JP2010197679A - Radiation image acquiring system, and radiation image detecting cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable sufficient wireless communications in a cassette, and to suppress power consumption of the cassette. <P>SOLUTION: An acceleration sensor 68 in the cassette 6 detects that the cassette 6 is set at a detection place of one of radiation imaging devices 3A and 3B. After setting of the acceleration sensor 68 is detected, a controller 5 selects an antenna having good communication state, of a plurality of antennas 4A and 4B, and receives radiation image data transmitted by radio from the cassette 6 using the selected antenna. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiation image acquisition system and a radiation image detection cassette.

  In a medical diagnosis field, a reading device that reads radiation image data by scanning a phosphor plate built in a CR (Computed Radiography) cassette with excitation light, and a control that acquires the radiation image data read by the reading device A CR system using a device (console) has been put into practical use (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, instead of the above-described CR cassette, an FPD (incorporating radiation detection elements arranged two-dimensionally on the substrate and outputting an electrical signal corresponding to the radiation dose irradiated to the radiation detection elements) Flat Panel Detector) has been proposed. By using this FPD, radiation image data can be obtained directly without the need for a reading device that irradiates excitation light and reads the radiation image. As a result, the system itself can be made smaller than the CR system, and the photographing operation is also smoothed.

  Some FPDs are installed in a radiography room. However, a cassette type FPD that is portable and capable of wireless communication has been proposed in order to enable more rapid and wide range imaging (Patent) Reference 2).

  Wireless communication employed in FPD uses UWB (Ultra Wide Band) of several GHz, and is communication with small output at a level that does not affect other medical devices. Since cassette-type FPDs are often loaded into a cassette housing part provided on a photographing stand and used for photographing, radio waves are shielded by members constituting the cassette housing part and a subject to be photographed. Wireless communication may be hindered.

  Therefore, a technique for appropriately performing wireless communication in a cassette-type FPD has been proposed in consideration of inhibition of wireless communication. The technique described in Patent Document 3 is a technique in which a plurality of antennas for wireless communication are installed in a cassette and the state of wireless communication is constantly monitored. According to the technique described in Patent Document 3, the communication state between a plurality of antennas in a cassette and a console (which receives radiographic image data transmitted from the cassette) is constantly monitored, and the plurality of antennas is monitored. Since wireless communication is performed by selecting an antenna having a good communication state from among these, wireless communication can be performed satisfactorily.

JP 2002-158820 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-248095 International Publication No. 2006/101231 Pamphlet

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 3, in order to select an antenna having a good communication state from among a plurality of antennas, a device that drives the plurality of antennas is always turned on, and the plurality of antennas and the console are connected. It is necessary to be in a state of constantly communicating between them. In other words, in order to ensure a good communication state, a device that drives a plurality of antennas is always turned on, so that a lot of power is consumed in the cassette, and the driving time of the cassette is shortened. Will occur.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a radiographic image acquisition system and a radiographic image detection cassette that enable good wireless communication in the cassette and reduce the power consumption of the cassette.

In order to achieve the above object, a radiological image acquisition system according to the present invention includes:
A portable radiation image detection cassette comprising: a data acquisition unit that detects radiation transmitted through a subject to acquire radiation image data; and a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits radiation image data acquired by the data acquisition unit;
A receiving unit connected to a plurality of antennas and receiving radiographic image data transmitted wirelessly by the transmitting unit;
A detection unit for detecting that the radiation image detection cassette is set at a detection location;
Have
After the detection unit detects that the radiation image detection cassette is set at a detection location, the reception unit selects an antenna having a good communication state with the transmission unit from the plurality of antennas, and selects the selected antenna. The radiographic image data transmitted by the transmitting unit by radio is received.

The radiological image detection cassette according to the present invention is
A data acquisition unit that detects radiation transmitted through the subject and acquires radiation image data;
A transmission unit that wirelessly transmits radiation image data acquired by the data acquisition unit to a reception unit connected to a plurality of antennas;
A detection unit for detecting that the radiation image detection cassette is set at a detection location;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the radiation image acquisition system and the radiation image detection cassette according to the present invention, it is possible to perform good wireless communication in the cassette and to suppress the power consumption of the cassette.

It is the schematic which shows a radiography apparatus. It is the schematic which shows a radiographic image acquisition system. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a controller and an access point. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a cassette. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a console. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement which selects an optimal antenna. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the several antenna was installed in the periphery of a supine photography stand.

[Radiation image acquisition system]
A radiological image acquisition system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a radiation imaging apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a radiation image acquisition system.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, 3A is a radiation imaging apparatus using a standing position imaging table 32 as an imaging table, and 3B uses a supine position imaging table 33 as shown in FIG. 1B. Radiography equipment. 1A and 1B, reference numerals 30A and 30B denote radiation irradiation sections, and reference numerals 31A and 31B denote cassette mounting sections into which a cassette (radiation image detection cassette) 6 is inserted. A detailed description of the cassette 6 will be described later. The cassette 6 attached to the imaging stand by being mounted on the cassette mounting portions 31A and 31B acquires the radiation image data from the radiation irradiated from the radiation irradiation portions 30A and 30B and transmitted through the subject P.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2 denotes a management server that manages information related to radiation imaging. Reference numerals 4A and 4B denote antennas for performing wireless communication with the cassette 6 provided and set in the vicinity of the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B, particularly in the vicinity of the cassette mounting portions 31A and 31B. Reference numeral 5 denotes a controller (reception unit) that is connected to the antennas 4A and 4B and receives radiographic image data transmitted from the cassette 6 by radio. A console 7 functions as a control terminal that performs image processing on the radiation image data acquired by the cassette 6.

  The management server 2, the antennas 4A and 4B, the controller 5, and the console 7 can be connected to each other through the network N. Although not shown here, the radiological image acquisition system 1 includes an HIS (Hospital Information System) that centrally manages subject diagnosis information and accounting information, and an RIS (Radiology Information System) that manages radiological information and a network N. Connected through. The network N may be a communication line dedicated to the system, but is preferably an existing line such as Ethernet (registered trademark) because the degree of freedom of the system configuration is low.

[Controller and access point]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating main components of the antennas 4 </ b> A and 4 </ b> B and the controller 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 5 includes a control unit 51, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 53, a storage unit 54, a communication unit 55, and a radio wave intensity measurement unit 56. Are connected via a bus.

  The control unit 51 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and is configured to read a predetermined program stored in the ROM 52, develop it in a work area of the RAM 53, and execute various processes according to the program.

  The storage unit 54 stores radiation image data acquired via the communication unit 55.

  The radio wave intensity measuring unit 56 measures the radio wave intensity at the antennas 4A and 4B connected via the communication unit 55.

  In the antennas 4A and 4B, 41A and 41B are wireless communication units that wirelessly communicate with the cassette 6, and 42A and 42B are communication units that perform wired communication with the controller 5. As a wireless communication method of the wireless communication units 41A and 41B, for example, a wireless LAN (for example, IEEE801.11a / b / g / n) or a UWB standard (for example, Certified Wireless USB) is used.

[Cassette]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the cassette 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the cassette 6 includes a control unit 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, an imaging panel 64, a power supply unit 65, a storage unit 66, and a wireless communication unit 67, and each unit is connected by a bus.

  The control unit 61 is constituted by, for example, a CPU or the like, reads a control program stored in the ROM 62, develops it in a work area formed in the RAM 63, and controls each unit of the cassette 6 according to the control program.

  The ROM 62 is configured by a nonvolatile semiconductor memory or the like, and stores a control program executed by the control unit 61, various programs, and the like.

  The RAM 63 forms a work area that temporarily stores various programs that can be executed by the control unit 61 read from the ROM 62, input or output data, parameters, and the like in various processes that are controlled by the control unit 61. .

  The imaging panel (data acquisition unit) 64 acquires radiation image data. The imaging panel 64 includes, for example, a glass substrate and the like, and detects, at a predetermined position on the substrate, radiation irradiated from a radiation tube and transmitted through at least a subject according to its intensity. A plurality of detection elements that are converted into electrical signals and stored are arranged in a matrix.

  Although not shown in the drawings as the imaging panel 64, for example, a radiation light conversion layer that converts radiation into fluorescence (light), and a photoelectric conversion layer that detects fluorescence converted by the radiation light conversion layer and converts it into an electrical signal. And an indirect type including a radiation electric signal conversion layer having a radiation light receiving portion that directly converts radiation into electric charge, instead of the radiation light conversion layer and the photoelectric conversion layer. Note that the indirect type is preferable because the high-voltage power source used in the direct type is unnecessary.

  The power supply unit 65 supplies power to a plurality of drive units (the control unit 61, the imaging panel 64, the storage unit 66, and the like) that constitute the cassette 6. The power source unit 65 is configured as a rechargeable battery, for example, and can be charged by connecting a charging terminal to a cradle (not shown).

  The storage unit 66 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or a RAM, and can store radiation image data corresponding to a plurality of radiographs acquired by reading an electrical signal accumulated in the imaging panel 64. It has become.

  The wireless communication unit (transmission unit) 67 performs wireless communication of various information with the console 7 via the antennas 4A and 4B by a wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

  The acceleration sensor (detection unit) 68 is, for example, a two-axis type that detects acceleration in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, or a three-axis type that detects acceleration in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction. It is. Based on the waveform of the output signal from the acceleration sensor 68, it is possible to detect that the cassette 6 has changed from a stationary state to a carrying state (a state in which the user is carrying), or that the cassette 6 has changed from a carrying state to a stationary state. I can do it. Specifically, the peak value of the waveform of the output signal from the acceleration sensor 68 is low when the cassette 6 is in a stationary state, but the peak value of the waveform increases when the cassette 6 changes to the transport state. By detecting this change in peak value, It is possible to detect that the cassette 6 has changed from a stationary state to a transported state (a state in which the user is transporting).

  In addition, it is preferable that the installation position of the acceleration sensor 68 in the cassette 6 is a central portion in the cassette 6. For example, when the acceleration sensor 68 is installed at the end of the cassette 6 and the user carries the cassette 6 while holding the end on which the acceleration sensor 68 is not installed, the vicinity of the acceleration sensor 68 is greatly shaken and accelerated. However, when the user carries the cassette 6 while holding the end where the acceleration sensor 68 is installed, the area around the acceleration sensor 68 does not shake so much that the acceleration value is detected low. become. That is, if the acceleration sensor 68 is installed at the end of the cassette 6, the value of the acceleration to be detected changes depending on how the user holds it during transportation. However, when the acceleration sensor 68 is installed at the center of the cassette 6, it is possible to always detect an acceleration of a predetermined value or more when the cassette 6 is transported, regardless of how the user holds it. Can be done appropriately.

[console]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the console 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the console 7 includes a control unit 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, a display unit 74, a communication unit 75, an input operation unit 76, and a storage unit 77, and each unit is connected by a bus.

  The display unit 77 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and the like, and in accordance with an instruction of a display signal sent from the control unit 71, various items such as a subject list, various messages and images, etc. The screen is displayed.

  The input operation unit 76 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 71 as an input signal. The input operation unit 76 outputs position information input by touching a transparent sheet panel covering the display screen of the display unit 74 with a finger or a dedicated stylus pen to the control unit 71 as an input signal, so-called You may be comprised with the touch panel.

[Select antenna]
As described above, the cassette 6 is set in the radiation imaging apparatus 3 </ b> A using the standing imaging platform 32 and the radiation imaging apparatus 3 </ b> B using the standing imaging platform 33 and is used for capturing a radiographic image of the subject P. The radiographic image data acquired in the cassette 6 is wirelessly transmitted to the antennas 4A, 4B and the controller 5. However, if the cassette 6 and the antennas 4A, 4B are not in a good communication state, they are wirelessly transmitted from the cassette 6. The transmitted radiation image data cannot be received by the controller 5. Therefore, in order to ensure a good communication state in the radiation image acquisition system 1 as shown in FIG. 2, when the cassette 6 is set in the radiation imaging apparatus 3A and imaging is performed, an antenna close to the radiation imaging apparatus 3A is used. When 4A is selected by the controller 5 and the cassette 6 is set in the radiation imaging apparatus 3B and imaging is performed, the antenna 4B close to the radiation imaging apparatus 3B needs to be selected by the controller 5.

  In addition, regardless of which antenna is selected, in a method in which the communication state of the two antennas 4A and 4B is always monitored and selected, at least the wireless communication unit 67 in the cassette 6 is always turned on, and the cassette 6 And the antennas 4A and 4B need to be in constant communication. That is, a large amount of power is consumed by the power supply unit 65 of the cassette 6 in order to ensure a good communication state.

  Therefore, in order to enable good wireless communication and reduce power consumption of the cassette 6, in the radiographic image acquisition system 1, the cassette 6 is set at a detection position of the radiographic image (a position where the radiation transmitted through the subject is detected). At this time, the communication state is confirmed, and an antenna having a good communication state is selected. Hereinafter, this operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation for selecting an optimum antenna. The operation in FIG. 6 shows the operation from when the power source in the cassette 6 and the controller 5 is turned on until the antenna having a good communication state is selected from the antennas 4A and 4B. Steps S1 to S8 show the operation in the cassette 6, and steps S11 to S14 show the operation in the controller 5. As a state before the operation in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the cassette 6 is not set in the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B but is set in a cradle installed in another place and is being charged.

  First, when the power source in the cassette 6 is turned on (step S1), the control unit 61, the ROM 62, the RAM 63, and the acceleration sensor 68 in the cassette 6 are energized (initially when the power source is turned on to suppress power consumption in the power source unit 65). Only the necessary part is energized), and it is detected whether or not the cassette 6 is being transported toward the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B by using the acceleration sensor 68 in the cassette 6 (step S2). If the peak value of the waveform of the output signal in the acceleration sensor 68 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, it can be determined that the cassette 6 is moving. Therefore, when the peak value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the cassette 6 It detects that it is the state currently conveyed toward 3B.

  When it is detected in step S2 that the cassette 6 is being transported toward the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B (step S2; Yes), monitoring of an output signal in the acceleration sensor 68 is started (step S3). Is detected in the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B (step S4). The set state refers to a state in which the cassette 6 is inserted into the cassette mounting portions 31A and 31B in the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B, and is set at a radiation image detection location (a location where radiation transmitted through the subject is detected). . When the cassette 6 is set in the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B, the movement of the cassette 6 stops, and the peak value of the waveform in the acceleration sensor 68 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. Therefore, the output signal is monitored, and it is detected that the cassette 6 is set in the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B when the peak value of the waveform falls below a predetermined threshold value.

  When it is detected in step S4 that the cassette 6 is set in the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B (step S4; Yes), the wireless communication unit 67 in the cassette 6 is turned on (step S5), and then the cassette 6 and the antenna are turned on. It is determined whether or not communication with 4A and 4B is normal (step S6). In step S6, for example, a predetermined signal is transmitted from the wireless communication unit 67 in the cassette 6 to the wireless communication units 41A and 41B in the antennas 4A and 4B, and a predetermined signal is returned from the controller 5 connected to the antennas 4A and 4B. When the wireless communication unit 67 in the cassette 6 detects that this has occurred within a predetermined time, it is determined that the communication is normal, and when it is not detected within the predetermined time, it is determined that the communication is not normal.

  If it is determined in step S6 that the communication is not normal (step S6; No), even if the wireless communication unit 67 is kept on as it is, only the power in the power supply unit 65 is consumed, so the wireless communication unit 67 is turned off ( Then, the process returns to step S2 to detect whether or not the cassette 6 is being transported toward the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B. Thus, when communication is not normal, power consumption can be suppressed by turning off unnecessary portions in the cassette 6.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S6 that the communication is normal (step S6; Yes), the cassette 6 transmits set information, which is information indicating that the cassette 6 has been set (step S8), to the antennas 4A and 4B. The connected controller 5 receives the information (step S12).

  When the controller 5 receives the set information, the cassette 6 transmits a predetermined radio wave for a fixed time, and the radio wave intensity measuring unit 56 in the controller 5 measures the intensity of the radio wave received by the antennas 4A and 4B (step S13). Then, based on the measurement result in step S13, the controller 5 selects a receiving antenna having a good communication state among the antennas 4A and 4B (step S14), and then the radiographic image data acquired in the cassette 6 is selected. The data is received by the controller 5 via the antenna. By doing this, the antenna selection switching operation can be performed only at the timing required for wireless communication, so that reliability can be obtained anywhere in the imaging room without affecting the wireless communication operation of the original radiation image data. High wireless communication is possible.

  As described above, when the acceleration sensor 68 detects that the cassette 6 has been set at the detection position of the radiation image, the communication state is confirmed and an antenna having a good communication state is selected as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. By doing so, there is no need to constantly monitor the communication state of the two antennas 4A and 4B by outputting radio waves from the cassette 6, enabling good wireless communication and reducing the power consumption of the cassette 6. As a result, the number of radiographic image captures using the cassette 6 can be maintained at a constant value in one charge, and for example, even when the cassette 6 and the antennas 4A and 4B are far and take a long communication time. As a result of suppressing power consumption, more communication time can be made possible, so that wireless communication can be performed satisfactorily.

  Further, by utilizing the waveform of the output signal in the acceleration sensor 68, it can be easily detected only by the components in the cassette 6 that the cassette 6 has changed from the transported state to the stationary state.

  As mentioned above, although the content which concerns on this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The change and addition in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are carried out. Even if it exists, it is included in this invention.

  Although this embodiment is a form which selects an antenna with a good communication state among the antennas 4A and 4B close to the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B, the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the portable cassette 6 may be placed on an arbitrary position on the upper surface 33 </ b> A of the lying position photographing stand 33 to photograph the hand, elbow, etc. of the subject P. Therefore, a plurality of antennas 4C to 4F are installed around the recumbent photographing stand 33 (the plurality of antennas 4C to 4F are connected to the controller), and the cassette 6 is set on the upper surface 33A of the recumbent photographing stand 33. When the positioning with respect to the imaging region of the patient is completed, the movement of the cassette 6 stops, and the peak value of the waveform in the acceleration sensor 68 becomes a predetermined threshold value or less. Therefore, the output signal is monitored, and when the peak value of the waveform becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, it is detected that the cassette 6 is stationary on the supine photographing stand 33.

  When the cassette 6 detects that the cassette 6 is stationary on the recumbent photographing stand 33, the cassette 6 transmits set information, which is information indicating that the cassette 6 has been set, and is connected to the plurality of antennas 4C to 4F. Receives the information.

  When the controller receives the set information, the cassette 6 transmits a predetermined radio wave for a fixed time, and the radio wave intensity measuring unit 56 in the controller 5 measures the intensity of the radio wave received by the plurality of antennas 4C to 4F. Based on the measurement result, the controller selects a receiving antenna having a good communication state from among the plurality of antennas 4C to 4F, and then the radiographic image data acquired in the cassette 6 is transmitted to the controller via the selected antenna. It is also possible to receive in the form.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although it detects that the cassette 6 was set in the detection location of the radiographic image by the acceleration sensor 68 as a detection part, a detection part is not restricted to this. For example, in this embodiment, a radiographic image is detected after the cassette 6 is inserted into the cassette mounting portions 31A and 31B in the radiation imaging apparatuses 3A and 3B, but a protruding member is provided at the insertion port of the cassette mounting portions 31A and 31B. 6 may contact the protruding member, and it may be assumed that the cassette 6 has been set at the detection location after a predetermined time has elapsed since the contact, and an antenna having a good communication state may be selected at that timing. That is, the detection unit of the present invention may be anything as long as it can grasp by some method that the cassette 6 is set at the detection position of the radiation image.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Radiation image acquisition system 2 Management server 3A, 3B Radiography apparatus 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F Antenna 5 Controller 6 Cassette 7 Console 41A, 41B, 67 Wireless communication part 42A, 42B Communication part 61 Control part 62 ROM
63 RAM
64 Imaging Panel 65 Power Supply Unit 66 Storage Unit 68 Acceleration Sensor N Network

Claims (8)

A portable radiation image detection cassette comprising: a data acquisition unit that detects radiation transmitted through a subject to acquire radiation image data; and a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits radiation image data acquired by the data acquisition unit;
A receiving unit connected to a plurality of antennas and receiving radiographic image data transmitted wirelessly by the transmitting unit;
A detection unit for detecting that the radiation image detection cassette is set at a detection location;
Have
After the detection unit detects that the radiation image detection cassette is set at a detection location, the reception unit selects an antenna having a good communication state with the transmission unit from the plurality of antennas, and selects the selected antenna. A radiographic image acquisition system, wherein radiographic image data transmitted by the transmission unit by radio is received.   After the detection unit detects that the radiation image detection cassette is set at a detection location, the communication state between the transmission unit and the plurality of antennas is confirmed, and the transmission unit and the plurality of antennas The radiographic image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein energization to the transmission unit is stopped when a communication state between them is not normal.   The radiological image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is an acceleration sensor installed in the radiological image detection cassette.   The radiographic image acquisition system according to claim 3, wherein the acceleration sensor is installed at a central portion of the radiographic image detection cassette. A data acquisition unit that detects radiation transmitted through the subject and acquires radiation image data;
A transmission unit that wirelessly transmits radiation image data acquired by the data acquisition unit to a reception unit connected to a plurality of antennas;
A detection unit for detecting that the radiation image detection cassette is set at a detection location;
A radiation image detection cassette characterized by comprising:   After the detection unit detects that the radiation image detection cassette is set at a detection location, the communication state between the transmission unit and the plurality of antennas is confirmed, and the transmission unit and the plurality of antennas The radiographic image detection cassette according to claim 5, wherein energization to the transmission unit is stopped when a communication state between the transmission units is not normal.   The radiographic image detection cassette according to claim 5, wherein the detection unit is an acceleration sensor installed in the radiographic image detection cassette.   The radiographic image detection cassette according to claim 7, wherein the acceleration sensor is installed in a central portion of the radiographic image detection cassette.

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