JP2005185472A - Radiographic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To photograph a high quality radiographic image by using one unit of a radiographic apparatus regardless of the degree of influence of scattered radiation. <P>SOLUTION: Whether a Bucky's table 2a should be used or not can be easily selected according to the standard radiography with large influence of scattered radiation or the PCM radiography with small influence of scattered radiation. Accordingly, a high quality radiation image can be photographed by using one radiographic apparatus 10 regardless of the degree of influence of scattered radiation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiographic image capturing apparatus for capturing a radiographic image.

  Recently, radiation images recorded on radiation image recording panels (cassettes) using radiation such as X-rays have been widely used for disease diagnosis and the like, but recently, they have excellent sharpness called PCM imaging. A radiographic technique for obtaining a radiographic image has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The PCM imaging is an enlargement imaging with respect to the standard imaging, and an edge-enhanced radiation image by phase contrast is obtained using a small focus radiation source. Here, in standard imaging, the subject and the radiographic image recording panel set in the radiographic image capturing apparatus are photographed in close contact, and in PCM imaging, the subject and the radiographic image recording panel are separated by a predetermined distance. Photographed in the state.

  On the other hand, during radiation exposure (during imaging), scattered radiation scattered by the subject may be accumulated and recorded in the radiation image recording panel. When such scattered radiation is recorded as noise in the radiation image recording panel, the image quality is deteriorated. Even if a radiographic image in which noise is recorded is used, accurate interpretation and diagnosis are difficult.

Therefore, conventionally, as means for removing such scattered radiation, a radiation absorbing layer made of lead or the like having a high radiation absorption rate and a radiation transmitting layer made of aluminum, paper, wood, synthetic resin or the like having a low radiation absorption rate. Various techniques have been devised that use a bucky table provided with plate-like radiation absorbing materials called grids alternately formed in stripes.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-238871

Since the grid is a kind of diffraction grating in which a radiation transmission layer and a non-transmission layer are periodically formed in a stripe shape, the radiation image recording panel is influenced by the grid provided by the bucky table (depending on the grid). Radiation interference.) For this reason, in order to obtain a radiographic image with high image quality, it is preferable to avoid the use of a bucky table when the influence of scattered radiation is small.
For example, in the case of PCM imaging, the influence of scattered radiation is smaller because the subject and the radiation image recording panel are far apart compared to the case of standard imaging. For this reason, it is preferable not to use a Bucky table at the time of PCM imaging in order to obtain a radiographic image with high image quality.
However, since the Bucky table is fixed to the radiographic image capturing apparatus, it is difficult to move and remove. For this reason, a radiographic imaging apparatus equipped with a Bucky stand is used for standard imaging where the influence of scattered radiation is greater than the influence of the grid, and a radiographic image without a Bucky stand is used for PCM imaging where the influence of scattered radiation is less than the influence of the grid. The current situation is that radiographic imaging apparatuses are selectively used according to the degree of influence of scattered radiation, such as using an imaging apparatus. For this reason, development of a highly convenient radiographic imaging device that can be used regardless of the degree of influence of scattered radiation is desired.

  An object of the present invention is to enable radiographic images with high image quality to be captured using a single radiographic imaging device, regardless of the degree of influence of scattered radiation.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
A radiation image recording panel for recording a radiation image;
An imaging unit that records the radiographic image by mounting the radiographic image recording panel in an arrangement in which a recording surface of the radiographic image recording panel is opposed to a radiation source and a subject;
A bucky table provided between the radiation image recording panel and the subject so as to be detachable and provided with a grid for removing scattered radiation scattered by the subject;
It is provided with.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 2
A radiographic image recording panel for recording radiographic images, and an imaging unit that records the radiographic image by mounting the radiographic image recording panel in an arrangement in which a recording surface of the radiographic image recording panel, a radiation source, and a subject face each other And a radiographic imaging apparatus comprising a Bucky table having a grid for removing scattered radiation scattered by the subject between the radiographic image recording panel and the subject,
The radiation source is arranged such that the bucky base and the imaging unit are rotatably connected, and the grid is substantially parallel to the recording surface of the attached radiation image recording panel and covers the recording surface from the radiation source. On the other hand, there is provided a hinge portion in which the bucky base is movable until the recording surface of the radiation image recording panel is exposed.

Moreover, in order to solve the said subject, invention of Claim 3 is the following.
A radiographic image recording panel for recording radiographic images, and an imaging unit that records the radiographic image by mounting the radiographic image recording panel in an arrangement in which a recording surface of the radiographic image recording panel, a radiation source, and a subject face each other And a radiographic imaging device comprising a Bucky table provided with a grid for removing scattered radiation scattered by the subject between the radiographic image recording panel and the subject,
The grid is substantially parallel to the recording surface of the radiation image recording panel and holds the Bucky stand in an arrangement that covers the recording surface from the radiation source, and the Bucky stand is from the arrangement to the radiation source. It is characterized in that it has a bucky stand support portion that can move between the positions where the recording surface of the radiation image recording panel is exposed.

  According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to easily select whether or not to use a Bucky table according to standard imaging that is greatly affected by scattered radiation and PCM imaging that is less affected by scattered radiation. Therefore, a radiographic image with high image quality can be captured using a single radiographic image capturing device regardless of the degree of influence of scattered radiation.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the radiographic imaging system 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a radiographic imaging system 100 is installed in a hospital or the like, and includes a small focus radiation source 1, a control device 4, an image DB 5, and a radiographic imaging device 10. The radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 includes a bucky table 2a and an imaging unit 3, and the bucky table 2a includes a grid 2b.
In addition, the subject A is disposed between the small focus radiation source 1 and the imaging unit 3 at the time of imaging.

  The imaging unit 3 includes a detachable radiation image recording panel 3a and a reading device 3b. The radiation image recording panel 3a includes a phosphor such as a stimulable phosphor that records a radiation image.

  The reading device 3b is a photomultiplier tube. The stimulating light generated after the stimulable phosphor is irradiated with excitation light (laser) is collected and photoelectrically converted into an analog image signal, and the analog image signal is converted into a subsequent stage. Output to the control device 4.

  The control device 4 controls the small focus radiation source 1 to irradiate the radiation image recording panel 3a with radiation during imaging.

  The control device 4 performs image processing such as A / D conversion of the analog image signal input from the reading device 3b into a digital image signal.

  The control device 4 transmits / receives data to / from other external devices via a hospital network connected to HIS (Hospital Information System) / RIS (Radiorogy Information System). It has an interface for performing

  An image DB (Data Base) 5 stores image data read by the photographing unit 3 and subjected to image processing by the control device 4.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, two examples of how the bucky table 2a is installed in the radiographic imaging apparatus 10 will be described.

<First installation mode>
FIG. 2A shows an installation mode in which the bucky stand 2a and the photographing unit 3 are connected to each other via a hinge part 21 so as to be rotatable in the direction indicated by reference numeral B1 in the drawing.

  According to such a first installation mode, at the time of PCM photographing, the operator rotates the Bucky stand 2a in a direction away from the photographing unit 3 to photograph without using the Bucky stand 2a, that is, the grid 2b. Can be set as follows. Further, at the time of standard imaging, the Bucky stand 2a is rotated in a direction approaching the imaging unit 3, and the grid 2b is set so as to cover the recording surface 31 from the small focus radiation source 1, and the grid 2b is set to the radiation image recording panel 3a. And the subject A can be set to shoot.

<Second installation mode>
In FIG. 2B, the photographing unit 3 is provided with an upper bucky base support part 31a and a lower bucky base support part 31b, and the bucky base 2a and the photographing part 3 are provided with the upper bucky base support part 31a and the lower bucky base support part. The installation aspect which is connected via 31b is shown.

  The upper bucky base support part 31a and the lower bucky base support part 31b move the bucky base 2a in the direction indicated by reference numeral B2 in the figure to set it on the front side of the recording surface 31, or the photographing part 3 (i.e., and For removing from the radiographic image capturing device 10).

  According to such a second installation mode, the operator can set the photographer to remove the Bucky stand 2a from the photographing unit 3 at the time of PCM photographing, and can set the Bucky stand 2a with a small grid 2b at the time of standard photographing. The focus radiation source 1 can be set so as to cover the recording surface 31, and the grid 2b can be set to be photographed with the radiation image recording panel 3a interposed between the subject A.

  As described above, according to the first and second installation modes of the bucky stand 2a shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the standard imaging greatly influenced by the scattered radiation and the effect of the scattered radiation. Whether or not to use the Bucky stand 2a can be easily selected according to the PCM photographing with a small. Therefore, a radiographic image with high image quality can be captured using one radiographic image capturing device 10 regardless of the degree of influence of scattered radiation.

  In addition, the description in this Embodiment shows an example of the radiographic imaging apparatus which concerns on this invention, and is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 (and the radiographic image capturing system 100) in the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, as in the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10a shown in FIG. 3, a configuration in which the bucky table 2a is detachably provided on the subject table 32 may be used. Here, the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10a includes a Bucky table 2a, a subject table 32, a cassette table 33 for holding the cassette in a detachable manner, and the like.
In this case, the Bucky stand 2a is attached to the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10a and used at times other than PCM radiography, and the Bucky stand 2a is removed from (retracted from) the radiographic image radiography apparatus 10a and unused at the time of PCM radiography. Is done.

  In addition, the apparatus configuration of the radiographic imaging system 100, the imaging unit 3, the reading device 3b, the bucky table 2a, the hinge unit 21, the upper bucky table support unit 31a, the lower bucky table support unit 31b, the subject table 32, the cassette table 33, etc. The shape of each part is not limited to that illustrated.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the radiographic imaging system to which this invention is applied. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the installation aspect of a Bucky stand, (b) is a figure which shows the other example of the installation aspect of a Bucky stand. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting aspect of a bucky stand.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Small focus radiation source 2a Bucky stand 2b Grid 3 Image pick-up part 3a Radiation image recording panel 3b Reading apparatus 4 Control apparatus 5 Image DB
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10a Radiographic imaging apparatus 21 Hinge part 31 Recording surface 32 Subject stand 33 Cassette base 31a Upper bucky stand support part 31b Lower bucky stand support part 100 Radiographic imaging system

Claims (3)

A radiation image recording panel for recording a radiation image;
An imaging unit that records the radiographic image by mounting the radiographic image recording panel in an arrangement in which a recording surface of the radiographic image recording panel is opposed to a radiation source and a subject;
A bucky table provided between the radiation image recording panel and the subject so as to be detachable and provided with a grid for removing scattered radiation scattered by the subject;
A radiographic imaging apparatus comprising: A radiographic image recording panel for recording radiographic images, and an imaging unit that records the radiographic image by mounting the radiographic image recording panel in an arrangement in which a recording surface of the radiographic image recording panel, a radiation source, and a subject face each other And a radiographic imaging apparatus comprising a Bucky table having a grid for removing scattered radiation scattered by the subject between the radiographic image recording panel and the subject,
The radiation source is arranged such that the bucky base and the imaging unit are rotatably connected, and the grid is substantially parallel to the recording surface of the attached radiation image recording panel and covers the recording surface from the radiation source. On the other hand, a radiographic imaging apparatus comprising a hinge portion to which the bucky base can move until the recording surface of the radiographic image recording panel is exposed. A radiographic image recording panel for recording radiographic images, and an imaging unit that records the radiographic image by mounting the radiographic image recording panel in an arrangement in which a recording surface of the radiographic image recording panel, a radiation source, and a subject face each other And a radiographic imaging device comprising a Bucky table provided with a grid for removing scattered radiation scattered by the subject between the radiographic image recording panel and the subject,
The grid is substantially parallel to the recording surface of the radiation image recording panel and holds the Bucky stand in an arrangement that covers the recording surface from the radiation source, and the Bucky stand is from the arrangement to the radiation source. A radiographic imaging apparatus comprising: a bucky stand supporting portion that is movable to an arrangement that exposes a recording surface of the radiographic image recording panel.

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