JPH08266527A - Control system for x-ray system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To remarkably reduce a wiring cable which connects each unit of an X-ray system and to easily extend a system and add a function. CONSTITUTION: A console 3 equipped with microprocessors 14b-14f, an X-ray high-voltage controller 2, a supporting device 6, a bed 5, and an image processing device 4 are connected to a system controller 1 equipped with a microprocessor 14a. An X-ray tube system 8 without being provided with a microprocessor, and an X-ray television camera 10, etc., are also connected to the system controller 1, which comprises a control system setting the microprocessor 14a as a main microprocessor. Therefore, it is enough to connect all the units to the system controller 1, which remarkably reduces the wiring cable. System extension is easily performed by changing the software of the microprocessor of the system controller 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system for an X-ray apparatus, and more particularly to an X-ray apparatus in which a microprocessor is mounted on a constituent unit of the X-ray apparatus to perform various kinds of processing, and expandability and maintainability are maintained. It is related to the technology to improve.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a conventional X to which the present invention is applied.
An example of a structure of a line device is shown. The X-ray apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is used for medical diagnosis, and is particularly an X-ray apparatus for diagnosing a human circulatory system organ. This circulatory X-ray device includes an X-ray tube device 8, an X-ray image intensifier device (hereinafter referred to as I.I) 7, and an X-ray television device 1.
0, a cine camera 11, and an X-ray image receiving device composed of an X-ray film changer 12, which are opposed to each other and are moved around the subject, and between the X-ray tube device 8 and the X-ray image receiving device. A bed 5 on which the subject is laid and supported,
An X-ray high voltage controller 2 for controlling X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube device 8 toward the subject, the support device 6, and the bed 5.
X-ray image information obtained by an operation console 3 for movement control and X-ray emission control, a proximity operation device 9 provided near the bed 5, and X-ray television camera 10 of the X-ray image receiving apparatus. An image processing device 4 for image processing, and an injector 13 for injecting a contrast agent into a blood vessel of a subject are further combined.

Conventionally, in the medical X-ray apparatus composed of a plurality of units as described above, the system control is very complicated, and the wiring is complicated due to the exchange of signals between the units. In recent years, microcomputer control has been adopted. As an advanced method of this microcomputer control, there is a method in which a microprocessor is mounted on each unit to perform complicated processing in a distributed manner to reduce wiring between the units. In the circulatory X-ray apparatus shown in FIG. 3, a microprocessor 14 is mounted on the support device 6, the bed 5, the console 3, the X-ray high voltage controller 2, and the image processing device 4. In this method, the microprocessor inside the console 3 normally functions as the main microprocessor.

[0004]

However, in an X-ray apparatus in which a large number of units are combined to form a system as described above, each unit is equipped with a microprocessor,
There is a limit to how to distribute and process complicated processing. That is, since each unit operates in close relationship to obtain an X-ray image of the subject, many units operate by sharing many data and timing signals. However, there is a problem in that the more complicated the system communication and the larger the system configuration, the more complicated the signal communication and the more wiring between the units. The flow of the X-ray exposure signal at the time of X-ray imaging will be described as an example. FIG.
At X, when an X-ray emission command is input from the console 3, X
The X-ray emission command signal is input to the X-ray high voltage controller 2 via the microprocessor of the console 3 and a high voltage is applied to the X-ray tube device 8 to emit X-rays from the X-ray tube. At this time, the X-ray emission command signal is processed by the microprocessor in the X-ray high-voltage controller 2 to be used as an actual X-ray emission signal and used for generating various control signals. The X-ray emission command may be input from the proximity manipulator 9 provided near the bed. Also, in synchronization with X-ray radiation, the cine camera 11,
Since the X-ray television camera 10, the film changer 12, the injector 13, and the image processing device 4 must also operate, the X-ray emission command signal needs to be transferred. Therefore, the wiring between the units is very large as shown in the figure, and it is required to reduce the wiring from the viewpoint of noise suppression.

Further, since the connection between the units is complicated as described above, it is becoming difficult to add a new unit or add a function. For example, when an attempt is made to provide an X-ray imaging condition setting device or a display device to the proximity operation device 9 beside the bed 5, the proximity operation device 9 sets an imaging condition, an operation device for display, a display device and their control. In addition to adding circuits and software, the microprocessor software of the X-ray high voltage controller 2 and console 3 connected to the proximity controller 9 must be changed.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention can control a plurality of microprocessors with a simple structure, can significantly reduce the connection wiring in the unit, and control the X-ray apparatus excellent in system expandability. It was designed to provide a system.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an X-ray apparatus in which a plurality of units are system-configured, and a microprocessor is mounted on some of the plurality of units. In a control system for an X-ray apparatus in which a plurality of units are interconnected, a microprocessor and a communication between the microprocessors, which are connected to the microprocessor and correspond to respective control modes of the plurality of units, A system controller including a plurality of interface circuits each having one or both of an operation port and a unit control signal port is provided, and the plurality of units are connected to corresponding interface circuits of the system controller. .

[0008]

In the control system for the X-ray apparatus constructed as described above, the exchange of signals between the units is carried out mainly by the microprocessor provided in the system controller. Therefore, all the wiring of each unit should be connected to the interface circuit in the system controller. Since not all units are equipped with a microprocessor, the interface circuit can be divided into those for a unit with a microprocessor and those for those that do not, to make the system controller smaller and add functions. We are planning to secure additional space for the interface circuit.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an X-ray device for a circulatory organ to which the present invention is applied. The same units are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIGS. 1 and 3.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a system controller, which is an X-ray high voltage controller 2, an operation console 3, a proximity operator 9, an image processing device 4, a bed 5, and a supporting device 6 with respect to the system controller 1. , I.I7, X-ray tube device 8, X
The control signal lines of units such as the line television camera 10, the cine camera 11, the film changer 12, and the injector 13 are all connected. What is directly connected between the units is a high voltage system between the X-ray high voltage device and the X-ray tube device 8,
The cable is not a control signal system such as a video signal system between the X-ray television camera 10 and the image processing device 4.

The system controller 1 is connected to each unit as shown in FIG. 1, integrally manages information required by each unit, provides information requested by each unit, and provides information to each unit as necessary. To request.
The internal configuration of this system controller 1 is shown in FIG.

The system controller 1 comprises a microprocessor 14a and interface circuits 15a to 15n for each unit. (Here, it is assumed that n is the number of units to be controlled.) The interface circuit includes a communication port alone, a signal port alone, and a combination of a communication port and a signal port. There are as many as necessary.

Here, the communication port 16 is a dedicated port for performing communication only between the microprocessors, and in this example, it is provided on a communication line between the microprocessor 14a in the system controller and the microprocessor 14e in the image processing apparatus 4. The signal port 17 is a dedicated port for exchanging control signals such as ON / OFF signals of each unit. And these communication ports 1
Interface circuit 15 consisting of 6 and signal port 17
The a to 15n are properly used as follows. Communication port 1
Interface circuit 15 consisting of 6 and signal port 17
a is a unit equipped with a microprocessor, which is provided for a unit that handles a signal having real-time property, an emergency control signal (device emergency stop credit), and a machine control signal for communication. The interface circuit 15b having only the port 16 is provided for the image processing apparatus 4 which requires only the communication between the microprocessors as described above, and the interface circuit 15c having only the signal port 17 has the microprocessor. No unit, for example I.I7 or injector 13. The microprocessor 14a provided in the system controller 1 is the main microprocessor for system control, and is the console 3 in the conventional system.
Among the functions owned by the microprocessor inside, software for only the control function of the entire system is installed. When the system is expanded, the microprocessor 14a is added depending on the added unit or function.
It can be dealt with by improving the software inside and adding an interface circuit.

Next, the operation of the X-ray apparatus constructed as described above will be described. First, lay the subject on the top of the bed 5,
The X-ray fluoroscopic condition and the X-ray imaging condition according to the imaging region of the subject are set in the X-ray high voltage controller 2. As a result, the microprocessor 14c in the X-ray high voltage controller 2 arithmetically creates a control signal to be given to the X-ray high voltage circuit in order to generate the set X-ray tube voltage and X-ray tube current. Then, it waits for the input of the X-ray emission command.

The operator operates the operation device of the console 3 to roughly align the imaged region of the subject on a straight line connecting the X-ray tube device 8 and the X-ray image receiving device. At this time, the signal input from the operating device is transmitted through the microprocessor 14b to the respective microprocessors 14d, 14 of the support device 6 and the bed 5.
However, the input signal from the operating device is related to ON / OFF of the movement of the support device 6 and the bed 5, and the movement amount and the rotation angle amount of the support device 6 and the bed 5. There is something about control. Of these, the former is input to the microprocessor 14a via the signal port 17, and the latter is input to the microprocessor 14a via the communication port 16, that is, via the interface circuit having the signal port 17 and the communication port 16. Microprocessor 14b under software embedded in 14a
Signals are exchanged between the terminals 14d and 14e.

When the positioning is performed, the operator turns on the see-through switch of the console 3 in order to irradiate the subject with the see-through X-ray. This signal is sent to the microprocessor 14a through the interface circuit in the console 3 and the interface circuit 15c having the signal port 17 in the system controller 1 via the microprocessor 14b, and the same interface circuit 15c supplies the X-ray high voltage controller. The X-ray high voltage circuit is closed via the microprocessor 14c in 2 and the interface circuit, and the fluoroscopic X-ray is emitted from the X-ray tube device 8. System controller 1
At the same time as outputting the fluoroscopic X-ray X-ray emission command, the microprocessor 14a outputs a signal to the I.I7, the X-ray television camera 10, the image processing device 4, etc. for acquiring and displaying the fluoroscopic image. Signals for obtaining and displaying these images are output to each unit via an interface circuit having a communication port 16.

After the positioning of the imaging region is completed by fluoroscopy, the operator injects a contrast agent into the blood vessel of the subject by the injector 13 while observing the subject by the fluoroscopic image. The injection start signal of the contrast agent in the injector 13 is input to the system controller 1 and is used for estimating the time when the contrast agent reaches the imaging site and setting the imaging start time.

The X-ray photographing is performed by operating the photographing switch of the console 3 after confirming that the contrast agent has flowed into the photographing region while the operator is observing the fluoroscopic image. The operation at the time of photographing is performed almost in the same manner as the operation at the time of the above-mentioned fluoroscopy.

As described above, as one embodiment of the present invention, a circulator X
Although the control system for the X-ray apparatus has been described, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and it is easy for a person having ordinary skill in the art to apply the present invention to various X-ray apparatuses. As it seems to be understandable, it is omitted.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the main microprocessor is provided in the system controller, and the interface circuit composed of the communication ports of the microprocessors and the control signal port between the units is provided. Since each unit is provided and connected to the corresponding interface circuit, the connection wiring between the units can be greatly reduced. In addition, since the microprocessor in the system controller has the main function, it is necessary to change the software installed in the microprocessor in the system controller and expand the interface circuit when expanding the system. Is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration and a connection wiring of a control system of a circulatory X-ray device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the system controller shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block configuration and connection wiring of a control system for a conventional circulatory X-ray device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 System Controller 14 Microprocessor 15 Interface Circuit 16 Communication Port 17 Signal Port 18 Signal Line

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray apparatus having a system configuration of a plurality of units, wherein some of the plurality of units are equipped with a microprocessor and the plurality of units are interconnected. Control system, the microprocessor is connected to the microprocessor, and corresponding to each control mode of the plurality of units, a communication port of the microprocessors and / or a control signal port of the unit. A control system for an X-ray apparatus, comprising: a system controller including a plurality of interface circuits each including one of the plurality of units; and connecting the plurality of units to corresponding interface circuits in the system controller.