JP7019377B2 - Medical diagnostic imaging equipment, treatment planning system and radiation therapy support program - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to medical diagnostic imaging equipment, treatment planning systems and radiation therapy support programs.

In radiotherapy, a treatment plan is created based on a CT image taken by an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) device. In the treatment plan, irradiation conditions such as the site to be irradiated (hereinafter referred to as a treatment target), the size of the treatment target, the irradiation range, the irradiation method, the irradiation dose, and the dose distribution are defined. In the treatment of the same treatment target, the irradiation of radiation is performed in multiple times. A treatment plan is created for each dose of radiation. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, one irradiation is referred to as radiation therapy.

In radiation therapy in which a higher dose of radiation is emitted than when a CT image is taken, the treatment plan should be such that the exposure dose is equalized in areas other than the treatment target and the sensitive organs and sites are not irradiated with therapeutic radiation. Irradiation conditions are set in.

By setting the irradiation conditions based on the CT image in which the treatment target is clearly depicted, an appropriate treatment plan can be created. Therefore, it is desirable to obtain a high-quality medical image as a medical image for treatment planning. In addition, it is desirable that the radiation therapy be performed in the same position as when the CT image acquired for the treatment plan is taken. Therefore, it is preferable to acquire a CT image for treatment planning in consideration of a position suitable for radiotherapy and irradiation conditions.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-164957

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the exposure dose while acquiring a medical image suitable for a treatment plan.

The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment includes a reference information acquisition unit, an alignment unit, and an imaging condition changing unit. The reference information acquisition unit acquires the first reference image acquired for the treatment plan of the first treatment and the imaging conditions of the medical image used for the treatment plan of the second treatment. The alignment unit aligns the second reference image acquired in the treatment plan of the second treatment with the first reference image. The image pickup condition changing unit changes the image pickup condition according to the alignment result in the alignment unit.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing an example of a treatment planning system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the treatment planning system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the treatment planning system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the treatment planning system according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating reference information. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a method of adapting the imaging range according to the alignment result. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a case where the second reference image cannot be linearly aligned with the first reference image. FIG. 8 is a first display example in which the imaging range of the first reference image is applied to the second reference image. FIG. 9 is a second display example in which the imaging range of the first reference image is applied to the second reference image.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a medical diagnostic imaging apparatus, a treatment planning system, and a radiotherapy support program will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Configuration Figure 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram showing an example of a treatment planning system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the treatment planning system 1 is connected to the radiotherapy device 20 via a network. Here, the network means the entire information communication network using telecommunications technology, and in addition to the hospital backbone LAN, wireless / wired LAN and Internet network, telephone communication line network, optical fiber communication network, cable communication network and satellite communication network. And so on. The radiotherapy apparatus 20 acquires treatment plan data from the treatment plan system 1 and executes radiotherapy based on the acquired treatment plan data.

The radiation therapy device 20 includes a linear accelerator and generates therapeutic radiation such as X-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, proton beams, neutron beams, and heavy particle beams. Therapeutic radiation is emitted with the treatment target placed at the irradiation center (isocenter).

The radiation therapy device 20 includes a radiation source 21, a throttle 22, an arm portion 24, a high voltage power supply 26, a throttle drive device 27, a rotation drive device 28, and a treatment controller 29 as radiation irradiation means.

The radiation source 21 generates radiation. The diaphragm 22 adjusts the irradiation range of the radiation emitted from the radiation source 21 by the diaphragm driving device 27. That is, the diaphragm drive device 27 changes the irradiation range of radiation by adjusting the opening of the diaphragm 22.

The arm portion 24 holds the radiation source 21 and the diaphragm 22 together. The arm portion 24 is configured so that the radiation source 21 and the diaphragm 22 can be integrally rotated around the patient P.

The high voltage power supply 26 supplies the power required for irradiation of radiation to the radiation source 21 under the control of the treatment controller 29.

The diaphragm drive device 27 adjusts the irradiation range of radiation by the diaphragm 22 according to the control by the treatment controller 29.

The rotation drive device 28 rotates the arm portion 24 around the connection portion 25 between the arm portion 24 and the support portion 23 under the control of the treatment controller 29.

The treatment controller 29 includes a processor and a memory such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and controls the radiotherapy device 20 in an integrated manner according to the treatment plan data generated by the treatment plan device 10.

The treatment planning system 1 creates treatment planning data for each radiotherapy. The treatment planning system 1 has a treatment planning device 10 and a medical diagnostic imaging device 30.

The treatment planning device 10 creates treatment planning data for performing radiotherapy based on the medical image acquired by the medical diagnostic imaging device 30. The treatment plan data includes irradiation conditions such as the position of the treatment target, the initial position of the bed, the irradiation center, the position of the patient P, the irradiation range, the irradiation dose and the dose distribution. The treatment planning device 10 sets irradiation conditions such as the direction of irradiation of radiation necessary for creating treatment plan data, the size of the irradiation field, the irradiation dose, and the dose distribution in the body.

The treatment planning device 10 is configured based on a computer and can communicate with an external device via a network. The treatment planning device 10 is composed of hardware such as a processing circuit 11, a storage circuit 12, an interface 13, and a display 14. The processing circuit 11 is interconnected to each hardware component constituting the treatment planning device 10 via a bus as a common signal transmission path.

The processing circuit 11 may be configured with dedicated hardware, or may be configured to realize various functions by software processing by a built-in processor. Here, as an example, a case where the processing circuit 11 realizes various functions by software processing by a processor will be described.

The above processors include a dedicated or general-purpose CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic device, and field programmable gate array (FPGA: Field Programmable). It means a circuit such as Gate Array). Examples of the programmable logic device include a simple programmable logic device (SPLD: Simple Programmable Logic Device), a compound programmable logic device (CPLD: Complex Programmable Logic Device), and the like. The processing circuit 11 realizes each function by reading and executing a program stored in the storage circuit 12 or a program directly incorporated in the processor of the processing circuit 11.

Further, the processing circuit 11 may be composed of a single processor or a combination of a plurality of independent processors. In the latter case, a plurality of storage circuits 12 corresponding to the plurality of processors may be provided, and the program executed by each processor may be stored in the storage circuit corresponding to the processor. As another example, one storage circuit 12 may collectively store programs corresponding to each function of a plurality of processors. Further, the programs corresponding to each function may be distributed and arranged in a plurality of storage circuits, and the processing circuit 11 may be configured to read the corresponding programs from the individual storage circuits.

The storage circuit 12 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a flash memory (Flash Memory), a hard disk, an optical disk, and the like. The storage circuit 12 may be configured by a detachable circuit of a portable medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and a DVD (Digital Video Disk). The storage circuit 12 stores various programs (including an OS (Operating System) and the like in addition to the application program) executed in the processing circuit 11 , data necessary for executing the program, and image data. Further, the storage circuit 12 may store a GUI (Graphical User Interface) program for making it possible to input various commands for controlling the OS from the interface 13.

The interface 13 is realized by an input device such as a trackball, a switch button, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen, a touch pad that performs an input operation by touching an operation surface, a non-contact input circuit using an optical sensor, and a voice input circuit. To. When the input device is operated by the operator, the interface 13 generates an input signal corresponding to the operation and outputs the input signal to the processing circuit 11. The interface is not limited to an input device having physical operating components such as a mouse and a keyboard. For example, an input device that receives an electric signal corresponding to an input operation from an external input device provided as a separate body and outputs the electric signal to the processing circuit 11 is also included.

The display 14 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display panel, a plasma display panel, and an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel. The display 14 displays an image under the control of the processing circuit 11.

The medical image diagnosis device 30 includes a console device 31 and an image pickup device 36. The image pickup apparatus 36 acquires a medical image for treatment planning. In addition to the CT image, an X-ray image acquired by a device such as an X-ray diagnostic device that images the inside of the subject with X-rays is also used for the treatment plan.

In addition, various medical images such as MR images acquired by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) equipment, nuclear medicine images acquired by PET (Positron Emission Tomography), and ultrasonic images acquired by ultrasonic diagnostic equipment are also X-ray CT. It may be used in combination with an image or an X-ray image. Therefore, the image pickup apparatus 36 has a configuration corresponding to the modality according to the type of the medical image used in the treatment plan. Hereinafter, the case where the image pickup apparatus 36 is an X-ray CT apparatus will be described as an example.

The image pickup apparatus 36 is installed in the examination room. The image pickup apparatus 36 generates X-ray detection data (transmission data) regarding the subject placed on the bed. On the other hand, the console device 31 is installed in a control room adjacent to the examination room, and generates and displays a reconstructed image by generating projection data based on the detection data.

The console device 31 has a processing circuit 32, a storage circuit 33, an interface 34, and a display 35. Since each hardware configuration of the console device 31 is the same as that of the treatment planning device 10, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the treatment planning system 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the processing circuit 11 of the treatment planning device 10 of the treatment planning system 1 has a treatment information acquisition function 111, a next imaging condition setting function 112, and a reference information generation function 113. Each of these functions is stored in the storage circuit 12 in the form of a program. Each function of the treatment information acquisition function 111, the next imaging condition setting function 112, and the reference information generation function 113 is a function realized by the processing circuit 11 executing the program stored in the storage circuit 12.

Hereinafter, a case where the next treatment plan data is created based on the previous treatment plan data in the treatment plan system 1 will be described as an example. In the following description, the first treatment is referred to as "first treatment", and the treatment performed after the first treatment is referred to as "second treatment".

The treatment information acquisition function 111 acquires treatment information in the first treatment from the radiation therapy device 20. The treatment information includes irradiation information in the radiotherapy performed by the radiotherapy device 20 based on the treatment plan data. When the radiotherapy is performed as set in the treatment plan data, the treatment information acquisition function 111 may acquire the treatment plan data in the first treatment from the radiotherapy device 20.

The next imaging condition setting function 112 sets imaging conditions for imaging a medical image for a treatment plan for a second treatment based on the first treatment plan data. In the second treatment, irradiation conditions such as an irradiation range, an irradiation method, and a dose distribution different from those of the first treatment plan are used so that the area other than the treatment target is not repeatedly irradiated by using the first treatment plan data. Is set. Further, when creating the second treatment plan, irradiation conditions are set so that the treatment target is more efficiently irradiated with the therapeutic radiation than the first treatment.

Further, since the position and size of the treatment target can be grasped from the medical image for the first treatment plan, in the second treatment, the imaging position can be adjusted according to the position and size of the treatment target. For example, imaging conditions such as imaging range, imaging position, and slice thickness can be adjusted so that the treatment target is at the center of the imaging region. As described above, in the second treatment plan, the imaging conditions can be set so that a medical image having a higher image quality than the medical image for the first treatment plan can be obtained.

Further, in the second treatment plan, since the position and size of the treatment target can be grasped from the medical image for the first treatment plan, the imaging range of the medical image for the second treatment plan is the first treatment plan. It can be set smaller than the imaging range of the medical image for medical use. As described above, in the second treatment plan, the imaging conditions of the medical image for the second treatment plan can be set by receiving the feedback of the treatment plan data and the irradiation information in the first treatment plan.

The reference information generation function 113 generates reference information in which the medical image included in the treatment plan data of the first treatment is associated with the imaging conditions set by the next imaging condition setting function 112. The medical image included in the treatment plan data of the first treatment is, for example, a positioning image of the medical image for the treatment plan of the first treatment. The positioning image is an image acquired at a low exposure dose before the main scan in order to determine the imaging conditions of the main scan for collecting the CT image for the treatment plan. The positioning image may be a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image. Hereinafter, the medical image included in the reference information is referred to as a "first reference image".

The first reference image is not limited to the positioning image of the CT image. For example, it may be an image generated by image processing from a CT image. It may also be a medical image acquired by another modality. The first reference image is an image depicting a region of the subject including the irradiation range of therapeutic radiation in the first treatment. The reference information will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 described later.

The processing circuit 32 of the console device 31 of the treatment planning system 1 has a reference information acquisition function 321, an alignment function 322, and an imaging condition change function 323 . Each of these functions is stored in the storage circuit 33 in the form of a program. Each of the reference information acquisition function 321 and the alignment function 322 and the imaging condition change function 323 is a function realized by the processing circuit 32 executing the program stored in the storage circuit 33.

The reference information acquisition function 321 acquires reference information from the treatment planning device 10.

The alignment function 322 aligns the positioning image acquired for capturing the medical image for the treatment plan of the second treatment with the first reference image. Hereinafter, the positioning image acquired for capturing the medical image for the treatment plan of the second treatment is referred to as a "second reference image".

The alignment function 322 linearly aligns the second reference image with the first reference image, and calculates the amount of deviation of the second reference image with respect to the first reference image. Further, the alignment function 322 determines whether or not the range drawn in the first reference image is different from the range drawn in the second reference image, and if the range is different, the display 35 indicates to that effect. Display and notify the user. In this case, for example, the user adjusts the position of the bed and changes the position of the subject to adjust the imaging range to the first reference image.

Further, when the alignment function 322 cannot linearly align the second reference image with the first reference image, the alignment function 322 displays to that effect on the display 35 and notifies the user. In this case, the user instructs the subject to change his / her position. The processing in the alignment function 322 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 described later.

Further, the alignment function 322 may generate an image that can be aligned with the second reference image from the first reference image according to the type of the second reference image. For example, in the alignment function 322, when the second reference image is a two-dimensional image and the first reference image is a three-dimensional image, the first reference image may be image-processed to generate a two-dimensional image.

When the type of the second reference image is specified in advance, the reference information generation function 113 sets an image that can be aligned with the second reference image as the first reference according to the type of the second reference image. It may be generated from an image. Note that the term "preliminary" here is before the generation of reference information.

The image pickup condition change function 323 changes the image pickup condition according to the result of the alignment in the alignment function 322. The imaging condition changing function 323 adapts the imaging condition associated with the first reference image to the second reference image based on the deviation amount calculated by the alignment function 322. The change of the imaging condition in the imaging condition changing function 323 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 described later.

(2) Operation FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the treatment planning system 1 according to the embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the treatment planning system according to the embodiment will be described according to the step numbers in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4, with reference to FIG. 5 as appropriate.

In the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation in the treatment planning system 1 from the formulation of the treatment plan for the first treatment to the acquisition of the medical image for the treatment plan for the second treatment will be described as an example. do. In the flowchart, steps S101 to S103 are operations related to the first treatment, and steps S103 to S112 are operations related to the second treatment.

In step S101 of FIG. 3, the image pickup device 36 of the medical image diagnosis device 30 acquires a CT image for the first treatment plan. The positioning image is acquired prior to the acquisition of the CT image.

In step S102, the treatment planning device 10 acquires a CT image from the medical image diagnostic device 30 and generates treatment planning data in the first treatment based on the CT image. The treatment plan data includes irradiation conditions such as the position and range of the treatment target, the range to be irradiated, the irradiation dose and the dose distribution. For example, in a treatment plan, an image showing a range of a treatment target and an image showing irradiation conditions such as a range to be irradiated with radiation and a dose distribution are superimposed on a CT image.

In step S103, the radiotherapy device 20 acquires the treatment plan data for the first treatment from the treatment plan device 10, and executes the radiotherapy based on the treatment plan data. The radiation therapy device 20 generates actual irradiation information when the radiation therapy is performed. The actual irradiation information is stored in a memory (not shown) of the radiotherapy apparatus 20 as treatment information associated with the treatment plan data.

The above is the description of the operation of the treatment planning system 1 in the first treatment. Next, the operation of the treatment planning system 1 in the second treatment will be described.

In step S104, the treatment information acquisition function 111 of the treatment planning device 10 acquires the treatment information of the first treatment from the radiation therapy device 20. When the first treatment is executed under the same irradiation conditions as those set in the first treatment plan data, the treatment information acquisition function 111 acquires the first treatment plan data from the radiotherapy device 20. May be good.

Further, the next imaging condition setting function 112 sets imaging conditions for imaging a medical image for a treatment plan for a second treatment based on the irradiation information or treatment plan data acquired from the radiotherapy apparatus 20. ..

In step S105, the reference information generation function 113 generates reference information in which the first reference image included in the irradiation information or the treatment plan data is associated with the imaging conditions set by the next imaging condition setting function 112.

The reference information acquisition function 321 of the console device 31 of the medical image diagnosis device 30 acquires reference information from the treatment planning device 10.

The timing of the processing of step S104 and step S105 is not limited as long as it is after the completion of the first treatment and before the acquisition of the CT image for the second treatment plan. For example, it may be executed with the subject placed on the bed of the X-ray CT apparatus in order to capture a CT image for a treatment plan for the second treatment, or it may be executed after acquiring the positioning image. You may.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating reference information. As shown in FIG. 5, the first from the left is the first positioning image IMG1 acquired in the treatment plan of the first treatment. The second from the left is the first CT image IMG2 acquired in the treatment plan of the first treatment. The third from the left is the image IMG3 in which the irradiation range of the radiation planned in the second treatment is superimposed on the first CT image IMG2 in the formulation of the treatment plan of the second treatment. The fourth from the left is the image IMG4 in which the irradiation range of the radiation in the second treatment is superimposed on the first positioning image.

In the first CT image IMG2, the area indicated by the white circle indicates the treatment target TA. In addition, the regions indicated by circles hatched in gray scale indicate regions SA that are highly sensitive to radiation. In radiation therapy, irradiation conditions are set so that areas that are highly sensitive to radiation, such as the crystalline lens, are not irradiated. In the first CT image IMG2, the range indicated by the broken line so as to include the treatment target is the irradiation range E1 of radiation.

Image IMG3 shows the irradiation range E2 to which the radiation will be applied in the second treatment. In the second treatment, for example, the irradiation range is set so that the area other than the treatment target is not continuously irradiated based on the irradiation range E1 in the first treatment. In addition, an irradiation range is set so as to avoid highly sensitive areas. The irradiation range E2 is set so that the radiation is applied to a range inclined toward the crown side of the irradiation range E1 so that the area other than the treatment target is not continuously irradiated. Further, the irradiation range E2 is set so that the distance between the highly sensitive region SA and the irradiation region is longer than the irradiation range E1. Further, the irradiation range E2 is set so that the exposure dose is reduced by narrowing the irradiation range according to the size of the treatment target.

As described above, in the formulation of the irradiation range in the second treatment, the irradiation conditions in the first treatment are reviewed and improved. The review and improvement of the irradiation conditions performed in the second treatment is not limited to the above-mentioned review of the imaging range. For example, the formulation of irradiation conditions such as the body position and irradiation direction of the subject so that the therapeutic radiation is efficiently irradiated to the treatment target TA is also included in the review and improvement of the irradiation conditions performed in the second treatment.

The imaging range in the medical image for treatment planning includes the range to be irradiated in radiation therapy. Therefore, when the irradiation range E2 to which the radiation is to be irradiated is specified in the second treatment, the imaging range of the CT image for the second treatment plan is determined. For example, the irradiation range E2 is equal to the imaging range IA of the CT image for the second treatment plan.

The image IMG4 is an image in which the imaging range IA2 corresponding to the irradiation range E2 is superimposed on the first positioning image IMG1. As described above, the reference information is information in which the imaging condition of the CT image for the second treatment plan and the first positioning image are associated with each other.

When generating the reference information, the next imaging condition setting function 112 may set the imaging conditions so that the image quality of the image for the second treatment plan is improved as compared with the image for the first treatment plan. .. For example, the imaging position is set so that the treatment target TA is located at the center of imaging. Further, the slice direction may be set according to the irradiation direction of radiation. Further, when an MR image is acquired in addition to the CT image in the treatment plan, the imaging conditions may be set so that the slice directions of the CT image and the MR image match. These imaging conditions are associated with the first positioning image (first reference image) and transmitted to the console device 31 of the medical image diagnosis device 30.

Further, the first reference image is not limited to the positioning image. The first reference image may be a medical image such as a CT image or an MR image acquired in the first treatment plan, or may be an image generated by image processing from these medical images. Further, the first reference image may be a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 3, the operation of the treatment planning system 1 in the second treatment will be continued.

In step S106, the imaging device 36 of the medical diagnostic imaging device 30 acquires a second positioning image of the CT image for the second treatment plan under the control of the console device 31.

In step S107, the alignment function 322 determines whether or not the second reference image (second positioning image) can be linearly aligned with the first reference image (first positioning image). If the second reference image cannot be linearly aligned with the first reference image in step S107, the process branches to NO in step S107 and proceeds to step S111. In step S111, the display 35 indicates that it is recommended to change the position of the subject.

On the other hand, if the second reference image can be linearly aligned with the first reference image in step S107, the process branches to YES in step S107 and proceeds to step S108.

In step S108, the alignment function 322 further determines whether or not the imaging range of the second reference image matches the first reference image. If the imaging range of the second reference image does not match the first reference image in step S108, the process branches to NO in step S108 and proceeds to step S112. In step S112, it is displayed on the display 35 that the sleeper or the like is moved to recommend the position movement of the subject.

On the other hand, in step S108, when the imaging range of the second reference image matches the first reference image, the process branches to YES in step S108 and proceeds to step S109.

In step S109, the alignment function 322 calculates the amount of deviation of the second reference image with respect to the first reference image based on the result of linearly aligning the second reference image with the first reference image.

Further, the imaging condition changing function 323 adapts the imaging range set in the first reference image to the second reference image based on the calculated deviation amount.

In step S110, the image pickup apparatus 36 acquires a CT image for the second treatment plan based on the image pickup condition changed by the image pickup condition change function 323.

The above is the description of the operation in the treatment planning system 1 from the formulation of the treatment plan for the first treatment to the acquisition of the medical image for the treatment plan for the second treatment. Hereinafter, a method of setting the imaging range of the medical image for the second treatment plan by linearly aligning the first reference image and the second reference image with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a method of adapting the imaging range according to the alignment result. FIG. 6 shows a method of adapting the imaging range set in the first reference image to the second reference image when the second reference image can be linearly aligned with the first reference image.

The upper left side of FIG. 6 is the first reference image IMG1, and the upper right side is the second reference image IMG5. The subject depicted in the second reference image IMG5 lies on the bed with its head tilted toward the crown side of the subject depicted in the first reference image. That is, the way the subject lies on the bed differs between when the second reference image IM5 is imaged and when the first reference image IMG1 is imaged.

The middle part of FIG. 6 is an image IMG6 in which a second reference image IMG5 is superimposed on a first reference image IMG1. θ indicates the amount of deviation of the second reference image IMG 5 with respect to the first reference image IMG 1. As described above, since the first reference image IMG1 and the second reference image IMG5 are acquired at different timings, the way the subject lies on the bed may not be the same.

In this case, the imaging conditions associated with the first reference image IMG1 cannot be directly applied to the imaging of the CT image for the second treatment plan. Therefore, the imaging condition changing function 323 aligns the imaging range IA2 of the second treatment planning image associated with the first reference image IMG1 with the second reference image IMG6 based on the deviation amount θ. As a result, the imaging condition changing function 323 changes the imaging range IA2 to the imaging range IA3 of the CT image for the second treatment plan.

In FIG. 6, the case where the second reference image can be linearly aligned with the first reference image has been described, but when the second reference image cannot be linearly aligned with the first reference image, the treatment planning system 1 has a treatment planning system 1. The position of the subject is changed and the positioning image is acquired again.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a case where the second reference image cannot be linearly aligned with the first reference image. Similarly to FIG. 6, the upper left side is the first reference image IMG1, and the upper right side is the second reference image IMG7.

FIG. 7 illustrates a case where the head of the subject is tilted to the left in the imaging of the second reference image IMG7 as compared with the case where the first reference image IMG1 is imaged. In this case, the first reference image IMG1 and the second reference image IMG7 cannot be aligned by linear alignment.

In this case, the alignment function 322 notifies the user that the linear alignment cannot be performed. Further, the alignment function 322 may display on the display 35 that it is recommended to change the position of the subject.

Although the second reference image can be linearly aligned with the first reference image, if the area of the subject drawn in each image (hereinafter referred to as the drawing area) is different, the imaging condition changing function 323 is the first. The imaging range associated with the reference image of 1 may not be applicable to the second reference image. For example, if the imaging range IA2 set in the first reference image is not visualized on the second reference image, the imaging range IA2 cannot be applied to the second reference image.

In that case, the alignment function 322 notifies the user that the drawing area is different. Further, the alignment function 322 moves the bed on which the subject is placed and the gantry of the image pickup device 36 so that the drawing area of the first reference image and the drawing area of the second reference image coincide with each other. May be recommended. Further, the alignment function 322 calculates the amount of deviation between the drawing area of the first reference image and the drawing area of the second reference image, and calculates the amount of movement of the bed or the like based on the amount of deviation, and the user. Each part of the medical diagnostic imaging apparatus 30 may be configured as presented in the above.

The above is the description of the method of setting the imaging condition of the medical image for the second treatment plan using the reference information. Hereinafter, a display example relating to the setting method of the imaging conditions will be described.

FIG. 8 is a first display example in which the imaging range of the first reference image is applied to the second reference image. FIG. 8 shows a case where the imaging range of the medical image for the second treatment plan is set on the display 35 of the console device 31 of the medical image diagnosis device 30. The left side of FIG. 8 is the first reference image IMG 4 acquired from the treatment planning device 10, and the right side is the second reference image IMG 6 acquired by the imaging device of the medical image diagnosis device 30.

On the first reference image IMG4, the range of the imaging range IA2 of the medical image for the second treatment plan is superimposed and displayed. Further, on the second reference image IMG6, the imaging range IA3 in which the range of the imaging range IA2 of the medical image for the second treatment plan is adapted to the second reference image IMG6 is superimposed and displayed. The second reference image IMG6 is linearly aligned with the first reference image IMG4, and the imaging range IA3 is set in the second reference image IMG6 based on the calculated deviation amount.

FIG. 9 is a second display example in which the imaging range of the first reference image is applied to the second reference image. The difference between FIG. 9 and FIG. 8 is that, as shown on the right side of FIG. 8, an image in which the second reference image IMG6 and the first reference image IMG4 are superimposed is displayed.

That is, FIG. 9 shows an example in which the first reference image IMG4 and the superimposed image of the second reference image IMG6 and the first reference image IMG4 are displayed side by side.

In this way, by using the medical image and the treatment plan data acquired in the first treatment plan to set the imaging conditions of the medical image for the second treatment plan in advance, the second treatment plan can be used. It is possible to reduce the exposure dose in the imaging of medical images. In addition, the first treatment plan data can be used to acquire a medical image having a higher image quality than the medical image for the first treatment plan.

Further, when actually capturing the medical image for the second treatment plan, the medical image for the second treatment plan is made more efficient by changing the preset imaging conditions so as to match the actual imaging conditions. It can be imaged well.

In the above description, the case of capturing a medical image for the second treatment plan has been described as an example, but the present embodiment can also be applied to, for example, follow-up imaging after radiotherapy.

Further, in the above description, the treatment planning system 1 has been described as an example, but each function of the treatment planning system 1 may be realized by a radiation therapy support device such as a personal computer or a tablet terminal.

Specifically, the radiotherapy support device is interconnected with the treatment planning device 10, the radiotherapy device 20, and the medical diagnostic imaging device 30 via a network, and each function of the treatment planning system 1 is stored in the form of a program. Each function is realized by storing in the processing circuit and executing the program in the processing circuit. In this case, the radiation therapy support device acquires treatment plan data from the treatment planning device 10 or the radiation therapy device 20 via the network, and acquires a second reference image from the medical diagnostic imaging device 30.

According to at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the exposure dose while acquiring a medical image suitable for the treatment plan.

The correspondence between the terms of the claims and the embodiments will be described. The correspondence shown below is an interpretation shown for reference only, and does not limit the present invention.

The next imaging condition setting function 112 in the embodiment is an example of the imaging condition setting unit. The reference information generation function 113 in the embodiment is an example of the reference information generation unit. The reference information acquisition function 321 in the embodiment is an example of the reference information acquisition unit, and the alignment function 322 in the embodiment is an example of the alignment unit. The imaging condition changing function 323 in the embodiment is an example of the imaging condition changing unit.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and variations thereof are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof, as are included in the scope and gist of the invention.

1 Treatment planning system 10 Treatment planning device 111 Treatment information acquisition function 112 Next imaging condition setting function 113 Reference information generation function 20 Radiation therapy device 30 Medical image diagnosis device 321 Reference information acquisition function 322 Alignment function 323 Imaging condition change function

Claims (8)

At least one of the imaging range, imaging position and slice thickness for acquiring the first reference image obtained for the treatment plan of the first treatment and the medical image used for the treatment plan of the second treatment. A reference information acquisition unit that acquires imaging conditions including
An alignment unit that calculates the amount of deviation by linearly aligning the second reference image acquired in the treatment plan of the second treatment with the first reference image.
An imaging condition changing unit that changes the imaging conditions for acquiring the medical image by adapting the imaging conditions associated with the first reference image based on the deviation amount to the second reference image. ,
A medical diagnostic imaging device equipped with. The imaging condition includes only the imaging range of the imaging range, the imaging position, and the slice thickness of the medical image.
The imaging condition changing unit changes the imaging range for acquiring the medical image by adapting the imaging range associated with the first reference image to the second reference image.
The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1. The imaging condition changing unit determines whether or not the first reference image can be linearly aligned with the second reference image in the alignment unit, and if the linear alignment is not possible, notifies that effect. do,
The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. When the region drawn in the first reference image and the region drawn in the second reference image are different from each other, the image pickup condition changing unit has the region drawn in the second reference image and the first region. The position of the subject is changed based on the amount of deviation so that the area drawn in the reference image of the above is the same.
The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The first reference image and the second reference image are positioning images.
The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The alignment unit generates an image that can be aligned with the second reference image from the first reference image according to the type of the second reference image.
The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. An imaging condition that sets an imaging condition including at least one of an imaging range, an imaging position, and a slice thickness for acquiring a medical image used in a treatment plan of the second treatment based on the treatment information in the first treatment. Setting part and
A reference information generation unit that generates reference information in which the first reference image acquired for the treatment plan of the first treatment and the imaging condition set by the imaging condition setting unit are associated with each other.
An alignment unit that acquires the reference information and linearly aligns the second reference image acquired in the treatment plan of the second treatment with the first reference image to calculate the deviation amount .
An imaging condition changing unit that changes the imaging conditions for acquiring the medical image by adapting the imaging conditions associated with the first reference image based on the deviation amount to the second reference image. ,
Treatment planning system with. The steps to obtain treatment information in the treatment plan of the first treatment,
A step of generating an imaging condition including at least one of an imaging range, an imaging position and a slice thickness for acquiring a medical image used in a treatment plan for a second treatment based on the treatment information.
A step of generating reference information associating the first reference image acquired for the treatment plan of the first treatment with the imaging conditions.
A step of calculating the deviation amount by linearly aligning the second reference image acquired in the second treatment plan with the first reference image.
A step of changing the imaging conditions for acquiring the medical image by adapting the imaging conditions associated with the first reference image to the second reference image based on the deviation amount .
Radiation therapy support program with.

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