JP2009240469A - Radiation irradiator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display image information within a radiation irradiation visual field in a radiation irradiator. <P>SOLUTION: The radiation irradiator 2 includes: a radiation source 11; an illumination light source 12 for illuminating a subject; a transmission type LCD element 13 for displaying the image information on the subject; a lens group 14 for changing the focus of an image on the subject; a mirror 15 for reflecting light emitted from the illumination light source 12; and an irradiation field diaphragm 16 for limiting the radiation irradiation field. By driving the illumination light source 12 and displaying the image information at the transmission type LCD element 13, the image information can be displayed within the radiation irradiation visual field. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiation irradiation apparatus that irradiates a radiation detection apparatus or the like with radiation.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the medical field and the like, various types of radiation detectors that record a radiation image related to a subject by irradiation with radiation that has passed through the subject have been proposed and put into practical use.

  As the radiation detector, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, there is a radiation detector using a semiconductor such as amorphous selenium that generates a charge by irradiation of radiation, and as such a radiation detector, a so-called radiation detector is used. An optical reading type and a TFT reading type have been proposed.

  If such a radiation detector is used, image information obtained by imaging can be acquired as digital data, so that affinity with a diagnosis support apparatus using a computer can be increased.

On the other hand, as described in Patent Document 2, in the radiation diagnostic apparatus, a plurality of projectors are arranged outside the radiation irradiation field of the radiation irradiation apparatus, and at the intersection of the light emitted from each of these projectors, the radiation irradiation apparatus The display of the center of the irradiation field of radiation irradiated from the above is disclosed. By combining the above projector with a radiation irradiating device, there is an advantage that it is easy to align the radiation irradiating device at the time of photographing.
JP 2000-105297 A JP 7-327984 A

  In radiography, not only the center of the irradiation field of radiation as described above, but also information about the patient, information about radiography, and a scale for assisting alignment during radiography, etc. If various kinds of image information can be displayed, the convenience in photographing can be further improved. However, a radiation irradiation apparatus that can display image information in the radiation irradiation field has not been put to practical use.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said situation, and it aims at providing the radiation irradiation apparatus which can display image information within the radiation irradiation visual field.

  The radiation irradiation apparatus of the present invention includes radiation irradiation means for irradiating a subject with radiation, and image information projection means for projecting image information within a radiation irradiation field of the radiation irradiation means. It is what.

  Here, “image information” means information displayed two-dimensionally, for example, not only two-dimensional image information such as images captured in the past, but also character information such as patient names and imaging menus, and imaging. It also includes auxiliary lines and scales for assisting in alignment.

  In the radiation irradiation apparatus of the present invention, the image information projection means may adjust the focus of the image information based on the distance between the radiation irradiation means and the external radiation detection means, or The size of the image information may be adjusted based on the distance to the radiation detection means.

  Further, the image information projection means may display information on the subject and / or information on photographing, or may display an image photographed in the past.

  According to the radiation irradiation apparatus of the present invention, image information projection means for projecting image information within the radiation irradiation field of the radiation irradiation means is provided, character information such as a patient's name and photographing menu, and alignment at the time of photographing. Since various information such as an auxiliary line and a scale for assisting the display can be displayed in the radiation irradiation field of view, the convenience in photographing can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a radiographic imaging system as an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram inside a main body of a radiation irradiation apparatus of this system, and FIG. 3 is used for a radiography apparatus of the above system. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a solid state detector.

  The radiographic imaging system 1 includes a radiation irradiation device 2 that houses a radiation source 11 and the like, a radiation imaging device 3 that houses a solid detector 20 and the like for detecting radiation, and the radiation irradiation device 2 and the radiation imaging device 3. The computer 4 is connected to the computer 4 and the monitor 5 is connected to the computer 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the radiation source 11, the radiation irradiating apparatus 2 includes an illumination light source 12 for illuminating a subject, a transmissive LCD element 13 for displaying image information on the subject, A lens group 14 for changing the focus of the image on the subject, a mirror 15 for reflecting the light emitted from the illumination light source 12, and an irradiation field stop 16 for limiting the radiation irradiation field are provided. . The mirror 15 is configured to be retractable to a position that does not hinder radiation irradiation when the radiation source 11 emits radiation.

  In the present embodiment, the transmissive LCD element 13, the lens group 14, and the mirror 15 constitute an image information projection unit.

  In the radiation irradiation apparatus 2, the radiation source 11, the illumination light source 12, the transmissive LCD element 13, the lens group 14, the mirror 15, the irradiation field stop 16, and the like are all integrated and controlled by a control means (not shown). is there.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the solid state detector 20 includes a first conductive layer 24 made of a-Si TFT on a glass substrate 25, a photoconductivity that generates electric charges by receiving radiation and exhibits conductivity. The layer 23, the second conductive layer 22, and the insulating layer 21 are laminated in this order.

  The first conductive layer 24 is formed with a TFT corresponding to each pixel, the output of each TFT is connected to an IC chip 26, and the IC chip 26 is an image signal processing unit (not shown) on the printed circuit board 27. It is connected to the.

  When the solid state detector 20 irradiates the photoconductive layer 23 with radiation when an electric field is formed between the first conductive layer 24 and the second conductive layer 22, the solid state detector 20 enters the photoconductive layer 23. Charge pairs are generated, and latent image charges corresponding to the amount of the charge pairs are accumulated in the first conductive layer 24. When reading the accumulated latent image charge, the TFTs of the first conductive layer 24 are sequentially driven to output an analog signal corresponding to the latent image charge corresponding to each pixel, and this analog signal is processed by image signal processing. The detection is performed for each pixel in the unit, and the analog signals detected for each pixel are combined in the pixel arrangement order. The combined analog signal is AD converted by an AD converter (not shown) to generate a digital image signal. The generated digital image signal is transmitted from the image signal processing unit to the computer 4 via the memory.

  In the radiation imaging apparatus 3, all of the solid state detectors 20 and the like are integrated and controlled by a control unit (not shown).

  The computer 4 designates the intensity of the radiation dose in the radiation irradiation device 2 and generates image information to be displayed on the transmissive LCD element 13, and the image signal acquired in the radiation imaging device 3. Has a function of receiving and storing. In addition to this, it also has a function of recording and managing information relating to the patient such as the name and sex of the patient to be imaged and information relating to the imaging such as the region to be imaged, the radiation dose, and the procedure.

  Furthermore, the radiation irradiation apparatus 2 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, and thereby, from the distance between the radiation irradiation apparatus 2 and the radiation imaging apparatus 3, more specifically from the focal point of the radiation source 11. The distance (SID: Source Image Distance) to the radiation incident surface of the solid state detector 20 can be changed. The system according to the present embodiment is configured such that the SID can be detected based on the movement position of the radiation irradiation apparatus 2, and the computer 4 is configured to be able to acquire this SID information as well.

  Next, the operation of the radiographic imaging system 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display of image information at the time of shooting.

  The photographer places the patient P at a position facing the radiation incident portion of the radiation imaging apparatus 3 and then moves the radiation irradiation apparatus 2 so that the distance between the radiation irradiation apparatus 2 and the radiation imaging apparatus 3 is appropriate. To position. When the position of the radiation irradiation device 2 is determined, the SID in that state is detected by the computer 4.

  Photographing is performed in a relatively dark room, and in order to clearly show the radiation irradiation field before actually irradiating the radiation, the radiation irradiation device 2 moves the mirror 15 to a predetermined position and drives the illumination light source 12. As shown in FIG. 4, illumination is applied to the radiation irradiation field.

  Information related to the patient, such as the name and sex of the patient P to be imaged, and information related to imaging such as the part to be imaged, radiation dose, and procedure are registered in the computer 4 in advance, and it is desired to display them within the radiation irradiation field. By specifying the information, it is possible to display such information within the radiation irradiation field. In addition to the above information, it is also possible to display a scale, an image obtained by previous shooting, and the like. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the date, patient name, imaging region, radiation dose, and scale are displayed in the radiation irradiation field.

  The computer 4 combines all the information instructed to be displayed in the radiation irradiation field of view into two-dimensional image information, and transmits it to the radiation irradiation device 2 together with the SID detected in advance.

  Upon receiving the two-dimensional image information and the SID, the radiation irradiating device 2 displays the two-dimensional image information on the transmissive LCD element 13 and controls the lens group 14 based on the SID so that the focus and size of the image information are appropriate. Control to become.

  As a result, image information as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed in the radiation irradiation field.

  The photographer confirms that there is no error in photographing by looking at the displayed image information, and then presses a radiation exposure switch (not shown) of the radiation irradiation apparatus 2. When the radiation exposure switch is pressed, the mirror 15 is retracted to a position that does not hinder radiation irradiation, and radiation is emitted from the radiation source 11 toward the solid state detector 20.

  When radiation is irradiated, latent image charges carrying radiation image information are accumulated in the solid state detector 20. Since the amount of accumulated latent image charge is substantially proportional to the amount of radiation transmitted through the subject (patient P), this latent image charge carries an electrostatic latent image.

  After the predetermined time elapses, recording on the solid state detector 20 is stopped and photographing is finished. Then, an analog signal corresponding to the latent image charge is output from the solid state detector 20, and AD conversion is performed in the image signal processing unit to convert the digital image signal. Generate. The generated digital image signal is transmitted from the image signal processing unit to the computer 4 via the memory.

  When the computer 4 receives the digital image signal from the radiation imaging apparatus 3, the computer 4 displays an image on the monitor 5.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described radiographic imaging system, and may be applied to any imaging system such as a breast imaging system.

Schematic showing a radiographic imaging system according to the invention Schematic view inside the main body of the radiation irradiation apparatus of the above system Schematic diagram of a solid state detector used in the radiographic apparatus of the above system The figure which shows an example of the display of the image information at the time of imaging | photography

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Radiographic imaging system 2 Radiation irradiation apparatus 3 Radiation imaging apparatus 4 Computer 5 Monitor 11 Radiation source 12 Light source for illumination 13 Transmission type LCD element 14 Lens group 15 Mirror 16 Irradiation field stop 20 Solid state detector

Claims (5)

Radiation irradiating means for irradiating the subject with radiation;
A radiation irradiation apparatus comprising: image information projection means for projecting image information within a radiation irradiation field of the radiation irradiation means. The radiation irradiating means irradiates an external radiation detecting means with radiation;
2. The radiation irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information projection unit adjusts the focus of the image information based on a distance between the radiation irradiation unit and the radiation detection unit. The radiation irradiating means irradiates an external radiation detecting means with radiation;
3. The radiation irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information projection unit adjusts the size of the image information based on a distance between the radiation irradiation unit and the radiation detection unit. .   The radiation irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information projection unit displays information on the subject and / or information on photographing.   The radiation irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information projection unit displays an image captured in the past.

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