JP2012045172A - Radiographic imaging system, radiographic imaging method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily determine the sequence of arrangement of radiographic images acquired by respective radiographic imaging devices when capturing an elongated radiographic image by using a plurality of portable radiographic imaging devices.SOLUTION: A plurality of portable radiographic imaging devices for detecting a radiation emitted from a radiation source and having passed through a subject to capture the radiographic image of the subject are arranged in a predetermined direction by superimposing the ends of the adjacent radiographic imaging devices. It is determined whether each one of end images has similarity or not, which is imaged at each one of the respective ends of the radiographic images captured by the respective radiographic imaging devices. Then, the sequence of arrangement of the plurality of radiographic images is determined so that the end images determined to have similarity are adjacently arranged. The radiographic images are combined by the determined sequence, so that the elongated radiographic image is generated.

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiation image capturing system, a radiation image capturing method, and a program for capturing a radiation image indicated by radiation emitted from a radiation source and transmitted through a subject.

  In recent years, radiation detectors such as flat panel detectors (FPDs) that can arrange radiation sensitive layers on TFT (Thin Film Transistor) active matrix substrates and convert radiation directly into digital data have been put into practical use. A portable radiation imaging apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as “electronic cassette”) that detects radiation irradiated by using a laser and captures a radiation image represented by the radiation has been put into practical use. The radiation detectors used in the above-mentioned electronic cassettes include, as a method for converting radiation, an indirect conversion method in which radiation is converted into light by a scintillator and then converted into electric charges in a semiconductor layer such as a photodiode, or radiation is converted into amorphous selenium. There are direct conversion systems that convert charges into semiconductor layers, etc., and there are various materials that can be used for the semiconductor layer in each system. As described above, the radiographic imaging system has been digitized, and has shifted from a film or an imaging plate to a system using a radiation detector.

  By the way, when taking full-length lower limb photography and whole spine photography for the purpose of bone measurement etc. as medical image photography, since the photographing part of the subject covers a wide range, long photography is used to grasp the whole. There is a need to do. In order to perform such long photographing, a plurality of photostimulable phosphor sheets are arranged so as to partially overlap each other, and a long subject image is photographed (for example, patent document) 1).

  In addition, when automatically connecting images captured using a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets arranged side by side, different identification displays unique to the sheets are displayed at two positions that are point-symmetric with respect to the center of the sheet on at least one side of the sheet. A storage phosphor sheet that can read the order of images to be connected, top-bottom information, and the like and a cassette that accommodates the same are known (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-3-287249 JP 2000-258861 A

  By taking a plurality of radiographic images using a plurality of portable electronic cassettes and connecting them, a long radiographic image can be obtained as in Patent Document 1, but a plurality of images can be obtained. It is left to the engineer's judgment, such as an engineer judging the arrangement order of the radiographic image in the case of connecting in a line on the screen, or reading the image of the radiographic image in the arrangement order. It takes time to judge on the screen, and even if you try to read the radiation image in the order of the electronic cassettes, the appearance of the electronic cassettes themselves are all the same or similar, so you can't know which order May end up. It was troublesome for engineers to be aware of the order of the electronic cassettes, and there was a problem that the burden increased.

  Even if identification information is given to each electronic cassette instead of the stimulable phosphor sheet by applying Patent Document 2, the identification information is sequentially read from the portable electronic cassette in order to obtain the image arrangement order. The above-mentioned problem of requiring work and increasing the burden on the engineer cannot be solved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and when taking a long radiographic image using a plurality of portable radiographic imaging devices, the radiographic images obtained by the respective radiographic imaging devices are obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiographic image capturing system, a radiographic image capturing method, and a program capable of easily determining the arrangement order.

  In order to achieve the above object, a radiographic imaging system according to the invention of claim 1 is a portable radiographic imaging device that detects a radiation irradiated from a radiation source and transmitted through a subject to capture a radiographic image of the subject. Radiation image capturing means in which a plurality of end portions of adjacent radiography apparatuses are overlapped and arranged in a predetermined direction, and end portions captured at each end of the plurality of radiographic images captured by each of the radiation imaging apparatuses A determination unit that determines whether each of the images is similar, and a determination that determines an arrangement order of the plurality of radiation images so that end images determined to be similar by the determination unit are adjacent to each other Means, and generating means for generating a long radiographic image by synthesizing the radiographic images in the arrangement order determined by the determining means.

  In this way, it is determined whether or not the end images captured at the end of each radiation imaging apparatus are similar to each other, and the radiographic images are superimposed so that the end images determined to be similar to each other are superimposed. Since the arrangement order is determined, it is possible to determine the arrangement order more easily than in the prior art.

  In the radiographic imaging system according to claim 1, as in the invention according to claim 2, the determination unit is based on the similarity or difference between the end images of each of the plurality of radiographic images. It may be determined whether or not the end images of each of the plurality of radiation images are similar.

  In the radiographic imaging system according to claim 1 or 2, as in the invention according to claim 3, the determination unit is an array in which a sum of similarities between end images of the radiographic image is highest. The order or the order in which the sum of the dissimilarities between the end images of the radiographic image is the lowest may be determined as the order in which the generation unit combines the radiographic images.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radiographic imaging method in which a portable radiographic imaging device that detects a radiation irradiated from a radiation source and transmitted through a subject and captures a radiographic image of the subject is connected to an end of an adjacent radiographic imaging device. It is determined whether or not the end images captured at each end of each of the plurality of radiation images captured by each of the radiation imaging devices of the radiation image capturing means arranged in a predetermined direction with a plurality of being overlapped are similar to each other. Determining the arrangement order of the plurality of radiographic images so that the edge images determined to be similar to each other are adjacent to each other, and combining the radiographic images in the determined arrangement order; A scale-like radiation image is generated.

  Also by this, since it acts similarly to the radiographic image capturing system according to the first aspect, it is possible to easily determine the arrangement order of the radiographic images obtained by the respective radiographic apparatuses.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable radiographic apparatus that captures a radiographic image of the subject by detecting radiation that has been irradiated from a radiation source and transmitted through the subject, and the end portions of adjacent radiographic apparatuses are overlapped. It is determined whether or not the end images captured at each end of each of the plurality of radiographic images captured by each of the radiographic apparatuses of the radiographic image capturing means arranged in a predetermined direction are similar. A determination unit that determines an arrangement order of the plurality of radiation images so that end images determined to be similar by the determination unit are adjacent to each other; and the arrangement order determined by the determination unit It is a program for functioning as a generation unit that generates a long radiation image by synthesizing a radiation image.

  Also by this, since it acts similarly to the radiographic image capturing system according to the first aspect, it is possible to easily determine the arrangement order of the radiographic images obtained by the respective radiographic apparatuses.

  According to the present invention, when a long radiographic image is captured using a plurality of portable radiographic apparatuses, the arrangement order of the radiographic images obtained by the respective radiographic apparatuses can be easily determined. There is an effect.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radiation information system which concerns on embodiment. It is a side view which shows an example of the arrangement | positioning state of each apparatus in the radiography room of the radiographic imaging system which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the electronic cassette concerning embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the portable electronic cassette set and electronic cassette which concern on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electrical system of the radiographic imaging system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the radiographic imaging processing program which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the imaging | photography menu input screen displayed by execution of the radiographic imaging processing program which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed with the electronic cassette which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the synthetic | combination processing program which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the arrangement order determination method which concerns on embodiment. It is the figure which showed typically the example of other arrangement | positioning of several electronic cassettes. It is the figure which showed typically the other structural example of the electronic cassette.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a description will be given of an example in which the present invention is applied to a radiation information system that is a system for comprehensively managing information handled in a radiology department in a hospital.

  First, the configuration of a radiation information system (hereinafter referred to as “RIS (Radiology Information System)”) 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The RIS 10 is a system for managing information such as medical appointments and diagnosis records in the radiology department, and constitutes a part of a hospital information system (hereinafter referred to as “HIS (Hospital Information System)”). .

  The RIS 10 includes a plurality of radiography requesting terminal devices (hereinafter referred to as “terminal devices”) 12, a RIS server 14, and a radiographic imaging system (or an operating room) installed in a hospital. (Hereinafter referred to as “imaging system”) 18, which are connected to an in-hospital network 16, such as a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The RIS 10 constitutes a part of the HIS provided in the same hospital, and an HIS server (not shown) that manages the entire HIS is also connected to the in-hospital network 16.

  The terminal device 12 is used by doctors and radiographers to input and browse diagnostic information and facility reservations, and radiographic image capturing requests and imaging reservations are also made via the terminal device 12. Each terminal device 12 includes a personal computer having a display device, and is capable of mutual communication via the RIS server 14 and the hospital network 16.

  On the other hand, the RIS server 14 receives an imaging request from each terminal device 12 and manages a radiographic imaging schedule in the imaging system 18, and includes a database 14A.

  The database 14A includes attribute information (name, sex, date of birth, age, blood type, weight, patient ID (Identification), etc.), medical history, medical history, and radiation taken in the past. Information about the patient such as images, an identification number (ID information) of an electronic cassette 32, which will be described later, used in the imaging system 18, type, size, sensitivity, usable imaging part (content of imaging request that can be supported), and start of use Information regarding the electronic cassette 32 such as date and number of times of use, and an environment in which a radiographic image is taken using the electronic cassette 32, that is, an environment in which the electronic cassette 32 is used (for example, a radiographic room or an operating room) It includes the environmental information shown.

  The imaging system 18 captures a radiographic image by an operation of a doctor or a radiographer according to an instruction from the RIS server 14. The imaging system 18 includes a radiation generator 34 (see also FIG. 2) that irradiates a subject with radiation (for example, X-rays) having a dose according to the exposure conditions from a radiation source 130 (see also FIG. 4). A portable type that incorporates a radiation detector 60 (see also FIG. 3) that generates radiation by detecting radiation that has passed through the imaging target region of the subject, and generates image information indicating a radiation image based on the amount of the generated charge. A radiation imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an electronic cassette) 32, a cradle 40 for charging a battery built in the electronic cassette 32, an electronic cassette 32, a radiation generator 34, and a console 42 for controlling the cradle 40 are provided. Yes.

  The console 42 acquires various types of information included in the database 14A from the RIS server 14 and stores them in an HDD 110 (see FIG. 4), which will be described later. Based on the information, the electronic cassette 32, the radiation generator 34, and the cradle 40 are stored. Can be controlled.

  2 shows three radiation cassettes 34 and a plurality of electronic cassettes 32 (here, the first electronic cassette 32A, the second electronic cassette 32B, and the third electronic cassette 32C) of the imaging system 18 according to the present embodiment. An example of the arrangement state of the electronic cassette 32 is shown. An arrow UP in the figure indicates the upward direction in the vertical direction.

  In the present embodiment, the first electronic cassette 32A, the second electronic cassette 32B, and the third electronic cassette 32C have the same basic configuration, and therefore are described as the electronic cassette 32 unless otherwise distinguished. The first, second, third, and alphabetical letters at the end of the reference numerals are omitted. The same applies to the components constituting each electronic cassette 32.

  Here, the configuration of the electronic cassette 32 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the radiation imaging layer 20 is provided inside the housing 58 of the electronic cassette 32. The radiation imaging layer 20 includes a TFT active matrix substrate 66 having an upper electrode, a semiconductor layer, and a lower electrode, and a scintillator 30. Further, a photoelectric conversion element (photodiode) layer (hereinafter referred to as a photoelectric conversion layer) is provided between the TFT active matrix substrate 66 and the scintillator 30 (not shown in FIG. 3). The scintillator 30 is made of GOS, CsI, or the like. The irradiated radiation is converted into light by the scintillator 30, and the light is converted into charges by the photoelectric conversion layer, and the charges are accumulated in the TFT active matrix substrate 66. ing. In order to prevent leakage of light generated by the scintillator 30 to the outside, a light shielding body 31 that blocks the generated light is provided on the surface of the scintillator 30 opposite to the surface on which the TFT active matrix substrate 66 is provided. Is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the electronic cassette 32 is provided with a control board 62 formed in a flat plate shape, and a gate line driver 80 and a signal processing circuit 82 are provided on one surface of the control board 62. The radiation imaging layer 20 is disposed on the other surface. The signal processing circuit 82 is provided with a plurality of connectors 46, and one end of the flexible cable 44 is electrically connected to the connectors 46. A connector 36 provided on the TFT active matrix substrate 66 is connected to the other end of the flexible cable 44. The gate line driver 80 is also provided with a connector, and this connector and a connector (different from the connector 36) provided on the TFT active matrix substrate 66 are electrically connected via a flexible cable. Although not shown in FIG.

  On the TFT active matrix substrate 66, as shown in FIG. 5, a pixel unit including a storage capacitor 68 for storing charges generated in the photoelectric conversion layer and a TFT 70 for reading out the charges stored in the storage capacitor 68. 74 (in FIG. 5, the photoelectric conversion layers corresponding to the individual pixel portions 74 are schematically shown as the photoelectric conversion portions 72) are arranged in a matrix and are used to irradiate the electronic cassette 32 with radiation. Along with this, charges generated in the photoelectric conversion layer are stored in the storage capacitors 68 of the individual pixel portions 74. As a result, the image information carried on the radiation applied to the electronic cassette 32 is converted into charge information and held in the radiation detector 60.

  In addition, although the radiation detector 60 which converts into an electric charge indirectly using a fluorescent material (scintillator) and a photoelectric conversion element (photodiode) has been described as an example here, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a photoelectric conversion layer that absorbs radiation and converts it into charges is stacked on the TFT active matrix substrate 66, and when irradiated with radiation, a charge having an amount of charge corresponding to the amount of irradiated radiation (electron-positive The radiation detector 60 may convert the irradiated radiation into electric charges by generating a pair of holes) inside. In this case, the photoelectric conversion layer can be composed of, for example, amorphous a-Se (amorphous selenium) containing selenium as a main component (for example, a content rate of 50% or more).

  The TFT active matrix substrate 66 is extended in a certain direction (row direction), a plurality of gate wirings 76 for turning on / off the TFTs 70 of the individual pixel portions 74, and a direction (column) orthogonal to the gate wirings 76. A plurality of data wirings 78 are provided for reading out stored charges from the storage capacitor 68 via the TFT 70 which is turned on and turned on. The individual gate lines 76 are connected to the gate line driver 80 via the flexible cable 52, and the individual data lines 78 are connected to the signal processing unit 82. When charges are accumulated in the storage capacitors 68 of the individual pixel portions 74, the TFTs 70 of the individual pixel portions 74 are sequentially turned on in units of rows by a signal supplied from the gate line driver 80 via the gate wiring 76. The charge stored in the storage capacitor 68 of the pixel section 74 for which is turned on is transmitted through the data wiring 78 as an analog electrical signal and input to the signal processing section 82 via the flexible cable 44. Accordingly, the charges accumulated in the storage capacitors 68 of the individual pixel portions 74 are sequentially read out in units of rows.

  On the other hand, the signal processing unit 82 includes an amplifier and a sample hold circuit provided for each data wiring 78, and the charge signal transmitted through the individual data wiring 78 is amplified by the amplifier and then supplied to the sample hold circuit. Retained. Further, a multiplexer and an A / D (analog / digital) converter are sequentially connected to the output side of the sample and hold circuit, and the charge signals held in the individual sample and hold circuits are sequentially (serially) input to the multiplexer. The digital image data is converted by an A / D converter.

  An image memory 90 is connected to the signal processing unit 82, and image data output from the A / D converter of the signal processing unit 82 is sequentially stored in the image memory 90. The image memory 90 has a storage capacity capable of storing image data for a plurality of frames, and image data obtained by imaging is sequentially stored in the image memory 90 every time a radiographic image is captured.

  The image memory 90 is connected to a cassette control unit 92 that controls the operation of the entire electronic cassette 32. The cassette control unit 92 includes a microcomputer, and includes a CPU (central processing unit) 92A, a memory 92B including a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a flash memory. A non-volatile storage unit 92 </ b> C is provided.

  A wireless communication unit 94 is connected to the cassette control unit 92. The wireless communication unit 94 according to the present embodiment corresponds to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standard represented by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11a / b / g and the like. Controls the transmission of various information to and from external devices. The cassette control unit 92 can wirelessly communicate with the console 42 via the wireless communication unit 94, and can transmit and receive various information to and from the console 42.

  The electronic cassette 32 is provided with a power supply unit 96, and the various circuits and elements described above (gate line driver 80, signal processing unit 82, image memory 90, wireless communication unit 94, cassette control unit 92, etc.) The power is supplied from the power supply unit 96. The power supply unit 96 incorporates the above-described battery (secondary battery) 96A so as not to impair the portability of the electronic cassette 32, and supplies power from the charged battery 96A to various circuits and elements. In FIG. 5, illustration of wirings connecting the power supply unit 96 to various circuits and elements is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of taking a long image using three electronic cassettes 32, the lower end side of the first casing 58A of the first electronic cassette 32A. The upper end side of the second casing 58B of the second electronic cassette 32B is superposed on the surface side (radiation incident side) of the second electronic cassette 32B. Furthermore, the upper end side of the third casing 58C of the third electronic cassette 32C is superposed on the surface side of the lower end side of the second casing 58B of the second electronic cassette 32B. As described above, in the present embodiment, the three electronic cassettes 32 are arranged along the body axis direction of the subject 50 in a state where the end portions of the adjacent electronic cassettes 32 are overlapped, thereby performing long shooting. I have to. In the present embodiment, the radiographic imaging means having the electronic cassette 32 arranged in this manner is referred to as a portable electronic cassette set 64.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, no member other than the radiation imaging layer 20 is arranged in a predetermined range X from the inner wall end portion of the one side 19 of the housing 58. That is, the control board 62 is not arranged in the range X. Thereby, for example, by overlapping the range X with the end side of the other electronic cassette 32, the radiation irradiated in the overlapping portion reaches the radiation imaging layer 20 of the other electronic cassette 32, and the radiation imaging layer 20 is An image signal indicating a radiation image corresponding to the irradiated radiation dose is output. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a long image with no image missing at the joint.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, in the portable electronic cassette set 64, the first electronic cassette 32 </ b> A and the second electronic cassette 32 </ b> B are overlapped, as viewed from the radiation irradiation direction. In the overlapping portion 54 where the first casing 58A and the second casing 58B overlap, the first casing 58A and the second casing 58B are arranged so that the second control board 62B does not overlap the first radiation imaging layer 20A. It is piled up.

  Similarly, in a state where the second electronic cassette 32B and the third electronic cassette 32C are overlapped, in the overlapping portion 56 where the second casing 58B and the third casing 58C are overlapped when viewed from the radiation direction, The second housing 58B and the third housing 58C are overlapped so that the third control board 62C does not overlap the second radiation imaging layer 20B.

  In the present embodiment, the overlapping amount (Y in the drawing) of the first radiation imaging layer 20A and the second radiation imaging layer 20B in the vertical direction of the overlapping portion 54 and the overlapping portion 56, and the second radiation imaging layer 20B, Each electronic cassette 32 is arranged so that the overlap margin (Y in the figure) with the third radiation imaging layer 20C is, for example, 2 cm.

  The electronic cassettes 32 may be arranged at predetermined positions by providing circular marks at the four corners of the electronic cassettes 32 and arranging the electronic cassettes 32 while viewing the marks.

  In the present embodiment, the plurality of electronic cassettes 32 used for long imaging in this manner detect radiation irradiated from the radiation source 130 to the electronic cassette 32 and pass through the subject to show a radiation image of the subject. An imaging operation for acquiring image data, a predetermined preparation operation (in this embodiment, a reset operation for discharging charges accumulated in the radiation detector 60) performed before the imaging operation, and a preparation operation are performed. The transition operation from the first state to the second state in which the photographing operation is performed is performed independently. The transition operation is performed by receiving a transition command (in this embodiment, instruction information for instructing to start execution of a photographing operation described later).

  On the other hand, the console 42 is configured as a server computer, and includes a display 100 that displays an operation menu, captured radiographic images, and the like, and a plurality of keys, and inputs various information and operation instructions. An operation panel 102.

  The console 42 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 104 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, a ROM 106 that stores various programs including a control program in advance, a RAM 108 that temporarily stores various data, and various data. It includes an HDD 110 that stores and holds, a display driver 112 that controls display of various types of information on the display 100, and an operation input detection unit 114 that detects an operation state of the operation panel 102. In addition, the console 42 transmits and receives various types of information such as an exposure condition, which will be described later, to and from the radiation generator 34 and also transmits and receives various types of information such as image data to and from the electronic cassette 32 by wireless communication. A wireless communication unit 118 is provided.

  The CPU 104, the ROM 106, the RAM 108, the HDD 110, the display driver 112, the operation input detection unit 114, and the wireless communication unit 118 are connected to each other via a system bus BUS. Therefore, the CPU 104 can access the ROM 106, RAM 108, and HDD 110, controls display of various information on the display 100 via the display driver 112, and the radiation generator 34, via the wireless communication unit 118. Control of transmission and reception of various types of information with the electronic cassette 32 can be performed. Further, the CPU 104 can grasp the operation state of the user with respect to the operation panel 102 via the operation input detection unit 114.

  On the other hand, the radiation generator 34 includes a radio communication unit 132 that transmits and receives various types of information such as an exposure condition between the radiation source 130 and the console 42, and a line that controls the radiation source 130 based on the received exposure condition. A source control unit 134.

  The radiation source control unit 134 is also configured to include a microcomputer, and stores the received exposure conditions and the like. The exposure conditions received from the console 42 include information such as tube voltage, tube current, and exposure period. The radiation source controller 134 irradiates the radiation from the radiation source 130 based on the received exposure conditions.

  Next, a process executed for taking a long image using a plurality of electronic cassettes 32 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the electronic cassettes 32 are arranged such that the end ranges of the electronic cassettes 32 are overlapped so that the imaging range extends in the vertical direction (the body axis direction of the subject 50). Furthermore, the subject 50 stands along the electronic cassette 32 arranged in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, the CPU 104 of the console 42 executes the process shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the radiographic image capturing processing program executed by the CPU 104 of the console 42, and the program is stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 106 in advance.

  In step 200 in the figure, the display driver 112 is controlled so that a predetermined shooting menu input screen is displayed on the display 100, and in step 202, input of predetermined information is waited.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a shooting menu input screen displayed on the display 100 by the process of step 200 described above. As shown in the figure, on the imaging menu input screen according to the present embodiment, a message prompting input of an imaging menu as an imaging condition for radiographic imaging to be performed and an input area for these information are displayed. The The radiographing menu includes, for example, the name of the subject who takes radiographic images, the radiographic part, the posture at the time of radiographing (in this embodiment, supine or standing), and radiation exposure conditions at the time of radiography ( In the present embodiment, the tube voltage, tube current, and exposure period) when the radiation is exposed are included.

  When the shooting menu input screen shown in the figure is displayed on the display 100, the photographer inputs shooting conditions (shooting menu) to the corresponding input areas via the operation panel 102, and then the shooting menu input screen. An end button displayed in the vicinity of the lower end of is designated via the operation panel 102. When the end button is designated by the user, step 202 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 204.

  In the next step 204, for each electronic cassette 32, a charge accumulation period (hereinafter, applied charge accumulation period) in the radiation detector 60, which is predetermined according to the imaging part input on the imaging menu input screen, By performing imaging by the radiation detector 60 in the same charge accumulation period, image data (hereinafter referred to as “subject image data”) obtained by imaging the radiation image by the radiation detector 60 is corrected. Offset image acquisition processing for acquiring image data (hereinafter referred to as “offset image data”) is executed.

  At this time, the CPU 104 transmits instruction information for instructing execution of the offset image acquisition process to the electronic cassette 32 through the wireless communication unit 118 together with information indicating the applied charge accumulation period. In response to this, each electronic cassette 32 performs a reset operation for discharging the charge accumulated in the radiation detector 60 at this time, and then performs imaging by the radiation detector 60 in the received applied charge accumulation period. The offset image data thus obtained is transmitted to the console 42 via the wireless communication unit 94.

  Therefore, the CPU 104 receives the offset image data transmitted from each electronic cassette 32 via the wireless communication unit 118 and stores it in a predetermined area of the RAM 108.

  In the next step 206, the exposure condition input on the imaging menu input screen is transmitted to the radiation generator 34 via the wireless communication unit 118, thereby setting the explosion condition. In response to this, the radiation source control unit 134 prepares for exposure under the received exposure conditions.

  In the next step 208, instruction information for instructing to start the photographing operation is transmitted to each electronic cassette 32 via the wireless communication unit 118. When each electronic cassette 32 receives the instruction information, each electronic cassette 32 shifts from the first state to the second state and starts executing the photographing operation.

  In the next step 210, instruction information for instructing the start of exposure is transmitted to the radiation generator 34 via the wireless communication unit 118. In response to this, the radiation generator 34 generates radiation from the radiation source 130 at a tube voltage, a tube current, and an exposure period corresponding to the exposure conditions received from the console 42 in accordance with the processing of step 206 above. And inject. Each electronic cassette 32 captures a radiographic image by the above-described imaging operation, and transmits subject image data obtained thereby to the console 42 via the wireless communication unit 94.

  Therefore, in the next step 212, the process waits until the subject image data is received from each of the electronic cassettes 32, and in the next step 214, each of the received subject image data is acquired by the processing of step 204. After performing offset correction by subtracting the offset image data for each pixel, image processing for performing various corrections such as shading correction is executed. Further, the subject image data subjected to the image processing in this way are connected and combined to generate image data indicating a long subject image (hereinafter referred to as composite image data). Details of this synthesis process will be described later.

  In the next step 216, the composite image data generated in step 214 is stored in the HDD 110, and in the next step 218, the radiation image indicated by the composite image data is displayed on the display 100 for confirmation or the like. The display driver 112 is controlled as described above, and in the next step 220, the composite image data is transmitted to the RIS server 14 via the in-hospital network 16, and then the present radiographic imaging processing program is terminated. Note that the composite image data transmitted to the RIS server 14 is stored in the database 14A, so that a doctor can perform interpretation, diagnosis, and the like of the radiographic image taken.

  Next, the operation of each electronic cassette 32 after the offset image acquisition process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a processing program executed by the CPU 92A provided in the cassette control unit 92 of each electronic cassette 32. The program is stored in the storage unit 92C of the cassette control unit 92 in advance. Has been.

  In step 300 of the figure, the radiation detector 60 is controlled to perform a reset operation, and in the next step 302, it is determined whether or not instruction information for instructing to start the imaging operation is received. If it is determined that it has not been received, the process returns to step 300 to repeat the reset operation. If it is determined in step 302 that the instruction information has been received, the process proceeds to step 304 to control the radiation detector 60 to start charge accumulation. As described above, each of the electronic cassettes 32 continues the first state in which the reset operation is performed until the instruction information is received. When the instruction information is received, the electronic cassette 32 ends the reset operation and starts the charge accumulation. Transition to the state.

  In the next step 306, the application charge accumulation period indicated by the information received together with the instruction information instructing execution of the offset image acquisition process is waited for.

  In the next step 308, the radiation detector 60 is controlled to read out the charges accumulated at this time. In response to this, the charges flow out from the radiation detector 60 to the data lines 78 as electrical signals. The electric signal flowing out to each data wiring 78 is converted into digital image data (subject image data) by the signal processing unit 82 and stored in the image memory 90.

  Therefore, in the next step 310, the subject image data is read from the image memory 90 and transmitted to the console 42 via the wireless communication unit 94, and then the present processing program is terminated.

  Next, the composition process performed by the console 42 in step 214 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the synthesis processing program executed by the CPU 104 of the console 42, and the program is stored in advance in a predetermined area of the ROM 106. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the flow of the arrangement order determination process performed in the synthesis process. Hereinafter, each of the radiographic images represented by the three subject image data obtained by photographing with the three electronic cassettes 32 is represented by a, b, and c.

In step 400, image data photographed at the end in the arrangement direction of the electronic cassettes 32 is extracted from each of the subject image data that has been subjected to correction processing such as offset correction. Here, image data photographed at the two ends of the upper end and the lower end are extracted from one subject image data. The image of the image data extracted here is called an end image. In this embodiment, since the overlap margin is set to 2 cm, the image data of the end image having the dimension in the arrangement direction of 2 cm is extracted. Identification numbers 1 to 6 are assigned to each of the extracted image data. Hereinafter, the end image represented by the image data assigned with the identification number 1 is referred to as an end image 1, and each of the end images represented by the image data assigned with the identification numbers 2 to 6 is also the end image. They are called partial images 2-6. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, the following end images are extracted from the subject images a, b, and c.
Subject image a: end image 1 (upper end side), end image 2 (lower end side)
Subject image b: end image 3 (upper end side), end image 4 (lower end side)
Subject image c: end image 5 (upper end side), end image 6 (lower end side)

  In step 402, a combination (upper and lower) of the end image of the upper end and the end image of the lower end is obtained from the extracted end image (the upper end image and the lower end of the same subject image). 10), pattern matching is performed by comparing (collating) the upper and lower paired end images with each other, and a similarity as an index indicating whether or not they are similar is calculated (FIG. 10). (See also (B).) In the present embodiment, the upper and lower pairs of the edge image 1 and the edge image 4 (this upper and lower pair is expressed as “upper and lower pair 1-4”, the same applies hereinafter), the upper and lower pair 1-6, and the upper and lower pair 3 The similarity between the end images of the six upper and lower pairs of −6, upper and lower pair 3-2, upper and lower pair 5-2, and upper and lower pair 5-4 is calculated.

  A well-known technique can be used for the pattern matching method. Here, an example in which the degree of similarity is obtained has been described, but a degree of difference may be obtained instead of the degree of similarity.

  In step 404, the arrangement order of the radiation images is determined so that the end images that are similar to each other are adjacent to each other based on the similarity (or may be the difference) (see also FIG. 10C). ). Here, as the arrangement order of the three radiation images a, b, and c, six arrangement orders can be taken by the factorial of 3 (3!). That is, six arrangement orders of abc, acb, bac, bca, cab, and cba can be taken. Each arrangement order includes two upper and lower pairs of adjacent end images. Specifically, each arrangement order includes the following upper and lower pairs.

The arrangement order of abc includes two upper and lower pairs, an upper and lower pair 2-3 and an upper and lower pair 4-5.
The order of acb includes two pairs of upper and lower pairs, an upper and lower pair 2-5 and an upper and lower pair 6-3.
The arrangement order of bac includes two upper and lower pairs, an upper and lower pair 4-1 and an upper and lower pair 2-5.
The arrangement order of bca includes two upper and lower pairs, an upper and lower pair 4-5 and an upper and lower pair 6-1.
The arrangement order of the cab includes two upper and lower pairs of an upper and lower pair 6-1 and an upper and lower pair 2-3.
The arrangement order of cba includes two upper and lower pairs of an upper and lower pair 6-3 and an upper and lower pair 4-1.

  Therefore, the order of arrangement is determined by comparing the degree of similarity between the pair of upper and lower end images included in each order of arrangement. For example, for each arrangement order, the sum of the similarities between the pair of upper and lower end images included in each arrangement order is obtained, and the arrangement order with the highest sum is determined as the arrangement order used for the synthesis. When there are two electronic cassettes 32, the arrangement order including the upper and lower pairs having the highest similarity may be used as the arrangement order used for the synthesis.

  When determining the arrangement order based on the degree of difference, for each arrangement order, obtain the sum of the degrees of difference between the upper and lower pair of end images included in each arrangement order, and include the upper and lower pairs having the lowest sum. The arrangement order may be determined as the arrangement order used for composition.

  In step 406, the subject image data is arranged in the determined arrangement order, and adjacent end images in the arrangement order are superimposed (combined). In addition, about the overlapping part which overlap | superposed edge part images, either one image data may be selected and two image data of an overlapping part may be averaged, and it does not specifically limit.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the end images of the radiographic images of the subject captured by each electronic cassette 32 are similar, and it is determined that they are similar. Since the arrangement order of the radiographic images is determined so that the edge images that are adjacent to each other are adjacent to each other, the arrangement order can be easily determined as compared with the related art.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention, and embodiments to which the changes or improvements are added are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), the second electronic cassette 32B is arranged on the back surface side opposite to the radiation incident side of the first housing 18A of the first electronic cassette 32A. The upper end side of the second casing 18B may be overlapped, and the upper end side of the third casing 18C of the third electronic cassette 32C may be overlapped with the back side of the lower end side of the second casing 18B of the second electronic cassette 32B. .

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the second housing of the second electronic cassette 32B is provided on the surface side (radiation incident side) on the lower end side of the first housing 18A of the first electronic cassette 32A. The upper end side of 18B may be overlapped, and the upper end side of third casing 18C of third electronic cassette 32C may be overlapped with the back side of the lower end side of second casing 18B of second electronic cassette 32B.

  In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 11C, each of the electronic cassettes 32 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction, and the end of the adjacent electronic cassette 32 is exposed to radiation. You may make it arrange | position so that it may overlap, seeing from a direction.

  In the above embodiment, in each electronic cassette 32, members (such as the control board 62) other than the radiation imaging layer 20 are arranged in a predetermined range X from the inner wall end portion of the one side 19 of the housing 58. Although the example which does not exist was demonstrated, as shown to FIG. 12 (A), as the structure by which members other than the radiation imaging layer 20 are not arrange | positioned in the predetermined range from the inner-wall edge part of the edge | side facing the said one side 19 Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12B, no member other than the radiation imaging layer 20 is disposed in a predetermined range from the inner wall end portions of both the side 19 and the side facing the side 19. It is good also as a structure.

  Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given using the three electronic cassettes 32. However, the number is not particularly limited to three, and may be two, or may be four or more. .

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated using X-rays as a radiation, it is not specifically limited to this, A gamma ray etc. may be sufficient.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the imaging | photography system 18 was used for the long imaging | photography in a standing position, you may use an imaging | photography system for the long imaging | photography in a standing position. In this case, long electronic photography can be performed by arranging each electronic cassette 32 so as to extend in the horizontal direction. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the electronic cassette 32 was made into the portable type, it may be the electronic cassette 32 arrange | positioned fixedly at the imaging | photography system 18 instead of a portable type.

  Further, the above embodiment does not limit the invention according to the claims (claims), and all the combinations of features described in the embodiment are essential for the solution means of the invention. Is not limited. The embodiments described above include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. Even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, as long as an effect is obtained, a configuration from which these some constituent requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the charge accumulation period by the radiation detector 60 is fixed for a predetermined period for each imaging region has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, For example, the charge accumulation period may be appropriately set according to the use of the radiographic image obtained by imaging. In this case, convenience can be further improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, as an example, an example has been described in which the reset operation is repeated until the instruction information instructing the start of the imaging operation is received prior to the charge accumulation by the radiation detector 60. The invention is not limited to this. For example, when the instruction information is received, the reset operation is performed once before the charge accumulation by the radiation detector 60 is started, and then the charge accumulation state is entered. You may make it do. Further, when the reset operation is being executed at the time when the instruction information is received, control is performed so that charge accumulation by the radiation detector 60 is started when the reset operation is completed.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where it communicated by radio | wireless between the electronic cassette 32 and the console 42, and between the radiation generator 34 and the console 42, this invention is limited to this. Instead, for example, at least one of these may be configured to perform wired communication.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where offset image data is acquired as the same charge accumulation period as when radiographic images are captured has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, radiographic images. The offset image data is obtained by applying a period shorter than the charge accumulation period at the time of photographing, and the obtained offset image data is multiplied by a coefficient corresponding to the shortened charge accumulation period. It is good also as a form which correct | amends and applies. In this case, the period for acquiring the offset image data can be shortened.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the offset image data is acquired immediately after the radiographic image is captured after the radiographing menu is input is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, Offset image data acquired in advance for each of a plurality of different charge accumulation periods assumed in advance and acquired in the same or closest charge accumulation period as when an actual radiographic image was taken It is good also as a form which applies. In this case, since the offset image data can be acquired in advance, the offset image data acquisition process immediately after the imaging menu is input can be omitted, and the processing load at the time of radiographic image capturing is reduced. Can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the subject image data acquired for each electronic cassette 32 is corrected using the offset image data for each electronic cassette 32 and then combined to generate composite image data. The example has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the combined offset image data obtained by combining the combined image data generated by combining the subject image data before correction with the offset image data for each electronic cassette 32. You may make it correct | amend using.

  In addition, the configuration of the RIS 10, the configuration of the electronic cassette 32, and the configuration of the imaging system 18 described in the above embodiment are merely examples, and unnecessary portions may be deleted or newly added without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, it is possible to add a part or change a connection state or the like.

  The processing flow of various programs described in the above embodiment (see FIGS. 6, 8, and 9) is also an example, and unnecessary steps can be deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, new steps can be added or the processing order can be changed.

  Furthermore, the shooting menu input screen (see FIG. 7) described in the above embodiment is also an example, and it goes without saying that the display content can be changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

18 Radiation Imaging System 32 Electronic Cassette 34 Radiation Generator 42 Console 60 Radiation Detector 90 Cassette Control Unit 92A CPU
92C storage unit 94 wireless communication unit 104 CPU
106 ROM
118 Wireless communication unit 130 Radiation source

Claims (5)

A radiographic image in which a plurality of portable radiographic apparatuses that detect radiation emitted from a radiation source and pass through a subject and capture a radiographic image of the subject are arranged in a predetermined direction with overlapping end portions of adjacent radiographic apparatuses Photographing means;
Determining means for determining whether or not each of the end images captured at each of the end portions of a plurality of radiographic images captured by each of the radiation imaging devices is similar;
Determining means for determining an arrangement order of the plurality of radiation images so that end images determined to be similar by the determining means are adjacent to each other;
Generating means for generating a long radiation image by synthesizing the radiation images in the arrangement order determined by the determination means;
Radiographic imaging system equipped with. The determination unit determines whether or not the end images of each of the plurality of radiographic images are similar based on the similarity or difference between the end images of each of the plurality of radiographic images. Item 2. The radiographic image capturing system according to Item 1. The determining means determines the order of arrangement in which the sum of the similarities between the end images of the radiographic image is the highest or the order of arrangement in which the sum of the degrees of difference between the end images of the radiographic image is the lowest. The radiation image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation image is determined as an arrangement order when the radiation images are combined. A radiographic image in which a plurality of portable radiographic apparatuses that detect radiation emitted from a radiation source and pass through a subject and capture a radiographic image of the subject are arranged in a predetermined direction with overlapping end portions of adjacent radiographic apparatuses Determining whether or not the end images captured at each end of each of the plurality of radiographic images captured by each of the radiation imaging devices of the imaging means are similar,
Determining the arrangement order of the plurality of radiographic images so that the end images determined to be similar to each other are adjacent to each other;
A radiographic image capturing method for generating a long radiographic image by synthesizing the radiographic images in the determined arrangement order. Computer
A radiographic image in which a plurality of portable radiographic apparatuses that detect radiation emitted from a radiation source and pass through a subject and capture a radiographic image of the subject are arranged in a predetermined direction with overlapping end portions of adjacent radiographic apparatuses Determining means for determining whether or not the end images captured at each end of each of the plurality of radiographic images captured by each of the radiation imaging devices of the imaging means are similar;
Determining means for determining an arrangement order of the plurality of radiographic images so that end images determined to be similar by the determining means are adjacent to each other; and the radiographic images in the arrangement order determined by the determining means. Generating means for generating a long radiation image by synthesizing;
Program to function as.

Images