JPH01178956A - Radiographic information recorder/reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recycle and use recording bodies which possess image characteristics suitable to photographing by employing recording parts with different image characteristics. CONSTITUTION:The title recorder/reader includes a recording part composed of plural recording parts 2A and 2B possessing different image characteristics, and a selecting means 4 driving a recording belt conveying means 50 so that, out of plural recording parts, the arbitrary recording part is arranged in the prescribed position of a conveying path. By composing the recording part on the recording belt 2 of plural recording parts 2A and 2B with different image characteristics, a desired type of recording part can be used appropriately in response to a part to be photographed. Since each recording part can be moved by conveying the recording belt 2, a desired recording part can be arranged in a prescribed position very readily. Thus, an optimum recording part can be selected and used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention stores radiation image information in a recording section having a stimulable phosphor layer, and then irradiates this with excitation light so that the stored image information The present invention relates to a radiation image information recording/reading device that detects stimulated light emitted in response to the image information and converts it into an electrical signal, and more particularly relates to a radiation image information recording/reading device that can use recording sections with different image characteristics. It is something.

(Prior art) When a certain type of phosphor is irradiated with radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, ultraviolet rays, electron beams, etc.), part of the energy of this radiation is accumulated in the phosphor. Then, when the phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the phosphor exhibits stimulated luminescence depending on the accumulated energy. A phosphor exhibiting such properties is called a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor).

Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is recorded on a sheet of stimulable phosphor, which is then scanned with excitation light to cause stimulated luminescence. A method has been proposed in which a radiation image of a subject with good diagnostic suitability is obtained by processing the image signal and obtaining an image signal (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 55-12429 and 55-55).
No. 116340, No. 55-163472, No. 56-1
No. 1395, No. 56-104645, etc.). This final image can be reproduced as a hard copy or
It can be played on RT.

In such radiation image information recording and reproducing methods, the stimulable phosphor does not ultimately record image information, but temporarily carries image information in order to provide the image to the final recording medium as described above. Since it is a stimulable phosphor, it may be used repeatedly, and such repeated use is extremely economical.

In order to reuse the stimulable phosphor as described above, the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor after the stimulated luminescence light is read can be used, for example, in JP-A-56-11392;
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 12599, the stimulable phosphor may be irradiated with light or heat to emit the residual radiation image, and the stimulable phosphor may be used again to record the radiation image.

Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed a radiation image information recording/reading device that realizes efficient cyclical reuse of stimulable phosphors (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-200269).

The above-mentioned apparatus includes a support, a recording body having a stimulable phosphor layer fixed on the support and capable of accumulating and recording a radiographic image, and a recording body that is capable of transmitting radiation to the recording body by irradiating the recording body with radiation through a subject. an image recording section for accumulating and recording a radiographic image of a subject; and an image recording section for accumulating and recording a radiographic image of a subject, and an excitation light irradiated onto a recording body on which the radiographic image is accumulated and recorded, and stimulated luminescence light emitted from the recording body by irradiation with the excitation light. An image reading unit that photoelectrically reads an image signal, and the recording medium on the support is circulated relative to the reading unit by repeatedly moving the support and the image reading unit relatively to each other. A moving means and an erasing section for emitting residual radiation energy on a recording medium prior to recording an image on the recording medium after image reading in the image reading section are combined into one device. This system is designed to efficiently reuse the recording medium by incorporating the recording medium. Furthermore, if the recording medium is formed on a belt-shaped support, the support can be suspended on rollers or the like and circulated or reciprocated to pass through the image recording section, image reading section, and erasing section in sequence. It is extremely convenient because it allows you to

By the way, there are several types of recording bodies having the above-mentioned stimulable phosphor layer in terms of their image characteristics, and the optimum recording body differs depending on the type of photographing. For example, a typical type of recorder with high low-contrast detection ability and sharpness is suitable for photographing the chest, abdomen, etc., and a type of recorder with high sharpness is suitable for photographing the breasts, limbs, etc. ing.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, as described above, in the conventional radiation image information recording/reading device in which a recording body having a stimulable phosphor layer is reused within the device, support is not provided. There is only one type of recording material formed on the body, and it is difficult to replace the recording material in the device.
It was not possible to select the most suitable type of recording medium depending on the shooting situation. Therefore, if there is a possibility of photographing various body parts, it is necessary to prepare multiple devices with different types of built-in recording media, which is inconvenient in that the installation space and cost of the devices increase. Ta.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to reuse a recording medium having a stimulable phosphor layer and to use a recording medium having optimal image characteristics depending on the shooting. The object of the present invention is to provide a radiation image information recording/reading device that can perform the following functions.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The radiation image information recording/reading device of the present invention includes a recording belt having a recording portion having a stimulable phosphor layer formed on its surface, and a recording belt that is moved along a predetermined transport path. a recording belt transfer unit that reciprocates or circulates the recording belt; an image recording unit that irradiates the recording unit located at a predetermined position on the transfer path with radiation having image information to accumulate and record the image information in the recording unit; and the image information an image reading section that irradiates excitation light onto the recording section where the information is accumulated and recorded, and photoelectrically reads stimulated luminescence light emitted from the recording section by the irradiation of the excitation light to obtain an image signal;
and a radiation image information recording/reading device comprising an erasing section that releases residual radiation energy in the recording section prior to recording an image on the recording section after reading the stimulated luminescence light. , the recording belt transporting means is driven so that the recording section includes a plurality of recording sections having different image characteristics from each other, and any one of the plurality of recording sections is arranged at the predetermined position on the transport path. It is characterized by having a selection means.

The recording belt may have one end and the other end wound around a winding shaft and be transported back and forth between these winding shafts, or it may be formed into an endless belt shape.
It may be stretched by rollers and conveyed in circulation.

Also, the image characteristics of the recording sections are different, which means that the recording sections have different sensitivity, sharpness, graininess, etc.
In addition to the different types of stimulable phosphor itself, the above image characteristics are determined by the layer thickness of the stimulable phosphor layer, the filling rate of the stimulable phosphor in the stimulable phosphor layer, and the coloring by the colorant. It can be changed depending on the presence or absence, degree of coloring, particle size of the stimulable phosphor, presence or absence of a reflective layer or absorption layer, presence or absence of a surface protective layer, thickness, etc.

(Function) In the above-mentioned apparatus, since the recording section on the recording belt is made up of a plurality of recording sections having mutually different image characteristics, it is possible to selectively use a desired type of recording section according to the imaged region. Moreover, since each recording section can be moved by transporting the recording belt, it is extremely easy to arrange a desired recording section at a predetermined position.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a radiation image information recording/reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main parts thereof.

In the illustrated apparatus, a recording belt 2 includes a first recording section 2A and a second recording section 2B having mutually different image characteristics, each having a stimulable phosphor layer, formed on an endless belt-shaped support 2C. is housed in the casing 7 of the apparatus main body 1, and includes a first roller section 40 consisting of two rollers 41 and 42, and two rollers 51 disposed a predetermined distance apart from the first roller section 40. ．． The second consisting of 52
It is suspended by the roller part 5o and is circulated and conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

The transport path of the recording belt 2 in this apparatus is an annular portion around the two roller portions 40 and 50. Further, the upper surface of the housing 7 serves as a photographing table 14, and the subject 5 is placed on this photographing table 14 during photographing.

A radiation source 11 is disposed at a position facing the photographing table 14 with the subject 5 interposed therebetween. An image recording section 10 is set in between. Note that the first recording section 2A and the second recording section 2
Each of B is approximately the size of one image screen.

When photographing, the subject 5 is placed on the photographing table, and the recording belt 2 is transported so that the first or second recording section is located below the photographing table 14. The means for transporting the recording belt 2 in the apparatus of this embodiment is composed of the rollers 41, 42, 51, and 52, and a motor 53 that drives the roller 52 among these rollers. belt or chain5
The other rollers 41, 42, and 51 are driven by this roller 52 and rotated. In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 5 of the motor
A rotary encoder 55 is attached to 3a to detect the rotation of the motor and perform various controls. Furthermore, since the first recording section 2A and the second recording section 2B have different image characteristics as described above, the recording section according to the type of imaging such as the region to be imaged is selected and arranged at the imaging position. . That is, two switches 4a are provided on the side of the device main body 1.

4b is provided, and the selection means 4 controls the motor 53 to control the recording belt 2.
It is designed to transport. In this device, switch 4
When the button a is pressed, the first recording section 2A is placed at the photographing position, and when the switch 4b is pressed, the second recording section 2B is placed at the photographing position. Therefore, an operator such as a technician can press either one of the switches 4a or 4b depending on the imaging to be performed to place the desired recording section at the imaging position. In addition, in this apparatus, the distance between the two roller parts 40 and 50 is
The lengths of the two sections are substantially equal, and the selected recording section faces substantially the entire surface of the photographing platform 14.

When the recording section is selected as described above and the subject 5 is placed on the photographing table 14, the radiation source 11 is activated and the transmitted radiation image of the subject 5 is transferred to the recording section (as an example in FIG. 1). It is projected onto the first recording section 2A), and the radiation image information of the subject is stored and recorded in the recording section.

The recording belt 2 stops with the first recording section 2A facing the radiation source while imaging is being performed, but when imaging is completed, the roller 41 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure. 42, 51, and 52, and sends the first recording section 2A to the image reading section 20 provided at the lower left position in FIG.

The image reading unit 20 includes an HQ-
An excitation light source 21 such as a Ne laser is provided extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording belt 2, and on the optical path of the excitation light 21A, excitation light 2LA is directed onto the recording belt in its width direction (the paper surface of FIG. 1). A rotating polygon mirror 24 is provided as an optical deflector for main scanning in a direction (perpendicular to the direction). The excitation light 2LA emitted from the excitation light source 21 has its optical path changed by a group of mirrors 22 as shown in FIG.
3 and enters the rotating polygon mirror 24. Rotating polygon mirror 2
As shown in FIG. 1, the excitation light 2LA reflected and deflected by the lens 4 passes through a scanning optical system 25 consisting of an rθ lens, etc., and then passes through five mirrors 26a, 26b, 28c.
, 28d.

After the optical path is changed by 26c, the roller 4
2, the first recording section 2 is transferred onto the lower circumferential surface of FIG.
Repeated main scanning is performed on A. Note that the mirror 2
8c is a cylindrical mirror that focuses the excitation light 2LA only in a plane parallel to the paper plane of FIG. Even if the rotary polygon mirror 24 suffers from shaft wobble, surface tilt, etc., pitch unevenness of scanning lines will not occur on the recording section. Simultaneously with the main scanning of the excitation light 21A, the recording belt 2 is conveyed at a constant speed by the rollers 41, 42, 51, 52 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The excitation light 2LA is irradiated over substantially the entire surface of the first recording section 2A.

Stimulated luminescence light is generated from the excitation light irradiation location of the first recording section 2A in accordance with the accumulated and recorded image information, and this stimulated luminescence light is detected by the photoelectric reading means 27. The photoelectric reading means 27 in this device is a long photomultiplier tube extending in the main scanning direction over the length of the main scanning line, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 16666/1983. pliers) 28, and a photomultiplier provided on the light receiving surface of the photomultiplier 28, which selectively transmits only the stimulated luminescence light and reflects the excitation light on the surface of the recording section.
It consists of a filter 29A1 that cuts the light incident on the photomultiplier 28, and a light guide 29B that is attached to the incident end surface of the photomultiplier 28 through the filter 29A and that transmits stimulated luminescence light well.

Further, a mirror 29G is disposed at a position facing the optical reading means 27 across the scanning line, and efficiently reflects the stimulated luminescence light emitted to the mirror 29C side toward the incident end surface of the light guide 29B. It looks like this. The image signal photoelectrically detected by the photomultiplier 28 is subjected to necessary image processing and then sent to various image reproducing devices such as a display such as a CRT or a recording device that performs optical scanning recording on a photosensitive film. It will be done. A control circuit section 3 that houses a printed circuit board and controls the image processing and the like is provided within the loop of the recording belt 2, as shown in FIG. 1, as an example.

The two first recording sections whose images have been read are further conveyed by roller sections 40 and 50 and sent to the erasing section 30. The erasing unit 30 includes a box 31 and three erasing light sources 32 such as fluorescent lamps arranged in a row inside the box 31.
It consists of. The erasing light source 32 inside the box 31 is
It mainly emits light in the excitation wavelength range of the recording section, and the radiation energy remaining in the first recording section 2A after reading the image is transferred to the first recording section 2A while the recording belt is being conveyed. It is emitted by being irradiated with light.

In addition, since a lead plate 6 for shielding radiation is arranged below the photographing table 4 in FIG. This does not cause any inconvenience such as affecting the recording belt located in the area. Further, in this apparatus, the above-mentioned reading and erasing are performed in parallel for a certain period of time for one recording section. The first recording section 2A, which has been erased in the erasing section 30, is again conveyed to the image recording section 10 and becomes ready for new recording. Therefore, if the first recording section 2A is suitable for the subsequent photographing, the next photographing can be performed directly in the first recording section 2A. Further, when it is desired to use the second recording section 2B for the next photographing, the recording belt 2 is fed by pressing the switch 4b, and the second recording section 2B is moved to the first recording section in FIG. It is placed at the photographing position where 2A is located.

In this way, the apparatus of this embodiment has two recording sections of different types formed on the recording belt 2, so that these recording sections can be selectively used as necessary to properly photograph various parts. be able to. In particular, in this embodiment, the distance between the two roller sections 40.degree. The overall horizontal length can be reduced to nearly the length of one screen,
This apparatus is of great practical value because it is capable of handling various types of photographing as described above with such a small apparatus stand. Note that the recording portions do not necessarily have to be formed intermittently on a part of the stimulable phosphor belt for one screen each, but can be formed on the entire surface of the recording belt, and this recording portion can be divided into two recording portions as appropriate. It may be divided into Further, the number and types of recording sections may be three or more. In addition, the photographing table may be replaceable, and a material made of low radiation absorbing carbon or the like may be used as appropriate, and a grid that absorbs scattered radiation from the subject may be provided between the recording belt and the subject. A so-called butchie device, which in addition to the grid also has means for moving it back and forth, may be provided in a removable manner.

Further, the recording belt in the present invention does not necessarily have to be in the form of an endless belt, but may be a long belt with both ends wound around rollers or the like. Hereinafter, an apparatus using the recording belt as described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the housing 107 of the recording/reading apparatus shown in FIG. 3, a first winding shaft 141 and a second winding shaft 142 are arranged parallel to each other with an interval between them. Both winding shafts 141, 142
The interval is set to be slightly longer than the length of one recording section on the recording belt 102, which will be described later. These winding shafts 141 and 142 are connected to motors 143 and 144, respectively.
are rotated counterclockwise and clockwise in the figure, respectively. The recording belt 102 in this apparatus is formed by forming a plurality of recording portions on a flexible support 102c that is formed in the shape of a long belt and has flexibility through which radiation can pass through, as will be described later. One end of the recording belt 102 is wound around the first winding shaft 141, the other end is wound around the second winding shaft 142, and both winding shafts 1
It is stretched between rollers 146 and 147 between 41° and 142°. In this device, the roller 1
The image recording section 110 is set between 46° and 147°. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the recording belt 102 has three first recording sections 102A and three second recording sections 102B formed at regular intervals as recording sections. The recording section is located on the lower surface of the support belt 102c in the image recording section 110. Note that the first recording section 10
2A and the second recording section 102B have different image characteristics.

When using this apparatus, the photographing of the subject 5 is carried out in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment. That is, on the side surface of the housing 107, there is a switch 104a that is pressed when selecting the first recording section 102A as a recording medium, and a switch 104a that is pressed when selecting the first recording section 102A as a recording medium.
A selection means 104 having a switch 104b to be pressed when selecting 02B is provided, and this selection means 1
04 controls the two motors 143 and 144 to place the desired recording section at the photographing position. In FIG. 3, as an example, a first recording section 102A is disposed at the photographing position, and image information is accumulated and recorded by irradiating the recording section 102A with radiation through the subject 5.

An image reading section 120 is provided below the recording belt 102 at a position near the second winding shaft 142. The image reading unit 120 includes an excitation light source 121 such as a semiconductor laser, and an excitation light 12 emitted from the excitation light source 121.
a rotating polygon mirror 123 that is an optical deflector that reflects and deflects 1A;
The recording belt 102 reflects the deflected excitation light 121A.
A long mirror 124 that scans one-dimensionally on the top (more specifically, above the recording section), a nip roller 147 that sandwiches the recording belt 102 and also has the function of preventing erasing light, which will be described later, from entering the image reading section 120; Motors 142, 143 rotate at a high speed and serve as means for performing sub-scanning while winding the recording belt 102, means for winding the recording belt 102 even during sub-scanning, and means for applying tension to the recording belt 102. A long photo multiplier 127 is arranged so that the light receiving surface extends along the scanning line (main scanning line) on the recording section by the light 121A, and the long photo multiplier 127 selectively transmits only the stimulated luminescence light. Pliers 1
It is composed of a filter (not shown) that allows the light to enter the photomultiplier 27, and a long reflective mirror 129 for condensing light arranged along the long photomultiplier 127.

After the radiographic image of the subject is accumulated and recorded in the first recording unit 102A as described above, the second winding shaft 142 is rotated and the recording belt 202 is wound around the shaft 142, whereby the first The recording unit 102A is transported rightward in the figure at a constant speed. Further, an appropriate load is applied to the first winding shaft 141 side, so that the recording belt 102 is always maintained in a tensioned state. As the first recording section 102A is transported, the excitation light source 121 and the rotating polygon mirror 123 are activated, and the excitation light 121A main-scans over the recording section 102A. Stimulated luminescence light carrying radiation image information stored and recorded in the recording section 102A is emitted from a portion of the recording section 102A that is irradiated with the excitation light 12LA. This stimulated luminescent light is transmitted directly or to a condensing reflection mirror 129.
Reflects on the photomultiplier-1 efficiently.
27. As described above, the excitation light 12
1A main scanning is performed, and the first recording unit 102
A is conveyed and sub-scanned as described above, so that the stimulated luminescence light is read two-dimensionally from the recording section 102A.

The first recording unit 102A whose image has been read as described above is wound around the second winding shaft 142 and stored there. At the same time, by pressing the switch of the selection means 104, the first winding shaft 141 or the second winding shaft
Another first or second recording section that was wound around the take-up shaft 142 is now stretched between the rollers 148 and 147. At this time, the first and second winding shafts are rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as necessary. Therefore, new radiation image information can be recorded in the selected first or second recording section in the same manner as described above. When the necessary radiation image information is recorded and subsequently read using the recording belt 102 in this manner, at least all the recording portions that have been photographed and read are wound around the second winding shaft 142. When all the recording parts used for photographing and reading are sent out to the second winding shaft 142 side, the motor 143 is driven and the first winding shaft 241 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure. Ru. As a result, the second winding shaft 1
42 after the image reading is completed, all the recording parts are returned to the first winding shaft 141 side, but at this time, each recording part passes through the erasing part 130 arranged between the rollers 146 and 147. However, the recording section undergoes image (afterimage) erasure. As an example, the erasing unit 130 is configured to
The erasing light sources 131 are composed of, for example, fluorescent lamps, etc., and are arranged below the first and second recording sections 102A.

It mainly emits light in the excitation wavelength range of 102B,
The light is turned on when each recording section is returned to the first winding shaft 141 side. The radiation energy remaining in the recording section after the image reading is emitted from the recording section by irradiating the recording section with the above-mentioned light.

A stimulable phosphor belt having a recording portion whose image (afterimage) has been erased to the extent that radiation image information can be recorded again is stored on the first winding shaft 141 in this manner. Using the body belt 102, it becomes possible to repeat the above-described image recording (photographing) and reading.

In this embodiment, a secondary erasing light source 170 for performing so-called secondary erasing is provided between the first winding shaft 141 and the image recording section 110.

This secondary erasing light source 170 is the erasing light source 1 of the erasing unit 130.
It consists of a light source similar to that of the recording belt 10.
When each of the two recording sections is sent out from the first winding shaft 141 for recording radiographic image information, the recording section is irradiated with erasing light. After the recording section undergoes image (afterimage) erasure in the erasing section 130, the first winding shaft 141 is left unused for a long period of time.
If the storage area is stored in the recording section, radioactive elements such as 221i R2, which are contained as impurities in the stimulable phosphor layer, or radiation energy from environmental radiation (components that cause noise to the stored recorded information) may be present. However, this radiation energy is also emitted by irradiating the recording section with erasing light from the secondary erasing light source 170 immediately before image recording as described above. However, Figure 3
In this embodiment, the support 102c of the recording belt 102 is transparent. Note that the secondary erasing light is transmitted through the light shielding plate 181,
182 , 183 , 184 and nip roller 147
The light is blocked by the light so that it does not irradiate the recording section before the image is read.

After the radiation image information is accumulated and recorded in each recording section,
Although the case has been described in which this radiation image information is immediately read by the image reading unit 120, this device is also used in such a way that the image reading by the image reading unit 120 is postponed and a large number of image recordings (photographs) are performed one after another. You can also do that. In other words, in this case, the entire recording section on which the image has been recorded is once wound up on the second winding shaft 142, and after a series of image recording is completed, the side from the second winding shaft 142 to the first winding shaft 141 is The recording belt 102 may be returned to the original state, and the image reading section 120 may read the image at that time. In this case, the erasing light emitted by the erasing light source 131 is blocked by the light shielding plates 183 and 184 and the nip roller 147, and is prevented from being irradiated onto the recording section before the image is read.

In both of the above-mentioned embodiments, the excitation light is scanned in the image reading section and the stimulated luminescence light is detected by a long photomultiplier. As shown in Japanese Patent No. 21957, it is also possible to linearly irradiate the recording section with excitation light and detect the stimulated luminescence light with a line sensor.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the radiation image recording/reading device of the present invention, by including the recording belt having a plurality of recording sections having mutually different image characteristics, optimal recording can be performed according to the imaging region, etc. You can select and use any part. Therefore, it is now possible to perform various types of photography with one device,
It is extremely convenient in practice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a radiation image information recording/reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the above device, and FIG. 3 is a radiation image information recording/reading device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the recording belt used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 3. 2, 102... Recording belt 2A, 102 A... First recording section 2B, 102
B... Second recording section 4.104... Selection means 5... Subject 10, 110... Image recording section 20, 120... Image reading section 30, 130... Erasing section 40...First roller part 50...Second roller part 53...Motor 141...First winding shaft 142...Second winding shaft 143, 144...Motor number Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A recording belt having a recording portion having a stimulable phosphor layer formed on its surface, a recording belt transporting means for reciprocating or circulating the recording belt along a predetermined transport path, and a predetermined position on the transport path. an image recording section that irradiates radiation having image information on the recording section located in the recording section to accumulate and record the image information in the recording section; an image reading unit that photoelectrically reads stimulated luminescence light emitted from the recording unit by irradiation with light to obtain an image signal;
and a radiation image information recording/reading device comprising an erasing section that releases residual radiation energy in the recording section prior to recording an image on the recording section after reading the stimulated luminescence light. , the recording belt transporting means is driven so that the recording section includes a plurality of recording sections having different image characteristics, and any one of the plurality of recording sections is arranged at the predetermined position on the transport path. A radiation image information recording/reading device characterized by having a selection means for selecting.