IP Library Granted Patent US 9,480,438
Granted Patent B2
US 9,480,438 · App. 14/220,759 · Granted Nov 1, 2016

X-ray imaging apparatus, medical image processing apparatus, X-ray imaging method and medical image processing method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,480,438
App. No.
14/220,759
Granted
Nov 1, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, an X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray image acquisition part, a control system and a display processing part. The X-ray image acquisition part is configured to acquire X-ray image data of an object using at least one imaging system. The control system is configured to control the imaging system to acquire frames of X-ray image data corresponding to mutually different directions by moving the imaging system. At least one of the frames of the X-ray image data are acquired during a movement of the imaging system. The display processing part is configured to generate stereoscopically visible image data based on the frames of the X-ray image data.

Claims (38)

1. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:

at least one imaging system, having an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector, configured to acquire X-ray image data of an object;

a control system configured to control the imaging system to acquire frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to mutually different directions by moving the imaging system, the frames of the X-ray image data being acquired during a movement of the imaging system; and

a display processing circuit configured to generate stereoscopically visible image data based on the frames of the X-ray image data, acquired during movement of the imaging system and corresponding to positions which are between and not including ends of a movement range of the imaging system.

2. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said control system is configured to control the imaging system to reciprocate the imaging system to acquire the frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to mutually different directions in each of an outward way and a return way of the imaging system.

3. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said control system is configured to control the imaging system to acquire the frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to not less than three different directions while the imaging system is moving in at least one direction; and

said display processing circuit is configured to generate the frames of image data, which can be stereoscopically viewed from mutually different directions, by sequentially generating one frame of stereoscopically visible image data based on two frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to two different directions.

4. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said control system is configured to control the imaging system to acquire the frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to not less than three different directions while the imaging system is moving in at least one direction; and

said display processing circuit is configured to generate one frame of image data, which can be stereoscopically viewed from mutually different directions, based on the frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to the not less than three different directions.

5. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said display processing circuit is configured to generate the stereoscopically visible image data with coordinate conversion processing of the frames of the X-ray image data, the coordinate conversion processing converting a direction of the frames of the X-ray image data, corresponding to a moving direction of the imaging system, to a horizontal direction of a display unit for the stereoscopically visible image data.

6. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a specification circuit configured to specify at least one of whether the imaging system is reciprocated, the different directions to acquire the frames of the X-ray image data, and the frames of the X-ray image data used for generating one frame of the stereoscopically visible image data.

7. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said display processing circuit is configured to generate the stereoscopically visible image data with a motion correction between the frames of the X-ray image data, corresponding to a same direction, acquired at mutually different timings by the imaging system.

8. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said control system is configured to move the imaging system along a locus having a shape of an ellipse or a character of eight, a projection of the locus on a plane being pendular.

9. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein said display processing circuit is configured to generate the stereoscopically visible image data based on the frames of the X-ray image data acquired during an accelerating period or on decelerating period of the imaging system.

10. An X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein a difference in angle between exposure directions of X-rays exposed in order to acquire two-parallax images consisting of the stereoscopically visible image data is set within a range from 1 degree to 3 degrees.

11. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

an image acquisition circuit configured to acquire frames of X-ray image data corresponding to not less than three different directions, the frames of the X-ray image data being acquired using a single imaging system, the frames of the X-ray image data being acquired during a movement of the imaging system and corresponding to positions which are between and not including ends of a movement range of the imaging system; and

a display processing circuit configured to generate stereoscopically visible image data based on the frames of the X-ray image data.

12. A medical image processing apparatus of claim 11 ,

wherein said display processing circuit is configured to generate frames of image data, which can be stereoscopically viewed from mutually different directions, by sequentially generating one frame of stereoscopically visible image data based on two frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to two different directions.

13. A medical image processing apparatus of claim 11 ,

wherein said display processing circuit is configured to generate one frame of image data, which can be stereoscopically viewed from mutually different directions, based on the frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to the not less than three different directions.

14. An X-ray imaging method comprising:

acquiring X-ray image data of an object using at least one imaging system;

controlling the at least one imaging system to acquire frames of the X-ray image data corresponding to mutually different directions by moving the at least one imaging system, the frames of the X-ray image data being acquired during a movement of the at least one imaging system; and

generating stereoscopically visible image data based on the frames of the X-ray image data, acquired during the movement of the at least one imaging system and corresponding to positions which are between and not including ends of a movement range of the imaging system.

15. A medical image processing method comprising:

acquiring frames of X-ray image data corresponding to not less than three different directions, the frames of the X-ray image data being acquired using a single imaging system, the frames of the X-ray image data being acquired during a movement of the imaging system and corresponding to positions which are between and not including ends of a movement range of the imaging system; and

generating stereoscopically visible image data based on the frames of the X-ray image data.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2016
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038733/0739 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2014
From: SAKAGUCHI, TAKUYA; TAKEMOTO, HISATO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032488/0657 →