IP Library Granted Patent US 7,221,729
Granted Patent B2
US 7,221,729 · App. 11/401,936 · Granted May 22, 2007

X-ray computer tomography apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,221,729
App. No.
11/401,936
Granted
May 22, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An X-ray computer tomography apparatus which performs prep scanning prior to main scanning to acquire information for use in reconstruction of a tomographic image for diagnosis, the main scanning including rotary scanning around a rotation axis, and axial scanning along the rotation axis, the X-ray computer tomography apparatus includes determination unit which determines a speed based on a change of a characteristic amount concerning information obtained by the prep scanning, and a unit which controls, to the determined speed, a speed of the axial scanning in a period from the start to the completion of the main scanning.

Claims (16)

1. An X-ray computer tomography apparatus which performs prep scanning prior to main scanning to acquire information for use in reconstruction of a tomographic image for diagnosis, the X-ray computer tomography apparatus comprising:

a determination unit which determines a speed based on a change of a characteristic amount concerning information obtained by the prep scanning; and

a unit which controls, to the determined speed, a speed of an axial scanning in a period from the start to the completion of the main scanning.

2. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines the speed based on an average inclination of the change of the characteristic amount in a predetermined period.

3. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the determination unit judges a velocity of blood flow based on the inclination to determine the speed based on the velocity of blood flow.

4. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a unit which changes an information collecting density per unit time during the axial scanning in accordance with the determined speed.

5. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic amount is one of an average value of a plurality of CT values obtained concerning a plurality of pixels in an interest region by the prep scanning; an added value of the plurality of CT values; an average value of difference values between the plurality of CT values and a CT value obtained from the same pixel before injecting of a contrast medium is started; and an added value of the difference values between the plurality of CT values and the CT value obtained from the same pixel before the injecting is started.

6. An X-ray computer tomography apparatus which performs prep scanning prior to main scanning to acquire information for use in reconstruction of a tomographic image for diagnosis, the X-ray computer tomography apparatus comprising:

a determination unit which determines a timing to start the main scanning based on an inclination of a change of a characteristic amount with time concerning information obtained by the prep scanning; and

a unit which controls the X-ray computer tomography apparatus to start the main scanning at the determined timing.

7. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the determination unit determines the timing based on an average inclination of the change of the characteristic amount in a predetermined period.

8. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the determination unit judges a velocity of blood flow based on the inclination to determine the timing based on the velocity of blood flow.

9. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the characteristic amount is one of an average value of a plurality of CT values obtained concerning a plurality of pixels in an interest region by the prep scanning; an added value of the plurality of CT values; an average value of difference values between the plurality of CT values and a CT value obtained from the same pixel before injecting of a contrast medium is started; and an added value of the difference values between the plurality of CT values and the CT value obtained from the same pixel before the injecting is started.

10. The X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a unit that outputs a guidance concerning the main scanning synchronously with the start of the main scanning at the determined timing.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2016
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038891/0693 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2006
From: WAKAI, MISAKO; TSUKAGOSHI, SHINSUKE; MAEDA, TATSUO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017784/0070 →