JP5595184B2 - Radiographic imaging apparatus and radiographic imaging method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiographic image capturing apparatus and a radiographic image capturing method for capturing a radiographic image of a subject, and more specifically, a radiographic image capturing apparatus capable of quickly positioning a captured image for follow-up observation that requires reproducibility. And a radiographic imaging method.

  In X-ray imaging in the medical field, in order to reduce the amount of X-ray exposure to a subject, a collimator, which is an aperture for focusing the X-rays manually or automatically, is controlled. In recent years, an X-ray imaging apparatus that obtains an X-ray digital image using a flat panel detector (FPD) has been used so that only necessary areas are exposed, that is, irradiation. In order to limit the field area, the collimator is controlled.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject with radiation and acquires image information of the subject, a type of a source of image information obtained by the imaging unit, an attribute of the subject, and the subject. An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes setting means for setting information on the imaging region and imaging condition control means for controlling imaging conditions in the imaging means based on the information set by the setting means.

  Patent Document 2 includes a step of receiving an image quickly scouted at one imaging location, a step of automatically detecting the position of the body part region of the image, and the detected position of the body part region. Automatically forming a collimator setting based on the setting, and the setting automatically adjusts the collimator to substantially cover the area of the non-body portion during image acquisition. A method for automatically setting a collimator of an X-ray imaging system is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 3, the entire region of the position where the alignment marker provided on the screen is projected on the FPD according to the long imaging range and the position of the X-ray source is set as a fixed overlapping region in advance. The FPD position corresponding to each irradiation field region is determined so that the set fixed overlapping region overlaps between adjacent irradiation field regions, and the X-ray source height is set so that only each irradiation field region is irradiated with X-rays. Now, it is disclosed that by controlling the X-ray irradiation direction, collimator aperture angle, and FPD position, the marker can always be projected onto the fixed overlap area of the FPD regardless of the long imaging range or the X-ray source position. Has been.

JP 2001-017416 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-276462 JP 2009-240681 A

  However, when X-ray imaging is performed, the imaging engineer must control the collimator every time, and it is not always difficult for an inexperienced engineer to capture the region of interest as in the previous imaging, that is, with high reproducibility. was there.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, using an information on a physique such as the height and weight of a subject and a standing sensor using a solid-state image sensor, a photographing region and a feature amount region for image processing are set for each subject having a different physique. It is possible to change and set the irradiation field stop value accordingly to capture the radiation image, but it is possible to set the region of interest for follow-up observation on the same subject and project with the irradiation field lamp Not disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, when a plurality of images are taken in an X-ray imaging system, the collimator can be automatically set. However, as in Patent Document 1, a region of interest for follow-up observation on the same subject is used. Is not disclosed to project with an irradiation field lamp.

  In Patent Document 3, when performing long imaging, it is possible to project a marker for alignment onto a fixed overlapping area as a mark when combining the irradiation field areas that are divided and photographed. It is not disclosed to set an irradiation field region from images taken in the past.

  An object of the present invention is to set a region of interest for follow-up observation on a past photographed image, and project the region of interest onto a radiation detector or subject using an irradiation field lamp and project it. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiographic image capturing apparatus and a radiographic image capturing method capable of quickly positioning a captured image for follow-up observation that is required.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a radiographic image capturing apparatus that captures a radiographic image of a subject, and detects a radiation source that exposes radiation toward the subject and radiation that has passed through the subject. A radiation detector; image data acquisition means for acquiring image data of radiation detected by the radiation detector; image processing means for performing image processing on the image data to generate a captured image; and past imaging Storage means for storing an image together with subject information and shooting menu information including a past region of interest for follow-up observation set on the previous shot image, and the past shot image and past based on the subject information said search means for reading the imaging menu information from said storage means including a region of interest, the last read from said storage means by said retrieval means At a position corresponding to the region of interest, an area setting means for setting a region of interest when photographing an object, the past imaging menu information, and depending on the region of interest, the object is photographed at substantially the same position And an irradiation field control means for controlling the radiation source and the collimator blades, and an irradiation field lamp for projecting the irradiation field area, wherein the irradiation field control means is substantially the same area as the area of interest. Is controlled by the collimator blades so as to be projected onto the radiation detector or the subject by irradiation with the irradiation field lamp, and based on the past photographing menu information so that past photographing conditions are reflected. Provided is a radiographic imaging apparatus characterized by controlling a radiation source .

In addition, even when the SID is different between the past shooting menu information and the current shooting menu information, the radiation source and the collimator blade are arranged so that the areas projected onto the radiation detector or the subject are substantially the same. Is preferably controlled.
Moreover, it is preferable that the past captured images are the captured images having the same SID.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the past captured image is the previous captured image.

The photographed image is preferably an X-ray image.
The captured image is preferably an X-ray tomographic image reconstructed from a plurality of X-ray images acquired by tomosynthesis imaging.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the irradiation field region irradiated with the irradiation field lamp is the region of interest in the X-ray tomographic image.

  Further, the subject information includes subject ID and imaging part information, and the search means selects the imaging image and imaging menu of the same imaging part of the same subject from the past imaging image and the imaging menu information. Information is preferably read from the storage means.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a radiographic image capturing method for capturing a radiographic image of a subject, the step of inputting subject information, a past captured image based on the subject information, and A retrieval step for reading out imaging menu information including a past region of interest for follow-up observation set on the past captured image from the storage means and outputting a search result; and an irradiation field lamp for projecting the irradiation field region A lighting step, a region setting step for setting a region of interest when a subject is photographed at a position corresponding to the past region of interest read from the storage means in the search step, and the past shooting menu information And, depending on the region of interest, controlling the radiation source and collimator blades so that the subject is imaged at substantially the same position, The frequency and substantially the same area, to control the collimator blades to project by irradiation with the irradiation field lamp radiation detector or the object, the past imaging menu as past imaging conditions is reflected And a radiation field control step of controlling the radiation source based on information .

  According to the present invention, when photographing the same part of a subject for follow-up observation, it is possible to quickly position a captured image with high reproducibility, shortening the photographing time, and reducing the burden on the subject. Can do.

It is a block diagram which shows the radiographic imaging apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between a region of interest and an irradiation field area | region. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process at the time of first imaging | photography. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process at the time of follow-up observation.

  A radiographic imaging apparatus according to the present invention that implements a radiographic imaging method according to the present invention will be described below in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment showing a configuration of a radiographic image capturing apparatus according to the present invention.
1 includes a radiation source / lamp unit 12, a collimator 14, an FPD 16, an image data acquisition unit 18, an operation unit 20, an image processing unit 22, a display unit 24, a storage unit 26, a search unit 28, And a radiation source / lamp / collimator controller 30.

  When X-rays are used as radiation, the radiation source / lamp unit 12 includes an X-ray tube that irradiates X-rays and a lamp that irradiates the irradiation field with visible light before imaging and projects the irradiation field region. The The radiation source / lamp unit 12 is controlled by a later-described radiation source / lamp / collimator control unit 30 and emits X-rays and / or visible light as necessary.

  The collimator 14 is a diaphragm that controls an irradiation field region of radiation (X-rays), and includes a plurality of collimator blades. For example, four collimator blades are arranged so as to form each side of a quadrangle and have an opening.

  The FPD 16 is a radiation detector used in a DR (digital radiography) system, and detects radiation transmitted through a subject. The FPD 16 is disposed at a position facing the radiation source / lamp unit 12 and the collimator 14, and these constitute an image capturing unit. Examples of such a DR type image photographing unit include a fixed type in which an FPD is incorporated in a standing photographing table or a standing photographing table, or an FPD that is accommodated in a cassette, and the image photographing unit is used at the time of photographing. There is a portable type that can be attached to.

  Instead of the FPD 16, the radiation transmitted through the subject is stored in the imaging plate (IP), and then the IP is scanned with a laser beam. At that time, the stimulated light emitted from the IP is read and image data is processed by computer processing. A CR (Computed Radiography) type image capturing unit may be used.

  The image data acquisition unit 18 reads the data detected by the FPD 16 and outputs digital image data of a radiographic image. When IP is used instead of the FPD 16, the IP is scanned with laser light to read out the stimulated light, and digital image data of a radiographic image is output.

  The operation unit 20 is an input unit, and is used by an imaging engineer or the like to perform various operations of the radiation image capturing apparatus 10 and outputs operation information. The specific mode of the operation unit 20 is not particularly limited, and various known operation devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel may be used.

  Digital image data of radiographic images, operation information, and search results described later are input to the image processing unit 22. The operation information includes subject information input by a photography engineer and shooting menu information for determining various shooting conditions. Search results include past shot images, subject information, and shooting menu information. Is included.

The image processing unit 22 is an image processing unit, and generates and outputs a captured image obtained by performing image processing such as trimming processing on digital image data of a radiographic image. Also, subject information such as a subject name and ID included in the operation information is output.
Subsequently, the past captured image input as a search result is output to the display unit 24. The image processing unit 22 is also a region setting unit. The region of interest setting information is input by the operation unit 20 being operated by the imaging engineer while the imaging engineer is viewing the display unit 24, and the region of interest for follow-up observation is displayed. Is set and output as region-of-interest information. Also, imaging control information that is control information of the radiation source, irradiation field lamp, and collimator is output.

  A captured image is input and displayed on the display unit 24. The display unit 24 is configured by a flat panel display such as liquid crystal, plasma, organic EL (Electro Luminescence), or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).

  The storage unit 26 receives a captured image, subject information, and shooting menu information. The storage unit 26 stores a captured image obtained by performing image processing on digital image data of a radiographic image, subject information, and imaging menu information. The photographed image is stored in association with photographing menu information, such as photographing conditions of the photographed image, and subject information such as subject ID, name, age, sex, and photographing part.

  Subject information is input to the search unit 28. The search unit 28 searches the storage unit 26 based on the subject information, and when corresponding subject information is found, the past photographed image of the subject and other subject information associated with the photographed image. The shooting menu information is read out from the storage unit 26 and output as a search result. If the corresponding subject information is not found, the fact is output as a search result.

  The radiation source / lamp / collimator control unit 30 receives region-of-interest information and imaging control information. The radiation source / lamp / collimator control unit 30 is an irradiation field control means, and controls the collimator so that only the region of interest is irradiated with radiation and visible light of the lamp according to the region of interest information. Further, according to the imaging control information, the irradiation field lamp is turned on and off, the radiation from the radiation source is irradiated, and the positions of the radiation source / lamp 12 and the FPD 16 are controlled.

  Next, the operation of the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 according to the present invention for realizing the radiographic image capturing method according to the present invention will be described.

  First, the relationship between the irradiation field region and the region of interest will be described with reference to FIG. An irradiation field region 34 is defined as small as possible in a range that includes the region of interest 32 and does not interfere with interpretation, with respect to the region of interest 32 of the subject.

3 and 4 are flowcharts showing an example of the processing flow of the radiographic imaging method according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing when the subject is photographed for the first time, that is, when no information on the subject is stored in the storage unit 26.

  The imaging engineer inputs subject information such as the ID, name, age, sex, and imaging region of the subject to be photographed for the first time (step S10), and the position of the imaging table on which the radiation source / lamp unit 12 and the FPD 16 are set, After the aperture of the collimator 14 is manually adjusted and it is confirmed that a desired area is irradiated with the irradiation field lamp, the radiation is irradiated and a radiographic image is taken (step S12).

Digital image data of the captured radiographic image is output from the image data acquisition unit 18 and input to the image processing unit 22. In the image processing unit 22, a captured image obtained by performing image processing such as trimming on digital image data of a radiographic image is displayed on the display unit 24 and stored in the storage unit 26. Further, shooting menu information such as shooting conditions of the shot image and subject information are stored in association with the shot image (step S14).
Here, the region-of-interest information may be generated from the position of the imaging table on which the radiation source / lamp unit 12 and the FPD 16 set manually at the time of capturing the captured image and the aperture information of the collimator 14 are set.

  FIG. 4 shows the flow of processing when photographing is performed for the subject to observe the same part, that is, when information on the subject is stored in the storage unit 26.

  When subject information such as the subject ID is input as operation information from the operation unit 20 by the imaging engineer, the subject information is output from the image processing unit 22 to the search unit 28. Based on the subject information, the search unit 28 retrieves the previous photographed image, the photographing menu information, and the subject information from the storage unit 26, and the corresponding previous photographed image, the photographing menu information, and the subject information are output as retrieval results. The The search result is input to the image processing unit 22, and the previous captured image, shooting menu information, and subject information are displayed on the display unit 24 (step S16).

  Subsequently, the image processing unit 22 outputs photographing control information for instructing lighting of the irradiation field lamp. The imaging control information is input to the radiation source / lamp / collimator control unit 30, and the irradiation field lamp is turned on (step S18).

  When the previous photographed image, the photographing menu information, and the subject information are displayed on the display unit 24, the region of interest for follow-up observation is input on the previous photographed image by operating the operation unit 20 by the photographing engineer. Is done. That is, the region of interest setting information is input. In the image processing unit 22, a region of interest is set according to the region of interest setting information, and is output as the region of interest information (step S20). Further, from the image processing unit 22, the positions of the radiation source / lamp unit 12 and the FPD 16, and the SID (from the radiation source / lamp unit 12) are reflected based on the previous shooting menu information in order to reflect the shooting conditions at the previous shooting. Shooting control information for setting the shooting distance to the FPD 16 is output.

  When the region-of-interest information and the imaging control information are input to the radiation source / lamp / collimator control unit 30, the positions of the radiation source / lamp unit 12 and the FPD 16 and the SID are set. The irradiation field region corresponding to the region of interest is projected by the visible light that is controlled and irradiated from the irradiation field lamp onto the FPD 16 (step S22).

  When the irradiation field region corresponding to the region of interest is projected onto the FPD 16, the position of the subject is adjusted by the photographing engineer according to the irradiation field region (step S24), and photographing is performed (step S26).

  Digital image data of the captured radiographic image is output from the image data acquisition unit 18 and input to the image processing unit 22. In the image processing unit 22, a captured image obtained by performing image processing such as trimming on digital image data of a radiographic image is displayed on the display unit 24 and stored in the storage unit 26. Further, shooting menu information such as shooting conditions of the shot image and subject information are stored in association with the shot image (step S28).

  As described above, when photographing the same part of the subject for follow-up observation, the set region of interest is projected onto the radiation detector or the subject with the irradiation field lamp, thereby positioning the captured image with high reproducibility. This can be done quickly, shortening the shooting time, and reducing the burden on the subject.

Even when the SID is different from that at the previous imaging, the collimator blades are controlled so that the radiation field area projected onto the radiation detector or the subject, that is, the region of interest in the subject is substantially the same. Also good.
Further, the captured image may be an X-ray tomographic image reconstructed from a plurality of X-ray images acquired by tomosynthesis imaging. In this case, the irradiation field region irradiated by the irradiation field lamp is actually In order to easily capture the range of the X-ray tomographic image used for interpretation, it is preferable to use the region of interest in the X-ray tomographic image. Note that the aperture amount of the collimator is adjusted so that all X-ray images can be captured at the start of imaging.

Further, the past shooting menu information stored in the storage unit 26 includes the past region of interest, and the region of interest at the time of the current shooting is set based on the past region of interest instead of the imaging engineer inputting the region of interest. You may do it.
Further, for example, when the captured image of a plurality of parts of the same subject is stored in the storage unit 26, it is designated by the photographing engineer based on the photographing part information in the subject information or most recently. You may make it read from the memory | storage part 26 the imaging | photography image and imaging | photography menu information of the imaging | photography site | part same as the image | photographed imaging | photography site | part.

  The radiographic image capturing apparatus and radiographic image capturing method of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Changes may be made.

10 Radiation Imaging Device 12 Radiation Source / Lamp Unit 14 Collimator 16 FPD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 Image data acquisition part 20 Operation part 22 Image processing part 24 Display part 26 Storage part 28 Search part 30 Radiation source / lamp / collimator control part 32 Area of interest 34 Field of irradiation area

Claims (9)

A radiographic imaging device that captures a radiographic image of a subject,
A radiation source for directing radiation toward the subject;
A radiation detector for detecting radiation transmitted through the subject;
Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data of radiation detected by the radiation detector;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data and generating a captured image;
Storage means for storing past photographed images together with subject information and photographing menu information including past regions of interest for follow-up observation set on the past photographed images;
Search means for reading out the shooting menu information including the past captured image and the past region of interest based on the subject information from the storage means;
Region setting means for setting a region of interest when photographing a subject at a position corresponding to the past region of interest read from the storage unit by the search unit ;
Irradiation field control means for controlling a radiation source and a collimator blade so that the subject is photographed at substantially the same position according to the past photographing menu information and the region of interest;
An irradiation field lamp for projecting the irradiation field region,
The irradiation field control means controls the collimator blade so as to project a region substantially the same as the region of interest with the irradiation field lamp and project it onto the radiation detector or the subject. A radiographic imaging apparatus that controls the radiation source based on the past imaging menu information to be reflected .   The radiation source and the collimator blade are controlled so that the areas projected onto the radiation detector or the subject are substantially the same even when the SID is different between the past imaging menu information and the current imaging menu information. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the captured image in the past is the captured image having the same SID.   The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the previous captured image is the previous captured image.   The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the captured image is an X-ray image.   The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the captured image is an X-ray tomographic image reconstructed from a plurality of X-ray images acquired by tomosynthesis imaging.   The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an irradiation field region irradiated by the irradiation field lamp is the region of interest in the X-ray tomographic image. The subject information includes subject ID and imaging part information,
It said retrieval means, according to claim 1 to 7, from among past the captured image and the photographing menu information, characterized in that reading out the captured image and the photographing menu information of the same imaging site of the same subject from the storage means The radiographic imaging device according to any one of the above. A radiographic image capturing method for capturing a radiographic image of a subject,
A step in which subject information is input;
Based on the subject information, a retrieval step of reading out the photographing menu information including the past photographed image and the past region of interest for the follow-up observation set on the past photographed image from the storage means, and outputting a search result;
Illuminating an irradiation field lamp for projecting the irradiation field region;
A region setting step of setting a region of interest when photographing a subject at a position corresponding to the region of interest in the past read from the storage unit in the search step ;
In accordance with the past shooting menu information and the region of interest, the radiation source and the collimator blade are controlled so that the subject is shot at substantially the same position, and the region substantially the same as the region of interest is Irradiation for controlling the radiation source based on the past photographing menu information so that the past photographing conditions are reflected while controlling the collimator blades so as to be projected onto a radiation detector or the subject by irradiation with a lamp A radiation image capturing method comprising: a field control step.

Images