Patent attributes
With regard to a setting reference for X-ray irradiation range and image generation range, which differs by hospital or technician, a structure to automatically set a desired X-ray irradiation range and an image generation range infallibly, is provided. In an X-ray CT apparatus, a scan range automatic setting unit extracts an inspection target as an arbitrary body part designated by an operator before inspection from a positioning image, and generates an extraction region range including it. The operator sets an arbitrary margin value by line operation or numerical input using a GUI with respect to the extraction region range (S104). The scan range automatic setting unit generates and stores a range setting pattern in which the inspection target and the margin value are made to correspond to each other (S105), and links the range setting pattern to an inspection protocol (S106). Then immediately after positioning-image image sensing (S109), the scan range automatic setting unit extracts the inspection target from the positioning image (S112), and automatically sets a scan range, in accordance with the range setting pattern made to correspond to the inspection target and linked to the inspection protocol (S114).
