JP2009210611A - Radiation image pickup system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radiation image pickup system reducing loads to a processing device which controls an image pickup apparatus and capable of quickly displaying and confirming acquired radiation image information. <P>SOLUTION: The radiation image information recorded on a radiation conversion panel 70 by a first image pickup apparatus 22 is temporarily stored in an image memory 113 of a reading device 26 through an in-hospital network 28, then displayed as a preview image on a display part 115 of the reading device 26, and then transmitted to a first console 18 with low load. The radiation image information recorded on a storage phosphor panel P by a second image pickup apparatus 24 is read by the reading device 26, then similarly displayed as a preview image on a display part 115 of the reading device 26, and then transmitted to a second console 20 with low load. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiographic imaging system that performs imaging using a plurality of imaging apparatuses having different specification forms.

  2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, imaging devices that take a radiation image by irradiating a subject with radiation and guiding the radiation transmitted through the subject to a radiation conversion panel are widely used.

  In this case, as a radiation conversion panel, a stimulable phosphor panel is known in which radiation energy as radiation image information is accumulated in a phosphor and radiation image information can be extracted as stimulated emission light by irradiating excitation light. ing. The stimulable phosphor panel on which the radiation image information is recorded is supplied to a reading device and subjected to reading processing, whereby a radiation image as a visible image can be obtained.

  Further, in a medical field such as an operating room, it is required that the radiation image information can be read and displayed immediately from the radiation conversion panel in order to perform a quick and accurate treatment on the patient. Radiation conversion using a solid-state imaging device that converts radiation directly into an electrical signal, or converts radiation into visible light with a scintillator, and then converts it into an electrical signal and reads it as a radiation conversion panel that can meet such requirements. Panels are being developed.

  There are various types of imaging devices that use these radiation conversion panels to capture radiographic images with different specifications according to imaging conditions such as the condition of the patient as the subject and the imaging region. It is controlled by a processing device having a specification form corresponding to the specification form. Connect these imaging devices and processing devices to the Radiology Information System (RIS) via the in-hospital network, and provide imaging instructions such as patient information set by RIS, imaging method, imaging site, and imaging conditions that define the radiation dose. There is a system in which information is supplied to a processing apparatus and a radiographic image is captured using a corresponding imaging apparatus (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a processing apparatus that performs radiographing registration by transmitting radiographing information from a processing device to a plurality of radiation conversion panels using a solid-state image sensor, and performs radiographing registration of radiographic image information recorded in each radiation conversion panel There is a system that performs processing by transmitting to (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-247137 A JP 2006-122304 A

  By the way, in such a system, when a large amount of radiation image information is transmitted from the imaging device or the reading device to the processing device, the processing device cannot process the radiation image information quickly, or the processing device performs imaging. There is a possibility that the next photographing process cannot be performed by controlling the apparatus. In particular, in the case of an imaging apparatus using a radiation conversion panel that can immediately read recorded radiation image information, the radiation image information is immediately transmitted to the processing device. There is a possibility that the processing by another photographing apparatus using the fluorescent phosphor panel is significantly delayed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a radiographic image capturing system that can reduce a load on a processing apparatus that controls an imaging apparatus and can promptly display and confirm acquired radiographic image information.

The radiographic image capturing system of the present invention irradiates a radiation output from a radiation source onto a first radiation conversion panel via a subject, and records radiation image information on the first radiation conversion panel;
A reading device that is loaded with the first radiation conversion panel and reads the radiation image information recorded in the first radiation conversion panel;
The radiation output from the radiation source is applied to the second radiation conversion panel through the subject, and the radiation image information is recorded on the second radiation conversion panel, while the radiation image information is read from the second radiation conversion panel. Two imaging devices;
A processing device for processing radiation image information acquired from the reading device or the second imaging device while controlling the first imaging device, the reading device, and the second imaging device;
A network to which the first imaging device, the reading device, the second imaging device, and the processing device are connected;
With
The reader is
An image memory for storing radiation image information read from the first radiation conversion panel and the second radiation conversion panel;
A display unit for displaying radiation image information stored in the image memory;
It is characterized by providing.

  In the present invention, prior to transmission of the radiation image information captured by the first imaging device and read by the reading device and the radiation image information obtained by imaging by the second imaging device to the processing device, the reading device After being stored in the image memory, the load on the processing device can be reduced by displaying on the display unit of the reading device, and the acquired radiation image information can be quickly confirmed.

  FIG.1 and FIG.2 shows the structure of the radiographic imaging system 10 of this embodiment. The radiographic imaging system 10 includes a medical information system 12 (HIS: Hospital Information System) that manages medical paperwork in a hospital, and radiology information that manages radiographic imaging processing in the radiology department under the control of the HIS 12. System 14 (RIS: Radiology Information System), viewer 15 for performing diagnostic interpretation by a doctor, and host console that is installed in a processing room adjacent to a radiology imaging room and manages various imaging apparatuses with different specification forms 16, a first console 18 and a second console 20 that are installed in the processing chamber and manage and control a specific imaging device, a first imaging device 22 controlled by the first console 18, and a second console 20. Second imaging device 2 If, being controlled by the second console 20, and a reader 26 reads the radiation image information captured by the second image capturing apparatus 24, which are connected to each other by in-house network 28. The in-hospital network 28 can be connected with other consoles, photographing devices, and the like as necessary.

  The host console 16 (processing device) includes patient information such as the patient's name, sex, and age set using the HIS 12, a radiographic imaging method, imaging site, and imaging for the patient set by the doctor or engineer using the RIS 14. Further, if necessary, radiographic instruction information including imaging conditions such as a tube voltage, a tube current, and a radiation irradiation time set for a radiation source constituting the imaging apparatus to be used is transmitted to the in-hospital network 28. And the information is supplied to the corresponding first console 18 or second console 20. Further, the host console 16 can also perform processing by the first console 18 or the second console 20. Therefore, by replacing the first console 18 or the second console 20 with the host console 16, a cheaper system configuration can be obtained. The host console 16 and the second imaging device 24 are connected to barcode readers 30 and 32 for acquiring ID information for specifying a radiation conversion panel applied to the first imaging device 22 described later.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of the host console 16, the first imaging device 22, the second imaging device 24, and the reading device 26.

  The control unit 34 of the host console 16 receives necessary information between the RIS 14, the first console 18, the second console 20, the first imaging device 22, the second imaging device 24, and the reading device 26 via the hospital network 28. Send and receive. The host console 16 sets the shooting instruction information using the operation setting unit 36 and the operation setting unit 36 or receives the shooting instruction information set by the RIS 14 and stores it in the shooting instruction information memory 38. According to the unit 40 and the set imaging instruction information, the specific first console 18 or the second console 20 that processes the radiation image information is selected, and the corresponding imaging instruction information is selected as the selected first console 18 or second. A console selection unit 42 to be supplied to the console 20, an image processing unit 44 that performs image processing on the radiation image information acquired from the first imaging device 22 or the second imaging device 24, and an image that stores the processed radiographic image information A memory 46 and a display unit 48 for displaying radiation image information are provided.

  In addition, when the control unit 34 captures a plurality of radiographic images with respect to the same subject 50 using both the first imaging device 22 and the second imaging device 24, the control unit 34 performs an imaging process according to the imaging instruction information. The order is set, the first console 18 and the second console 20 are selected in the processing order, and the imaging instruction information is supplied.

  The first console 18 (processing device) and the second console 20 (processing device) are substantially the same as the host console 16 except for the control unit 34 having a function of acquiring imaging instruction information from the RIS 14 and the console selection unit 42. It has a function. Note that the host console 16, the first console 18, and the second console 20 do not necessarily have different configurations, and may have the same configuration.

  The first imaging device 22 is a standing imaging device that captures a radiographic image of the chest of the subject 50, and a radiation conversion panel using a radiation source 64 controlled by the radiation source control unit 66 and a solid-state imaging device described later. And an imaging table 60 disposed opposite to the radiation source 64. The radiation source control unit 66 drives and controls the radiation source 64 in accordance with the imaging conditions set by the host console 16.

  FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration of the radiation conversion panel 70 housed in the imaging table 60.

  In the radiation conversion panel 70, a photoelectric conversion layer 72 made of a material such as amorphous selenium (a-Se) that senses radiation and generates charges is arranged on an array of thin film transistors (TFTs) 74. After the generated charge is stored in the storage capacitor 76, the TFT 74 is sequentially turned on for each row, and the charge is read out as an image signal. In FIG. 4, only the connection relationship between one pixel 78 including the photoelectric conversion layer 72 and the storage capacitor 76 and one TFT 74 is shown, and the configuration of the other pixels 78 is omitted. Amorphous selenium must be used within a predetermined temperature range because its structure changes and its function decreases at high temperatures. Therefore, it is preferable to provide means for cooling the radiation conversion panel 70 in the imaging table 60.

  To the TFT 74 connected to each pixel 78, a gate line 80 extending in parallel with the row direction and a signal line 82 extending in parallel with the column direction are connected. Each gate line 80 is connected to a line scanning drive unit 84, and each signal line 82 is connected to a multiplexer 86 constituting a reading circuit.

  Control signals Von and Voff for controlling on / off of the TFTs 74 arranged in the row direction are supplied from the line scanning drive unit 84 to the gate line 80. In this case, the line scanning drive unit 84 includes a plurality of switches SW1 for switching the gate lines 80, and an address decoder 88 for outputting a selection signal for selecting one of the switches SW1. An address signal is supplied from the control unit 100 to the address decoder 88.

  Further, the charge held in the storage capacitor 76 of each pixel 78 flows out to the signal line 82 via the TFTs 74 arranged in the column direction. This charge is amplified by the amplifier 92. A multiplexer 86 is connected to the amplifier 92 via a sample and hold circuit 94. The multiplexer 86 includes a plurality of switches SW2 for switching the signal line 82 and an address decoder 96 for outputting a selection signal for selecting one of the switches SW2. An address signal is supplied from the control unit 100 to the address decoder 96. An A / D converter 98 is connected to the multiplexer 86, and radiation image information converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 98 is supplied to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 transmits the acquired radiation image information to the reading device 26 via the in-hospital network 28, temporarily stores it in the image memory 113 (FIG. 3), and then controls the first imaging device 22. 18 is supplied.

  The second imaging device 24 is a supine imaging device that captures a wide range of radiation images including the chest of the subject 50, and is disposed opposite to the radiation source 104 controlled by the radiation source control unit 102 and the radiation source 104. And an imaging stand 108. A slot 112 in which a cassette 110 containing the stimulable phosphor panel P is loaded is disposed on the side of the imaging stand 108. The second imaging device 24 is controlled by the second console 20 via the hospital network 28. The second imaging device 24 is different in specification form from the first imaging device 22. The radiation source control unit 102 drives and controls the radiation source 104 according to the imaging conditions set by the host console 16.

  In the stimulable phosphor panel P, a stimulable phosphor layer for accumulating the energy of the irradiated radiation X is formed on a support, and stimulated emission corresponding to the energy accumulated by irradiating excitation light. While outputting light, the remaining energy can be removed and reused by irradiating a predetermined amount of erasing light.

  The cassette 110 accommodates the stimulable phosphor panel P so as to be detachable via the lid member 114, and the outer surface portion thereof individually identifies the stimulable phosphor panel P accommodated therein. A barcode 116 in which identification information such as a unique number, a size, and sensitivity is recorded is attached. The barcode 116 can be read by the barcode reader 32 connected to the second console 20 or the barcode reader 30 connected to the host console 16.

  The radiation image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor panel P is read by the reading device 26 configured as shown in FIG. The reading device 26 is controlled by the second console 20 together with the second photographing device 24. The reading device 26 receives the control unit 111 that controls the operation of the device, the radiation image information acquired by the first imaging device 22, and the radiation image information acquired by the second imaging device 24 and read by the reading device 26. An image memory 113 to be stored and a display unit 115 for displaying these pieces of radiation image information as a preview image are provided.

  The reading device 26 includes a cassette loading unit 120 at an upper portion of the casing 118, and stores a stimulable phosphor panel P in which radiation image information is accumulated and recorded in a loading port 122 formed in the cassette loading unit 120. The cassette 110 is loaded. A barcode reader 124 that reads the identification information of the barcode 116 disposed in the cassette 110, a lock release mechanism 126 that unlocks the lid member 114 of the cassette 110, and a lid member 114 are provided near the loading port 122. An adsorption board 128 that adsorbs and takes out the stimulable phosphor panel P from the opened cassette 110 and a nip roller 130 that sandwiches and conveys the stimulable phosphor panel P taken out by the adsorption board 128 are disposed.

  A plurality of transport rollers 132 a to 132 g and a plurality of guide plates 134 a to 134 f are arranged in series with the nip roller 130, and a curved transport path 136 is configured by these. The curved conveyance path 136 extends downward from the cassette loading unit 120, then becomes substantially horizontal at the lowermost portion, and then extends substantially vertically upward. Thereby, size reduction of the reader 26 is achieved.

  Between the nip roller 130 and the conveying roller 132a, an erasing unit 138 for erasing the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor panel P that has been read is disposed. The erasing unit 138 includes an erasing light source 140 such as a cold cathode tube that outputs erasing light.

  A platen roller 142 is disposed between the transport rollers 132d and 132e disposed at the lowermost portion of the curved transport path 136. A scanning unit 144 that reads radiation image information accumulated and recorded on the stimulable phosphor panel P is disposed on the platen roller 142.

  The scanning unit 144 derives a laser beam LB that is excitation light and scans the stimulable phosphor panel P, and stimulated emission light related to radiation image information that is excited and output by the laser beam LB. A reading unit 148 for reading.

  The excitation unit 146 reflects a laser oscillator 150 that outputs a laser beam LB, a polygon mirror 152 that is a rotary polygon mirror that deflects the laser beam LB in the main scanning direction of the stimulable phosphor panel P, and the laser beam LB. And a reflecting mirror 154 that leads to the stimulable phosphor panel P that passes over the platen roller 142.

  The reading unit 148 is connected to the condensing guide 156 disposed at one end close to the stimulable phosphor panel P on the platen roller 142 and the other end of the condensing guide 156. A photomultiplier 158 that converts the stimulated emission light obtained from the above into an electrical signal. Note that a condensing mirror 160 for increasing the condensing efficiency of the photostimulated luminescent light is disposed close to one end of the condensing guide 156. The radiographic image information read by the photomultiplier 158 is temporarily stored in the image memory 113 (FIG. 3) and then supplied to the second console 20 via the in-hospital network 28.

  The in-hospital network 28 can be connected with imaging devices of other specification forms, for example, CT devices and MR devices, and can be connected with a console for controlling these imaging devices.

  The radiographic image capturing system 10 of the present embodiment is basically configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described next.

  First, patient information such as a patient's name, sex, and age is set using the HIS 12, and then, in relation to the patient information, a radiographic imaging method, imaging site, imaging apparatus used for imaging, etc. Instruction information is set using the RIS 14.

  The control unit 34 of the host console 16 installed in the radiology department acquires patient information and imaging instruction information from the RIS 14 via the in-hospital network 28. On the other hand, the engineer uses the operation setting unit 36 of the host console 16 to set and change the shooting instruction information.

  For example, the engineer sets imaging conditions such as a tube voltage, a tube current, and a radiation irradiation time corresponding to the imaging region of the subject 50 with respect to the radiation source of the imaging apparatus set in the acquired imaging instruction information. The imaging conditions can also be set using the RIS 14.

  Further, it is assumed that the imaging device selected by the doctor using the RIS 14 is the first imaging device 22 and the subject 50 is using a wheelchair and the imaging using the first imaging device 22 cannot be performed. In this case, the engineer inserts the cassette 110 between the wheelchair and the subject 50 and changes the imaging instruction information related to the imaging apparatus in order to switch to imaging using the radiation source 104 constituting the second imaging apparatus 24. In addition, when the doctor selects the second imaging device 24 and the second imaging device 24 cannot be used because of adjustment or the like, the engineer switches to imaging using the first imaging device 22 as an alternative device. The shooting instruction information related to is changed.

  The imaging instruction information setting unit 40 temporarily stores the acquired patient information and imaging instruction information, or imaging instruction information including changed or newly set imaging conditions, in the imaging instruction information memory 38.

  Next, the imaging instruction information setting unit 40 reads patient information and imaging instruction information from the imaging instruction information memory 38. The console selection unit 42 is connected to the first console 18 that controls the corresponding first imaging device 22, the second console 20 that controls the second imaging device 24, or the hospital network 28 according to the read imaging instruction information. Select another applicable console.

  After the console as the processing device is selected, the control unit 34 of the host console 16 transmits the shooting instruction information to the selected first console 18, second console 20, or other console in the order of shooting processing. The shooting instruction information is deleted from the shooting instruction information memory 38 after confirming that the transmission has been completed. When the host console 16 is a processing device that can perform processing of a plurality of photographing devices having different specification forms, the host console 16 is replaced with the first photographing device 22 instead of the first console 18 or the second console 20. Alternatively, the second imaging device 24 can be selected as a console for processing.

  The console to which the patient information and the imaging instruction information are transmitted performs the radiographic image imaging process using the managed imaging apparatus in the order of the set imaging process according to the imaging instruction information. In this case, the order of the imaging process is preferentially set for an imaging apparatus that requires time until the radiographic image information can be acquired. Specifically, for example, using both the first imaging device 22 and the second imaging device 24, the imaging instruction information is set to perform imaging processing of a plurality of radiation images on the same subject 50. Assuming that the imaging process for the second imaging device 24 that requires a reading process after imaging the radiographic image is given priority over the imaging process of the first imaging device 22.

  First, a case where the second photographing device 24 is controlled using the second console 20 to perform photographing processing of the subject 50 will be described.

  The second console 20 that has received the imaging instruction information from the host console 16 instructs the radiation source control unit 102 of the second imaging apparatus 24 to perform tube voltage, tube current, and radiation irradiation time, which are imaging conditions included in the imaging instruction information. Set.

  On the other hand, the technician reads the barcode attached to the cassette 110 using the barcode reader 32 connected to the second console 20 to identify the stimulable phosphor panel P housed in the cassette 110. Identification information such as a unique number, size, and sensitivity is acquired.

  Next, after the cassette 110 is loaded into the slot 112 of the second photographing device 24, an exposure switch (not shown) is operated to start photographing. The radiation source control unit 102 drives and controls the radiation source 104 in accordance with the set imaging conditions, and irradiates the subject 50 with the radiation X. The radiation X transmitted through the subject 50 is applied to the stimulable phosphor panel P housed in the cassette 110. As a result, the radiation image information of the subject 50 is accumulated and recorded on the stimulable phosphor panel P.

  The cassette 110 that stores the stimulable phosphor panel P on which the radiation image information is recorded is extracted from the second imaging device 24 and then loaded into the cassette loading unit 120 of the reading device 26.

  When the cassette 110 is loaded, the barcode reader 124 disposed in the cassette loading unit 120 reads the barcode attached to the cassette 110 and identifies the unique number, size, sensitivity, etc. of the stimulable phosphor panel P. Get information. The acquired identification information is collated with the identification information acquired by the bar code reader 32 connected to the second console 20 to confirm the correspondence between the subject 50 and the radiation image information.

  When the identification information is read, the lock release mechanism 126 is driven, and the cover member 114 is unlocked and opened. Next, the suction disk 128 sucks the stimulable phosphor panel P, takes out the stimulable phosphor panel P from the cassette 110, and supplies it between the nip rollers 130. The stimulable phosphor panel P sandwiched between the nip rollers 130 is transported to the lower part of the scanning unit 144 via a curved transport path 136 including transport rollers 132a to 132g and guide plates 134a to 134f.

  The stimulable phosphor panel P is sub-scanned and conveyed in the substantially horizontal direction by the conveying rollers 132d and 132e. On the other hand, the laser beam LB output from the laser oscillator 150 constituting the excitation unit 146 is reflected and deflected by the polygon mirror 152 that rotates at high speed, and then the lower surface is supported by the platen roller 142 via the reflection mirror 154. Guided to the stimulable phosphor panel P, the stimulable phosphor panel P is main-scanned.

  The stimulable phosphor panel P is excited by being irradiated with the laser beam LB and outputs stimulated emission light according to the stored and recorded radiation image information. This stimulated emission light is directly incident on the lower end portion of the condensing guide 156 disposed close to the stimulable phosphor panel P along the main scanning direction, or is incident through the condensing mirror 160. The stimulated emission light incident on the light collecting guide 156 is repeatedly reflected inside and guided to the photomultiplier 158 at the upper end. The photomultiplier 158 converts the incident stimulated emission light into an electrical signal, and thereby reads the radiation image information stored and recorded in the stimulable phosphor panel P.

  The radiation image information read by the scanning unit 144 is temporarily stored in the image memory 113 and then displayed as a preview image on the display unit 115 of the reading device 26. The engineer can determine the quality of the imaging process using the second imaging device 24 based on the displayed preview image. In this case, since the radiographic image captured by the reader 26 can be confirmed without transmitting the radiographic image information to the second console 20 via the in-hospital network 28, for example, the in-hospital network 28 or the second console Even when the processing load at 20 is large, the radiation image can be quickly confirmed.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking the preview image, if it is determined that the image is an appropriate radiographic image and the processing load on the second console 20 is determined to be small, the radiographic image information is stored in the second network via the in-hospital network 28. Sent to the console 20. The second console 20 performs image processing according to the specifications of the second imaging device 24 on the received radiation image information, and transmits it to the viewer 15 via the hospital network 28. The doctor performs necessary interpretation diagnosis based on the radiation image information transmitted to the viewer 15. When the second console 20 is performing image processing on the radiation image information that has already been received, the console selection unit 42 of the host console 16 searches for other processing devices that can be processed, and the second imaging device 24 The acquired radiation image information may be transmitted to another processing apparatus that has been searched for image processing.

  On the other hand, while the radiographic image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor panel P is being read by the reading device 26, an imaging process using the first imaging device 22 is performed. Accordingly, a case where the first imaging device 22 is controlled using the first console 18 and the subject 50 is imaged will be described.

  The first console 18 that has received the imaging instruction information from the host console 16 instructs the radiation source control unit 66 of the first imaging apparatus 22 to perform tube voltage, tube current, and radiation irradiation time, which are imaging conditions included in the imaging instruction information. Set.

  Next, after positioning the subject 50 at a predetermined position on the imaging table 60, imaging is started by operating an exposure switch (not shown). The radiation source control unit 66 drives and controls the radiation source 64 according to the set imaging conditions, and irradiates the subject 50 with the radiation X. The radiation X transmitted through the subject 50 is applied to the radiation conversion panel 70.

  The photoelectric conversion layer 72 of each pixel 78 constituting the radiation conversion panel 70 (FIG. 4) converts the incident radiation X into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is held in the storage capacitor 76 as a charge. Next, the charge information that is the radiation image information of the subject 50 held in each storage capacitor 76 is read according to the address signal supplied from the control unit 100 to the line scanning drive unit 84 and the multiplexer 86.

  That is, the address decoder 88 of the line scan driver 84 outputs a selection signal in accordance with the address signal supplied from the controller 100 to select one of the switches SW1, and the gate of the TFT 74 connected to the corresponding gate line 80. Is supplied with a control signal Von. On the other hand, the address decoder 96 of the multiplexer 86 outputs a selection signal in accordance with the address signal supplied from the control unit 100 to sequentially switch the switch SW2, and each pixel connected to the gate line 80 selected by the line scan driving unit 84. Radiation image information as charge information held in the storage capacitor 76 of 78 is sequentially read out via the signal line 82.

  The radiation image information read from the storage capacitor 76 of each pixel 78 connected to the selected gate line 80 of the radiation conversion panel 70 is amplified by each amplifier 92 and then sampled by each sample and hold circuit 94. The signal is supplied to the A / D converter 98 via the multiplexer 86 and converted into a digital signal. The radiographic image information converted into the digital signal is transmitted to the reading device 26 by the control unit 100 via the in-hospital network 28.

  Similarly, the address decoder 88 of the line scan driving unit 84 sequentially switches the switch SW1 according to the address signal supplied from the control unit 100, and is held in the storage capacitor 76 of each pixel 78 connected to each gate line 80. Radiation image information, which is the charge information, is read via the signal line 82 and transmitted to the reading device 26 via the multiplexer 86, the A / D converter 98 and the control unit 100.

  The radiation image information transmitted from the first imaging device 22 to the reading device 26 is temporarily stored in the image memory 113 and then displayed as a preview image on the display unit 115 of the reading device 26. The engineer can determine the quality of the imaging process using the first imaging device 22 based on the displayed preview image. In this case, since the radiographic image captured by the reader 26 can be confirmed without transmitting the radiographic image information to the first console 18 via the in-hospital network 28, for example, the in-hospital network 28 or the first console Even when the processing load at 18 is large, the radiation image can be quickly confirmed.

  On the other hand, as a result of confirming the preview image, if it is determined that the image is an appropriate radiographic image and the processing load on the first console 18 is determined to be small, the radiographic image information is first transmitted via the in-hospital network 28. Sent to the console 18.

  The first console 18 performs image processing according to the specifications of the first imaging device 22 on the received radiation image information, and transmits it to the viewer 15 via the hospital network 28. The doctor performs necessary interpretation diagnosis based on the radiation image information transmitted to the viewer 15. If the first console 18 is performing image processing of the radiation image information that has already been received, the console selection unit 42 of the host console 16 searches for other processing devices that can be processed, and the first imaging device 22 The acquired radiation image information may be transmitted to another processing apparatus that has been searched for image processing.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, Of course, it can change freely in the range which does not deviate from the main point of this invention.

  For example, the first imaging device 22 incorporates a radiation conversion panel 70 made of a solid-state imaging device shown in FIG. 4, and the second imaging device 24 is loaded with a stimulable phosphor panel P. The imaging device 22 may be configured to incorporate a stimulable phosphor panel P and a reading unit that reads radiation image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor panel P. In this case, after imaging using the second imaging device 24, radiographic image information is efficiently obtained by performing imaging processing and reading processing by the first imaging device 22 in parallel with reading processing by the reading device 26. Can be obtained.

  Further, the radiation conversion panel 70 made of a solid-state image sensor can be applied to the second imaging device 24. Also in this case, radiation processing is performed by performing imaging processing using the first imaging device 22 in parallel with reading processing of radiation image information from the radiation conversion panel 70 following the imaging processing by the second imaging device 24. Image information can be acquired efficiently.

It is a block diagram of the radiographic imaging system of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram including a host console, a first imaging device, and a second imaging device shown in FIG. 1. It is a circuit block diagram of the radiation conversion panel of this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the reading apparatus of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10. Radiation imaging system 12. HIS
14 ... RIS
16 ... Host console 18 ... First console 20 ... Second console 22 ... First imaging device 24 ... Second imaging device 26 ... Reading device 28 ... Hospital network 30, 32 ... Bar code reader 38 ... Imaging instruction information memory 40 ... Imaging Instruction information setting unit 42 ... console selection unit 50 ... subject

Claims (3)

A first imaging device that irradiates a radiation output from a radiation source onto a first radiation conversion panel via a subject and records radiation image information on the first radiation conversion panel;
A reading device that is loaded with the first radiation conversion panel and reads the radiation image information recorded in the first radiation conversion panel;
The radiation output from the radiation source is applied to the second radiation conversion panel through the subject, and the radiation image information is recorded on the second radiation conversion panel, while the radiation image information is read from the second radiation conversion panel. Two imaging devices;
A processing device for processing radiation image information acquired from the reading device or the second imaging device while controlling the first imaging device, the reading device, and the second imaging device;
A network to which the first imaging device, the reading device, the second imaging device, and the processing device are connected;
With
The reader is
An image memory for storing radiation image information read from the first radiation conversion panel and the second radiation conversion panel;
A display unit for displaying radiation image information stored in the image memory;
A radiographic imaging system comprising: The system of claim 1, wherein
The radiation image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the first radiation conversion panel comprises a stimulable phosphor panel. The system of claim 1, wherein
The radiation image capturing system, wherein the second radiation conversion panel includes a solid-state image sensor.

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