Patent Description:
An X-ray CT apparatus is known as a medical apparatus for non-invasively imaging the inside of a patient. Because of its ability to image a body part to be imaged in a short time, the X-ray CT apparatus is widely used in medical institutions, such as hospitals.

A CT apparatus has a gantry and a table as its main components. The gantry and table are disposed in a scan room. The gantry is provided with a rotating section on which an X-ray tube and a detector are mounted. In imaging a patient, a scan is performed while rotating the rotating section. The CT apparatus also has an operator console for operating the gantry and table, the operator console being disposed in an operation room provided separately from the scan room. The operator can control the gantry and table by operating the operator console disposed in the operation room.

The CT apparatus moreover has a communication device allowing the operator in the operation room to communicate with the patient in the scan room. The communication device has a microphone for receiving an operator's voice, and a speaker for transmitting the voice received by the microphone to the patient in the scan room. One example of the communication device is disclosed in <CIT>.

When the operator utters a voice, the microphone receives the operator's voice, causing the operator's voice to be generated from the speaker. Accordingly, the patient can hear the operator's voice while in the scan room.

However, in the case that the communication device is set to an "OFF" mode in which no communication is made, or some failure occurs in the communication device, for example, when the operator in the operation room talks into the microphone about requirements for an examination, the operator's voice is not output from the speaker in the scan room. Accordingly, when talking into the microphone and receiving no response from the patient, the operator may sometimes be worried that the voice of his/her own is not output from the speaker in the scan room. At other times, the operator may not be aware that the voice of his/her own is not output from the speaker in the scan room.

Accordingly, it is desirable to enable the operator to, when talking into a microphone, recognize whether or not the voice of his/her own is being output from the speaker in the scan room.

<CIT> relates to an intercom system, in which the patient side and the operator side mutually notify each other via a speaker at the patient side and operator side. It features a level meter on the signal line that displays the signal level in different colors, which allows the operator to see the color of the level meter and recognize and understand the voice level that he himself is speaking.

The presently claimed invention is set out in the independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the presently claimed invention are set out in the dependent claims.

The present invention, in its first aspect, is a medical apparatus having:.

Also disclosed herein is a program stored in a medical apparatus, said apparatus having: a first microphone installed in a first room for receiving a voice of an operator; a second microphone installed in a second room for receiving a voice of a patient; a first speaker installed in said first room for outputting the voice of said patient received by said second microphone; a second speaker installed in said second room for outputting the voice of said operator received by said first microphone; and means for informing, in a case that said second microphone has received the voice of said operator output from said second speaker, said operator that the voice of said operator is being output from said second speaker, said program being for causing one or more processors to execute:.

Also disclosed herein is a non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium provided in a medical apparatus, said apparatus having: a first microphone installed in a first room for receiving a voice of an operator; a second microphone installed in a second room for receiving a voice of a patient; a first speaker installed in said first room for outputting the voice of said patient received by said second microphone; a second speaker installed in said second room for outputting the voice of said operator received by said first microphone; and means for informing, in a case that said second microphone has received the voice of said operator output from said second speaker, said operator that the voice of said operator is being output from said second speaker,
in said recording medium are stored one or more instructions executable by one or more processors, said one or more instructions, when executed by said one or more processors, causing said one or more processors to execute an operation comprising the acts of:.

The second speaker outputs a voice of the operator in the first room. When the operator's voice is output from the second speaker, the second microphone receives the voice output from the second speaker. The medical apparatus in the present invention has means for informing, in the case that said second microphone has received the voice of said operator output from said second speaker, said operator that the voice of said operator is being output from said second speaker. Accordingly, when the operator's voice is output from the second speaker, the operator can recognize while in the first room that the voice is being output from the second speaker via said means for informing. Thus, the operator is freed from worry that the voice of his/her own may not be heard by the patient, and therefore, the operator can concentrate on his/her work to smoothly achieve a scan on the patient.

Now embodiments for practicing the invention will be described hereinbelow; however, the present invention is not limited thereto.

<FIG> is an external view of an X-ray CT apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, an X-ray CT apparatus <NUM> comprises a gantry <NUM>, a table <NUM>, and an operator console <NUM>.

The gantry <NUM> and table <NUM> are installed in a scan room R1. The operator console <NUM> is installed in an operation room R2 separate from the scan room R1. In <FIG>, ceilings and some sidewalls of the scan room R1 and operation room R2 are omitted from the drawing for convenience of explanation.

The scan room R1 and operation room R2 are separated from each other by a wall <NUM>. The wall <NUM> is provided with a window <NUM> allowing an operator <NUM> to view the scan room R1 from the operation room R2. The wall <NUM> is also provided with a door <NUM> for allowing the operator <NUM> to move between the scan room R1 and operation room R2.

The wall <NUM> and window <NUM> lying between the scan room R1 and operation room R2 can have any shape, and moreover, various materials may be used as a material(s) making up the wall and window, insofar as satisfactory safety of a human body can be ensured.

The gantry <NUM> is provided on its front surface with a display section <NUM>. The display section <NUM> is capable of displaying patient information, information helpful for preparation for a scan, and/or the like. Accordingly, the operator can smoothly prepare for a scan on a patient <NUM> while checking over the display on the display section <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of the X-ray CT apparatus <NUM> in accordance with a first embodiment.

The gantry <NUM> has a bore <NUM> for forming space through which the patient <NUM> can be moved.

The gantry <NUM> also has an X-ray tube <NUM>, an aperture <NUM>, a collimator device <NUM>, an X-ray detector <NUM>, a data acquisition system <NUM>, a rotating section <NUM>, a high-voltage power source <NUM>, an aperture driving apparatus <NUM>, a rotation driving apparatus <NUM>, a GT (Gantry Table) control section <NUM>, etc..

The rotating section <NUM> is constructed to be rotatable around the bore <NUM>.

The rotating section <NUM> has the X-ray tube <NUM>, aperture <NUM>, collimator device <NUM>, X-ray detector <NUM>, and data acquisition system <NUM> mounted thereon.

The X-ray tube <NUM> and X-ray detector <NUM> are disposed to face each other across the bore <NUM> of the gantry <NUM>.

The aperture <NUM> is disposed between the X-ray tube <NUM> and bore <NUM>. The aperture <NUM> shapes X-rays emitted from an X-ray focus of the X-ray tube <NUM> toward the X-ray detector <NUM> into a fan beam or a cone beam.

The collimator device <NUM> is disposed between the bore <NUM> and X-ray detector <NUM>. The collimator device <NUM> removes scatter rays entering the X-ray detector <NUM>.

The X-ray detector <NUM> has a plurality of X-ray detector elements two-dimensionally arranged in directions of the extent and thickness of the fan-shaped X-ray beam emitted from the X-ray tube <NUM>. Each X-ray detector element detects X-rays passing through the patient <NUM>, and outputs an electrical signal depending upon the intensity thereof.

The data acquisition system <NUM> receives electrical signals output from the X-ray detector elements in the X-ray detector <NUM>, and converts them into X-ray data for acquisition.

The table <NUM> has a cradle <NUM> and a driving apparatus <NUM>. The patient <NUM> lies on the cradle <NUM>. The driving apparatus <NUM> drives the table <NUM> and cradle <NUM> so that the cradle <NUM> can move in y- and z-directions.

The high-voltage power source <NUM> supplies high voltage and electric current to the X-ray tube <NUM>.

The aperture driving apparatus <NUM> drives the aperture <NUM> to modify the shape of its opening.

The rotation driving apparatus <NUM> rotationally drives the rotating section <NUM>.

The GT control section <NUM> executes processing for controlling several apparatuses/devices and several sections in the gantry <NUM>, the driving apparatus <NUM> for the table <NUM>, etc. The GT control section <NUM> also supplies to a light-emission control section <NUM> a signal carrying thereon information necessary for controlling a light-emitting section <NUM>. The light-emission control section <NUM> and light-emitting section <NUM> will be discussed later.

The operator console <NUM> accepts several kinds of operations from the operator. The operator console <NUM> has an input device <NUM>, a display device <NUM>, a storage device <NUM>, a processing device <NUM>, and an intercom module <NUM>.

The input device <NUM> may comprise buttons and a keyboard for accepting an input of a command and information from the operator, and a pointing device, such as a mouse. The display device <NUM> is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, or the like.

The storage device <NUM> may comprise a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), semiconductor memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The operator console <NUM> may have all of the HDD, RAM, and ROM as the storage device <NUM>. The storage device <NUM> may also comprise a portable storage medium <NUM>, such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

The processing device <NUM> comprises a processor for executing several kinds of processing.

The intercom module <NUM> is used when the operator <NUM> communicates with the patient <NUM>. The intercom module <NUM> will be described in detail later.

The CT apparatus <NUM> moreover has a communication device <NUM> for allowing the operator <NUM> in the operation room R2 and the patient <NUM> in the scan room R1 to communicate with each other.

The communication device <NUM> has a patient microphone <NUM>, an amplifier board <NUM>, an intercom module <NUM>, and a speaker <NUM>. Now the communication device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>, as well as <FIG>.

<FIG> is a circuit diagram of the communication device <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the scan room R1 and operation room R2 are each designated by dashed lines.

In the scan room R1 are disposed the patient microphone <NUM>, speaker <NUM>, and amplifier board <NUM> of the communication device <NUM>.

The patient microphone <NUM> is for receiving a voice of the patient <NUM>. The patient microphone <NUM> can be installed in the proximity of the bore <NUM> of the gantry <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The patient microphone <NUM> is, however, not necessarily installed in the gantry <NUM>, and may be installed at a different place from the gantry <NUM> (e.g., in the table <NUM>, or on the wall or ceiling of the scan room R1) insofar as it can receive the voice of the patient <NUM>.

The speaker <NUM> is for outputting a voice of the operator <NUM> in the operation room R2. The speaker <NUM> may be installed under the cradle <NUM> of the table <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The speaker <NUM> is, however, not necessarily installed in the table <NUM>, and may be installed at a different place from the table <NUM> (e.g., in the gantry <NUM>, or on the wall or ceiling of the scan room R1) insofar as the patient <NUM> can hear the voice from the speaker <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, the description will be continued.

The amplifier board <NUM> amplifies a signal of a sound received by the patient microphone <NUM>. The amplifier board <NUM> may be installed in the inside of the gantry <NUM>.

On the other hand, in the operation room R2 is disposed the intercom module <NUM> of the communication device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the intercom module <NUM> has an operator microphone <NUM>, a preamplifier <NUM>, an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) <NUM>, a DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) <NUM>, a power amplifier <NUM>, a buffer amplifier <NUM>, an ADC <NUM>, a DAC <NUM>, a power amplifier <NUM>, a speaker <NUM>, a microphone switch <NUM>, and a switch section <NUM>. While the intercom module <NUM> comprises circuit parts, several kinds of switches, and several kinds of buttons in addition to the components <NUM> to <NUM>, they are omitted in the drawings because they are not needed for the description of the present invention.

The switch section <NUM> has two switching elements 52a and 52b.

The switching element 52a is provided between the ADC <NUM> and DAC <NUM>. When the switching element 52a is set to "ON," the switching element 52a electrically connects the ADC <NUM> and the DAC <NUM> together, and when the switching element 52a is set to "OFF," the ADC <NUM> is electrically disconnected from the DAC <NUM>.

On the other hand, the switching element 52b is provided between the ADC <NUM> and DAC <NUM>. When the switching element 52b is set to "ON," the switching element 52b electrically connects the ADC <NUM> and the DAC <NUM> together, and when the switching element 52b is set to "OFF," the ADC <NUM> is electrically disconnected from the DAC <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an appearance of the intercom module <NUM>. The intercom module <NUM> has a generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing 4a. The housing 4a has the components <NUM> to <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the intercom module <NUM> incorporated therein. In <FIG>, three of the components <NUM> to <NUM>, i.e., the operator microphone <NUM>, speaker <NUM>, and microphone switch <NUM>, are shown. The microphone switch <NUM> is provided on an upper surface 4b of the housing 4a. The microphone switch <NUM> is a switch for changing the communication mode of the intercom module <NUM>. Here, the microphone switch <NUM> is constructed to allow the operator <NUM> to press it, and the communication mode of the intercom module <NUM> can be changed by the operator <NUM> pressing the microphone switch <NUM> as needed. Now the communication mode of the intercom module <NUM> will be described hereinbelow.

When the operator <NUM> has pressed the microphone switch <NUM>, the mode is set to a first communication mode in which the voice of the operator <NUM> can be transmitted to the patient <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing the intercom module <NUM> set to the first communication mode. When the microphone switch <NUM> is pressed, the switching element 52a in the switch section <NUM> is set to "ON," and thus, the operator microphone <NUM> and speaker <NUM> are electrically connected with each other. Accordingly, by continuously pressing the microphone switch <NUM>, the operator <NUM> can transmit the voice of his/her own to the patient <NUM> while the microphone switch <NUM> is pressed.

While the microphone switch <NUM> is pressed, the switching element 52b is set to "OFF. " Accordingly, the patient microphone <NUM> is electrically disconnected from the speaker <NUM>, and thus, no sound is output from the speaker <NUM> in the first communication mode.

On the other hand, when the operator <NUM> is not pressing the microphone switch <NUM>, the mode is set to a second communication mode in which the voice of the patient <NUM> can be transmitted to the operator <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram showing the intercom module <NUM> set to the second communication mode. The switching element 52b is in "ON" when the operator <NUM> is not pressing the microphone switch <NUM> in the present embodiment. Accordingly, in the second communication mode, the patient microphone <NUM> and speaker <NUM> are in an electrically connected state. Thus, when the patient <NUM> utters a voice, the voice of the patient <NUM> is received by the patient microphone <NUM> and is output to the speaker <NUM>, so that the operator <NUM> can hear the voice of the patient <NUM> while in the operation room R2.

The switching element 52a is in "OFF" when the operator <NUM> is not pressing the microphone switch <NUM>. Accordingly, the operator microphone <NUM> is a state electrically disconnected from the speaker <NUM>. Thus, in the second communication mode, no sound is output from the speaker <NUM>.

As described above, the intercom module <NUM> has two communication modes, and the operator <NUM> can change the communication mode by the microphone switch <NUM> to thereby allow communication between the operator <NUM> and patient <NUM>.

Now an operation of the communication device <NUM> in the first communication mode and that in the second communication mode will be described one by one hereinbelow.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram for the first communication mode.

To set the intercom module <NUM> to the first communication mode, the operator <NUM> continuously presses the microphone switch <NUM>. While the operator <NUM> is pressing the microphone switch <NUM>, the switching element 52a is set to "ON" and the switching element 52b is set to "OFF," as shown in <FIG>. Accordingly, in the first communication mode, the patient microphone <NUM> is set to a state electrically disconnected from the speaker <NUM> while the operator microphone <NUM> is set to a state electrically connected to the speaker <NUM>. Thus, in the first communication mode, by the operator <NUM> talking into the operator microphone <NUM>, the patient <NUM> can hear the voice of the patient <NUM> from the speaker <NUM>. In the first communication mode, the intercom module <NUM> operates as follows.

When the operator <NUM> utters a voice v1, the operator microphone <NUM> receives the voice v1 of the operator <NUM>. Upon receiving the voice v1, the operator microphone <NUM> outputs an analog signal d1(t) representing the received voice v1.

The preamplifier <NUM> receives the analog signal d1(t) output from the operator microphone <NUM>, and amplifies the received analog signal d1(t). The preamplifier <NUM> amplifies the analog signal d1(t) from the operator microphone <NUM> up to an input voltage range for the ADC <NUM> at the following stage.

The ADC <NUM> converts an analog signal d2(t) output from the preamplifier <NUM> into a digital signal D(n).

Accordingly, a circuitry part constituted by the preamplifier <NUM> and ADC <NUM> operates as a circuitry part that generates the digital signal D(n) based on the analog signal d1(t).

The DAC <NUM> converts the digital signal D(n) from the ADC <NUM> into an analog signal c1(t).

The power amplifier <NUM> receives the analog signal c1(t) from the DAC <NUM>, amplifies the received analog signal c1(t), and outputs the resulting signal as an analog signal c2(t). The analog signal c2(t) is supplied to the speaker <NUM>. Accordingly, a circuitry part constituted by the DAC <NUM> and power amplifier <NUM> operates as a circuitry part that generates the analog signal c2(t) to be supplied to the speaker <NUM> based on the digital signal D(n).

The speaker <NUM> receives the analog signal c2(t) output from the power amplifier <NUM>, and outputs a sound corresponding to the received analog signal c2(t).

Accordingly, the patient <NUM> can hear the voice of the operator <NUM>.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram for the second communication mode.

In the case that the operator <NUM> is not pressing the microphone switch <NUM>, the switching element 52b is in an "ON" state and the switching element 52a is in an "OFF" state, as shown in <FIG>. Accordingly, in the second communication mode, the operator microphone <NUM> is in a state electrically disconnected from the speaker <NUM> while the patient microphone <NUM> is in a state electrically connected to the speaker <NUM>. Thus, in the second communication mode, when the patient <NUM> utters a voice, the operator <NUM> can hear the voice of the patient <NUM>. In the second communication mode, the intercom module <NUM> operates as follows.

When the patient <NUM> utters a voice v3, the patient microphone <NUM> receives the voice v3 of the patient <NUM>. Upon receiving the voice v3, the patient microphone <NUM> outputs an analog signal m1(t) representing the received voice v3.

The amplifier board <NUM> receives the analog signal m1(t) output from the patient microphone <NUM>, amplifies the received analog signal m1(t), and outputs an analog signal m2(t). The amplifier board <NUM> amplifies the analog signal m1(t) so that noise, if any, mixed on a signal line can be ignored.

The buffer amplifier <NUM> is for performing impedance conversion. Moreover, the buffer amplifier <NUM> adjusts the analog signal m2(t) received from the amplifier board <NUM> to fall within a voltage range of the ADC <NUM> at the following stage, and outputs the resulting signal as an analog signal m3(t).

The ADC <NUM> converts the analog signal m3(t) output from the buffer amplifier <NUM> into a digital signal M(n).

Accordingly, a circuitry part constituted by the amplifier board <NUM>, buffer amplifier <NUM>, and ADC <NUM> operates as a circuitry part that generates the digital signal M(n) based on the analog signal m1(t).

The DAC <NUM> converts the digital signal M(n) from the ADC <NUM> into an analog signal f1(t).

The power amplifier <NUM> receives the analog signal f1(t) from the DAC <NUM>, amplifies the received analog signal f1(t), and outputs an analog signal f2(t).

The speaker <NUM> receives the analog signal f2(t) from the power amplifier <NUM>, and outputs a sound corresponding to the received analog signal f2(t).

Accordingly, when the patient <NUM> utters the voice v3, the operator <NUM> can hear the voice v3 of the patient <NUM> via the speaker <NUM>.

It can be seen from the explanation of <FIG> and <FIG> that the intercom module <NUM> is in the second communication mode for transmitting the voice of the patient <NUM> to the operator <NUM> unless the operator <NUM> presses the microphone switch <NUM>. Accordingly, when the patient <NUM> utters something, the operator <NUM> can hear the voice of the patient <NUM> from the speaker <NUM> while in the operation room R2. The operator <NUM> may continuously press the microphone switch <NUM> only when (s)he has to talk to the patient <NUM>, whereby.

(s)he can set the intercom module <NUM> to the first communication mode for transmitting his/her voice to the patient <NUM>. Having finished communicating necessary information to the patient <NUM>, the operator <NUM> gets his/her hand off from the microphone switch <NUM>. This causes the intercom module <NUM> to be changed from the first communication mode for transmitting the voice of the operator <NUM> to the patient <NUM> to the second communication mode for transmitting the voice of the patient <NUM> to the operator <NUM>, and thus, the operator <NUM> can hear a response from the patient <NUM> via the speaker <NUM>.

It is sometimes encountered, however, that when the operator <NUM> talks to the patient <NUM>, the patient <NUM> does not give a prompt response. In this case, the operator <NUM> may be worried that the voice of the operator <NUM> is not output from the speaker <NUM> in the scan room R1 because of some problem occurring in the communication device <NUM>. At that time, the operator <NUM> may talk to the patient <NUM> many times in order to confirm whether or not the voice of the operator <NUM> is being output from the speaker <NUM>, which may disadvantageously cause unwanted work stress to the operator <NUM>.

Moreover, there is a fear that although a voice uttered by the operator <NUM> is problematically not output from the speaker <NUM> in the scan room R1 due to, for example, a failure or the like in the communication device <NUM>, the operator <NUM> is unaware of that. In this case, although the matter the operator <NUM> has spoken is not transmitted to the patient <NUM>, the operator <NUM> may assume that the matter has been transmitted to the patient <NUM>, and thus, the patient <NUM> may suffer from discomfort.

Hence, the CT apparatus <NUM> of the present embodiment is configured so that when uttering a voice, the operator <NUM> him/herself can recognize whether or not the voice of his/her own is being output from the speaker <NUM> in the scan room R1. Specifically, the CT apparatus <NUM> has a function of, when the operator <NUM> utters a voice, informing the operator <NUM> whether or not the voice of his/her own is output from the speaker <NUM> in the scan room R1. Now a basic configuration of the function will be described hereinbelow.

<FIG> is a diagram briefly showing an example of the basic configuration of the function for informing the operator <NUM> whether or not the voice of his/her own is being output from the speaker <NUM> in the scan room R1.

To describe the basic configuration of this function, in <FIG> are shown the GT control section <NUM>, light-emitting section <NUM>, and light-emission control section <NUM>, although not shown in <FIG>.

The GT control section <NUM> receives the digital signal M(n) output from the ADC <NUM>. The light-emitting section <NUM> is connected to the GT control section <NUM> through the light-emission control section <NUM>.

The light-emitting section <NUM> is provided on the front surface of the gantry <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The operator <NUM> can see the light-emitting section <NUM> in the gantry <NUM> via the window <NUM> while in the operation room R2. In the present embodiment, the light-emitting section <NUM> has a right light-emitting section 31R and a left light-emitting section <NUM>. The right light-emitting section 31R is provided on the right side of the bore <NUM>, while the left light-emitting section <NUM> is provided on the left side of the bore <NUM>.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the light-emitting section <NUM>.

The light-emitting section <NUM> has the left light-emitting section <NUM> and right light-emitting section 31R. The basic structure of the left light-emitting section <NUM> and that of the right light-emitting section 31R are identical. Accordingly, the left one of the left light-emitting section <NUM> and right light-emitting section 31R will be taken here as a representative to describe the light-emitting section <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the left light-emitting section <NUM> is shown in close-up. The left light-emitting section <NUM> comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements. While the left light-emitting section <NUM> having five light-emitting elements e1 to e5 is exemplified here for convenience of explanation, the number of the light-emitting elements may be less than or more than five. As the light-emitting element, an LED may be used, for example. The right light-emitting section 31R also has the same number of the light-emitting elements as that in the left light-emitting section <NUM>.

The light-emission control section <NUM> controls the light-emitting section <NUM> to inform the operator <NUM> whether or not the voice of the operator <NUM> is being output from the speaker <NUM> in the scan room R1. Now a method of controlling the light-emitting section <NUM> will be described hereinbelow.

In <FIG>, when the operator <NUM> utters the voice v1, the voice v2 of the operator <NUM> is output from the speaker <NUM>, as described earlier with reference to <FIG>.

The patient microphone <NUM> receives the voice v2 of the operator <NUM> output from the speaker <NUM>. Upon receiving the voice v2, the patient microphone <NUM> outputs the analog signal m1(t) representing the received voice v2. The amplifier board <NUM> processes the analog signal m1(t) to output the analog signal m2(t). The analog signal m2(t) is processed by the buffer amplifier <NUM>, and the analog signal m3(t) output from the buffer amplifier <NUM> is converted into the digital signal M(n) by the ADC <NUM>. While the digital signal M(n) is output toward the DAC <NUM>, it is not supplied to the DAC <NUM> because the switching element 52b at the previous stage of the DAC <NUM> is "OFF.

However, since the ADC <NUM> is connected to the GT control section <NUM>, the digital signal M(n) is supplied to the GT control section <NUM>.

The GT control section <NUM> converts the digital signal M(n) into a digital signal Q(n) compatible with a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication, and outputs the digital signal Q(n) to the light-emission control section <NUM>.

The light-emission control section <NUM> outputs a control signal L(n) to the light-emitting section <NUM> based on the digital signal Q(n), for energizing the light-emitting section <NUM> depending upon the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM>.

Now a method of energizing the light-emitting section <NUM> depending upon the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM> will be described hereinbelow with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows in its lower portion a waveform of the voice of the operator <NUM> between time points t0 and t8. A vertical axis represents the time, and a horizontal axis represents the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM>. Although the voice waveform changes with time in a complex manner in practice, it is shown as a simple waveform in <FIG> to facilitate understanding of the operation of the light-emitting section <NUM>. Here, the loudness of the voice is assumed to linearly increase with time from time point t0 to point t6 and linearly decrease with time from time point t6 to point t8.

The light-emission control section <NUM> identifies which of regions w1 to w6 the loudness of the voice at a time point t falls within. The light-emission control section <NUM> then determines those to be energized and those not to be energized among the light-emitting elements (LED) e1 to e5 depending upon which region the loudness of the voice falls within.

In the present embodiment, the light-emitting elements to be energized and those not to be energized are determined following (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) below.

Now which one(s) of the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 is/are energized at each time point t will be described hereinbelow.

In t0≤t<t1, the light-emission control section <NUM> decides that the loudness of the voice falls within the region w1. Accordingly, the light-emission control section <NUM> outputs the control signal L(n) not to energize any of the light-emitting elements (LEDs) e1 to e5 following (<NUM>) above. Accordingly, no light-emitting elements e1 to e5 emit light in t0≤t<t1.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the light-emitting section <NUM> in t1≤t<t2.

In t1≤t<t2, the light-emission control section <NUM> decides that the loudness of the voice falls within the region w2. Accordingly, the light-emission control section <NUM> outputs the control signal L(n) to energize the light-emitting element e1 and not to energize the other light-emitting elements e2 to e5 following (<NUM>) above. Accordingly, only the light-emitting element e1 among the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 emits light in t1≤t<t2.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the light-emitting section <NUM> in t2≤t<t3.

In t2≤t<t3, the light-emission control section <NUM> decides that the loudness of the voice falls within the region w3. Accordingly, the light-emission control section <NUM> outputs the control signal L(n) to energize the light-emitting elements e1 and e2 and not to energize the other light-emitting elements e3 to e5 following (<NUM>) above. Accordingly, the light-emitting elements e1 and e2 among the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 emit light in t2≤t<t3.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the light-emitting section <NUM> in t3≤t<t4.

In t3≤t<t4, the light-emission control section <NUM> decides that the loudness of the voice falls within the region w4. Accordingly, the light-emission control section <NUM> outputs the control signal L(n) to energize the light-emitting elements e1, e2, and e3 and not to energize the other light-emitting elements e4 and e5 following (<NUM>) above. Accordingly, the light-emitting elements e1, e2, and e3 among the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 emit light in t3≤t<t4.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the light-emitting section <NUM> in t4≤t<t5.

In t4≤t<t5, the light-emission control section <NUM> decides that the loudness of the voice falls within the region w5. Accordingly, the light-emission control section <NUM> outputs the control signal L(n) to energize the light-emitting elements e1, e2, e3, and e4 and not to energize the other light-emitting element e5 following (<NUM>) above. Accordingly, the light-emitting elements e1, e2, e3, and e4 among the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 emit light in t4≤t<t5.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the light-emitting section <NUM> in t5≤t<t7.

In t5≤t<t7, the light-emission control section <NUM> decides that the loudness of the voice falls within the region w6. Accordingly, the light-emission control section <NUM> outputs the control signal L(n) to energize all the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 following (<NUM>) above. Accordingly, all the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 emit light in t5≤t<t7.

In t7<t<t8, the loudness of the voice falls within the region w5, as in t4≤t<t5, and therefore, the light-emitting elements e1, e2, e3, and e4 among the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 emit light, as shown in <FIG>.

Accordingly, in the case that the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM> exceeds a threshold between the regions w1 and w2, the light-emitting section <NUM> emits light, and therefore, the operator <NUM> can see the light-emitting section <NUM> while uttering a voice to thereby visually confirm whether or not the voice of the operator <NUM> is being output from the speaker <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Moreover, when the operator <NUM> utters a voice, the number of energized light-emitting elements changes depending upon the loudness of the voice. In the present embodiment, the number of energized light-emitting elements increases as the loudness of the voice increases. For example, in the case that the voice waveform changes as shown in <FIG>, the number of energized light-emitting elements is incremented by one with time in t0≤t<t7. On the other hand, the number of energized light-emitting elements decreases as the loudness of the voice decreases. For example, in t7≤t<t8, the number of energized light-emitting elements is decremented by one. Accordingly, the light-emitting section <NUM> functions as a level meter in which the number of energized light-emitting elements increases or decreases depending upon the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM>, and thus, volume information indicating the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM> can be given to the operator <NUM>. Therefore, the operator <NUM> can see the light-emitting section <NUM> while uttering a voice to thereby visually recognize at how much loudness the voice of the operator <NUM> is heard by the patient <NUM>.

Moreover, to avoid a situation in which the voice of the operator <NUM> is so low that the patient <NUM> is unaware of the voice of the operator <NUM>, the light-emitting section <NUM> is set not to emit light in the case that the loudness of the voice that the operator <NUM> has uttered is lower than the threshold between the regions w1 and w2. Accordingly, in the case that the light-emitting section <NUM> emit no light in spite of the fact that the operator <NUM> utters a voice, the operator <NUM> can become aware that the voice of his/her own may be too low, and therefore, the operator <NUM> can immediately utter the voice again so as to be heard by the patient <NUM>.

Sometimes the patient <NUM> may utter the voice v3 (see <FIG>) while the intercom module <NUM> is set to the first communication mode. In this case, since the patient <NUM> utters the voice v3 when the operator <NUM> does not utter the voice v1, the patient microphone <NUM> receives the voice v3 of the patient <NUM>. However, the light-emitting section <NUM> emitting light in response to the voice v3 of the patient <NUM> received by the patient microphone <NUM> in spite of the fact that the operator <NUM> does not utter the voice v1, may confuse the operator <NUM>. Moreover, in CT imaging the patient <NUM>, the operation of machinery, such as the gantry <NUM> and/or table <NUM>, generates operating noise, and furthermore, another operator, if any, in the scan room R1, may utter a voice. Again, in these cases, the light-emitting section <NUM> emitting light in response to the operating noise from machinery or the voice of the operator in the scan room R1, may confuse the operator <NUM>.

Hence, the CT apparatus <NUM> in the present embodiment has a filter block for energizing the light-emitting section <NUM> in response only to the voice of the operator <NUM> even when a sound (e.g., the voice of the patient <NUM>, operating noise from machinery, and/or voice of the operator in the scan room R1) other than the voice of the operator <NUM> is generated while the intercom module <NUM> is set to the first communication mode. Now the filter block will be described hereinbelow.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the filter block.

The intercom module <NUM> has a filter block <NUM>. The filter block <NUM> is constructed from a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The filter block <NUM> has an adaptive filter <NUM>, a subtracting section <NUM>, and a subtracting section <NUM>.

The adaptive filter <NUM> has an input section 61a connected to a node <NUM> between the switching element 52a and DAC <NUM>. The digital signal D(n) output from the ADC <NUM> is input to the input section 61a of the adaptive filter <NUM>.

The subtracting section <NUM> is connected to an output section 61b of the adaptive filter <NUM> and to the ADC <NUM>. The subtracting section <NUM> receives the digital signal M(n) from the ADC <NUM> and a digital signal D'(n) from the adaptive filter <NUM>, subtracts the digital signal D'(n) from the digital signal M(n), and outputs a digital signal M'(n) resulting from the subtraction.

Moreover, the adaptive filter <NUM> has an input section 61c for receiving the digital signal M'(n) output from the subtracting section <NUM>. The adaptive filter <NUM> adjusts its coefficients based on the digital signal M'(n) so that a difference between the digital signal D(n) received at the input section 61a and the digital signal D'(n) output from the output section 61b is as close to zero as possible.

The subtracting section <NUM> receives the digital signal M'(n) output from the subtracting section <NUM> and also receives the digital signal M(n) output from the ADC <NUM>. The subtracting section <NUM> subtracts the digital signal M'(n) from the digital signal M(n), and outputs a digital signal P(n) resulting from the subtraction.

The filter block <NUM> is thus configured as described above.

Next, an operation of the intercom module <NUM> provided with the filter block <NUM> will be described separately for the first communication mode and for the second communication mode.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram for an operation of the intercom module <NUM> in the first communication mode.

To set the intercom module <NUM> to the first communication mode, the operator <NUM> continuously presses the microphone switch <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the switching element 52a is set to "ON" and the switching element 52b is set to "OFF" while the operator <NUM> is pressing the microphone switch <NUM>. Accordingly, in the first communication mode, the patient microphone <NUM> is set to a state electrically disconnected from the speaker <NUM>, while the operator microphone <NUM> is in a state electrically connected to the speaker <NUM>.

When the operator <NUM> utters the voice v1, the operator microphone <NUM> receives the voice v1 of the operator <NUM>. Upon receiving the voice v1, the operator microphone <NUM> outputs the analog signal d1(t) representing the received voice v1. The preamplifier <NUM> receives the analog signal d1(t), amplifies the analog signal d1(t), and outputs the analog signal d2(t).

The ADC <NUM> converts the analog signal d2(t) into the digital signal D(n). The digital signal D(n) is a signal containing sound data representing the sound that the operator microphone <NUM> has received (the voice v1 of the operator <NUM> here). The digital signal D(n) is supplied to the DAC <NUM>.

The DAC <NUM> converts the digital signal D(n) into the analog signal c1(t). The power amplifier <NUM> receives the analog signal c1(t), and outputs the analog signal c2(t). The analog signal c2(t) is input to the speaker <NUM>, which in turn outputs the voice v2 of the operator <NUM> corresponding to the received analog signal c2(t).

The operation described above is identical to that described with reference to <FIG>, where the filter block <NUM> is omitted in the drawing. However, since the CT apparatus <NUM> comprises the filter block <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the digital signal D(n) is supplied to the filter block <NUM>, in addition to the DAC <NUM>. In the case that the sound received by the patient microphone <NUM> contains the voice v2 (voice of the operator <NUM> output from the speaker <NUM>), and in addition, another sound v4 (e.g., the voice of the patient <NUM>, operating noise from machinery, and/or voice of the operator in the scan room R1), the filter block <NUM> executes processing of removing the sound v4 from a sound (v2+v4) received by the patient microphone <NUM>. Now the processing will be particularly described hereinbelow.

As shown in <FIG>, the patient microphone <NUM> receives the voice v2 of the operator <NUM> output from the speaker <NUM>, and in addition, another sound v4 (e.g., including the voice of the patient <NUM>, operating noise from machinery, and/or the voice of the operator in the scan room R1). The sound v4 will be referred to hereinbelow as noise. Upon receiving the sound containing the voice v2 of the operator <NUM> and noise v4, the patient microphone <NUM> outputs an analog signal m1(t) representing the received sound.

The analog signal m1(t) is input to the amplifier board <NUM>. The amplifier board <NUM> processes the analog signal m1(t), and outputs an analog signal m2(t). The buffer amplifier <NUM> processes the analog signal m2(t), and outputs an analog signal m3(t). The analog signal m3(t) may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT> wherein the signal component d3(t) is a signal component corresponding to the voice v2 of the operator <NUM> output from the speaker <NUM>, and the signal component e(t) is a signal component corresponding to the noise v4.

The analog signal m3(t) is converted into a digital signal M(n) at the ADC <NUM>. The digital signal M(n) is a signal containing sound data representing the sound (sound containing the voice v2 and noise v4 here) that the patient microphone <NUM> has received. The digital signal M(n) may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT> wherein D3(n) and E(n) correspond, respectively, to the signal components d3(t) and e(t) of the analog signal m3(t) input to the ADC <NUM> (see the right side of EQ. Accordingly, the signal component D3(n) of the digital signal M(n) represents the signal component corresponding to the voice v2 of the operator <NUM> output from the speaker <NUM>, and the signal component E(n) of the digital signal M(n) represents the signal component E(n) corresponding to the noise v4.

Comparing the signal component D3(n) with the digital signal D(n) described earlier, the signal component D3(n) represents the voice v2 received by the patient microphone <NUM> in the scan room R1, while the digital signal D(n) represents the voice v1 received by the operator microphone <NUM> in the operation room R2. Since the voice v2 may be considered to be substantially the same as the voice v1, the signal component D3(n) may be considered to be substantially the same as the digital signal D(n). Hence, representing D3(n) = D(n), EQ. (<NUM>) may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT>.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the digital signal M(n) is considered to be expressed by a sum of the two signal components D(n) and E(n), as given by EQ.

The digital signal M(n) is supplied to the subtracting section <NUM>.

Moreover, as described earlier, the filter block <NUM> has the adaptive filter <NUM>. The adaptive filter <NUM> receives the digital signal D(n), and outputs the digital signal D'(n). The digital signal D'(n) is output to the subtracting section <NUM>.

The subtracting section <NUM> subtracts the digital signal D'(n) that the adaptive filter <NUM> has output, from the digital signal M(n) that the ADC <NUM> has output, and outputs a digital signal M'(n). The digital signal M'(n) may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT>.

Substituting M(n) expressed by EQ. (<NUM>) into EQ. (<NUM>), the following equation results: <MAT>.

As described earlier, the adaptive filter <NUM> receives the digital signal M'(n) from the subtracting section <NUM> via the input section 61c. The adaptive filter <NUM> adjusts its coefficients based on the digital signal M'(n) received from the subtracting section <NUM> so that a difference between the digital signal D(n) received at the input section 61a and the digital signal D'(n) output from the output section 61b is as close to zero as possible.

This allows us to regard D'(n) as D'(n)≈D(n). (<NUM>) may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT>.

As described earlier, E(n) represents the signal component corresponding to the noise v4. Accordingly, by the subtracting section <NUM> subtracting the digital signal D'(n) that the adaptive filter <NUM> has output, from the digital signal M(n) that the ADC <NUM> has output, the digital signal M'(n) representing the signal component corresponding to the noise v4 can be generated from the digital signal M(n).

The filter block <NUM> also has another subtracting section <NUM>. The subtracting section <NUM> subtracts the digital signal M'(n) from the digital signal M(n) that the ADC <NUM> has output, and outputs a digital signal P(n). The digital signal P(n) is expressed by the following equation: <MAT> wherein M(n) is expressed by EQ. (<NUM>), and M'(n) is expressed by EQ. (<NUM>); therefore, EQ. (<NUM>) may be changed into the following equation: <MAT>.

As given by EQ. (<NUM>), the digital signal M'(n) represents the signal component E(n) substantially corresponding to the noise v4. Accordingly, by the subtracting section <NUM> subtracting the digital signal M'(n) from the digital signal M(n), a digital signal P(n)≈D(n) containing sound data representing the voice v2 of the operator can be generated.

In this way, the filter block <NUM> can remove signal components substantially corresponding to the noise v4 from the digital signal M(n) containing the voice v2 of the operator and noise v4 to extract the digital signal P(n)≈D(n) corresponding to the voice v2 of the operator.

The digital signal P(n)≈D(n) output from the filter block <NUM> is input to the GT control section <NUM>.

The GT control section <NUM> executes processing of converting the digital signal P(n)≈D(n) into a digital signal Q(n) compatible with a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication. The GT control section <NUM> has a storage section storing therein a program for executing the processing of converting the digital signal P(n) into the digital signal Q(n) compatible with a CAN communication, and a processor for loading the program stored in the storage section and executing the aforesaid conversion processing. The storage section in the GT control section <NUM> may be a non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium storing therein one or more processor-executable instructions. The one or more instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to execute the operation of converting the digital signal P(n) into the digital signal Q(n).

The GT control section <NUM> outputs the digital signal Q(n) to the light-emission control section <NUM>.

The light-emission control section <NUM> executes processing of controlling the light-emitting section <NUM> based on the digital signal Q(n). The light-emission control section <NUM> has a storage section storing therein a program for controlling the light-emitting section <NUM> based on the digital signal Q(n), and a processor for loading the program stored in the storage section and executing the aforesaid control processing. The storage section in the light-emission control section <NUM> may be a non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium storing therein one or more processor-executable instructions. The one or more instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to execute the operation of controlling the light-emitting section <NUM> based on the digital signal Q(n).

As described earlier with reference to <FIG>, the light-emitting section <NUM> changes the number of energized light-emitting elements depending upon the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM>.

As described above, when noise v4 occurs in the first communication mode, the patient microphone <NUM> receives the voice v2 of the patient <NUM>, and in addition, the noise v4. However, since the operation of the filter block <NUM> can remove the noise v4 from the sound (v2+v4) received by the patient microphone <NUM>, the GT control section <NUM> is supplied with the digital signal P(n) containing substantially only the voice of the operator <NUM>. Accordingly, even when the noise v4 occurs in the first communication mode, the light-emitting section <NUM> can be energized in response to the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM>.

The main operations of the adaptive filter <NUM>, and subtracting sections <NUM> and <NUM> in the first communication mode shown in <FIG> are as follows.

Moreover, the intercom module <NUM> has a storage section <NUM> storing therein a program for executing the processing of the filter block <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. The filter block <NUM> is configured as a processor for loading the program stored in the storage section <NUM> and executing the aforesaid processing. The storage section <NUM> may be a non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium storing therein one or more processor-executable instructions. The one or more instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to execute the operations comprising the processing of (b1) - (b5) below:.

In the present embodiment, the program for executing the operations comprising the processing (b1) - (b5) above is stored in the storage section <NUM> of the intercom module <NUM>. The program, however, may be stored in a storage section different from the storage section <NUM>, or only part of the program may be stored in a storage section different from the storage section <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the operation of the CT apparatus <NUM> in the first communication mode is described. Next, the operation of the CT apparatus <NUM> in the second communication mode will be described hereinbelow.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram for an operation of the intercom module <NUM> in the second communication mode.

When the operator <NUM> is not pressing the microphone switch <NUM>, the switching element 52b is in an "ON" state and the switching element 52a is in an "OFF" state, as shown in <FIG>. Accordingly, in the second communication mode, the operator microphone <NUM> is in a state electrically disconnected from the speaker <NUM> while the patient microphone <NUM> is in a state electrically connected to the speaker <NUM>.

When the patient <NUM> utters the voice v3, the patient microphone <NUM> receives the voice v3 of the patient <NUM>. Upon receiving the voice v3, the patient microphone <NUM> outputs the analog signal m1(t) representing the received voice v3.

The amplifier board <NUM> receives the analog signal m1(t) output from the patient microphone <NUM>, amplifies the received analog signal m1(t), and outputs the analog signal m2(t). The buffer amplifier <NUM> processes the analog signal m2(t) received from the amplifier board <NUM>, and outputs the analog signal m3(t).

The ADC <NUM> converts the analog signal m3(t) output from the buffer amplifier <NUM> into the digital signal M(n).

The subtracting section <NUM> subtracts the digital signal D'(n) that the adaptive filter <NUM> has output, from the digital signal M(n) that the ADC <NUM> has output, and outputs the digital signal M'(n). The digital signal M'(n) may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT>.

In the second communication mode, the switching element 52a is "OFF," and this allows us to regard the digital signal D'(n) as D'(n)≈<NUM>. Accordingly, EQ. (<NUM>) may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT>.

Since the digital signal M(n) represents the voice v3 of the patient <NUM>, it can be seen that the digital signal M'(n) output by the subtracting section <NUM> substantially represents the voice v3 of the patient <NUM>.

The digital signal M'(n) is input to the DAC <NUM>. The DAC <NUM> converts the digital signal M'(n) into the analog signal f1(t). The power amplifier <NUM> receives the analog signal f1(t) from the DAC <NUM>, amplifies the received analog signal f1(t), and outputs the analog signal f2(t). The analog signal f2(t) is supplied to the speaker <NUM>. Accordingly, a circuitry part constituted by the DAC <NUM> and power amplifier <NUM> operates as a circuitry part that generates the analog signal f2(t) to be supplied to the speaker <NUM> based on the digital signal M'(n).

Accordingly, when the patient <NUM> utters the voice v3, the operator <NUM> can hear the voice v3 of the patient <NUM> through the speaker <NUM>.

The digital signal M'(n) is also supplied to the subtracting section <NUM>. The subtracting section <NUM> subtracts the digital signal M'(n) from the digital signal M(n) that the ADC <NUM> has output, and outputs the digital signal P(n). The digital signal P(n) is expressed by the following equation: <MAT> wherein since M'(n)≈M(n) (see EQ. (<NUM>)), EQ. (<NUM>) may be changed into the following equation: <MAT>.

Accordingly, in the second communication mode, the digital signal P(n) is P(n)≈<NUM>. Thus, the light-emission control section <NUM> decides that the operator <NUM> is uttering substantially no voice, and therefore, the light-emitting section <NUM> can be prevented from emitting light when the patient <NUM> utters the voice v3.

As described above, in the first communication mode (see <FIG>), when the noise v4 occurs, it can be removed from the sound that the patient microphone <NUM> has received. Accordingly, the operator <NUM> can see the light-emitting section <NUM> while uttering a voice to thereby visually confirm a change of the number of energized light-emitting elements depending upon the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM> in real-time, and therefore, can visually recognize at how much loudness the voice of the operator <NUM> is heard by the patient <NUM>.

In the second communication mode (see <FIG>), when the patient <NUM> utters the voice v3, the operator <NUM> can hear the voice of the patient <NUM>. Moreover, the light-emitting section <NUM> emits no light when the patient <NUM> utters the voice v3, and therefore, it is possible to avoid light emission by the light-emitting section <NUM> in spite of the fact that the voice of the operator <NUM> is not output from the speaker <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the GT control section <NUM> and light-emission control section <NUM> are used to generate the control signal L(n) for controlling the light-emitting section <NUM> from the digital signal P(n). The GT control section <NUM> and light-emission control section <NUM>, however, may be constructed as a single control section, which may be used to generate the control signal L(n) for controlling the light-emitting section <NUM> from the digital signal P(n).

The present embodiment describes a case in which the operator <NUM> is informed that his/her voice is being output from the speaker <NUM> by the light-emitting section <NUM>. The method of informing the operator <NUM> that his/her voice is being output from the speaker <NUM> is not limited to the case above, and the operator <NUM> may be informed by a different method. Now as the other method, a case in which the display section <NUM> (see <FIG>) on the gantry <NUM> is used will be described hereinbelow.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram for the case in which the operator <NUM> is informed that his/her voice is being output from the speaker <NUM> by the display section <NUM> on the gantry <NUM>.

The GT control section <NUM> receives the digital signal P(n), based on which it generates a control signal T(n) for controlling the display section <NUM>. The display section <NUM> informs the operator <NUM> that his/her voice is being output from the speaker <NUM> based on the control signal T(n) (see <FIG>).

<FIG> is an enlarged view of the display section <NUM> on the gantry <NUM>.

On the display section <NUM> is displayed a level meter <NUM>. The level meter <NUM> is divided into a plurality of areas. While the level meter <NUM> is shown to be divided into five areas in <FIG> for convenience of explanation, the level meter <NUM> may be divided into more than or less than five areas. Each area corresponds to a respective light-emitting element in the light-emitting section <NUM> (see <FIG>). The level meter <NUM> indicates the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM> by five levels: level <NUM> to level <NUM>. In <FIG>, a case in which the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM> is at level <NUM> is shown.

In response to the control signal T(n), the display section <NUM> changes the level indicated by the level meter <NUM> so that the level corresponds to the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM>. Accordingly, the operator <NUM> can confirm whether or not his/her voice is being output from the speaker <NUM> by visually confirming the display section <NUM>.

In <FIG> (and <FIG>), the control signal T(n) is transmitted to the display section <NUM> on the gantry <NUM> to display the level meter <NUM> on the display section <NUM>. The control signal T(n), however, may be transmitted to the display device <NUM> on the operator console <NUM> to display the level meter on the display device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Moreover, at least two or more of the light-emitting section <NUM>, display section <NUM> on the gantry <NUM>, and display device <NUM> on the operator console may be used to inform the operator <NUM> that his/her voice is being output from the speaker <NUM>. Furthermore, the intercom module <NUM> may be provided with a display section to display information for informing the operator <NUM> whether or not his/her voice is being output from the speaker <NUM> on the display section on the intercom module <NUM>.

While the present embodiment describes a case in which the light-emitting section <NUM> functioning as the level meter may be used to inform the operator <NUM> that his/her voice is being output from the speaker, a manner different from the level meter may be used insofar as it can inform the operator <NUM> that his/her voice is being output from the speaker.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the number of energized light-emitting elements among the light-emitting elements e1 to e5 in the light-emitting section <NUM> is changed depending upon the loudness of the voice of the operator <NUM>. The light-emitting section <NUM>, however, may be constructed from only one light-emitting element, which is energized when the operator <NUM> utters a voice and not energized when the operator <NUM> is not uttering a voice.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, communication between the operator <NUM> and patient <NUM> are implemented using the intercom module <NUM> capable of changing between the first communication mode and second communication mode with the microphone switch <NUM>. The present invention is, however, not limited to the case in which the intercom module <NUM> described above is used, and it may be applied to a case in which a communication system capable of performing communication from the operator <NUM> to the patient <NUM> and that from the patient <NUM> to the operator <NUM> at the same time is used.

In the present embodiment, the filter block <NUM> is constructed from the adaptive filter <NUM>, and subtracting sections <NUM> and <NUM>. The filter block <NUM> is, however, not limited to this construction, and it may have a construction different from that of the adaptive filter <NUM>, subtracting sections <NUM> and <NUM> insofar as noise may be removed from the sound received by the patient microphone <NUM>. For example, the filter block <NUM> may be constructed using a computing section (e.g., an adding section, a multiplying section, or a dividing section) different from the subtracting section.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, a DSP is used as the filter block <NUM>. In the present invention, however, the filter block <NUM> is not limited to the DSP and it may be implemented using circuitry, such as, for example, an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), different from the DSP.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the operator <NUM> visually confirms the light-emitting section <NUM> via the window <NUM> (see <FIG>). The operator <NUM>, however, may confirm the light emission state of the light-emitting section <NUM> by a method different from that of visually confirming the light-emitting section <NUM> via the window <NUM>. For example, a camera for monitoring the inside of the scan room R1 may be provided to display the camera image on the display device in the operation room R2 so as to allow the operator <NUM> to visually confirm the light emission state of the light-emitting section <NUM>.

In addition, while the scan room R1 and operation room R2 are separated from each other by the wall <NUM> in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the case in which the scan room R1 and operation room R2 are separated from each other by the wall <NUM>. For example, a corridor may be provided between the scan room R1 and operation room R2 so that the operator can walk therethrough to move between the scan room R1 and operation room, instead of separating the scan room R1 operation room R2 by the wall <NUM>. In this case, in order that the operator <NUM> can visually confirm the light emission state of the light-emitting section <NUM>, windows for allowing the operator <NUM> to visually confirm the light emission state of the light-emitting section <NUM> may be provided in both the scan room R1 and operation room R2. Alternatively, a camera for monitoring the inside of the scan room R1 may be provided to display the camera image on the display device in the operation room R2 so as to allow the operator <NUM> to visually confirm the light emission state of the light-emitting section <NUM>.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the gantry <NUM> is provided with the light-emitting section <NUM> for visually informing the operator that his/her voice is being output from the speaker. The operator is, however, not necessarily visually informed insofar as the operator can recognize that his/her voice is being output from the speaker, and the operator may be informed by another way, for example, by an auditory way.

Claim 1:
A medical apparatus having:
a first microphone (<NUM>) installed in a first room (R2) for receiving a voice of an operator (<NUM>);
a second microphone (<NUM>) installed in a second room (R1) for receiving a voice of a patient (<NUM>);
a first speaker (<NUM>) installed in said first room (R2) for outputting the voice of said patient (<NUM>) received by said second microphone (<NUM>);
a second speaker (<NUM>) installed in said second room (R1) for outputting the voice of said operator (<NUM>) received by said first microphone (<NUM>); and
means for notifying, in a case that said second microphone (<NUM>) has received the voice of said operator (<NUM>) output from said second speaker (<NUM>), said operator (<NUM>) that the voice of said operator (<NUM>) is output from said second speaker (<NUM>).