IP Library Granted Patent US 9,918,689
Granted Patent B2
US 9,918,689 · App. 14/800,357 · Granted Mar 20, 2018

Medical image processing apparatus and X-ray CT apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,918,689
App. No.
14/800,357
Granted
Mar 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a medical image processing apparatus includes a storage circuit and processing circuitry. The storage circuit stores correction data for emergency and/or correction data for normal time. The processing circuitry outputs a command to perform imaging of a patient and acquire radiographic data, and determines whether imaging time of the patient is in a first period during which temperature of an X-ray detector is stable or in a second period during which the temperature is not stable, before the imaging of the patient. In addition, the processing circuitry corrects the radiographic data by using the correction data for emergency when the imaging time is in the second period, and corrects the radiographic data by using the correction data for normal time when the imaging time is in the first period.

Claims (48)

1. A medical image processing apparatus comprising:

a storage circuit configured to store first correction data and/or second correction data; and

processing circuitry configured to

generate the first correction data based on an imaging during a first period when a temperature of an X-ray detector is stable,

generate the second correction data during a second period when the temperature of the X-ray detector is not stable, the second correction data being generated by calculating a change of sensitivity between air data acquired during the first period and air data acquired during the second period and applying the change of sensitivity to the first correction data,

output a command to perform imaging of an object and acquire radiographic data,

determine whether imaging time of the object is during the first period or the second period, and

correct the radiographic data by using the second correction data when the imaging time of the object is during the second period, and correct the radiographic data by using the first correction data when the imaging time of the object is during the first period.

2. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to generate the second correction data and record the second correction data on the storage circuit when the imaging time of the object is during the second period.

3. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to

acquire temperature information indicating temperature of the X-ray detector,

determine whether the imaging time is during the first period or the second period, based on the temperature information, and

generate the second correction data when the imaging time of the object is during the second period.

4. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to

determine whether the imaging time of the object is during the first period or the second period, based on temperature change rate indicating temperature change of the X-ray detector, and

generate the second correction data when the imaging time of the object is during the second period.

5. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to

acquire information on elapsed time after start of power supply to the X-ray detector,

determine whether the imaging time of the object is during the first period or the second period, based on the information on elapsed time, and

generate the second correction data when the imaging time of the object is during the second period.

6. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to

perform determination as to whether past second correction data of the second correction data are available or not,

generate new second correction data of the second correction data at a time of the determination, when the past second correction data are determined to be unavailable, and

correct the radiographic data by using the new second correction data.

7. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to

perform determination as to whether the past second correction data are available or not, based on elapsed time from generation timing of the past second correction data to actual imaging of the object,

generate the new second correction data at a time of the determination, when the past second correction data are determined to be unavailable, and

correct the radiographic data by using the new second correction data.

8. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to

perform determination as to whether the past second correction data are available or not, based on first elapsed time from generation timing of the past second correction data to actual imaging of the object and second elapsed time after start of power supply to the X-ray detector,

generate the new second correction data at a time of the determination, when the past second correction data are determined to be unavailable, and

correct the radiographic data by using the new second correction data.

9. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to

perform determination as to whether the past second correction data are available or not, based on elapsed time from generation timing of the past second correction data to actual imaging of the object and temperature information indicating temperature of the X-ray detector,

generate the new second correction data at a time of the determination, when the past second correction data are determined to be unavailable, and

correct the radiographic data by using the new second correction data.

10. An X-ray CT apparatus comprising:

an X-ray source configured to irradiate X-rays;

an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays;

a data acquisition circuit configured to acquire radiographic data of X-rays detected by the X-ray detector;

a storage circuit configured to store first correction data and/or second correction data; and

processing circuitry configured to

generate the first correction data based on an imaging during a first period when a temperature of an X-ray detector is stable,

generate the second correction data during a second period when the temperature of the X-ray detector is not stable, the second correction data being generated by calculating change of sensitivity between air data acquired during the first period and air data acquired during the second period and applying the change of sensitivity to the first correction data,

output a command to acquire radiographic data by performing imaging of an object using the X-ray source, the X-ray detector, and the data acquisition circuit,

determine whether imaging time of the object is during the first period or the second period,

correct the radiographic data by using the second correction data when the imaging time of the object is during the second period, and correct the radiographic data by using the first correction data when the imaging time of the object is during the first period, and

reconstruct an X-ray CT image by using corrected radiographic data.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2016
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038926/0365 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2015
From: MATSUDA, KEIJI
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036099/0735 →