IP Library Granted Patent US 9,826,952
Granted Patent B2
US 9,826,952 · App. 14/891,981 · Granted Nov 28, 2017

X-ray CT apparatus and scanning method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,826,952
App. No.
14/891,981
Granted
Nov 28, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide an X-ray CT apparatus and a scanning method that can scan a corpse efficiently, a death mode is selected and input to the CPU of an image processing device by performing a mouse-click or touch operation on any of buttons on a death mode selection window. The CPU obtains scanning conditions from the storage unit according to the input death mode. In a charred body mode, scanning conditions are defined in advance to perform high-resolution scanning for the pelvis portion and standard scanning for the other entire body for sex estimation. The sex estimation process estimates the corpse's sex based on the pelvis portion shape and outputs the results. In a drowned body mode, scanning conditions are defined in advance to perform high-resolution scanning for the lung field and standard scanning for the other entire body to measure a water amount in the lung.

Claims (44)

1. An X-ray CT apparatus comprising:

an X-ray source that generates an X-ray;

an X-ray detector that detects an X-ray transmitted through an object;

a data acquisition system that acquires data of the transmitted X-ray detected by the X-ray detector;

a storage unit that stores scanning conditions according to a death mode;

an input unit that allows an operator to select the death mode;

a scanning controller that reads scanning conditions according to the selected death mode from the storage unit and scanning according to the read scanning conditions; and

a reconstruction calculator that reconstructs an image according to the death mode using the transmission X-ray data acquired from the data acquisition system during scanning;

wherein death by fire, death by drowning, head injury, thoracoabdominal injury, head disease, heart disease, and the others are included as input mode options of the death mode, and

a site for high-resolution scanning and recommended scanning conditions for the said site according to each death mode are included in the scanning conditions in addition to recommended scanning conditions for performing standard scanning for the whole body.

2. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein a site for which high-resolution scanning is performed is the pelvis portion in a case where the death mode is death by fire, and

the reconstruction calculator reconstructs at least a high-resolution image of the pelvis portion and further includes a sex estimation unit that estimates a sex based on the reconstructed image of the pelvis portion.

3. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the reconstruction calculator reconstructs a front image of the pelvis or an MPR image along a surface including the lower end of the pubis and the lower ends of the ischia on both sides, and

the sex estimation unit calculates a lower angle of the pubic bone based on a density value change between the born portion and the air in the front image or the MPR image and estimates a sex based on the lower angle of the pubic bone.

4. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein a site for which high-resolution scanning is performed is the lung field in a case where the death mode is death by drowning, and

the reconstruction calculator reconstructs at least a high-resolution image of the lung field and further includes a lung water amount estimation unit that measures a water volume in the lung based on the reconstructed image of the lung field.

5. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein sites of each injury or disease are at least included as a site for which high-resolution scanning is performed in a case where the death mode is head injury, thoracoabdominal injury, head disease, or heart disease, and

the reconstruction calculator reconstructs at least a high-resolution image of a site of the injury or disease.

6. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the reconstruction calculator reconstructs a blood vessel image of a specified position, and

a blood vessel rupture position estimation unit that estimates a rupture position in a blood vessel based on the reconstructed blood vessel image is further included.

7. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the blood vessel rupture position estimation unit extracts a leakage region of blood using the region growing process that sets an arbitrary point inside a blood vessel as a start point and estimates a rupture position in a blood vessel based on a CT value difference between the leaked blood and the blood in the blood vessel.

8. A scanning method comprising:

displaying options of a death mode on a display device of an X-ray CT apparatus;

reading scanning conditions according to the death mode selected from the options by an operator from a storage unit of the X-ray CT apparatus where the scanning conditions according to the death mode are stored in advance;

scanning using the X-ray CT apparatus according to the read scanning conditions; and

using transmission X-ray data acquired during the scanning in order to reconstruct an image according to the death mode by the X-ray CT apparatus

wherein death by fire, death by drowning, head injury, thoracoabdominal injury, head disease, heart disease, and the others are included as the displaying options of the death mode, and

a site for high-resolution scanning and recommended scanning conditions for the said site according to each death mode are included in the scanning conditions in addition to recommended scanning conditions for performing standard scanning for the whole body.

9. An X-ray CT apparatus comprising:

an X-ray source that generates an X-ray;

an X-ray detector that detects an X-ray transmitted through an object;

a data acquisition system that acquires data of the transmitted X-ray detected by the X-ray detector;

a storage unit that stores scanning conditions according to a death mode;

an input unit that allows an operator to select the death mode;

a scanning controller that reads scanning conditions according to the selected death mode from the storage unit and scanning according to the read scanning conditions; and

a reconstruction calculator that reconstructs an image according to the death mode using the transmission X-ray data acquired from the data acquisition system during scanning;

wherein sites of each injury or disease are at least included as a site for which high-resolution scanning is performed in a case where the death mode is head injury, thoracoabdominal injury, head disease, or heart disease, and

the reconstruction calculator reconstructs at least a high-resolution image of a site of the injury or disease.

Assignments (6)
MERGER Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069869/0833 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 11, 2024
From: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069170/0272 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE PROPERTY AND APPLICATION NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058026 FRAME: 0559. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: HITACHI LTD.
To: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058917/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2021
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058026/0559 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 042051/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2015
From: NAKAZAWA, TETSUO
To: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037068/0234 →