JP2003260045A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out high quality photographing by means of a simple and economical structure by using the same photographing section for different instruments. <P>SOLUTION: A radiographic image information recording and reading instrument 10 is provided with the photographing section 12 once recording radiographic image information in a storage fluorescent sheet IP, an image recording carrier arrangement section 14 arranging the storage fluorescent sheet IP at a photographing position, a reading section 16 photoelectrically reading the radiographic image information recorded on the storage fluorescent sheet IP. A bucky mechanism 26 and a photo-timer 28 forming the photographing section 12 are arranged in a casing 30. This casing 30 is removable to an instrument main body 10a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a photographing section for irradiating an image record carrier or image receiving means with radiation image information of a subject, and an arrangement section for arranging the image record carrier or the image receiving means at a photographing position. The present invention relates to an image processing device provided in the device body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, radiation (X-ray, α-ray, β-ray, γ-ray
Ray, electron beam, ultraviolet ray, etc.), a part of this radiation energy is accumulated, and when excitation light such as visible light is then irradiated, stimulable luminescence showing stimulated emission according to the accumulated energy intensity. The body (stimulable phosphor) is known. Using this type of stimulable phosphor, the radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is reproduced on a photographic light-sensitive material or a CRT.
A system for outputting a visible image to the etc. is adopted.

Specifically, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is temporarily recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet (image recording carrier) having a sheet-shaped stimulable phosphor layer, and this stimulable phosphor sheet is recorded. After generating stimulated emission light by irradiating excitation light (light beam) such as laser light, based on an image signal obtained by photoelectrically reading this stimulated emission light, 2. Description of the Related Art Various image processing apparatuses that output (reproduce) a radiation image information of a subject as a visible image on a display device such as a recording medium or a CRT have been adopted.

As the above-mentioned image processing apparatus, for example, a photographing section for recording radiation image information of a subject on an image record carrier and an excitation light to the image record carrier to photoelectrically read the radiation image information. An image information recording / reading device including a reading unit is used.

At this time, the image recording carrier is fixed in the apparatus, the photographing section is provided on one side of the image recording carrier, and the reading section is provided on the other side of the image recording carrier. A structure is adopted in which the image record carrier is conveyed to a photographing unit and subjected to photographing processing, and then the image record carrier is conveyed to a reading unit to perform reading processing.

Further, in the image processing apparatus, an apparatus using a photographic photosensitive film in addition to the stimulable phosphor sheet as the above-mentioned image record carrier, or a flat panel detector such as a semiconductor sensor array in place of the image record carrier ( A device provided with an image receiving means) is used.

In this case, the photographing unit is built in the main body of the apparatus, and normally, a grid for removing scattered light, a bucky mechanism for driving the grid, and a radiation exposure amount are regulated. It is equipped with a photo timer. However, for example, in limb imaging of hands, arms, legs, and the like, the need for removing scattered rays is low, and thus the grid is not necessary. At that time, it is conceivable to take out the bucky mechanism from the apparatus main body and perform limb imaging, but the work may be considerably complicated.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-3738.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2
An X-ray image receiving unit (image receiving unit) that irradiates X-rays to obtain an X-ray transmission plane image, a bucky mechanism that is located between the X-ray image receiving unit and the subject, and that removes scattered rays emitted from the subject, and the subject is mounted. And a tabletop for
There is known a Bucky imaging base having means for exposing the X-ray image receiving unit to the side of the top plate by separating the X-ray image receiving unit from the Bucky mechanism and moving it in at least one horizontal direction.

Then, the X-ray image receiving portion is exposed to the side of the top plate, and the imaging portion is directly arranged on the radiation incident surface of the X-ray image receiving portion, so that the top plate and the grid are not provided. You can take a picture.

[0010]

By the way, the specifications of the bucky mechanism and the photo timer, which constitute the photographing section, are usually different for each device. For this reason, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, when adopting a new Bucky table, it is not possible to use the Bucky mechanism and photo timer incorporated in the previous Bucky table, and the new Bucky mechanism and photo You need to use a timer. Therefore, it is pointed out that it is not economical.

The present invention solves this kind of problem, and by using the same imaging section for different devices,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device capable of performing high-quality image capturing processing with a simple and economical structure.

[0012]

In an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, a photographing section for irradiating an image record carrier or an image receiving means with radiation image information of a subject, and a photographing position for the image record carrier or the image receiving means. In addition to the disposing section, the photographing section includes a unit in which at least the Bucky mechanism or the photo timer can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Therefore, by simply attaching and detaching the unit, it is possible to use different image processing devices by using the same image capturing unit, which is excellent in versatility and can easily reduce the cost.

Further, the image record carrier or the image receiving means is
It is moved back and forth in the direction of approaching the subject through the drive unit. Therefore, for example, when the grid is not used, after the unit is taken out from the apparatus main body, the image record carrier or the image receiving means is brought closer to the subject side. This makes it possible to reduce the enlargement ratio of the radiation image captured on the image record carrier or the image receiving unit, and the quality of the captured image is effectively improved.

Further, between the image pickup section and the arranging section, there is provided a radiation transmitting wall section for covering the arranging section and for shielding light and dust. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent foreign matter from entering the placement portion when the imaging unit is replaced.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a radiation image information recording / reading apparatus (image processing apparatus) 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic configuration diagram of FIG. The radiation image information recording / reading apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is of a horizontal type, but may be of a vertical type.

The radiation image information recording / reading apparatus 10 comprises:
An imaging unit 12 that temporarily records radiation image information of a subject H such as a human body on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, and an image record carrier arranging unit 1 that arranges the stimulable phosphor sheet IP at an imaging position.
4 and the stimulable luminescent light R that emits light according to the intensity of the radiation by irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet IP with excitation light (light beam) L such as laser light in the main direction (direction of arrow X). A reading unit 16 for photoelectrically reading and an erasing light source unit 18 for emitting the radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP are provided.

The photographing section 12 is provided with a radiation source 20 for generating the radiation S and a radiation-transmissive photographing stand 22 for holding the subject H at a predetermined position. A bucky mechanism 26 and a photo timer 28, which are located behind the imaging table 22 and provided with a grid 24 for removing scattered rays, are arranged in the apparatus body 10a via a casing 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the casing 30 is constructed as a unit that can be attached to and detached from the loading port 31 of the apparatus body 10a, and the handle portion is provided at both ends (or only the tip) in the attachment / detachment direction (arrow Z direction). 32 is formed. Casing 3
0 is provided with connectors 34a and 34b for supplying a power source for driving the bucky mechanism 26, a control signal for the photo timer 28, and the like from the apparatus main body 10a. The connectors 34a and 34b are connected to the apparatus main body 10a. Can be connected to a connector (not shown) provided in the.

Inside the apparatus main body 10a, a radiation transmitting wall portion 36 for shielding light and dust is provided which is located on the lower side of the casing 30 and covers the upper portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP (FIGS. 1 and 3). reference). This radiation transmitting wall portion 36
Is formed of, for example, a carbon plate or an aluminum plate.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image record carrier placement unit 1
4 extends in the arrow Y direction, which is a sub-direction (sub-scanning direction) substantially orthogonal to the main direction of the excitation light L (arrow X direction), and is located at both ends of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP in the arrow X direction. And a pair of receiving members 38 arranged in parallel with each other. A reference plate 40 extends and is fixed to each receiving member 38 in the arrow Y direction, and both end sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP are arranged on the bottom surface side of the reference plate 40. Each receiving member 38 is
It is fixed to a pair of parallel support plates 41 arranged in a vertical posture and extending in the arrow Y direction.

At least one receiving member 38 is provided with a plurality of leaf springs 42 corresponding to predetermined positions in order to press and support the end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP to the bottom surface side of the reference plate 40. ing. The other receiving member 38 side is not limited to the leaf spring 42 as long as it has a structure capable of holding the end of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, and various structures can be adopted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the reading unit 16 includes a scanner unit (scanning system) 44 for reading the radiation image information carried on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP.
A sub-scanning system (conveyance system) 45 for moving the scanner unit 44 in the horizontal direction (arrow Y direction) is provided.

The scanner unit 44 includes an excitation system 46 and
A CCD line sensor (condensing system) 50 provided with a condensing lens array 48 is provided, and the excitation system 46, the condensing lens array 48, and the CCD line sensor 50 extend in the main direction to a scanner head 52. It is installed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the excitation system 46
Includes a plurality of laser diodes 54 arranged in the main direction (direction of arrow X). The laser diode 54 is arranged such that the excitation light emission side is away from the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, and the divergent excitation light emitted from the laser diode 54 is cylindrical as shown in FIG. The excitation light L is reflected by the mirror 56 and linearly radiated as excitation light L toward the stimulable phosphor sheet IP in the main direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sub-scanning system 45 includes a rotary drive source 60 arranged at one end side in the arrow Y direction, and both ends of a rotary shaft 62 extending from the rotary drive source 60 in the arrow X direction. A drive pulley 64 is fixed to the. Each drive pulley 6
4, a driven pulley 66 is arranged at a predetermined distance in the direction of the arrow Y, and a belt 68 is stretched over the driven pulley 66 and the drive pulley 64. The scanner head 52 is fixed to the belt 68, and the scanner head 5
2 is supported by a pair of guide rails 70 fixed to the support plate 41 and extending in the arrow Y direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image record carrier placement unit 1
4 can move forward / backward in a direction (arrow A direction) in which the object 4 is brought closer to the subject H integrally with the reading unit 16 via the drive unit 72. The drive unit 72 includes a rotary drive source 74 arranged vertically upward, and a lower end portion of a drive ball screw 76 is connected to the rotary drive source 74. Drive ball screw 76
Extend vertically upward and have a drive pulley 7 at the upper end.
8 is fixed.

The drive ball screw 76 is arranged corresponding to one corner of the reading section 16, and the driven ball screw 80 corresponding to the other three corners of the reading section 16.
a, 80b, and 80c are arranged vertically. The lower ends of the driven ball screws 80a to 80c are the support base 8
While being rotatably supported via 2a to 82c,
The driven pulleys 84a to 84c are fixed to the upper ends of the driven ball screws 80a to 80c. A drive belt 86 is integrally engaged with the drive pulley 78 and the driven pulleys 84a to 84c.

A nut portion 88 is formed so as to bulge at both end edges of the side surfaces of the support plate 41 facing each other. A screw hole 90 is formed in each nut portion 88 in the vertical direction, and a drive ball screw 76 and driven ball screws 80a to 80c are screwed into the screw hole 90.

The erasing light source section 18 is a stimulable phosphor sheet I.
It is arranged so as to face P with the reading unit 16 in between (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The erasing light source unit 18 irradiates the stimulable phosphor sheet IP with erasing light Q to release the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. The erasing light source unit 18 is a stimulable phosphor sheet IP.
Fluorescent lamp 92 having a length equal to or greater than the width direction (arrow X direction) of the
Are arranged in the lengthwise direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP (direction of arrow Y), and the erasing light Q is applied to the entire image area of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. .

The operation of the radiation image information recording / reading apparatus 10 thus constructed will be described below.

First, in order to record radiation image information,
When the patient moves to the image capturing unit 12, recording position alignment such as raising and lowering the imaging table 22 is performed by an operation of a doctor or the like. Next, the radiation source 20 is driven by a doctor or the like while the subject H, which is the affected part of the patient, is placed on the imaging table 22. The radiation output from this radiation source 20 is
The radiation image information is recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP by passing through the subject H and reaching the stimulable phosphor sheet IP.

After the radiation image information of the subject H is recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, the excitation system 46 constituting the reading section 16 is driven and the rotary drive source 60 constituting the sub-scanning system 45 is driven. To be done. In the excitation system 46, a plurality of laser diodes 54 arranged in the main direction (arrow X direction) of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP are driven, and the excitation light output from the laser diodes 54 and reflected by the cylindrical mirror 56 is excited. L is irradiated to the stimulable phosphor sheet IP along the arrow X direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the drive pulley 64 rotates via the rotary shaft 62 under the driving action of the rotary drive source 60 which constitutes the sub-scanning system 45, the drive pulley 6
The scanner head 52, which is fixed to the belt 68, moves in the direction of the arrow Y under the effect of the circular traveling of the belt 68 that is bridged between the No. 4 and the driven pulley 66. For this reason,
Accumulative phosphor sheet IP in which radiation image information is accumulated
Are two-dimensionally scanned by the excitation light L, and the stimulable phosphor sheet IP emits stimulated emission light R according to the radiation image information.

This stimulated emission light R is used for the condenser lens array 4
It is incident on the CCD line sensor 50 via 8 (see FIG.
reference). In the CCD line sensor 50, when the stimulated emission light R is incident, the stimulated emission light R is converted into an electric signal and the radiation image information of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is photoelectrically read.

Then, the erasing light source section 18 is applied to the stimulable phosphor sheet IP from which the radiation image information has been read.
The erasing light Q is emitted from the fluorescent lamp 92 constituting the above. Therefore, the radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is released, and the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is used for the next imaging.

In this case, in this embodiment, the bucky mechanism 26 and the photo timer 28, which constitute the photographing section 12, are
The casing 30 is arranged inside the casing 30 and is detachably attached to the loading port 31 of the apparatus body 10a (see FIG. 2). Therefore, after the connectors 34a and 34b provided on the casing 30 are detached from the unillustrated connectors on the apparatus main body 10a side, the handle portion 32 is gripped and the casing 30 is pulled out from the loading port 31. As a result, the casing 30 accommodating the bucky mechanism 26 and the photo timer 28 is
It is taken out from the apparatus main body 10a.

Therefore, when the new radiation image information recording / reading apparatus 10 is used, the casing 30 taken out from the apparatus main body 10a is used as the photographing unit 12 constituting the new radiation image information recording / reading apparatus 10. Can be used. Therefore, the same bucky mechanism 26 and photo timer 28 are used for various image processing apparatuses.
It is possible to configure the imaging unit 12 by using, and it is possible to obtain an effect that the versatility is excellent and the cost can be easily reduced.

Further, the image record carrier arranging section 14 can be moved back and forth in the direction approaching the subject H via the driving section 72. Therefore, when shooting the limbs of the subject H's arms,
First, after removing the casing 30 from the apparatus main body 10a, the rotary drive source 74 that constitutes the drive unit 72 is driven. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive ball screw 76 rotates in a predetermined direction, and the drive pulley 78 fixed to the upper end of the drive ball screw 76 rotates.

The drive pulley 78 and the driven pulleys 84a ...
The drive belt 86 is integrally engaged with 84c,
The drive belt 8 is rotated under the action of the drive pulley 78.
The driven ball screws 80a to 80c are rotationally driven via 6. Drive ball screw 76 and driven ball screw 80a
80c is a nut portion 88 provided on the support plate 41.
Is screwed into the screw hole 90, and the driving ball screw 76 and the driven ball screws 80a to 80c rotate to move the reading unit 16 and the image record carrier arranging unit 14 toward the subject H side (direction of arrow A). To do.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the stimulable phosphor sheet I held in the image record carrier arranging portion 14 is shown.
P moves to the upper side of the apparatus main body 10a and is arranged close to the subject H. When the radiation source 20 is driven in this state, the radiation output from the radiation source 20 reaches the stimulable phosphor sheet IP immediately after passing through the subject H. Therefore, the subject H is attached to the stimulable phosphor sheet IP.
The radiation image information of 1 is recorded with a small enlargement ratio, and the quality of the image recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is effectively improved.

Furthermore, a radiation transmitting wall portion 36 made of a carbon plate or an aluminum plate is provided between the casing 30 and the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. Therefore, when the casing 30 is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 10a, foreign matter such as dust does not adhere to the stimulable phosphor sheet IP and external light is not unnecessarily irradiated.
As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent foreign matter from entering the reading unit 16 and irradiation of external light.

Further, in the present embodiment, by providing the driving portion 72, the height of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is corresponding to the bucky mechanism 26 and the photo timer 28 in the casing 30 mounted in the apparatus body 10a. The directional position is adjusted. Therefore, the stimulable phosphor sheet IP can be surely arranged at the optimum position corresponding to the imaging unit 12, and the high quality radiation image information recording / reading process can be performed.

Further, from the apparatus main body 10a to the casing 3
After taking out 0, a cassette (not shown) accommodating the stimulable phosphor sheet IP can be loaded in the portion where the casing 30 was arranged. As a result, the radiation image information of the subject H can be recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP in the cassette without using the grid 24 and the photo timer 28. Further, a cassette (not shown) accommodating the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is attached to the apparatus body 1
0a may be arranged and the subject H may be directly placed on the cassette to capture the radiation image information.

In the present embodiment, the bucky mechanism 26
The photo timer 28 is housed in a casing 30, and the casing 30 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body 10a. However, only the bucky mechanism 26 or the photo timer 28 is attached to the apparatus body 10a. It may be detachable. Further, the image record carrier placement unit 14
And a drive unit 72 for raising and lowering the reading unit 16.
Alternatively, instead of this, the image record carrier arranging portion 14 and the reading portion 16 may be configured to be movable up and down by a lever or the like manually operated.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the radiation image information recording / reading apparatus 10 is used as the image processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
An apparatus using a photographic photosensitive film in place of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, or the stimulable phosphor sheet I after the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is conveyed to a photographing unit and subjected to photographing processing.
An apparatus that conveys P to the reading unit and performs reading processing,
Instead of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, it can be applied to an apparatus including a flat panel detector (image receiving means) such as a semiconductor sensor array.

[0046]

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the photographing section is provided with a unit in which at least the bucky mechanism or the photo timer can be attached / detached to / from the apparatus main body. Can be used to accommodate different image processing devices. As a result, the versatility is excellent and the cost can be easily reduced.

Further, the placement section moves back and forth in the direction of approaching the subject through the drive section. Therefore, for example, when the grid is not used, the image recording carrier and the image receiving unit are brought closer to the subject side, thereby making it possible to reduce the enlargement ratio and effectively improve the quality of the captured image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a radiation image information recording / reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of when a casing constituting the radiation image information recording / reading device is attached to / detached from a device body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of a reading unit and an erasing light source unit which constitute the radiation image information recording / reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view of the reading unit.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram when the stimulable phosphor sheet is moved after the casing is removed.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Radiation image information recording / reading device 12 ... Imaging unit 14 ... Image recording carrier arrangement unit 16 ... Reading unit 18 ... Erasure light source unit 20 ... Radiation source 22 ... Imaging stand 24 ... Grid 26 ... Bucky mechanism 28 ... Photo timer 30 ... Casing 32 ... Handles 34a, 34b ... Connector 36 ... Radiation transmitting wall 38 ... Receiving member 44 ... Scanner unit 45 ... Sub scanning system 46 ... Excitation light 48 ... Condensing lens array 50 ... CCD
Line sensor 52 ... Scanner head 60, 74 ...
Rotational driving source 72 ... Driving unit 76 ... Driving ball screws 80a to 80c ... Followed ball screw 86 ... Driving belt

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus main body is provided with a photographing section for irradiating an image record carrier or image receiving means with radiation image information of a subject, and an arrangement section for arranging the image record carrier or the image receiving means at a photographing position. An image processing apparatus including: a driving unit that engages with the arrangement unit and moves the image record carrier or the image receiving unit back and forth in a direction in which the image recording medium approaches the subject, and the imaging unit includes at least a Bucky mechanism or An image processing apparatus comprising a unit in which a photo timer is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a radiation transmission wall portion for shielding light and dust is provided between the photographing unit and the arrangement unit so as to cover the arrangement unit. Image processing device.