JPH11271454A - Radiation image pickup device and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive, portable image pickup device and system that can be easily fitted to an X-ray image pickup facility and can process, display, and record a large capacity of image data. SOLUTION: An X-ray sensor unit 2 incorporates an X-ray sensor array 21, a reading circuit 22, a gate driver 23, a control circuit 24, an address memory 26, and the like in an enclosure that is in the same as a conventional cassette and can transmit a large amount of X-ray image data to an external image-processing device image-displaying device, and an image-recording device via a connection cable 3. A power supply and an image memory are incorporated in the X-ray sensor unit 2. Then, the image processing device, the image displaying device, and the image recording device and provided on one floor of a building, a communication cable is wired from it to each floor and a connection cable 3 is connected to each of an X-ray image pickup room, and the X-ray sensor unit 2 is taken into the required X-ray image pickup device and is connected to the connection cable 3 by a connector, thus performing X-ray image pickup.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical radiation imaging apparatus or an industrial nondestructive inspection apparatus, and a radiation imaging system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a radiation imaging apparatus using a semiconductor X-ray surface sensor instead of an X-ray film or an imaging plate used in a simple X-ray imaging apparatus has been developed. This X-ray surface sensor is usually composed of an X-ray conversion film for converting X-rays into light, a photodiode array arranged immediately below the X-ray conversion film, and a TFT switch connected to each photodiode array. By sequentially turning on each TFT switch after X-ray irradiation, signal charges accumulated in each pixel are read out to form an X-ray image.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which an image is taken using the above-described radiation imaging apparatus. The X-ray is narrowed down from the X-ray tube 100 by the collimator on the X-ray tube side to become an X-ray beam 101, passes through the subject 102, and enters the upper surface of the radiation detection cassette 103. The upper surface is composed of a grid top plate 110 composed of an X-ray grid for removing scattered radiation, and a scintillator 112 and a photodiode of a solid-state photodetector are provided directly below the scintillator 112 corresponding to each part inside the casing 104. 113
Are arranged, each photodiode 113 captures an X-ray emission image of the scintillator 112, and the charge signal is
4 is stored in the image memory. A scattering prevention lead layer 111 for back scattering prevention is provided on the lower side of the housing 104. Then, the X-ray image of the subject 102 is reproduced as a visible image after performing signal processing such as image processing by connecting the radiation detection cassette 103 to an external signal processing device.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the radiation detecting cassette 103. The radiation detecting cassette 103 comprises a radiation detector 105, a power supply 109 thereof, and an image memory 107 for storing X-ray image signals.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a scintillator 112 for converting an X-ray image into light, a photodiode 113 disposed immediately below to convert the X-ray image into light, and converts the X-ray image into light, a scanning pulse generator 114 for scanning the charge signal, and a switching of the charge signal. And a transfer register 115 for transferring the signal in time series. The photographed X-ray image is stored in the image memory 107 and can be taken out when necessary.

In the above, the power supply 109, the image memory 107 and the like are mounted in the radiation detecting cassette 103, and it is possible to take an image without connecting to the host device. Therefore, the radiation detecting cassette 103 does not need to be connected to the host device.
The advantage is that you can take it anywhere. The captured image data is temporarily stored in a built-in image memory, and the stored image data is processed by reconnecting the radiation detecting cassette 103 to the host device after a series of imaging is completed.・ Saved.

[0006]

The radiation detection cassette 103 as a conventional radiation imaging apparatus is configured as described above. However, the size of the radiation detection cassette 103 is limited to portability, mounting properties, and cost. Therefore, the image memory capacity that can be installed is limited. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of images that can be recorded is small, and it is practically impossible to capture and record a moving image. At the same time, each radiation detection cassette 10
Mounting a large-capacity memory on each of the three devices also has the problem of increasing costs.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has an excellent portability, is easily mounted on an X-ray imaging facility, and processes, displays, and records a large amount of image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiation imaging apparatus and a radiation imaging system having an inexpensive sensor unit that can move between a plurality of X-ray imaging rooms and perform imaging.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a radiation imaging apparatus according to the present invention comprises a one-dimensional or two-dimensional radiation sensor array that outputs an electric signal corresponding to an incident dose in response to radiation. It has a reading circuit for reading a signal from the sensor array and converting it into digital data, and a connector detachable from a communication cable for outputting a signal from the reading circuit.

In addition, a sensor comprising a one-dimensional or two-dimensional radiation sensor array for outputting an electric signal corresponding to an incident dose in response to radiation, and a read circuit for reading a signal from the sensor array and converting the signal into digital data. The unit is connected to a communication cable in a detachable manner, and at the same time, can be connected to an image processing device, an image display device, or an image recording device via the communication cable.

A radiation imaging apparatus and a radiation imaging system according to the present invention are configured as described above. A communication cable is installed in a building for performing X-ray imaging, and an image processing apparatus, an image recording apparatus, and an image display are connected to the communication cable. At the same time as connecting each of the devices, the above-mentioned X-ray sensor unit is connected via a detachable communication cable provided in each X-ray imaging room, so that it is inexpensive, excellent in portability, and easy to use. A large amount of image data can be processed and recorded in an X-ray imaging facility, and images can be taken while moving between a plurality of X-ray imaging rooms.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the radiation imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The X-ray sensor unit 2 has a configuration shown in FIG. 1 in a housing having substantially the same size as a cassette used in a conventional radiation imaging system or radiation image recording / reproducing system. An X-ray sensor array 21 divided into columns, a gate driver 23 for turning on / off a TFT switch (shown in FIG. 2) provided as each pixel, and converting charge data read from each pixel into a voltage. A reading circuit 22 for A / D conversion, an I / O connector 25a for data communication, and an address memory 2 for generating a source (destination) address when outputting data.
6, and a control circuit 24 for controlling a data collection (transfer) sequence.

FIG. 2 shows one pixel of the X-ray sensor array 21 arranged in a matrix. FIG. 2 shows a photodiode 211 which outputs a charge in response to light, a TFT switch 212 connected thereto, and Gate line 21 common to columns
4 and a data line 213 common to each row.

The operation of the embodiment will be described below with reference to these drawings. When X-rays enter, a scintillator (not shown) arranged on the X-ray incidence surface of the sensor outputs an optical signal proportional to the incident X-ray dose, and the photodiode 211
To induce a charge signal. The TFT switch 212 is connected to a gate line 214 common to each column. When this gate line is driven, the connected TFT switch for one column is turned on, and stored in the data line 213 common to each row. A charge signal is output.

The m gate lines arranged in the column direction of the X-ray sensor array 21 are sequentially driven by a gate driver 23, and the n signal lines arranged in the row direction receive the charge signal of each column. Output sequentially. The output charge signal is input to the signal readout circuit 22, is subjected to charge / voltage conversion and amplification, is A / D converted for each pixel, passes through the control circuit 24, and is output from the I / O connector 25a. You. A control signal such as a start signal for X-ray measurement is also input from the connector 25a, and the control circuit 24 generates a control signal for the readout circuit 22 and the gate driver 23 based on the control signal.

FIG. 3 shows a three-story building 1 in which the apparatus of the present invention is used.
Is shown installed in an X-ray imaging facility. In the imaging facility, 2F and 3F are X-ray imaging rooms, and 1F is a data processing room. The configuration of this device is such that a communication cable 4 provided in a building, an image processing device 5, an image display device 6, an image recording device 7, and a detachable connection cable 3 connected to the communication cable 4 (provided in each photographing room). ) Is connected to the X-ray sensor unit 2.

The X-ray sensor unit 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 has no built-in power supply and image memory, so it is light enough to be carried around. Connector 25 to connection cable 3
X-ray imaging can be performed by connecting via b. The captured X-ray image data is immediately transferred to the image processing device 5, the image display device 6, and the image recording device 7 through the communication cable 4.

As described above, the present invention is particularly useful when performing X-ray photography while moving between a plurality of X-ray photography rooms in the building 1. At the time of photographing, by connecting to the connector 25 of the connection cable 3 from the communication cable provided in the room, each of the image processing, image display, and image recording devices 5, 6 arranged in another room in the building , 7 at the same time. In this case, since there is no strict limit on the memory size of the apparatus, it is possible to process and record a large amount of image data including a moving image. On the other hand, when moving between the imaging rooms, the portability can be improved by removing the connection cable 3 from the connector 25 and transporting only the X-ray sensor unit 2.

In the present invention, the simultaneous use of a plurality of X-ray sensor units 2 or the image processing 5 and display 6
-It is also possible to use a plurality of recording devices 7. This can be easily realized by adding the source and destination addresses written in the address memory 26 to the image data and transmitting the image data.

The image display device 6 of the present invention can be applied to a moving image display device such as a television monitor or a still image display device such as a laser printer.

In the embodiment, the image processing device 5, the image display device 6, and the image recording device 7 are connected to the same communication cable. However, the connection of each device is not limited to this. Instead, for example, a configuration in which the image display device 6 and the image recording device 7 are connected to a local cable extending from the image processing device 5 connected to the communication cable 4 is also applicable.

Further, the communication cable and the connection cable can be applied whether they use an optical fiber cable or an electric cable. Also,
The communication cable may be applied to a long cable extending between buildings or a short cable limited to one room. The number of cables used as communication cables is not limited to a specific number.

Further, in the embodiment, a two-dimensional X-ray sensor array is shown, but a one-dimensional line sensor can be applied.

[0024]

The radiation imaging apparatus and the radiation imaging system of the present invention are constructed as described above, and since the X-ray sensor unit does not have a built-in power supply or the like, the radiation imaging apparatus and the radiation imaging system can be provided with portability. Since each unit does not need to have an image memory, it is possible to reduce costs, and it is possible to process, store and display large-capacity X-ray image data by connecting a cable to a device managed in one place Becomes Furthermore, centralized management of X-ray image data can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a radiation imaging apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of one pixel of a sensor array.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the radiation imaging system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a subject and a radiation detection cassette;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a radiation detection cassette;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 building 2 X-ray sensor unit 3 connection cable 4 communication cable 5 image processing device 6 image display device 7 image recording device 21 X-ray sensor array 22 readout circuit 23 gate driver 24 control circuit Reference Signs List 25 connector 26 address memory 100 X-ray tube 101 X-ray beam 102 subject 103 radiation cassette 104 housing 105 radiation detector 106 output terminal 107 image memory 108 connection terminal 109 Power supply 110 grid top plate 111 scattered radiation prevention lead layer 112 scintillator 113 photodiode 114 scanning pulse generator 115 transfer register 116 thin film transistor 211 photodiode 212 212 TFT switch 213 data line 214 gate line

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A one-dimensional or two-dimensional radiation sensor array that outputs an electric signal corresponding to an incident dose in response to radiation, a read circuit that reads a signal from the sensor array and converts the signal into digital data, And a connector detachable from a communication cable for outputting a signal. 2. A sensor unit, comprising: a one-dimensional or two-dimensional radiation sensor array that outputs an electric signal corresponding to an incident dose in response to radiation; and a reading circuit that reads a signal from the sensor array and converts the signal into digital data. Is connected to a communication cable in a detachable manner, and can be connected to an image processing device, an image display device, or an image recording device via the communication cable at the same time.