APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING A SCANNING SCHEDULE IN A COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHIC APPARATUS

Abstract: A display method for a computer tomographic apparatus is provided to display the conditions in which a plurality of scanning schedules are set and the progress thereof in a manner that they can be readily comprehended. Namely, the sum of a scanning time length and a margin time length until the next scanning starts is displayed by a graphic representa­ tion for each of the plurality of scannings. In each graphic representation, a portion representing the scanning time is displayed differently from a portion representing the margin time. Further, a portion representing a schedule that has been executed is displayed differently from a portion representing a schedule that has not been executed.

Description: The present invention concerns an apparatus for displaying a scanning schedule for a plurality of scannings of a computer tomographic apparatus utilizing X-ray or nuclear magnetic resonance of the like. In a conventional computer tomographic apparatus utilizing X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance or the like, a plurality of images are photographed continuously depending on the case by conducting a series of a plurality of scannings. In this case, a schedule such as the margin time from the completion of the previous scanning to the start of the next scanning, the displacing amount of the scanning position (for example, moving amount of a patient table) or the like is previously set on every one scanning, and a series of a plurality of scannings is carried out in accordance with the schedule after the start of the scannings (hereinafter referred to as the schedule scanning). In the conventional apparatus, a cathode ray tube (CRT) or like other screen is used, and the setting for the scanning schedule is effected in a dialog system utilizing letters, while the proceeding state of the scanning schedule is also effected by letters. Accordingly, it is inconvenient to intuitively understand the setting state and the proceeding state of the scanning schedule. It is an object of this invention to provide a display apparatus for use in a computer tomographic apparatus in which the setting state for the schedule of a plurality of scannings and the proceeding state thereof are displayed so that they can be understood intuitively. To solve this object, the present invention provides an apparatus for displaying a scanning schedule in a computer tomographic apparatus as stated in claim 1. In the above apparatus, the sum of the length for the scanning time and the length for the margin time till the start of the next scanning is displayed as a graph using a graphic figure for each of the plurality of scannings, and the configuration is made different between the portion for expressing the scanning time and the portion for expressing the margin time, as well as the display configuration is also made different between the executed and not-executed portions for the schedule in each of the graphs. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a constitutional block diagram showing the constitution of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a flow chart useful for explaining a method of setting and displaying the scanning schedule in the apparatus of the present invention, Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the method of tracing and displaying the proceeding state of the scanning schedule in the apparatus of the present invention, Figure 4 is a schematic view showing images displayed by the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 is an enlarged view for a portion of Figure 4. At first, referring to Figure 1 explanation is made for the construction of an apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention. The shown apparatus 10 comprises a setting device 1, a display 2 and a controller 3 so as to control a scanner 15. In the apparatus 10, a push button switch and an alpha numeric keyboard are used as the setting device 1, a CRT display is used as the display 2 and a computer is used as the controller. The output of the setting device 1 is connected to the first input of the controller 3, the first output of the controller 3 is connected to the display 2 and the second input and the output of the controller 3 are connected respectively to the output and the input of the scanner 15. Then, referring to the drawings (Fig. 1 to 5) explanation will be made for the method of displaying the setting state and the proceeding state of the scanning schedule in the apparatus of the present invention. Figure 2 is a flow chart which explains the method of setting and displaying the scanning schedule in this apparatus, Figure 3 is a flow chart which explains the method of tracing and displaying the proceeding state of the scanning schedule in the apparatus, Figure 4 shows a format image 41 on a display screen 40 of the display 2 and Figure 5 shows a portion 47 of displayed images in an enlarged scale. At first, when the scanning schedule setting has been demanded through the setting device 1 from an operator (process step 21 in Figure 2), an image signal corresponding to the format image 41 is formed in the controller 3 to which a signal corresponding to the request is inputted, and the format image 41 is displayed by the image signal on the screen 40 of the display 2 (process step 22 in Figure 2). As shown in Figure 4, the format image 41 displays letters : SCAN SL # at the position 42, letters : DELAY SEC at the position 43, letters : INTVL MM at the position 44, as well as numericals of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 at the position 45 and scales indicated by fat lines and broken lines respectively. SCAN SL # is a name for the column in which the numbers for the individual scannings in the series of the plurality of scannings are displayed. DELAY SEC indicates the name of a column in which the margin time up to the start of the next scanning is displayed by numericals and the unit of time. INTVL MM is a name for the column in which the moving amount of the scanning position is displayed by numericals and the unit of the distance. The numericals and the scales at the position 45 indicate the scales of the plane on the graph in which the scanning time and the margin time for the individual scannings are displayed by a graph using a band-like graphic figure, that is, a bar graph. Then, when the margin time and the scanning position moving amount are set sequentially on every individual scannings by the operator through the setting device 1 (process step 23 in Figure 2), the control operation of the controller 3 displays numericals indicating the scanning order in the column shown at the position 42, numericals indicating the margin time for the second unit in the column shown at the position 43, the moving amount of the scanning position by mm unit in the column shown at the position 44 and the bar graph for the scanning time and the margin time for individual scannings on the plane of the graph shown at the position 45 respectively in the format image 41 (process step 25 in Figure 2). As shown for example, in Figure 5, the bar graph 46 represents the scanning time as a broad width band-like graphic figure and displays the margin time as a narrow width band-like graphic figure 52. The length of the band is indicated by the time of second unit. The scanning time is a predetermined constant value inherent to the scanning device 15. When the scanning schedule is displayed by the arrangement of such a plurality of bar graphs, the setting state of the scanning schedule can be understood at a glance. When such a setting has been completed for all of the scannings in one schedule ( process step 24 in Figure 2), the set scanning conditions are applied under the control of the controller 3 to the scanner 15 (process step 26 in Figure 2), and the setting for the scanning schedule is completed (process step 27 in Figure 2). Then, when the scanner 15 starts the scanning, the procedures as shown in Figure 3 is conducted by the controller 3, for example, on every 0.5 sec, a signal indicating the scanning state is read from a scanner 15 (process step 32 in Figure 3) and then, depending on the signal, the band-like graphic form in the display 2 relevant to the scanning now in execution is painted out for a length corresponding to (0.5 sec) (process step 33 in Figure 3). The procedures are repeated during effecting of the scanning schedule, in which the painting out of the band-like graphic figure 47 is advanced. This state is shown by the hatched bar graph in Figure 4. In this way, since the bar graphs are painted out along with the advance of the scanning schedule, the proceeding state of the scanning schedule can be understood at a glance based on the proceeding state of the painting out. With the completion of the scanning schedule, painting out for all of the bar graphs is completed. Although the portion of the bar graph that has already been executed is painted out while the not yet executed portion is left blank, the mode may be reversed. In the apparatus of the above embodiment of the present invention, although the display for the moving state of the table is not carried out but it can optionally be displayed by the bar graph in the same manner depending on the requirement. As the display, color CRT, liquid crystal display, plasma display or the like can also be used as well as the monochrome CRT. Furthermore, the scanning time and the margin time may be distinguished not necessarily by to the width of the bar graph, but also by using two modes capable of distinguishig from each other. It is the same for the display of the proceeding state of the scanning schedule, the change in the color or the brilliancy may also be utilized not always restricted only to the painting out. The foregoings show one embodiment of this invention in which the scanning schedule is displaced by the bar graph using the band-like graphic figure, but the graph is not restricted to the bar graph but an appropriate graph may be used depending on the requirement, for example, a circular graph using a fan-like graphic figure. As described above, the setting state of the scanning schedule and the proceeding state thereof in the computer tomographic apparatus can be displayed according to this invention such that it can be understood intuitively. Accordingly, since an user of the computer tomographic apparatus can concentrate his attention upon the patient, there is an advantage of improved diagnostic efficiency.

Claims: An apparatus for displaying a scanning schedule for a plurality of scannings of a computer tomographic apparatus with a scanner (15) for scanning of an object to be examined at a predetermined scanning time, said apparatus comprising a setting device (1) for setting said scanning schedule including a margin time between an individual scanning and a next scanning for each scanning of said plurality of scannings to be effected by said scanner, a display (2) and a controller (3) for causing said scanner (10) to conduct the scannings according to the scanning schedule set by the setting device, and for displaying the set scanning schedule and advance or the scannings of the scanning schedule on said display, the individual scannings being displayed with a graph having at least a portion representing the length of said scanning time and a portion representing the length of said margin time, in which graph the portions representing the two times have configurations different from each other, and those portions of said graph that have been executed are displayed different from other portions along with the advance of the scannings of the scanning schedule. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the width of the graph indicating the individual scannings is different for the portion corresponding to the scanning time and the portion corresponding to the margin time. The apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the graph of a band-like graphic figure representing the individual scannings has a braoder width in the portion corresponding to the scanning time and a narrower width in the portion corresponding to the margin time. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the graph representing the individual scannings comprises a band-like graphic figure, in which the portion corresponding to the execution of scanning schedule comprises either one of the painted out band-like figure and a blank band-like figure, and the other portion comprises the other of the figures. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the graph representing the individual scannings comprises a band-like graphic figure, in which the portion corresponding to the execution of the scanning schedule is displayed by either one of two colors and the other portion is displayed by the other color. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the graph for indicating the individual scannings comprises a band-like graphic figure, in which the portion corresponding to the execution of scanning schedule is displayed by either one of two brilliance levels and the other portion is displayed by the other level.

Inventors: NAKASE, AKIMOTO YOKOGAWA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LTD., OGAWA, YOSHIKAZU YOKOGAWA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LTD., WATANABE, YOSHIHIKO YOKOGAWA MEDICAL SYSTEMS LTD
Applicants: YOKOGAWA MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LTD
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A61B6
IPC codes: G06F3, G01R33, H05G1, A61B6, G09G5, G01N23