JPH10315445A - Equipment and method for forming medical image and film and ink for forming medical image being used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable formation of a medical image wherein the image suitable for diagnostic estimation is outputted in an inexpensive and digital form, by providing a means for forming the image out of ink particles constituted of a pigment and aqueous resin and a means for forming gradation out of ink density gradation and area gradation. SOLUTION: Ink particles are formed of an organic or inorganic pigment for print ink and aqueous resin and a film F whereon recording is made by a recording head 108 is carried between carrying and carrying-heating rollers 101 and 103. Read signals of a detecting member 107 obtained from marks 106 for detection of a member 105 to be detected, which is stretched over the rollers 101 and 103, are inputted to a control means C and driving of drive motors M and M1 is controlled by an input-output means C1 so that an image at a correct position be formed on the film. Besides, external image signals are inputted to and processed in the control means C and then they are divided into ink density gradation signals and area gradation signals and transmitted to the recording head 108 through the input-output means C1. Based on these signals, the ink particles are jetted to form the image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a medical image forming method and apparatus for displaying an image of the inside of a human body obtained by medical diagnosis, and a medical image forming film and ink used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ultrasonic examinations, medical thermography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and methods using radiation such as X-rays have been known as examination methods for giving an image of the inside of the human body. There is.

A radiographic system popular as a medical diagnosis today outputs a radiation image having radiation transmitted through a human body and having information on the inside of the human body, and uses a so-called intensifying screen (X-ray conversion screen) to produce a silver halide emulsion. Is exposed to the silver halide photographic film. Next, the exposed film is washed and dried after development and fixing, and becomes a silver halide photographic film image that matches the radiation image. Diagnosis is made by looking at this silver halide photographic film image,
A silver halide photographic film comprises a silver halide recording layer and a transparent support.

On the other hand, in the case of a digital medical image, it is possible to output the image to a display screen or a transparent film hard copy.

In recent years, medical image inspection methods (hereinafter, medical image inspection methods indicate various inspection methods for providing an image of the inside of a human body) are digital medical images (hereinafter referred to as digital medical images) suitable for diagnostic evaluation in digital form. , A medical image indicates an image obtained by the medical image inspection method). Examples of medical images that provide images suitable for diagnostic evaluation in digital form include digital subtraction angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, computed radiography, and the like.

[0006] Usually, medical images are diagnosed in detail by one or several doctors. That is, the medical images need to be easily viewed in a timely manner, and in many cases there should be no location restrictions. If more detailed observation is required, the evaluation is performed on a display screen. In this case, a display device having a high resolution / high dynamic range is required. Therefore, these various circumstances require a transparent film hard copy for diagnosis.

[0007] Hard copies of digital medical images are primarily provided by laser imagers. Laser imagers usually form a medical image on a recording medium consisting of a silver halide recording layer and a transparent support.

The laser imager has a fairly complicated structure, including a film handling portion, a laser exposure portion, a developing portion, and a cleaning / drying portion. Therefore, currently marketed laser imagers are very expensive devices. As a general usage, one laser imager is installed at the center of the hospital,
Digital medical images obtained by various medical image inspection methods are connected via an image network and are systematized so that they can be printed. That is, a laser imager is systematized as a core of a network. The biggest concern of such a system is that the laser imager cannot output medical images due to a failure of the laser imager or the network. As is well known, medical diagnoses are often time consuming, which is a significant drawback.
In many cases, several laser imagers are installed or an emergency line is installed to avoid such a problem. Therefore, it is necessary to install several expensive laser imagers for safety measures.

[0009] These actions eventually lead to an increase in medical expenses. In addition, small hospitals have a significant problem in that their use of digital lasers is delayed due to the use of expensive laser imagers. Therefore, an inexpensive imager is desired from the above situation.

[0010] By the way, in fields different from the above, image output devices of computers and word processors have been developed for office use and personal use.

As an image output system, for example, a wire dot output system, a thermosensitive coloring output system, a thermal melt transfer output system, a thermal sublimation transfer output system, an electrophotographic output system, an ink jet output system and the like have been developed. The main use of these image forming output devices is to output characters, graphics, and the like created by a computer or the like to an opaque support such as paper. In addition, it may be used as a document such as an OHP (overhead projector) in a conference or presentation at various conferences. As a technical trend in recent years, a color technology has been developed to emphasize a part of characters, figures, and the like.

Here, as a means similar to the formation of a medical image, there is an image output of characters and figures on an OHP.
The present technology is for forming image information such as characters and graphics on a transparent support, and has a similar configuration to the formation of a medical image on a transparent support.

However, as described above, the main purpose of the office device is to output to paper, and the OHP
It also has an output capability to Therefore,
The image-forming substance is optimized for paper as a support, and is generally used by subjecting an OHP film base as a transparent support to some processing.

For example, in the case of an output using ink, the ink component is obtained by dissolving a pigment, a resin, an additive, and the like in water and alcohol for the purpose of optimizing the paper, and "bleeding" occurs when the ink adheres to the paper. And "drying" are being optimized. In accordance with this ink, the OHP film-based structure has a means for forming an ink receiving layer on a transparent support to increase the ink absorbency.

The function of the ink receiving layer here is to absorb the moisture of the ink and facilitate drying. Therefore,
The technology generally has no water resistance, is tacky, and undergoes discoloration during long-term storage.

That is, an object of the present technology is to provide an inexpensive image output device, which focuses on image output of characters, figures, and the like as its main focus and places emphasis on color matching, resolution, and the like. Therefore, there is no technology for achieving high gradation (large dynamic range) essential for medical images.

That is, the output of the present technology to an OHP film base is mainly intended to be able to be output as an accessory, and the main purpose is to output to paper or the like. OHP film-based images require short-term meetings and presentations at academic conferences, and therefore do not take into account the weather resistance such as water resistance due to their necessity. Therefore, it cannot be diverted as it is because it does not have the weather resistance (especially water resistance) technology essential for medical images.

As described above, various inexpensive general image output devices cannot be used as medical image output devices, and the laser imager described above must be used.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a first object of the present invention to provide a medical image forming method which outputs an image which is inexpensive and is suitable for diagnosis evaluation in digital form.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a medical image forming apparatus which outputs an image which is inexpensive and suitable for diagnosis and evaluation in digital form.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a film for forming a medical image (the film referred to here is a transparent support film) for achieving the above-mentioned present invention.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a medical image forming ink for achieving the above-mentioned present invention.

[0023]

As a result of various studies, we have come to the invention of an inexpensive medical image forming method and apparatus having the performance required by medical images. Further, the present invention has led to the invention of a medical image forming film (transparent polymer support) and an ink used in the medical image forming method and apparatus of the present invention.

(1) In a medical image forming apparatus for recording a medical image on a film, there is provided a means for forming an image by ink particles, and a means for forming a gradation by an ink density gradation and an area gradation. A medical image forming apparatus, wherein the ink particles comprise at least a pigment and an aqueous resin.

(2) A medical image forming method for recording a medical image on a film, comprising: means for forming an image by ink particles; and means for forming a gradation by ink density gradation and area gradation. A medical image forming method, wherein the ink particles comprise at least a pigment and an aqueous resin.

(3) The image forming means based on the ink particles and the means for forming a gradation by an ink density gradation and an area gradation are achieved by an ink jet system.
The medical image forming apparatus as described in the above.

(4) An ink for forming a medical image, wherein the ink according to (1) is formed of the same pigment and is formed of two or more kinds having different densities.

(5) A film for medical image formation, wherein the film used in the medical image forming apparatus according to (1) is the same type of resin as the main resin of the aqueous resin.

(6) The film for medical image formation according to (5), wherein a bleeding preventing layer is formed on the film.

(7) In a medical image forming apparatus for recording a medical image on a film, there is provided means for fixing ink particles to the film by heat (1).
The medical image forming apparatus according to (2) or (3).

In the present invention, a medical image forming apparatus for recording a medical image on a film has means for forming an image by ink particles, and means for forming a gradation by an ink density gradation and an area gradation. This is a medical image forming apparatus in which the ink particles comprise at least a pigment and an aqueous resin.

The ink particles of the present invention comprise at least a pigment and an aqueous resin. As the pigment, various kinds of organic pigments and inorganic pigments used for printing inks and the like can be used.

Examples of the organic pigments include phthalocyanine pigments such as phthalocyanine blue and phthalocyanine green; insoluble azo pigments such as toluidine red, toluidine marine, Hansa yellow, benzene yellow, and pyrazone red; quinacridone pigments such as quinacridone red and quinacridone magenta; and perylene red. , Perylene pigments such as perylene scarlet, other dioxazine pigments, diketopyrrolopyrrole pigments, anthrapyrimidine pigments, anthraquinone pigments, anthanthrone pigments, indanthrone pigments, flavanthrone pigments, perinone pigments, heisoindolinone pigments and the like. And inorganic pigments include carbon black, iron oxide, cobalt oxide, titanium dioxide, strontium chromate, titanium yellow, and molybdenum red. , Emerald green, cobalt blue, red lead, and the like ultramarine blue. Such pigments are preferably powdered by drying such as aqueous slurry or spray drying, and those having a maximum particle size of 500 nm or less and an average particle size of 300 nm or less form ink particles by an inkjet apparatus or the like. As a means, nozzle clogging may be eliminated.

As the aqueous resin, a water-soluble resin soluble in water and a water-dispersible resin can be used alone or in combination. Examples of such a resin include acrylic copolymers, polyesters, celluloses, polyamides, and polyurethanes. Particularly, as an example of the acrylic copolymer system, 50 to 80 wt% of an alkyl acrylate and 5 to 30 wt% of a carboxylic acid-containing monomer are used.
% And 0 to 20 wt% of other monomers by emulsion polymerization or solution polymerization in a water-soluble solvent.

Examples of the alkyl acrylate include methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and the like.
Acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, and the like, and other monomers include acrylic acid 2-
Examples include hydroxyethyl, acrylamide, N-methylolacrylamide, glycidyl acrylate, styrene, vinyltoluene, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, vinyl alcohol, ethylene and the like. If necessary, a neutralizing agent such as ammonium, amine, or inorganic alkali may be added to these aqueous resins as needed.

As another thing contained in the ink of the present invention, water or a mixture of water and an organic medium compatible with water is preferred as a pigment medium. Examples of the water-soluble organic medium include alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol and isobutyl alcohol. Alcohols; amides such as dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide; ketones or ketone alcohols such as acetone and diacetone alcohol; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol; Alkylene glycols containing up to 6 carbon atoms; lower alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols; N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone;
1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidine and the like. At least one high-boiling organic solvent among the above,
For example, a mixture of water and a polyhydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or glycerin is desirable.
In addition to the above, a surface tension adjuster, a viscosity adjuster,
An antifoaming agent, a penetrant, a fungicide, a pH adjuster, a leveling agent, a pigment dispersant, a chelating agent, and the like may be appropriately added.

The means for forming an image using ink particles and the means for forming a gradation by ink density gradation and area gradation are not particularly limited as long as they fall within this category, but may be an ink jet system or an apparatus. It is desirable.

The ink jet device used in the present invention comprises a hardware portion including a film transport portion, an ink supply portion, an ink droplet emitting portion, and the like, and a software processing portion including an image data processing portion, a device drive conversion portion, and the like. Here, for example, the ink particle emitting unit includes various functions for stable driving such as a head cleaning mechanism and an ink evaporation prevention mechanism in the head, in addition to the head main body. Similarly, each part includes various functions for stably obtaining an image as an ink jet device. As a head which is a key part of the ink jet device, there are a thermal emission method, an emission method using a piezo element, and the like, and any method that forms ink particles can be used.

As an image forming means using ink particles, there are an on-demand system and a continuous system.
Any method may be used as long as it has a resolution necessary for forming a medical image. In each method, in the case of the on-demand method, the speed can be further increased by using an area type in which a large number of discharge ports (hereinafter, nozzles) are arranged in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the film. Further, by mounting at least two or more heads having a large number of nozzles, the speed can be further increased. In the case of continuous, a higher definition medical image can be printed. Further, the emission head of the inkjet device and / or
Alternatively, by adding an ink liquid temperature adjusting function to an ink supply system near the emission head, the ink viscosity can be adjusted to a state suitable for the head.

The device may have a plurality of heads in order to prevent mixing of inks. As the combination of the pigments, one kind of pigment having a black color such as carbon black may be used. In addition to black pigments such as carbon black for color adjustment, Lionol Blue FG-73 may be used.
A cyan pigment such as 30 (manufactured by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) may be added. A yellow pigment or a magenta pigment may be appropriately added for color adjustment. Also, without adding black pigment,
For example, black may be formed with a cyan pigment, a magenta pigment, and a yellow pigment.

The film used in the medical image forming apparatus is preferably the same type of resin as the main resin of the aqueous resin. As described above, examples of the main resin of the aqueous resin include a polyester resin, a cellulose resin, an acrylic copolymer, a polyamide, and a polyurethane resin. For example, if the aqueous resin is a polyester resin, the film is preferably a polyester film of the same kind. In this example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used as the film in terms of transparency, heat resistance, dimensional stability, rigidity, and the like. ) Is good. Similarly, if it is cellulosic,
The film is preferably a cellulosic film. For the same reason, triacetyl cellulose (TAC) is preferred as a specific film.

The bleeding-preventing layer preferably used in the present invention is a layer in which a water-absorbing gel is dispersed in a water-soluble polymer or a water-insoluble polymer binder, or a layer in which the water-soluble polymer and the ink absorb moisture and are dried. For example, a filler containing a filler such as silica for facilitation is included. The bleeding preventing layer is formed by coating on a film, and prevents bleeding at the time of ink landing.

A preferred image forming apparatus of the present invention is a means for forming an image by ink particles, a means for forming a gradation by an ink density gradation and an area gradation, and a means for fixing ink particles to the film by heat. Wherein the ink particles comprise at least a pigment and an aqueous resin. As the pigment used in the present invention, a pigment having sublimability is preferable. Sublimation type pigments mainly include organic pigments, and include the pigments as described above. Further, the present invention is to improve the diffusion rate of the ink by heat and to improve the curing of the aqueous resin.
Above is good. As a means for generating heat, a heat roller, a halogen lamp, and the like are excellent in easiness, cost, and maintenance.

The ink for forming a medical image of the present invention comprises a plurality of inks having different ink densities for forming ink density gradations, and is formed with at least two types of ink densities. The ink concentration is preferably 2% by weight or more, and more preferably 5% by weight or more, for the dark color ink. The light-colored ink may have a continuous tone of 25% or less of the pigment concentration of the dark-colored ink. When the pigment density does not reach the maximum optical density of the medical image, the maximum density can be achieved by, for example, discharging the same density ink from a plurality of heads. An apparatus having a plurality of heads may be used in terms of preventing mixing of inks and in terms of drawing speed.

According to the present invention, the dynamic range required by a medical image can be achieved by using ink droplets to produce gradations based on ink density and ink landing distribution. Since it contains a pigment and an aqueous resin, it can be carried out without special fixing, and the process time can be reduced. Further, it becomes possible to provide a medical image film having excellent water resistance. The recording means is easy to compact, and there is no noise due to the non-impact method.

Further, according to the present invention, density gradation can be easily achieved, and a dynamic range indispensable for medical images can be obtained.

Further, by using a resin film of the same type as the aqueous resin as a base, the adhesiveness to the pigment is increased, and a medical image having high water resistance and high abrasion resistance can be obtained.

By adding a bleeding prevention layer to the film, it is possible to prevent the ink particles that have landed in multiple stages from spreading on the same area, and to improve the sharpness of the image.

[0049]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In the description, “parts” means “parts by weight”.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an ink jet printer 100 according to the present invention.

A transport roller 101, which is a transport member of the film F for recording an image, and a transport heating roller 103 for effecting fixing in the present invention are rotatably provided on the ink jet printer 100 via shafts 102, 104. I have. A drive motor M, which is driving means, is connected to the shaft 102 of the transport roller 101 to rotate the transport roller 101 and transport the film F. When the film F is transported by the transport roller 101, for example, the film F supplied from the film cassette is held by a part of the transport roller 101, and the film F is moved. That is, the sheet is fed in the sub-scanning direction.

A recording head 108 guides the guide member 1 so as to be able to move in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the film F.
09. Set the recording head 108 to the film F
The recording head 108 is fixed to a part of the drive wire 111 suspended on the pulleys 112 and 113 so as to be able to reciprocate with the width, and the pulley 113 is connected to the motor M1 to
Of the recording head 10 via the driving wire 111
8 is reciprocated by the guide member 109 with the width of the film F.

The recording head 108 has a structure in which a large number of ejection ports from which ink droplets are ejected are arranged in two rows on one side of the recording head 108, and ink droplets having different ink densities are ejected according to image signals. An image is formed by jetting from an outlet.

The following methods are used for preparing the ink used in the present invention.

Carbon black (MA-7, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) 20.0 parts Blue pigment dispersant 0.1 part Joncryl 61J (solid content 31%, manufactured by Johnson Polymer Co.) 17.2 parts Emulgen A-90 ( 5.0 parts of diethylaminoethanol 0.1 part of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether 1.0 part of pure water 56.6 parts The above components were mixed, and the dispersion pressure was 1 with a high-pressure homogenizer.
Dispersion was performed at 000 bar at 20 hours / L.

This dispersion was prepared using a pigment concentration of 10 wt% and a pigment concentration of 2 wt%.
The solution was diluted with a solution of 7.2 parts of John Krill 61J (solid content 31%, manufactured by Johnson Polymer Co.) 7.2 parts of diethylene glycol 17.7 parts of pure water 77.1 parts.

This was filtered through a 1 μm membrane filter to prepare two types of inks of different shades.

In the present embodiment, when Joncryl 61J is changed to an ester copolymer (with a molecular weight of 10,000 or less), the adhesion to a PET film is increased. Further, when the cellulose-based (molecular weight: 10,000 or less) is changed, the adhesiveness to the TAC film increases.

A detection member formed of a PET sheet is formed in a belt shape in the same direction as the direction in which the film F is conveyed between the conveyance roller 101 and the conveyance heating roller 103 arranged in the horizontal direction. 105 is suspended.
The detected member 105 is provided so as to move at the same speed as the moving speed of the film F and in parallel in the same direction by the rotation of the transport roller 101.

Further, a detection member 107 is provided at a part where the detection member 105 passes, and the detection mark 106 detected by the detection member 107 is provided on the detection member 105 in the longitudinal direction of the detection member 105. Are provided along.

C is a control means, which inputs a detection signal obtained by detecting the detection target mark 106 by the detection member 107 through the input / output means C1, and drives the drive motors M,
Control of driving and stopping of M1 is performed.

By the drive motor M, the transport roller 10
1 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the film F is transported in the sub-scanning direction, and the recording head 108 forms an image while moving in the main scanning direction. The film F is guided by the film guide plate 114 so that the film F is guided by the film guide plate 114 so that the film F is prevented from being curved.

The image signal is input from the outside to the control means C and processed, and then divided into an ink density gradation signal and an area gradation signal, and transmitted to the recording head 108 via the input / output means C1. Based on this signal, ink droplets are ejected to form an image.

As shown in FIG. 1, the feeding of the film F is started, and the transport roller 101 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the drive motor M via the shaft 102 so that the film F is forced on the transport roller 101. It is conveyed in the direction of the recording head 108. At the same time, the detection members 105 arranged side by side also move in parallel in the same direction and at the same speed as the film F by the transport roller 101, so that the detection marks 106 of the detection members 105 are sequentially read by the detection members 107. In order to form an image on the film F, the recording head 108 reaches an accurate position and stops.

Next, the pulley 113 is rotated by the motor M1,
The recording head 10 is moved in the main scanning direction through the driving wire 111.
8 is moved while being guided by the guide member 109, and an image is formed on the film F while ejecting ink particles by an output signal from the image output unit.

Next, the control means C starts the rotation of the transport roller 101 by the drive motor M via the input / output means C1, and at the same time, the detection member 107 reads the detection mark 106 of the detection member 105 sequentially. With this configuration, conveyance during image formation is performed accurately. The film F after the image formation is further transported and transported by the heating roller 1.
03, the roller is conveyed while being urged to wind around the roller, and fixing is completed during this time.

[0067]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

The first effect of the present invention is to provide a medical image forming method for outputting an image which is inexpensive and suitable for diagnosis and evaluation in digital form.

The second effect of the present invention is to provide a medical image forming apparatus which outputs an image which is inexpensive and suitable for diagnosis and evaluation in digital form.

A third aspect of the present invention is to provide a medical image forming film for achieving the above-mentioned present invention.

Further, as a fourth effect of the present invention, there is provided a medical image forming ink for achieving the above-mentioned present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an inkjet printer according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Inkjet printer 101 Transport roller 103 Transport heating roller 105 Detected member 107 Detecting member 108 Recording head 114 Film guide plate C Control means C1 Input / output means F Film M Drive motor M1 Motor

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A medical image forming apparatus for recording a medical image on a film, comprising: means for forming an image by ink particles; and means for forming a gradation by an ink density gradation and an area gradation. A medical image forming apparatus, wherein the particles comprise at least a pigment and an aqueous resin. 2. A medical image forming method for recording a medical image on a film, comprising: means for forming an image using ink droplets; and means for forming a gradation by an ink density gradation and an area gradation. A method for forming a medical image, wherein the ink particles comprise at least a pigment and an aqueous resin. 3. The medical image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming means using ink particles and the means for forming a gradation by an ink density gradation and an area gradation are achieved by an ink jet method. 4. The medical image forming ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink is made of the same pigment, and is formed of two or more kinds having different densities. 5. The medical image forming film according to claim 1, wherein the film used in the medical image forming apparatus is a resin of the same type as a main resin of the aqueous resin. 6. The medical image forming film according to claim 5, wherein a bleeding preventing layer is formed on the film. 7. A medical image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for fixing ink particles to said film by heat in a medical image forming apparatus for recording a medical image on a film. .