JP2006204744A - Radiological imaging apparatus and radiological imaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the exposed dose of an object by adjusting the displacement of an exposure field and the object before final imaging. <P>SOLUTION: This radiological imaging apparatus comprises: a radiation source for irradiating the object with radiation; a cassette-type radiological image detector which faces the radiation source via the object, which acquires information on the image of the object by detecting the radiation transmitted through the object, and which transfers at least a part of the information on the image; and a control part for controlling the radiation source and the radiological image detector. The control part makes the radiological image detector acquire the information on the image of the object by applying the radiation from the radiation source in the amount of the radiation required for the final imaging, after the control part makes the radiological image detector acquire the information on the image of the object by performing preliminary imaging wherein the radiation is applied from the radiation source in the amount of the radiation, smaller than that of the radiation required for the final imaging. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiographic image capturing apparatus and a radiographic image capturing system, and more particularly to a radiographic image capturing apparatus and a radiographic image capturing system for capturing a radiographic image typified by an X-ray image.

  Conventionally, in medical diagnosis, radiation images obtained by irradiating a subject with radiation such as X-rays and detecting the intensity distribution of the radiation transmitted through the subject have been widely used. At this time, a radiographic imaging apparatus using an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) that detects radiation, converts it into electrical energy, and detects it as radiographic image information has been proposed.

In this radiographic image capturing apparatus, a PC (Personal Computer) for controlling an imaging operation of an FPD disposed in an imaging room via a predetermined communication line in order to improve the degree of freedom of the system configuration. And the like that are configured to be used in connection with a predetermined photographing operation control unit such as the above (for example, see Patent Document 1).
In addition, a cassette type FPD in which the FPD is accommodated in a cassette has been developed for the purpose of improving the transportability and handleability of the FPD (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  The cassette-type FPD can be disposed between an inpatient and a bed even during a round visit due to its transportability, so that radiography can be performed in a hospital room. In this case, a radiation source, a console for controlling the radiation source and the cassette type FPD, and the like are also carried into the hospital room.

JP 2003-199736 A JP-A-6-342099

  By the way, when the cassette type FPD is arranged between the patient (photographing part of the subject) and the bed, the installation positions of the cassette type FPD and the radiation source are not defined, and therefore the irradiation field of the radiation source is the cassette type FPD. It may deviate from. Even if the irradiation field of the radiation source and the relative position of the cassette type FPD are set accurately, the imaging region of the subject may be out of the irradiation field in some cases. Even if there is a positional shift between the radiation field of the radiation source and the cassette type FPD, a positional shift of the imaging region, etc., it is not known unless the image obtained by performing radiographic imaging once is analyzed. In the case where the above-described misalignment is large and hinders diagnosis, it is necessary to perform re-imaging after correcting the misalignment. As a result, two radiographic image captures are performed.

  It is an object of the present invention to reduce an extra exposure dose due to re-imaging by confirming whether or not the irradiation field and subject are shifted in advance before the actual imaging.

A radiographic imaging device according to the invention of claim 1 is provided.
A radiation source for irradiating the subject with radiation,
A cassette-type radiation image detection apparatus that confronts the radiation source through the subject, detects radiation transmitted through the subject, acquires image information of the subject, and transfers at least a part of the image information;
A control unit for controlling the radiation source and the radiation image detection device,
The control unit performs preliminary imaging in which radiation is emitted from the radiation source with a radiation dose lower than that necessary for main imaging, and causes the radiological image detection apparatus to acquire image information of the subject. The radiation image is irradiated from the radiation source with a radiation dose necessary for the main imaging, and the radiographic image detection apparatus acquires image information of the subject.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the image information of the subject is acquired with a radiation dose lower than the radiation dose required for the main imaging, and then the image information of the subject is acquired with the radiation dose required for the main imaging. The positional deviation can be recognized by preliminary photographing performed before the main photographing. Since the radiation dose for preliminary imaging is lower than the radiation dose required for actual imaging, it is possible to check the presence and extent of the irradiation field and subject displacement before actual imaging while reducing the extra exposure dose due to re-imaging. can do.

The invention described in claim 2 is the radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
A notification unit for reporting based on the control of the control unit;
The control unit detects an irradiation field of the radiation source or the position of the subject based on at least a part of the image information transferred from the radiological image detection apparatus after the preliminary imaging, and detects the irradiation field or the subject. When the position is not appropriate, the notification section notifies the positional deviation of the irradiation field or the subject before the main photographing.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control unit detects the irradiation field of the radiation source or the subject on the basis of at least a part of the image information obtained by the preliminary photographing, and recognizes the position shift. The determination of the deviation is automatically performed. If the position of the irradiation field or subject is not appropriate based on this determination, the notification unit notifies the fact that the radiation field or subject is not properly positioned. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the positional deviation of the subject, and as a result, it is possible to omit extra re-photographing.

The invention described in claim 3 is the radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 2,
The control unit automatically determines whether the irradiation field or the subject is detected at an appropriate position.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since it is automatically determined whether the irradiation field or the subject is detected at an appropriate position, it is possible to save the labor of the determination by the radiologist.

Invention of Claim 4 is set in the radiographic imaging device of Claim 3,
The control unit performs main imaging when the result of the determination is detected at an appropriate position, and when the result of the determination is not detected at an appropriate position, the irradiation of radiation is stopped. The notification section notifies the positional deviation of the irradiation field or the subject.

  According to the invention of claim 4, when the result of the determination is not detected at the proper position, the radiation field or subject positional deviation is notified by the notification unit in a state where radiation irradiation is stopped. It is possible to prevent the subject from being irradiated with radiation during notification.

Invention of Claim 5 is a radiographic imaging apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The radiological image detection apparatus creates thumbnail image data based on the image information and transfers the thumbnail image data to the control unit.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, thumbnail image data is created based on the image information, and the thumbnail image data is transferred to the control unit. Therefore, automatic determination of misalignment based on the thumbnail image data. In addition, by displaying a thumbnail image, it is possible to determine misalignment by visual observation.

The radiographic imaging system in the invention according to claim 6,
A radiation source for irradiating the subject with radiation,
A cassette-type radiation image detection apparatus that confronts the radiation source through the subject, detects radiation transmitted through the subject, acquires image information of the subject, and transfers at least a part of the image information;
A console for controlling the radiation source and the radiation image detection device,
The console performs preliminary imaging in which radiation is emitted from the radiation source at a radiation dose lower than the radiation dose necessary for main imaging so that the radiological image detection apparatus acquires image information of the subject, and The radiation field of the radiation source or the position of the subject is detected based on at least a part of the image information, and when the position of the radiation field or the subject is appropriate, the radiation dose required for the main imaging is used. Radiation is emitted from a radiation source, and the radiographic image detection apparatus acquires image information of the subject.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the image information of the subject is acquired with a radiation dose lower than the radiation dose necessary for the main imaging, and then the radiation field of the radiation source or the subject based on at least a part of the image information. If the position of the object is detected and the position of the irradiation field or subject is appropriate, the image information of the subject is acquired with the radiation dose required for the main radiographing, so the preliminary radiographing is lower than the radiation dose required for the main radiography. It is possible to confirm whether or not there is a deviation between the irradiation field and the subject based on the radiation dose.

The invention according to claim 7 is the radiographic imaging system according to claim 6,
The console is characterized in that the main photographing is stopped when the position of the irradiation field or the subject is not appropriate.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the main photographing is stopped when the position of the irradiation field or the subject is not appropriate, it is possible to prevent the main photographing from being performed in a state where the position is not appropriate.

The invention according to claim 8 is the radiographic imaging system according to claim 6 or 7,
The console performs control based on at least a part of the image information transferred from the radiological image detection apparatus.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, since the console performs control based on at least a part of the image information transferred from the radiation image detection apparatus, the control based on at least a part of the image information is unified in the console. be able to.

Invention of Claim 9 is a radiographic imaging system as described in any one of Claims 6-8,
An informing unit for informing based on the control of the console,
The console detects an irradiation field of the radiation source or the position of the subject based on at least a part of the image information transferred from the radiological image detection apparatus after the preliminary imaging, and the position of the irradiation field or the subject Is not appropriate, the positional information of the irradiation field or the subject is notified by the notification unit before the main photographing.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the same operation and effect as the second aspect of the invention can be obtained.

Invention of Claim 10 is a radiographic imaging system as described in any one of Claims 6-9,
The console performs main imaging when the result of the determination is detected at an appropriate position, and when the result of the determination is not detected at an appropriate position, the irradiation of radiation is stopped, The notification unit notifies the position shift of the irradiation field or the subject.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the invention described in claim 4.

Invention of Claim 11 is a radiographic imaging system as described in any one of Claims 6-10,
The radiological image detection apparatus generates thumbnail image data based on the image information, and transfers the thumbnail image data to the console.

  According to the invention of the eleventh aspect, the same operation and effect as those of the invention of the fifth aspect can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to confirm the presence or absence of misalignment and the degree thereof by preliminary photographing performed with a very small irradiation dose before the main photographing. It is possible to suppress excessive exposure from re-photographing due to failure.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a radiographic image capturing apparatus exemplified as an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, the radiographic imaging device 1 is used in each hospital room, for example, by moving inside a hospital. For example, a base station (not shown) using a wireless communication system such as a wireless local area network (LAN). ) To communicate. The radiographic imaging apparatus 1 includes a base 3 having casters 2, a radiation source 4 that is supported by the base 3 and emits radiation, and a cassette-type radiographic image detection apparatus that detects radiation from the radiation source 4. 5 and a console 6 that is mounted on the base 3 and controls the radiation source 4 and the radiation image detection device 5. The radiation control device that controls the radiation source 4 and the console 6 that controls the radiation image detector 5 may be provided separately.

  The radiation source 4 is supported on the base 3 by a support part 31 erected from the base 3 and an arm part 32 extending horizontally from the upper end of the support part 31. Thereby, the radiation source 4 can be arranged above the patient (photographing part of the subject) S sleeping on the bed B in the hospital room. The radiation source 4 generates radiation when a tube voltage is applied, and a diaphragm device (not shown) for adjusting the radiation field is provided at the radiation irradiation port of the radiation source 4. It can be opened and closed freely. The radiation dose of the radiation source 4 is controlled by a radiation source control unit 41 mounted on the base 3.

Between the patient S and the bed B, the radiological image detection apparatus 5 is disposed so as to face the radiation source 4 through the patient S.
The radiological image detection apparatus 5 is, for example, a cassette type FPD, and as shown in FIG. 2, a control unit 51, a RAM 52, a ROM 53, a plane detection unit 54, an image memory 55, a communication unit 56, a power supply unit 57, and an input operation unit 58. Etc., and each part is connected by a bus 59.

  The plane detection unit 54 includes, for example, a glass substrate, and detects and detects radiation that has been irradiated from the radiation source 4 and transmitted through at least the patient S at a predetermined position on the substrate according to its intensity. A plurality of pixels that convert radiation into electrical signals and store them are arranged in a matrix.

  Here, although not shown in the drawing, the plane detection unit 54 detects, for example, a radiation light conversion layer that converts radiation into fluorescence (light) and fluorescence converted by the radiation light conversion layer and converts it into an electrical signal. Indirect type including a photoelectric conversion layer, or a direct type including a radiation electric signal conversion layer having a radiation receiving portion that directly converts radiation into electric charge instead of the radiation light conversion layer and the photoelectric conversion layer, etc. Is mentioned.

The image memory 55 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, for example, and stores image data (image information) of a radiographic image acquired by reading an electrical signal accumulated in the flat surface detection unit 54. ing.
The communication unit 56 communicates various information with the console 6 via a base station by a wireless communication method such as a wireless LAN.
The power supply unit 57 includes a rechargeable battery 30 that supplies power to each unit constituting the radiological image detection apparatus 5, and is charged via a charging terminal (not shown) provided at a predetermined position of the radiographic image detection apparatus 5. It is configured to be possible.
An input operation unit 58 for inputting an instruction from a radiologist is provided on one surface of the housing of the radiation image detection apparatus 5.

The control unit 51 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, reads a predetermined program stored in the ROM 53, develops it in the work area of the RAM 22, and executes various processes according to the program.
Specifically, for example, the control unit 51 controls a switching unit such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) that constitutes each pixel of the plane detection unit 54, and reads the electrical signal accumulated in each pixel. The image data of the radiation image is acquired from the plane detection unit 54 by switching and reading the electrical signal accumulated in the plane detection unit 54. Here, the control unit 51 creates thumbnail image data based on at least a part of the acquired image data. The control unit 51 is configured to output the created thumbnail image data and image data to the console 6 via the communication unit 56 and the base station.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the console 6 includes a control unit 61, a RAM 62, a ROM 63, a display unit 64, an input operation unit 65, a communication unit 66, and the like, and each unit is connected by a bus 67.

  The display unit 64 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and the like, and is notified by displaying various screens in accordance with control signals from the control unit 61. . That is, the display unit 64 is a notification unit according to the present invention.

  The input operation unit 65 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and outputs a key press signal pressed by the keyboard or an operation signal from the mouse to the control unit 61 as an input signal. . The input operation unit 65 does not perform an automatic determination mode in which it is automatically determined whether or not the subject image is detected at the proper position by the radiation image detection device 5, and does not determine whether or not the subject image is detected at the proper position. The judgment-unnecessary mode can be selected. Note that the selection of the automatic determination mode and the determination unnecessary mode may be performed by the input operation unit 58 of the radiation image detection apparatus 5.

The communication unit 66 communicates various types of information with the radiation image detection device 5 and the radiation source control unit 41 via a base station by a wireless communication method such as a wireless LAN.
The control unit 61 is composed of, for example, a CPU or the like, reads a predetermined program stored in the ROM 63, develops it in the work area of the RAM 62, and executes various processes according to the program.

  Specifically, in the radiographic image capturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 61 determines whether the subject image is detected at an appropriate position based on an input instruction from the input operation unit 65. It has become.

The control unit 61 of the console 6 performs preliminary imaging by irradiating radiation from the radiation source 4 with a radiation dose lower than the radiation dose necessary for main imaging, and the thumbnail image created by the radiation image detection device 5 by this preliminary imaging. Based on the data, the part corresponding to the irradiation field or the subject is recognized, and it is determined whether the part corresponding to the certified irradiation field or the patient S is included in the radiation image without protruding. Yes. If the radiation field or the portion corresponding to the patient S is within the radiographic image, all the radiation irradiated from the radiation source 4 and transmitted through the patient S is detected by the radiographic image detection device 5, and the entire subject image is obtained. Therefore, it is determined that the subject image is detected at the proper position, and if it does not fit, it is determined that the subject image is not detected at the proper position.
Note that the thumbnail image data obtained by the preliminary photographing becomes an image that is difficult to diagnose because of a small dose, but has sufficient image quality for detecting the position of the subject image.

Here, as a method for identifying an irradiation field or subject in a radiographic image, for example, the following method can be applied.
First, differentiation processing is performed using image data on a line segment from a predetermined position on the imaging surface toward the end of the imaging surface. Since the differential signal obtained by this differentiation process has a signal level that is large at the irradiation field edge portion, one signal field edge candidate point is obtained by determining the signal level of the differential signal. A plurality of irradiation field edge candidate points are obtained by performing the process of obtaining the irradiation field edge candidate points radially about a predetermined position on the imaging surface. An irradiation field edge portion obtained by connecting a plurality of irradiation field edge candidate points obtained in this way with a straight line or a curve is recognized as an irradiation field in the radiation image.

  Further, for example, the following method can be applied. In other words, when the imaging surface is divided into a plurality of small areas, the radiation dose of the radiation is substantially uniform and the dispersion value of the image data is small in the small areas outside the irradiation field where radiation irradiation is blocked by the irradiation field stop. Become. In addition, in a small region within the irradiation field, the radiation value is modulated by the subject, so that the dispersion value is higher than that outside the irradiation field. Further, in a small region including the irradiation field edge portion, the portion with the smallest radiation dose and the portion with the radiation dose modulated by the subject coexist, so the dispersion value is the highest. From this, the small area including the irradiation field edge portion is discriminated based on the dispersion value, and the obtained irradiation field edge portion is recognized as the irradiation field in the radiation image.

  If the irradiation field edge obtained by the above method is interrupted at the end of the radiation image, it is determined that the irradiation field is not included in the radiation image, and the irradiation field edge is interrupted. If there is no spot, it can be determined that the irradiation field is within the radiation image.

  In addition, when there is a portion where the irradiation field edge portion is interrupted, the control unit 61 determines which portion of the imaging region may not be imaged based on the position where the irradiation field edge portion is interrupted. As a reason for not being detected at an appropriate position, it is authorized.

  On the other hand, when the irradiation field does not exist, it is determined whether or not there is a part corresponding to the irradiation field in the radiographic image by certifying the part corresponding to the irradiation field by the same method as the above method. When there is a part corresponding to the irradiation field, there is a possibility that a part of the subject image may not be detected because the irradiation field exists even though there should be no irradiation field. Therefore, it is determined that the subject image has not been detected at an appropriate position. Also in this case, the control unit 61 does not detect, at an appropriate position, which part of the imaging region may not be imaged based on the position where the irradiation field edge part is interrupted. It has come to be certified as a reason.

  When there is no portion corresponding to the irradiation field, the control unit 61 recognizes a specific area determined for each imaging region, and the subject image is in an appropriate position based on the position of the recognized specific area in the radiographic image. It is designed to determine whether or not it has been detected.

  Specifically, the ROM 63 stores a profile related to a specific area determined for each imaging region and appropriate position information of the specific area. A profile refers to a change in pixel value on an arbitrary line segment on a horizontal axis for a standard image of a specific region in the imaging region (for example, “lung” when the imaging region is “chest”). It is represented by taking pixel values on the position on the line segment and on the vertical axis, and is created as a horizontal profile and a vertical profile in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively. In addition, the proper position information includes the shape of the imaging region and the position of the specific region in the imaging region. If the specific region exists in this range, the entire imaging region is included in the radiographic image. It is the information regarding the said range.

  Note that a plurality of specific areas may be defined such as “thumb” and “little finger” when the imaging region is “hand”. Thereby, it is determined whether the subject image is detected at an appropriate position with higher accuracy.

  The control unit 61 acquires a profile corresponding to the imaging part related to the imaging part information received from the console 6, and scans the horizontal profile and the vertical profile of the profile in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the detected radiation image, respectively. The minimum value, the maximum value, the inflection point, the intersection with the threshold value, and the like are obtained, and based on these, the specific region in the radiographic image is recognized. When the appropriate position information of the specific area corresponding to the imaging part related to the imaging part information received from the console 6 is acquired, and the specific area recognized as the predetermined range indicated by the appropriate position information is included It is determined that the subject image has been detected at the proper position, and if the specific area is not included in the predetermined range, it is determined that the subject image has not been detected at the proper position.

  When the specific area is not included in the predetermined range, the control unit 61 determines which part of the imaging region may not be imaged based on the position where the identified specific area exists. The reason why the subject image is not detected at an appropriate position is recognized.

  Further, the control unit 61 causes the display unit 64 to display a determination result as to whether or not the irradiation field or the patient S is detected at an appropriate position. At this time, if it is detected at an appropriate position, the control unit 61 controls the radiation source control unit 41 so that the radiation dose of the radiation source 4 is set as the radiation dose necessary for the main imaging, and the radiation is emitted from the radiation source 4. Each part is controlled to irradiate and perform actual photographing. On the other hand, if it is not detected at the proper position, the control unit 61 stops the main imaging by stopping the irradiation of radiation, and the display unit 64 of the console 6 deviates from the comment or the appropriate position. Display thumbnail images of images. Based on this display, the radiologist corrects the positional deviation and performs imaging again. At this time, the automatic determination mode may be turned off.

  Next, radiographic image capturing processing in the radiographic image capturing apparatus 1 will be described.

  First, the radiographer carries the radiographic imaging device 1 into a patient room of a patient (patient S) to be a round-trip target. At this time, the radiologist arranges the radiation image detection device 5 between the affected part of the patient S and the bed B, and arranges the radiation source 4 so as to face the radiation image detection device 5 through the patient S.

  When the imaging preparation is completed, the radiologist operates the input operation unit 65 of the console 6 so that preliminary imaging is started. Based on the operation result of the input operation unit 65, the control unit 61 of the console 6 controls the radiation source control unit 41 so that the radiation dose is lower than the radiation dose necessary for the main imaging. Here, the radiation dose at the time of preliminary imaging is 1/10 or less, preferably 1/100 of the radiation dose required for main imaging, that is, the radiation dose (mAs value etc.) input (set) by the input operation unit 65 or the like. It is as follows.

  Thereafter, the control unit 61 of the console 6 controls the radiation source control unit 41 to irradiate radiation from the patient S to the plane detection unit 54 of the radiation image detection device 5 by irradiating radiation from the radiation source 4. To do. The plane detection unit 54 detects incident radiation and converts it into electrical energy, accumulates / reads the electrical energy, and obtains image data of the subject. The control unit 51 of the radiological image detection apparatus 5 creates thumbnail image data based on at least a part of the image data, and transfers the thumbnail image data to the console 6 via the communication unit 56 and the base station.

  The control unit 61 of the console 6 detects the position of the irradiation field or the patient S based on the input thumbnail image data, and determines whether or not the position is appropriate. If appropriate, the control unit 61 controls the radiation source control unit 41 so as to obtain a radiation dose necessary for the main imaging, and starts the main imaging. At this time, it is desirable to shorten the waiting time of the patient from the preliminary photographing to the main photographing as short as possible. And the control part 61 of the console 6 controls the radiation source control part 41, and irradiates the radiation which permeate | transmitted the patient S to the plane detection part 54 of the radiation image detection apparatus 5 by irradiating a radiation from the radiation source 4. The image data of the patient S is acquired and transmitted to the server. The image data is subjected to image processing by the server and then output as appropriate, and is used as a radiation image for diagnosis by a doctor.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the position of the irradiation field or the patient S is not appropriate, the control unit 61 of the console 6 causes the position of the irradiation field or the patient S to be shifted on the display unit 64 before the actual photographing. Is displayed and the content is notified. Thereby, the radiographer adjusts the relative positional deviation of the radiation source 4 and the radiographic image detection apparatus 5 and the positional deviation of the patient S before the main imaging. When the adjustment is completed, the radiologist inputs a main imaging start instruction to the input operation unit 65 of the console 6. Based on this input, the control unit 61 of the console 6 controls the radiation source control unit 41 to irradiate radiation from the radiation source 4, thereby transmitting the patient S to the flat surface detection unit 54 of the radiation image detection device 5. The image data of the patient S is acquired and transmitted to the server. Note that the console 6 may also serve as a server. Then, the server performs image processing on the image data, creates a thumbnail image based on the image data, and transfers the thumbnail image to the console 6. The console 6 displays the transferred thumbnail image on the display unit 64.
When it is determined that the position of the irradiation field or the patient S is not appropriate, preliminary imaging may be performed once again to determine again whether or not the positions of the irradiation field and the patient S are appropriate.

As described above, according to the radiation image capturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the image information of the patient S is acquired with a radiation dose lower than the radiation dose necessary for the main imaging, and then the radiation dose necessary for the main imaging is obtained. Since the image information of the patient S is acquired, the positional deviation can be recognized by the preliminary photographing performed before the main photographing. Since the radiation dose for the preliminary imaging is lower than the radiation dose required for the main imaging, it is possible to confirm the positional deviation of the irradiation field and the patient S before the main imaging while reducing the exposure dose to the patient S.
And since the control part 61 detects the irradiation field of the radiation source 4 or the patient S based on at least a part of the image information obtained by the preliminary photographing and recognizes the positional deviation, the judgment of the positional deviation is automatic. Will be done. If the position of the irradiation field or the patient S is not appropriate according to this determination, the display unit 64 notifies that effect, so that the radiologist can determine the relative positions of the radiation source and the radiation image detection device before the main imaging. The shift and the position shift of the subject can be adjusted, and as a result, there is no need to perform re-shooting.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.
For example, in this embodiment, the control unit 61 of the console 6 determines the positional deviation of the irradiation field of the radiation source 4 or the patient S. However, the control unit 51 of the radiographic image detection device 5 determines the positional deviation. You may make it judge. In such a case, the control unit 51 of the radiological image detection apparatus and the control unit 61 of the console 6 are control units according to the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the irradiation field of the radiation source 4 or the position shift of the patient S is automatically determined, but the image data obtained by the preliminary imaging is output to the display unit 64 of the console 6. Thus, the radiologist may determine the position shift visually.
In this embodiment, the case where various image processes are performed by the server has been described as an example. However, the various image processes may be performed by the console 6 or the radiation image detection apparatus 5 and then transferred to the server.
In this embodiment, the case where communication between the console 6 and the radiation image detection apparatus 5 is performed wirelessly is described as an example. However, wired communication may be used.

In the present embodiment, the radiation image capturing apparatus has been described as an example. However, a radiation image capturing system including the radiation source 4, the radiation image detecting apparatus 5, and the console 6 may be used. In this case, the console 6 performs preliminary imaging in which radiation is emitted from the radiation source 4 with a radiation dose lower than that required for the main imaging, so that the radiation image detection device 5 acquires the image information of the subject, When the irradiation field or subject position of the radiation source 4 is detected based on at least a part of the image information, and the irradiation field or subject position is appropriate, the radiation source emits radiation with the radiation dose required for the main imaging. The radiation image detection device 5 is made to acquire image information of the subject.
Accordingly, it is possible to confirm whether or not the irradiation field and the subject are shifted from each other and the extent thereof by the preliminary imaging radiation amount lower than the radiation amount necessary for the main imaging.
Further, if the console 6 stops the main shooting when the position of the irradiation field or the subject is not appropriate, it is possible to prevent the main shooting from being performed in a state where the position is not appropriate.
In addition, since the console 6 performs control based on at least a part of the image information transferred from the radiation image detection device 5, the control based on at least a part of the image information can be unified in the console 6.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the radiographic imaging apparatus illustrated as embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the radiographic image detection apparatus which comprises the radiographic imaging apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the console which comprises the radiographic imaging apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Radiographic imaging apparatus 4 Radiation source 5 Radiation image detection apparatus 6 Console (control part)
64 Display unit (notification unit)
S Patient (Subject's imaging part)

Claims (11)

A radiation source for irradiating the subject with radiation,
A cassette-type radiation image detection apparatus that confronts the radiation source through the subject, detects radiation transmitted through the subject, acquires image information of the subject, and transfers at least a part of the image information;
A control unit for controlling the radiation source and the radiation image detection device,
The control unit performs preliminary imaging in which radiation is emitted from the radiation source with a radiation dose lower than that necessary for main imaging, and causes the radiological image detection apparatus to acquire image information of the subject. A radiation image capturing apparatus, wherein the radiation image is irradiated from the radiation source with a radiation dose necessary for the main imaging, and the image information of the subject is acquired by the radiation image detection apparatus. The radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
A notification unit for reporting based on the control of the control unit;
The control unit detects an irradiation field of the radiation source or the position of the subject based on at least a part of the image information transferred from the radiological image detection apparatus after the preliminary imaging, and detects the irradiation field or the subject. When the position is not appropriate, the radiographic image capturing apparatus is characterized in that the notification unit notifies the positional deviation of the irradiation field or the subject before the main imaging. In the radiographic imaging device of Claim 2,
The radiographic imaging apparatus, wherein the control unit automatically determines whether the irradiation field or the subject is detected at an appropriate position. In the radiographic imaging device of Claim 3,
The control unit performs main imaging when the result of the determination is detected at an appropriate position, and when the result of the determination is not detected at an appropriate position, the irradiation of radiation is stopped. A radiographic imaging apparatus, wherein the notification unit notifies the positional deviation of the irradiation field or the subject. In the radiographic imaging apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The radiographic image capturing apparatus, wherein the radiographic image detection apparatus creates thumbnail image data based on the image information and transfers the thumbnail image data to the control unit. A radiation source for irradiating the subject with radiation,
A cassette-type radiation image detection apparatus that confronts the radiation source through the subject, detects radiation transmitted through the subject, acquires image information of the subject, and transfers at least a part of the image information;
A console for controlling the radiation source and the radiation image detection device,
The console performs preliminary imaging in which radiation is emitted from the radiation source at a radiation dose lower than the radiation dose necessary for main imaging so that the radiological image detection apparatus acquires image information of the subject, and The radiation field of the radiation source or the position of the subject is detected based on at least a part of the image information, and when the position of the radiation field or the subject is appropriate, the radiation dose required for the main imaging is used. A radiation image capturing system, wherein radiation is emitted from a radiation source and the radiation image detection apparatus acquires image information of the subject. In the radiographic imaging system of Claim 6,
The radiographic imaging system, wherein the console stops the main imaging when the position of the irradiation field or the subject is not appropriate. The radiographic imaging system according to claim 6 or 7,
The radiographic imaging system, wherein the console performs control based on at least a part of the image information transferred from the radiographic image detection apparatus. In the radiographic imaging system as described in any one of Claims 6-8,
An informing unit for informing based on the control of the console,
The console detects an irradiation field of the radiation source or the position of the subject based on at least a part of the image information transferred from the radiological image detection apparatus after the preliminary imaging, and the position of the irradiation field or the subject Is not appropriate, the radiographic imaging system is characterized in that the notification unit notifies the positional deviation of the irradiation field or the subject before the main imaging. In the radiographic imaging system as described in any one of Claims 6-9,
The console performs main imaging when the result of the determination is detected at an appropriate position, and when the result of the determination is not detected at an appropriate position, the irradiation of radiation is stopped, The radiographic imaging system, wherein the notification unit notifies the positional deviation of the irradiation field or the subject. In the radiographic imaging system as described in any one of Claims 6-10,
The radiographic image detection system, wherein the radiographic image detection apparatus creates thumbnail image data based on the image information and transfers the thumbnail image data to the console.

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