JPH09292465A - Resolution evaluation device for auto-radiography system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a simple evaluation of resolution of analyzing auto- radiography by providing a metal thin plate with a plurality of holes formed in a specific pattern. SOLUTION: A resolution evaluation device 1 comprises a metal thin plate, forming a plurality of holes 2 in a specific pattern by photo-etching. Five groups 4 of plural rectangular parallelopiped-like holes 2 having length of e.g. 10mm specific width and interval are formed. Thereby energy of radiation emitted from radioactive labeled substance is accumulated in stimulable fluorescent material contained in an stimulable fluorescent material layer formed on the surface of an accumulated fluorescent material sheet. The stimulable fluorescent material layers is scanned with a electromagnetic wave, and stimulated light light emitted from the stimulated fluorescent material is photo-electrically detected to form digital image data. An image indicating position information of the radioactive labeled substance contained in a sample is formed to simply evaluate resolution of auto-radiography.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system, and more specifically, to a stimulable phosphor for storing the energy of radiation emitted from a radiolabeled substance contained in a sample. Accumulated in the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the surface of the sheet, and then, by electromagnetic waves, scan the stimulable phosphor layer to emit from the stimulable phosphor. The generated stimulated emission is detected photoelectrically to generate digital image data, and based on the generated digital image data, an image showing the positional information of the radiolabeled substance contained in the sample is generated and analyzed. The present invention relates to a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system, which can easily evaluate the resolution of the autoradiography system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art After a radiolabeled substance is administered to an organism, the organism or a part of the tissue of the organism is used as a sample, and this sample is applied to a radiation film such as a highly sensitive X-ray film. By overlapping for a certain time,
BACKGROUND ART Autoradiography is known in which a radiation film is exposed or exposed to obtain positional information of a radiolabeled substance in a sample based on the exposed portion of the radiation film. This autoradiography is used, for example, to study in detail the metabolism, absorption, and excretion pathways, states, etc. of administered substances in organisms, and also the tissues and / or of radiolabeled organisms. It is also used to obtain position information of radiolabeled substances in a medium containing substances derived from organisms. For example, a radiolabel is attached to a polymer-derived polymer substance such as a protein or nucleic acid, and the radiolabeled polymer substance, its derivative, or its degradation product is separated by gel electrophoresis or the like. By operating the gel-like support, the gel-like support is separated, and the gel-like support is superposed on a radiation film such as a high-sensitivity X-ray film for a certain period of time to expose the radiation film and obtain the radiation film from the exposed portion. A method for separating and identifying a polymeric substance, or for evaluating the molecular weight and characteristics of the polymeric substance based on the positional information of the radiolabeled substance has been developed and generally used. Furthermore, autoradiography is effectively used for determining the base sequence of nucleic acids such as DNA.

However, in the conventional autoradiography, the radiation intensity of the radiolabeled substance is weak, but the sensitivity of the radiation film such as the high-sensitivity X-ray film is not sufficiently high, so that the exposure operation is not performed. The problem is that it takes a very long time, such as days or weeks, and is not efficient. In order to improve such a problem as much as possible, as a method of improving the sensitivity of the radiation film, in order to prevent deterioration of image quality due to chemical fog, and further, when performing sensitized exposure using a fluorescent intensifying screen. , The brightness of the light emitted from the intensifying screen is low, and at a relatively high temperature such as room temperature, the exposure operation of the radiation film is performed in order to correspond to the characteristic of the silver salt that it is difficult to form a latent image.
For example, there is a problem in that it needs to be performed at a low temperature such as 0 ° C. to −80 ° C. and special equipment is required. Therefore, Japanese Patent Publication 1-60784 and Japanese Patent Publication 1
No. 60782, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4952/1992, etc., instead of a conventional radiation film, when irradiated with radiation, the energy of the radiation is absorbed and accumulated, and then visible light, infrared light, etc. When excited by the electromagnetic wave of
A stimulable phosphor layer containing a stimulable phosphor having a characteristic of emitting a stimulable amount of light according to the amount of irradiated radiation energy, a stimulable phosphor sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer formed thereon, and the positional information of the radioactive labeling substance. We have proposed an autoradiography system that solves the problems of conventional autoradiography by using it as a light-sensitive material.

This system is based on the tissue of living organisms and
Position information of a radiolabeled substance contained in a sample selected from the group consisting of tissues of organisms and / or media containing substances derived from organisms, and a stimulable phosphor layer containing a sample and a stimulable phosphor. By accumulating the stimulable phosphor sheet for a certain period of time, at least a part of the radiation energy emitted from the radioactive labeling substance in the sample is contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet. After being absorbed by the photostimulable phosphor, the photostimulable phosphor layer is scanned with electromagnetic waves to release the radiation energy accumulated in the photostimulable phosphor as photostimulable light, and the photostimulable light emitted The position information of the radiolabeled substance in the sample is obtained in the form of digital image data by photoelectrically detecting the radioactivity, and the position information of the radiolabeled substance in the sample is shown based on the obtained digital image data. Generating an image, if necessary, and performs analysis of the image. In this autoradiography system that uses a stimulable phosphor sheet as a light-sensitive material for obtaining position information of a radiolabeled substance, exposure is performed in a significantly shorter time than in conventional autoradiography using a radiation film. Not only can it be performed, but even if it is exposed to light at room temperature or in the vicinity thereof, the measurement accuracy of the positional information of the radiolabeled substance in the obtained sample does not deteriorate, and it is efficient and simple. It has an advantage that autoradiography measurement can be performed by operation.

Further, this system performs an appropriate signal processing on the obtained digital image data to obtain an image suitable for obtaining the positional information of the radiolabeled substance with high accuracy on a photographic film or a CRT screen or the like. It has an advantage that it can be reproduced on the display means and the desired image analysis can be performed based on the digital image data. Therefore, although such an autoradiography system is widely used for research of new drugs, it is essential that the resolution of the entire autoradiography system can be evaluated in order to be used in such applications. .

[0006]

As a system using a stimulable phosphor sheet as a radiation detecting material, the energy of radiation transmitted through a subject is transferred to a stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet. In the stimulable phosphor contained,
After accumulating and then scanning the photostimulable phosphor layer with electromagnetic waves, photoelectrically detecting the photostimulable light emitted from the photostimulable phosphor to generate digital image data, and if necessary. There is known a medical diagnostic system that generates a radiation image on a CRT screen or a film by performing signal processing on the generated digital image data. In this medical diagnostic system, the resolution of the entire system is evaluated. Therefore, a radiation test chart having a structure in which a thin lead plate having a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern is sandwiched between glass plates is used. This radiation test chart was irradiated with radiation uniformly, and the radiation transmitted through the plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern on the lead thin plate was transferred to the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet. Accumulated in the stimulable phosphor contained, then, by electromagnetic waves, scan the stimulable phosphor layer, by photoelectrically detecting the stimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor, digital Image data is generated, an image corresponding to a pattern of a plurality of holes formed in a thin lead plate is generated based on the generated image data, and the resolution of the entire medical diagnostic system is evaluated.

However, since the energy of the radiation emitted from the radioactive labeling substance used for autoradiography is much lower than the energy of the radiation used for the medical diagnostic system, this radiation test chart is used. Therefore, even when trying to evaluate the resolution of the autoradiography system using the stimulable phosphor sheet, the radiation emitted from the radioactive labeling substance used for autoradiography does not pass through the glass plate, and There is a problem that it is impossible to evaluate the resolution. This problem can be solved if the radiation test chart can be uniformly irradiated with radiation having the same energy as that used in the medical diagnostic system. However, autoradiography and medical diagnosis are different from each other. , Since the technical fields are different, the fact that a laboratory that conducts research using autoradiography is equipped with a radiation device that emits radiation having energy equivalent to that used in a medical diagnostic system is It is extremely rare, and therefore, the development of a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system that can easily evaluate the resolution of an autoradiography system using a stimulable phosphor sheet has been long awaited.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the energy of the radiation emitted from the radioactive labeling substance contained in the sample is contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Accumulated in the phosphor, then, by electromagnetic waves, scan the stimulable phosphor layer, photoelectrically detect the stimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor, to generate digital image data, For an autoradiography system that can easily evaluate the resolution of an autoradiography system that generates and analyzes an image that shows the positional information of radiolabeled substances contained in a sample based on the generated digital image data It is intended to provide a resolution evaluation device.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is as follows.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is achieved by a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system including a thin metal plate having a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern. According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system includes a thin metal plate having a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern, the resolution evaluation device emits from a radioactive labeling substance used for autoradiography. The stimulability contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed in the stimulable phosphor sheet through a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern in the metal thin plate even when using low energy radiation. Radiation energy can be accumulated in the phosphor, and therefore, by scanning the stimulable phosphor layer with an electromagnetic wave, the energy of the radiation accumulated in the stimulable phosphor is in the form of stimulable light. The emitted photostimulated light is photoelectrically detected to generate digital image data, and an image is generated based on the obtained digital image data, or the obtained digital image data is generated. By analyzing the image data, it is possible to evaluate the resolution of the entire autoradiography system.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the object of the present invention is also a metal thin plate having a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern, and a radioisotope provided on one surface of the metal thin plate. It is achieved by a resolution evaluator for an autoradiography system with a uniform source of radioactive elements. According to the second aspect of the present invention, a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system is a metal thin plate having a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern, and a radioisotope or a radioactive element provided on one surface of the metal thin plate. Since it is provided with a uniform radiation source of, the energy of the radiation emitted from the uniform radiation source of the radioisotope or the radioactive element, through the plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern in the metal thin plate, Accumulated in the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed in the stimulable phosphor sheet, therefore,
By scanning the stimulable phosphor layer by electromagnetic waves, the energy of the radiation accumulated in the stimulable phosphor is emitted in the form of stimulable light, and the emitted stimulable light is photoelectrically detected. , It is possible to generate digital image data, generate an image based on the obtained digital image data, or analyze the obtained digital image data to evaluate the resolution of the entire autoradiography system. .

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the object of the present invention is to provide a metal thin plate having a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern, and a radioactive material capable of uniformly irradiating the metal thin plate with radiation. It is achieved by a resolution evaluator for an autoradiography system with a uniform source of isotopes or radioactive elements. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the resolution evaluation apparatus for an autoradiography system is a thin metal plate having a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern, and a thin isotope of a radioactive isotope or a radioactive element capable of irradiating the thin metal plate. Since the uniform radiation source is provided, the energy of the radiation emitted from the radioactive isotope or the uniform radiation source of radioactive elements is accumulated in a thin metal plate through a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern. Is accumulated in the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and therefore, is accumulated in the stimulable phosphor by scanning the stimulable phosphor layer with an electromagnetic wave. The energy of the emitted radiation is emitted in the form of stimulated emission, the emitted stimulated emission is photoelectrically detected, digital image data is generated, and an image is generated based on the obtained digital image data. And, or, by analyzing the digital image data obtained, it is possible to evaluate the resolution of the entire autoradiography system.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
Note that multiple holes are formed by photo etching.
You. Metal sheet material that can be used in the present invention
The thickness of the material can be selected according to the level of radiolucency.
However, it is not particularly limited. The autora of the present invention
Resolution by a resolution evaluation device for geography system
Is used in autoradiography systems that are evaluated
Photostimulable phosphor used for stimulable phosphor sheet used
As it can store the energy of radiation,
Therefore, the energy of the accumulated radiation is excited
It is not particularly limited as long as it can be released in the form of
It is not something that can be excited by light in the visible wavelength range.
Some are preferred. Specifically, for example, JP-A-5
Alkaline earth metal fluorides disclosed in JP-A-5-12145
Halide halide (Ba_1-x,M²⁺ _x) FX: yA
(Where M²⁺Is Mg, Ca, Sr, Zn and Cd?
At least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of
Group element, X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I
At least one halogen, A is Eu, Tb, Ce,
Consists of Tm, Dy, Pr, Ho, Nd, Yb and Er
At least one trivalent metal element selected from the group
0 ≦ x ≦ 0.6 and y is 0 ≦ y ≦ 0.2. ), JP
Alkaline earth gold disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-276997
Group Fluorohalide-based Phosphor SrFX: Z (Here, X
Is at least selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I
Is a kind of halogen, and Z is Eu or Ce. ), Special
Europium disclosed in JP-A-59-56479
Activated composite halide phosphor BaFX.xNaX ': a
Eu²⁺(Here, both X and X'are Cl, Br.
And at least one halo selected from the group consisting of
Gen, x is 0 <x ≦ 2, and a is 0 <a ≦ 0.2.
You. ), A cell disclosed in JP-A-58-69281.
M is a trivalent metal oxyhalide phosphor activated with lithium.
OX: xCe (where M is Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm,
Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Bi
At least one trivalent metal element selected from the group consisting of
Element, X is one or both of Br and I, x
Is 0 <x <0.1. ), JP-A-60-1011
No. 79 and 60-90288.
Cerium activated rare earth oxyhalide based phosphor
LnOX: xCe (where Ln is Y, La, Gd and
At least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of
The element, X, is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I
At least one type of halogen, x, is 0 <x ≦ 0.1.
You. ) And JP-A-59-75200.
Europium activated complex halide phosphor M^IIFX ・
aM^IX'bM^'IIX^'' _Two・ CM^IIIX^''' _Three・ X
A: yEu²⁺(Where M^IIIs Ba, Sr and Ca
At least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of
Genus element, M^IIs composed of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs.
At least one alkali metal element selected from the group
M ’^IIIs at least one selected from the group consisting of Be and Mg
And a kind of divalent metal element, M^IIIAre Al, Ga, In and
At least one trivalent selected from the group consisting of
Metal element, A is at least one kind of metal oxide, X is C
at least one selected from the group consisting of l, Br and I
Species halogen, X ', X^''And X ^'''Is F, Cl, B
at least one member selected from the group consisting of r and I
A is 0 ≦ a ≦ 2, b is 0 ≦ b ≦ 10
^-2, C is 0 ≦ c ≦ 10^-2And a + b + c ≧ 10
^-2Where x is 0 <x ≦ 0.5 and y is 0 <y ≦
It is 0.2. ) Can be preferably used.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a uniform radiation source including a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system and ¹⁴ C according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the resolution evaluation apparatus 1 for an autoradiography system according to the present embodiment uses photoetching to
A thin metal plate 3 having a plurality of holes 2 formed in a predetermined pattern.
It is composed of The thickness of the metal thin plate 3 depends on the type of the radiolabeling substance used in the metal material forming the metal thin plate and the target autoradiography system.
It is appropriately selected, and in this embodiment, a metal thin plate 3 made of stainless steel and having a thickness of 50 microns is used. In this embodiment, four groups 4 of a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped holes 2 each having a length of 10 mm and having a predetermined width and spacing are formed, and the width and the spacing of the holes 3 of each group 4 have a predetermined relationship. And are formed differently. FIG. 2 shows a plurality of holes 2 of each group formed in the thin metal plate 3.
The following is an example of how the holes are formed (however, the length direction is drawn to be reduced for convenience), and in the first group 4a, each hole 2 has a width of 100 microns. , So that the distance between adjacent holes 2 is 100 μm, and in the second group 4b, each hole 2 is 1
It has a width of 25 microns and the distance between adjacent holes 2 is 12
It is formed to have a size of 5 microns. Furthermore, in the third group 4c, each hole 2 has a width of 200 microns so that the distance between adjacent holes 2 is 200 microns, and in the fourth group 4d, each hole 2 is Has a width of 250 μm, and the distance between adjacent holes 2 is 250 μm.
In FIG. 3, each hole 2 has a width of 500 μm, and each hole 2 is formed so that the distance between adjacent holes 2 is 500 μm. Therefore, when the distance between the hole 2 and the adjacent hole 2 is defined as one line pair 5,
In group 4a, 5 line pairs 5 are formed within a width of 1 mm, and in second group 4b, 4 line pairs 5 are formed.
In one line pair 5, third group 4c, 2.
In the fifth line pair 5 and the fourth group 4d, two line pairs 5 are formed, and in the fifth group 4e, one line pair 5 is formed.

[0014] In the evaluation of autoradiographic system, autoradiography system for resolution evaluation device 1, as shown in FIG. 3, one surface is ¹⁴
A uniform radiation source 6 made of C and a stimulable phosphor layer of a stimulable phosphor sheet 8 on the other surface of which a stimulable phosphor layer (not shown) containing a stimulable phosphor is formed. A uniform radiation source 6 made of ¹⁴ C, which is superposed for a predetermined time so as to be in surface contact with the surface on which is formed, respectively, is accumulated via the resolution evaluation device 1 for the autoradiography system. The stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 8 is exposed. Here, since the radiation emitted from ¹⁴ C does not pass through the metal thin plate 3 but only through the plurality of holes 2 formed in the metal thin plate 3, the metal thin plate of the resolution evaluation apparatus 1 for the autoradiography system is Radiation energy is accumulated and recorded in the stimulable phosphor layer according to the pattern of the plurality of holes 2 formed in 3. Thus, when the exposure is completed, the radiation energy pattern accumulated and recorded in the stimulable phosphor layer provided on the stimulable phosphor sheet 8 is read. FIG. 4 shows accumulation in the stimulable phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor sheet 8,
It is a schematic perspective view of the image reading apparatus for reading the pattern of the recorded radiation energy.

In the image reading apparatus, the stimulable phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor sheet 8 on which the radiation energy pattern is stored and recorded is scanned with the laser light 10 to be excited to generate stimulable light. Let The laser light 10 is generated by the laser light source 11, passes through the filter 12, and is generated by the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor sheet 8 by being excited by the laser light 10. A portion of the wavelength region corresponding to the wavelength region of photostimulated light is cut. Next, the beam diameter of the laser beam 10 is accurately adjusted by the beam expander 13, and the laser beam 10 enters the optical deflector 14 such as a galvanometer mirror. Optical deflector 1
The laser beam 10 deflected by the laser beam 4 is reflected by the fθ lens 15
The light is reflected by the flat reflecting mirror 16 via the light and is one-dimensionally incident on the stimulable phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor sheet 8. The fθ lens 15 ensures that the scanning is always performed at a uniform beam speed when scanning the stimulable phosphor layer with the laser beam 10. In synchronization with the scanning by the laser light 10 as described above, the stimulable phosphor sheet 8 is moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
As a result, the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor layer is scanned by the laser light 10.

The photostimulable phosphor contained in the photostimulable phosphor layer, when irradiated with the laser beam 10, emits photostimulable light in an amount proportional to the radiation energy accumulated and recorded and emitted. The stimulated light enters the light guide sheet 17. The light-guiding sheet 17 has a light-receiving end portion formed in a straight line and is arranged in proximity to face the scanning line on the stimulable phosphor sheet 8, and its emission end portion has a ring shape. , A photomultiplier or other photoelectric conversion type photodetector 18 is connected to the light receiving surface. The light guide sheet 17 is made by processing a transparent thermoplastic resin sheet such as an acrylic synthetic resin, and the light incident from the light receiving end is
While repeating total reflection, through the exit end, the photodetector 1
The shape is determined so as to be transmitted to the light receiving surface of No. 8. Therefore, the photostimulable light emitted from the photostimulable phosphor layer in response to the irradiation of the laser light 10 is emitted from the light guide sheet 17.
To the photodetector 18 through the exit end while repeating total internal reflection. On the light receiving surface of the photodetector 18, a filter that transmits only light in the wavelength region of stimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor layer and cuts light in the wavelength region of the laser light 10 is attached. In addition, the photodetector 18 is configured to photoelectrically detect only the stimulating light emitted from the stimulable phosphor layer.

The photostimulable light photoelectrically detected by the photodetector 18 is converted into an electric signal, amplified by an amplifier 19 having a predetermined amplification factor into an electric signal of a predetermined level, and then A / D. It is input to the converter 20. The electrical signal is
In the A / D converter 20, it is converted into a digital signal with a scale factor suitable for the signal fluctuation width, and is input to the line buffer 21. The line buffer 21 temporarily stores the image data of one scanning line. When the image data of one scanning line is stored as described above, the data is transferred to the line buffer 21. The transmission buffer 22 is configured to output the image data to the image analysis device 23 when a predetermined amount of image data is stored. . The image analysis device 2 thus generated
The image data sent to 3 includes image data corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of holes 2 formed in the metal thin plate 3 of the resolution evaluation apparatus 1 for the autoradiography system, and is formed on the metal thin plate 3. Each group 4 of holes 2
Since the widths of the plurality of holes 2 and the distance between the holes 2 adjacent to each other, that is, the number of line pairs 5 existing within the width of 1 mm are different from each other, the image data thus obtained is analyzed. , Which group 4 line pairs up to 5,
By determining whether detection is possible, it becomes possible to evaluate the resolution of the autoradiography system including the stimulable phosphor sheet 8, the image reading device, and the image analysis device 23.

The image analysis device 23 performs image processing on the image data input from the transmission buffer 22 as necessary, displays the image on the screen of the CRT, and performs various analyzes based on the image data. Is configured to be executable, and an integrated value of density levels of pixels having common x-coordinates or y-coordinates in image data is calculated, a density level profile is generated, and displayable on a CRT screen. Has been done. Therefore, the operator creates a density level profile based on the image data corresponding to the plurality of line pairs 5 of each group 4 of the plurality of holes 2 formed in the metal thin plate 3 of the resolution evaluation apparatus 1 for an autoradiography system. By generating and displaying it on the screen of the CRT, the resolution of the autoradiography system including the stimulable phosphor sheet 8, the image reading device and the image analysis device 23 can be evaluated. According to this embodiment, the resolution evaluation apparatus 1 for autoradiographic system, by photo-etching, in a predetermined pattern, from a plurality of holes 2 is formed from sheet metal (3) formed, ¹⁴
When the uniform radiation source 6 made of C irradiates the radiation, the radiation passes through only the plurality of holes 2 formed in the thin metal plate 3, and the stimulable fluorescence formed in the stimulable phosphor sheet 8 is irradiated. The widths of the plurality of holes 2 which are accumulated and recorded in the stimulable phosphor contained in the body layer and which form each group 4 of the plurality of holes 2 formed in the metal thin plate 3 and the intervals between the adjacent holes 2, that is, Since the number of line pairs 5 existing within a width of 1 mm is different from each other, the image data generated based on the radiation energy accumulated and recorded in the stimulable phosphor was analyzed to determine which group. By determining whether or not up to 5 line pairs of 4 can be detected, the stimulable phosphor sheet 8 and the image reading can be performed without requiring a radiation device that emits radiation having energy equivalent to that used in a medical diagnostic system. Equipment and The resolution of autoradiography system consisting of an image analyzer 23, it is possible to easily, evaluated.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a resolution evaluation apparatus for an autoradiography system according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a resolution evaluation apparatus 31 for an autoradiography system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a thin metal plate 33 having a plurality of holes 32 formed in a predetermined pattern by photoetching, A uniform radiation source 36 made of ¹⁴ C is attached to one surface of the thin metal plate 33. In this embodiment, the pattern of the plurality of holes 32 formed in the metal thin plate 33 is the same as the pattern of the plurality of holes 2 formed in the metal thin plate 3 of the above embodiment, and the autoradiography according to this embodiment is the same. The system resolution evaluation apparatus 31 is the resolution evaluation apparatus 1 for an autoradiography system according to the above embodiment only in that a uniform radiation source 36 made of ¹⁴ C is attached to one surface of a metal thin plate 33. Is different from
In evaluating the autoradiography system, the resolution evaluation device 1 for the autoradiography system is
As shown in FIG. 6, a uniform radiation source 36 of ¹⁴ C
The surface of the metal thin plate 33 on which the stimulable phosphor layer containing the stimulable phosphor is formed is the side of the stimulable phosphor sheet containing the stimulable phosphor. Of ¹⁴ C, so as to be in surface contact with the surface of
The stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet 8 is exposed through the metal thin plate 33 by the uniform radiation source consisting of, and is formed on the metal thin plate 33. Radiation energy is accumulated and recorded in the stimulable phosphor layer according to the pattern of the plurality of holes 32.

Thus, the radiation energy pattern corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of holes 32 formed and recorded in the thin metal plate 33 accumulated and recorded in the stimulable phosphor layer is read in the same manner as in the above embodiment, Get the image data,
By analyzing the obtained image data with the image analysis device 23, the resolution of the autoradiography system including the stimulable phosphor sheet 8, the image reading device and the image analysis device 23 can be easily evaluated. . According to the present embodiment, the resolution evaluation device 31 for the autoradiography system includes the uniform radiation source 36 made of ¹⁴ C.
Simply, the surface of the metal thin plate 33 on the side to which the uniform radiation source 36 made of ¹⁴ C is not adhered is a stimulable phosphor layer containing a stimulable phosphor. The stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer is exposed by exposing the stimulable phosphor layer to the surface on the side where the stimulable phosphor layer is formed, by overlapping for a predetermined time so as to make surface contact. It is possible to evaluate the resolution of the radiography system. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that they are also included in the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a plurality of groups 4 of a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped holes 2 and 32 having a length of 10 mm and having a predetermined width and interval are formed on the metal thin plates 3 and 33, In the first group 4a, each hole 2, 32 has a width of 100 microns and the adjacent hole 2,
In the second group 4b, each hole 2, 32 has a width of 125 microns, so that it has a spacing of 32 microns with respect to 32, and has a spacing of 125 microns with an adjacent hole 2, 32. , In the third group 4c, each hole 2, 32 has a width of 200 microns and the distance between adjacent holes 2, 32 is 200 microns.
In group 4d, each hole 2, 32 has a width of 250 microns and the distance between adjacent holes 2, 32 is 250.
In the fifth group 4e, each hole 2, 32 has a width of 500 microns, so that the distance between adjacent holes 2, 32 is 500 microns.
Although the plurality of holes 2 and 32 are formed respectively, the size of the plurality of holes 2 and 32, the size relationship of the holes 2 and 32 between the groups 4 and the like are not limited to these, and A plurality of holes 2 and 32 may be formed in the metal thin plates 3 and 33 in a different pattern from the rectangular parallelepiped holes 2 and 32.

In the above embodiment, the uniform radiation sources 6 and 36 made of ¹⁴ C are used. However, as the uniform radiation sources 6 and 36, radioactive isotopes or radioactive elements other than ¹⁴ C are used. You can also Further, in the above-described embodiment, a density level profile is generated based on the generated image data to evaluate the autoradiography system. However, the image data is generated without generating the density level profile. Based on this, the image may be displayed on the screen of the CRT or formed on the photographic film and evaluated visually.

[0023]

According to the present invention, the energy of the radiation emitted from the radioactive labeling substance contained in the sample is stored in the stimulable phosphor layer formed on the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet. It is stored in the exhaustive phosphor, and then, with electromagnetic waves,
Scan the photostimulable phosphor layer, photoelectrically detect the photostimulated light emitted from the photostimulable phosphor, to generate digital image data, based on the generated digital image data,
It is possible to provide a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system that can easily evaluate the resolution of an autoradiography system that generates and analyzes an image showing the positional information of a radiolabeled substance contained in a sample. Become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a resolution evaluation apparatus for an autoradiography system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a pattern of a plurality of holes formed in a thin metal plate of a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system according to the embodiment of the present invention is used for the resolution evaluation of the autoradiography system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an image reading device for reading a radiation energy pattern accumulated and recorded in a stimulable phosphor layer of a stimulable phosphor sheet.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing a state in which an autoradiography system resolution evaluation apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is used for resolution evaluation of an autoradiography system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Resolution Evaluation Device for Autoradiography System 2 Holes 3 Thin Metal Plate 4 Group of Multiple Holes 5 Line Pair 6 ¹⁴ C Uniform Radiation Source 8 Storage Phosphor Sheet 10 Laser Light 11 Laser Light Source 12 Filter 13 Beam Expander 14 optical deflector 15 fθ lens 16 plane reflecting mirror 17 light guide sheet 18 photodetector 19 amplifier 20 A / D converter 21 line buffer 22 transmission buffer 23 image analysis device 31 resolution evaluation device for autoradiography system 32 hole 33 Uniform radiation source of metal sheet 36 ¹⁴ C

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A resolution evaluation apparatus for an autoradiography system, comprising a thin metal plate in which a plurality of holes are formed in a predetermined pattern. 2. A metal thin plate having a plurality of holes formed in a predetermined pattern, and a uniform radioactive source of a radioisotope or a radioactive element provided on one surface of the metal thin plate. A resolution evaluation device for an autoradiography system. 3. A metal thin plate in which a plurality of holes are formed in a predetermined pattern, and a uniform radiation source of a radioisotope or a radioactive element capable of uniformly irradiating the metal thin plate with radiation. Characteristic resolution evaluation device for autoradiography system. 4. The resolution evaluation apparatus for an autoradiography system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes are formed by photoetching.