KR20160026957A - Method and apparatus for storing x-ray data to at least one x-ray detection module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus to store an entire or a part of an X-ray data of an object acquired from at least one of a plurality of X-ray detection modules capable of communicating with each other in the X-ray detection modules. The method comprises: activating at least one X-ray detection module of the plurality of X-ray detection modules; acquiring X-ray data through the activated X-ray detection module; and transmitting the entire or a part of the acquired X-ray data to at least one of the other X-ray detection modules other than the activated X-ray detection module.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detection module comprising a storage device.

The X-ray detector may include a plurality of X-ray detection modules. The X-ray detecting module receiving the X-ray data transmits the X-ray data to the storage device located outside the X-ray detector, and the storage device located outside can store the received X-ray data.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detection module. More particularly, to a method and apparatus for distributing all or part of X-ray data of a target object obtained from at least one of a plurality of mutually communicable X-ray detecting modules to a plurality of X-ray detecting modules.

There is provided a method for storing all or a part of X-ray data of a target object acquired from at least one of a plurality of mutually communicable X-ray detecting modules in a plurality of X-ray detecting modules according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of acquiring X-ray data through an X-ray detection module and transferring all or part of the acquired X-ray data to at least one other X-ray detection module other than the X- And transmitting the data.

The method according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include the step of activating at least one X-ray detection module among a plurality of X-ray detection modules, And the transmitting may include transmitting all or a portion of the acquired X-ray data to at least one other X-ray detection module other than the activated X-ray detection module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of activating includes activating at least one X-ray detection module included in a predetermined X-ray detectable range according to the size of the object among the plurality of X-ray detection modules .

The acquiring step according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include storing the acquired X-ray data in a storage device of the X-ray detecting module.

The transmitting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may include selecting at least one of the plurality of detection modules and transmitting the X-ray data obtained with the selected detection module.

The selecting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes grouping the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups and selecting at least one of the plurality of groups, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 1, < / RTI >

The selecting step according to an embodiment of the present invention includes grouping a plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups based on an external input and selecting at least one of the plurality of groups, May include transmitting the acquired data to at least one selected group.

The selecting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises randomly grouping the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups and selecting at least one of the plurality of groups, And transferring the acquired data to at least one group.

The method may further include storing all or part of the X-ray data acquired in the storage device of at least one other X-ray detection module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The method according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include outputting the obtained X-ray data from at least one of an activated X-ray detecting module and another X-ray detecting module.

There is provided an apparatus for storing, in a plurality of X-ray detection modules, all or a part of X-ray data of a target object obtained from at least one of a plurality of X-ray detecting modules mutually communicable according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an acquiring unit for acquiring X-ray data through an X-ray detecting module and at least one other X-ray detecting unit other than an activated X- And a transmission unit for transmitting the data to the module.

The apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes an activation unit for activating at least one X-ray detection module among the plurality of X-ray detection modules, and the obtaining unit obtains X-ray data through the activated X- And the transmitting unit may transmit all or a part of the acquired X-ray data to at least one other X-ray detecting module other than the activated X-ray detecting module.

 The activation unit may activate at least one X-ray detection module included in a predetermined X-ray detectable range according to the size of the object among the plurality of X-ray detection modules.

The obtaining unit according to an embodiment of the present invention may allow the storage device of the X-ray detecting module to store the obtained X-ray data.

The transmitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a selecting unit for selecting at least one of the plurality of detecting modules, and the transmitting unit may transmit the X-ray data acquired by the selected detecting module.

The selecting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention groups the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups, selects at least one of the plurality of groups, and the transmitting unit can transmit data obtained in at least one selected group have.

The selection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention groups the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups based on an external input, selects at least one of the plurality of groups, and the transmission unit acquires at least one selected group Lt; / RTI >

The selecting unit may randomly group the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups, select at least one of the plurality of groups, and transmit the selected data to at least one selected group. Lt; / RTI >

The obtaining unit according to an embodiment of the present invention may allow the storage device of at least one other X-ray detecting module to store all or a part of the obtained X-ray data.

The apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an output unit for outputting the obtained X-ray data from at least one of the activated X-ray detecting module and the other X-ray detecting module.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the above-described method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a general X-ray apparatus. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 (a) and 3 (b) are diagrams for explaining a method of storing X-ray data according to an embodiment of the present invention in at least one X-ray detecting module.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5A, 5B and 5C are views for explaining a method of transmitting X-ray data to X-ray detection modules according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are views for explaining a method of transmitting X-ray data according to an embodiment of the present invention for each X-ray detecting module group.
7 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detection module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings The advantages and features of the present invention, and how to accomplish them, will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. Is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

The terms used in this specification will be briefly described and the present invention will be described in detail.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Also, in certain cases, there may be a term selected arbitrarily by the applicant, in which case the meaning thereof will be described in detail in the description of the corresponding invention. Therefore, the term used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the term, not on the name of a simple term, but on the entire contents of the present invention.

When an element is referred to as "including" an element throughout the specification, it is to be understood that the element may include other elements as well, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Also, as used herein, the term "part " refers to a hardware component such as software, FPGA or ASIC, and" part " However, 'minus' is not limited to software or hardware. The " part " may be configured to reside on an addressable storage medium and may be configured to play back one or more processors. Thus, by way of example, and not limitation, "part (s) " refers to components such as software components, object oriented software components, class components and task components, and processes, Subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays and variables. The functions provided in the components and "parts " may be combined into a smaller number of components and" parts " or further separated into additional components and "parts ".

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts not related to the description will be omitted.

As used herein, the term " image or image " refers to multi-dimensional data composed of discrete image elements (e.g., pixels in a two-dimensional image and voxels in a three-dimensional image) . For example, the image may include a medical image of the object acquired by the X-ray diagnostic system, and the like.

Also, in this specification, an " object " may include a person or an animal, or a part of a person or an animal. For example, the subject may include a liver, a heart, a uterus, a brain, a breast, an organ such as the abdomen, or a blood vessel. The " object " may also include a phantom. A phantom is a material that has a volume that is very close to the density of the organism and the effective atomic number, and can include a spheric phantom that has body-like properties.

In this specification, the term " user " may be a doctor, a nurse, a clinical pathologist, a medical imaging specialist, a radiologist, or the like, and may be a technician repairing a medical device, but is not limited thereto.

An X-ray device is a medical imaging device that transmits an X-ray to a human body and acquires the internal structure of the human body as an image. The X-ray apparatus is advantageous in that it can acquire a medical image of a target object in a short time in comparison with other medical imaging apparatuses including an MRI apparatus and a CT apparatus. Therefore, the X-ray apparatus is widely used for simple chest radiography, simple abdominal radiography, simple skeletal radiography, simple sinus radiography, neck soft tissue radiography, and mammography.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a general X-ray apparatus. FIG. The x-ray apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1 may be a fixed x-ray apparatus or a mobile x-ray apparatus.

1, an X-ray apparatus 100 may include a work station 110, an X-ray irradiating unit 120, a high voltage generating unit 121, and a detecting unit 130.

The workstation 110 includes an input unit 111 through which a user can input a command for manipulation of the X-ray apparatus 100, including X-ray irradiation, and a controller 112 that controls the overall operation of the X-ray apparatus 100 .

The high-voltage generating unit 121 generates a high voltage for generating an X-ray and applies it to the X-ray source 122.

The X-ray irradiating unit 120 includes an X-ray source 122 for generating and irradiating X-rays by receiving a high voltage generated by the high voltage generating unit 121, and a collimator 123 for guiding the path of the X-rays irradiated from the X- .

The detection unit 130 detects an X-ray that has been irradiated by the X-ray irradiating unit 120 and transmitted through the object. The detection unit 130 may include a plurality of detection modules.

The detector 130 may be referred to as an X-ray detector. Conventional X-ray detectors can be classified into a direct conversion method and an indirect conversion method according to a method of converting an X-ray into an electrical signal. The direct conversion method can use a semiconductor compound which generates an electrical signal directly without intermediate steps due to the absorption of X-rays. When an X-ray is irradiated, a carrier of electron-hole pairs can be generated temporarily in the mixture semiconductor. The carriers of the electron-hole pairs can move from the electric field applied to both ends of the material to the anode and the holes to the cathode. On the other hand, in the indirect conversion method, an X-ray transmitted through a subject reacts with a scintillator to emit a photon having a wavelength in a visible light region, and the photodiode receives the converted photon, converts it into an electrical signal, System) to the external PC. In the indirect type detector, the signal from the light receiving element can be converted into an analog signal through the ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) of the DAS and the data can be transmitted. The detector does not have a separate memory and can utilize the memory function built into the ADC. The performance of conventional X-ray detectors has been limited in detecting high-resolution images, and there is no difficulty in data transfer even if an additional storage device is not mounted in the detector module. However, if the pixel size becomes smaller (for example, 500 mu m or less) and high resolution images are successively photographed, it is difficult to obtain a clear image with only the detector according to the conventional technique.

The X-ray apparatus 100 may further include an operation unit 140 including a sound output unit 141 for outputting a sound indicative of photographing related information such as an X-ray irradiation under the control of the control unit 112.

The work station 110, the X-ray irradiating unit 120, the high voltage generating unit 121, and the detecting unit 130 may be connected to each other wirelessly or by wire, and when wirelessly connected, a device (not shown) As shown in FIG.

The input unit 111 may include a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, a voice recognizer, a fingerprint recognizer, an iris recognizer, and the like, and may include an input device that is obvious to those skilled in the art. A user may input a command for X-ray inspection through the input unit 111, and a switch for inputting the command may be provided in the input unit 111. [ The switch must be pressed twice to set the probe command for X-ray investigation.

That is, when the user presses the switch, the switch receives a preparation command for instructing preheating for X-ray irradiation, and in this state, pressing the switch deeper can have a structure in which an irradiation command for substantial X-ray irradiation is input. When the user operates the switch as described above, the input unit 111 includes a high voltage generating unit 121 for generating a signal corresponding to a command input through a switch operation, that is, a preparation signal and an irradiation signal to generate a high voltage for generating X- Output.

The high voltage generating unit 121 receives the ready signal output from the input unit 111 and starts preheating. When the preheating is completed, the high voltage generating unit 121 outputs a ready signal to the controller 112. When the high voltage generating unit 121 receives the ready signal output from the input unit 111, the detecting unit 130 detects the X-ray detection and the X- And outputs a ready signal to the detector 130 so that it can prepare for detecting an X-ray. Upon receiving the ready signal, the detector 130 prepares for detecting the X-ray. When the detection is completed, the detector 130 outputs a detection ready signal to the high voltage generator 121 and the controller 112.

The pre-heating of the high voltage generating part 121 is completed and the detecting part 130 is ready for X-ray detection. When the irradiating signal is outputted from the input part 111 to the high voltage generating part 121, the high voltage generating part 121 generates high voltage And applies it to the x-ray source 122, and the x-ray source 122 irradiates the x-ray.

The control unit 112 outputs a sound output signal to the sound output unit 141 so that the sound output unit 141 outputs a predetermined sound so that the object can recognize the X-ray irradiation when the irradiation signal is outputted from the input unit 111 can do. In addition, the sound output unit 141 can output sound indicating other shooting related information besides X-ray irradiation. 1, the sound output unit 141 is included in the operation unit 140, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The sound output unit 141 may be located at a position different from the position at which the operation unit 141 is located. For example, be contained in the workstation 110, or may be located in the wall of the imaging room where x-ray imaging of the object is performed.

The control unit 112 controls the positions of the X-ray irradiating unit 120 and the detecting unit 130, the photographing timing, and the photographing conditions according to photographing conditions set by the user.

Specifically, the control unit 112 controls the high-voltage generating unit 121 and the detecting unit 130 according to an instruction input through the input unit 111 to control the irradiation timing of the X-ray, the intensity of the X-ray, and the irradiation area of the X-ray . Further, the control unit 112 adjusts the position of the detection unit 130 and controls the operation timing of the detection unit 130 according to a predetermined photographing condition.

In addition, the control unit 112 generates a medical image for the target object using the image data received from the detection unit 130. Specifically, the control unit 112 may receive the image data from the detection unit 130, remove the noise of the image data, and adjust the dynamic range and interleaving to generate a medical image of the object .

The X-ray apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 may further include an output unit (not shown) for outputting a medical image generated by the control unit 112. The output unit may output information necessary for a user to operate the X-ray apparatus 100, such as a UI (user interface), user information, or object information. The output may include a printer, a CRT display, an LCD display, a PDP display, an OLED display, a FED display, an LED display, a VFD display, a DLP display, a PFD display, a 3D display, a transparent display, May include various output devices.

The workstation 110 shown in FIG. 1 may further include a communication unit (not shown) that can be connected to the server 162, the medical device 164, and the portable terminal 166 through the network 150.

The communication unit may be connected to the network 150 by wire or wireless and may communicate with an external server 162, an external medical device 164, or an external portable terminal 166. The communication unit can transmit and receive data related to the diagnosis of the object through the network 150 and can also transmit and receive medical images taken by other medical devices 164 such as CT, MRI, and X-ray apparatus. Further, the communication unit may receive the diagnosis history or the treatment schedule of the patient from the server 162 and utilize it for diagnosis of the object. The communication unit may perform data communication with not only the server 162 in the hospital or the medical device 164 but also with the portable terminal 166 such as a doctor, a customer's mobile phone, a PDA, or a notebook computer.

The communication unit may include one or more components that enable communication with an external device, and may include, for example, a local communication module, a wired communication module, and a wireless communication module.

The short-range communication module means a module for performing short-range communication with a device located within a predetermined distance. The local area communication technology according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless LAN, a Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth, a zigbee, a Wi-Fi Direct, an ultra wideband (UWB) IrDA, Infrared Data Association), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC (Near Fie 1214 Communication), and the like.

The wired communication module means a module for communication using an electric signal or an optical signal. The wired communication technology may include a wired communication technology using a pair cable, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable, etc., Wired communication technology may be included.

The wireless communication module transmits and receives a radio signal with at least one of a base station, an external device, and a server on a mobile communication network. Here, the wireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal, or a text / multimedia message transmission / reception.

The X-ray apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be used for a large number of digital signal processing apparatuses (DSP), microcomputer processing apparatuses and special purpose applications (for example, high speed A / D conversion, fast Fourier transform, Processing circuitry, and the like.

The communication between the work station 110 and the X-ray irradiating unit 120, the work station 110 and the high voltage generating unit 121, and the communication between the work station 110 and the detecting unit 130 are performed by LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) Such as a high-speed digital interface, a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART), an asynchronous serial communication, a hypo-synchronous serial communication, or a CAN (Controller Area Network), may be used. A communication method can be used.

Prior to description of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.

7 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus 700 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an acquiring unit 710 and a transmitting unit 720. The operation of each component 710 or 720 of the device 700 will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S200, the acquiring unit 710 can acquire X-ray data through the X-ray detecting module. The X-ray data may include information on the object obtained from the X-rays transmitted through the object.

Each X-ray detection module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one storage device. The acquiring unit 710 may store all or part of the X-ray data acquired in the storage device of the X-ray detecting module.

In step S210, the transmitting unit 720 may transmit all or part of the acquired X-ray data to at least one other X-ray detecting module other than the X-ray detecting module. As described above, the X-ray detection module may include at least one storage device. The at least one storage device may be controlled by a storage device control included in the X-ray detection module. That is, the storage device control unit may cause all or a part of the X-ray data received from the X-ray detecting module to be stored in a storage device of at least one other X-ray detecting module other than the X-ray detecting module.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are diagrams for explaining a method of storing X-ray data according to an embodiment of the present invention in at least one X-ray detecting module.

Referring to FIG. 3 (a), the X-ray generator 300 may be an apparatus for generating X-rays. When the X-ray generator 300 generates X-rays, X-rays may be irradiated to a certain range. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the size of the object 310 can be grasped in advance through a scout view. The activating unit 705 can determine the X-ray detectable range according to the size of the object using the scout view obtained by the conventional method. The activating unit 130 may activate at least one X-ray detecting module 320 included in the X-ray detectable range of the plurality of X-ray detecting modules. X-ray data can be obtained through the activated X-ray detection module 320. As described above, X-ray data can be acquired only through the activated X-ray detecting module 320 included in the X-ray detectable range where the X-ray passing through the object is to be detected. In other words, the deactivated X-ray detection module 330 may not acquire X-ray data. The activated X-ray detection module 320 may transmit the X-ray data to the deactivated X-ray detection module 330.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the first X-ray detecting module 350, the second X-ray detecting module 360, and the third X-ray detecting module 370 include at least one image processor a processor 380 and at least one storage device 395. Each X-ray detection module 350, 360, 370 may include a storage device control 390 that controls the storage device 395.

The first X-ray detecting module 350 may be an activated X-ray detecting module, and the second X-ray detecting module 360 and the third X-ray detecting module 370 may be deactivated X-ray detecting modules. Referring to FIG. 3 (b), the first X-ray detection module 350 is an activated X-ray detection module, and thus can receive X-ray data. Since the second X-ray detecting module 360 and the third X-ray detecting module 370 are deactivated X-ray detecting modules, the X-ray data may not be input. The first X-ray detecting module 350 can transmit the received X-ray data to the storage device controller 390. [

The first X-ray detecting module 350 can store all or a part of the input X-ray data in the storage device 395 included in the first X-ray detecting module 350 under the control of the storage device controller 390 have. The first X-ray detecting module 350 detects the X-ray data obtained from the first X-ray detecting module 350 according to the data transfer command applied from the transferring unit 720 of the apparatus 700 to the storage device controller 390 of the first X- All or a part of the data may be transmitted to the second X-ray detecting module 360 or the third X-ray detecting module 370. [ The second X-ray detection module 360 or the third X-ray detection module 370 including the storage device respectively stores the received X-ray data into the storage device of each X-ray detection module 360 or 370, Can be stored. The storage of the received X-ray data may be performed by a storage device controller 390 included in each of the second X-ray detecting module 360 and the third X-ray detecting module 370. The storage device controller 390 may transmit the received X-ray data to the image processor 380. [ The image processor 380 can convert the input X-ray data into data on the image of the object and output the converted X-ray data.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operation shown in Fig. 4 will be described with reference to Fig.

8 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to another embodiment of the present invention. An apparatus 700 for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an activating unit 705, an acquiring unit 710, a transmitting unit 720, a selecting unit 725, And an output unit 730.

At step S400, at least one of the plurality of X-ray detection modules may be activated by the activation unit 705 of the apparatus 700 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The X-ray detector according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of X-ray detecting modules. Each X-ray detection module can communicate with each other. The activation unit 705 of the apparatus 700 can activate to accept X-ray data for all or a part of the plurality of X-ray detection modules. For example, only one X-ray detection module can be activated so that only one of the plurality of X-ray detection modules acquires X-ray data. Also, the activating unit 705 may deactivate each of the plurality of X-ray detecting modules so as not to accept X-ray data. Also, the activating unit 705 can activate at least one X-ray detecting module included in a predetermined X-ray detectable range according to the size of the object among the plurality of X-ray detecting modules. A scout view can be used to determine the size of the object prior to examining the X-ray with the object. The scout view may include a digital projection image for positioning purpose to be photographed obtained in advance in order to accurately photograph the cross-section of the target site at the time of X-ray photographing. The X-ray detectable range according to the size of the object can be determined using a scout view.

In step S410, the acquiring unit 710 can acquire X-ray data through the activated X-ray detecting module. The X-ray data may include information on the object obtained from the X-rays transmitted through the object.

As described above, each of the X-ray detecting modules according to the embodiment of the present invention can be activated independently, and X-ray data of the object can be acquired through the activated X- ray detecting module among the plurality of X- . In other words, the X-ray data of the object can be obtained only through the activated X-ray detection module. Each X-ray detection module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one storage device. The acquiring unit 710 may store all or part of the X-ray data acquired in the storage device of the activated X-ray detecting module.

The transmitting S420 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes selecting at least one of the plurality of detection modules S422 and transmitting the X-ray data obtained at the selected detection module S424 .

In step S422, the selection unit 725 can select at least one of the plurality of detection modules. When the selecting unit 725 selects at least one of the plurality of detecting modules, the selecting unit 725 can select at least one X-ray detecting module adjacent to the activated X-ray detecting module. The selecting unit 725 may group the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups and may select at least one of the plurality of groups. The selecting unit 725 may group the plurality of detection modules when the size of the object is large. When the size of the object is large, the selecting unit 725 may group the plurality of activated X-ray detecting modules and group the X-ray detecting modules that are not activated to efficiently transmit or store the X-ray data.

In step S424, the transmitting unit 740 may transmit the X-ray data acquired by the selected detecting module. The transmitting unit 740 may group the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups based on an external input, select at least one of the plurality of groups, and transmit the acquired data to at least one selected group. The external input may include a user input for grouping at least one X-ray detection module received via an external input receiver (not shown). For example, the external input may include an input of information about the group the user wishes to group. For example, the external input may include an input to allow detection modules in which the remaining space of the storage device exceeds a predetermined criterion to be grouped. The remaining space of the storage device may be an input for grouping at least one module in excess of 50%.

The transmitting unit 740 can transmit X-ray data to another X-ray detecting module when the space of the storage device in the activated X-ray detecting module is insufficient. The meaning of the lack of space in the storage device may be preset by the user, such as 0% remaining, 10% remaining, or the like in the storage device. The transmitting unit 720 can transmit X-ray data acquired by the X-ray detecting module which has the most storage space of the storage device among other X-ray detecting modules.

The output unit 730 can output X-ray data from at least one of the activated X-ray detecting module and the other X-ray detecting module. The output unit 730 may include an X-ray image display device or the like.

5A, 5B and 5C are views for explaining a method of transmitting X-ray data to X-ray detection modules according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block 500 of FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C may be the first X-ray detection module 350 of FIG. 3B. The block 510 may be the second X-ray detecting module 360 of FIG. 3 (b), and the block 520 may be the third X-ray detecting module 370 of FIG. 3 (b). Block 530 may be a fourth X-ray detection module, and block 540 may be a fifth X-ray detection module. Referring to FIG. 5A, the first X-ray detecting module 500 may receive X-ray data. The first X-ray detecting module 500 can transmit the obtained X-ray data to the second X-ray detecting module 510 or the third X-ray detecting module 520. Referring to FIG. 5B, the first X-ray detecting module 500 may receive X-ray data. The first X-ray detecting module 500 can transmit the obtained X-ray data to the fourth X-ray detecting module or the fifth X-ray detecting module. Referring to FIG. 5C, the first X-ray detecting module 500 may receive X-ray data. The second X-ray detecting module 510 may transmit the X-ray data received from the first X-ray detecting module 350 to the fourth X-ray detecting module 530. The third X-ray detecting module 520 may also transmit the X-ray data received from the first X-ray detecting module 350 to the fifth X-ray detecting module 540. The X-ray detection module can transmit the X-ray data to the at least one X-ray detection module other than the X-ray detection module that has received the X-ray data.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are views for explaining a method of transmitting X-ray data according to an embodiment of the present invention for each X-ray detecting module group. Each of the square blocks 600 to 660 shown in Figs. 6A, 6B and 6C may represent the above-described X-ray detecting module. The following description will be made on the assumption that the first X-ray detecting module 600, the second X-ray detecting module 610, the third X-ray detecting module 620, the fourth X-ray detecting module 630, The X-ray detecting module 640, the sixth X-ray detecting module 650, and the seventh X-ray detecting module 660 will be described.

The selecting unit 725 may group the plurality of X-ray detecting modules into a plurality of groups. Also, the selecting unit 725 may group a plurality of X-ray detecting modules into a plurality of groups based on an external input. 6A, the selecting unit 725 selects the first X-ray detecting module 600 and the second X-ray detecting module 610 as the first group 670, the third X-ray detecting module 620, The X-ray detecting module 630 and the fifth X-ray detecting module 640 are referred to as a second group 680, the sixth X-ray detecting module 650 and the seventh X-ray detecting module 660 are referred to as a third group 690 ). The selecting unit 725 may group a plurality of X-ray detecting modules into a plurality of groups based on an external input.

For example, the selection unit 725 may group according to the input of the user. Also, non-adjacent X-ray detection modules can be grouped. 6B, the first X-ray detecting module 600, the second X-ray detecting module 610, and the third X-ray detecting module 620 are divided into a first group 670, a fourth X- 630 and sixth X-ray detection module 650 can be grouped into a second group 680, a fifth X-ray detection module 640 and a seventh X-ray detection module 660 into a third group 690 have.

Also, referring to FIG. 6C, the selecting unit 725 may randomly group a plurality of X-ray detecting modules into a plurality of groups. For example, the selecting unit 725 may randomly select a plurality of X-ray detecting modules as a first group 670 and a second X-ray detecting unit 670 as the first X-ray detecting module 600 and the third X- The fifth X-ray detecting module 640 and the seventh X-ray detecting module 660, the fourth X-ray detecting module 630, and the sixth X- May be grouped into a third group 690.

The transmitting unit 720 may transmit or receive X-ray data among the groups. 6, the X-ray data is input to a fourth X-ray detecting module 630 belonging to the second group 680, and the fourth X-ray detecting module 600 inputs the obtained X- Group 670. < / RTI >

7 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus 700 for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module may include an acquiring unit 710 and a transmitting unit 720.

The acquiring unit 710 can acquire X-ray data through the X-ray detecting module. Acquiring section 710 may cause a storage device of at least one other X-ray detecting module to store all or part of the received X-ray data. The acquiring unit 710 may allow the storage device of the X-ray detecting module to store the acquired X-ray data. The storage device may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), a RAM , Random Access Memory (SRAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Programmable Read- Or a storage medium of at least one type. Also, a web storage or a cloud server that performs a storage function of a storage device on the Internet may be operated.

The transmitting unit 720 may transmit all or a part of the obtained X-ray data to at least one other X-ray detecting module other than the X-ray detecting module.

8 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

 An apparatus 700 for storing X-ray data in at least one X-ray detecting module includes an activating unit 705, an acquiring unit 710, a transmitting unit 720, a selecting unit 725, and an outputting unit 730 can do. The acquiring unit 710 and the transmitting unit 720 are as described in FIG.

The activating unit 705 may activate the X-ray detecting module so as to acquire X-ray data among the plurality of X-ray detecting modules. The activating unit 705 may deactivate the X-ray detecting module so that X-ray data can not be acquired. The activating unit 705 can activate at least one X-ray detecting module included in a predetermined X-ray detectable range according to the size of the object among the plurality of X-ray detecting modules. The activating unit 705 can measure the size of the object through the scout view. The activating unit 705 can measure the size of the object through the scout view and use the distance and angle between the X-ray generator and the X- The range in which the X-ray can be detected can be determined in advance.

The acquiring unit 710 can acquire X-ray data through the activated X-ray detecting module. Acquiring section 710 may cause a storage device of at least one other X-ray detecting module to store all or part of the received X-ray data. The acquiring unit 710 may cause the storage device of the activated X-ray detecting module to store the acquired X-ray data.

The transmitting unit 720 may transmit all or a part of the obtained X-ray data to at least one other X-ray detecting module other than the activated X-ray detecting module.

The transmitting unit 720 may further include a selecting unit 725. The selection unit 725 can select at least one X-ray detection module adjacent to the activated X-ray detection module. The selecting unit 725 may group the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups based on an external input, and may select at least one of the plurality of groups. The selecting unit 725 may randomly group the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups, and may select at least one of the plurality of groups.

The output unit 730 may cause the acquired X-ray data to be output from at least one of the activated X-ray detection module and the other X-ray detection module. The output unit 730 may output the X-ray data and display it as a display. Output 730 may include a printer, a CRT display, an LCD display, a PDP display, an OLED display, a FED display, an LED display, a VFD display, a DLP display, a PFD display, a 3D display, And may include various output devices within a self-evident range. The output unit 730 may output X-ray data to store X-ray data in an external storage device.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention can be embodied in a general-purpose digital computer that can be embodied as a program that can be executed by a computer and operates the program using a computer-readable recording medium.

The computer readable recording medium may be a magnetic storage medium such as a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, etc., an optical reading medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD and a carrier wave such as the Internet Lt; / RTI > transmission).

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive.

Claims (17)

A method for storing all or part of X-ray data of an object obtained from at least one of a plurality of mutually communicable X-ray detecting modules included in an X-ray detector, in the plurality of X-ray detecting modules,
An X-ray detectable range in which an X-ray passing through the object among the plurality of X-ray detecting modules is included in an X-
Activating at least one X-ray detection module;
Acquiring the X-ray data transmitted through the object through the activated X-ray detecting module; And
And transmitting all or a portion of the obtained X-ray data to at least one other X-ray detecting module other than the activated X-ray detecting module.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the acquiring comprises:
And storing the acquired X-ray data in a storage device of the X-ray detection module. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the transmitting comprises:
Selecting at least one of the plurality of detection modules; And
And transmitting the acquired X-ray data to the selected detection module. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the selecting comprises:
Grouping the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups; And
Selecting at least one of the plurality of groups,
Wherein the transmitting comprises:
And transmitting the obtained data to the selected at least one group. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the selecting comprises:
Grouping the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups based on an external input; And
Selecting at least one of the plurality of groups,
Wherein the transmitting comprises:
And transmitting the obtained data to the selected at least one group. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the selecting comprises:
Randomly grouping the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups; And
Selecting at least one of the plurality of groups,
Wherein the transmitting comprises:
And transmitting the obtained data to the selected at least one group. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising storing all or a portion of the acquired X-ray data in a storage device of the at least one other X-ray detection module. The method according to claim 1,
And outputting the obtained X-ray data from at least one of the activated X-ray detecting module and the other X-ray detecting module. The X-ray detector for storing all or part of X-ray data of a target obtained from at least one of a plurality of mutually communicable X-ray detecting modules included in an X-ray detector in the plurality of X-ray detecting modules ,
An activation unit activating at least one X-ray detection module among the plurality of X-ray detection modules included in an X-ray detectable range where X-rays passing through the object are to be detected;
An acquiring unit for acquiring the X-ray data through the activated X-ray detecting module; And
And a transmitter for transmitting all or a part of the obtained X-ray data to at least one other X-ray detecting module other than the activated X-ray detecting module.
10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the obtaining unit comprises:
Ray detector to cause the storage device of the X-ray detection module to store the obtained X-ray data. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the transmission unit comprises:
And a selection unit for selecting at least one of the plurality of detection modules,
Wherein the transmission unit comprises:
And transmits the obtained X-ray data to the selected detection module. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the selection unit comprises:
Grouping the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups, selecting at least one of the plurality of groups,
Wherein the transmission unit comprises:
And transmits the acquired data to the selected at least one group. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the selection unit comprises:
Grouping the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups based on an external input, selecting at least one of the plurality of groups,
Wherein the transmission unit comprises:
And transmits the acquired data to the selected at least one group. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the selection unit comprises:
The method comprising: randomly grouping the plurality of detection modules into a plurality of groups, selecting at least one of the plurality of groups,
Wherein the transmission unit comprises:
And transmits the acquired data to the selected at least one group. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the obtaining unit comprises:
Ray detector to cause the storage device of the at least one other X-ray detection module to store all or part of the acquired X-ray data. 10. The method of claim 9,
And an output section for outputting the obtained X-ray data from at least one of the activated X-ray detecting module and the other X-ray detecting module. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

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