JP2008178578A - Radiation image photographing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radiation image photographing system, having simple system configuration, conveniently designed, and achieving power-saving of FPD. <P>SOLUTION: This radiation image photographing system includes: a plurality of radiation image detectors for photoelectric-converting radiation transmitted through a subject to generate radiation image data; a plurality of consoles for acquiring and processing the radiation image data generated by the radiation image detectors, wherein the radiation image detectors respectively include: a battery for supplying power to the respective parts of the radiation image detector; a plurality of power supply modes different in power supply state of the battery to the respective parts; a control part for switching the power supply mode; and a wireless communicating part for communicating with the consoles by wireless PAN, wherein the consoles respectively include: a wireless communicating part communicating with the radiation image detector by the wireless PAN; and a control part for broadcasting a control signal for switching the power supply mode through the wireless communicating part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiographic imaging system.

  Conventionally, in medical diagnosis, radiation images typified by X-ray images have been widely used. In recent years, a radiographic imaging system using an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) capable of outputting a radiographic image as a digital image has been proposed.

  Patent Document 1 describes a radiographic imaging system including a battery-driven cassette type FPD (hereinafter simply referred to as FPD) and a console. In the system, in order to save the power of the FPD, the FPD, for example, includes a shooting mode, a first standby mode that consumes less power than the shooting mode, and a second standby that consumes less power than the first standby mode. Has a mode. For example, in the shooting mode, power is supplied to all members of the FPD (signal readout circuit, scan drive circuit, photodiode, TFT, image storage unit, image transfer unit, and signal reception unit). The first standby mode is a mode that can immediately respond to shooting, and power is not supplied to a functional unit that does not require time to stabilize, such as a signal readout circuit. The second standby mode is a mode in which there is a low possibility of immediately taking a picture, and mainly enables the function of the communication system, and no power is supplied to the signal readout circuit, the scan drive circuit, the photodiode, and the TFT. These modes can be switched based on a switching signal from the console.

Patent Document 2 describes a radiographic imaging system suitably used in a large-scale medical facility equipped with a plurality of imaging rooms, a plurality of FPDs, and a plurality of consoles. Each FPD is configured to be able to communicate with any console, and is described to communicate with the console by wireless communication.
JP 2006-208308 A International Publication No. 2005/96944 Pamphlet

  For example, in a radiographic imaging system including a plurality of radiographing rooms, a plurality of FPDs, and a plurality of consoles, each FPD and each console are installed at a distance from the radiographing room, and a plurality of radiologists (hereinafter simply referred to as “radiologists”) A configuration that can be used in common among engineers) is assumed.

  In this case, the server managing the shooting order information and each console are connected via a network, the server transmits the shooting order information generated to each console, and each console lists the shooting order information. Is displayed. The imaging order information selected from the list at an arbitrary console is generally managed by the server so that it cannot be selected at other consoles, and is configured to prevent duplicate imaging.

  The technician selects the imaging order information of the subject to be examined from the list, appropriately selects an arbitrary FPD from a plurality of FPDs installed outside the imaging room, carries it to the imaging room, and performs imaging. Then, the obtained image data is transferred to the console, and then the FPD is returned to the original installation location.

  At this time, assuming that the FPD installed outside the photographing room is in the second standby mode as in Patent Document 1, the engineer operates the console to place the FPD in the second standby mode when photographing. Therefore, it is necessary to shift to the first standby mode or shooting mode.

  When performing mode transition, if each FPD is connected to the network and an ID is assigned to each FPD, the desired FPD ID can be specified from the console and only the relevant FPD can be transitioned. Not suitable for. In addition, in order to designate a desired FPD, the engineer needs to know in advance the storage location and ID of the desired FPD, which is inconvenient for the engineer.

  In order to avoid this problem, for example, it is conceivable to change the mode of all FPDs when shooting, but if all the FPDs are changed to the mode, FPDs not related to shooting will also be changed to the mode. FPD power that is not related to shooting is wasted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a radiographic imaging system that is easy to use with a simple system configuration and can save power of an FPD. .

  The radiographic imaging system of the present invention acquires and processes a plurality of radiographic image detectors that photoelectrically convert radiation transmitted through a subject to generate radiographic image data, and radiographic image data generated by the radiographic image detector. A radiographic imaging system having a plurality of consoles, wherein the radiographic image detector includes a battery that supplies power to each unit of the radiographic image detector, and a plurality of powers that are different in power supply state to each unit by the battery A control unit that switches between a supply mode, a power supply mode, and a wireless communication unit capable of communicating with the console by wireless PAN, and the console communicates with the radiation image detector. And a control signal for switching the power supply mode via the wireless communication unit. It is characterized by having a control unit which broadcasts.

  According to the present invention, the operation of broadcasting a control signal instructing power supply mode switching from the console to the radiographic image detector by wireless PAN communication having a narrow communicable area, detection of a nearby radiographic image intended for use Only the device can be switched to a power supply mode with high power consumption to be in a standby state, and other radiation image detectors can be left in a power supply mode with low power consumption. For this reason, there are few input operations from a console, it is easy to use, and the power saving of a radiographic image detector can be achieved.

  Hereinafter, although this embodiment is described based on a drawing, it is an example and is not limited to this embodiment.

(System configuration)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a radiographic image capturing system according to the present embodiment. Two imaging rooms 1a and 1b are provided, and radiation irradiation apparatuses 2a and 2b are installed in the imaging rooms 1a and 1b, respectively.

  FIG. 1 shows a state where a subject P enters the imaging room 1a, an FPD 3a serving as a radiation image detector is set for the subject P, and radiation exposure is performed from the radiation irradiation apparatus 2a. ing. The FPD 3a is brought from outside the photographing room 1a by an engineer.

  Two FPDs 3a and 3b are installed on the installation tables 4a and 4b outside the photographing rooms 1a and 1b, respectively. The FPDs 3a and 3b have a wireless communication function using a wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) that provides communication in a narrower area than the wireless LAN, and can perform wireless communication with consoles 5a and 5b described later. As the wireless PAN, technologies such as Bluetooth (IEEE.802.15.1a) and wireless USB (MB-OFDM method, DS-UWB method) can be used.

  In addition, outside the imaging rooms 1a and 1b, the FPDs 3a and 3b are controlled and image processing such as gradation processing is performed on the radiographic images received from the FPDs 3a and 3b, and the processed images and the selected imaging order information are displayed. Two consoles 5a and 5b to be associated are installed.

  The consoles 5a and 5b have a wireless communication function using a wireless PAN, similar to the FPDs 3a and 3b, and perform control of the FPDs 3a and 3b, acquisition of radiation image data from the FPDs 3a and 3b, and the like by wireless PAN communication. FIG. 1 shows the communicable areas Da and Db of the consoles 5a and 5b. It is assumed that communication is possible between the FPDs 3a and 3b located in the communicable areas Da and Db.

  The consoles 5a and 5b are also connected via a network 7 to a server 6 that generates and manages imaging order information such as the name and imaging region of the subject P. When shooting, the engineer operates the consoles 5a and 5b to read the shooting order information list from the server 6, and the target shooting order information is selected from the list.

  Note that the imaging order information already selected on the console 5a (5b) is configured not to be selected on the console 5b (5a).

  The shooting procedure of the engineer will be described. For example, a case where an engineer operates the console 5a, uses the FPD 3a, and takes a picture in the photographing room 1a will be described.

  First, the engineer operates the console 5a to read the imaging order information list from the server 6, and selects one or a plurality of imaging order information corresponding to the subject P to be imaged from the imaging information list.

  Next, the technician takes out the FPD 3a installed on the installation table 4a outside the imaging rooms 1a and 1b from the installation table 4a and carries it to the imaging room 1a.

  Next, the engineer adjusts the position of the subject P and / or the FPD 3a so that the imaging region of the subject P corresponds to the FPD 3a, and makes the FPD 3a transition to the imaging mode.

  Next, the engineer operates the radiation irradiation apparatus 2a, performs radiation exposure, and stores the radiation image data in the FPD 3a. When performing a plurality of photographing, this operation is repeated, and the image data is sequentially stored in the image storage unit 35 (see FIG. 2) of the FPD 3a.

  Next, the engineer carries the FPD 3a in which the radiation image data is stored and leaves the imaging room 1a.

  Next, the technician carries the FPD 3a in which the radiation image data is stored in the communicable area Da of the console 5a, operates the FPD 3a, and transfers the stored radiation image data from the FPD 3a to the console 5a.

  Next, the engineer returns the FPD 3a to the installation table 4a.

  Thereafter, the engineer returns to the console 5a that has selected the imaging order information, displays an image on the display unit of the console 5a, confirms the positioning of the subject P in the image and the content of the image processing, and finally The imaging order information and the processed image are associated with each other and transmitted to an image storage device such as PACS (not shown), and an image data deletion instruction is transmitted to the FPD 3a. The FPD 3a transitions to the second standby mode after the image data is erased by the image data erase instruction.

(Control configuration)
FIG. 2 is a control configuration diagram of the FPD 3 (3a, 3b) and the console 5 (5a, 5b) according to the present embodiment. The main components related to the control of the present invention will be described.

<FPD>
The FPD 3 includes the following units with the control unit 31 at the center.

  The control unit 31 includes a ROM that stores a control program, data, and the like, a CPU that executes control of the FPD 3 according to the control program, a RAM that the CPU uses as a work area, and the like.

  The imaging panel 32 includes a scintillator (not shown) that converts the radiation that has passed through the subject P into fluorescence such as visible light, a photodiode 321 that is arranged in a two-dimensional manner to generate and store charges corresponding to the fluorescence, and a photo TFTs (Thin Film Transistors) 322 serving as switching elements for transferring charges accumulated in the photodiodes 321 corresponding to the respective diodes 321 to the signal readout circuit 324, and scanning for switching the TFTs 322 for each column. The driving circuit 323 includes a signal reading circuit 324 that generates a digital signal based on the charge transferred by switching.

  The operation unit 33 has a transfer button or the like for transferring the radiation image data stored in the image storage unit 35 to the console 5.

  The display unit 34 includes an LED, a liquid crystal panel, and the like, and displays the state of the FPD 3 and the like.

  The image storage unit 35 stores radiation image data based on the digital signal output from the signal readout circuit 324.

  The image transfer unit 36 transfers the radiation image data stored in the image storage unit 35 to the wireless communication unit 37.

  The wireless communication unit 37 receives a control signal related to a power supply mode described later from the console 5 or transmits radiation image data to the console 5 by wireless PAN communication.

  The battery 38 is composed of a rechargeable battery or the like, and can supply power to each of the above parts independently by a power line (not shown).

  The FPD 3 has three power supply modes. In the shooting mode, power is supplied to all the above-described units of the FPD 3. The first standby mode is a mode that can immediately respond to shooting, and power is not supplied to the signal readout circuit 324 that does not require time to stabilize, and power is supplied to the other parts. Power consumption is low. The second standby mode is a mode in which there is a low possibility that imaging is performed immediately, power is supplied only to the wireless signal unit 37, power is not supplied to other units, and power consumption is higher than that of the first standby mode. Is decreasing. Each FPD 3 is controlled to the second standby mode at the start of radiology or the like.

<Console>
The console 5 is composed of a personal computer or the like, and includes the following units centered on the control unit 51.

  The control unit 51 includes a ROM that stores a control program, data, and the like, a CPU that executes control of the FPD 3 according to the control program, and a RAM that the CPU uses as a work area.

  The operation unit 52 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. An engineer instructs the reading of the imaging order information list from the server 6 or selects imaging order information corresponding to the subject P to be imaged from the imaging information list. To do.

  The display unit 53 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays a radiographing order information list read from the server 6 or displays radiation image data transmitted from the FPD 3.

  The network communication unit 54 is connected to the server 6 and the like via the network 7 and receives a shooting order information list and the like.

  The wireless communication unit 55 transmits a control signal related to the power supply mode to the FPD 3 or receives radiation image data from the FPD 3 by wireless PAN communication. The wireless communication unit 55 only needs to be provided in the vicinity of the console 5, and is not necessarily integrated with the console 5, and may be installed separately. As a wireless PAN, when using a UWB (Ultra Wide Band) standard conforming product having a frequency band of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, a maximum transfer rate of several hundred Mbps to 1 Gbps, and a communication distance of less than 10 m, the arrangement of the console 5 and the FPD 3 and This is preferable from the viewpoint of the engineer's workflow.

The image storage unit 56 temporarily stores the radiation image data received from the FPD 3 and stores the imaging order information and the processed image data that are finally associated with each other.
.

(Control flow)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart regarding processing between the FPD 3 (3a, 3b), the console 5 (5a, 5b), and each other in the radiographic imaging system according to the present embodiment. Main parts related to the control of the present invention will be described. As an initial state, it is assumed that the FPDs 3a and 3b are in the second standby mode.

  First, when an engineer performs a predetermined operation from the operation unit 52 of the console 5 (for example, the console 5a), the control unit 51 of the console 5 reads the imaging order information list from the server 6 via the network communication unit 54, The imaging order information list is displayed on the display unit 53 (step S1).

  Next, when the engineer operates the operation unit 52 to select the imaging order information corresponding to the subject P to be imaged from the imaging order information list displayed on the display unit 53, the control unit 51 performs the imaging. Imaging order information corresponding to the subject P is selected (step S2). These control unit 51, operation unit 52, display unit 53, network communication unit 54, and the like function as imaging order information acquisition means of the present invention.

  Next, the control unit 51 broadcasts a control signal instructing the shift to the first standby mode by wireless PAN communication via the wireless communication unit 55 (step S3). At this time, if the broadcast is from the console 5a, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the control signal reaches only the FPD 3a included in the communicable area Da of the console 5a. The control signal does not reach the FPD 3b.

  Thereby, the control part 31 of FPD3a receives the said control signal via the radio | wireless communication part 37, and makes FPD3a transfer to 1st standby mode from 2nd standby mode (step S4). The FPD 3b remains in the second standby mode and can save power.

  Next, the engineer takes out the FPD 3a in the first standby mode from the installation table 4a and carries it to the photographing room 1a. Thereafter, the control unit 31 adjusts the position of the subject P and / or the FPD 3a so that the imaging region of the subject P corresponds to the FPD 3a, and operates the operation unit 33 of the FPD 3a. The FPD 3a is shifted from the first standby mode to the shooting mode (step S5).

  Next, when the engineer operates the radiation irradiation apparatus 2a to perform radiation exposure, the control unit 31 of the FPD 3a controls each unit of the imaging panel 32 and stores the radiation image data in the image storage unit 35 ( Step S6).

  Next, the engineer carries the FPD 3a in which the radiation image data is stored and leaves the imaging room 1a. Thereafter, the engineer carries the FPD 3a in which the radiation image data is stored in the communicable area Da of the console 5a and operates the operation unit 33 of the FPD 3a, whereby the control unit 31 performs the radiation stored in the image storage unit 35. The image data is transferred from the FPD 3a to the console 5a via the wireless communication unit 37 (step S7).

  Thereby, the control part 51 of the console 5a receives the said radiographic image data via the radio | wireless communication part 55, matches with the imaging | photography order information selected by step S2, and memorize | stores it in the image memory | storage part 56 (step S8). .

  After step S7, the control unit 31 of the FPD 3a shifts the FPD 3a from the shooting mode to the second standby mode (step S9).

  According to the present embodiment, the control signal for instructing the transition to the first standby mode is broadcasted from the console 5 to the FPD 3 by the wireless PAN communication having a narrow communicable area D. Only the FPD 3 can be shifted to the first standby mode, and the other FPDs 3 can remain in the second standby mode with low power consumption. For this reason, even in a simple system configuration in which no ID is provided in the FPD, it is easy to use and power saving of the FPD can be achieved.

  In addition, when the imaging order information is selected in the console 5 and then radiation image data is input from the FPD 3, the radiation image data and the imaging order information are associated with each other by associating the radiographic image data with the imaging order information. Can be reliably associated with each other.

  In the present embodiment, the power supply mode has been described by using an example having three power supply modes of the photographing mode, the first standby mode, and the second standby mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least two power supply modes are available. It is sufficient that a power supply mode is provided.

  In the present embodiment, a system using two FPDs 3 and two consoles 5 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to provide a plurality of systems, and the number of each may be different. Absent. Further, even if there are a plurality of FPDs 3 in the communicable area D of the console and the plurality of FPDs 3 shift to the first standby mode, the FPDs 3 outside the communicable area D do not shift to the first standby mode. As a result, the entire system can save power.

It is a block diagram of the radiographic imaging system concerning this embodiment. It is a control block diagram of FPD3 (3a, 3b) and console 5 (5a, 5b) which concern on this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart regarding processing between the FPD 3 (3a, 3b), the console 5 (5a, 5b), and each other in the radiographic imaging system according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

3a, 3b FPD
31 Control Unit 32 Imaging Panel 37 Wireless Communication Unit 38 Battery 5a, 5b Console 51 Control Unit 55 Wireless Communication Unit 56 Image Storage Unit

Claims (4)

A radiation image having a plurality of radiation image detectors that photoelectrically convert radiation transmitted through the subject to generate radiation image data, and a plurality of consoles that acquire and process the radiation image data generated by the radiation image detector. A shooting system,
The radiation image detector is
A battery for supplying power to each part of the radiation image detector;
A plurality of power supply modes with different power supply states to each part by the battery,
A control unit for switching the power supply mode;
A wireless communication unit capable of communicating with the console by wireless PAN;
Have
The console is
A wireless communication unit capable of communicating with the radiation image detector by wireless PAN;
A control unit that broadcasts a control signal for switching the power supply mode via the wireless communication unit;
A radiographic imaging system comprising: The radiographic image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless PAN uses Bluetooth or wireless USB technology. 3. The radiographic image according to claim 1, wherein when the control signal is input from the console, the control unit of the radiographic image detector switches to a power supply mode in a power supply state in which power consumption is large. Shooting system. The console includes imaging order information acquisition means for acquiring imaging order information of a subject subject, and an image storage unit that stores radiographic image data from the radiological image detector,
The control unit of the console broadcasts the control signal in a state where the imaging order information of the subject subject is acquired by the imaging order information acquisition unit, and then the radiation image data is input from the radiological image detector. The radiographic image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the radiographic image data is stored in the image storage unit in association with imaging order information of the subject subject. Shooting system.

Images