JP2009183523A - Recharging cradle and radiographic imaging system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging cradle quickly acquiring a usable radiation converter and efficiently performing photographing, and a radiographic imaging system. <P>SOLUTION: The cradle 30 installed in a photographic room 36 perform charging a mounted electronic cassette 28 and transmits the charging condition and position information of the cradle 30 to a console 34, a personal digital assistant 32, other cradles 30a, 30b, 30c, ... through a network 39. The cradle 30 itself also receives the charging condition of the electronic cassette 28 and the position information of the cradles 30a, 30b, 30c, ... from the other cradles 30a, 30b, and 30c, .... If the charging condition of the electronic cassette 28 mounted on the cradle 30 is found not usable for photographing, an engineer selects and acquires an electronic cassette 28 usable for photographing in accordance with the charging condition of the other electronic cassette 28 and the position information of the cradles 30a, 30b, and 30c, ... received by the cradle 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging cradle that performs a charging process of a radiation converter that detects radiation that has passed through a subject and converts it into image information, and a radiographic imaging system using the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, radiation image capturing apparatuses that irradiate a subject with radiation and guide the radiation transmitted through the subject to a radiation converter to capture a radiation image are widely used.

  In this case, the radiation using a solid detection element made of amorphous silicon or the like that can directly convert the irradiated radiation into an electrical signal, or convert the radiation into visible light with a scintillator and then convert it into an electrical signal and read it out. A converter (electronic cassette) has been developed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Here, the radiation converter includes a portable type equipped with a battery and configured to be portable. In this case, if the capacity of the battery to be mounted is large, the weight of the radiation converter increases, which causes a problem in handling. For this reason, the battery capacity is limited to reduce the weight, while a charging cradle is arranged in the photographing room or in the vicinity thereof to charge the battery in a timely manner.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-248095 JP 2006-208306 A

  By the way, it takes a certain amount of time to charge the radiation converter to a usable state. Therefore, in order to efficiently perform the imaging process, it is desirable to install a plurality of charging cradles and charge a plurality of radiation converters beforehand in each charging cradle.

  However, the state of charge of the radiation converter varies depending on the elapsed time since the start of charging, the remaining battery level of the radiation converter, etc., and confirms the radiation converter loaded in the charging cradle. Only then can it be determined whether or not the radiation converter can be used for imaging. In this case, for example, when the charging cradle is dispersed and installed in the facility, it may take a considerable amount of time to find and acquire the radiation converter in a desired charging state. As a result, the efficiency of the photographing process may be hindered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a charging cradle capable of quickly acquiring a usable radiation converter and performing an imaging process efficiently, and a radiographic imaging system using the same. The purpose is to provide.

The charging cradle of the present invention is a charging cradle that performs a charging process of a radiation converter that detects radiation transmitted through a subject and converts it into image information,
The charging state of the connected radiation converter and the position information of the charging cradle are held, and the charging state and the position information can be transmitted to an external device.

Further, the radiographic imaging system of the present invention includes a radiation converter that detects radiation transmitted through a subject and converts it into image information;
A plurality of charging cradles for charging the radiation converter;
A display device that acquires a charging state of the connected radiation converter and position information of the charging cradle from each charging cradle, and displays the charging state and the position information;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, by transmitting the charging state of the radiation converter and the position information of the charging cradle charging the radiation converter to the external device, the radiation converter usable in the external device is transmitted. The location can be specified. The engineer can acquire the radiation converter from the specified location and can efficiently perform the imaging process.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a radiographic imaging system 20 installed in a hospital to which the charging cradle of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a radiographic imaging system 20 installed in one radiology department in the hospital. FIG.

  In the radiology department, a radiation source 24 that irradiates a patient 22 (subject) with radiation X having a dose according to imaging conditions, a radiation source control device 26 that controls the radiation source 24, and radiation X that has passed through the patient 22. It has an electronic cassette 28 (radiation converter) to detect, a cradle 30 (display device) for charging the electronic cassette 28, and an imaging switch for the radiation source 24. Control the portable information terminal 32 (display device), the radiation source control device 26, the cradle 30 and the portable information terminal 32, as well as patient information (subject information), imaging conditions, radiation image information acquired by imaging, and other necessary A console 34 (management device) that transmits and receives various information.

  The radiation source 24, the radiation source control device 26, and the cradle 30 are disposed in the imaging room 36, and the console 34 is disposed in the operation room 38 outside the imaging room 36. Necessary information is transmitted and received by wireless communication between the radiation source control device 26 and the portable information terminal 32, and between the portable information terminal 32 and the console 34.

  The patient information is information for specifying the patient 22 such as the name, sex, and patient ID number of the patient 22. The imaging conditions are conditions for determining a tube voltage, a tube current, an irradiation time, and the like for irradiating radiation X having an appropriate dose with respect to an imaging region of the patient 22. The conditions such as the method can be mentioned.

  The radiation source control device 26, the cradle 30 and the console 34 are connected to a network 39 in the hospital. The network 39 is connected to other radiology departments and cradles 30a, 30b, 30c,... Installed at necessary places, and comprehensively manages radiographic image information and other information handled in the radiology department. A radiology information system (RIS) 82 and a medical information system (HIS) 84 for comprehensively managing medical information in the hospital are connected. Imaging ordering information including patient information and imaging conditions can be set directly on the console 34 or supplied to the console 34 via the RIS 82 from the outside.

  FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the electronic cassette 28. The electronic cassette 28 includes a casing 40 made of a material that transmits the radiation X. Inside the casing 40, from the irradiation surface side irradiated with the radiation X, a grid 42 for removing scattered radiation of the radiation X by the patient 22, a radiation conversion panel 44 for detecting the radiation X transmitted through the patient 22, and radiation A lead plate 46 that absorbs X backscattered rays is disposed in order.

  Inside the casing 40, a battery 50 that is a power source of the electronic cassette 28, a control unit 52 that drives and controls the radiation conversion panel 44 by power supplied from the battery 50, and the radiation conversion panel 44 converts the radiation X into an electrical signal. A transmission / reception unit 54 that wirelessly transmits a signal including the converted information to the cradle 30 is accommodated. In addition, in order to avoid the damage by the radiation X being irradiated to the control part 52 and the transmission / reception part 54, it is preferable to arrange | position a lead board etc. to the irradiation surface side of the casing 40. FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration of the electronic cassette 28 including the radiation conversion panel 44. The radiation conversion panel 44 has a photoelectric conversion layer 56 made of a substance such as amorphous selenium (a-Se) that senses the radiation X and generates charges on an array of matrix-shaped thin film transistors (TFTs) 58. After the generated charge is stored in the storage capacitor 60, the TFT 58 is sequentially turned on for each row, and the charge is read as an image signal. In FIG. 4, only the connection relationship between one pixel 62 including the photoelectric conversion layer 56 and the storage capacitor 60 and one TFT 58 is shown, and the configuration of the other pixels 62 is omitted. Amorphous selenium must be used within a predetermined temperature range because its structure changes and its function decreases at high temperatures. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a means for cooling the radiation conversion panel 44 in the electronic cassette 28.

  The TFT 58 connected to each pixel 62 is connected to a gate line 64 extending in parallel to the row direction and a signal line 66 extending in parallel to the column direction. Each gate line 64 is connected to a line scanning drive unit 68, and each signal line 66 is connected to a multiplexer 76 constituting a reading circuit.

  Control signals Von and Voff for controlling on / off of the TFTs 58 arranged in the row direction are supplied from the line scanning drive unit 68 to the gate line 64. In this case, the line scan driving unit 68 includes a plurality of switches SW1 for switching the gate lines 64 and an address decoder 70 for outputting a selection signal for selecting one of the switches SW1. An address signal is supplied from the control unit 52 to the address decoder 70.

  In addition, the charge held in the storage capacitor 60 of each pixel 62 flows out to the signal line 66 through the TFTs 58 arranged in the column direction. This charge is amplified by the amplifier 72. A multiplexer 76 is connected to the amplifier 72 via a sample and hold circuit 74. The multiplexer 76 includes a plurality of switches SW2 that switches the signal line 66 and an address decoder 78 that outputs a selection signal for selecting one of the switches SW2. An address signal is supplied from the control unit 52 to the address decoder 78. An A / D converter 80 is connected to the multiplexer 76, and radiation image information converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 80 is supplied to the control unit 52.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of the portable information terminal 32 possessed by the equipment and technicians installed in the radiology department.

  The control unit 52 of the electronic cassette 28 includes an image memory 51 that stores radiation image information detected by the radiation conversion panel 44, a cassette information memory 53 that stores cassette information that is unique information of the electronic cassette 28, and transmission / reception. The unit 54 and the battery 50 that supplies power to the electronic cassette 28 are connected. The cassette information includes, for example, patient information related to radiographic image information recorded in the electronic cassette 28, ID information for specifying the electronic cassette 28, information indicating a charge state of the battery 50, and the like.

  The control unit 90 of the cradle 30 includes a charging processing unit 92 that performs the charging process of the battery 50 of the loaded electronic cassette 28, cassette information acquired from the electronic cassette 28, and the electronic cassette 28 by the charging processing unit 92. A cassette information memory 91 that stores information indicating a charging state of the battery 50, a patient information memory 93 and an imaging condition memory 101 that store patient information and imaging conditions acquired from the console 34, and position information of the cradle 30 are stored. While writing patient information in the position information memory 99 and the electronic cassette 28, an information read / write processing unit 95 that reads out radiation image information from the electronic cassette 28, an image memory 97 that stores the read out radiation image information, patient information, Imaging conditions, acquired radiographic image information, charge state of electronic cassette 28 And a display unit 96 for displaying necessary information including position information of the cradle 30, 30a, 30b, 30c,... In which the cradle is loaded, a speaker 98 for notifying an engineer of necessary information, and an electronic cassette. 28 and the console 34 are connected to a transmission / reception unit 94 (information acquisition means) that transmits and receives information.

  The information indicating the charging state is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the battery 50 of the electronic cassette 28 loaded in the cradle 30, 30a, 30b, 30c,. However, it is information on whether it has not yet been used for shooting, can be used for shooting, or is fully charged. Further, the position information of the cradle 30, 30a, 30b, 30c,... May be information that can specify the location where the cradle 30, 30a, 30b, 30c,. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the information may be information related to the imaging rooms A, B, C, D,... In the hospital, or the cradle 30, 30a, 30b, 30c,... May be a unique number or name.

  The transmission / reception unit 94 transmits and receives signals to and from the electronic cassette 28 by wireless communication. Further, the charging process for the battery 50 of the electronic cassette 28 can be performed in a non-contact state via the transmission / reception unit 94 or in a contact state via a connector (not shown) of the electronic cassette 28 loaded in the cradle 30.

  The control unit 100 of the portable information terminal 32 supplies an imaging signal generated by the imaging switch 102 that drives the radiation source 24 to the radiation source control device 26 via the transmission / reception unit 104. In addition, a cassette information memory 103 that stores cassette information received from the console 34 via the transmission / reception unit 104 is connected to the control unit 100, and a display unit 106 that displays patient information, imaging conditions, cassette information, and the like. Connected. Furthermore, the control unit 100 performs a process of notifying a technician or the like of necessary information by ringing the speaker 108. Note that the portable information terminal 32 includes an operation unit 110 that can set necessary information.

  The console 34 includes a control unit 112, a transmission / reception unit 114 that transmits and receives necessary information to and from the portable information terminal 32 by radio communication with the radiation source control device 26, the cradle 30, 30a, 30b, 30c,. Stores the cassette information acquired from the cradle 30, 30a, 30b, 30c,..., The patient information setting unit 116 that sets the imaging information, the imaging condition setting unit 118 that sets the imaging conditions necessary for imaging by the radiation source control device 26, and the like. A cassette information memory 119, an image processing unit 120 that performs image processing on the radiation image information acquired from the cradle 30, an image memory 122 that stores the processed radiation image information, and a display that displays the radiation image information and other necessary information And a speaker 126 for notifying an engineer of necessary information.

  The radiographic image capturing system 20 of the present embodiment is basically configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described next.

  When capturing a radiographic image of the patient 22, the patient information setting unit 116 of the console 34 is used to set the patient information of the patient 22 and the imaging condition setting unit 118 is used to set necessary imaging conditions. These pieces of information may be acquired from the upstream RIS 82 and HIS 84 via the network 39. The set patient information and imaging conditions can be displayed on the display unit 124 for confirmation.

  Next, the set patient information and imaging conditions are transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 114 to the cradle 30 disposed in the imaging room 36 and displayed on the display unit 96 of the cradle 30 by the control unit 90. In this case, the engineer confirms the name of the patient 22 to be imaged in accordance with the patient information displayed on the display unit 96. By this confirmation process, accidents such as patient misplacement can be avoided in advance. Further, the engineer can check the imaging region, the imaging method, and the like according to the displayed imaging conditions.

  On the other hand, the cradle 30 is loaded with an electronic cassette 28 used for photographing, and the charging process unit 92 performs a charging process for the battery 50. The charging processing unit 92 stores the charging state of the battery 50 of the loaded electronic cassette 28 in the cassette information memory 91 as cassette information of the electronic cassette 28. In this case, immediately after the electronic cassette 28 is loaded into the cradle 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c,..., “Uncharged”, and when charging is started but not yet ready for use in photographing, The charging state can be stored as “available” when the battery is charged to a usable state, and “full charge” when the charging is completed.

  The control unit 90 displays the charging state of the loaded electronic cassette 28 on the display unit 96 together with the position information of the cradle 30 stored in the position information memory 99. In addition, the control unit 90 can charge the electronic cassette 28 loaded in each cradle 30a, 30b, 30c,... From other cradles 30a, 30b, 30c,. Is displayed on the display unit 96 as shown in FIG.

  Further, the charging state and position information of the electronic cassette 28 loaded in each cradle 30, 30a, 30b, 30c,... Are displayed on the display unit 124 of the console 34 or the display unit 106 of the portable information terminal 32. Also good.

  On the other hand, the information read / write processing unit 95 records patient information related to the patient 22 to be imaged in the cassette information memory 53 of the electronic cassette 28 loaded, and the charging state of the battery 50 of the electronic cassette 28 The information indicating is recorded. These pieces of information may be displayed for each electronic cassette 28 by providing a display unit on the electronic cassette 28.

  The patient information and the imaging conditions are transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 114 of the console 34 to the portable information terminal 32 possessed by the technician by wireless communication and displayed on the display unit 106. In this case, the engineer can confirm the patient information and the imaging conditions displayed on the display unit 106 of the portable information terminal 32, and can make a desired imaging preparation.

  Further, the imaging conditions are transmitted to the radiation source control device 26. The radiation source control device 26 sets the tube voltage, tube current, and irradiation time, which are the transmitted imaging conditions, in the radiation source 24 and prepares for imaging.

  The engineer confirms the patient information displayed on the display unit 96 of the cradle 30 and the state of charge of the electronic cassette 28, the patient information relates to the desired patient 22 to be used for imaging, and the cradle 30 If the electronic cassette 28 loaded in the camera is usable, the electronic cassette 28 is removed from the cradle 30 and the electronic cassette 28 is set at a desired imaging region of the patient 22 in accordance with designated imaging conditions.

  On the other hand, when the electronic cassette 28 loaded in the cradle 30 in the photographing room 36 is not sufficiently charged and cannot be used for photographing, the engineer is displayed on the display unit 96 of the cradle 30. The charged state of the electronic cassette 28 in the other cradle 30a, 30b, 30c,... Is checked, and the cradle 30a, 30b, 30c,. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the display unit 96 displays position information of the cradles 30 a, 30 b, 30 c,... And information indicating the charging state of the electronic cassette 28. Therefore, the engineer selects, for example, the cradle 30a, 30b, 30c,... Having the electronic cassette 28 that is installed in the nearest place and can be used for photographing based on the displayed information, and the cradle 30a, The electronic cassette 28 can be acquired from 30b, 30c,. Note that patient information relating to the patient 22 is recorded in the cassette information memory 53 of the selected electronic cassette 28.

  In this case, the usable electronic cassette 28 is loaded with the state of charge of the electronic cassette 28 and the electronic cassette 28 on the display unit 124 of the console 34 or the display unit 106 of the portable information terminal 32 owned by the engineer. The position information of the cradle 30, 30 a, 30 b, 30 c,... Being displayed may be displayed and selected according to the display.

  After selecting an available electronic cassette 28 and setting the electronic cassette 28 to the patient 22, the engineer operates the imaging switch 102 of the portable information terminal 32 to capture a radiographic image. When the imaging switch 102 is operated, the control unit 100 of the portable information terminal 32 transmits an imaging start signal to the radiation source control device 26 via the transmission / reception unit 104. The radiation source control device 26 that has received the imaging start signal controls the radiation source 24 according to the imaging conditions supplied in advance from the console 34 and irradiates the patient 22 with the radiation X.

  The radiation X transmitted through the patient 22 is radiated to the radiation conversion panel 44 after the scattered radiation is removed by the grid 42 of the electronic cassette 28, and an electric signal is transmitted by the photoelectric conversion layer 56 of each pixel 62 constituting the radiation conversion panel 44. And is stored as charges in the storage capacitor 60 (see FIG. 4). Next, the charge information that is the radiation image information of the patient 22 held in each storage capacitor 60 is read according to the address signal supplied from the control unit 52 to the line scan driving unit 68 and the multiplexer 76.

  That is, the address decoder 70 of the line scan driving unit 68 outputs a selection signal according to the address signal supplied from the control unit 52 to select one of the switches SW1, and the gate of the TFT 58 connected to the corresponding gate line 64. Is supplied with a control signal Von. On the other hand, the address decoder 78 of the multiplexer 76 outputs a selection signal in accordance with the address signal supplied from the control unit 52 to sequentially switch the switch SW2, and each pixel connected to the gate line 64 selected by the line scan driving unit 68. Radiation image information, which is charge information held in the storage capacitor 60 of 62, is sequentially read out via the signal line 66.

  The radiation image information read from the storage capacitor 60 of each pixel 62 connected to the selected gate line 64 of the radiation conversion panel 44 is amplified by each amplifier 72 and then sampled by each sample and hold circuit 74. The signal is supplied to the A / D converter 80 via the multiplexer 76 and converted into a digital signal. The radiation image information converted into the digital signal is temporarily stored in the image memory 51 connected to the control unit 52.

  Similarly, the address decoder 70 of the line scan driving unit 68 sequentially switches the switch SW1 according to the address signal supplied from the control unit 52, and is held in the storage capacitor 60 of each pixel 62 connected to each gate line 64. The radiographic image information as the charge information is read out via the signal line 66 and temporarily stored in the image memory 51 connected to the control unit 52 via the multiplexer 76 and the A / D converter 80.

  The electronic cassette 28 in which radiography is completed and the radiographic image information of the patient 22 is recorded is loaded into the cradle 30 disposed in the radiographing room 36, and the battery 50 is charged by the charging processing unit 92. The information read / write processing unit 95 reads out the radiation image information and the cassette information.

  The information read / write processing unit 95 of the cradle 30 reads out the radiation image information stored in the image memory 51 of the electronic cassette 28 and stores it in the image memory 97 and also stores the cassette information stored in the cassette information memory 53 of the electronic cassette 28. Read out and store in the cassette information memory 91. These pieces of information are displayed on the display unit 96 by the control unit 90. For example, the radiographic image information read from the image memory 97 is displayed on the display unit 96 as a preview image, and the patient information read from the cassette information memory 53 is displayed on the display unit 96, whereby the desired patient 22 is displayed. Thus, it can be confirmed in the photographing room 36 whether or not appropriate photographing has been performed.

  On the other hand, the radiation image information stored in the image memory 97 of the cradle 30 is transmitted to the console 34 via the transmission / reception unit 94 together with the patient information stored in the patient information memory 93. In the console 34, image processing on the radiation image information is performed by the image processing unit 120, and then stored in the image memory 122 in a state associated with the patient information. Next, the radiation image information stored in the image memory 122 is displayed on the display unit 124, whereby the final confirmation of the image can be performed.

  The radiographic image information transmitted to the console 34 is compressed as necessary, and then transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 114 to the portable information terminal 32 possessed by the engineer and displayed on the display unit 106 as a preview image. May be. The radiation image information can also be configured to be transmitted directly from the cradle 30 or the electronic cassette 28 to the portable information terminal 32.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, Of course, it can change freely in the range which does not deviate from the main point of this invention.

  For example, the radiation conversion panel 44 accommodated in the electronic cassette 28 converts the dose of the incident radiation X directly into an electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion layer 56. Instead, the incident radiation X is converted by a scintillator. Once converted into visible light, a radiation conversion panel configured to convert the visible light into an electrical signal using a solid state detection element such as amorphous silicon (a-Si) may be used (Japanese Patent No. 3494683). reference).

  Also, radiation image information can be obtained using a light conversion type radiation conversion panel. In this light conversion type radiation conversion panel, when radiation is incident on each solid detection element arranged in a matrix, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the dose is accumulated and recorded in the solid detection element. When reading the electrostatic latent image, the radiation conversion panel is irradiated with reading light, and the value of the generated current is acquired as radiation image information. In addition, the radiation conversion panel can erase and reuse the radiation image information which is the remaining electrostatic latent image by irradiating the radiation conversion panel with erasing light (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-105297). .

It is a block diagram of the radiographic imaging system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a partial structure explanatory view of a radiographic imaging system installed in one radiology department in a hospital. It is an internal block diagram of an electronic cassette. It is a circuit block diagram of the radiation conversion panel which comprises an electronic cassette. It is a block diagram of a device and a portable information terminal installed in the radiology department. It is explanatory drawing of the charging state of the battery of the electronic cassette currently loaded in the position information of the cradle, and the said cradle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Radiation imaging system 22 ... Patient 24 ... Radiation source 26 ... Radiation source control device 28 ... Electronic cassette 30, 30a-30c ... Cradle 32 ... Portable information terminal 34 ... Console 36 ... Imaging room 38 ... Operation room 44 ... Radiation conversion Panel 50 ... Battery 51, 97, 122 ... Image memory 53, 91, 103, 119 ... Cassette information memory 82 ... RIS
84 ... HIS
93 ... Patient information memory 96, 106, 124 ... Display unit 99 ... Position information memory

Claims (7)

A charging cradle that performs a charging process of a radiation converter that detects radiation transmitted through a subject and converts it into image information,
A charging cradle configured to hold a charging state of the connected radiation converter and position information of the charging cradle and transmit the charging state and the position information to an external device. The charging cradle according to claim 1,
The charging cradle is characterized in that the charging state is information indicating whether or not the radiation converter is in a usable charging state. The charging cradle according to claim 1,
A charging cradle comprising a display unit for displaying a charging state of the connected radiation converter. The charging cradle according to claim 1,
A charging cradle comprising information acquisition means for acquiring the state of charge and the position information from another charging cradle. A radiation converter that detects radiation transmitted through the subject and converts it into image information;
A plurality of charging cradles for charging the radiation converter;
A display device that acquires a charging state of the connected radiation converter and position information of the charging cradle from each charging cradle, and displays the charging state and the position information;
A radiographic imaging system comprising: In the radiographic imaging system of Claim 5,
The radiographic imaging system, wherein the display device is a management device that manages imaging processing based on information including subject information and imaging conditions. In the radiographic imaging system of Claim 5,
The radiographic imaging system, wherein the display device is a portable information terminal possessed by an engineer who performs imaging processing.

Images