JP2002191587A - Radiography equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize influence on an institution applying radiography equipments such as the radiology department of a hospital through the use of a substitutive radiography means untill repairing when a fault occurs. SOLUTION: The holder attachment part 21 of a radiography part body is provided with a holder holding tool 22 for holding a cassette holder 11 being the substitutive radiography means. When an image receiving unit cannot be used owing to the fault, or the like, inside the receiving unit, the substitutive radiography means is attached to a radiograph and radiography is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation imaging apparatus using a flat panel sensor in which image pickup devices are arranged in a matrix as a radiation imaging means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method of irradiating an object with radiation and detecting a transmitted radiation intensity distribution to obtain a radiation image of the object is widely used in the field of industrial nondestructive inspection and medical diagnosis. I have. The most common specific imaging method for obtaining a radiation image of an object is to combine a so-called fluorescent plate (or intensifying screen) that emits fluorescence with radiation and a silver halide film, and irradiate the object with radiation, This is a method in which a phosphor plate converts radiation into visible light to form a latent image on a silver halide film, and then chemically treats the silver halide film to obtain a visible image.

A radiographic image obtained by this imaging method is a so-called analog photograph, and is used for diagnosis, inspection, and the like. The simplest configuration in this imaging method is to attach a film and an intensifying screen to a container called a cassette through which radiation passes,
Prevents visible light from entering from outside by sealing,
The cassette is mounted on a stand or table that supports the cassette, and performs photographing.

In the above-described photographing method, operations such as cassette exchange and film exchange occur each time one film is photographed. A device called a film changer that enables continuous shooting by storing each film before and after shooting in a magazine and feeding the film between the magazines for each shooting in order to increase the efficiency of shooting work Is used.

[0005] In recent years, a C using an IP (imaging plate) coated with a stimulable phosphor has been used as a phosphor.
R (Computed Radiography) devices have also been used. When the secondary excitation is performed by using visible light such as a red laser on the IP primarily excited by irradiation with radiation, light emission called stimulable fluorescence is generated. The CR device is a device that obtains a radiation image by detecting this light emission with an optical sensor such as a photomultiplier tube and outputs a visible light image to a photographic material or a CRT based on the image data.

Further, as a recent technology, a device for acquiring a digital image by using a photoelectric conversion device in which pixels including minute photoelectric conversion elements, switching elements, and the like are arranged in a lattice as an image receiving means has been developed, and a CR device has been developed. It is called a DR device to distinguish it from the DR device.

[0007]

In order to obtain digital data, these devices incorporate an electric circuit.
Failure of these electric circuits causes a situation in which data cannot be acquired, that is, the operation of the apparatus cannot be performed. In the state where imaging is not possible at all from equipment failure to repair, in a large hospital with multiple imaging equipment, it may be avoided by using other imaging equipment until repair is completed, etc. It is possible. However, if the hospital is a small-to-medium-sized hospital that has only one imaging facility, it may hinder the operation of the hospital itself. Therefore, when the device breaks down, alternative photographing means is required until the repair is completed.

[0008]

A radiographic apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is characterized in that an alternative radiographing means can be mounted on a radiographing unit body when a failure occurs in the radiographing means. .

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a photographing apparatus according to the first embodiment. Behind the subject S, a radiation source 1 capable of irradiating radiation X in a pulse shape
Has been installed, on and off of the pulse of radiation X,
A radiation control means 2 for controlling a tube voltage and a tube current of a radiation tube in the radiation source is connected. An imaging unit main body (not shown) is arranged in front of the subject S. In the main body, a grid 3 in which lead foils for absorbing the radiation X scattered in the subject S are arranged in a grid, A phosphor 4 for converting radiation X into visible light and a radiation image capturing means 5 for capturing image information L converted into visible light by the phosphor 4 are incorporated.

Here, the sensor section of the radiation image photographing means 5 is composed of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix (not shown), converts the image information L into electric signals, accumulates the electric signals, and stores them in the A / D converter 6. , And is output as a digital image signal. In addition, a drive control unit 7 that controls an imaging time and a driving method is connected to the radiation imaging unit 5.
The drive control unit 7 is also connected to the radiation control unit 2 so that the start of radiation irradiation and the start of the imaging operation of the radiation imaging unit 5 are synchronized. Further, a radiation irradiation button 8 for outputting a radiation X irradiation instruction is connected to the radiation control means 2. Further, a phototimer 9 for measuring a radiation amount is provided between the grid 3 and the phosphor 4, and its output is connected to the radiation control means 2.

The examiner observes the subject S and sends an operation instruction or the like, and presses the radiation irradiation button 8 when judging that it is suitable for imaging. Upon detecting the signal D1 from the radiation irradiation button 8, the radiation control means 2 transmits an imaging request signal D2 to the drive control means 7, and the drive control means 7
Is transferred to the imaging operation, and at the same time, the imaging preparation completion signal D3 is returned to the radiation control means 2. Thus, the radiation control unit 2 causes the radiation source 1 to emit the radiation X.

The radiation X emitted from the radiation source 1 passes through the subject S and the grid 3 and enters a phosphor 4 which converts the radiation into visible light. At this time, the radiation X transmitted through the subject S
The transmission amount varies depending on the size and shape of the bones and internal organs inside the subject S, and the presence or absence of a lesion, and image information thereof is included. When the integrated value of the output from the phototimer 2 reaches a threshold value, which is a predetermined cumulative radiation dose, or when the radiation irradiation time set in advance by the radiation control means 2 has elapsed, the radiation control means 2 The irradiation of the radiation X ends.

After the irradiation of the radiation X is completed, the obtained image data is converted into digital data via the A / D converter 6, recorded on a recording device such as a hard disk (not shown), and displayed as an image on a display device. You.

The operation during normal operation is as described above. However, if any one of the units becomes inoperable due to a failure of an electric circuit or the like, photographing may not be performed at all. For this reason, in the present embodiment, cassette photography using a combination of a film and an intensifying screen, which is an analog photography means, is possible as a backup photography means. The photographing means using a film is used, as long as the radiation X can be irradiated, a film or the like can be attached to the photographing unit main body, and an image can be obtained by manual development. If the facility uses a CR device, an imaging plate may be used instead of the film and the intensifying screen.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the cassette holder 11 to be attached to the photographing unit main body, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view.
On the upper surface of the holder base 12, a reference position holder 13,
A moving holder 14 is provided, and these two holders 1
The cassette 15 and the grid 16 are held by the spring force of the coil spring 17 attached to the back surface of the holder by 3 and 14. In addition, by using the movable holding device 14, the position fixing device 1 can be adjusted according to the film size.
8 can be moved along the movement groove 19. Further, a method of matching a shooting area such as upper and lower alignment with respect to the imaging unit main body is performed depending on an imaging method or a part. It is carried out by attaching it to the photographing unit main body.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the cassette holder 11 mounted on the photographing unit main body.
A holder holder 22 for mounting the cassette holder 11 is attached thereto, and a holder detecting unit 23 for detecting the mounted state of the cassette holder 11 is incorporated in the holder mounting unit 21. When the cassette holder 11 is mounted on the holder holder 22, the holder detection unit 23 detects the mounting of the cassette holder 11 and sends a detection signal to the drive control unit 7. In response to this, the drive control means 7 disconnects the synchronization between the drive control means 7 and the radiation control means 2 so that the radiation X can be irradiated regardless of the state of the radiation imaging means 5.

More specifically, the drive control means 7 always determines on the radiation control means 2 side that the radiation imaging means 5 is in a ready state so that the radiation X can be irradiated at a timing desired by the examiner. As described above, the imaging preparation completion signal D3 is set to be constantly output. Further, the drive control means 7 controls the imaging request signal D so that the radiation imaging means 5 is not operated.
Block input 2 or ignore input.

In this embodiment, the detection of the mounting of the cassette holder 11 is used to cut off the synchronization signal. However, a mechanism for detecting the mounting of the cassette 15 is provided on the cassette holder 11 side. The same operation may be performed by detecting the state of being touched.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, a sensor unit 31 including a phosphor and a radiation image pickup unit is unitized, and a sensor is inserted into a photographing unit main body 32. It is detachable via a section 33, and when a failure occurs, the film cassette 34 is attached here.
Is inserted. In addition, peripheral devices such as a grid, a photo timer, and an A / D converter are arranged inside the imaging unit main body 32.

A film cassette 34 is inserted into the sensor insertion portion 33.
In order to allow the insertion of the sensor unit 31, the sensor unit 31 and the film cassette 34 need to have the same shape. The sensor unit 31 may be adapted to the shape of an existing film cassette, or in the case where cassettes of different sizes are present for several types of film sizes, the outer shape of the film cassette 34 is In the same manner, a mode in which a cassette is attached thereto and inserted into the sensor insertion section 33 may be adopted.

The sensor insertion section 33 is provided with a detecting means for determining whether the sensor section 31 by the photoelectric conversion element or the film cassette 34 has been inserted. For this determination, a non-contact detection mechanism based on optical transmission and reception represented by a bar code reader or the like, or an electric circuit such as an A / D converter built in the housing side of the imaging unit main body 32 and a sensor unit 31 unitized Any of the contact detection mechanisms for detecting the connection of the connector with the connector may be used. The configuration and operation other than those described above are the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment. A grid section 42 is unitized and detachable from the photographing section main body 41 in the present embodiment. Here, a mode is adopted in which the film cassette 43 and the grid portion 42 are inserted.

For this reason, the grid section 42 has a grid 44
And a frame structure for holding the cassette 43. In a normal state, only the grid 44 is mounted, and when a failure occurs, the grid 44 and the film cassette 43 are mounted on the grid section 42 and inserted into the photographing section main body 41.

A detection means is provided in the grid insertion section 45 of the photographing section main body 41 to determine whether only the grid 43 or the combination of the film cassette 43 and the grid 44 has been inserted. For the determination, as in the second embodiment, either a contact type or a non-contact type detection mechanism may be used. For configurations and operations other than the above, the first and second
This is the same as the embodiment.

[0025]

As described above, the radiation imaging apparatus according to the present invention enables the alternative imaging means to be mounted on the imaging section main body, and is used when the image receiving apparatus becomes unusable due to a failure inside the image receiving apparatus. I do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a photographing device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the cassette holder according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cassette holder according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an exterior part according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Radiation source 2 Radiation control means 3, 16, 44 Grid 4 Phosphor 5 Radiation imaging means 6 A / D converter 7 Drive control means 8 Radiation irradiation button 9 Phototimer 11 Cassette holder 12 Holder base 15 Cassette 21 Holder mounting part 31 Sensor part 32, 41 Imaging part main body 33 Sensor insertion part 34, 43 Film cassette 42 Grid part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A radiation imaging apparatus characterized in that an alternative imaging means can be attached to the imaging unit body when a failure occurs in the imaging means. 2. The radiation according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit main body has a holding unit for holding the alternative imaging unit, and the holding unit is provided outside the imaging unit main body. Shooting equipment. 3. A flat panel sensor as the main photographing unit is unitized to be detachable from the photographing unit main body, and the alternative photographing unit is mounted inside the photographing unit main body by replacing the flat panel sensor with the flat panel sensor. The radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The photographing unit main body according to claim 1, wherein a grid is unitized to be detachable from the photographing unit main body, and the substitute photographing unit is replaced with the grid to be mounted inside the photographing unit main body. A radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 1. 5. A radiation generating means for irradiating radiation when the detecting means detects that the alternative photographing means is not mounted, wherein the detecting means detects the mounting of the alternative photographing means, and the photographing unit. When the main body is operated in synchronization with the main body, and the detecting unit detects the attachment of the alternative imaging unit, the synchronization between the radiation generating unit and the main body of the imaging unit is shut off, and the radiation generating unit is constantly irradiated with the radiation. The radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an operation is changed so that irradiation is possible. 6. The radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alternative imaging means is a film.