JP2005204861A - Radiographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that since it is necessary to secure the storage capacity in the interior of a digital cassette, while a radiographic image is transferred, it is impossible to radiograph, so that the throughput of radiograph is low. <P>SOLUTION: This radiographing apparatus includes: an irradiation field recognition means for recognizing the irradiation field of a radiographic image in the interior of a control part; an out-of-region deleting means for deleting an unnecessary part outside the region recognized by the irradiation field recognition means in the interior of a portable radiographic image acquisition part; and a transfer means for transferring the radiographic image saved in a primary storage means to the control part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus having a portable X-ray image acquisition unit that can be attached to and detached from a gantry.

Conventionally, a film is sandwiched between fluorescent plates and stored in a cassette (in a film / screen system) to obtain an X-ray image. However, it takes time for the photographer to store the film in the cassette without exposing it to the cassette, and to develop the film after photographing, which takes a considerable amount of time for one X-ray photographing. Recently, an X-ray imaging apparatus capable of acquiring an X-ray image as a digital image has been developed (for example, Patent Document 1). As a feature of this apparatus, X-ray images can be confirmed within a few seconds after X-ray imaging, and further, X-ray image data is sent to a printer and output to a film, which greatly improves the throughput in X-ray imaging. Contributing. However, as explained in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-288184, since the fluorescent plate, the photodetector, the electric substrate and the like need to be integrated, the weight and thickness of the X-ray imaging apparatus is smaller than that of the film / screen system. It will increase. Therefore, there was an aspect that the portability that was in the film / screen system was lost. Currently, the X-ray imaging apparatus has been continuously reduced in weight and thickness, and a portable digital cassette has been developed (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 09-288184 A JP 2002-336225 A

  A half-cut X-ray image has a large capacity as a digital image. A portable digital cassette has the advantage of being able to take several images continuously, but cannot store many large-capacity X-ray images inside the digital cassette. Therefore, it is necessary to transfer the X-ray image inside the digital cassette to another storage location in the middle of imaging to ensure a storage capacity. For this reason, X-ray imaging cannot be performed while the X-ray image is transferred, and the X-ray imaging throughput may be slow.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a portable X-ray image acquisition unit that can be attached to and detached from a gantry, a control unit that controls the portable X-ray image acquisition unit, and an X-ray image before transfer. A primary storage means for primary storage inside the portable X-ray image acquisition unit, an irradiation field recognition means for recognizing an irradiation field of the X-ray image inside the control unit, and the irradiation field recognition means An out-of-area deletion unit that deletes an unnecessary portion outside the area inside the portable X-ray image acquisition unit; a transfer unit that transfers the X-ray image stored in the primary storage unit to the control unit; In an X-ray imaging apparatus having a storage unit for storing an X-ray image stored in the control unit, an unnecessary part is deleted by an out-of-region deletion unit instead of the X-ray image in which the unnecessary part is not deleted. The X-ray image is stored in the primary storage means. To.

  According to the X-ray imaging apparatus described in the present embodiment, by performing the irradiation field recognition 210 or the subject recognition 310, an unnecessary portion of the X-ray image is deleted and the storage capacity is reduced, so that more X-ray images can be obtained. There is an effect that line photography can be performed. Furthermore, there is an effect that the transfer speed of the X-ray image is increased and the throughput of X-ray imaging is improved.

(Example 1)
Example 1 below is an embodiment of an X-ray imaging apparatus that can improve the throughput of X-ray imaging in a portable X-ray imaging apparatus.

  Reference numerals 105 to 165 in FIG. 1 are schematic configuration diagrams illustrating a preferred example of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. 105 is an X-ray generation unit, 110 is a subject, 115 is a portable X-ray image acquisition unit, 120 is an X-ray image acquisition unit, and 125 is a primary storage that stores an X-ray image inside the portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115 Means 127, a reduction means for reducing the acquired X-ray image, 130 a transfer means, 135 a control unit, 140 an operation means for operating the portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115, 145 an irradiation field recognition means, 150 Display means for displaying the acquired X-ray image, 155 is an out-of-area deletion means for deleting unnecessary portions of the X-ray image, 160 is a storage means, and 165 is an image processing means.

  The photographer uses the operation means 140 to bring the portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115 into a state where it can acquire an X-ray image. When the photographer presses the X-ray irradiation button, X-rays are emitted from the X-ray generation means 105. X-rays pass through the subject 110 and enter the portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115. The portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115 includes an X-ray image acquisition unit 120, a primary storage unit 125, a reduction unit 127, and an out-of-region deletion unit 155. The incident X-ray signal of the subject 110 is digitized by the X-ray image acquisition means 120 inside the portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115 and acquired as an X-ray image. The acquired X-ray image is stored in the primary storage unit 125. The image stored in the primary storage unit 125 is immediately transferred to the control unit 135 by the transfer unit 130.

  The control unit 135 includes an operation unit 140, an irradiation field recognition unit 145, a display unit 150, a storage unit 160, and an image processing unit 165. When the image is transferred, the X-ray image is reduced and transferred by the reduction means 127, so that the transfer time is shortened. The X-ray image transferred by the transfer means 130 is displayed on the display means 150 and confirmed by the photographer. Prior to displaying the reduced X-ray image, the irradiation field recognition means 145 recognizes only the irradiation field from the reduced X-ray image. This irradiation field recognition is explained in detail in FIGS. The display means 130 simultaneously displays the reduced X-ray image and the result of the irradiation field recognition. The photographer confirms whether or not the subject has been properly photographed with the reduced X-ray image, and further confirms whether or not the irradiation field has been properly recognized. If the irradiation field is not properly recognized, the photographer can correct it with the operation means 140. The photographer confirms the reduced X-ray image and the irradiation field recognition, and inputs a confirmation signal through the operation means 140. The out-of-area deletion unit 155 deletes an unnecessary portion outside the irradiation field from the X-ray image stored in the primary storage unit 125 using the confirmation signal as a trigger. That is, instead of the X-ray image acquired first and stored in the primary storage unit 125, an X-ray image from which unnecessary portions outside the irradiation field are deleted is stored in the primary storage unit 125. Since an unnecessary part outside the irradiation field is deleted from the X-ray image, the storage capacity may be smaller than before the deletion. The X-ray image from which unnecessary portions outside the irradiation field are deleted by the out-of-region deletion unit 155 is transferred to the storage unit 160 inside the control unit 130 by the transfer unit 130 and stored. The X-ray image stored in the storage unit 160 is subjected to sharpening processing, gradation processing, and the like by the image processing unit 165, and is sent to a display device or a printer.

  In FIG. 2, the irradiation field recognition in the irradiation field recognition means 145 will be described in detail.

  Irradiation field recognition by the irradiation field recognition means 145 is described in detail in JP-A-2000-271107, JP-A-2003-339684, and the like.

  Reference numeral 205 denotes an X-ray image area of the X-ray image transferred by the transfer means 130. 210 is a result of irradiation field recognition in the X-ray image region 205. The region recognized by the irradiation field is indicated by a dotted line. Reference numeral 215 denotes an actual irradiation field, and 220 is a subject image.

  An X-ray image area 205 represents the entire imageable area of the X-ray image acquisition unit 120. The X-ray generation means 105 is provided with an X-ray stop so that the subject 110 is not irradiated with excess X-rays. An irradiation field 215 represents an actual X-ray irradiation area by the X-ray diaphragm. Since the irradiation field recognition 210 is a part acquired as an X-ray image, the irradiation field recognition 210 is recognized to include the irradiation field 215 in this example. Since the area outside the irradiation field recognition 210 is an unnecessary part that is not necessary for diagnosis, it is deleted.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an example of subject recognition for recognizing the subject image itself, instead of the irradiation field recognition by the irradiation field recognition means 145.

Subject recognition is described in detail in JP-A-2001-076141 and the like.
310 is a result of subject recognition in the X-ray image region 205. The area recognized by the subject is indicated by a dotted line. Reference numeral 315 denotes a subject cutout area.

  An X-ray image area 205 represents the entire imageable area of the X-ray image acquisition unit 120. The subject recognition 310 recognizes the contour of the subject image 220. Since the subject cutout region 315 is a portion acquired as an X-ray image, in this example, the subject cutout region 315 is automatically extracted so as to include the contour of the subject image 220.

  This object recognition 310 can recognize a region narrower than the irradiation field 215, can further reduce the capacity of the X-ray image, and can further transfer the X-ray image faster than the irradiation field recognition 210. Since the area outside the subject cutout area 315 is an unnecessary part that is not necessary for diagnosis, it is deleted.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the confirmation of the X-ray image and the irradiation field recognition 210 on the display means 150 and the input of the confirmation signal from the operation means 140.

  410 is a reduced image display, and 415 is a recognition confirmation input means.

  The reduced image display 410 displays a reduced X-ray image that has been subjected to the irradiation field recognition 210 described with reference to FIG. The photographer confirms the acquired X-ray image and the irradiation field recognition 210 or the subject clipping region 315, and inputs a confirmation signal from the recognition confirmation input means 415. If the setting of the irradiation field recognition 210 or the subject clipping region 315 is inappropriate, the photographer can reset the setting from the operation means 140.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an imaging flow of the X-ray imaging apparatus described in the first embodiment.

  Reference numeral 505 denotes an X-ray image acquisition module that acquires an X-ray image and stores it in the primary storage unit 125, and 510 reduces the acquired X-ray image by the reduction unit 127 and transfers it to the irradiation field recognition unit 145 inside the control unit 135. The reduced image transfer module 515, the irradiation field recognition module 515 for recognizing the irradiation field 215 or the subject image 220 from the transferred reduced X-ray image, and 520 detects the input of the confirmation signal from the recognition confirmation input means 415 described in FIG. A recognition confirmation module 525, a resetting module for resetting the irradiation field recognition 210 or the subject clipping region 315 from the operation means 140, and a region 530 for deleting an unnecessary part of the X-ray image from detection of a confirmation signal in the recognition confirmation module 520. The external deletion module, 535 is an X-ray image re-storing module that saves X-ray images from which unnecessary portions have been deleted instead of X-ray images from which unnecessary portions have not been deleted, and 540 is that unnecessary portions are deleted X-ray image transfer module for transferring the X-ray image transferred to the storage means 160, 545 for the X-ray image storage module for saving the transferred X-ray image from which unnecessary portions have been deleted, and 550 for the storage means 160 An image processing module that processes an X-ray image.

  First, an X-ray image is acquired by the X-ray image acquisition module 505, and the acquired X-ray image is stored in the primary storage unit 125. At the same time, the reduced image transfer module 510 transfers the X-ray image reduced by the transfer means 130 to the irradiation field recognition means 145. The irradiation field recognition module 515 performs irradiation field recognition 210 or subject recognition 310 by the irradiation field recognition means 145 in the transferred reduced X-ray image. The X-ray image subjected to the irradiation field recognition 210 or the subject recognition 310 is displayed on the display means 150, and the photographer inputs a confirmation signal if the recognition is good. The recognition confirmation module 520 detects input of a confirmation signal by the photographer. The resetting module 525 allows the photographer to reset if the irradiation field recognition 210 or the subject clipping region 315 is not appropriate. In response to the input of the confirmation signal, the out-of-region deletion module 530 deletes an unnecessary portion of the X-ray image stored in the primary storage unit 125. The X-ray image re-storing module 535 replaces the X-ray image in which the unnecessary part stored in the primary storage unit 125 is not deleted with the X-ray image in which the unnecessary part is deleted. The X-ray image transfer module 540 transfers the X-ray image from which unnecessary portions are deleted to the storage unit 160. The X-ray image storage module 545 stores the transferred X-ray image in the storage unit 160. The image processing module 550 performs image processing on the X-ray image stored in the storage unit 160 and transfers the image to another display device or printer.

  By performing irradiation field recognition 210 or subject recognition 310 as described above, there is an effect that more X-ray imaging can be performed by deleting unnecessary portions of the X-ray image and reducing the storage capacity. Furthermore, there is an effect that the transfer speed of the X-ray image is increased and the throughput of X-ray imaging is improved.

(Example 2)
Example 2 below is an X-ray imaging apparatus capable of improving the throughput of X-ray imaging in a portable X-ray imaging apparatus. The portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115 and the control unit in Example 1 are as follows. This is an embodiment of an X-ray imaging apparatus in which 135 is integrated and only the storage means 160 is placed outside.

  In FIG. 6, a portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115 includes an X-ray image acquisition unit 120, a primary storage unit 125, a reduction unit 127, an out-of-region deletion unit 155, a transfer unit 130, an operation unit 140, Irradiation field recognition means 145 and display means 150 are provided inside. Reference numeral 610 denotes an imaging area. A transfer unit 615 connects the storage unit 160 and the image processing unit 165.

  The X-ray imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 6 performs exactly the same operation as the X-ray imaging apparatus described with reference to FIGS. The difference is that the X-ray image is transferred to the storage unit 160 via the transfer unit 615.

  As described with reference to FIG. 6, the portable X-ray image acquisition unit 115 and the control unit 135 are integrated, so that the photographer confirms the X-ray image and the irradiation field recognition 210 each time an image is taken. In addition, it does not have to be performed at the location of the control unit 135, and there is an effect of improving the throughput of X-ray imaging.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a preferred example of an X-ray imaging apparatus that is Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating irradiation field recognition 210 of irradiation field recognition means 145. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining subject recognition 310 of an irradiation field recognition means 145. It is a figure explaining the display means 150 and the operation means 140 which confirm an X-ray image and irradiation field recognition 210 or subject recognition 310. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an imaging flow of an X-ray imaging apparatus that is Embodiments 1 and 2. It is a schematic block diagram which shows a suitable example of the X-ray imaging apparatus which is Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

105 X-ray generation means 110 Subject 115 Portable X-ray image acquisition section 120 X-ray image acquisition means 125 Primary storage means 127 Reduction means 130 Transfer means 135 Control section 140 Operation means 145 Irradiation field recognition means 150 Display means 155 Out-of-region deletion means 160 Storage Unit 165 Image Processing Unit 205 X-ray Image Area 210 Irradiation Field Recognition 215 Irradiation Field 220 Subject Image
310 Subject recognition 315 Subject clipping region 410 Reduced image display 415 Recognition confirmation input means 505 X-ray image acquisition module 510 Reduced image transfer module 515 Irradiation field recognition module 520 Recognition confirmation module 525 Reset module 530 Out-of-region deletion module 535 X-ray image re- Storage module 540 X-ray image transfer module 545 X-ray image storage module 550 Image processing module

Claims (10)

  A primary X-ray image acquisition unit that can be attached to and detached from a gantry, a control unit that controls the portable X-ray image acquisition unit, and an X-ray image that is primarily stored in the portable X-ray image acquisition unit before transfer A storage unit, a reduction unit that reduces an X-ray image, an irradiation field recognition unit that recognizes an irradiation field of the X-ray image inside the control unit, and an unnecessary portion outside the region recognized by the irradiation field recognition unit. Out-of-region deletion means for deleting inside the portable X-ray image acquisition unit; transfer means for transferring the X-ray image stored in the primary storage means to the control unit; and An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising a storage means for storing inside the control unit, wherein the X-ray image from which unnecessary portions have been deleted by the out-of-region deletion means is stored in the primary storage means. .   2. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the transferred image, wherein the irradiation field recognition means displays the outline of the recognized irradiation field together with the X-ray image on the display means. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is provided in the control unit.   4. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image displayed on the display means is a reduced image.   The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation field recognition by the irradiation field recognition unit is performed with a reduced image.   5. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the unnecessary part is deleted by the out-of-region deletion unit after an irradiation field recognition confirmation is input from the control unit. X-ray imaging device.   The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 is located inside the portable X-ray image acquisition unit.   The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portable X-ray image acquisition unit and the control unit are integrated, and the storage unit is outside the control unit. X-ray imaging apparatus of Claims 7-7.   The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation field recognizing unit recognizes only a subject region.   The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transfers an X-ray image from which an unnecessary portion has been deleted by the out-of-region deletion unit to the storage unit. X-ray imaging equipment.

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