JPH04246641A - X-ray radiographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically select corresponding carrying sequence and photographing condition by carrying an X-ray film and an imaging plate in the same carrying path and discriminating supply magazines where the film and the plate are respectively housed. CONSTITUTION:The device has such constitution that parts(name printer 17) necessary for an X-ray film carrying stage and parts(erasing lamp 11 and bar code reader 21) necessary for an imaging plate carrying stage are provided on the same carrying path. A hole 24 is formed on the end face of the supply magazine 4 here either the X-ray film or the imaging plate is housed, and a push button switch 25 is attached at the position of the hole 24 in the case of loading the supply magazine 4 in a main body case 6 so as to discriminate the kind of the magazine 4 according to the on/off of the switch 25. Based on the discriminated result, the carrying sequence and the photographing condition are selected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray photographing apparatus that irradiates a subject with X-rays and records the transmitted X-ray image on an X-ray film or imaging plate.

0002

[Prior Art] This type of conventional X-ray imaging apparatus has a top plate on which a subject is placed, an X-ray tube that emits X-rays toward the subject, and records an X-ray image transmitted through the subject. The camera is equipped with a recording medium and a photographing mechanism that continuously transports the recording medium to the photographing position.

Currently, X-ray films and imaging plates are used as recording media. X-ray film is exposed to transmitted X-rays and records an X-ray image, and is often used for general X-ray photography. The imaging plate temporarily stores X-ray images, and the stored X-ray images are read by a dedicated laser reader and saved as digital data. After reading, the X-ray image stored in the imaging plate is erased and used repeatedly. Furthermore, imaging plates have higher sensitivity than X-ray film, and are also used when photographing relatively thick areas.

[0004] As an imaging mechanism for feeding the recording medium to the imaging position and performing continuous imaging, a device dedicated to X-ray film, a device dedicated to imaging plate, or both X-ray film and imaging plate can be used. There is a device.

[0005] Devices that can be used for both X-ray film and imaging plates are internally provided with a transport path for the X-ray film and a transport path for the imaging plate. The transport sequence is activated to transport and photograph.

[0006]

However, the conventional X-ray imaging apparatus has the following problems. That is,
An apparatus equipped with an imaging mechanism capable of handling both an X-ray film and an imaging plate requires two internal transport paths, which increases the size of the entire apparatus and increases costs. In addition, the transport sequence can be changed depending on the recording medium, and the X-ray exposure conditions (tube voltage and tube current of the X-ray tube) can be changed each time according to the sensitivity difference of the recording medium.
It is necessary to switch, which involves troublesome work.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of transporting an X-ray film and an imaging plate using a single transport path, as well as identifying and automatically identifying the recording medium to be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an X-ray imaging apparatus that can switch the transport sequence and X-ray conditions.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in the X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, the transport path for transporting the X-ray film for recording the transmitted X-ray image and the imaging plate to the imaging position and the storage position after imaging is configured in the same path. Also, an identification means for identifying each supply magazine storing an unexposed X-ray film and an imaging plate and outputting an identification signal thereof, and a transport sequence for the X-ray film and the imaging plate based on the identification signal. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a selection means for selecting a transport sequence for use in transport, and a transport control section for controlling transport in accordance with the selected transport sequence. Also,
The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 2 includes, in addition to the above-mentioned X-ray imaging apparatus, an X-ray film imaging condition memory that stores in advance imaging conditions when using an an imaging plate imaging condition memory that stores conditions in advance; an imaging condition selection unit that selects one of these memories based on the identification signal;
and an X-ray control section that controls the X-ray tube according to selected imaging conditions.

[0009]

[Operation] The operation of the structure of this invention is as follows. According to the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, the identification means identifies whether the supply magazine is for X-ray film or for imaging plates, and outputs the identification signal to the selection means. The selection means selects a conveyance sequence according to the recording medium from the given identification signal, and the conveyance control section operates the selected conveyance sequence to carry out conveyance. Furthermore, according to the apparatus according to claim 2, in addition to selecting the transport sequence described above, the imaging condition selection section selects an X-ray film imaging condition memory and an imaging plate imaging condition memory based on the identification signal. Then, the X-ray control section controls the X-ray tube under the selected imaging conditions to perform X-ray imaging.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1] Embodiment of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a line imaging device. In the figure, code 1
indicates a top plate on which the subject is placed; placed above and below the top plate 1 are an X-ray tube 2 that emits X-rays and an imaging mechanism equipped with a recording medium for transmitted X-ray images. It is 3.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the photographing mechanism. In the drawing, reference numeral 4 denotes a supply magazine for storing unexposed X-ray films and imaging plates (collectively referred to as recording media), and 5 denotes a storage magazine for storing exposed X-ray films and imaging plates. supply magazine 4
The storage magazine 5 is loaded into the main body through insertion ports 7, 7 formed in the front part of the main body case 6.

At the upper part of the loading position of the supply magazine 4, there is a feed-out roller 8 that sucks the recording medium in the supply magazine 4.
A suction cup 9 is provided to guide the feed roller 8, and a guide plate 10 is attached to the outlet of the feed roller 8. Guide plate 1
A feed roller 8 and a guide plate 10 are also provided at the tip of the plate 0, and an erase lamp 11 is attached to the upper part of the guide plate 10 for erasing residual recording that becomes background noise of the imaging plate. .

Two endless belts 12 and 13 are provided on an extension of the guide plate 10 to sandwich the recording medium being fed and guide it to the photographing position P. Endless belt 1
2 is rotated by a driving roller 14 and a driven roller 15, and as the endless belt 12 rotates, the other endless belt 13 also rotates.

At the end of the endless belt 12 are a pair of guide plates 16 into which a portion of the X-ray film is inserted, and a name printer 17 is provided below the guide plates 16. The name printer 17 prints the medical record information (patient name, disease name, etc.) of the photographed patient, the serial number of the film, etc. on the corner of the X-ray film.

The recording medium sent out from the two endless belts 12 and 13 is guided by two guide plates 18 and 18.
It is guided by the drawing roller 19. Pull roller 19
There is also a guide plate 20 at the tip, and a barcode reader 21 is provided on the upper part of this guide plate 20. The barcode reader 21 reads a barcode (an ID number of the imaging plate) attached to the back side of the imaging plate, and the read ID number is transmitted to an image processing computer (not shown). Image processing details for each imaging plate are registered in advance in the image processing computer. Normally, prior to imaging, it is decided which imaging plate will be used for which patient and how the patient's images will be processed, and the ID number of the imaging plate and the content of the image processing are determined. being entered into the computer. This allows image reading and image processing to be performed simultaneously by simply inputting a photographed imaging plate into an image processing computer.

Another set of pull-in rollers 22 is installed at the tip of the guide plate 20 located below the barcode reader 21.
is attached, and the recording medium is accommodated in the storage magazine 5 by this drawing roller 22.

In this way, there is a component (name printer 17) that performs necessary processing on the X-ray film, and a component (erasing lamp 11) that performs necessary processing on the imaging plate.
, barcode reader 21) on one conveyance path, the X-ray film and the imaging plate are conveyed on the same path.

Next, a description will be given of means for identifying a supply magazine containing an X-ray film and a supply magazine containing an imaging plate. The supply magazines that house these are exactly the same, and there is no difference in external dimensions. Therefore, in order to distinguish between these, certain processing is applied to the supply magazine 4. That is, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, holes 24 are formed in one end surface of the supply magazine 4 that stores one of the recording media (for example, X-ray film), and in the end surface 23 on the side that is loaded into the main body case 6. is forming.

As shown in FIG. 2, a push button switch 25 is installed at the position of the hole 24 when the supply magazine 4 is loaded into the main body case 6. The push button switch 25 and the hole 24 correspond to the identification means of the present invention. When the supply magazine 4 containing the X-ray film is loaded, the push button switch 2 is inserted into the hole 24.
However, since the supply magazine that houses the imaging plate does not have a hole 24, when it is loaded, the end face of the supply magazine presses the push button switch 25, so the switch is not pressed. A switch signal is output from 25. This signal is an identification signal.

It should be noted that the identification means can be constructed of various other types. For example, a protrusion may be provided in place of the hole 24, and an optical sensor may be attached in place of the push button switch 25 to detect the presence or absence of the protrusion and identify the type of supply magazine.

Next, the components for selecting the transport sequence from the identification signal will be explained with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 26 is an interface that takes in an identification signal, M is a memory that stores a transport sequence program F for X-ray film and a transport sequence program IP for imaging plates, and 27 is an interface that takes in the identification signal (H level or L level), selects the conveyance sequence program, and controls the control unit 2.
The selection unit 8 and the control unit 28 are transport control means that execute a given sequence program and control each part of the X-ray imaging apparatus.

The transport sequence of the X-ray film is as follows (see FIG. 2). 1. The X-ray film is sucked by the suction cup 9 and guided to the feed roller 8. 2. The feed rollers 8, 8 are driven. 3. The drive roller 14 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 to place the X-ray film at the imaging position. 4. After the photographing is completed, the driving roller 14 is further rotated counterclockwise to place the corner of the X-ray film at the position of the name printer 17 under the guide plate 16. 5. A name printer 17 prints the patient's medical record information and film number. 6. Rotate the drive roller 14 clockwise. 7. The drawing rollers 19 and 22 are rotated and stored in the storage magazine 5.

The transport sequence of the imaging plate is as follows. 1. The X-ray film is sucked by the suction cup 9 and guided to the feed roller 8. 2. The feed rollers 8, 8 are driven. 3. The erase lamp 11 is turned on. 4. The drive roller 14 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 to place the X-ray film at the imaging position. 5. After photographing is completed, the drive roller 14 is rotated clockwise. 6. Rotate the drawing roller 19. 7. The barcode reader 21 reads the barcode attached to the back side of the imaging plate. 8. Rotate the pull-in roller 22 to remove the storage magazine 5.
Store inside.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment apparatus will be explained. The operator loads the supply magazine 4 containing unphotographed recording media to be used into the main body case. If the supply magazine 4 is for X-ray film, push button switch 2
5 is not pressed, and an "L level" signal is given to the selection section 27 via the interface 26. supply magazine 4
If it is for an imaging plate, the push button switch 25 is pressed and an "H level" signal is given to the selection section 27 via the interface 26.

When receiving the "L level" signal, the selection section 27 specifies the address of the sequence program F to the memory M and outputs a read start signal. Also,
When an “H level” signal is given, to memory M,
Specifies the address of the sequence program IP and outputs a read start signal.

The control section 28 controls each section of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the read sequence program. That is, when the sequence program F is read out, the above-mentioned X-ray film conveyance sequence is executed, and when the sequence program IP is read out, the above-mentioned imaging plate conveyance sequence is executed.

[0027] In this way, simply by replacing the supply magazine 4, the corresponding transport sequence is automatically started and X-ray imaging is performed.

[2] Embodiment of the X-ray photographing apparatus according to claim 2 The X-ray photographing apparatus of this example has components as shown in FIG. 5 in addition to the configuration of the embodiment [1] above. We are prepared.

That is, an imaging condition memory Mf stores in advance the imaging conditions (X-ray tube voltage, X-ray tube current, imaging time) when using an X-ray film, and the imaging conditions when using an imaging plate. a photographing condition selection unit 29 that selects both photographing condition memories Mf and Mip based on the stored photographing condition memory Mip and an identification signal output from the push button switch 25 and reads out stored photographing condition data; Depending on the shooting condition data,
High voltage generator 3 powering the X-ray tube 2 (see Figure 1)
This is an X-ray control unit 30 that controls the

As mentioned above, since there is a difference in sensitivity between the X-ray film and the imaging plate, it is necessary to set imaging conditions corresponding to each. In the X-ray imaging apparatus of this example, as described in the embodiment [1], the transport sequence is selected according to the type of recording medium stored in the supply magazine 4, and the transport sequence is selected according to the type of recording medium. The imaging condition selection section 29 selects the imaging condition memories Mf and Mip, and the X-ray control section 30 sets the selected imaging conditions for the X-ray tube 2, thereby performing X-ray imaging according to each recording medium. I do.

[0031]

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 is configured such that the transport path for the X-ray film and the imaging plate is the same path, and
The system identifies the supply magazine in which X-ray film or imaging plates are stored, selects the transport sequence for each, and transports the selected transport sequence, making it easier to use X-ray equipment than with conventional systems. It can be downsized and costs can be reduced. Furthermore, simply by replacing the supply magazine, the X-ray film transport sequence or imaging plate transport sequence will automatically start, eliminating the hassle of switching the transport sequence every time you change the recording medium. . Furthermore, in addition to the selection of the transport sequence, the X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 2 automatically selects the imaging conditions for the X-ray film and the imaging conditions for the imaging plate, and transfers them to the X-ray tube. Since the settings are made for the following conditions, the user is freed from the trouble of switching the shooting conditions every time the recording medium is changed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the photographing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the supply magazine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

4...Supply magazine 24...Vacancy 25...Push button switch 27...Selection section 28...Control unit 29... Shooting condition selection section 30...X-ray control section

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A conveyance path for conveying an X-ray film for recording a transmitted X-ray image and an imaging plate to an imaging position and a storage position after imaging is constructed on the same path, and a transport path for transporting an X-ray film for recording a transmitted X-ray image and an imaging plate to a storage position after imaging is configured. an identification means for identifying each supply magazine storing an imaging plate and outputting an identification signal;
An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: a selection means for selecting a transport sequence for a line film and a transport sequence for an imaging plate; and a transport control section for controlling transport in accordance with the selected transport sequence. 2. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: an X-ray film imaging condition memory that stores in advance imaging conditions when an X-ray film is used; and an imaging plate that stores in advance imaging conditions when an imaging plate is used. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising an imaging condition memory, an imaging condition selection section that selects one of these memories based on the identification signal, and an X-ray control section that controls an X-ray tube according to the selected imaging condition. .