JP5554257B2 - Storage device and radiographic imaging system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage device and a radiographic imaging system, and in particular, a storage device that stores a portable radiographic imaging device, and a portable radiographic imaging device that captures a radiographic image with the storage device. And a radiographic imaging system having a control device that controls radiographic imaging.

  In recent years, radiation detectors such as FPD (Flat Panel Detector) that can arrange radiation sensitive layers on TFT (Thin Film Transistor) active matrix substrates and convert radiation directly into digital data have been put into practical use. A portable radiographic imaging device (hereinafter also referred to as “electronic cassette”) that captures a radiographic image represented by the irradiated radiation has been put into practical use. The radiographic imaging device using this radiation detector can see images immediately and can perform radiographic imaging continuously, compared to conventional radiographic imaging devices using X-ray films or imaging plates. There is an advantage that (moving image shooting) can also be performed. Radiation detectors convert radiation into indirect conversion methods in which radiation is converted into light by a scintillator and then converted into charges in a semiconductor layer such as a photodiode, or radiation is charged in a semiconductor layer such as amorphous selenium. There are various types of materials that can be used for the semiconductor layer in each method.

  By the way, in radiographic image capturing, a distance between the radiation source and the radiographic image capturing apparatus in the vertical direction (hereinafter also referred to as “SID” (Source Image Distance)) is generally adjusted to a distance according to the imaging conditions. Shooting is performed.

The SID as a technique for accurately perform adjustment for shooting, the Japanese Patent Documents 1 and 2, the cassette holder (accommodation apparatus) for accommodating the cassette in providing a plurality of ultrasonic sound wave transmitter at a predetermined positional relationship , the radiation source portion provided an ultrasonic receiver, respectively received by the ultrasonic receiver of ultrasound radiation source portion transmitted from the ultrasonic sound wave transmitter, for each of the ultrasonic received by the ultrasonic receiver A technique for calculating the distance between the cassette and the radiation source from the direction is disclosed.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-62340 Japanese Utility Model Publication 2-61310

Meanwhile, the cassette holder because portability is required, as the supply source for supplying power to drive the ultrasonic wave transmitter and battery are used.

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it may have always supplied electric power to each ultrasonic sound wave transmitter from a battery, consumption by the battery built in this case There was a problem that electric power was large. In particular, in the case of taking a plurality of radiographic images using a round-trip car, it may be impossible to take an image on the way, so that the power consumption is large.

  On the other hand, a power switch or a dedicated switch is provided in the cassette holder, and it is conceivable to switch the power supply state to the distance measuring unit by operating the switch, but in this case, it is necessary to operate the switch. It is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and even when the housing device is provided with a driving device that is driven in cooperation with the radiographic imaging device, the housing device is incorporated while suppressing the handling of the housing device from being complicated. Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage device and a radiographic imaging system that can effectively reduce the power consumption of a battery.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention cooperates with a portable radiographic image capturing apparatus by supplying a power to a storage unit that stores a portable radiographic image capturing apparatus. Driving device, a battery for supplying power to the driving device, switching means for switching power supply from the battery to the driving device between an energized state and a non-energized state, and power to the drive device comprising receiving means for receiving the switching instruction information for switching the supply to the energized state or the non-energized state, and control means for controlling said switching means based on the switching instruction information received by said receiving means, said drive apparatus Measure the distance between the portable radiographic imaging device accommodated in the accommodating portion and the collimator for adjusting the irradiation field by the radiation emitted from the radiation source It is those that are because of the ultrasonic transmitter.

The accommodation device of the present invention includes an accommodation unit that accommodates a portable radiographic imaging device, and is supplied to a drive device that is driven in cooperation with the portable radiographic imaging device when supplied with electric power. The power supply from the battery can be switched between an energized state and a non-energized state by the switching means.
In the present invention, the driving device measures the distance between the portable radiographic imaging device in the state of being accommodated in the accommodating portion and the collimator that adjusts the irradiation field by the radiation emitted from the radiation source. To be an ultrasonic transmitter.

In the storage device of the present invention, the switching unit receives the switching instruction information for switching the power supply to the driving device between the energized state and the non-energized state by the receiving unit, and the control unit is based on the switching instruction information received by the receiving unit. Thus, the switching means is controlled.

As described above, according to the present invention , the switching instruction information for switching the power supply to the driving device between the energized state and the non-energized state is received, and the power supply from the battery to the driving device is performed based on the received switching instruction information. Therefore, it is possible to effectively reduce the power consumption of the built-in battery while suppressing the handling of the housing device from being complicated.

In the present invention, the receiving unit may receive switching instruction information from the portable radiographic imaging device .

Further, the present invention is pre-Symbol receiving means may receive the switching instruction information by wireless communication from the control unit for transmitting the switching instruction information.

The present invention further includes a power receiving unit that receives power from the portable radiographic imaging device in a state where the portable radiographic imaging device is accommodated in the accommodating unit, and the control means includes the portable unit. When the portable radiographic imaging device is in a power-off state or in a power saving state, power is supplied from the battery to the driving device. In an operating state where radiographic images are taken, power is supplied from the power receiving unit to the driving device. The switching means may be controlled to be supplied.

On the other hand, a radiographic imaging system according to a second aspect of the present invention is a portable radiographic imaging device including a transmission unit that transmits switching instruction information for switching power supply between an energized state and a non-energized state, and the portable radiation imaging system. An accommodating portion for accommodating an image capturing device; a drive device that is driven in cooperation with the portable radiographic image capturing device by supplying power; a battery for supplying power to the drive device; Switching means for switching the power supply to the drive device between an energized state and a non-energized state, a receiving means for receiving the switching instruction information transmitted by the transmitting means, and the switching based on the switching instruction information received by the receiving means anda housing apparatus provided with a control means for controlling the means, the drive apparatus, shooting a radiation image of the portable in a state of being housed in the housing portion A device is intended is an ultrasonic transmitter for measuring a distance between the collimator for adjusting an irradiation field by radiation emitted from the radiation source.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the portable radiographic imaging device of the radiographic imaging system transmits the switching instruction information for switching the power supply to the energized state or the non-energized state to the accommodating device, and the accommodating device is transmitted. Since it operates in the same manner as the first invention based on the switching instruction information, it is possible to effectively reduce the power consumption of the built-in battery while suppressing the handling of the housing device from being complicated.

The present invention is pre hear a transportable radiographic imaging apparatus, the power source comprises a power power supply unit capable of supplying to the outside from the power source, said transmitting means, the remaining power remaining in the power source When the amount is larger than a predetermined allowable remaining amount, power is supplied from the power source to the driving device, and when the remaining amount of power stored in the power source is equal to or less than the allowable remaining amount, A power receiving unit that transmits switching instruction information for supplying power to the drive device, and the storage device receives power from the power supply unit in a state where the portable radiographic imaging device is stored in the storage unit; In addition, the switching means can switch power supplied from the battery or the power receiving unit and supply the power to the driving device, and the control means can perform the driving based on switching instruction information received by the receiving means. apparatus The power supply, energized performed from the battery, energized performed from the power receiving unit may control the switching means to switch to one of the non-conductive state.

On the other hand, a radiographic imaging system according to a third aspect of the present invention is a portable radiographic imaging device including a transmission unit that transmits switching instruction information for switching power supply between an energized state and a non-energized state, and the portable radiation imaging system. An accommodating portion for accommodating an image capturing device; a drive device that is driven in cooperation with the portable radiographic image capturing device by supplying power; a battery for supplying power to the drive device; Switching means for switching the power supply to the drive device between an energized state and a non-energized state, a receiving means for receiving the switching instruction information transmitted by the transmitting means, and the switching based on the switching instruction information received by the receiving means And a portable radiographic imaging device that supplies power from the power source to the outside. And when the remaining power of the power remaining in the power source is larger than a predetermined allowable remaining power, the transmitting means supplies power from the power source to the driving device, and the power source When the remaining amount of power stored in the battery is less than or equal to the allowable remaining amount, switching instruction information for supplying power from the battery to the drive device is transmitted, and the storage device transmits the portable radiation to the storage unit. It further includes a power reception unit that receives power from the power supply unit in a state where the image capturing device is accommodated, and the switching unit can switch the power from the battery or the power reception unit and supply the power to the drive device. The control means supplies power to the drive device from the battery based on switching instruction information received by the receiving means, an energized state performed from the power receiving unit, a non-energized state And controls said switching means to switch to one of.
A radiographic imaging system according to a fourth aspect of the invention includes a control device including first transmission means for transmitting switching instruction information for switching power supply to an energized state or a non-energized state by wireless communication, and the first transmission means. Radiographic imaging including a first receiving means for receiving the transmitted switching instruction information and a second transmitting means for transmitting the switching instruction information received by the first receiving means. An apparatus, an accommodating portion for accommodating the portable radiographic imaging device, a driving device that is driven in cooperation with the portable radiographic imaging device when power is supplied, and power is supplied to the driving device A battery for switching, a switching means for switching power supply from the battery to the driving device between an energized state and a non-energized state, and a second instruction for receiving the switching instruction information transmitted by the second transmitting means. Receiving means, and has a a housing device having a control means for controlling the switching means based on the switching instruction information received by said second reception means.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the control device of the radiographic imaging system transmits the switching instruction information for switching the power supply to the energized state or the non-energized state to the portable radiographic image capturing device, and the portable radiographic image capturing device. Transmits the switching instruction information transmitted from the control device to the accommodating device, and the accommodating device operates in the same manner as the first invention based on the transmitted switching instruction information, so that the handling of the accommodating device is complicated. This can effectively reduce the power consumption of the built-in battery.

  According to the present invention, the power consumption of the built-in battery is effectively reduced while suppressing the handling of the housing device even when the housing device is provided with a driving device that is driven in cooperation with the radiographic imaging device. It is possible to obtain an effect that it can be reduced.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the radiography system which concerns on embodiment to the hospital room. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the electronic cassette which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view which shows the structure of the cassette holder which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electric system of the imaging | photography system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the switch instruction | indication processing program which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the switching process program which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the measurement result display screen which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the non-energized state switching process program which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electric system of the electronic cassette which concerns on another form, and a cassette holder.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a description will be given of an example in which the present invention is applied to a radiation imaging system that captures a radiation image using an electronic cassette.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a state in which the radiation imaging system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment is arranged in a hospital room.

  The radiation imaging system 10 according to the present embodiment is portable, has an electronic cassette 12 that generates image information indicating a radiation image represented by irradiated radiation, a cassette holder 14 that holds the electronic cassette 12, and A radiation generation device 16 that generates radiation and a console 18 that controls the radiation generation device 16 are provided.

  The cassette holder 14 is disposed between the bed 15 and the patient 17 lying on the bed 15.

  On the other hand, the radiation generator 16 according to the present embodiment includes an arm 20, and a radiation emitting unit 22 is provided at one end of the arm 20. In addition, the radiation generator 16 is provided with a wheel 26 at the bottom of the main body 24 and is movable in the hospital.

  The console 18 according to the present embodiment is configured by a notebook computer or the like, and accepts various operation inputs related to photographing such as exposure conditions from a photographer.

  Further, the radiation emitting unit 22 is disposed on the upper part of the patient 17 who is lying on the bed 15. When the radiation generator 16 is instructed to take a radiographic image via the console 18, the radiation generator 16 irradiates the radiation emitting unit 22 with a radiation dose corresponding to the above-described exposure conditions. The radiation emitted from the radiation generator 16 passes through the patient 17 and carries the image information, and then irradiates the electronic cassette 12.

  FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the electronic cassette 12 according to the embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the electronic cassette 12 includes a casing 41 made of a material that transmits radiation X, and has a waterproof and airtight structure. When the electronic cassette 12 is used in an operating room or the like, there is a risk that blood or other germs may adhere. Therefore, one electronic cassette 12 can be used repeatedly by sterilizing and cleaning the electronic cassette 12 as a waterproof and airtight structure as necessary.

  Inside the housing 41, a grid 43 for removing scattered radiation of the radiation X by the patient from the irradiation surface 42 side of the housing 41 to which the radiation X is irradiated, and a radiation detector 44 for detecting the radiation X transmitted through the patient. , And a lead plate 45 that absorbs backscattered rays of radiation X is disposed in order. Note that the irradiation surface 42 of the housing 41 may be configured as a grid 43. One side surface 41A of the housing 41 is provided with a connection terminal 12A for supplying power to the outside and an infrared transmission unit 150 for performing infrared communication.

  In addition, a case 46 that houses an electronic circuit including a microcomputer and a rechargeable secondary battery is disposed on one end side inside the housing 41. The radiation detector 44 and the electronic circuit are operated by electric power supplied from the secondary battery disposed in the case 46. In order to avoid various circuits housed in the case 46 from being damaged by the radiation X irradiation, it is desirable to arrange a lead plate or the like on the irradiation surface 42 side of the case 46. The electronic cassette 12 according to the present exemplary embodiment is a rectangular parallelepiped whose irradiation surface 42 has a rectangular shape, and a case 46 is disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the cassette holder 14 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the cassette holder 14 according to the present embodiment is provided with a housing 52 that houses the electronic cassette 12 therein. The casing 52 has a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a cassette insertion port 53 into which the electronic cassette 12 is inserted is provided on one of the side walls.

  On the other hand, inside the housing 52, the inside of the casing 52 is an area in the vicinity of the three side walls excluding the side wall provided with the cassette insertion port 53, and a cassette accommodating area 51 for accommodating the electronic cassette 12 (the “accommodating portion of the present invention”). ”) And three partition walls 52A, 52B, and 52C having an L-shaped cross-sectional view.

  The partition wall 52A and the partition wall 52B are respectively provided on the left end side and the right end side of the cassette housing region 51, and one ultrasonic transmitter 56A is provided on the upper surface (the surface on which radiation is incident) of the partition wall 52A. On the other hand, two ultrasonic transmitters 56B and 56C are provided on the upper surface of the partition wall 52B. The ultrasonic transmitters 56 </ b> A to 56 </ b> C are configured to emit ultrasonic waves having a predetermined frequency in a state where electric power is supplied, and regions where the ultrasonic waves are emitted are exposed from the surface of the housing 52. It is provided to do.

A plurality of (two in the example shown in the figure) springs that bias the electronic cassette 12 toward the cassette insertion port 53 when the electronic cassette 12 is accommodated on the side surface of the partition wall 52C on the cassette accommodation area 51 side. 58A and 58B are erected. At a position corresponding to the connection terminal 12A when the electronic cassette 12 of the partition 52C is retract and the cassette receiving area 51, the connection terminals 57 are provided, the infrared receiver in the position corresponding to the infrared transmission section 150 A part 152 is provided. When the electronic cassette 12 is housed in the cassette housing area 51, the connection terminal 57 comes into contact with the connection terminal 12A and can be energized, and the infrared transmitter 150 can receive the infrared light output from the infrared transmitter 150.

  A holding portion 60 that holds the electronic cassette 12 in the cassette housing area 51 when the electronic cassette 12 is housed is located on the side surface of the partition wall 52A on the cassette housing area 51 side and in the vicinity of the cassette insertion port 53. A spring 58 </ b> C provided at the top is erected.

  When the spring 58C is extended most, the holding portion 60 is positioned at the position shown in the figure, while the holding portion 60 extends from the end on the side where the electronic cassette 12 is inserted to the end opposite to the end. The shape is inclined toward the center side of the cassette housing area 51. Thus, when the electronic cassette 12 is inserted from the cassette insertion port 53, the holding portion 60 is moved in the direction of arrow B by contact with the wall surface of the electronic cassette 12, and then the entire electronic cassette 12 is moved. As a result of being returned to the position shown in the figure by the urging force of the spring 58 </ b> A while being accommodated in the cassette accommodation area 51, the electronic cassette 12 can be held in the cassette accommodation area 51 by the holding portion 60. When the electronic cassette 12 is taken out from the cassette holder 14, the end of the electronic cassette 12 on the cassette insertion port 53 side is moved by the urging force of the spring 58A and the spring 58B by moving the holding portion 60 in the direction of arrow B in the figure. Since the portion can be exposed to the outside of the casing 52, the electronic cassette 12 can be taken out by grasping the end portion.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the configuration of the main part of the electrical system of the radiation imaging system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The radiation generator 16 is provided with a connection terminal 16 </ b> A for communicating with the console 18. The console 18 is provided with a connection terminal 18 </ b> A for communicating with the radiation generator 16. The connection terminal 16A of the radiation generator 16 and the connection terminal 18A of the console 18 are connected by a cable 35.

  The radiation detector 44 built in the electronic cassette 12 is configured by laminating a photoelectric conversion layer that absorbs radiation X and converts it into charges on a TFT active matrix substrate 66. The photoelectric conversion layer is made of amorphous a-Se (amorphous selenium) containing, for example, selenium as a main component (for example, a content rate of 50% or more), and when irradiated with radiation X, a charge corresponding to the amount of irradiated radiation. By generating a certain amount of charge (electron-hole pairs) internally, the irradiated radiation X is converted into a charge. The radiation detector 44 is indirectly charged using a phosphor material and a photoelectric conversion element (photodiode) instead of the radiation-charge conversion material that directly converts the radiation X such as amorphous selenium into an electric charge. May be converted to As phosphor materials, gadolinium sulfate (GOS) and cesium iodide (CsI) are well known. In this case, radiation X-light conversion is performed using a phosphor material, and light-charge conversion is performed using a photodiode of a photoelectric conversion element.

  Further, on the TFT active matrix substrate 66, a pixel portion 74 (in FIG. 4) provided with a storage capacitor 68 for storing the charge generated in the photoelectric conversion layer and a TFT 70 for reading out the charge stored in the storage capacitor 68. A large number of photoelectric conversion layers corresponding to the individual pixel portions 74 are schematically shown as sensor portions 72.) A large number of photoelectric conversion layers are arranged in a matrix, and the photoelectric conversion layers accompany the irradiation of radiation X to the electronic cassette 12. The electric charges generated in are accumulated in the storage capacitors 68 of the individual pixel portions 74. As a result, the image information carried on the radiation X irradiated to the electronic cassette 12 is converted into charge information and held in the radiation detector 44.

  The TFT active matrix substrate 66 is extended in a certain direction (row direction), a plurality of gate wirings 76 for turning on / off the TFTs 70 of the individual pixel portions 74, and a direction orthogonal to the gate wirings 76. A plurality of data wirings 78 are provided so as to read the stored charge from the storage capacitor 68 via the TFT 70 which is extended in the (column direction) and turned on. Individual gate lines 76 are connected to a gate line driver 80, and individual data lines 78 are connected to a signal processing unit 82. When charges are accumulated in the storage capacitors 68 of the individual pixel portions 74, the TFTs 70 of the individual pixel portions 74 are sequentially turned on in units of rows by a signal supplied from the gate line driver 80 via the gate wiring 76. The charges stored in the storage capacitor 68 of the pixel unit 74 in which the TFT 70 is turned on are transmitted as an analog electric signal through the data wiring 78 and input to the signal processing unit 82. Accordingly, the charges accumulated in the storage capacitors 68 of the individual pixel portions 74 are sequentially read out in units of rows.

  Although not shown, the signal processing unit 82 includes an amplifier and a sample-and-hold circuit provided for each data wiring 78. After the charge signal transmitted through each data wiring 78 is amplified by the amplifier, It is held in the sample hold circuit. Further, a multiplexer and an A / D (analog / digital) converter are sequentially connected to the output side of the sample and hold circuit, and the charge signals held in the individual sample and hold circuits are sequentially (serially) input to the multiplexer. The digital image data is converted by an A / D converter.

  An image memory 90 is connected to the signal processing unit 82, and image data output from the A / D converter of the signal processing unit 82 is sequentially stored in the image memory 90. The image memory 90 has a storage capacity capable of storing a predetermined number of image data, and image data obtained by imaging is sequentially stored in the image memory 90 every time a radiographic image is captured.

  The image memory 90 is connected to a cassette control unit 92 that controls the operation of the entire electronic cassette 12. The cassette control unit 92 is configured by a microcomputer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 92A, a memory 92B including a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, and the like. A nonvolatile storage unit 92C is provided.

A wireless communication unit 94 is connected to the cassette control unit 92. The wireless communication unit 94 is compatible with a wireless local area network (LAN) standard represented by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11a / b / g, etc. Control the transmission of various information. The cassette control unit 92 can wirelessly communicate with the console 18 via the wireless communication unit 94, and transmits / receives various information to / from the console 18 . The cassette control unit 92 stores an exposure condition, which will be described later, received from the console 18 via the wireless communication unit 94, and starts reading out charges based on the exposure condition.

  The electronic cassette 12 is provided with a power supply unit 96. The various circuits and elements described above (gate line driver 80, signal processing unit 82, image memory 90, wireless communication unit 94, microcomputer functioning as cassette control unit 92, etc.) are operated by power supplied from power supply unit 96. To do. The power supply unit 96 incorporates the above-described battery (secondary battery) so as not to impair the portability of the electronic cassette 12, and supplies power from the charged battery to various circuits and elements. In FIG. 4, the power supply unit 96 and wirings for connecting various circuits and elements are omitted.

  The cassette control unit 92 according to the present embodiment can grasp the charge state of the battery built in the power supply unit 96 based on the power state supplied from the power supply unit 96. The power supply unit 96 is connected to the connection terminal 12A for supplying power to the outside, and the power from the power supply unit 96 is supplied to the connection terminal 12A.

  The electronic cassette 12 includes the infrared transmission unit 150 described above. The infrared transmission unit 150 is connected to the cassette control unit 92. The cassette control unit 92 can transmit information to the cassette holder 14 via infrared rays via the infrared transmission unit 150.

  On the other hand, the cassette holder 14 includes the above-described ultrasonic transmitters 56 </ b> A to 56 </ b> C, a holder control unit 160 that controls the operation of the cassette holder 14, and the above-described infrared receiving unit 152.

  The infrared receiving unit 152 is connected to a holder control unit 160 that controls the operation of the entire cassette holder 14. The holder control unit 160 is also constituted by a microcomputer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 160A, a memory 160B including a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, and the like. The non-volatile storage unit 160C is provided. The holder control unit 160 can grasp the information received by the infrared reception unit 152 by infrared communication.

  The ultrasonic transmitters 56 </ b> A to 56 </ b> C are connected to the wiring 59 and are driven when electric power is supplied through the wiring 59 to generate ultrasonic waves.

  The cassette holder 14 includes a battery 162 and an energization control unit 164.

  The energization control unit 164 is connected to the connection terminal 57, the battery 162, and the holder control unit 160. Under the control of the holder control unit 160, the wiring 59 is not energized, connected to the connection terminal 57, and connected to the battery 162. It is possible to selectively switch to a connected state.

  On the other hand, the console 18 includes a display 100 that displays an operation menu, a captured radiographic image, and the like, and an operation panel 102 that includes a plurality of keys and inputs various information and operation instructions. .

  The console 18 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 104 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, a ROM 106 that stores various programs including a control program in advance, a RAM 108 that temporarily stores various data, and various data. It includes an HDD 110 that stores and holds, a display driver 112 that controls display of various types of information on the display 100, and an operation input detection unit 114 that detects an operation state of the operation panel 102. Further, the console 18 is connected to the connection terminal 18A, and a communication I / F unit 116 that transmits and receives various information such as an exposure condition to be described later to and from the radiation generator 16 via the connection terminal 18A and the cable 35. A wireless communication unit 118 that transmits and receives various types of information such as exposure conditions to and from the electronic cassette 12 by wireless communication.

  The CPU 104, ROM 106, RAM 108, HDD 110, display driver 112, operation input detection unit 114, communication I / F unit 116, and wireless communication unit 118 are connected to each other via a system bus BUS. Therefore, the CPU 104 can access the ROM 106, the RAM 108, and the HDD 110, controls the display of various information on the display 100 via the display driver 112, and the radiation generator 16 via the communication I / F unit 116. And control of transmission / reception of various information to / from the electronic cassette 12 via the wireless communication unit 118. Further, the CPU 104 can grasp the operation state of the user with respect to the operation panel 102 via the operation input detection unit 114.

  On the other hand, the radiation generator 16 is based on the radiation source 130 that emits the radiation X, the communication I / F unit 132 that transmits and receives various types of information such as the exposure condition between the console 18, and the received exposure condition. A radiation source controller 134 for controlling the radiation source 130, a collimator 136 for limiting the irradiation area of the radiation emitted from the radiation source 130, and a plurality of (respectively) ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C. In the present embodiment, two ultrasonic receivers 138A and 138B are provided.

Radiation source controller 134 is implemented by microcomputers, communication I / F unit 132, the radiation source 130 and collimator 136 are respectively connected. The radiation source control unit 134 performs control related to the radiation emission operation by the radiation source 130 and control related to restriction of the radiation irradiation region by the collimator 136. In addition, an ultrasonic receiver 138A and an ultrasonic receiver 138B are connected to the radiation source controller 134. From the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C provided in the cassette holder 14 by the ultrasonic receivers 138A and 138B. The transmitted ultrasonic wave is received, and the distance to the electronic cassette 12 is derived by a triangulation technique based on the received ultrasonic signal level.

  In the radiation imaging system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic receiver 138A is provided at one end of the collimator 136, while the ultrasonic receiver 138B is provided at the other end opposite to the one end. The radiation source control unit 134 is centered on the center of the imaging surface at the position where the electronic cassette 12 is arranged, based on the ultrasonic signal level obtained via each of the ultrasonic receiver 138A and the ultrasonic receiver 138B. The rotation angle about the axis can be grasped.

  Next, the operation of the radiation imaging system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.

  When taking a radiographic image, a radiographer, doctor, or other such photographer accommodates the electronic cassette 12 in the cassette holder 14. When the electronic cassette 12 is accommodated in the cassette holder 14, the connection terminal 12 </ b> A of the electronic cassette 12 and the connection terminal 57 of the cassette holder 14 come into contact with each other and can be energized. Infrared communication to the 14 infrared transmitters 150 becomes possible. Thereby, the electric power of the power supply part 96 flows into the connection terminal 57 via the connection terminal 12A.

  The photographer inputs exposure conditions such as tube voltage, tube current, and irradiation period to the console 18 via the operation panel 102. When the exposure condition is input, the console 18 transmits the input exposure condition to the electronic cassette 12 via the wireless communication unit 118, and the radiation generation apparatus transmits the exposure condition via the communication I / F unit 116. 16 is transmitted.

  When receiving the exposure condition from the console 18, the radiation source control unit 134 of the radiation generator 16 stores the received exposure condition and prepares for exposure under the exposure condition.

  The cassette control unit 92 of the electronic cassette 12 grasps the state of charge of the battery built in the power supply unit 96. When the cassette control unit 92 receives the exposure condition from the console 18, the cassette control unit 92 stores the received exposure condition in the storage unit 92C, and executes a switching instruction process instructing switching of the energization control unit 164 according to the state of charge of the battery. To do.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the switching instruction processing program executed by the CPU 92A of the cassette control unit 92 according to the present embodiment. The program is stored in advance in a predetermined area of the memory 92B (ROM), and is executed when an exposure condition is input to the operation panel 102.

  In step S50 of the figure, the state of charge of the battery built in the power supply unit 96 is grasped based on the power state supplied from the power supply unit 96.

  In the next step S52, it is determined whether or not the remaining power of the battery is equal to or less than a predetermined allowable remaining amount (for example, 20%). If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S56, and the determination is negative. Proceeds to step S54.

  In step S54, switching instruction information for instructing switching of the wiring 59 and the connection terminal 57 to the connected state is transmitted from the infrared receiving unit 152 by infrared communication, and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, in step S56, switching instruction information for instructing to switch the wiring 59 and the battery 162 to the connected state is transmitted from the infrared receiving unit 152 by infrared communication, and the process is terminated.

  The holder control unit 160 of the cassette holder 14 executes a switching process when the switching instruction information is received by the infrared receiving unit 152.

  FIG. 6 shows a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the switching process program executed by CPU 160A of holder control unit 160 according to the present embodiment. The program is stored in advance in a predetermined area of the memory 160B (ROM).

  In step S60 of the figure, it is determined whether or not the received switching instruction information is an instruction to switch the wiring 59 and the connection terminal 57 to the connected state. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S64. If the result of determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S62.

  In step S62, it is determined whether or not the received switching instruction information is an instruction to switch the wiring 59 and the battery 162 to the connected state. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S66, and negative. When it becomes determination, it transfers to step S68.

  In step S64, the energization control unit 164 is switched so that the wiring 59 and the connection terminal 57 are connected, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in step S66, the energization control unit 164 is switched so that the wiring 59 and the battery 162 are connected, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in step S68, the energization control unit 164 is switched so that the wiring 59 is in a non-energized state, assuming that it is switching instruction information for switching the wiring 59 to a non-energized state, and the process ends.

  Thereby, when the remaining amount of the battery built in the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12 is larger than the predetermined allowable remaining amount, the connection terminal 12A, the connection terminal 57, and the wiring 59 are connected from the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12. Then, supply of driving power to each of the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C is started, and transmission of ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C is started.

  On the other hand, when the remaining amount of the battery built in the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12 is equal to or less than a predetermined allowable remaining amount, the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C from the battery 162 built in the cassette holder 14 through the wiring 59. Supply of driving electric power to each of these is started, and transmission of ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C is started.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 1 as an example, the photographer places the cassette holder 14 below the imaging target region of the patient and holds the radiation emitting unit 22 in the radiation generator 16 on the cassette holder 14. The electronic cassette 12 is positioned at a position where a radiographic image can be taken.

  On the other hand, the radiation generator 16 uses the cassette holder 14 (specifically, based on the signal levels of the ultrasonic waves received from the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C by the ultrasonic receivers 138A and 138B by the radiation source controller 134. In this case, the distance between the electronic cassette 12) and the collimator 136 and the rotation angle of the electronic cassette 12 are derived in real time, information indicating the derived distance (hereinafter referred to as “distance information”), and the rotation angle. Information (hereinafter referred to as “rotation angle information”) is transmitted to the console 18 in real time.

  The console 18 displays a screen (hereinafter referred to as “measurement result display screen”) indicating the distance and rotation angle between the electronic cassette 12 and the collimator 136 indicated by the distance information and rotation angle information received from the radiation generator 16. As an example, 100 is displayed in real time as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the photographer refers to the measurement result display screen displayed on the display 100 so that the distance and the rotation angle displayed on the screen are substantially the same as those planned. The arrangement position of at least one of the radiation emitting unit 22 is adjusted.

  Then, when the photographing preparation is completed, the photographer performs a photographing instruction operation for instructing photographing on the operation panel 102 of the console 18.

  In the console 18, when an imaging instruction operation is performed on the operation panel 102, instruction information for instructing the start of exposure is transmitted to the radiation generator 16 and the electronic cassette 12.

  In response to this, the radiation source 130 emits the radiation X for the irradiation period at a tube voltage and a tube current corresponding to the exposure conditions received by the radiation generator 16 from the console 18. The radiation X emitted from the radiation source 130 reaches the electronic cassette 12 after passing through the subject. Thereby, electric charge is generated in each pixel 32 of the radiation detector 44.

  The cassette control unit 92 of the electronic cassette 12 controls the gate line driver 80 after the elapse of the irradiation period specified by the exposure condition after receiving the instruction information for instructing the start of exposure, and 1 line from the gate line driver 80. An ON signal is sequentially output to each gate wiring 76 one by one, and each TFT 70 connected to each gate wiring 76 is sequentially turned on line by line.

  In the radiation detector 44, when the TFTs 70 connected to the gate wirings 76 are sequentially turned on line by line, the charges accumulated in the storage capacitors 68 line by line flow out to the data wirings 78 as electric signals. The electric signal flowing out to each data wiring 78 is converted into digital image data by the signal processing unit 82 and stored in the image memory 90.

  The cassette control unit 92 transmits the image information stored in the image memory 90 to the console 18 after the photographing is completed.

  The console 18 performs various image processing such as shading correction on the received image information, and stores the image information after the image processing in the HDD 110. The image information stored in the HDD 110 is displayed on the display 100 for confirmation of the captured radiographic image, and is transferred to a server computer constituting an RIS (Radiology Information System) via a network (not shown). It is also stored in the database. Thereby, it becomes possible for a doctor to perform interpretation, diagnosis, and the like of a radiographic image taken.

The cassette control unit 92 of the electronic cassette 12 executes a non-energized state switching process for switching the energized switching unit 97 to a non-energized state when radiographic image capturing is completed .
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the non-energized state switching processing program executed by the CPU 92A of the cassette control unit 92 according to the present embodiment. The program is stored in advance in a predetermined area of the memory 92B (ROM).

  In step S100 in the figure, switching instruction information for instructing to switch the wiring 59 to the non-energized state is transmitted from the infrared receiving unit 152 by infrared communication, and the process is terminated.

  Thereby, as a result of switching the wiring 59 to the non-energized state by the energization control unit 164, transmission of ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C is stopped.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the switching instruction information for switching the power supply to the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C to the energized state or the non-energized state is received, and the supervision is performed based on the received switching instruction information. Since the power supply to the sound wave transmitters 56A to 56C is controlled to be switched between the energized state and the de-energized state, the power consumption of the battery 162 built in the cassette holder 14 is suppressed while the handling of the cassette holder 14 is suppressed. Can be effectively reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the remaining amount of the battery built in the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12 is larger than the allowable remaining amount, the ultrasonic transmitter 56 is driven by the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12. Thus, the complexity of charging the battery 162 built in the cassette holder 14 can be reduced. When the remaining amount of the battery built in the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12 is less than the allowable remaining amount, the ultrasonic transmitter 56 is driven by the battery 162 built in the cassette holder 14, thereby It is possible to prevent the power of the power supply unit 96 from being consumed by transmitting ultrasonic waves. Thereby, the power of the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12 is lost during the photographing operation, and the photographing can be prevented from being interrupted.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention, and embodiments to which such modifications or improvements are added are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The above embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims (claims), and all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution means of the invention. Is not limited. The embodiments described above include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. Even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, as long as an effect is obtained, a configuration from which these some constituent requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the power of the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12 is supplied to the cassette holder 14 via the connection terminal 12A, and the power supply to the ultrasonic transmitters 56A to 56C is connected by the energization control unit 164. It is possible to switch between an energized state performed from the power of the power supply unit 96 supplied via the terminal 57, an energized state performed from the power of the battery 162, and a non-energized state. Although the case where the power supply to the acoustic wave transmitters 56A to 56C is switched has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the power of the power supply unit 96 of the electronic cassette 12 is not supplied to the cassette holder 14, and the energization control unit 164 supplies power to the ultrasonic transmitters 56 </ b> A to 56 </ b> C from the power of the battery 162. When the cassette control unit 92 receives the exposure condition from the console 18, it transmits to the cassette holder 14 switching instruction information for instructing to enter an energized state from the power of the battery 162. It transmits the switching instruction information for instructing to the non-conductive state when the captured image is completed to the cassette holder 14 also Noto, ultrasonic transmitter 56A based on the switching instruction information holder control unit 160 has received energized for supplying power to the ~56C from the power of the battery 162 may be also switched to one of a non-conductive state.

  In the above embodiment, the cassette control unit 92 of the electronic cassette 12 grasps the state of charge of the battery built in the power supply unit 96 based on the power state supplied from the power supply unit 96, and the remaining power of the battery is Although a case has been described in which switching instruction information for connecting the wiring 59 to the connection terminal 57 or the battery 162 is transmitted to the cassette holder 14 depending on whether or not it is less than the allowable remaining amount, the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, the cassette control unit 92 of the electronic cassette 12 includes switching instruction information for instructing to switch the wiring 59 to a connection state with the battery 162 when the electronic cassette 12 is in a power-off state or shifts to a power saving state. When the electronic cassette 12 is in an operation state in which a radiographic image is taken, the switching instruction information for instructing switching of the wiring 59 to the connection state with the connection terminal 57 is transmitted to the cassette holder 14. The holder control unit 160 of the cassette holder 14 may perform switching control for connecting the wiring 59 to the connection terminal 57 or the battery 162 in accordance with the switching instruction information from the electronic cassette 12 transmitted.

  In addition, the cassette control unit 92 of the electronic cassette 12 transmits information indicating various operation states of the electronic cassette 12 such as a power-off state, a power saving state, and an operation state for taking a radiographic image to the cassette holder 14. The holder control unit 160 of the cassette holder 14 may perform switching control for connecting the wiring 59 to the connection terminal 57 or the battery 162 based on the operation state transmitted from the electronic cassette 12.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the cassette control unit 92 of the electronic cassette 12 transmits the switching instruction information to the cassette holder 14 based on the power state supplied from the power supply unit 96 has been described. It is not limited to. For example, when the photographer inputs switching instruction information for connecting the wiring 59 to the connection terminal 57 or the battery 162 from the operation panel 102 of the console 18, and the console 18 receives the switching instruction information for the operation panel 102. In addition, the switching instruction information is transmitted to the electronic cassette 12 by wireless communication, and the electronic cassette 12 transmits the switching instruction information received from the console 18 by wireless communication to the cassette holder 14 by infrared communication, and the holder control of the cassette holder 14 is performed. The unit 160 may perform switching control for connecting the wiring 59 to the connection terminal 57 or the battery 162 based on the switching instruction information transmitted from the electronic cassette 12. Thus, by transmitting the switching instruction information generated in the console 18 to the cassette holder 14 via the electronic cassette 12 by infrared communication, the cassette holder 14 is not provided with means for performing wireless communication with the console 18. Switching instruction information can be received by the holder 14.

  When the switching instruction information is generated in the console 18, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the cassette holder 14 is provided with a wireless communication unit 170 that performs wireless communication with the console 18, and is received from the console 18 by wireless communication. The switching instruction information is received by the cassette holder 14, and the holder control unit 160 of the cassette holder 14 performs switching control for connecting the wiring 59 to the connection terminal 57 or the battery 162 based on the switching instruction information transmitted from the console 18. Also good.

  Although the case where the communication between the electronic cassette 12 and the cassette holder 14 is infrared communication has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other power-saving short-range communication such as Bluetooth or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) may be used, or wired communication may be performed at the contact terminal portion that is in contact.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the switching control of the power supply source to the ultrasonic transmitter 56 provided in the cassette holder 14 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the electronic cassette 12 Any drive device may be used as long as it is driven in cooperation with the device.

  In the above embodiment, the case where X-rays are applied as radiation has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other radiation such as γ-rays may be applied.

  In addition, the configuration of the radiation imaging system 10, the configuration of the electronic cassette 12, and the configuration of the cassette holder 14 described in the above embodiment are merely examples, and unnecessary portions may be deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, a new part can be added or the connection state can be changed.

  The processing flow of the various programs described in the above embodiment is also an example, and unnecessary steps can be deleted, new steps can be added, and the processing order can be changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, they can be interchanged.

10 Radiation Imaging System 12A Connection Terminal (Power Supply Unit)
12 Electronic cassette (portable radiographic imaging device)
14 Cassette holder (container)
18 Console (control device)
44 Radiation detector 51 Cassette housing area 56 Ultrasonic transmitter (drive device)
57 Connection terminal (Power reception part)
94 Wireless communication unit (first receiving means)
96 Power supply (power source)
97 Energization switching unit 118 Wireless communication unit (first transmission means)
150 Infrared transmitter (transmitter, second transmitter)
152 Infrared receiver (receiver, second receiver)
160 Holder control part (control means)
162 Battery 164 Energization control unit (switching means)
170 Wireless communication unit (reception means)

Claims (8)

An accommodating portion for accommodating a portable radiographic imaging device;
A driving device that is driven in cooperation with the portable radiographic imaging device by being supplied with electric power;
A battery for supplying power to the drive device;
Switching means for switching power supply from the battery to the drive device between an energized state and a non-energized state;
Receiving means for receiving switching instruction information for switching the power supply to the drive device to an energized state or a non-energized state;
Control means for controlling the switching means based on switching instruction information received by the receiving means;
Equipped with a,
The driving device is an ultra-thin sensor for measuring a distance between the portable radiographic imaging device in a state of being accommodated in the accommodating portion and a collimator for adjusting an irradiation field by radiation irradiated from a radiation source. A sonic transmitter
Containment device. The accommodation device according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives switching instruction information from the portable radiographic imaging device. The accommodation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives the switching instruction information by wireless communication from a control apparatus that transmits the switching instruction information. A power receiving unit that receives power from the portable radiographic imaging device in a state in which the portable radiographic imaging device is accommodated in the accommodating unit;
When the portable radiographic imaging device is in a power-off state or in a power saving state, the control means is supplied with power from the battery to the driving device, and in the operation state in which radiographic imaging is performed, the power receiving unit The accommodation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the switching unit is controlled so that electric power is supplied from the power source to the drive device. A portable radiographic imaging device comprising a transmission means for transmitting switching instruction information for switching power supply to an energized state or a non-energized state;
A storage unit for storing the portable radiographic imaging device, a driving device that is driven in cooperation with the portable radiographic imaging device when power is supplied, and a battery for supplying power to the driving device Switching means for switching power supply from the battery to the drive device between an energized state and a non-energized state, receiving means for receiving the switch instruction information transmitted by the transmitting means, and switching instruction information received by the receiving means A storage device comprising control means for controlling the switching means based on
I have a,
The driving device is an ultra-thin sensor for measuring a distance between the portable radiographic imaging device in a state of being accommodated in the accommodating portion and a collimator for adjusting an irradiation field by radiation irradiated from a radiation source. A sonic transmitter
Radiation imaging system. The portable radiographic imaging device includes a power source, a power supply unit capable of supplying power from the power source to the outside,
When the remaining amount of power remaining in the power source is larger than a predetermined allowable remaining amount, the transmission unit supplies power from the power source to the driving device, and the remaining amount of power accumulated in the power source Is less than the allowable remaining amount, and transmits switching instruction information for supplying power from the battery to the drive device,
The storage device further includes a power reception unit that receives power from the power supply unit in a state where the portable radiographic imaging device is stored in the storage unit,
The switching means can switch the power from the battery or the power reception unit and supply the power to the driving device,
The control means is configured to supply power to the driving device from the battery, in an energized state performed from the power receiving unit, or in a non-energized state based on switching instruction information received by the receiving means. The radiographic imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the switching unit is controlled to switch. A portable radiographic imaging device comprising a transmission means for transmitting switching instruction information for switching power supply to an energized state or a non-energized state;
A storage unit for storing the portable radiographic imaging device, a driving device that is driven in cooperation with the portable radiographic imaging device when power is supplied, and a battery for supplying power to the driving device Switching means for switching power supply from the battery to the drive device between an energized state and a non-energized state, receiving means for receiving the switch instruction information transmitted by the transmitting means, and switching instruction information received by the receiving means A storage device comprising control means for controlling the switching means based on
I have a,
The portable radiographic imaging device includes a power source, a power supply unit capable of supplying power from the power source to the outside,
When the remaining amount of power remaining in the power source is larger than a predetermined allowable remaining amount, the transmission unit supplies power from the power source to the driving device, and the remaining amount of power accumulated in the power source Is less than the allowable remaining amount, and transmits switching instruction information for supplying power from the battery to the drive device,
The storage device further includes a power reception unit that receives power from the power supply unit in a state where the portable radiographic imaging device is stored in the storage unit,
The switching means can switch the power from the battery or the power reception unit and supply the power to the driving device,
The control means is configured to supply power to the driving device from the battery, in an energized state performed from the power receiving unit, or in a non-energized state based on switching instruction information received by the receiving means. Control the switching means to switch
Radiation imaging system. A control device including first transmission means for transmitting switching instruction information for switching power supply to an energized state or a non-energized state by wireless communication;
Wireless communication with the first transmitting means is possible, and the first receiving means for receiving the transmitted switching instruction information and the second transmitting means for transmitting the switching instruction information received by the first receiving means A portable radiographic imaging device;
A storage unit for storing the portable radiographic imaging device, a driving device that is driven in cooperation with the portable radiographic imaging device when power is supplied, and a battery for supplying power to the driving device Switching means for switching power supply from the battery to the drive device between an energized state and a non-energized state, a second receiving means for receiving the switching instruction information transmitted by the second transmitting means, and the second receiving means. A storage device comprising control means for controlling the switching means based on switching instruction information received;
A radiographic imaging system comprising:

Images