JPH043141A - Storage method for image data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the storage of previously read image data in a memory device of a relatively small capacity by thinning the previously read image data indicating the outline of a radioactive image and storing this data into the memory device. CONSTITUTION:An image processing section 60 has the memory device of a memory 62 which stores the previously read image data EDR outputted from an image reading section 24, a flip-flop circuit 64 which generates a line selection signal CLS by thinning the line clocks CL outputted from the image reading section 24 at every other line, an OR circuit 66 which generates a DMA request signal R from the line selection signal CLS and a picture element clock CP, and a CPU 68 which executes processing, such as assigning of the address of the memory 62, according to the DMA request signal R. Since the previously read image data is thinned and stored in the memory device in this way, the storage in the memory device of the capacity smaller than the number of the picture elements is possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention, for example, scans a long stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is recorded with a light beam to detect the radiation energy accumulated in the sheet. A part of the stimulated luminescent light is emitted as stimulated luminescent light, and the stimulated luminescent light is read and digitized pixel by pixel, and pre-read image data representing an outline of a radiation image obtained is stored in a storage device having a capacity smaller than the number of pixels. This invention relates to a method for storing image data.

[Prior Art] In recent years, stimulable phosphors have been used to temporarily store and record radiation image information of subjects such as the human body on sheets of stimulable phosphors.
This is scanned with excitation light to cause stimulated luminescence, this stimulated luminescent light is read photoelectrically to obtain an image signal, and this image signal is processed to obtain a radiation image of the subject that is suitable for diagnosis.Radiation image information recording Reproduction systems have been proposed (JP-A-55-12429, JP-A-56-11395, JP-A-55-
No. 163472, No. 56-104645, No. 55-1
16340 etc.).

In the second system, the final image may be reproduced as a hard copy or as a visible image on a CRT. In any case, in such a radiation image information recording and reproducing system, the stimulable phosphor sheet does not ultimately record image information, but temporarily stores the image information in order to provide the image to the final recording medium as described above. Since this stimulable phosphor sheet carries information, it may be used repeatedly, and such repeated use is extremely economical.

In order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet in this way, the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet after the stimulated luminescence light has been read can be absorbed by, for example,
The stimulable phosphor sheet may be used again for recording radiation images by emitting it to erase residual radiation images by a method as shown in No. 56-12599.

Based on this knowledge, the present applicant proposed a circulating conveyance means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of accumulating and recording radiation images along a predetermined circulation path, and a means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of accumulating and recording radiation images, and a means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of accumulating and recording radiographic images, and a method that is located in the circulation path and has image information on the sheet. an image recording section that accumulates and records radiographic image information of a subject on the sheet by irradiating radiation; and an excitation light that is located in the circulation path and scans the sheet on which radiographic image information has been accumulated and recorded in the image recording section. an image reading section comprising an excitation light source emitting light and a photoelectric reading means for reading stimulated luminescence light emitted from a sheet scanned by the excitation light to obtain an image signal; and an erasing section that releases radiation energy remaining on the sheet prior to recording an image on the sheet after the stimulable phosphor sheet is incorporated into one device, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is circulated between the sections. A so-called built-in radiation image information recording/reading apparatus has already been proposed, which is configured to be repeatedly used.

The radiographic image information recording/reading device having such a structure has the advantage that radiographic image information can be recorded and read continuously and efficiently.

In addition, in reading the radiation image information mentioned above,
Prior to reading to obtain image signals for visible image output (actual reading), pre-reading is performed to read the outline of the radiation image information stored in the sheet ε8 in advance, and the image information obtained by this pre-reading (actually, the radiation image information is A method is known in which reading conditions for performing the main reading are determined based on pre-read image data obtained by reading and digitizing exhaustion light for each pixel, and the main reading is performed in accordance with the reading conditions.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pixel clock CP output from the image reading section 2 is transmitted to the CPU 6 constituting the image processing section 4 via DMA! The address of the memory 8 is specified by being introduced as the Jquest signal, and after the pre-read image data EDR is stored in the memory 8 for each pixel, the reading conditions for the main reading are determined under the action of the CPU 6.

Recently, there has been a demand for diagnosing the entire pillar using the above-mentioned built-in device (so-called whole pillar diagnosis). Therefore, when performing whole-pillar diagnosis using the built-in type device, the so-called long stimulable phosphor sheet (for example, half-cut 2 times) into the built-in type device.

By the way, the built-in type device incorporating a long stimulable phosphor sheet is used not only for imaging the entire body in order to improve the operating rate of the device, but also for imaging the chest, abdomen, limbs, etc. mentioned above. It is also used for photography.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when trying to store pre-read image data on a long stimulable phosphor sheet in the memory (storage device) installed in the conventional built-in type device, this pre-read image data There is a problem in that the amount of image data is larger than the storage capacity of the storage device and cannot be stored.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and for example, a long stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information is recorded is scanned with a light beam, and part of the radiation energy stored in the sheet is collected. The stimulated luminescent light is read and digitized pixel by pixel, and pre-read image data representing the outline of the radiation image obtained can be stored in a storage device with a capacity smaller than the number of pixels. The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for storing image data.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention scans a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information is recorded with a light beam, and uses a part of the radiation energy stored in the sheet. is emitted as stimulated luminescence light, and this stimulated luminescence light is read and digitized pixel by pixel, and pre-read image data representing an outline of a radiation image obtained is stored in a storage device. The present invention is characterized in that pre-read image data representing an outline is thinned out and stored in the storage device.

[Operation] In the image data storage method according to the present invention configured as described above, the prefetched image data is thinned out and stored in the storage device, so that it is possible to store it in a storage device with a capacity smaller than the number of pixels. I can do it. Note that the pre-read image data can be thinned out for each pixel, in other words, for each pixel clock, or for each row, in other words, for each lock performed.

[Embodiments] An embodiment of the image data storage method according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 indicates a medical diagnostic system to which the image data storage method according to the present embodiment is applied. This medical diagnostic system 10 includes a console 11,
It basically consists of a line controller 12, a radiation image recording/reading device 14, and an image output device 16.

The console 11 is used to input imaging information such as the area to be imaged and the size of the image.

The X-ray controller 12 controls the radiation source 18 and irradiates the subject 20 with a predetermined amount of X-rays at a predetermined timing.

The radiation image recording/reading device 14 receives X from the radiation source 18.
A radiation image of a predetermined part of the subject 20 is stored and recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet IP (see FIG. 4) using a line, and the radiation image stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is read and electrically transmitted. Convert it to a signal and perform predetermined image processing. In this example, the size of the stimulable phosphor IP is selected to be an elongated size twice the half-cut size.

The image output device 16 is the radiation image recording/reading device 14
Subject 2 is placed on the film based on the image signal transferred from
00 Output a radiation image of a predetermined region.

FIG. 4 shows the overall configuration of the radiation image recording/reading device 14. As shown in FIG. This radiation image recording/reading device 14 is
an imaging unit 22 that accumulates and records radiation images on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP by irradiating X-rays through the subject 20; an image reading unit 24 that photoelectrically reads the stimulated luminescent light emitted from the sheet IP upon irradiation;
The apparatus includes an erasing section 26 that releases the residual radiation energy on the IP after the image reading is performed, and a control section .

The imaging unit 22 has an imaging platform 30 that protrudes from the front surface of the radiation image recording/reading device 14 and is movable in the vertical direction along the front surface. A front plate 32 and a rear plate 34 are provided which can be held between the front surface of the photographing section 22 and the first special equipment section 31 in the directions of arrows A and B by means of a link mechanism (not shown).

The image reading section 24 is connected to the photographing section 22 via transport systems 36 and 38. The image reading unit 24 includes two sets of nip rollers 40 and 42 that sandwich the stimulable phosphor sheet (IP) supplied via the conveyance system 38, and the nip roller 40.
．． an optical unit 44 that irradiates the stimulable phosphor IP between 42 and 42 with a laser beam as a scanning light; and an optical unit 44 that reads the image recorded on the stimulable phosphor IP as stimulated luminescence by the laser beam. It has a light collecting unit 46.

At the rear stage of the image reading unit 24, there is a second special unit 48 that extends vertically upward and temporarily accommodates a long stimulable phosphor sheet (IP), and a second special unit 48 that is attached to the second special unit 48. A third special equipment section 50 is provided.

Note that the second special equipment section 48 and the third special equipment section 50 are connected by a switching path 52.

The erasing unit 26 disposed at the upper part of the third special unit 50 has an erasing light source 54 such as a halogen lamp, and the erasing light from the erasing light source 54 erases the remaining information on the stimulable phosphor sheet ■P. The images that have been saved will be deleted. The latter stage of the erasing section 26 is connected to the first special equipment section 31 via a conveyance system 56 .

The control unit 28 controls the operation of the image reading process in the image reading unit 24, and also controls the operation of other parts of the radiation image recording and reading apparatus 14. In this case, the configuration of an image processing section that is incorporated into the control section 2G and stores prefetched image data in a storage device is shown in FIG. That is, the image processing unit 60 has a memory 62 (storage device) that stores the pre-read image data EDR output from the image reading unit 24, and selects a row by thinning out the lock CL output from the image reading unit 24 line by line. A flip-flop circuit 64 that generates the signal CLS, an OR circuit 6G that generates a DMA request signal from the row selection signal CLS and the pixel clock CP, and a logical sum circuit 6G that uses the DMA request signal to specify an address in the memory 62. It also includes a CPU 68 that performs processing. Note that the storage capacity of the memory 62 is higher than that of the memory 8 (fifth) according to the prior art described above.
The storage capacity may be the same as that of (see figure).

The medical diagnosis system 10 according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be explained next.

First, a cinematographer (not shown) selects a part of the subject 20 to be photographed (
Enter the imaging information according to the area (column, chest, abdomen, etc.).

In this embodiment, full column imaging is specified, and therefore the entire surface of the long stimulable phosphor IP is used. This photographic information is read by the control section 28.

In this state, inside the radiation image recording/reading device 14, there are three long stimulable phosphor sheets that completely cover the pillars.
The IP is the first to third special equipment section 31.48.5 shown in FIG.
It is loaded at 0.

Therefore, the control 828 controls the photographing platform 30 according to the photographing information.
to a predetermined position in the vertical direction. Next, the stimulable phosphor sheet IP of the first special equipment section 31 is displaced in the direction of arrow B by driving a link mechanism (not shown), and the photographing table 30
located at the front of the Next, in the photographing section 22, after setting the subject 20 in a standing position in front of the photographing table 30,
A radiation source 18 is controlled using a radiation controller 12 to irradiate the subject 20 with X-rays. In this case, the X-rays pass through the subject 20 and reach the stimulable phosphor sheet IP.
A radiographic image of a predetermined region of the body is recorded.

The stimulable phosphor component IF of the recorded radiation image is -
After first being displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow, it is conveyed to the image reading section 24 via the conveyance systems 36 and 38.

On the other hand, the stimulable phosphor IP that has been waiting in the third special equipment section 50 is transported to the first special equipment section 31 via the transport system 56, and is on standby for the next photographing. In addition, the second special equipment section 48
The stimulable phosphor sheet IP that has been on standby is transported to the third special equipment section 50 according to a procedure described later.

In the image reading section 24, the optical unit 44 irradiates a laser beam onto the stimulable phosphor sheet IP that is nipped and conveyed by the nip rollers 40 and 42, and the stimulated luminescence light obtained thereby is collected by the condensing unit 46. and converted into electrical signals.

Note that the image reading section 24 first performs a pre-reading process. Here, the pre-reading process refers to a process of setting image processing conditions by roughly reading the radiation image recorded in advance on the stimulable phosphor IP, as described above.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart when the pre-read image data EDR is stored in the memory 62. In FIG. 2, when the lock CL from the image reading unit 24 is introduced into the flip-flop circuit 64, the so-called thinned out row selection signal CLS, which is frequency-divided from the flip-flop circuit 64, is sent to the OR circuit 66.
is introduced into one input terminal of the Here, the logical sum circuit 66
Since the pixel clock CP is introduced to the other input terminal of the CPU 68, the DMA request signal R shown in FIG. 2 is introduced from the OR circuit 66 to the CPU 68. The DMA request signal R becomes a signal obtained by thinning out the pixel clock CP by performing a so-called masking process due to the low level of the row selection signal CLS. The address of the memory 62 is designated by the CPU 68 during the low level section of the DMAIJ quest signal R, and the pre-read image data EDR is stored at the designated address of the memory 62. In this case, as can be understood from FIG. 2, the pre-read image data EDR is thinned out by the row selection signal CLS and stored in the memory 62, so that the stimulable phosphor sheet is a long stimulable phosphor sheet (IP). Even so, there is no need to increase the storage capacity of the memory 62.

In this way, the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is conveyed in the image reading section 24 and subjected to pre-reading processing, then returned to the conveying system 38 side, and then conveyed again to undergo the main reading process. It will be done. That is, the main reading process is performed based on the image processing conditions determined from the prefetched image data EDR obtained by the prefetching process.

The stimulable phosphor sheet (IP) whose image has been read is transported to the transport system 56 via the erasing section 26, and then transferred to the third special equipment section 5.
Returned towards 0. At this time, the image is erased by the erasing light source 54 of the erasing section 26 under the control of the control section 28 .

After confirming that the first special equipment section 31 is empty, the stimulable phosphor sheet (IP) from which the radiation image has been erased is transferred to the first special equipment section 31 via the erasing section 26 and the transport system 56.
The camera will then be transported to a location where it will wait for the next photo shoot.

On the other hand, the radiation image converted into an electrical signal by the condensing unit 46 is subjected to image processing such as gradation processing and frequency processing in the control section 28, and then transferred to the image output device 16. The image output device 16 outputs an image on film based on the image signal. As a result, a doctor or the like can make a diagnosis based on the images recorded on the film. In the above-described embodiments, a case has been described in which a radiation image is recorded on a film, but it may also be displayed on a CRT or the like.

[Effects of the Invention As described above, in the image data storage method according to the present invention, pre-read image data representing an outline of a radiation image is thinned out and stored in a storage device.

Therefore, there is an effect that the pre-read image data can be stored in a storage device with a relatively small capacity.

Therefore, for example, in the case of pre-read processing of radiation image information recorded on the entire surface of a long stimulable phosphor sheet, the pre-read image data is thinned out and stored, and In the case of pre-read processing of recorded radiation image information, by configuring the system so that all pre-read image data is stored as is, it can be used not only for imaging pillars, but also for imaging chest, abdomen, limbs, etc. Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent radiographic image information recording/reading device with a high operating rate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a radiation image information medical diagnosis system to which an image data storage method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 explains the operation of the main part configuration shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a radiation image information medical diagnosis system to which the image data storage method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the radiation image record reading in the system shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the configuration of an apparatus to which the image data storage method according to the prior art is applied, and FIG. 6 is a timing diagram illustrating the operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 10... Radiographic image information medical diagnosis system 11...
Console 12...X-ray controller 14...Radiation image recording/reading device 16...Image output device 24...Image reading section 60...Image processing section 62...Memory 64...Flip-flop circuit 66...OR circuit 68...CPU CP...Pixel clock CL...Lock to perform CLS...Row selection signal EDR...Pre-read image data R...DMA request signal IP...Storage phosphor sheet

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information is recorded is scanned with a light beam, and a part of the radiation energy stored in the sheet is emitted as stimulated luminescence light, and this stimulated luminescence light is transmitted to each pixel. A method for storing image data in which pre-read image data representing an outline of a radiation image obtained by reading and digitizing is stored in a storage device, characterized in that the pre-read image data representing an outline of the radiation image is thinned out and stored in the storage device. How to store image data.