screen in order to input a condition concerning the completion of the data acquisition.
9. An X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the input screen contains choices for selecting which of a total number and a continuous number is to be counted as the number of heart beats.
10. An X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the input screen contains candidates for a preset counted number corresponding to the number of heart beats of the patient.
11. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said decision unit is configured to decide ending of the data acquisition together with the completion thereof.
12. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said decision unit is configured to decide the ending of the data acquisition upon lapse of a predetermined time period since a start of the data acquisition.
13. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said decision unit is configured to decide the ending of the data acquisition when the number of heart beats since a start of the data acquisition has reached a predetermined number.
14. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said decision unit is configured to decide the ending of the data acquisition when the continuous number or the total number of such irregular heart beats since a start of the data acquisition has reached a predetermined number.
15. The X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said decision unit is configured to decide the ending of the data acquisition when a duration of the irregular heart beat or a total time period of such irregular heart beats since a start of the data acquisition has reached a predetermined time period.
16. An X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said scan unit includes an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector of two-dimensional array type, the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector are fixed at predetermined positions concerning a body axis direction of the patient, and the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector are continuously rotated around the patient, thereby to acquire the data.
17. An X-ray computerized tomographic apparatus, comprising:
a scan unit configured to scan a patient with X-rays in order to acquire data on the patient;
a decision unit configured to decide completion and ending of the data acquisition based on a number of irregular heart beats or normal heart beats of the patient such that a period of the scanning includes at least one heart beat; and
a control unit configured to control said scan unit in order to end the scan and/or irradiation with the X-rays when either of the completion and ending of the data acquisition has been decided,
wherein said decision unit includes an irregular-heart-beat detection unit configured to detect an irregular heart beat based on the electrocardiac waveform of the patient; and
wherein said decision unit is configured to render the decision in order to acquire data of a view corresponding to the irregular heart beat.