JP2003052677A - Radiological imaging unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user-friendly radiological imaging unit which is inexpensive and capable of outputting an image orienting to an imaging direction although the constitution is simple. SOLUTION: The radiological imaging unit has a receiving section which receives information about a posture of an imaging section for forming an image of a subject irradiated with radiation with respect to the subject, and a control section which controls the posture at the time of displaying the image on the basis of the posture of the imaging section received by the receiving section.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a radiation image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to a radiation image pickup apparatus which detects radiation transmitted through an object such as a human body and outputs it as a digital image to a display device. The present invention is suitable for, for example, a mobile radiation imaging apparatus that outputs an image oriented in the imaging direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when radiation such as X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, and ultraviolet rays is irradiated, a part of the energy of the radiation is accumulated and further excitation light such as visible light is emitted. A phosphor that emits stimulated emission according to the stored energy when irradiated is known. Phosphors having such characteristics are
It is called a stimulable phosphor or a stimulable phosphor and is used in a radiation image pickup device.

Such a radiation imaging apparatus accumulates the energy of the radiation transmitted through the subject in a sheet-shaped phosphor and irradiates the phosphor with exciting light such as laser light while scanning the phosphor to stimulate the phosphor to emit light. An image of a subject is formed as a visible image on a recording material (for example, a photosensitive material), a recording device (such as a printer), and a display device (such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display) based on an image signal obtained by photoelectrically reading the exhaust light. It is designed to output.

In recent years, due to the progress of digital technology, a mobile radiographic image pickup apparatus utilizing a semiconductor sensor instead of a fluorescent substance and a silver halide photograph has been developed, and an image having an extremely wide dynamic range (radiation dose range) can be recorded. It is like this. Such a device converts radiation (image) such as X-ray (image) having a wide dynamic range into a digital signal, performs image processing on the digital image, and outputs it as a visible image to a recording material, a recording device and a display device. To do. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a radiographic image that is not affected by variations in the amount of incident radiation, as compared with the case of using a phosphor and a silver salt photograph.

A conventional radiation image pickup apparatus is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, when a chest of the subject 1000 is imaged, a mobile radiation image pickup device 1100 (hereinafter, referred to as an image pickup device 1100) using a semiconductor sensor is mounted on the mount 1200, and the mount 1200. The subject 1000 positioned in front of the subject is irradiated with X-rays 1300 from behind, and the X-rays 1300 transmitted through the subject 1000 are received by the imaging device 1100. When outputting a radiation image to a CRT or a printer, four side surfaces A, B, C and D
The side surface C of the imaging device 1100 having the
Since it is located on the head side of 00, the side surface C is set to be the upper side of the output image of the CRT or the printer, and
An output image as shown in 2 is obtained. Here, FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing an example of a conventional radiation imaging apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a conventional radiation imaging apparatus, and FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an example of an output image obtained from the conventional radiation imaging apparatus.

[0006]

However, as shown in FIG. 13, when the image pickup apparatus 1100 using the semiconductor sensor is mounted on the mount 1200 by rotating it by 90 degrees, the side A is the head of the subject 1000. Although it is on the side, as shown in FIG. 14, the side face C becomes the upper side of the output image of the CRT or the printer, and it is necessary to display it again so that the side face A becomes the upper side. Was bad. Here, FIG. 13 is a schematic front view showing an example of a case where the imaging apparatus is rotated by 90 degrees and mounted in the conventional radiation imaging apparatus, and FIG. 14 is an output image rotated by 90 degrees obtained from FIG. It is the schematic which shows an example.

Therefore, it is an exemplary object of the present invention to provide a radiation imaging apparatus which is inexpensive and has a simple structure and which can output an image oriented in the imaging direction and which has improved usability.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a radiation imaging apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is directed to a posture of an imaging unit which forms an image of a subject irradiated with radiation with respect to the subject. Based on the posture of the image capturing unit received by the receiving unit and the receiving unit,
It has a control part which controls a posture when the above-mentioned picture is displayed. According to such a radiation imaging apparatus, since the display direction when the image is displayed is controlled based on the information regarding the attitude of the imaging unit with respect to the subject, that is, the imaging direction, it is possible to output the image oriented in the imaging direction. . It further has a detection part which detects the posture of the imaging part and transmits the information to the receiving part. With this, it is possible to automatically detect the imaging direction of the object of the imaging unit for each imaging. It further has an input part which inputs the above-mentioned posture of the above-mentioned image pick-up part. Accordingly, when the image capturing direction of the image capturing unit with respect to the subject is known in advance, it is possible to omit the detection of the image capturing direction for each image capturing by manual input by the image capturing person. Further comprising a pedestal that supports the imaging unit when forming the image, the detection unit has a detector and a detected device, one and the other of the detector and the detected device,
The specific position of the gantry and the plurality of positions of the imaging unit that can be arranged at the specific position by changing the posture of the imaging unit are respectively arranged at one side and the other side, and the detection unit is The posture is detected by detecting which of the plurality of positions of the imaging unit is arranged at a specific position. This makes it possible to detect the imaging direction of the subject in the imaging unit with a simple configuration. The detector and the detector are a light emitting element and a light receiving element. For example, the cost can be reduced by configuring the light emitting element with a photo interrupter. The detector and the detected device are a transmitter and a receiver. This allows information from the transmitter to be transmitted to the receiver without being obstructed by obstacles even if there is an obstacle between the detector and the detector, such as when the subject rides on the imaging unit. This makes it possible to detect the image pickup direction of the subject in the image pickup unit.

In order to achieve the above object, a radiation imaging apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is based on an imaging unit that forms image information of a subject irradiated with radiation, and an attitude of the imaging unit with respect to the subject. And an image control unit that controls the output direction of the image information. According to such a radiation imaging apparatus, since the output direction of the image information of the subject irradiated with the radiation is controlled based on the posture of the imaging unit with respect to the subject, an image oriented in the imaging direction can be output. The radiation imaging apparatus further includes a detection unit that detects a posture of the imaging unit with respect to the subject. Thereby, the posture of the imaging unit with respect to the subject can be detected with a simple configuration. The radiation imaging apparatus further includes a control panel capable of previously inputting the attitude of the imaging unit with respect to the subject. Accordingly, when the attitude of the image pickup unit with respect to the subject is known in advance, it is possible to omit detecting the attitude. The detection unit is configured by photointerrupters at a plurality of locations of the imaging unit, and constitutes a detected unit detected by the detection unit on a pedestal supporting the imaging unit. The detection unit is configured by photointerrupters at a plurality of locations on a gantry that supports the imaging unit, and the imaging unit configures one detected unit detected by the detection unit. This makes it possible to detect the attitude of the imaging unit with respect to the subject while suppressing costs.
The detection unit includes a detection unit that transmits the detected attitude of the imaging unit with respect to the subject as a radio signal and that receives the radio signal from the detection unit at a location distant from the imaging unit. Thereby, even if there is an obstacle between the detection units, for example, even when the subject rides on the imaging unit provided with the detection unit, the posture of the imaging unit with respect to the subject can be detected. .

A further object or other feature of the present invention is that
It will be apparent from the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A radiation imaging apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the radiation imaging apparatus is used for medical X-ray diagnosis and nondestructive inspection. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and each component may be replaced within the range in which the object of the present invention is achieved. In each drawing, members with the same reference numerals represent the same members, and duplicate explanations are omitted. Further, members having the same reference numbers with alphabets are members of the same kind, but are distinguished by the alphabets, and are simply summarized by reference numbers. Here, in FIG.
It is a schematic block diagram of the radiation imaging system 1 of this invention. As shown in the figure, the radiation image pickup apparatus 1 includes a subject S.
The radiation source 10, the mobile imaging unit 20 (hereinafter, referred to as the imaging unit 20), and the imaging device 30.

The subject S is a patient to be a medical diagnosis target or an object to be an industrial non-destructive inspection target, and in the present embodiment, it is illustratively configured as a patient.

The radiation source 10 can generate the radiation X in pulses. The radiation source 10 is an AE described later.
The controller 31 controls the on / off of the radiation pulse and the tube voltage and tube current of the tube in the radiation source 10. The radiation X is, for example, an X-ray, which accelerates the thermoelectrons emitted by heating a tungsten filament by applying an electric current to the target (Cu, Al,
It is generated by colliding with Mg etc.).

The image pickup section 20 has a phosphor 22, a two-dimensional area sensor 24, a mounting position sensor 26, and a photo timer 28. The imaging unit 20 outputs information about the internal structure of the subject S and the mounting direction of the imaging unit 20 to the subject S to the imaging device 30.

The phosphor 22 is made of, for example, CsI, GOS or the like, and converts the radiation X into visible light. The amount of radiation X transmitted through the subject S varies depending on the internal structure of the subject S (that is, the size and shape of the bones and internal organs inside the subject S, the presence or absence of a lesion, the difference in the material of the constituent members, etc.), and The information about the structure (radiographic image information) is included. The phosphor 22 is a radiation X containing radiation image information.
Is converted into visible light and made incident on the two-dimensional area sensor 24 as image information light X1.

The two-dimensional area sensor 24 has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements two-dimensionally formed on a transparent glass substrate by a photolithography method and a drive circuit for driving the photoelectric conversion elements. The incident image information light X1 is converted into a digital signal X2 containing two-dimensional information and output. In the two-dimensional area sensor 24, the AE controller 31 described later controls the storage time and drive speed of the digital signal X2, outputs the digital signal X2 to the gain adjustment circuit 32, and outputs the information as the information for controlling the shooting conditions. Also output.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of the image pickup section 20.
Referring to the figure, around the side surfaces A to D of the imaging unit 20,
For example, the mounting position sensors 26a to 26d configured by photo interrupters are provided. However, it goes without saying that the mounting position sensor 26 is not limited to the photo interrupter and may be configured by another sensor such as a magnetic sensor.
However, in the present embodiment, the cost is suppressed by using the photo interrupter as compared with using other sensors such as a magnetic sensor. In addition, the gantry 60 includes the imaging unit 2
0 is supported, and a light shielding plate 62 is provided above it. The mounting position sensor 26 detects the mounting direction of the imaging unit 20 in cooperation with the light shielding plate 62. As shown in FIG. 2, when the imaging unit 20 is mounted on the pedestal 60 with the side surface C facing upward,
The light shielding plate 62 shields the mounting position sensor 26c from light. Therefore, it is detected that the side surface C of the imaging unit 20 is located above, and the mounting direction signal is output to the AE controller 31. In the present embodiment, the mounting position sensor 26
Although the image pickup unit 20 and the light shielding plate 62 are provided on the gantry 60, the mounting position sensor 26 may be provided on the pedestal 60 and the light shielding plate 62 may be provided on the image pickup unit 20.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the photo timer 28 is
For example, it is placed at an arbitrary position between the subject S and the two-dimensional area sensor 24. The photo timer 28 detects the amount of the radiation X that passes through a reference portion (for example, alveolar portion) of the subject S during imaging exposure, and outputs it to the AE controller 31. However, since the amount of the radiation X absorbed by the photo timer 28 is extremely small, it has almost no adverse effect on the photographic exposure.

The photographing device 30 includes an AE controller 31.
A gain adjustment circuit 32, a control panel 33, a condition memory circuit 34, a system control circuit 35, and a correction circuit 4
Has 0 and. The imaging device 30 performs correction based on the information regarding the internal structure of the subject S input from the imaging unit 20 and the mounting direction of the imaging unit 20 with respect to the subject S, and
Image information of the above is transmitted to the display device.

The AE controller 31 is the photo timer 2
8 and the control panel 33 to control photographing conditions. The AE controller 31 determines the pulse width of the radiation source 10 based on the amount of the radiation X immediately before the imaging exposure input from the photo timer 28 or the amount of the radiation X during the imaging exposure and the imaging conditions input from the control panel. Dimensional area sensor 2
In 4, the storage time of the digital signal X2, the drive speed, and the gain of the gain adjusting circuit 32 are automatically controlled and set.

Further, the AE controller 31 can store the shooting conditions controlled and / or set in the shooting exposure in the condition memory circuit 34 and retrieve the shooting conditions stored therein. Therefore, the radiation source 10, the two-dimensional area sensor 24, and the gain adjusting circuit 32 are controlled and / or set and operated based on the imaging conditions input from the condition memory circuit 34, and the same control and / or setting as the imaging conditions in the past are performed. You can shoot and expose with. At this time, correction exposure can be performed by changing some conditions, control, and / or settings, and the output of the gain adjustment circuit 32 can be used as the correction output B. That is, if the pulse of the radiation source 10 is not generated, and the operation is performed under the same photographing conditions as those in the past photographing exposure, the correction output B of the dark output of the two-dimensional area sensor 24 can be obtained.

Further, the AE controller 31 is connected to the mounting position sensor 26, receives the mounting position signal input from the mounting position sensor 26, and outputs it to the image controller 48.

The gain adjusting circuit 32 is connected to the two-dimensional area sensor 24 and the AE controller 31, and the image information light X1 input from the two-dimensional area sensor 24 and the digital signal X2 containing the two-dimensional information are supplied from the AE controller 31. It is amplified by the input amplification factor and converted to shooting output A,
Output to the frame memory 44 via the switch 42.
In addition, the gain adjustment circuit 32 uses the two-dimensional area sensor 24.
The dark output at the time of the correction exposure input from is converted into the correction output B and output to the arithmetic processing circuit 46.

The control panel 33 takes into consideration the symptom, physique, age of the subject S, the size and thickness of the object, and the information desired to be obtained by the doctor and / or the technician, and obtains the optimum photographing output for each photographing exposure. The photographing conditions input by the panel operation are converted into electric signals and output to the AE controller 31. It is also possible to previously input the imaging direction of the imaging unit 20 with respect to the subject S via the operation panel 33. In addition, SW1 is provided in the control panel 33.
Press 1 to switch to the standby mode (shooting preparation state).

When reading from the photoelectric conversion element, it is necessary to apply an electric field, that is, a bias to the photoelectric conversion element in order to immediately and accurately read at the desired timing, but the bias is continuously applied when the device is powered on. If the voltage is applied in such a way, a problem may occur in the durability performance of the element. Therefore, before shooting, first turn on SW1 to keep the standby mode (shooting preparation state) in which bias is applied for a certain period of time or longer. To prepare for the actual shooting.

The condition memory circuit 34 stores the photographing conditions controlled and / or set by the AE controller 31 during photographing exposure as condition values. In addition, the condition memory circuit 34
It is possible to store the shooting condition as a condition value and output the stored condition value to the AE controller 31.

The system control circuit 35 is connected to SW2 in a switch box (not shown). When the system control circuit 35 detects that the SW2 is pressed, the AE
The radiation source 10, the two-dimensional area sensor 24, and the gain adjusting circuit 32 are controlled via the controller 31 to perform imaging exposure and / or correction exposure. In addition, the switch 4 described later
2. The frame memory 44 and the arithmetic processing circuit 46 are controlled to operate as the correction circuit 40.

The correction circuit 40 includes a switch 42, a frame memory 44, an arithmetic processing circuit 46, and an image control section 48.
Have and. The correction circuit 40 corrects the photographing output A based on the correction output B to calculate the image information output P. Further, the image information output P is converted into the image information output O in consideration of the mounting direction of the image pickup device 20 and sent to the display device.

The switch 42 connects or disconnects the gain adjusting circuit 32 and the frame memory 44. In the switch 42, the input from the gain adjusting circuit 32 is the shooting output A.
If so, the gain adjusting circuit 32 and the frame memory 44 are connected, and if the input from the gain adjusting circuit 32 is the correction output B, the gain adjusting circuit 32 and the frame memory 44 are disconnected.

The frame memory 44 temporarily stores the shooting output A obtained at the shooting exposure time from the gain adjusting circuit 32 via the switch 42, and outputs the stored shooting output A to the arithmetic processing circuit 46.

The arithmetic processing circuit 46 includes a gain adjusting circuit 32.
An image information output P is obtained by removing an error at the time of shooting from the correction output B obtained at the time of shooting exposure and the shooting output A stored in the frame memory 44. The arithmetic processing circuit 46 outputs the calculated image information output P to the image control unit 48.

The image control unit 48 converts the image direction.
The image control unit 48 sends the image information output P, which is input from the arithmetic processing circuit 46, as a direction-converted image information output O to a display device (not shown) based on the mounting direction signal input from the AE controller 31. That is, as shown in FIG.
When the imaging unit 20 is mounted on the gantry 60 with the side surface C facing upward, the image control unit 48 outputs the image information output P based on the mounting direction signal (side surface C is upward direction) input from the AE controller 31. The side surface C is converted to an image information output O with the upward direction and sent to a display device (not shown).

The operation of the above-mentioned radiation imaging apparatus 1 will be described below. In the following description, the imaging unit 20 and the imaging device 30 are embodied as, for example, a medical X-ray imaging device, and a case where the side surface A of the imaging unit 20 is set to the upper side as illustrated in FIG. An example will be explained. Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a case where the side surface A of the image capturing unit 20 is mounted on the pedestal 60 as an upper side. The imaging exposure and / or the correction exposure is performed by pressing the SW2 to activate the system circuit 35 and controlling the radiation source 10, the two-dimensional area sensor 24, and the gain adjustment circuit 32 via the AE controller 31.

First, when the subject S is positioned in front of the image pickup section 20, the AE controller 31 is input with the photographic condition input to the operation panel 33 of the photographic device 30 or the photographic condition stored in the condition memory circuit 34. Radiation X is emitted from the radiation source 10 based on such imaging conditions, and the subject S is illuminated. The radiation X partially transmitted by the subject S and transmitted through the subject S includes information (radiation image information) on the internal structure of the subject S. The radiation X transmitted through the subject S enters the phosphor 22. The radiation X that has entered the phosphor 22 is converted into visible light. This visible light enters the two-dimensional area sensor 24 as image information light X1 having the radiation image information of the subject S. Two-dimensional area sensor 2
The image information light X1 incident on the light source 4 is converted into a digital signal X2 containing two-dimensional information, and the AE controller 3 of the photographing apparatus 30.
1 and the gain adjustment circuit 32. At this time, the amount of the radiation X that has passed through the reference portion of the subject S detected by the photo timer 28 is also output to the AE controller 31.
The E controller 31 controls the radiation source 10 according to the amount of the input radiation X. On the other hand, the mounting position sensor 26
Detects that the side surface A of the imaging unit 20 is located above because the mounting position sensor 26 shielded by the light shielding plate 62 is the mounting position sensor 26a, and the mounting direction signal is transmitted via the AE controller 31. And is output to the image control unit 48.

The digital signal X2 input to the gain adjusting circuit 32 is amplified based on the amplification factor input from the AE controller 31, and the switch 42 is used as the photographing output A.
Is stored in the frame memory 44 via the. Next, the exposure of the two-dimensional area sensor 24 is output to the gain adjustment circuit 32 in the same manner as above, except that the pulse of the radiation source 10 is not generated and the other exposure conditions are the same as the exposure conditions. The implicit output input to the gain adjustment circuit 32 is AE
It is amplified based on the amplification factor input from the controller 31, and is output to the arithmetic processing circuit 46 as the correction output B.

Correction output B input to the arithmetic processing circuit 46
Thus, the image information output P obtained by removing the error at the time of shooting from the shooting output A stored in the frame memory 44 is calculated and output to the image control unit 48. The image information output P output to the image control unit 48 is converted into an image information output O based on a mounting direction signal with the side surface A facing upward. The image information output O is sent to the display device to display the output image as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an output image oriented in the mounting direction of the imaging unit 20 shown in FIG. Therefore, according to the radiation imaging apparatus 1 of the present invention, an image oriented in the imaging direction can be output and usability is improved.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an image pickup section showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The imaging unit 20 of FIG. 5 is the same as the imaging unit 20 of FIGS. 2 and 3, but a stand 60 for standing upright.
The difference is that a gantry 70 in the form of a recumbent table (bed) is used instead.

The gantry 70 is a lying table (bed), and has a pillow 72 and a mounting portion 74. The subject S lies on a lying table (bed) 70 with the pillow 72 as a head. The mounting unit 74 allows the image pickup unit 20 to be attached and detached, and
A light-shielding plate 62a for detecting the mounting direction of 0 is provided.
When the imaging unit 20 is mounted on the mounting unit 74, one of the mounting position sensors 26 provided on the imaging unit 20 detects the light shielding plate 62a according to the direction in which the imaging unit 20 is mounted. In the present embodiment, the mounting position sensor 26 is provided in the imaging unit 20 and the light blocking plate 62a is provided in the mounting unit 74. However, the mounting position sensor 26 is provided in the mounting unit 74, and the light blocking plate 62a is provided.
May be provided in the image pickup unit 20 without any problem.

For example, in the case shown in FIG. 5, the mounting position sensor 26c detects the light shielding plate 62a, and the mounting direction signal is output to the AE controller 31. The AE controller 31 outputs the input mounting direction signal (that is, the side surface C is the upward direction) to the image control unit 48. The image control unit 48 converts the image information output P so that the side surface C faces upward and sends it to the display device as the image information output O.

When the supine table (bed) 70 is used, since the head of the subject S is generally positioned toward the pillow 72, the head of the subject S (on the side of the pillow 72) is displayed upward in the display image. To be displayed. Therefore, it is possible to output an image oriented in the imaging direction, which improves usability.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an image pickup section 20A showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The imaging unit 20A is inserted between the imaged region of the subject S and the supine table (bed) 70.

The image pickup unit 20A is provided with a position signal transmission unit 28, and the radio waves transmitted from the three transmission units 28a, 28c, 28d are provided separately from the supine table (bed) 70 and the image pickup unit 20A. It is received by the installed direction detecting unit 90.

The installation direction detector 90 includes 92x, 92y, 9
The installation direction detection unit 90 is configured to detect the radio waves transmitted from the position signal transmission unit 28a.
The distance is measured by detecting at 3 points of 2x, 92y, and 92z. Similarly, the installation direction detection unit 90 detects the radio wave transmitted from the position signal transmission unit 28c at three points 92x, 92y, and 92z and measures the distance, and detects the radio wave transmitted from the position signal transmission unit 28d in the installation direction. Part 90 is 92x, 92y, 9
The distance is measured by detecting at 3 points of 2z. From the above measurement results, the positions of the position signal transmission units 28a, 28c, 28d, that is, the installation direction of the imaging unit 20 is calculated. The installation direction signal from the installation direction detector 90 is the AE controller 31.
Then, the AE controller 31 sends an installation direction signal to the image control unit 48, and the image control unit 48 converts the image information output P so that the side surface C faces upward and sends it to the display device as image information output 0. To do.

However, it is necessary to first calibrate the positional relationship between the supine table (bed) 70 and the installation direction detector 90. For example, the position signal transmitter 28
c is accurately positioned so that the position signal transmitting unit 28d and the position signal transmitting unit 28d are opposite to the direction of the pillow 72 (the sides of the imaging unit 20A and the recumbent table (bed) 70 are parallel) and the installation direction is detected. The installation direction (pillow 72 direction) is stored, and the direction within ± 45 ° with respect to the stored direction (pillow 72 direction) is defined as the upper position.

Further, by using radio waves as a method for detecting the installation direction of the image pickup section 20A, even if a subject rides on the image pickup section 20, distance measurement is performed without being blocked by the subject S, and the installation direction is detected. I can do it. However, the method of detecting the installation direction is not limited to radio waves, and the installation direction of the imaging unit 20A may be calculated by measuring the distance using ultrasonic waves or the like.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the image pickup unit 20A is installed obliquely with respect to the supine table (bed) 70 in the third embodiment, and FIG. 7A shows the image pickup unit 20.
The side C of A is the head (pillow 72) side of the subject S, FIG. 7B.
Is the head (pillow 72) of the subject S when the side A of the imaging unit 20A is
It is a schematic diagram at the time of being arranged diagonally as a side. As shown in FIG. 7, when the imaging unit 20A is installed obliquely with respect to the supine table (bed) 70, FIG.
In this case, the image display may be performed so that the side surface C faces upward, and in the case of FIG. 7B, the side surface A faces upward.

Therefore, the image pickup unit 20A is installed by using the installation direction detector 90 provided separately from the image pickup unit 20A and the gantry 70.
By detecting the installation direction of, the installation direction of the imaging unit 20A can be detected without mounting on the gantry 70, and usability is improved.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of the image pickup section 20 showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The imaging unit 20 of FIG. 8 is the same as the imaging unit 20 of FIGS. 2 and 3, but the pedestal 80 for standing is different. The gantry 80 has a rotary mounting jig 82 for mounting the imaging unit 20 and supports the imaging unit 20. The jig 82 is mounted on the imaging unit 20 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
It is possible to turn in the desired direction every 0 degrees.
Here, FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing a case where the imaging unit 20 shown in FIG. 8 is rotated 90 degrees by the jig 82. Further, the pedestal 80 is provided with a light shielding plate 62 for detecting the mounting direction of the image pickup unit 20, and when the image pickup unit 20 is mounted on the jig 82, the mounting position sensor 26 a provided on the image pickup unit 20,
One of the sensors 26b, 26c, and 26d detects the light shielding plate 62 according to the mounting direction. For example, in FIG.
In the case shown in (1), the mounting position sensor 26a detects the light shielding plate 62, and the detected mounting direction signal (that is, the side surface A of the imaging unit 20 is in the upward direction) is sent to the AE controller 31.
The E controller 31 sends a mounting direction signal to the image control unit 48, and the image control unit 48 converts the image information output P so that the side surface A faces upward and sends it to the display device as image information output 0.

Therefore, even if the image pickup direction of the image pickup unit 20 is changed by the jig 82 after the image pickup unit 20 is attached to the mount 80,
It is possible to output an image oriented in the imaging direction at the time of exposure shooting, which improves usability.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

[0051]

According to the radiation image pickup apparatus of the present invention, since it is possible to output an image oriented in the image pickup direction while being inexpensive and having a simple structure, a radiation image pickup apparatus having improved usability is provided. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a radiation imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of an imaging unit showing a first embodiment of the radiation imaging apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a case where the image pickup unit shown in FIG. 2 is rotated by 90 degrees and attached to a gantry.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an output image oriented in a mounting direction of the image pickup unit shown in FIG.

5 is a schematic perspective view of an image pickup section showing a second embodiment of the radiation image pickup apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an image pickup section showing a third embodiment of the radiation image pickup apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a case where the image pickup unit shown in FIG. 6 is obliquely installed with respect to a gantry.

8 is a schematic front view of an image pickup section showing a fourth embodiment of the radiation image pickup apparatus shown in FIG.

9 is a schematic front view showing a case where the image pickup section shown in FIG. 8 is rotated 90 degrees by a rotary type mounting jig.

FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing an example of a conventional radiation imaging apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a conventional radiation imaging apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an output image obtained from a conventional radiation imaging apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a schematic front view showing an example of a case where an imaging apparatus is rotated by 90 degrees and mounted in a conventional radiation imaging apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an output image rotated by 90 degrees obtained from FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Radiation imaging device 10 Radiation source 20, 20A Imaging unit 30 Imaging device 40 Correction circuit 60, 70, 80 mounts 90 Installation direction detector

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A receiving unit that receives information about a posture of an image pickup unit that forms an image of a subject irradiated with radiation, with respect to the posture of the subject, and the image pickup unit based on the posture of the image pickup unit received by the receiving unit. A radiation imaging apparatus having a control unit that controls a posture when an image is displayed. 2. The detector according to claim 1, further comprising a detector that detects the posture of the image pickup unit and transmits the information to the receiver.
The radiation imaging apparatus described. 3. The radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit that inputs the posture of the imaging unit. 4. A pedestal that supports the imaging unit when forming the image, the detection unit having a detector and a detected device, and one and the other of the detector and the detected device. Are respectively arranged at one and the other of a specific position of the gantry and a plurality of positions of the imaging unit that can be arranged at the specific position by changing the posture of the imaging unit, and the detection unit is The radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the posture is detected by detecting which of the plurality of positions of the imaging unit is arranged at the specific position. 5. The radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detector and the detected device are a light emitting element and a light receiving element. 6. The radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detector and the detected device are a transmitter and a receiver.