JPS6195341A - Radiation image information recording and reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the time for recording and reading by conveying a storable phosphor sheet along the prescribed circulation passage, inputting the information on the kind of photography and the irradiating conditions of radiations, executing recording of a radiation image and setting the conditions for reading and processing the image. CONSTITUTION:The storable phosphor sheet 2 is conveyed on the circulating passage 1 by a circulative conveying means 3. An image recording part 5, an image reading part 6 and erasing part 7 are successively disposed on the passage 1. the radiation emitted from a radiation source 10 is transmitted through the subject 11 and radiation image information is stored and recorded to the sheet 2 in the recording part 5. An excitation light source 62 to emit excitation light 11 and a photoelectric reading means 63 to read accelerated luminous light are provided to the reading part 6. The image signal read by the same is sent to an image processing part 8. A condition setting part 9 is provided in the position where said part can be operated from the outside of the device and the kind of the photography and the irradiating conditions of radiations are inputted thereto. The reading conditions of the reading part 6 and the processing conditions of the processing part 8 are determined in accordance with the inputted information. The reading part 6 and the processing part 8 are thus controlled and the time for recording and reading is thus reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of the invention) 8. - Accumulate and record the information, then irradiate it with excitation light, detect the light emitted by stimulated luminescence according to the accumulated and recorded image information, read the image information and convert it into an electrical signal, The present invention relates to a radiographic image information recording/reading device that performs image processing on electrical signals in response to radiation, and more particularly to a radiation image information recording/reading device in which a stimulable phosphor sheet is circulated and reused within the device. .

(Technical aspect of the invention and prior art) Certain phosphors emit radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, □γ-rays, electron beams, etc.)
Cow irradiated with ultraviolet rays, etc., East.

A part of the energy of the rays is stored in the phosphor, and then the firefly and the phosphor are irradiated with excitation light such as visible light.

Then, the phosphor exhibits stimulated luminescence depending on the accumulated energy. Fluorescent light that exhibits these properties is considered to be a stimulable fluorescent material.

Utilizing this mmfim optical system, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is recorded on a sheet of stimulable phosphor, and this is scanned with excitation light to produce stimulated luminescence. A radiation image information recording and reproducing method has been proposed in which a radiographic image of the subject's voice is obtained by processing the image signal and is suitable for diagnosis. Xiong, No. 56-11395, No. 55
'-163472, 56-104645, 55
-116.340 etc.). With this method, the final image can even be reproduced as a hard copy.
・It may be played on a display such as a CRT or CRT. In such a radiation image information recording and reproducing method, the stimulable phosphor sheet does not ultimately record image information, but temporarily stores the image in order to provide the image to the final recording medium as described above. Since it carries information, this stimulable phosphor sheet can be used repeatedly, and it is extremely economical to use it repeatedly.

In addition, a mobile station such as an
When taking pictures of I, it is inconvenient to stack a large number of stimulable phosphor sheets, and there is a limit to the number of sheets that can be moved and skewered. A stimulable phosphor sheet is mounted on a moving vehicle so that it can be used repeatedly, and the radiation image information of each subject is recorded on it. Qi 7th class k
If images are recorded on a recording medium with a large i-value capacity and the stimulable phosphor sheet is reused, it is possible to take 111s* images of a large number of subjects using a moving vehicle, making it a practical tool. Extremely useful - Furthermore, by performing continuous and one-shot imaging through this cyclical reuse, it is possible to increase the speed of screening in mass medical examinations, and the practical effect is extremely large.

In addition, in order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet in this way, the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet after the stimulated luminescence light has been read can be removed using, for example, JP-A-56-11.
No. 392, No. 56-12599, the residual release @tj! All you have to do is erase the image and use this stimulable phosphor sheet again for recording radiographic images, □ ・ ・
.

Based on the above-mentioned viewpoint, the present applicant has proposed a circulation conveyance means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of accumulating and recording both radiation images to a predetermined circulation passage, and , by passing radiation through the sheet and irradiating the object with radiation, the radiation image information of the object is accumulated and recorded on this sheet. An excitation light source is located on the right side of the image recording section and emits excitation light that scans the sheet on which radiographic image information is stored and recorded, and the excitation light source that emits excitation light that scans the sheet scanned by this excitation light reads the emission and luminescence light emitted from the scanned sheet. an N image reading section having a photoelectric reading means for reading image signals; An 8!j□ removal section that releases the residual radiation energy on the sheet prior to the above is incorporated into one device, and the 8!j□ removal section is assembled into a single device, and the 8!j□ removal section is repeatedly placed between the above sections. We previously proposed the late QA line/image information recording/reading device β (hereinafter referred to as built-in type device), which was reused (Japanese patent application filed in 1973).
No. 8-66730).

Since the radiographic image information recording and reproducing system using the above-mentioned device is usually used for medical diagnosis of the human body, this system produces visible images that are suitable for diagnostic purposes and have excellent observation and interpretability. required to obtain. In this case, what kind of visible image is suitable for the purpose, e.g. what output density level or Il
Whether the range of the reference level or the contrast is suitable for diagnosis differs depending on the purpose.

Therefore, in order to obtain a more preferable visible image, when the image reading unit reads the radiation image information recorded on the sheet, it is necessary to use an image signal that can output a visible image more suitable for the purpose of diagnosis. In order to obtain the desired results, it is desirable to perform reading according to reading conditions according to the purpose.

Furthermore, since this system further improves diagnostic performance by subjecting the image signals obtained by reading to appropriate image processing, it is necessary to set the image processing conditions to the most favorable conditions.

This image processing includes, for example, various contrast adjustments, density level adjustments, image gradation processing, frequency processing, non-sharp mask processing, etc. to improve the diagnostic performance of the imaged area.
It is meant to include all possible image processing or subtraction of images, etc.

The above reading conditions and image processing conditions include the part of the subject to be imaged (head, chest, etc.), the imaging method (plain imaging, contrast-enhanced imaging, tomography, etc.), and the diagnostic purpose (bone grafting, etc.). It is set and adjusted in consideration of the type of imaging, including whether to inspect the morphology or the running condition of the 16N tube, etc.), the tube voltage of the radiation source, the tube current,
It is determined according to the radiation "width conditions" such as irradiation time and focal spot size.

As a method for setting the reading conditions and image processing conditions to the optimum conditions, instead of determining each condition directly from the type of imaging and irradiation conditions, the method is to set the reading conditions and image processing conditions to the optimum conditions. image v
A stimulable phosphor sheet on which I information is accumulated and recorded is scanned with excitation light, and the stimulated luminescent light emitted from the sheet by this scanning is read by a photoelectric reading means according to predetermined reading conditions to generate an electrical image signal. 1. Prior to the book reading, the sheet 1- is scanned in advance with excitation light of a lower level than the excitation light used for this book reading, and the exhaust light emitted by this scanning is accumulated and recorded on this sheet. Image processing when performing pre-reading to read an outline of radiation image information, and performing predetermined image processing on the reading conditions and/or the electrical image signal obtained by the main reading based on the radiation all information obtained by this pre-reading. Conventionally, a method of determining the conditions has been adopted.
There is a problem with 11ffl, which is particularly inefficient when a large number of patients are to be examined, such as in a group medical examination that requires high speed. Furthermore, since the sheet is irradiated with excitation light when pre-reading, the excitation light beam is worn out quickly, and the sheet itself is frequently irradiated with excitation light, resulting in a reduction in the number of times it can be used.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and eliminates the need for pre-reading as in the past, and improves the setting of reading conditions when reading image information and the processing during image processing. The object of the present invention is to provide a built-in type device that has a mechanism that allows setting conditions to be carried out with simple operations.

(Structure of the Invention) The built-in type device according to the present invention includes a circulation conveyance means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of accumulating and recording radiation image information along a predetermined circulation passage; an image recording section that accumulates and records radiation image information of the subject on the sheet by irradiating the sheet with radiation through the subject; Accumulate In ij! a 1lil image reading unit having an excitation light source that emits excitation light to scan the recorded sheet, and a photoelectric reading means for reading stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet scanned by the excitation light to obtain an image signal; The picture fl! It is connected to the photoelectric reading means of the reading section, and performs image processing on the image signal. 1ff
an erasing section which is located in one path and causes the residual radiation energy on the sheet to be emitted before the image is recorded on the sheet after the image has been read in the image reading section; 1 lil! an input means for inputting information regarding the type of I5' and the radiation irradiation conditions; At least one of the conditions is determined, and the image is processed according to the determined reading condition and/or image processing condition. The image processing apparatus is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the operation of the reading section and/or the image processing section.

As mentioned above, the type of imaging refers to the region to be imaged, the imaging method, the purpose of diagnosis, etc., and the radiation irradiation conditions refer to the tube voltage, tube current, irradiation time, focal spot size, etc. of the radiation source.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, actual IM aspects of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

(A) will explain.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a device according to the first invention.

As shown in the figure, this device has an L-shaped circulation path 1, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is circulated and conveyed on this circulation path 1 by a circulation conveyance means 3 such as a conveyance roller or a conveyance belt. .

On the circulation path 1, there are an image recording section (photographing section) 5, an image reading section 6, and an erasing section 7.
mA"11ゝv T ji7j'Ciii! m 2'
tL T°゛(4ru.

In the m-shaped section 5, the radiation emitted from the radiation source 10 passes through the subject 11 and enters the sheet 2, so that the radiation image □ information of the subject is stored on the sheet 2.
& recorded.

The photographed sheet is driven along the W41'a path.
The image is transported in the direction of arrow A by a circulating transport means 3 such as a roller or a transport belt, and enters the image reading section 6.゛The image reading unit 6 includes an excitation light source 62 that emits excitation light 61 of a laser beam that scans the sheet 2, and a photo source that reads the stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet 2 by scanning the excitation light and obtains an electrical image signal. It is composed of a photoelectric reading means '63 such as Maru et al.
64 is a carbanometer mirror. This image reading section 6
Since the sheet 2 is read while advancing at a constant speed, there is a space 65 for one sheet where the sheet 2 immediately before the start of reading R is located, and a space 65 for one sheet where the sheet 2 immediately after the reading is completed. It has a space 66 of . An image processing section 8 is connected to the photoelectric reading means 63 of the image reading section 6, and one image processing is performed in this image processing section □8 on the image signal transmitted from the photoelectric reading means 63'.

The read sheet 2 is transferred to the erasing section 7 by the circulating conveyance means 3.
sent to.

The erasing unit 7 is equipped with a large number of erasing light sources 71 such as fluorescent lamps, tungsten lamps, sodium lamps, xenon lamps, iodine lamps, etc., and the sheet 2 is irradiated with visible light by the erasing light sources 71 to remove the remaining particles on the sheet. A release of radiation energy takes place.

The erasing section sheet is again sent to the photographing section 5 by the circulating conveyance means 3. - A condition setting section 9 is provided at a position that can be operated from the outside of the device of the present invention. This condition setting section 9 is an input board 9
On A, indicate the part of the subject to be imaged (head or chest, etc.), the imaging method (simple imaging, contrast imaging, location III imaging, etc.),
A keyboard, 9a (see FIG. 2), which is an input means for inputting information regarding the type of imaging and the type of imaging, consisting of diagnostic purposes (whether to examine the morphology of bone contact, the running state of blood vessels, etc.), and the aforementioned imaging The apparatus is equipped with an adjustable tie full 9b which is an input means for inputting information regarding the irradiation line f1, such as the tube voltage, tube current, radiation irradiation time, focal spot size, etc. of the radiation source 10, which are set according to the type of radiation source 10. Further, the condition setting section 9 performs i-contact control of the radiation source 10 based on the information regarding the irradiation conditions inputted by the input means 9b.
The radiation controller 9C determines the reading conditions in the image FA reading section 6 and/or the image processing conditions in the image processing section 8 based on the information regarding the type of imaging and the irradiation conditions inputted by the input means 9a and 9b. condition setting memory 9B for setting optimal conditions;
Reading control [1-La 9D and image processing controller 9
It is equipped with E. Regarding the function of this condition setting section 9,
This will be explained with reference to the block diagram shown in the figure.

Information regarding the type of imaging and irradiation conditions is input to the condition setting section 9 by selecting the keyboard 9a provided on the input board 9A and adjusting the adjustment dial 9b. The information regarding the irradiation conditions is first directly transmitted to the radiation controller 9.
Based on the sent information, the radiation controller 9C issues a radiation irradiation condition setting signal 9C and sends it to the radiation source 10. In accordance with this signal 9C, radiation is irradiated from the radiation source 10 under conditions that match the input irradiation conditions.

On the other hand, information regarding the type of imaging and irradiation conditions is provided in advance.
The data is sent to the condition setting memory 9B which stores reading conditions and image processing conditions for each type of illumination and irradiation conditions. This condition setting memory 9B sends an image processing condition setting signal 9e via an image processing controller 9E based on each input information.
The reading condition setting signal 9 is sent via the reading controller 9D.
d, and appropriate image processing conditions and/or reading conditions are set in the image processing section 8 and/or image reading section 6, respectively, based on the input information.

Note that when determining the reading conditions, it is not necessary to determine all the reading conditions based on the input information regarding the type of shadow and the irradiation conditions. It is also possible to determine only some reading conditions. Examples of such reading conditions include reading gain and scale factor. It is a parameter that indicates the left and right position of the image signal, and it regulates the level of the output signal (image signal) that an input signal of a predetermined level input to the reading means (for example, a predetermined amount of stimulated luminescence light) is output as an output signal. Furthermore, the scale factor is a parameter that indicates the slope of the line indicating the reading conditions in Fig. 3, and is a parameter that indicates the relationship between the size of the level range of the input signal input to the reading means and the size of the level range of the output signal. It regulates the

By the way, the fruits I explained above! In this embodiment, the information regarding the type of imaging and the information regarding the irradiation conditions are independently provided by the users hL and -U, but the irradiation conditions can be determined automatically depending on the type of imaging, and the input operation is m. It is also possible to enter only information regarding the type of light and determine the image processing conditions and reading conditions. That is, an irradiation condition setting memory that stores irradiation conditions for each type of shadow may be provided in the control section, and image processing conditions and reading conditions may be set based on signals emitted from this irradiation condition setting memory.

Note that the condition setting section 9 does not necessarily have to be numbered in the main body of the apparatus, and may be installed, for example, in an operation room so that only the condition setting signal is transmitted to the main body of the apparatus and the radiation source.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

This apparatus is exactly the same as the above-mentioned apparatus in terms of the mechanism in which sheets are conveyed in a circulation manner to the image reading section 6, erasing section 7, etc. of the INN county section 5 by means of circulation conveyance means, and image information is repeatedly recorded and read. are given the same numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

The photoelectric reading means 63 of the image reading section 6 is connected to an image f&processing section (image processing device) 18 provided outside the apparatus. In addition, the type of Md shadow and the radiation irradiation conditions are input to the position that can be operated from the outside of the recording/reading device, and based on the input information, the reading conditions in the image reading section 6 and/or the A condition setting section 9 for determining image processing conditions in the image processing section 18 is provided.

Regarding the details of this condition setting section 9, see
All! I will omit it here because it is completely the same as Mr. It goes without saying that this image processing section 18 may be placed at any position within the range that can be controlled by a condition setting 19 provided in the main body of the apparatus.

Of course, as explained in the first embodiment, the condition setting section 9 is separated from the main body of the apparatus and provided at a different location.

It may be.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, according to the apparatus of the present invention, the reading conditions and/or image processing conditions select m shadow types from among a large number of types, and the radiation irradiation conditions select the m shadow types from among a large number of types. It is set by a simple operation of adjusting according to the
There is no need to read ahead as in the past, and the time required to read records is shortened, making it particularly effective during group medical examinations. Furthermore, as the consumption of excitation light is reduced, the age at which the flexible sheet is irradiated with excitation light during one circulation is also reduced, and the number of times the flexible sheet can be used is increased.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of reading conditions, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention. 1... Circulation path 2... Stimulative phosphor sheet 3... Circulation conveyance path 5... Image recording section 6...
Image reading section 7... Erasing section 8... Image processing section
9... Condition setting section 9A... Input board 9B
...Condition setting memory 9D...Reading controller 9E...Image processing controller 1-roller 18...Image processing device

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Circulating conveyance means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of accumulating and recording radiographic image information along a predetermined circulation path; in the circulation path, radiation is irradiated through the sheet through a subject; an image recording section that accumulates and records radiographic image information of the subject on the sheet; and an excitation light source that emits excitation light that scans the sheet on which the radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded in the image recording section, in the circulation path. an image reading section having a light source and a photoelectric reading means for reading stimulated luminescence light emitted from a sheet scanned by the excitation light to obtain an image signal; connected to the photoelectric reading means of the image reading section; an image processing unit that performs image processing on the signal; and an image processing unit that is located in the circulation path and that processes residual radiation energy on the sheet after image reading is performed in the image reading unit prior to recording an image on the sheet. an erasing section that is emitted; an input means for inputting information regarding the type of imaging and the radiation irradiation conditions; and a reading condition for the image reading section and an image processing section for the image processing section based on the information input by the input means. It is characterized by comprising a control means that determines at least one of the processing conditions and controls the operation of the image reading section and/or the image processing section according to the determined reading condition and/or image processing condition. Radiographic image information recording/reading device.