Data processing apparatus and data processing method for X-ray examination, and X-ray examination system provided with the data processing apparatus

A data processing apparatus processing counts detected at each of pixels of a photon counting detector in each of a plurality of energy ranges of X-rays, the X-rays being radiated from an X-ray tube, transmitted through an object, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium in which a computer readable program is stored in advance;
• a processor provided with a CPU executing sequentially procedures given by the program read from the non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• an interface obtaining information from outside the data processing apparatus,
• wherein the procedures enable the processor to
• calculate an image of the object based on the counts in response to the information obtained through the interface, under execution of the procedures of the CPU,
• set a region of interest on the image,
• remove, from the image, pixel information showing a background present in the region of interest,
• calculate, pixel by pixel, i) as inherent information inherent to a substance of the object, scatter diagram information showing a transmission characteristic of the X-rays at the respective pixels as mass attenuation vectors in the respective energy ranges, based on the counts detected at each of the respective pixels in every one of the energy ranges of the X-rays in the region of interest, the inherent information indicating, the transmission characteristic inherent to the X-rays provided when the X-rays are transmitted through the substance, and
• ii) attenuation information showing both lengths of the mass attenuation vectors and an attenuated degree of the X-rays attenuated due to the substance based on the mass attenuation vectors;
• produce a two-dimensional absorption vector-length image whose pixels are presented by the attenuation information;
• and
• present on a display, as a two-dimensional image, the absorption vector-length image.

An X-ray examination system, comprising

• an X-ray source radiating X-rays;
• a photon counting X-ray detector;
• a data processing apparatus, the processing apparatus processing counts detected at each of pixels of the photon counting detector in each of a plurality of energy ranges of X-rays, the X-rays being radiated from the X-ray source, transmitted through an object;
• and
• wherein the data processing apparatus comprises:
• image calculating means for calculating an image of the object based on the counts;
• region-of-interest setting means for setting a region of interest on the image;
• background removing means for removing, from the image, pixel information showing a background present in the region of interest;
• inherent information calculating means for calculating, pixel by pixel, i) as inherent information inherent to a substance of the object, scatter diagram information showing a transmission characteristic of the X-rays at the respective pixels as mass attenuation vectors in the respective energy ranges, based on the counts detected at each of the respective pixels in every one of the energy ranges of the X-rays in the region of interest, the inherent information indicating, the transmission characteristic inherent to the X-rays provided when the X-rays are transmitted through the substance, and
• ii) attenuation information showing both lengths of the mass attenuation vectors and an attenuated degree of the X-rays attenuated due to the substance based on the mass attenuation vectors;
• image producing means for producing a two-dimensional absorption vector-length image whose pixels are presented by the attenuation information;
• and
• image presenting means for presenting on a display, as a two-dimensional image, the absorption vector-length image.

A data processing method processing counts detected at each of pixels of a photon counting detector in each of a plurality of energy ranges of X-rays, the X-rays being radiated from an X-ray tube, transmitted through an object, the method comprising steps of:

• calculating an image of the object based on the counts;
• setting a region of interest on the image;
• removing, from the image, pixel information showing a background present in the region of interest;
• and
• calculating, pixel by pixel, i) as inherent information inherent to a substance of the object, scatter diagram information showing a transmission characteristic of the X-rays at the respective pixels as mass attenuation vectors in the respective energy ranges, based on the counts detected at each of the respective pixels in every one of the enemy ranges of the X-rays in the region of interest, the inherent information indicating, the transmission characteristic inherent to the X-rays provided when the X-rays are transmitted through the substance, and
• ii) attenuation information showing both lengths of the mass attenuation vectors and an attenuated degree of the X-rays attenuated due to the substance based on the mass attenuation vectors;
• producing a two-dimensional absorption vector-length image whose pixels are presented by the attenuation information;
• and
• presenting, as a two-dimensional image, the absorption vector-length image.