JP2006043191A - X-ray equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that wiring from an X-ray detector sometimes restrict the arrangement of an X-ray detector. <P>SOLUTION: A system consists of the X-ray detector, a charging/replacing apparatus, and a plurality of battery pack. The charging/replacing apparatus carries out replacing of a battery pack and the remainder management and charge management of the battery pack, and replaces the battery pack with an optimal one in the case of operating the system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is used, for example, in an imaging apparatus or an imaging system that irradiates a subject with radiation and forms an image signal of the subject, which is an intensity distribution of radiation transmitted through the subject, with an imaging element.

The power supply of an X-ray imaging apparatus using a conventional X-ray detector is connected to the power supply unit with a cable and is supplied with power. For this reason, the wiring from the X-ray detector may limit the arrangement of the X-ray detector. In order to solve this problem, there is one described as a wireless X-ray imaging apparatus (see Patent Document 1).
US Pat. No. 5,877,501 JP 2001-224579 A

  However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 shows a configuration in which a battery is built in the X-ray detector. However, when the remaining battery level is low and power supply is insufficient, the X-ray detector is not recharged during recharging. The point that it becomes unusable remains as a problem.

  In addition, the spare battery described in Patent Document 2 is built in and the X-ray detector can be used even during the charging period of the main battery, but since the cable is connected during the charging period, A problem arises that imposes restrictions on X-ray detector placement. In addition, the main battery can be replaced, and by preparing multiple battery packs and sequentially replacing them, the need for charging is eliminated while the X-ray detector is in use, but the battery pack has been replaced and removed from the X-ray detector. There is no detailed mention of charging the battery pack, and if the remaining battery pack is not managed, the X-ray detector may become unusable due to insufficient remaining battery packs. .

  The problem of the present invention is to manage the remaining battery level of the X-ray detector, avoid the situation where the X-ray detector becomes unusable, and always enable wireless use when using the X-ray detector. This is to eliminate the restriction on the degree of freedom of detector arrangement.

  According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is a system comprising an X-ray detector, a charger / exchanger, and a plurality of battery packs. The battery pack is replaced and removed in the charger / exchanger, and the remaining amount management of the battery pack is removed. This can be solved by managing the charge and replacing the battery pack with the optimal one when the system is running.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the situation in which the X-ray detector becomes unusable is avoided, and when using the X-ray detector, it can always be used wirelessly. It is possible to remove the restriction.

  The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

  The X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a configuration of an imaging unit 1, a wireless reception unit 11 that receives a signal from a wireless transmission unit 9 in the imaging unit 1, and an image processing device 12 that processes received image data.

  The imaging unit 1 is composed of each internal unit configured in the figure, and shows a planar X-ray detector (flat panel detector, hereinafter referred to as FPD). For example, the FPD 2 includes a combination of a scintillator made of cesium iodide (CsI) and a two-dimensional photodetector made of amorphous silicon (a-Si). When X-rays enter the scintillator, visible light is emitted to the two-dimensional photodetector, resulting in an X-ray visible light image.

  The pixels in each row of the two-dimensional photodetector are simultaneously addressed by the line driver 3, and the output is held in the sample and hold circuit 4. The charge of the pixel output held through the multiplexer 5 is amplified by the amplifier 6 and is sequentially converted into a digital value by the A / D converter 7. Control of these readout operations or imaging operations is performed by an FPD control circuit (not shown).

  Each time the reading of the pixels on each row is completed, the line driver 3 sequentially drives each row on the FPD 2, and as a result, all the pixels in the FPD 2 are digitized by the A / D conversion operation. The output of the A / D converter 7 is temporarily stored in the memory 8 and is output via the subsequent wireless transmission unit 9 when necessary.

  Electric power is supplied from the battery pack 10 to all the electric components constituting the photographing unit 1. Here, when the remaining amount of the battery pack 10 decreases and power supply becomes impossible, the battery pack 10 needs to be replaced. In order to check the remaining amount of the battery pack 10, the battery pack 10 main body or the photographing unit 1 displays the total remaining amount display or remaining amount warning display of the battery pack 10 composed of LEDs or the like, and sounds by a buzzer, a speaker, etc. The user may be urged to replace the battery pack 10 by a remaining amount warning using.

  In order to manage the remaining amount of the battery pack 10, the battery pack 10 is replaced by a dedicated charging system. FIG. 2 shows an outline of the above charging system. A plurality of battery packs 10 are built in the charger / exchanger 21. The quantity is calculated based on the system operating time in a hospital or the like using the imaging apparatus, the frequency of use, the number of images taken per subject (one patient), and the like. It is calculated from the time required for the process. That is, the number of battery packs 10 used is determined so that another battery pack 10 is always fully charged before one battery pack 10 is completely discharged. In this way, it is possible to prevent the photographing apparatus from becoming unusable due to insufficient charging of the battery pack 10. Such an operation is possible without requiring a dedicated device, but there is a possibility that the photographing device cannot be used unless the battery pack 10 is removed and charged properly. For example, hospitals with higher imaging frequency are busy with imaging work, and there are more factors that cause human error such as forgetting to charge the removed battery pack 10. From the time when the charged battery pack 10 is exhausted until the charging of one battery pack 10 is completed, it is fatal that the photographing apparatus becomes unusable, and the higher the photographing frequency, the higher the probability of occurrence. It becomes a problem. For this reason, the battery pack 10 is replaced by the charger / exchanger 21 so that the charge management of all the battery packs 10 is performed. The battery pack 10 removed from the photographing unit 1 is inserted from the insertion port 22 of the charger / exchanger 21. Instead, the fully charged battery pack 10 is discharged from the discharge port 23. By attaching this to the photographing unit 1, the replacement work of the battery pack 10 is completed. The charged battery pack 10 is immediately charged by the charging device 24. As described above, the number of the battery packs 10 is calculated in advance and is set so that insufficient charging does not occur. For example, in a hospital where the battery pack 10 is discharged in one hour per battery, if it takes 3 hours to fully charge the battery pack 10, prepare at least three battery packs 10. That's fine. On the other hand, when considering an operation in which only the battery pack 10 is replaced while the system is operating and charging is performed outside the system operating time, the battery pack 10 needs only to cover the system operating time. If the system operating time is 10 hours, it is necessary to prepare 10 battery packs 10 in this case. The present invention also has an effect of reducing the cost by minimizing the number of battery packs 10 to be used.

  In the above, the inlet 22 and the outlet 23 are provided separately, but one opening may be provided and the opening may be used for both purposes.

  In the charging device 24, the battery pack 10 to be charged is mounted with a non-volatile memory or the like, and the number of times of charging is recorded, and the number of times of charging is monitored or the full charge voltage is monitored. If the battery pack 10 is confirmed, the battery pack 10 may be discharged from the disposal port 25 to notify the user of the battery deterioration and prompt the user to replace it.

  The structure of the charging system in the second embodiment is shown in FIG. A plurality of battery packs 10 are built in the charger / exchanger 31. The method for determining the quantity is the same as in the first embodiment. The photographing unit 1 is arranged so that the battery pack 10 is inserted into the holder 32 when the photographing unit 1 is not used and when the battery pack 10 is replaced. In this state, the remaining amount of the battery pack 10 is measured, and when it is below a certain limit, the battery pack 10 is replaced in the same manner as in the first embodiment. When replacing the battery pack 10, the user may be prompted to replace the battery pack 10, and the battery pack 10 may be manually removed and replaced in the same procedure as in the first embodiment. Although it is good, a method in which replacement work is automatically performed in the holder portion 32 is more desirable. In this case, since the power supply terminal portion connecting the photographing unit 1 and the battery pack 10 is not exposed, it is effective in preventing accidents such as electric shock and short circuit. When the remaining amount of the battery pack 10 is equal to or greater than a certain limit, the battery pack 10 is not replaced, and the battery pack 10 is supplementally charged. Since charging is performed with the battery pack 10 mounted on the main body, charging from the power supply terminal unit to the photographing unit is impossible. Although a separate charging terminal may be provided in the battery pack 10, it is desirable to employ a non-contact charging mechanism in order to prevent the power supply terminal from being exposed as described above. The certain limit regarding the remaining amount indicating the replacement time of the battery pack 10 is determined from the maximum number of shots per subject (one patient) in a hospital or the like using the imaging apparatus, and this is determined for each hospital or the like. It can be changed to

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the charging system in the third embodiment. A plurality of battery packs 10 are built in the charger / exchanger 41. The method for determining the quantity is the same as in the first and second embodiments. The photographing unit 1 is arranged so that the battery pack 10 is inserted into the holder unit 42 when the photographing unit 1 is not used and when the battery pack 10 is replaced. The remaining amount measurement, removal and auxiliary charging of the battery pack 10 are performed in the same manner as in the second embodiment.

  The difference from the second embodiment is that a photographing information receiving unit 46 is added. For example, the control unit (not shown) receives photographing information about, for example, the number of photographs taken per subject (one patient), the photographing time for each photographing, and the like, and calculates the required power based on the photographing information. It is determined whether the remaining power of the battery pack 10 of the photographing unit 1 inserted in the holder unit 43 can supply the calculated power, and if necessary, exchange with another battery pack 10 is performed. The battery pack 10 to be replaced at this time is only required to be able to perform a series of photographings per subject (one patient), so that the battery pack 10 can be replaced without being fully charged and is a replacement target. The choice of the battery pack 10 increases. At this time, as described in the first embodiment, the battery deterioration degree is managed by managing the number of times of charging, etc., and the battery that is used less frequently than the plurality of battery packs 10 that meet the above replacement conditions. By selecting and using the pack 10, it is possible to disperse the usage frequency of the battery pack 10 and prevent early deterioration due to intensive use of some of the battery packs 10.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the X-ray imaging apparatus by this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the charging system in the 1st Example in this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the charging system in the 2nd Example in this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the charging system in the 3rd Example in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Shooting unit 2 FPD
3 Line Driver 4 Sample Hold Circuit 5 Multiplexer 6 Amplifier 7 A / D Converter 8 Memory 9 Wireless Transmitter 10 Battery Pack 11 Wireless Receiver 12 Image Processing Device 21 Charger / Exchanger 22 Input Port 23 Output Port 24 Charging Device 25 Discard mouth

Claims (1)

  The charging / exchanger includes a plurality of battery packs configured to be removable from the imaging unit, including an imaging unit, a wireless reception unit, an image processing device, and a charger / exchanger. An X-ray imaging apparatus, wherein the battery pack to be replaced is selected based on the charged state of the battery pack managed.

Images