JPH1199144A - Movable x-ray device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a movable X-ray device by which a large number of X-ray photographic images can be obtained without using a film. SOLUTION: A flat panel X-ray detector 1 is used as an image recording medium of a movable X-ray device 20, and a memory to store a digital signal (image data) from the flat panel X-ray detector 1 is arranged in the movable X-ray device 20. The flat panel X-ray detector 1 is composed of an X-ray detecting part to accumulate a subject transmitted X-ray as electric charge and a control unit which converts it into an electric signal by reading out the accumulated electric charge and outputs it as a video digital signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile X-ray apparatus which is used by moving to a bedside for X-ray imaging of a patient who has difficulty walking due to a serious injury or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 5, a mobile X-ray apparatus 20 of this type has a support 24 which can be swung on a front part of a traveling carriage 23 having a pair of left and right front wheels 21 and rear wheels 22. While standing,
A support table 25 is vertically mounted along the support column 24, and a telescopic arm 26 is extended from the support table 25 in a cantilever manner, and an X-ray generator 28 having a collimator 27 at the end thereof can be adjusted in irradiation direction. The control device 29 is mounted on the rear part of the traveling carriage 23 and mounted. When diagnosing a patient with the mobile X-ray apparatus 20 configured as described above, the mobile X-ray apparatus is moved to the bed 29 on which the patient M to be imaged is supine, and is laid sideways. After a cassette 30 for accommodating a film is loaded between the bed 29 and the bed 29, an X-ray generator 28 irradiates X-rays to photograph a region of interest. For this purpose, the mobile X-ray apparatus 20 is provided with a cassette box 31 for storing a plurality of cassettes.

[0003]

However, the conventional mobile X-ray apparatus has the following problems. That is, it is necessary to replace the cassette containing the unused film for each photographing. For this purpose, a large number of cassettes may be stored in the cassette box, but the apparatus itself has a large weight, which is heavy. There is a natural limitation in storing cassettes (usually 3 to 10 images are stored), so many images cannot be taken, and a large amount of cassettes must be loaded and unloaded between the patient and the bed, and transported. There is a problem that requires much labor. Further, if the photographed film is not developed, it is difficult to determine whether or not the film contains necessary information.

[0004] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile X-ray apparatus capable of taking a large number of X-rays without using a film. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile X-ray apparatus capable of confirming a captured image at the time of X-ray imaging without causing an imaging error.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in a mobile X-ray apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, as an image recording medium of the apparatus, an X-ray transmitted through a subject is used as an electric charge. A flat panel X including a planar X-ray detecting unit for storing, a signal converting unit for reading out the stored electric charges to convert to an electric signal, and an A / D converting unit for converting the read electric signal to a digital signal. Using a line detector,
Image storage means for storing a digital signal from the flat panel X-ray detector, and the image storage means is attached to the apparatus.

In the mobile X-ray apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, a digital signal (image data) from a flat panel X-ray detector or image data read from the image storage means is used. It is characterized by comprising image processing means for performing image processing, and display means for displaying image data subjected to image processing.

According to such a configuration, the X-ray transmission image is picked up by the flat panel X-ray detector, converted into digital image data, and stored in the image storage means provided in the apparatus. Therefore, film is unnecessary, and many X-rays are taken,
Image storage means can be stored. In addition, the flat panel X-ray detector can be easily loaded and unloaded between a patient and a bed because of its light weight, and the apparatus can be lightened because a heavy cassette is not required. Can be reduced.

The image stored in the image storage means is
It can be visualized by reading it out and displaying it on a display device, or by hard copy, and an image without distortion can be obtained.
The image processing means performs image processing such as image enhancement and smoothing on the digital signal (image data) from the flat panel X-ray detector or the image data read from the image storage means. , And displays the processed image data. Therefore, the flat panel X
The X-ray transmission image picked up by the line detector can be displayed on the display means to check whether or not necessary information is included. If the information is stored in the image storage means after the check, a desired image can be taken.
There is no shooting mistake.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration according to the embodiment. Components having the same functions as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, 1 is a flat panel X-ray detector, and the flat panel X-ray detector 1 is
As a whole, it has a two-dimensional planar shape, and as shown in FIG. 2, comprises an X-ray detection unit 4 and a control unit (hereinafter referred to as CU) 5, and the X-ray detection unit 4 X-ray detection substance layer 41 for converting X-rays transmitted through the subject into charges
And a TFT transistor 42 for reading out this charge and converting it into an electric signal. These are formed on a glass substrate 43 by thin film technology in the semiconductor field.

Further, C.I. U. 5 is a TFT transistor
Amplifier 51, amplifier 51 that amplifies the electric signal converted by 42
A / D converter 52 that converts the output of the X-ray into a digital signal, controls the timing of reading out the charges converted by the X-ray detection material layer 41 by the TFT transistor 42, and controls the A / D converter 52.
, And an adder 54 that adds a vertical synchronization signal or the like to the digital signal controlled by the control circuit 53 and converted by the A / D converter 52 to output a digital video signal, This C. U. 5 and the X-ray detector 4 are housed in a protective case.

The flat panel X-ray detector 1 has a direct conversion system and an indirect conversion system.
In the X-ray detector, the X-ray detection substance layer has a photoconductor film (for example, an amorphous selenium film, Cd (Z
n) Te film), the incident X-ray emits its energy in an amorphous selenium film, is converted into a pair of electrons and holes, and the charge moves by an externally applied voltage, and is transferred to the capacitor through the charge collection electrode of the TFT. It is stored, read out by a TFT readout circuit, and output as a digital video signal.

In the indirect X-ray detector, FIG.
As shown in (a), the X-ray detection substance layer is a cesium iodide (CsI) layer, the incident X-rays emit their energy in the CsI layer, are converted to fluorescent light, and the light emission is a TFT having a columnar crystal structure of CsI. The light is guided to the upper photodiode, and the light is converted into an electric charge by the photodiode. The electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor, read out by the readout circuit of the TFT, and output as a digital video signal.

Returning to FIG. 1, 2 is a flat panel X
C. of the line detector 1 U. An image processing circuit for performing image processing such as image enhancement on a digital video signal (image data) output from 5, a memory (image storage means) for storing image-processed image data, and 6 for image processing. It is a monitor (display means) for displaying image data.

Next, in order to perform X-ray imaging, the mobile X-ray apparatus 20 is moved to the bed 29 on which the patient M to be imaged is supine and placed sideways, and a flat panel is placed between the patient M and the bed 29. After the X-ray detector 1 is loaded and positioned, the X-ray generator 28 emits X-rays. The transmitted X-ray that has passed through the subject M is the X-ray detection substance layer of the flat panel X-ray detector 1.
41, and is converted into an electric signal by the TFT transistor 42. U. 5 is output as a digital video signal.

C. U. The digital video signal (image data) output from 5 is image-processed by the image processing circuit 2 and displayed on the monitor 6 as an X-ray transmission image.

The operator confirms with the X-ray transmission image projected on the monitor 6, and turns on a storage switch (not shown) when the image is a region of interest, and confirms the X on the monitor 6.
The line transmission image is stored in the memory 3. As a result, a region of interest can be appropriately photographed, and its image can be stored and stored, and a large number of images can be stored and stored in the memory 3.

At the time of imaging, the flat panel X-ray detector is light in weight, so that it can be loaded between the patient and the bed.
Since the device can be easily taken out and a heavy cassette is not required, the weight of the device can be reduced, so that the operator's labor can be reduced. Further, after the medical examination, the image data stored and stored in the memory 3 can be recorded on a film as a hard copy.

[Modified Embodiment] 1) A mobile X-ray apparatus is provided with only a memory, an X-ray radiographic image is stored and stored in the memory, and after the radiography, the image data stored and stored in the memory by another apparatus is read out. , May be displayed after image processing. 2) An image processing circuit may be provided in a stage preceding the memory, and image data subjected to image processing may be stored in the memory. 3) C.I. U. 5 is given a charge accumulation signal to the control circuit 53, and T
In a state where the conversion into the electric signal by the FT transistor 42 is stopped, the X-ray generator 28 irradiates X-rays to perform imaging, and transmits the transmitted X-rays transmitted through the subject to the X-rays of the flat panel X-ray detector 1. The charge is stored in the line detection material layer 41 as an electric charge, and after photographing, the electric charge accumulation signal is released and converted into an electric signal by the TFT transistor 42. U. 5 may be stored in the memory 3.

[0019]

According to the mobile X-ray apparatus of the present invention, a large number of X-rays can be taken without using a film. In addition, since a photographed image can be confirmed at the time of X-ray photographing, a photographing error does not occur. Further, the use of the flat panel X-ray detector makes it possible to reduce the size and weight of the apparatus, thereby reducing the operator's labor and obtaining an image without distortion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mobile X-ray apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a flat panel X-ray detector.

FIG. 3 shows a direct conversion type flat panel X-ray detector X
It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure (a) of a line detection part, and the structure (b) of a charge readout part.

FIG. 4 shows the X of the flat panel X-ray detector of the indirect conversion method.
It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure (a) of a line detection part, and the structure (b) of a charge readout part.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional mobile X-ray apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Flat panel X-ray detector 2: Image processing circuit 3: Memory 4: X-ray detector (41: X-ray detection material layer 42: TFT)
Transistor 43: glass substrate 5: Control unit (CU) (51: amplifier)
52: A / D converter 53: Control circuit 54: Adder) 6: Monitor 20: Moving X
Ray device 23: Carriage 24: Prop 25: Support 26: Telescopic arm 28: X-ray generator

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Kadowaki No. 1, Kuwabaracho, Nishinokyo, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Inside Shimadzu Sanjo Plant

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mobile X-ray apparatus having a main body including a controller on a traveling vehicle and an X-ray generator, wherein the X-ray detector has a planar shape and stores X-rays transmitted through a subject as electric charges. When,
A flat panel X-ray detector including: a signal conversion unit that converts the stored electric charge into a read electric signal; and an A / D conversion unit that converts the read electric signal into a digital signal.
An image storage means for storing a digital signal from the flat panel X-ray detector, wherein the image storage means is attached to the main body. 2. The mobile X-ray apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a digital signal (image data) from said flat panel X-ray detector or image data read from said image storage means is transmitted. A mobile X-ray apparatus comprising: image processing means for performing image processing; and display means for displaying image data subjected to image processing.