JP2016097195A - Radiographic system and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radiographic system and a control method thereof capable of reducing an operator's burden for determination of success/failure in imaging as well as for several operations required to perform imaging again in a case of failure.SOLUTION: A radiographic system 101 includes a radiation generator 103 to generate radiation and emit the radiation to a subject, a radiation irradiation switch 106 to direct the radiation generator 103 to emit radiation, a radiographic apparatus 102 to accumulate the radiation penetrated the subject to take a radiation image of the subject, and a control unit 104 to control the radiographic apparatus 102. The control unit 104 includes an imaging success judgement part 203 to judge if the imaging succeeded or failed on the basis of the radiation image, and a process transition unit 204 to terminate the imaging if the judgement by the imaging success judgement part 203 is success or transit to re-imaging if failure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiation imaging system that obtains a radiation image of a subject by irradiation with radiation, a control method thereof, and the like.

  In recent years, radiation imaging systems have been used in various fields, and in particular in the medical field, have become one of the important means for diagnosis. In a radiography system in the medical field, radiation emitted by a radiation generator is irradiated onto a subject, the radiation that has passed through the subject is accumulated in the radiography device, and a radiographic image is generated. The radiation image is displayed on the display device. For example, a control terminal such as a personal computer is used as the control device, and a display terminal such as a CRT monitor and a liquid crystal monitor or a control terminal such as a tablet terminal is used as the display device. Such a radiographic system is useful for diagnosis.

  Usually, the radiation generator is signal-connected to the control device and the radiation imaging apparatus, and the radiation imaging apparatus performs an operation of accumulating radiation in response to the irradiation start and end notifications from the radiation generation apparatus. Further, generation and irradiation of radiation by the radiation generator are performed by pressing a radiation irradiation switch held by an operator.

  In recent years, there is a technique for detecting radiation irradiated at an arbitrary timing without connection to a radiation generator and accumulating radiation accordingly. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of a radiation imaging apparatus including a detection unit that detects radiation for radiation imaging. However, in the imaging method using this radiation imaging apparatus, under conditions where a low dose of radiation is irradiated for a long time, the detection unit erroneously detects the end of radiation irradiation or cannot detect the end of irradiation and times out. Sometimes In these cases, a part of the signal to be acquired is lost and an appropriate radiographic image cannot be obtained.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration of a radiation imaging apparatus that indicates to the operator the timing at which the radiation imaging apparatus starts to accumulate radiation, and performs imaging by the operator performing irradiation in accordance with the timing. .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-155847 Japanese Patent No. 4659341 JP 2014-49979 A JP 2012-50566 A JP 2002-159383 A

  However, even in the imaging method using the conventional radiation imaging apparatus described in Patent Document 2, if the accumulation timing of the imaging apparatus and the irradiation timing of the operator are shifted, an appropriate radiation image cannot be obtained. When an appropriate radiographic image is not obtained, the operator performs re-imaging. In this case, it is necessary for the operator to explicitly select re-photographing and shift to re-photographing processing. At this time, it is often necessary to input the reason for the loss of the captured radiographic image, and it takes time and trouble for the operator to retake the image again.

  The present invention relates to a radiation imaging system and a control method thereof, and the like that can reduce the labor of an operator for determining success or failure of imaging, and the effort of performing various operations to perform imaging again in the case of imaging failure. The purpose is to provide.

  A radiation imaging system according to the present invention accumulates radiation that has passed through the subject, a radiation generation device that generates radiation to irradiate the subject with the radiation, a radiation irradiation switch that instructs the radiation generation device to perform the irradiation, and A radiographing apparatus that captures a radiographic image of the subject, and a control device that controls the radiographic apparatus, wherein the control apparatus determines whether the radiographing is successful or not. And a process transition unit that completes photographing when the photographing success / failure determining unit determines that the photographing is successful, and transitions to re-photographing when the photographing failure is determined.

  The radiation imaging system control method according to the present invention includes a radiation generation device that generates radiation and irradiates a subject with the radiation, a radiation irradiation switch that instructs the radiation generation device to perform the irradiation, and radiation that has passed through the subject. A radiography apparatus having a radiographing apparatus for accumulating a radiographic image of the subject, and a radiographing system determining method for determining success or failure of the radiographing from the radiographic image; When it is determined in the determination step that the photographing is successful, the photographing is completed, and when it is determined that the photographing is unsuccessful, there is a process transition step for transitioning to re-photographing.

  The control device for a radiographic apparatus according to the present invention is determined to be successful by an imaging success / failure determining unit that determines success / failure of the imaging from a radiographic image obtained by imaging by the radiographic apparatus, and the imaging success / failure determining unit. In this case, a process transition unit that completes photographing and transitions to re-photographing when it is determined that photographing has failed is characterized.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time and effort for the operator to determine whether or not shooting is successful, and to perform various operations for performing re-shooting in the case of shooting failure.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure common to each embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radiography system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the radiography system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an example of the screen displayed on a display apparatus before changing to a re-photographing process. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radiography system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the conventional radiation imaging system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radiography system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the radiography system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection screen displayed on a display apparatus when it determines with imaging | photography success with respect to the corrected image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a configuration common to the embodiments will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration common to the embodiments of the present invention. The radiation imaging system 101 includes a radiation imaging apparatus 102, a radiation generation apparatus 103, a control apparatus 104 for the radiation imaging apparatus, a display apparatus 105, and a radiation irradiation switch 106.

(First embodiment)
Next, details of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the radiation imaging system according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the radiation imaging system according to the first embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the control device 104 includes an irradiation notification unit 201, a manual synchronous imaging processing unit 202, an imaging success / failure determination unit 203, and a process transition unit 204. The irradiation notification unit 201 notifies the operator of the timing at which the radiation imaging apparatus 102 can accumulate radiation when the radiation imaging apparatus 102 is ready for imaging. The manual synchronous imaging processing unit 202 instructs the radiation imaging apparatus 102 to accumulate radiation when preparations for imaging by the radiation imaging apparatus 102 are completed. The imaging success / failure determination unit 203 performs imaging success / failure determination from the obtained radiographic image. The process transition unit 204 completes shooting when the shooting success / failure determination unit 203 determines that shooting is successful, and transitions to re-shooting when it is determined that shooting has failed.

  When performing radiation imaging using the radiation imaging system 101 according to the first embodiment, first, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the control device 104 instructs the radiation imaging device 102 (sensor) to prepare for imaging. (Step S101). In this preparation, for example, the radiography apparatus 102 is notified of conditions regarding radiography. The conditions relating to radiation imaging are conditions based on subject information of a subject to be photographed input by an operator and examination information such as a region to be photographed, and are conditions for driving the radiation photographing apparatus 102. The input by the operator may be performed on the display device when the display device 105 has an input function, or may be performed on the control device 104 while viewing the screen of the display device 105. .

  When the control device 104 is notified that the radiation imaging apparatus 102 is ready for imaging, the imaging apparatus 102 is ready for imaging. When imaging is possible, the manual synchronous imaging processing unit 202 commands the start of radiation accumulation in the radiation imaging apparatus 102, and the irradiation notification unit 201 performs notification processing (step S102). Here, the irradiation notification unit 201 may display, for example, a countdown until the irradiation timing on the display device 105, or light or sound via a device having a light emitting unit or a sounding unit connected in advance to the control device 104. You may notify using.

  When the operator depresses the radiation irradiation switch 106 in accordance with the notification from the irradiation notification unit 201, the radiation generation apparatus 103 generates radiation to irradiate the subject, and the radiation that has passed through the subject is accumulated by the radiation imaging apparatus 102 ( Step S103), a radiographic image of the subject is obtained (Step S104).

  The radiographic image captured by the radiation imaging apparatus 102 is transmitted to the control apparatus 104, and the imaging success / failure determination unit 203 determines the success / failure of the imaging process (step S105). As a method of success / failure determination in the imaging success / failure determination unit 203, for example, object recognition on an image is performed from a radiographic image sent from the radiation imaging apparatus 102, and success / failure is determined by determining whether an intended imaging target is captured. The method of determining is mentioned.

  If the imaging success / failure determination unit 203 determines that the imaging has been successful, the process transition unit 204 completes the imaging process, the radiographic image is subjected to image processing necessary for display, and transitions to display processing on the display device 105 (step S105). S106). On the other hand, when the shooting success / failure determination unit 203 determines that shooting has failed, the process transition unit 204 transitions to re-shooting processing (step S107). More specifically, in the re-photographing process, a process is performed in which a photographed image is regarded as a defective image and is returned to a state where it can be photographed again. The processing in these control devices 104 is realized by, for example, a computer executing a predetermined program.

  Before the process transition unit 204 transitions to the re-photographing process, for example, a screen for re-photographing may be displayed on the display device 105. FIG. 4 is an example of a screen displayed on the display device 105 before the transition to the re-photographing process. In this screen (dialog) 501, the fact that re-shooting is performed is displayed in the area 502, and the reason why the shooting success / failure determination unit 203 determines that shooting has failed is displayed in the area 503. When the operator presses the “re-photograph” button 504 on the dialog 501, the process transition unit 204 transitions to re-photographing. At this time, predetermined information such as information to be added to the captured image can be automatically input. For example, when the reason for the copy loss is necessary, automatic input can be performed based on the content displayed in the area 503, thereby saving the operator's work. On the other hand, when the operator presses the “Cancel” button 505, the process transition unit 204 does not transition to re-photographing. The process transition unit 204 may perform image processing necessary for display on the captured image and shift to display processing on the display device 105, or may complete shooting without performing the display process.

  According to the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the time and effort for the operator to determine the success or failure of shooting and to perform various operations to perform re-shooting in the case of shooting failure.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, details of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a radiation imaging system according to the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the radiation imaging apparatus 102 includes a detection unit 301 and a drive control unit 302. The detection unit 301 detects the radiation emitted from the radiation generation apparatus 103. The drive control unit 302 performs a radiation accumulation operation based on the detection information from the detection unit 301. Further, the control device 104 includes an imaging success / failure determination unit 203 and a process transition unit 204, but does not include an irradiation notification unit 201 and a manual synchronous imaging processing unit 202. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  When performing radiation imaging using the radiation imaging system 101 according to the second embodiment, first, operations in steps S101 and S102 are performed as in the first embodiment. In step S103, when the operator presses the radiation irradiation switch 106 at an arbitrary timing and the radiation generating apparatus 103 irradiates the radiation in a state where imaging is possible, the detection unit 301 of the radiation imaging apparatus 102 detects the radiation. In response, the drive control unit 302 starts to accumulate radiation and performs imaging. Thereafter, the operations in steps S104 to S107 are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  According to the second embodiment, an effect similar to that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and further, an effect that the timing of photographing can be set arbitrarily can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
Next, details of the third embodiment will be described. Conventionally, as in the radiation imaging system described in Patent Document 3, for example, a radiation image is sometimes corrected by additional reading of a signal. Here, an outline of correction of a radiographic image will be described. For example, an operation example of a conventional radiation imaging system described in Patent Document 3 is illustrated as a timing chart in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the radiation imaging apparatus may start reading due to a timeout, for example, despite the radiation irradiation. In such a case, with respect to the first read signal, the radiation dose is greatly different between the portion read during irradiation and the portion read after the end of irradiation, so that a good radiation image cannot be acquired. Even in such a case, as described in Patent Document 3, additional reading is performed, and the original signal that failed to be captured is recovered by correcting the first signal using the additionally read signal. Can do. The third embodiment is suitable for image correction by such additional reading. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the radiation imaging system according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the radiation imaging system according to the third embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the radiation imaging apparatus 102 includes a detection unit 301, a drive control unit 401, and a correction processing unit 402. The drive control unit 401 operates to perform additional signal readout when performing signal readout according to accumulated radiation, at least when readout is started while radiation is being applied. . When the drive control unit 401 performs additional reading, the correction processing unit 402 corrects the first read signal using the additional reading signal. The control device 104 includes a photographing success / failure determination unit 203, a process transition unit 204, and an image storage unit 403. The image storage unit 403 performs image storage processing. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

  When performing radiation imaging using the radiation imaging system 101 according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, first, operations in steps S101 to S104 are performed in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Further, the drive control unit 401 determines, based on information from the detection unit 301, whether or not the reading state from the radiation imaging apparatus 102, that is, whether reading is being performed during radiation irradiation (step S201). If it has been performed during irradiation, the process returns to step S104 to perform additional reading of the signal, and the correction processing unit 402 performs correction processing of the first read signal using the additional reading signal (step S202). .

  The corrected radiographic image corrected by the radiation imaging apparatus 102 is transmitted to the control apparatus 104 together with information indicating that the correction has been performed. When received by the control device 104, the image storage unit 403 stores the radiation image together with additional information indicating that it is a corrected radiation image (step S203). Here, as a method for storing the additional information, for example, it may be recorded in the header of the stored corrected radiographic image, or may be recorded as information associated with the corrected radiographic image on the database.

  Thereafter, in the same manner as in the second embodiment, the imaging success / failure determination unit 203 determines whether the imaging process is successful (step S105). If the shooting success / failure determination unit 203 determines that shooting has failed, the process transition unit 204 transitions to a re-shooting process (step S107). On the other hand, when the imaging success / failure determination unit 203 determines that the imaging is successful, the process transition unit 204 determines whether the radiographic image has been corrected (step S204). If not corrected, the process transition unit 204 completes the imaging process, the radiographic image is subjected to image processing necessary for display, and transitions to display processing on the display device 105 (step S106). On the other hand, if it has been corrected, the process transition unit 204 causes the operator to select whether to use the corrected radiation image or perform re-imaging (step S205).

  In the process of step S205, the process transition unit displays a screen for providing options on the display device 105, for example. FIG. 9 is an example of a selection screen displayed on the display device 105 when it is determined that the corrected image has been successfully captured. In this selection screen (dialog) 601, contents indicating that correction processing has been performed for the operator and providing re-shooting options are displayed in an area 602, and supplementary information is displayed in an area 603. . When the operator presses the “re-photograph” button 604, the process transition unit 204 transitions to re-photographing. On the other hand, when the operator presses the “Cancel” button 605, the process transition unit 204 completes the imaging process, and the corrected radiation image is subjected to image processing necessary for display, and is displayed on the display device 105. Transition.

  According to the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the second embodiment, and furthermore, it is possible to obtain a good radiation image even if signal readout is performed during radiation irradiation. An effect can also be obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101: Radiation imaging system 201: Irradiation notification part 202: Manual synchronous imaging process part 203: Imaging success / failure determination part 204: Process transition part 301: Detection part 302: Radiation automatic detection process drive part 401: Drive control part 402: Correction process part 403: Image storage unit

Claims (13)

A radiation generator for generating radiation and irradiating the subject with the radiation;
A radiation irradiation switch for instructing the radiation generation apparatus to perform the irradiation;
A radiation imaging apparatus for accumulating radiation transmitted through the subject and capturing a radiation image of the subject;
A control device for controlling the radiation imaging apparatus;
Have
The controller is
Imaging success / failure determining means for determining success / failure of the imaging from the radiation image;
When the shooting success / failure determination unit determines that the shooting is successful, the shooting is completed, and when it is determined that the shooting has failed, the process transition unit shifts to the re-shooting,
A radiation imaging system comprising:   The radiation imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a display device connected to the control device.   The process transition unit is configured to allow an operator to select whether or not to perform the re-photographing before transitioning to the re-photographing when the photographing success / failure judging unit determines that the photographing has failed. The radiation imaging system according to claim 1 or 2.   4. The radiation imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the process transition unit adds predetermined information to the radiation image when transitioning to the re-imaging. 5.   The radiation imaging system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined information includes a reason why the imaging success / failure determination unit determines that imaging has failed. The controller is
Manual synchronization imaging processing means for instructing the radiation imaging apparatus to store radiation when the radiation imaging apparatus is ready for imaging;
Irradiation notification means for notifying an operator of the timing when the radiation imaging apparatus can accumulate radiation when preparation for imaging by the radiation imaging apparatus is completed;
Have
The radiographic imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an operator operates the radiation irradiation switch at a timing instructed by the irradiation notifying unit to perform manual synchronous imaging. . The radiation imaging apparatus includes:
Detecting means for detecting the irradiated radiation;
Drive control means for performing an accumulation operation of radiation based on detection information from the detection means;
The radiation imaging system according to claim 1, comprising: The radiation imaging apparatus includes:
Drive control means for performing signal readout according to accumulated radiation, and at least when the signal readout is started while radiation irradiation is being performed;
Correction processing means for correcting the first read signal with the signal obtained by the additional reading;
The radiation imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising: The process transition means includes
Even when the radiographing success / failure determining unit determines that the radiographing is successful, when the radiographic image corrected by the correction processing unit is acquired, the radiographic image subjected to the correction is used or re-imaging is performed. 9. The radiation imaging system according to claim 8, wherein an operator can select whether to perform the operation.   10. The image storage unit according to claim 8, further comprising: an image storage unit that stores the radiographic image corrected by the correction processing unit together with additional information indicating that the radiographic image is corrected. 10. Radiography system. A radiation generator for generating radiation and irradiating the subject with the radiation;
A radiation irradiation switch for instructing the radiation generation apparatus to perform the irradiation;
A radiation imaging apparatus for accumulating radiation transmitted through the subject and capturing a radiation image of the subject;
A method of controlling a radiographic system having:
An imaging success / failure determination step for determining success or failure of the imaging from the radiation image;
If it is determined that the shooting was successful in the shooting success / failure determination step, the shooting is completed, and if it is determined that the shooting has failed, a process transition step for transitioning to re-shooting,
A control method for a radiation imaging system, comprising: Imaging success / failure determination means for determining success / failure of the imaging from a radiographic image obtained by imaging by the radiation imaging apparatus;
When the shooting success / failure determination unit determines that the shooting is successful, the shooting is completed, and when it is determined that the shooting has failed, the process transition unit shifts to the re-shooting,
A control device for a radiation imaging apparatus, comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 11.