JP2010025640A - Portable radiation detector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate handling of an electronic cassette having a cable. <P>SOLUTION: When the electronic cassette 12 is handled (when the electronic cassette 12 is carried, or the electronic cassette 12 is mounted on an imaging platform), the cable 13 is routed along a groove 70 in the electronic cassette 12. A structure held by a plurality of holding members 62 is provided, and integrated with a housing 20 by winding the cable 13 onto the housing 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable radiation detector that can be carried.

  As a portable radiation detector, a radiation imaging apparatus having a cable for transmitting image data to an external apparatus is known (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Patent Document 3 describes that an electronic cassette as a portable radiation detector is vulnerable to impact, and as a solution to this, disposing an impact member around the cassette.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-6979 JP 2007-44068 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-6806

  By the way, in the state where the cable is attached to the electronic cassette as the portable radiation detector, the presentation of the problem that the cable is hung up is not in Patent Documents 1 and 2, but when the electronic cassette is transported. Can only remove the cable or carry the cable bundled together, and when carrying a heavy electronic cassette, it becomes very complicated, and if it is inadvertently, the electronic cassette may be dropped.

  In view of the above facts, the present invention aims to facilitate handling in a portable radiation detector having a cable.

  A portable radiation detector according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a casing, a cable having one end connected to the casing and the other end connected to an external device, and an outer periphery of the casing. A holding mechanism for holding the cable.

  According to this configuration, the cable having one end connected to the casing and the other end connected to the external device is held along the outer periphery of the casing by the holding mechanism.

  Thereby, even when the portable radiation detector is handled while the cable is connected to the housing, the cable is less likely to get in the way.

  Therefore, according to the configuration of claim 1, there is no need to remove the cable from the casing and carry it separately from the casing, or bundle the cables and carry both the cable and the casing. It becomes easy to handle the vessel.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable radiation detector according to the first aspect, the cable protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the housing while being held by the holding mechanism.

  According to this configuration, the cable protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the housing while being held by the holding mechanism. For this reason, the external shock can be received by the cable before the housing receives, and the components in the housing can be protected from the impact.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable radiation detector according to the first or second aspect, the cable is covered with a buffer member that softens an external impact.

  According to this configuration, since the cable is configured to be covered with the buffer member that softens the impact from the outside, the impact received by the cable is difficult to propagate to the housing, and the components in the housing are protected from the impact. be able to.

  A portable radiation detector according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the configuration according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the cable is longer than a peripheral length of the outer periphery.

  According to this configuration, since the cable is longer than the circumference of the outer periphery, the extra length of the cable can be used as a gripping part that grips when carrying the portable radiation detector.

  The portable radiation detector according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the configuration according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the cable passes through a finger between the intermediate portion and the housing. A space for gripping the intermediate portion is provided.

  According to this configuration, the middle part of the cable can be gripped by passing a finger between the middle part of the cable and the housing, and the portable radiation detector can be easily carried.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the electronic cassette can be easily handled.

Below, an example of an embodiment concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.
(Configuration of electronic cassette according to this embodiment)
First, the configuration of an electronic cassette as an example of a portable radiation detector will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an arrangement of electronic cassettes at the time of radiographic imaging. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal structure of the electronic cassette. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of the electronic cassette 12.

  The electronic cassette 12 according to the present embodiment has portability, detects radiation from a radiation source that has passed through a subject, generates image information of a radiation image represented by the detected radiation, and generates the generated image information. Is specifically configured as shown below. The electronic cassette 12 may be configured not to store the generated image information.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic cassette 12 is arranged at a distance from a radiation generation unit 14 as a radiation source that generates radiation when a radiographic image is taken. The space between the radiation generation unit 14 and the electronic cassette 12 at this time is an imaging position for the subject 16 as a subject to be located. When an instruction to capture a radiographic image is given, the radiation generation unit 14 gives in advance. Radiation with a radiation dose according to the imaging conditions is emitted. The radiation emitted from the radiation generation unit 14 passes through the subject 16 located at the imaging position, and then is applied to the electronic cassette 12 after carrying the image information.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic cassette 12 includes a flat casing 20 made of a material that transmits radiation X and having a predetermined thickness. Within the housing 20, the grid 24 that removes scattered radiation of the radiation X generated by passing through the subject 16 and the subject 16 are sequentially transmitted from the irradiation surface 22 side where the radiation X is irradiated in the housing 20. A radiation detection panel 26 as an example of a radiation detector that detects radiation from the radiation generation unit 14 and a lead plate 28 that absorbs backscattered rays of radiation X are accommodated.

  The radiation detection panel 26 of the electronic cassette 12 is configured by laminating a photoelectric conversion layer that absorbs radiation and converts it into charges on the TFT active matrix substrate 32 shown in FIG. The photoelectric conversion layer is made of amorphous a-Se (amorphous selenium) containing, for example, selenium as a main component (for example, a content rate of 50% or more), and when irradiated with radiation, the amount of charge corresponding to the amount of irradiated radiation. The generated radiation (electron-hole pair) is internally generated to convert the irradiated radiation into charges.

  The radiation detection panel 26 indirectly uses a phosphor material and a photoelectric conversion element (photodiode) instead of the X-ray-charge conversion material that directly converts the radiation X such as amorphous selenium into electric charges. You may convert into an electric charge. As phosphor materials, gadolinium sulfate (GOS) and cesium iodide (CsI) are well known. In this case, X-ray-light conversion is performed using a fluorescent material, and light-charge conversion is performed using a photodiode of a photoelectric conversion element.

  Further, on the TFT active matrix substrate 32, a pixel unit 40 (FIG. 3) provided with a storage capacitor 34 for storing the charge generated in the photoelectric conversion layer and a TFT 36 for reading the charge stored in the storage capacitor 34. In this figure, a large number of photoelectric conversion layers corresponding to the individual pixel portions 40 are schematically shown as photoelectric conversion portions 38), and are arranged in a matrix, and the photoelectric conversion layers accompany the radiation to the electronic cassette 12. The electric charges generated in the above are stored in the storage capacitors 34 of the individual pixel units 40. As a result, the radiation image represented by the radiation that has passed through the subject and has been applied to the electronic cassette 12 is converted into image information by charges and is held on the radiation detection panel 26.

  The TFT active matrix substrate 32 has a plurality of gate lines 42 extending in a certain direction (row direction) for turning on / off the TFTs 36 of the individual pixel units 40, and a direction (column direction) orthogonal to the gate lines 42. And a plurality of data wirings 44 for reading out stored charges from the storage capacitor 34 through the TFT 36 which is extended and turned on. Individual gate lines 42 are connected to a gate line driver 46, and individual data lines 44 are connected to a signal processing unit 48.

  When charges are accumulated in the storage capacitors 34 of the individual pixel units 40, the TFTs 36 of the individual pixel units 40 are sequentially turned on in units of rows by a signal supplied from the gate line driver 46 via the gate wiring 42. The charge accumulated in the storage capacitor 34 of the pixel unit 40 for which is turned on is transmitted as a charge signal through the data wiring 44 and input to the signal processing unit 48. Accordingly, the charges accumulated in the storage capacitors 34 of the individual pixel portions 40 are sequentially read out in units of rows.

  The signal processing unit 48 includes an amplifier and a sample hold circuit provided for each individual data line 44, and the charge signal transmitted through each data line 44 is amplified by the amplifier and then held in the sample hold circuit. The Further, on the output side of the sample hold circuit, a multiplexer and an A / D converter 48A as an example of an electric signal converter for converting an electric signal carrying image information are connected in order. The charge signals held in the individual sample and hold circuits are sequentially input (serially) to the multiplexer, and the analog electric signal is converted into a digital electric signal by the A / D converter 48A. An image memory 50 is connected to the signal processing unit 48, and image information output from the A / D converter 48 </ b> A of the signal processing unit 48 is stored in the image memory 50 in order. The image memory 50 has a storage capacity capable of storing image information for a plurality of frames, and image information obtained by imaging is sequentially stored in the image memory 50 each time a radiographic image is captured.

  In addition, the electronic cassette 12 performs operations of the entire apparatus as an example of a communication unit 52 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the display device 15 capable of displaying a radiation image and a control unit for controlling the radiation detection panel 26. And a control unit 58 for controlling.

  The display device 15 is configured by a PC (personal computer) including a keyboard and mouse as input means, a display as display means, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. Further, a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the electronic cassette 12 is provided.

  The control unit 58 includes a CPU that controls the entire electronic cassette 12, a ROM as a storage medium that stores various processing programs, a RAM that temporarily stores data as a work area, and a memory that stores various information. It is composed of the included microcomputer.

  The control unit is not limited to the one that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and may be a part that controls the operation of a part of the components of the apparatus.

  The electronic cassette 12 is a power supply unit that supplies electric power to at least a part of the components including the radiation detection panel 26. The power supply unit supplies electric power to the components of various circuits and elements to operate the electronic cassette 12. 54.

  Further, the power supply unit 54 includes a battery (a rechargeable secondary battery) as a power storage unit that stores electric power supplied by the power supply unit 54 so as not to impair the portability of the electronic cassette 12.

  The power storage unit that stores the power supplied by the power supply unit 54 is not limited to a rechargeable secondary battery, and a nickel hydride, lithium ion, lead storage battery, capacitor, or the like may be used.

  Further, the power supply unit is not limited to one that supplies power to the components of the entire apparatus as in the present embodiment, and may be one that supplies power to some components of the apparatus. Moreover, the structure which has several power supply parts may be sufficient.

(Shape of casing 20 of electronic cassette 12 and cable connected to casing 20)
Next, the shape of the housing 20 of the electronic cassette 12 and the cable connected to the housing 20 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the casing 20 of the electronic cassette 12 has four sides (four straight lines) 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D on the outer edge in a plan view (viewed from the side irradiated with radiation). The shape, specifically, a quadrilateral shape (rectangular shape). More specifically, the housing 20 of the electronic cassette 12 has a rectangular shape. The electronic cassette 12 may have a shape with rounded corners (see FIGS. 4 and 7).

  The housing 20 is formed with a side surface 20A constituting the side 21A, a side surface 20B constituting the side 21B, a side surface 20C constituting the side 21C, and a side surface 20D constituting the side 21D.

  Further, the TFT active matrix substrate 32 (detection region) has the same shape as the electronic cassette 12, and has four sides (four straight lines) on the outer edge in plan view (as viewed from the side irradiated with radiation). It has a shape, specifically, a quadrilateral shape (rectangular shape). More specifically, the TFT active matrix substrate 32 (detection region) has a rectangular shape.

  Further, a cable 13 is connected to the housing 20 of the electronic cassette 12 as shown in FIG. The cable 13 includes a conductive member 13A having conductivity and an insulating member 13B having insulation properties that covers the conductive member 13A (see FIG. 8).

  One end of the cable 13 is connected and fixed to the housing 20 and cannot be removed from the housing 20. The cable 13 may be configured to be detachably connected to the housing 20.

  In addition, one end of the cable 13 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 54 so that power can be supplied to the battery of the power supply unit 54. The other end of the cable 13 is provided with a terminal 18 that can be connected to a charging device 17 as an example of an external device.

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the power supply 54 can be charged by connecting the terminal 18 of the cable 13 to the charging device 17.

  The cable 13 is not limited to the cable used for charging the power supply unit 54, and can be used for various purposes. For example, the cable 13 can be used as a cable for wired communication of image data as shown in FIG.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, one end of the cable 13 is electrically connected to the communication unit 52, and image data can be transmitted from the communication unit 52. A terminal 18 that can be connected to a display device 15 as an example of an external device is provided at the other end of the cable 13.

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, an image represented by the image data can be displayed by connecting the terminal 18 of the cable 13 to the display device 15.

  5 and 6, the image data is transmitted and received between the electronic cassette 12 and the display device 15 through the cable 13 by wired communication. When the cable 13 is not used as a cable for wired communication, the image data may be transmitted and received by wireless communication.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the housing 20 is provided with a holding mechanism 60 that holds the cable 13 along the outer periphery of the housing 20. The holding mechanism 60 includes a groove portion 70 formed on the side surfaces 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D, and a plurality of holding members 62 provided on the side surfaces 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D of the housing 20. Yes.

  The groove part 70 is formed along a part of the outer periphery of the cable 13 as shown in FIG. The cable 13 has a circular cross section, and the groove 70 is formed in an arc shape. A part of the cable 13 is accommodated in the groove portion 70, and the cable 13 is disposed along the side surfaces 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D. When the cable 13 is housed in the groove portion 70, a part of the outer periphery protrudes outside the outer peripheral surface of the housing 20.

  Thereby, before the housing 20 receives an external impact, the cable 13 can receive the impact.

  The insulating member 13 </ b> B of the cable 13 is made of a buffer member that softens external impacts, and is made of a material that has higher buffering properties than the housing 20. Specifically, the insulating member 13B of the cable 13 is made of rubber or the like.

  The holding member 62 is for holding the cable 13 and is formed in a U shape (arc shape) along a part of the outer periphery of the cable 13. One end portion of the holding member 62 is rotatably supported by a shaft portion 64 provided in the housing 20.

  An engaging portion 66 is formed at the other end of the holding member 62. The housing 20 is formed with an engaging recess 68 to which the engaging portion 66 is engaged.

  The holding member 62 includes a locking position (see FIG. 8A) where the engaging portion 66 is inserted and locked in the engaging recess 68, and a releasing position where the locking state is released (FIG. 8B). ))).

  The holding member 62 holds the cable 13 accommodated in the groove portion 70 at the locking position, and the cable 13 can be extended from the housing 20 at the release position.

  Similarly to the insulating member 13 </ b> B of the cable 13, the holding member 62 is preferably made of a buffer member that softens external impacts, and is made of a material having higher buffering properties than the housing 20.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cable 13 has the same length as the peripheral length of the entire outer periphery of the housing 20, and is held by the holding member 62, thereby extending along the entire outer periphery of the housing 20. It is wrapped around. Note that the cable 13 is not limited to a configuration that is held around the entire circumference of the housing 20, and may be held along at least one side of the housing 20. Further, the cable 13 may be configured to be held on the outer periphery at least once.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the cable 13 may be configured to be longer than the peripheral length of the portion of the outer periphery of the housing 20 where the cable 13 is held.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the cable 13 has a space K for allowing a finger to pass between an intermediate portion between one end and the other end and the housing 20. The middle part of the cable 13 can be gripped by passing a finger through the space K, and the cable 13 can be used as a gripping part.

  In the configuration in which the entire cable 13 is disposed along the outer periphery of the housing 20, as shown in FIG. 10, a grip portion 23 that can be gripped by a person handling the electronic cassette 12 is provided separately. Also good.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cable 13 may be configured not to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the housing 20 when being held by the holding mechanism 60.

  In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 12, the groove portion 70 is formed to a depth that allows the entire cable 13 to be accommodated. When the cable 13 is accommodated in the groove portion 70, the outer edge of the cable 13 is It is located inside the outer peripheral surface of the body 20.

  The holding member 62 is linearly formed along the outer peripheral surface of the housing 20. Even in this case, the holding member 62 is released from the locking position (see FIG. 12A) where the engaging portion 66 is inserted into the engaging recess 68 and locked, and the locked state is released. And a release position (see FIG. 12B).

  The holding member 62 holds the cable 13 accommodated in the groove portion 70 at the locking position, and the cable 13 can be extended from the housing 20 at the release position.

  11 and 12, the holding member 62 protrudes outside the outer peripheral surface of the housing 20, but the holding member 62 is also configured to be positioned inside the outer peripheral surface of the housing 20. May be.

(Operation of the electronic cassette 12 according to the present embodiment)
Next, the operation of the electronic cassette 12 according to this embodiment will be described.

  In the electronic cassette 12 according to the present embodiment, when the electronic cassette 12 is handled (for example, when the electronic cassette 12 is carried or when the electronic cassette 12 is attached to the photographing table), the cable 13 is provided along the groove portion 70. It is held by a plurality of holding members 62.

  As a result, the cable 13 is wound around the housing 20 and integrated with the housing 20, so that even when the electronic cassette 12 is handled while the cable 13 is connected to the housing 20, the cable 13 is less likely to get in the way.

  Therefore, in the electronic cassette 12 of the present embodiment, it is necessary to remove the cable 13 from the housing 20 and carry it separately from the housing 20 or to bundle the cables 13 and carry both the cable 13 and the housing 20. The electronic cassette 12 is easy to handle.

  Further, when the electronic cassette 12 is handled, even when an external impact is applied to the electronic cassette 12 when the electronic cassette 12 is dropped or bumped, the housing 20 is subjected to the impact before the housing 20 receives the impact. The cable 13 that protrudes outside the outer peripheral surface can be received, and the components in the housing 20 can be protected from impact.

  Furthermore, since the cable 13 is configured to be covered with a buffer member that softens external impact, the impact received by the cable 13 is difficult to propagate to the housing 20, and the components in the housing 20 are protected from impact. It can be protected more effectively.

  Further, by using the extra length portion of the cable 13 as a grip portion, the electronic cassette 12 can be easily carried. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a separate grip portion, the number of parts can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an arrangement of electronic cassettes at the time of radiographic imaging. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal structure of the electronic cassette. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of the electronic cassette. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the cable is connected to the charging device. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of an electronic cassette when a cable is used for wired communication. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where the cable is connected to the display device. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state where the cable is held along the outer periphery of the housing. FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing the holding mechanism in an enlarged manner. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a case where a cable is used as a gripping portion. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which a grip portion is separately provided. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cable is accommodated in the housing and held along the outer periphery of the housing. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the holding mechanism in an enlarged manner in the configuration shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

12 Electronic cassette (portable radiation detector)
13 Cable 13B Insulation member (buffer member)
15 Display device (external device)
17 Charging device (external device)
20 Housing 60 Holding mechanism K Space

Claims (5)

A housing,
A cable having one end connected to the housing and the other end connected to an external device;
A holding mechanism for holding the cable along the outer periphery of the housing;
A portable radiation detector.   The portable radiation detector according to claim 1, wherein the cable protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the housing while being held by the holding mechanism.   The portable radiation detector according to claim 1, wherein the cable is configured to be covered with a buffer member that softens an external impact.   The portable radiation detector according to claim 1, wherein the cable is longer than a peripheral length of the outer periphery.   The portable radiation detector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cable has a space for gripping the intermediate portion through a finger between the intermediate portion and the housing.

Images