JPH01227139A - Radiograph reader/and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the operational efficiency of operators and the operation rate of reader by imparting an ID information input accumulating part connected to all image read processing parts and arranging instruction information input parts which are connected to respective corresponding image read processing parts and display parts in the vicinity of photographing devices. CONSTITUTION:The title device is constituted of the image read processing parts 11a-11d, recording parts 12a and 12b, the ID information input accumulating part 13, keyboards 14a-14d being instruction information input parts, and CRT displays 15a-15d being display parts. The ID information input accumulating part 13 is connected to all the plural image read processing parts 11a-11d, and the keyboards 14a-14d are arranged in the vicinity of the plural photographing devices 20a-20d, which accumulate and record the radiograph of objects onto sheets and are connected to their corresponding image read processing parts 11a-11d, respectively. Thus, operators in photographing rooms 21a-21d recognize the operating state of the devices therefore, their operational efficiency and the operation rates of the devices are improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention uses a stimulable phosphor as an intermediate medium, obtains an image signal from a radiation image stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor, and performs recording based on this image signal. The present invention relates to a radiation image reading and recording device that reproduces a radiation image as a visible image on a medium.

(Conventional technology) Certain types of phosphors are exposed to radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays.

When irradiated with γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc., a part of this radiation energy is accumulated in the phosphor, and when this phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the phosphor changes depending on the accumulated energy. is known to exhibit stimulated luminescence, and phosphors that exhibit this property are called stimulable phosphors.

Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of the human body, etc. is partially recorded on a sheet of stimulable phosphor, and this phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as a laser beam to generate stimulated luminescence light. A radiation image information recording and reproducing system that photoelectrically reads the obtained stimulated luminescence light to obtain an image signal, and outputs it as a visible image to a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material, a CRT, etc. based on this image signal. It has been proposed by the present applicant (Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 55-12429 and 5B-1139).
No. 5, No. 55-163472, No. 56-104645
No. 55-116340, etc.).

This system has the practical advantage of being able to record images over a much wider range of radiation exposure compared to conventional radiographic systems using silver halide photography. In other words, in a stimulable phosphor, it is recognized that the amount of emitted light that is stimulated to emit light due to excitation after accumulation is proportional to the amount of radiation exposure over an extremely wide range.
Therefore, even if the amount of radiation exposure varies considerably due to various imaging conditions, the amount of stimulated luminescence emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet can be read by the photoelectric conversion means by setting the reading gain to an appropriate value. By converting it into an electrical signal and using this electrical signal to output a visible image to a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material or a display device such as a CRT, it is possible to obtain a radiation image that is not affected by fluctuations in radiation exposure. .

In addition, according to this system, radiation image information stored and recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet is converted into an electrical signal, then subjected to appropriate signal processing, and this electrical signal is used to produce recording materials such as photographic light-sensitive materials, CRTs, etc. By outputting a visible image on the display device, it is possible to obtain a very large effect of being able to obtain a radiographic image that is suitable for observation and interpretation (appropriate for diagnosis).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the conventional structure of a human disease diagnosis system using the above-mentioned stimulable phosphor sheet.

When a patient visits a hospital where this system is installed, the patient first visits the reception room 1. A card writer 1a is arranged in the reception room 1. In the reception room 1, ID information such as the patient's name and disease site is recorded on a magnetic card 1b using a card writer 1a.

Next, this patient visits the photographing room 2 with the recorded magnetic card 1b. In the imaging room 2, the magnetic card 1b is taken from the patient, and the magnetic card 1b is inserted into the ID terminal 2a.
The recorded contents (ID information) are read. The ID terminal 2a is connected to an image processing machine 3a placed in the recording room 3 via a communication cable 2C.
The ID information read in is sent to the image processing device 3a.

Furthermore, in the imaging room 2, the patient is irradiated with radiation by the imaging device 2b, and a radiation image of the patient is stored and recorded on the above-mentioned stimulable phosphor sheet.

The stimulable phosphor sheet on which the radiation image has been stored and recorded is carried to the reader 3b arranged in the recording chamber 3, and set at a predetermined position of the reader 13b. In the reader 3b, a stimulable phosphor sheet set at a predetermined position is two-dimensionally scanned by excitation light such as a laser beam, and the stimulated luminescent light carrying radiation image information emitted from each scanning point is photoelectrically converted. The image signal is detected and sampled by the element to obtain a digital image signal. The reader 3b is connected to the image processor 3a by a communication cable 3C, and the image signal S obtained by the reader 3b is sent to the image processor 3a. Image processing machine 3a
A console keyboard 3d and a CRT display 3e are connected to each other by a communication cable 3r.

The image processing device 3a performs appropriate image processing on the image signal S sent from the reader 3b based on the ID information sent from the ID terminal 2a and instruction information input from the keyboard 3d as necessary. will be applied.

The image processing machine 3a and the recording machine 3g are connected by a communication cable 3h, and the image signal S' after image processing is sent from the image processing machine 3a to the recording machine 3g, and the recording machine 3g converts the image signal S' into the image signal S'. Based on this, a visible reproduction image is reproduced and recorded on a recording medium such as a photographic film.

Note that the CRT display 3C displays the ID read by the ID terminal by operating the keyboard 3d, etc.
It is used to display information, instruction information input from the keyboard 3d, images (information representing the operating status of the image processor 3a, reader 3b, and recorder 3g, etc.).

(Problem to be solved by the invention) In the conventional system configuration described above, ID information is transmitted to the image processing machine using a magnetic card, so the magnetic card may be lost or damaged while the patient moves with the magnetic card. This has hindered the efficient operation of the system. In addition, the camera operator
Once the number of photographed stimulable phosphor sheets has accumulated, either the photographed stimulable phosphor sheets are transported from the photographing room to the recording room, or the reader is still reading the previously set stimulable phosphor sheets. Sometimes the reading is still in progress, and in this case the operator has to wait for a while until the reading is finished, resulting in wasted time. In addition, if the stimulable phosphor sheet was transported at a time when the reading had finished sufficiently so that the operator did not have to wait, the reading would have finished long beforehand, and the reader would be wasting time. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a radiographic image reading and recording device that has a high availability rate and is easy to use.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The radiation reading and recording device of the present invention scans a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image of a subject is accumulated and recorded with excitation light, and detects stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet. one or a plurality of image reading processing sections each comprising a reading means for obtaining a read image signal and an image processing means for performing image processing on the image signal obtained by the reading means; connected to the image reading processing section; a recording unit that outputs a visible reproduced image based on the image signal obtained by the connected image reading processing unit; and a recording unit that is connected to all of the image reading processing units and read by any of the image reading processing units. an ID information input storage unit that receives image ID information and stores the input ID information; an ID information input storage unit that receives image ID information and stores the input ID information; an instruction information input section connected to the instruction information input section for inputting instruction information for transferring the ID information from the ID information input storage section to the connected image reading processing section; and arranged near the instruction information input section. Also, an instruction information input section arranged near this is connected to the connected image reading processing section, and inputs the instruction information, the ID information corresponding to this instruction information, and the image reading processing section and the recording section. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a display section that displays information indicating the operating state.

(Function) The radiographic image reading and recording device of the present invention is configured as a distributed system by taking advantage of the fact that each component has been miniaturized, and is configured as a distributed system, and all of one or more image reading processing units and Since it has a connected ID information input storage unit, by placing this ID information input storage unit in a reception room etc.
The above-mentioned magnetic card is no longer necessary, and it is possible to avoid a decrease in the operating efficiency of the system due to loss of the magnetic card. In addition, by arranging the instruction information input section and display section connected to each corresponding image reading processing section near the imaging device, the operator of the imaging device can input, for example, a patient's number, etc. from the instruction information input section. By simply doing this, detailed ID information is transferred from the ID information input storage section to each corresponding image reading processing section, and the ID information can be confirmed on the display section to proceed with the work. In addition, this display unit is placed near the imaging device, and allows the operator to check the operating status of the image reading processing unit and recording unit on the spot, which is a problem with conventional configurations. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of waiting time and a decrease in the operating rate of the reader, thereby making the device easy to use.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a groove bottom diagram showing an embodiment of the radiation image reading and recording apparatus of the present invention.

This radiation image reading/displaying device IO includes four image reading processing units 11a, llb, lie, and lid, and two recording units 12a.

12b, one ID information input storage section 13, and four keyboards 14a, 14b, 14c, 1 which are instruction information input sections.
4d.

Four CRT displays 15a and 15b as display units
.

It consists of +5c and 15d.

Each of the image reading processing units 11a, llb, 11c, and Ild scans a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image of a subject is stored and recorded with excitation light, reads stimulated luminescence light emitted from this sheet, and generates an image signal. A reading means for obtaining the image signal and an image processing means for performing image processing on the image signal obtained by the reading means are housed together in one housing.

Each of the image reading means 11a, llb, llc, 11d is designed to be small, and each of the corresponding photographing devices 20a, 2
0b, 20c, 20d are arranged in each photographing room 21a,
It is arranged in the corridor pipes 21b, 21c, and 21d.

The recording unit 12a includes three of the four image reading processing units 1.
1a, 11b, and llc, and this recording unit 1
In step 2a, a visible reproduced image is output to a photographic film based on the image signals obtained by the image reading processing units 11a, llb, and lie. Recording department! 2b is connected to the remaining image reading processing unit lid, and a visible reproduced image is output based on the image signal obtained by this image reading processing unit lid.

The recording units 12a and 12b each include an image reading processing unit 12a,
12b.

Since processing can be performed at a higher speed compared to 12c and 12d, a plurality of image reading processing units can be connected to one recording unit as in this embodiment.

The ID information input storage unit 13 is connected to all four image reading processing units 11a, llb, 11c, and lld, and the ID information of the radiation image read by any of the image reading processing units 11a, 11b, llc, and lid is stored. The input ID information is stored, and the keyboard 14a,
14b.

When a patient number, which is instruction information, is input from either 14c or 14d, the stored ID information is transferred to the corresponding image reading processing section based on the input instruction information. It is.

This ID information input storage unit I3 is located in the reception room 22, and all image reading processing units are stored in this reception room! la.

ID information corresponding to all of the image reading processing units 11a, Ilb, and Ilb is input as necessary.
, lie.

forwarded to lid. Therefore, there is no need for the patient to carry a magnetic card or the like to the imaging room, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in the operating rate of the apparatus due to loss or damage of the magnetic card or the like.

Keyboards 14a and 14b, which are instruction information input units,
14c.

14d is placed near the four imaging devices 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d that accumulate and record radiation images of the subject on the sheet, and is connected to the corresponding image reading processing units 11a, llb, 11c, and 11d. has been done. Keyboards 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d
As described above, ID information is transferred from the ID information input storage section 13 to the connected image reading processing sections 11a and llb.
, 11c, and lld are input.

CRT displays 15a, 15b, 15 as display units
c.

15d are keyboards 14a, 14b, 14c,
14d, and are connected to the corresponding image reading processing units 11a, llb, 11c, and 11d. These CRT displays 15a, 15b,
15c and 15d have excellent resolution, and contain instruction information, ID information corresponding to this instruction information,
Image reading processing unit 11a, Ilb, llc, lld
and information indicating the operating status of the recording units 12a, 12b are displayed.

Each keyboard +4a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and each CRT display 15a, 15b, 15c, +5
d near each of the photographing devices 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, the operator can
From a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, for example, a highly detailed ID in which only the patient number, which is instruction information, is entered.
The information is transferred from the ID information input storage section, and the operator only needs to perform one simple operation, and the detailed ID information can be transferred to the CRT.
Since the operator can proceed with the work while checking the information on the display, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the operator's work.

In addition, each CRT display 15a, 15b, 15c,
15d, it is possible to check the operating status of each corresponding image reading processing section 11a, 11b, lie, lid and each corresponding recording section 12a, 12b while performing photographing work, and as in the conventional example described above, Image reading and recording units 11a, llb, 11c, li take pictures of the stimulable phosphor sheet
There is no need to wait after transporting d to the location where it is placed, making work more efficient. Further, in this embodiment, each of the corresponding image reading processing units 11a, llb, 1
1c, lld and the corresponding recording units 12a, 12b, as well as all image reading processing units Lla,
llb, lie, lid and all recording sections 12a
, 12b are displayed on each CRT display 15a, 1.
5b, 15c, and 15d, and the transfer destination to which the ID information is to be transferred from the ID information input storage section 13 can be specified from each keyboard. As a result, the image reading processing units 11a, 11b, and li currently waiting for the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet
The image can be transported to the e-lid and read and image processed, further improving the operating rate of the entire device.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, the radiographic image reading and recording device of the present invention is configured as described above, so that the operator in the imaging room can grasp the operating status of the device, and the operator's work It is possible to improve the efficiency of the system and the operating rate of the equipment. Moreover, by eliminating the conventionally used magnetic cards, it is possible to prevent work inefficiency and reduction in the operating rate of the device caused by loss or damage of the magnetic cards.

Further, as in the above-described embodiment, the operating status of other image reading processing sections other than the image reading processing section corresponding to this instruction input information section is also displayed on the display section according to instructions from the instruction input information section. Then, the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet can be transported to the image reading processing unit, which is currently in a standby state and not in operation, for processing, further improving the operating rate of the entire system.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the radiation image reading and recording device of the present invention. Figure 2 is a system for diagnosing diseases of the human body using a stimulable phosphor sheet. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional configuration. 1.22...Reception room 2.21a, 21b, 21c, 21d-...Photography room 3.
...Recording room 10...Radiation image reading and recording devices 11a, 11b, lIc, lld -=Image reading processing units 12a, 12b -=Recording unit 13...ID information input storage unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) a reading means for scanning a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image of a subject is stored with excitation light and reading stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet to obtain an image signal;
one or more image reading processing units comprising an image processing unit that performs image processing on the image signal obtained by the reading unit; connected to the image reading processing unit; a recording unit that outputs a visible reproduced image based on the obtained image signal; and a recording unit that is connected to all of the image reading processing units and inputting ID information of the radiation image read by any of the image reading processing units. an ID information input/storage unit that stores the ID information of the subject; and an ID information input/storage unit that is disposed near the imaging device that stores and records the radiographic image of the subject on the sheet, and is connected to the image reading processing unit, and is connected to the image reading processing unit that stores the ID information of the subject. an instruction information input section for inputting instruction information to be transferred from the information input storage section to the connected image reading processing section; and an instruction information input section arranged near the instruction information input section and disposed in this vicinity. The input section is connected to the connected image reading processing section, and displays the instruction information, the ID information corresponding to the instruction information, and information indicating the operating status of the image reading processing section and the recording section. A radiation image reading and recording device comprising a display section.