U.S. patent application number 14/600876 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-06 for radiographic imaging system.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONICA MINOLTA, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is KONICA MINOLTA, INC.. Invention is credited to Tomohiko HAGI, Naoki HAYASHI.
Application Number | 20150216497 14/600876 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53685393 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150216497 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HAYASHI; Naoki ; et
al. |
August 6, 2015 |
Radiographic Imaging System
Abstract
A radiographic imaging system includes a radiation source
configured to irradiate a subject with radiation, multiple
radiographic imaging apparatuses each including multiple radiation
detecting elements arranged two-dimensionally, and configured to
read charges generated in the radiation detecting elements as a
result of irradiation with radiation as image data and transmit a
signal in response to user's operation, and a console configured to
register multiple radiographing order information items each
including information indicating which radiographic imaging
apparatus is to be used for conducting radiographing, or acquire
the registered radiographing order information items, wherein upon
receiving the signal from one radiographic imaging apparatus, the
console changes specification of information on the radiographic
imaging apparatus in radiographing order information item
determined for radiographing to be conducted next to information on
the radiographic imaging apparatus without switching the
radiographing order information item to another radiographing order
information item.
Inventors: |
HAYASHI; Naoki;
(Higashimurayama-shi, JP) ; HAGI; Tomohiko;
(Hino-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KONICA MINOLTA, INC. |
Chiyoda-ku |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
53685393 |
Appl. No.: |
14/600876 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
378/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 6/4283 20130101;
A61B 6/467 20130101; A61B 6/545 20130101; A61B 6/548 20130101; A61B
6/566 20130101; A61B 6/4233 20130101; A61B 6/4494 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 6/00 20060101
A61B006/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2014 |
JP |
2014-010186 |
Claims
1. A radiographic imaging system comprising: a radiation source
configured to irradiate a subject with radiation; multiple
radiographic imaging apparatuses each including multiple radiation
detecting elements arranged two-dimensionally, and configured to
read charges generated in the radiation detecting elements as a
result of irradiation with radiation as image data and transmit a
signal in response to user's operation; and a console configured to
register multiple radiographing order information items each
including information indicating which of the multiple radiographic
imaging apparatuses is to be used for conducting radiographing, or
acquire the registered multiple radiographing order information
items, wherein upon receiving the signal from one of the
radiographic imaging apparatuses, the console changes specification
of information on the radiographic imaging apparatus in the
radiographing order information item determined for radiographing
to be conducted next to information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus from which the signal is received without switching the
radiographing order information item to another radiographing order
information item.
2. The radiographic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein
the console changes specification of information on the
radiographic imaging apparatus in the radiographing order
information item determined for radiographing to be conducted next
to the information on the radiographic imaging apparatus from which
the signal is received, and at the same time, changes specification
of information on the radiographic imaging apparatus in another
radiographing order information item specifying information on the
radiographic imaging apparatus before the change among the
radiographing order information items for which radiographing has
not been conducted to the information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus from which the signal is received.
3. The radiographic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein
the console changes specification of information on the
radiographic imaging apparatus in the radiographing order
information item determined for radiographing to be conducted next
to the information on the radiographic imaging apparatus from which
the signal is received, and when another radiographing order
information item specifying information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus before the change is present among the radiographing
order information items for which radiographing has not been
conducted, the console makes an informing unit announce the
presence of the radiographing order information item, and when
predetermined operation is conducted by the user or when
predetermined cancellation operation has not been conducted by the
user within a predetermined period of time after the announcement,
the console changes the specification of the information on the
radiographic imaging apparatus in the other radiographing order
information item to the information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus from which the signal is received.
4. The radiographic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein
when second operation in a manner different from that of the
operation is conducted by the user, each of the radiographic
imaging apparatuses transmits a second signal different from the
signal, and when the second signal is received from one of the
radiographic imaging apparatuses, the console changes the
radiographing order information item determined for radiographing
to be conducted next to the radiographing order information item
specifying information on the radiographic imaging apparatus from
which the second signal is received among the radiographing order
information items for which radiographing has not been
conducted.
5. The radiographic imaging system according to claim wherein when
second operation in a manner different from that of the operation
is conducted by the user, each of the radiographic imaging
apparatuses transmits a second signal different from the signal,
when the second signal is received from one of the radiographic
imaging apparatuses, the console makes an informing unit announce
that the radiographing order information item determined for
radiographing to be conducted next is changed to the radiographing
order information item specifying the information on the
radiographic imaging apparatus from which the second signal is
received among the radiographing order information items for which
radiographing has not been conducted, and when predetermined
operation is conducted by the user or when predetermined
cancellation operation has not been conducted by the user within a
predetermined period of time after the announcement, the console
conducts the change.
6. The radiographic imaging system according to claim 3, wherein
the informing unit is a portable terminal carried by the user, when
the predetermined operation or the predetermined cancellation
operation is conducted on the portable terminal by the user, the
portable terminal transmits a signal indicating that the
predetermined operation has been conducted or a signal indicating
that the predetermined cancellation operation has been conducted to
the console, and when the signal indicating that the predetermined
operation has been conducted is received from the portable
terminal, the console determines that the predetermined operation
has been conducted by the user, or when the signal indicating that
the predetermined cancellation operation has been conducted within
a predetermined period of time is received from the portable
terminal, the console determines that the predetermined
cancellation operation has been conducted by the user within a
predetermined period of time.
Description
[0001] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2014-010186 filed on Jan. 23, 2014 including description, claims,
drawings, and abstract are incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a radiographic imaging
system.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Radiographic images captured by using radiation typified by
X-ray images are widely used for the purpose of disease diagnosis
and the like. Such medical radiographic images have been captured
by using screen films, but computed radiography (CR) apparatuses
using photostimulable phosphor sheets are then developed for
digitization of radiographic images, and radiographic imaging
apparatuses configured to detect emitted radiation by radiation
detecting elements and acquire the radiation as digital image data
are developed.
[0006] Radiographic imaging apparatuses of this type are known as
flat panel detectors (FPD) and have been developed as what is
called special-purpose machines (also called fixed type apparatuses
or the like). In recent years, portable type (also called cassette
type or the like) radiographic imaging apparatuses that are made
portable by accommodating radiation detecting elements and the like
in housings are developed and in practical use.
[0007] When the body of a patient that is a subject is radiographed
in a facility such as a hospital by using such a special-purpose or
portable radiographic imaging apparatus, a radiographic imaging
system in which the special-purpose radiographic imaging apparatus
is installed in a radiography room in the facility or the portable
radiographic imaging apparatus is brought in a radiography room and
radiographing is carried out by controlling the radiographic
imaging apparatus radiation generating apparatus and the like by a
console installed outside of the radiography room may be built.
[0008] Such a radiographic imaging system is usually built so that
radiographic imaging is carried out on the basis of radiographing
order information shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later,
for example. The radiographing order information specifies
information, instructions and the like on radiographic imaging
determined on the basis of questioning of a patient, and specifies
and registers items including patient information such as a patient
ID, the site of the body of the patient to be radiographed (that
is, the site to be radiographed), and radiographing conditions such
as the radiographing direction and the size of the radiographic
imaging apparatus (FPD) to be used for imaging, for example. The
configuration and the like of the radiographing order information
will be described later.
[0009] A console manages the radiographing order information on
radiographic imaging to be conducted on a day by acquiring and
selecting the radiographing order information, and when a
radiographic image (also referred to as an image for providing
diagnosis or the like) generated on the basis of the image data and
the like transmitted from the radiographic imaging apparatus is
approved by an operator such as a radiological technologist after
radiographic imaging, the console associates the radiographic image
with the radiographing order information to perform a determination
process.
[0010] Since radiographing is conducted focusing on the
radiographing order information in this manner, radiographic
imaging systems configured to display, on the screen of a console,
icons I1 to I4, etc. associated with radiographing order
information items on radiographing to be conducted, for example, so
that an operator such as a radiological technologist can easily and
properly conduct radiographing by operating icons and the like by
using the console are developed in recent years as shown in FIG. 9,
for example, which will be described later (refer to WO 2011/142157
A1, for example).
[0011] In particular, WO 2011/142157 A1 discloses a radiographic
imaging system in which a console selects radiographing order
information specifying radiographing conditions under which
radiographic imaging can be conducted with the smallest degree of
change of a current state of a special-purpose or portable
radiographic imaging apparatus, a radiation source of a radiation
generating apparatus and the like present in a radiography room,
for example, on the basis of the current state, that is, the
radiographic imaging apparatus being in operation, the direction of
the radiation source, and the like. Furthermore, an icon associated
with the radiographing order information is displayed in a manner
different from the other icons (hereinafter referred to as focused
display) by displaying the icon with a predetermined color, or
displayed with a border of a predetermined color so that the icon
will be highlighted as shown in FIG. 9, which will be described
later. The process described above is repeated each time
radiographing is completed, and the focused display is
automatically switched each time radiographing is completed.
[0012] According to the radiographic imaging system, the operator
such as a radiological technologist can efficiently conduct
radiographing by conducting radiographing according to the switched
focused display, and the radiographic imaging system is easy to use
for the operator. Refer to WO 2011/142157 A1 for details of such a
radiographic imaging system.
[0013] Furthermore, in the radiographic imaging system disclosed in
WO 2011/142157 A1, when the operator such as a radiological
technologist clicks an icon different from an icon displayed in a
focused manner as a result of automatic determination by the
console as described above, for example, for conducting
radiographing different from radiographing associated with the icon
displayed in a focused manner, the console is configured to give
priority to the intention of the operator, switch the focused
display to the icon clicked by the operator and control the
radiation generating apparatus to conduct radiographing relating to
the radiographing order information associated with the icon.
[0014] In addition to the operation by the console as described
above, when the operator such as a radiological technologist
presses a power switch or a selection switch (see 37 and 38 in FIG.
2, which will be described later) of any of radiographic imaging
apparatuses in a radiography room and if the selected radiographic
imaging apparatus is different from the radiographic imaging
apparatus specified by the radiographing order information
associated with the icon displayed in a focused manner, the console
is configured to give priority to the intention of the operator,
determine that the radiographic imaging apparatus whose power
switch or selection switch is pressed is a radiographic imaging
apparatus to be used for radiographing to be conducted next, and
switches the focused display to the icon associated with the
radiographing order information specifying the radiographic imaging
apparatus.
[0015] With such a configuration, the radiographic imaging system
is also easy to use for the operator in that priority is given to
the intention of the operator such as a radiological technologist
and the icon to be displayed in a focused manner (that is, the
radiographing order information associated with the icon) can be
properly changed according to the intention.
[0016] When radiographing is conducted multiple times by such a
radiographic imaging system, a radiographic image generated from
image data obtained by radiographing needs to be reliably
associated with the radiographing order information of the
radiographing. In other words, configuration is required to be such
that a radiographic image generated as a result of certain
radiographing will not be associated with radiographing order
information different from the radiographing order information of
the radiographing.
[0017] With the radiographic imaging system disclosed in WO
2011/142157 A1 described above, however, it is found that the
following problem may be caused. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9
to be described later, for example, when the operator such as a
radiological technologist moves into the radiography room and
presses a power switch or a selection switch of a radiographic
imaging apparatus having a size of 10.times.12 inches, for example
to conduct radiographing of the neck of a patient (that is,
radiographing associated with an icon I3 in FIG. 9) in a state in
which icons I1 to I4 associated with selected radiographing order
information items (see FIG. 7 to be described later) are displayed
on a screen of the console, an ID "FPD-002" that is identification
information of the radiographic imaging apparatus is transmitted
from the radiographic imaging apparatus to the console.
[0018] Upon receiving the information, the console determines that
the operator such as a radiological technologist has not selected
radiographing associated with the icon I3 that is displayed in a
focused manner (radiographing using the radiographic imaging
apparatus of 11.times.14 inches) but has selected radiographing
associated with the icon I4 using the radiographic imaging
apparatus of 10.times.12 inches since the size of the radiographic
imaging apparatus with "FPD-002" is 10.times.12 inches, and
switches the focused display to the icon I4 to give priority to the
intention of the operator.
[0019] Thus, although the operator such as a radiological
technologist intends to conduct radiographing associated with the
icon I3 for radiographing the "neck" of the patient by using the
radiographic imaging apparatus of 10.times.12 inches, the console
determines that radiographing associated with the icon I4 for
radiographing an "upper arm" of the patient is to be conducted and
switches the focused display to the icon I4. If the operator
conducts radiographing by applying the radiographic imaging
apparatus to the neck of the patient without noticing the above,
the console generates a radiographic image on the basis of image
data, etc. transmitted from the radiographic imaging apparatus but
associates the radiographic image of the "neck" with the
radiographing order information associated with the icon I4, that
is, the radiographing order information specifying radiographing of
the "upper arm" of the patient.
[0020] It is found that a radiographic image generated by
conducting radiographing may be associated with radiographing order
information (the radiographing order information associated with
the icon I4 in the example above) different from the radiographing
order information (the radiographing order information associated
with the icon I3 in the example above) on the radiographing as
described above. This situation is not necessarily a peculiar
situation but a perfectly possible situation during normal
radiographing operation.
[0021] Specifically, the aforementioned situation may occur in such
a case where the operator such as a radiological technologist uses
a radiographic imaging apparatus of 10.times.12 inches by mistake
although the radiographing order information associated with the
icon I3 specifies 11.times.14 inches as the size of the
radiographic imaging apparatus to be used and the size "11.times.14
inches" is displayed on the icon I3, for example.
[0022] In addition, the aforementioned situation may also occur in
such a case where the size of the radiographic imaging apparatus to
be used for radiographing the "neck" of a patient is registered in
radiographing order information as "11.times.14" by mistake
although the radiographic imaging apparatus of 10.times.12 inches
is intended to be used therefor in generating the radiographing
order information in advance and the operator uses the radiographic
imaging apparatus of 10.times.12 inches without noticing that
"11.times.14" is incorrectly displayed on the icon I3, for
example.
[0023] Furthermore, the aforementioned situation may also occur in
such a case where the operator is aware that the radiographing
order information associated with the icon I3 specifies to use the
radiographic imaging apparatus of 11.times.14 inches but determines
that the size 11.times.14 inches is too large at the point of
actually using the radiographic imaging apparatus or cannot help
using the radiographic imaging apparatus of 10.times.12 inches
owing to a dead battery of the radiographic imaging apparatus of
11.times.14 inches, for example. Furthermore, in such a case where
the size of a focused grid provided in a radiography room does not
match with that of the radiographic imaging apparatus that is
originally planned to be used and it is difficult to position the
focused grid on the radiographic imaging apparatus, the size of the
radiographic imaging apparatus may be changed to match with that of
the focused grid.
[0024] Furthermore, the aforementioned situation may also occur in
such a case where the operator such as a radiological technologist
intends to change the scintillator type of the radiographic imaging
apparatus from a radiographic imaging apparatus (having a size of
11.times.14 inches) having a CsI columnar crystal scintillator to a
radiographic imaging apparatus (having a size of 10.times.12
inches) having a GOS (Gd.sub.2O.sub.2S) layered scintillator, for
example.
[0025] As described above, it is common for operators such as
radiological technologists to change a radiographic imaging
apparatus to be used for radiographing to another radiographic
imaging apparatus in normal radiographing operation. It is,
however, necessary to avoid such a situation in which a
radiographic image is generated by the console after radiographing
(radiographing associated with the icon I3 in the example above) is
conducted but the radiographic image is associated with
radiographing order information (radiographing order information
associated with the icon I4) different from that on the
radiographing by mistake as described above as a result of changing
the radiographic imaging apparatus to be used in this manner.
[0026] Such a mistake is caused because switching of focused
display of icons takes place in such a manner that is not intended
by an operator such as a radiological technologist and without
being noticed by the operator. In other words, this is caused
because the console switches radiographing order information
specified for radiographing to be conducted next to different
radiographing order information without being noticed by an
operator such as a radiological technologist.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The present invention has been made in view of the
aforementioned drawbacks, and an object thereof is to provide a
radiographic imaging system capable of prevent a console from
switching radiographing order information specified for
radiographing to be conducted next to different radiographing order
information in such a manner that is not intended by an operator
(user) such as a radiological technologist and correctly
associating a generated radiographic image with radiographing order
information.
[0028] To achieve the aforementioned object, according to an
aspect, a radiographic imaging system reflecting one aspect of the
present invention comprises: a radiation source configured to
irradiate a subject with radiation; multiple radiographic imaging
apparatuses each including multiple radiation detecting elements
arranged two-dimensionally, and configured to read charges
generated in the radiation detecting elements as a result of
irradiation with radiation as image data and transmit a signal in
response to user's operation; and a console configured to register
multiple radiographing order information items each including
information indicating which of the multiple radiographic imaging
apparatuses is to be used for conducting radiographing, or acquire
the registered multiple radiographing order information items,
wherein upon receiving the signal from one of the radiographic
imaging apparatuses, the console changes specification of
information on the radiographic imaging apparatus in the
radiographing order information item determined for radiographing
to be conducted next to information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus from which the signal is received without switching the
radiographing order information item to another radiographing order
information item.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the
present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings
which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not
intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention,
and wherein:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a
radiographic imaging system according to an embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an external appearance of a
radiographic imaging apparatus;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in
FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration of a sensor
board of the radiographic imaging apparatus;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a view explaining a bucky apparatus in which a
connector is provided inside of a cassette holding unit;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which
the radiographic imaging apparatus is inserted in a cradle and
connectors are connected to each other;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a table showing an example configuration of
radiographing order information;
[0037] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen
displaying the radiographing order information;
[0038] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen
displaying icons and the like associated with radiographing order
information items;
[0039] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing radiographing order information
in a state in which an "FPD size" is changed from the state of FIG.
8;
[0040] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which focused
display of icons is not changed but display in an icon I3 is
changed from the state of FIG. 9;
[0041] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of display of icons
and the like when radiographic imaging apparatuses having the seine
size are specified by radiographing order information items
associated with icons I3 and I4; and
[0042] FIG. 13 is a diagram explaining transition of focused
display of icons from the state of FIG. 9 in a configuration
example 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0043] Hereinafter, a radiographic imaging system according to an
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is
not limited to the illustrated examples.
[0044] In the following, what is called an indirect radiographic
imaging apparatus having a scintillator and the like and configured
to convert emitted radiation to light having a different wavelength
such as visible light to obtain an electrical signal will be
described as a radiographic imaging apparatus used in the
radiographic imaging system, but the present invention can also be
applied to what is called a direct radiographic imaging apparatus
configured to detect radiation directly using a radiation detecting
element without a scintillator or the like. Furthermore, although a
case in which the radiographic imaging apparatus is portable will
be described, the present invention can also be applied to a
special-purpose radiographic imaging apparatus as described above.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to shown examples
presented below.
[0045] [Regarding Configuration, etc. of Radiographic Imaging
System]
[0046] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a
radiographic imaging system according to the present embodiment.
Although a case in which a radiography room Ra and a console 58 are
associated in one-to-one correspondence with each other is shown in
FIG. 1, the present invention can also be applied to a radiographic
imaging system in which multiple radiography rooms Ra and a single
or multiple consoles 5B are connected via a network or the like,
for example, which is not shown. For example, the present invention
can also be applied to such a case in which one radiological
technologist or the like selects multiple radiographing order
information items by using one console and sequentially conduct
radiographing according to the multiple radiographing order
information items by using multiple radiography rooms.
[0047] A radiography room Ra is a room for irradiating a subject
that is part of the body of a patient (that is, a site of a patient
to be radiographed) with radiation to radiographing the subject,
and has installed therein a radiation source 52 or the like for a
radiation generating apparatus 57 for irradiating a subject with
radiation. The radiography room Ra is shielded with zinc or the
like to prevent leakage of radiation to outside of the room.
[0048] [Regarding Radiographic Imaging Apparatus]
[0049] Here, a radiographic imaging apparatus 1 used for
radiographic imaging in a radiographic imaging system 50 will be
described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an external appearance
of the radiographic imaging apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a
cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 2. Note that the
relative sizes of respective components in FIGS. 2, 3, etc. do not
necessarily reflect the actual relative sizes.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 includes a sensor panel SP including a scintillator 3,
a sensor board 4, etc. accommodated in a housing 2 having a
radiation incident surface R. One cover member 2B of the housing 2
is provided with a power switch 37, a selection switch 38, a
connector 39, an indicator 40 including LEDs or the like for
indicating a battery condition, an operating condition of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1, etc., and the like. In addition,
a cover member 2C, etc., on the opposite side of the housing 2 is
provided with an antenna device 41 (see FIG. 5, which will be
described later) that is a communication unit for wirelessly
transmitting image data D, etc. to the console 58 (see FIG. 1),
which will be described later, and that is embedded or arranged in
a certain manner. Alternatively, a cable that is not shown can be
attached to the connector 39 to transmit the image data D, etc., to
the console 58 in a wired manner.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, a base 31 is provided in the housing 2,
and the sensor board 4 is provided on the side of radiation
incident surface R of the base 31 (hereinafter simply referred to
as the upper surface side according to the vertical direction in
FIG. 3) with, a zinc thin sheet or the like, which is not shown,
therebetween. A scintillator board 34 is provided so that a
scintillator 3 configured to convert emitted radiation to light
such as visible light is arranged on the upper face side of the
sensor board 4. In addition, A PCB 33 on which electronic
components 32, etc. are arranged, a battery 24, etc. are mounted on
the lower surface side of the base 31. The sensor panel SP is
formed by the base 31, the sensor board 4, etc. in this manner. In
the present embodiment, a shock absorber 35 is provided between the
sensor panel SP and the housing 2.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, multiple scanning lines 5 and multiple
signal lines 6 arranged in such a manner that the lines intersect
one another on a surface 4a of the sensor board 4 on the side
opposite to the scintillator 3. Furthermore, a radiation detecting
element 7 is provided in each of small regions r defined by the
multiple scanning lines 5 and the multiple signal lines 6 on the
surface 4a of the sensor board 4. Thus, the radiation detecting
elements 7 are arranged two-dimensionally on the sensor board 4.
Although photodiodes are used for the radiation detecting elements
7 in the present embodiment, phototransistors or the like may be
used, for example.
[0053] The radiation detecting elements 7 are connected to the
signal lines 6 via thin film transistors (hereinafter referred to
as TFTs) 8 that are switch elements, and the signal lines 6 are
each connected to a readout circuit, which is not shown. The
radiation detecting elements 7 are configured such that charges are
generated therein in an amount corresponding to the amount of
emitted radiation (visible light obtained by converting emitted
radiation by the scintillator 3 in the present embodiment) and that
the charges flow from the radiation detecting elements 7 to the
readout circuits via the signal lines 6 and the TFTs 8 and are
converted into the image data D by the readout circuits when the
TFTs 8 are turned on in a process of reading the image data D. In
the present embodiment, charges generated in the radiation
detecting elements 7 as a result of emission of radiation are read
out as the image data D in this manner.
[0054] Note that an area P (that is, an area P inside of a
dashed-dotted line in FIG. 4) in which the radiation detecting
elements 7 are arranged corresponds to a detecting unit in the
present embodiment. Furthermore, the radiation detecting elements 7
are connected with bias lines 9, which are connected to a
connection line 10. A reverse bias voltage is applied to the
radiation detecting elements 7 from a bias supply, which is not
shown, via the bias lines 9 and the connection line 10. In
addition, the scanning lines 5, the signal lines 6, the connection
line 10 of the bias lines 9, etc. are connected to input/output
terminals 11, and connected to the readout circuits, the electronic
components 32, etc. described above via the input/output terminals
11.
[0055] In the present embodiment, upon reading the image data D
from the radiation detecting elements 7 as described above, the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is configured to perform a process
of reading out offset data O in a similar manner but in a state in
which radiation is not emitted and transmit the read image data D,
offset data O, etc. to the console 58 in a wireless or wired
manner. Part of the read image data D may be extracted as preview
image data Up and the preview image data Dp may be transmitted to
the console 58 prior to transmission of the image data D, etc.
[0056] [Regarding Other Apparatuses in Radiographic Imaging
System]
[0057] Next, apparatuses, etc. in the radiographic imaging system
50 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a bucky apparatus 51 can
be used with the portable radiographic imaging apparatus 1 mounted
on a cassette holding unit (also referred to as a cassette holder)
51a. Although a bucky apparatus 51A for radiographing in a standing
position and a bucky apparatus 51B for radiographing in a recumbent
position are provided as the bucky apparatus 51 in the radiography
room Ra in the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the present
invention is not limited to such a case where both of bucky
apparatuses 51A and 51B for radiographing in a standing position
and in a recumbent position are provided.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, a connector 51b to be connected to the
connector 39 (see FIG. 2) of the mounted radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 may be provided inside of the cassette holding unit 51a
of the bucky apparatus 51, for example. Although a case of the
bucky apparatus 51A for radiographing in a standing position is
shown in FIG. 5, the same applies to the bucky apparatus 515 for
radiographing in a recumbent position.
[0059] Alternatively, instead of providing the connector 51b inside
of the cassette holding unit 51a of the bucky apparatus 51, a
connector of a cable extending from the bucky apparatus 51 may be
connected to the connector 39 of the radiographic imaging apparatus
1 before mounting the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 on the bucky
apparatus 51 and the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 may be
mounted on the cassette holding unit 51a of the bucky apparatus 51
in this state, which is not shown. In this case, power may be
supplied to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from an external
power source via the cable, for example, so that the battery 24 of
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is not used, which allows
continuous radiographing without concern for lowering battery in
continuous radiographing of front chests, etc. in a mass
examination or the like.
[0060] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the connector
51b and the connector 39 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
are connected, the bucky apparatus 51 is configured to read a
cassette ID that is identification information of the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 from the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and
transmits the cassette ID of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
in association with a bucky ID that is identification information
of the bucky apparatus 51 to the console 58.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 1, at least one radiation source 52 of the
radiation generating apparatus 57 for irradiating a subject with
radiation is provided in the radiography room Ra. In the present
embodiment, one radiation source 52A of the radiation sources 52 is
suspended from the ceiling of the radiography room Ra, and is
configured to be turned on the basis of an instruction from the
console 58 for radiographing and moved to a predetermined position
by a moving unit, which is not shown. Radiation can be emitted to
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 mounted on the bucky apparatus
51A for radiographing in a standing position and the bucky
apparatus 51B for radiographing in a recumbent position from one
radiation source 52 by changing the radiation emitting direction,
the position, etc. of the radiation source 52. Alternatively, a
radiation source 52 may be provided for each of the bucky apparatus
51A for radiographing in a standing position and the bucky
apparatus 51B for radiographing in a recumbent position.
[0062] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, a portable radiation source
52B may be brought into the radiography room Ra for radiographing.
Radiographing can thus be conducted by emitting radiation from the
portable radiation source 52B in a state in which the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 is applied to a site of the body of a patient
that is a subject without mounting the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 on the bucky apparatus 51, that is, in a stand-alone
state.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, a relay (also referred to as a base
station) 54 including an access point 53 for relaying communication
between apparatuses such as the radiographic Imaging apparatus 1 in
the radiography room Ra and apparatuses such as the console 58
outside of the radiography room Ra in a wireless or wired manner is
provided in the radiography room Ra. The relay 54 includes a
converter, which is not shown, configured to convert a signal or
the like for communication via a local area network (LAN) to be
transmitted to the radiation generating apparatus 57 from the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the console 58, etc. into a
signal or the like for the radiation generating apparatus 57, and
vice versa.
[0064] In the present embodiment, the relay 54 is connected with a
cradle 55. As shown in FIG. 6, when the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 brought into the radiography room Ra is inserted in the
cradle 55 so that the connector 39 of the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 and a connector 55a of the cradle 55 are connected, the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is configured to notify the relay
54 of the cassette ID via the cradle 55. When the cassette ID of
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is transmitted from the cradle
55, the relay 54 then notifies the console 58 of the cassette
ID.
[0065] Note that the cradle 55 may be configured to store and
charge the radiographic imaging apparatus 1. Furthermore, although
the cradle 55 having two insertion ports for inserting the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. 6, the number of
insertion ports may be one or three or more. Furthermore, the
cradle 55 may be installed in either of the radiography room Ra and
an anteroom Rb. When the cradle 55 is installed in the radiography
room Ra, the cradle 55 is arranged at a position that radiation
emitted from the radiation source 52 does not reach, such as a
corner position in the radiography room Ra.
[0066] Furthermore, although not shown, a tag reader that is a
detecting unit for detecting the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
brought into the radiography room Ra or the anteroom Rb and
notifying the console 58 of the cassette ID may be provided near
the door of the anteroom Rb (see FIG. 1), for example, instead of
using the cradle 55 as in the present embodiment. In this case, a
tag, which is not shown, such as a radio frequency identification
(RFID) tag is contained in advance in the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 and unique information such as the cassette ID of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is stored in the tag. The tag
reader may be configured to read information such as the cassette
ID from the tag of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 when the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is brought into the radiography
room Ra or the anteroom Rb passing near the tag reader, and notify
the console 58 of the cassette ID.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 1, the radiation generating apparatus 57
having an exposure switch 56 or the like for instructing the
radiation source 52 to start emission of radiation is provided in
the anteroom (also referred to as an operation room) Rb. When a
tube voltage, a tube current, an emission time, etc. are set, the
radiation generating apparatus 57 is configured to supply the set
tube voltage and tube current to the radiation source 52 to start
the radiation source 52 and emit radiation in an amount
corresponding to the tube voltage, etc. for the set emission time
from the radiation source 52. The tube voltage, etc. to be applied
to the radiation generating apparatus can be set on an operator
console 57 of the radiation generating apparatus, but can also be
set on the console 58 in the present embodiment.
[0068] The console 58 is provided in the anteroom Rb in the present
embodiment, and is a computer or the like in which a central
processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access
memory (RAM), an input/output interface, etc. are connected to a
bus, which are not shown. The ROM stores predetermined programs,
and the console 58 is configured to read and expand necessary
programs in a work area of the RAM to execute various processes
according to the programs. The console 58 may be a dedicated
device, for example, instead of a general-purpose computer.
[0069] The console 58 is provided with a display unit 58a that is a
cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), or the like
and connected with an input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse
which is not shown. The console 58 is also connected with a storage
unit 59 that is a hard disk or the like, and also with external
devices, which are not shown, such as other computers and an imager
configured to record and output radiographic images on an image
recording medium such as a film on the basis of the image data D
output from the console 58 via a local area network (LAN) or the
like. Furthermore, the console 58 is connected with a hospital
information system (HIS) and a radiology information system (RIS),
which will be described later, via a network.
[0070] [Regarding Typical Processes of Console 58]
[0071] Next, typical processes of the console 58 according to the
present embodiment will be described. Processes of the console 58
unique to the present invention will be described later.
[0072] In the present embodiment, when the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 brought into the radiography room Ra is inserted in the
cradle 55 and the cassette ID or the like of the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 is transmitted via the relay 54 as described
above, the console 58 is configured to save the cassette ID or the
like in the storage unit 59, recognizes that the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 having the cassette ID is brought into the
radiography room Re or the anteroom Rb, and manages the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
[0073] In addition, when the cassette ID of the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 and the bucky ID are transmitted from the bucky
apparatus 51 having the connector 51b to which the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 is connected as described above, the console 58
saves the cassette ID saved in the storage unit 59 in association
with the bucky ID. In this manner, the console 58 recognizes that
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 having the cassette ID is
mounted on the bucky apparatus 51 having the bucky ID in the
radiography room Ra and manages the radiographic imaging apparatus
1. When the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and the connector 51b
of the bucky apparatus 51 are disconnected from each other, the
console 58 disassociates the cassette ID of the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 saved in the storage unit 59 from the bucky ID
and saves only the cassette ID. In this manner, the console 58
recognizes that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 having the
cassette ID is in a stand-alone state without being mounted on the
bucky apparatus 51 and manages the radiographic imaging apparatus
1.
[0074] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the power
switch 37 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is turned on or
off, an ON signal indicating that the power supply is turned on or
an OFF signal indicating that the power supply is turned off is
transmitted with the cassette ID of the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 to the console 58 from the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1. When the signal and the cassette ID are transmitted,
the console 58 saves the cassette ID saved in the storage unit 59
in association with information on the state (that is, "ON" or
"OFF") of the power supply of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
In this manner, the console 58 recognizes that the power supply of
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 having the cassette ID is ON
or OFF and manages the radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
[0075] In the present embodiment, the console 58 recognizes and
manages the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 brought into the
radiography room Ra or the anteroom Rb, recognizes which
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is mounted on the bucky apparatus
51 and manages the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 when the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used in a state mounted on the
bucky apparatus 51, and recognizes and manages a power consumption
mode of each radiographic imaging apparatus 1 as described above.
When the radiographic imaging system 50 includes multiple
radiography rooms Ra and a single or multiple consoles 58 connected
with one another via a network or the like as described above, the
management processes described above may be conducted by a
management device, which is not shown, such as a server connected
to the network instead of conducting the management processes by
the console 58.
[0076] Furthermore, as described above, the HIS and the RIS, which
are not shown, are connected to the console 58 via the network,
information on patients, etc. is registered in the HIS, and
radiographing order information and the like in which information
necessary for conducting predetermined radiographic imaging on
individual patients is registered in the RIS.
[0077] The radiographing order information includes a "patient ID"
P2, the "name" P3, the "sex" P4, the "age" P5, the "medical
department" P6, etc., that are patient information, and the
"radiographed site" P7, the "radiographing direction" P8, etc. that
are radiographing conditions as shown in FIG. 7, for example. In
the present embodiment, an item of the "bucky ID" P9 that is
information on whether or not radiographing is to be conducted in a
state where the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is mounted on the
bucky apparatus 51 is further provided, and the bucky ID is
specified when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is mounted on
the bucky apparatus 51.
[0078] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the bucky IDs "001" and
"002" represent the bucky apparatus 51A for radiographing in a
standing position and the bucky apparatus 51B for radiographing in
a recumbent position, respectively, and the bucky ID "000"
indicates that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used in a
stand-alone state without being mounted on the bucky apparatus 51.
Note that drawings representing the bucky apparatus for
radiographing in a standing position, the bucky apparatus for
radiographing in a recumbent position, and the radiographic imaging
apparatus in the stand-alone state, for example, may be entered for
specification in the column of the "bucky ID" P9 instead of or in
addition to the bucky IDs.
[0079] The radiographing order information is further provided with
an item of the "FPD size" P10 for specifying the size of the
radiographic imaging apparatus (FPD) 1 to be used for the
radiographing, and the size such as 17.times.17 inches (430
mm.times.430 mm), 14.times.17 inches (345 mm.times.430 mm),
14.times.14 inches (385 mm.times.390 mm), 11.times.14 inches (279
mm.times.354 mm), and 10.times.12 inches (251 mm.times.302 mm). In
the present embodiment, the "FPD size" P10 that is the size of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 corresponds to information on the
radiographic imaging apparatus in the radiographing order
information, and containing this information in the radiographing
order information for specification corresponds to specification of
information on the radiographic imaging apparatus in the
radiographing order information.
[0080] Alternatively, colors (such as red, yellow, and blue) or
patterns (such as stripes and dots) assigned to the respective
sizes in advance, which are not shown, may be entered in the column
of the "FPD size" P10 for specification instead of or in addition
to the inch sizes described above. In this case, if the colors or
patterns different from size to size are displayed on the surfaces
opposite to the radiation incident surfaces R (see FIGS. 2 and 3)
of radiographic imaging apparatuses 1, for example, there is an
advantage that the operator such as a radiological technologist can
easily and properly recognize the size of a radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 by seeing the color or the pattern thereof.
[0081] Note that the scintillator types (such as CsI columnar
crystal and GOS layer) described above, for example, may be
displayed in a distinguished manner by using the colors and
patterns in addition to the sizes of the radiographic imaging
apparatuses 1. Specifically, the sizes may be represented by colors
and the scintillator types may be represented by patterns, for
example, to display the sizes and the scintillator types in a
distinguished manner.
[0082] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the "radiographing
order IDs" P1 are automatically assigned to the radiographing order
information items in the order of registration of radiographing
orders as shown in FIG. 7. Note that the details such as patient
information and radiographing conditions that can be specified by
the radiographing order information are not limited to those
described above but may also include information such as the date
of birth, the number of consultations, the radiation dose of a
patient.
[0083] In the present embodiment, the console 58 is configured to
acquire necessary radiographing order information, patient
information, etc. from the RIS and the HIS when operated by an
operator such as a radiological technologist. Alternatively, the
radiographing order information may be directly input to and
registered in the console 58 by using a special-purpose terminal or
the like instead of acquiring the radiographing order information
from the RIS. In this case, the radiographing order information may
be registered when radiographing is conducted, and when the
radiographing order information is registered in advance, the
console 58 is configured to acquire a necessary radiographing order
information item from the radiographing order information
registered in the storage unit 59.
[0084] Upon acquiring the radiographing order information
(including the case where the radiographing order information is
directly input), the console 58 displays a list of radiographing
order information items on a selection screen H1 displayed on the
display unit 58a (see FIG. 1) as shown in FIG. 8. In the present
embodiment, the selection screen H1 is provided with a
radiographing order information display field h11 for displaying
the list of radiographing order information items and selection
buttons h12 for selecting a radiographing order information item of
radiographing to be conducted on the left of the radiographing
order information display field h11. Furthermore, an enter button
h13 and a return button h14 are provided below the radiographing
order information display field h11.
[0085] Furthermore, when the operator such as a radiological
technologist clicks the selection buttons h12 to select all of four
radiographing order information items and then clicks the enter
button h13, for example, the console 58 displays a screen H2 as
shown in FIG. 9 on the display unit 58a to display icons I1 to I4
associated with the selected four radiographing order information
items on the screen H2 as described above.
[0086] In the present embodiment, the "radiographing order ID" P1
(see FIGS. 7 and 8) of the associated radiographing order
information item is displayed in a form of "KM-0001", etc. and the
"radiographed site" P7 and the "radiographing direction" P8 of the
associated radiographing order information item are displayed in a
form of "front abdomen P.fwdarw.A", etc. on each of the icons I.
Furthermore, in a display part Ia of each icon I, a vertically long
rectangle is displayed when the bucky apparatus 51A for
radiographing in a standing position (the bucky ID being "001") is
to be used, an horizontally long rectangle is displayed when the
bucky apparatus 51B for radiographing in a recumbent position (the
bucky ID being "002") is to be used, or a figure in perspective
view of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is displayed when the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is to be used in the stand-alone
state (the bucky ID being "000") depending on the "bucky ID" P9
specified by the radiographing order information item associated
with the icon I (that is, the bucky apparatus 51 to be used for
radiographing).
[0087] Furthermore, in a display part Ib of each icon I, the "FPD
size" P10 specified by the associated radiographing order
information item, the cassette ID ("FPD-003", etc.) of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 mounted on the bucky apparatus 51
or in the stand-alone state and the resolution of the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1, etc. are displayed. Alternatively, the
cassette ID, the resolution, etc. may be displayed by colors and
patterns as described above instead of or in combination with the
display by characters as described above, or may be announced by
using sound such as voice. With such a configuration, the operator
such as a radiological technologist can know the size, etc. of the
radiographic imaging apparatus to be used at a glance.
[0088] In the meantime, to clearly indicate which icon the next
radiographing is associated with to the operator such as a
radiological technologist, the console 58 displays the icon I (the
icon I3 in the case of FIG. 9) associated with a radiographing
order information item on the next radiographing to be conducted in
a focused manner by displaying the icon I by using a color
different from those of the other icons I or by displaying the icon
I with a border of a predetermined color so that the icon I is
highlighted as shown in FIG. 9 in the present embodiment. Thus, in
the present embodiment, the radiographing order information item
associated with the icon I displayed in a focused manner is the
radiographing order information specified as the information on the
radiographing to be conducted next by the console 58.
[0089] When the console 58 displays the icon I in a focused manner,
the console 58 may switch the focused display of the icon I
sequentially (that is, in the order of registration of the
radiographing order information items) in ascending order of the
"radiographing order IDs" P1 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) each time
radiographing is completed to indicate which radiographing is to be
conducted next to the operator such as the radiological
technologist by the focused display of the icon I.
[0090] Furthermore, as in the radiographic imaging system disclosed
in WO 2011/142157 A1 described above, for example, the console 58
may select a radiographing order information item specifying
radiographing conditions under which radiographing can be conducted
with the smallest degree of change from the current conditions of
the special-purpose or portable radiographic imaging apparatus 1
and the radiation source 52 for the radiation generating apparatus
57 present in the radiography room Ra (that is, conditions such as
which radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is powered on and in which
direction the radiation source 52 is oriented) on the basis of the
current conditions, and switch the focused display to the icon I
associated with the selected radiographing order information item.
As mentioned above, refer to WO 2011/142157 A1 for details of the
above.
[0091] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the operator
such as a radiological technologist intends to conduct
radiographing different from radiographing associated with the icon
I automatically displayed in a focused manner by the console 58,
priority is given to the intention of the operator and the focused
display is switched to the icon I associated with the radiographing
intended to be conducted by the operator, similarly to the
radiographic imaging system disclosed in WO 2011/142157 A1
described above. With such a configuration, such a problem as
described above may be caused, which will be described later.
[0092] When preview image data Dp is to be transmitted to the
console 58 before transmitting the image data D, etc. from the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 as described above, for example,
after radiographing is conducted in a state where a certain icon I
is displayed in a focused manner, the console 58 generates a
preview image on the basis of the transmitted preview image data Op
and displays the generated preview image on or near the icon I
displayed in the focused manner or in a predetermined display part,
which is not shown.
[0093] Furthermore, as described above, when the image data D, the
offset data O, etc. are transmitted from the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 after radiographing, the console 58 performs image
processing such as gain correction, defective pixel correction, and
gradation processing depending on the radiographed site to generate
a radiographic image. Alternatively, the process of generating a
radiographic image may be performed in an image processing
apparatus separate from the console 58.
[0094] After generating the radiographic image, the console 58 then
displays the generated radiographic image on or near the icon I
displayed in the focused manner or in a predetermined display part,
which is not shown. When the operator such as a radiological
technologist looking at the radiographic image approves the
radiographic image and conducts a determination operation by
clicking an enter button icon Ik (see FIG. 9), the console 58
associates the radiographic image with the associated radiographing
order information to perform a determination process. Although not
shown in FIG. 9, the operator may be allowed to modify the image
quality (contrast, etc.) of the radiographic image generated by the
console 58 by operation on the display unit 58a of the console 58
before the determination operation.
[0095] Note that the focused display of the icon I may be switched
to an icon I associated with a radiographing order information item
on the next radiographing at the point when the operator such as a
radiological technologist confirms a displayed preview image
(including a case where the intention of disapproval is not
indicated such as a case where a re-radiographing button is not
clicked in addition to positive confirmation such as a case where a
confirmation button is clicked) of at a point when the operation
for determining the radiographic image generated by the console 58
is completed. Furthermore, the present invention can also be
applied to a method of switching the focused display individually
in the display part of a preview image and in the display part
relating to determination of a radiographic image (refer to JP
2010-148720 A, for example) instead of the method of switching the
focused display to the next radiographing order information item at
the point when such confirmation of the preview image or such
determination operation is completed.
[0096] [Regarding Configuration, etc. Unique to Present
Invention]
[0097] Next, a configuration, etc. of the radiographic imaging
system 50 according to the present embodiment unique to the present
invention will be described. An operation of the radiographic
imaging system 50 according to the present invention will also be
described.
[0098] As described above, in the radiographic imaging system 50
according to the present embodiment, similarly to the radiographic
imaging system disclosed in WO 2011/142157 A1 described above, when
the operator such as a radiological technologist intends to conduct
radiographing different from radiographing associated with the icon
I automatically displayed in a focused manner by the console 58,
priority is given to the intention of the operator and the focused
display is switched to the icon I associated with the radiographing
intended to be conducted by the operator. With such a
configuration, however, the problem as described above may be
caused.
[0099] Specifically, when the operator such as a radiological
technologist presses the power switch 37 or the selection switch 38
of the radiographic imaging apparatus of 10.times.12 inches in the
radiography room to conduct radiographing associated with the icon
I3 in the state shown in FIG. 9, for example, the console 58
determines that the operator intends to conduct radiographing
associated with the icon I4 using the radiographic imaging
apparatus of 10.times.12 inches associated with the icon I4 and
switches the focused display to the icon I4. The operator, however,
radiographs the "neck" of the patient by using the radiographic
imaging apparatus of 10.times.12 inches, and a problem that the
console 58 associates the radiographic image of the "neck"
generated on the basis of transmitted image data D, etc. with the
radiographing order information time specifying radiographing of
the "upper arm" associated with the icon I4 occurs.
[0100] In this manner, with the radiographic imaging system 50
according to the present embodiment with the configuration
described above, the problem that switching of the focused display
of the icon I that is not intended by the operator such as a
radiological technologist occurs at the console 58 and a generated
radiographic image and radiographing order information item are
associated with each other by mistake may also occur as described
above. In the radiographic imaging system 50 according to the
present embodiment, the following configuration is therefore
employed, for example, to prevent occurrence of the problem
described above. In the following, some examples of such a
configuration will be described.
Configuration Example 1
[0101] In a configuration example 1, the operator such as a
radiological technologist that is a user can conduct at least first
operation and second operation on the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1, and the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is configured
to transmit a first signal to the console 58 when the first
operation is conducted and transmit a second signal different from
the first signal to the console 58 when the second operation is
conducted.
[0102] The operation of the operator on the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 may be operation on the selection switch 38 of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1, for example, and the operator may
press the selection switch 38 for a short time. (that is, what is
called short press) as the first operation and press the selection
switch 38 for a longer time (that is, what is called long press) as
the second operation.
[0103] Although such a configuration will be described in the
following, the first operation and the second operation are not
limited to short press and long press as long as the operations are
recognized as different operations by the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1. For example, the operator may press the selection
switch 38 once as the first operation and press the selection
switch 38 multiple times (twice, for example) as the second
operation. Furthermore, although the first and second operations
are distinguished from each other by using different operations on
one selection switch 38 as described above since the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 is provided with only one selection switch 38
as shown in FIG. 2 in the present embodiment, two selection
switches may be provided and the first and second operations may be
distinguished from each other by pressing different selection
switches. Furthermore, the first and second operations of the
operator on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 are not limited to
operations on the selection switches 38 as long as the first and
second operations can be distinguished from each other.
[0104] In addition, in the configuration example 1, the operator
such as a radiological technologist conducts the first operation by
pressing the selection switch 38 of the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 of 10.times.12 inches in a state as shown in FIG. 9,
for example, and upon receiving the first signal transmitted from
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the console 58 changes
specification of the "FPD size" P10 that is information on the
radiographic imaging apparatus in the radiographing order
information associated with the icon I3 specified as the
radiographing to be conducted next in a focused manner to the size
"10.times.12" that is information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 10. The console 58 also changes the
display on the size in the icon I3 displayed in the focused manner
to "10.times.12" as shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the focused
display of the icon I3 is not switched to the icon I4.
[0105] Specifically, the first operation on the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 and the first signal transmitted on the basis
of the first operation are operation and signal used by the
operator such as a radiological technologist to request the console
58 to change the specification of the information (size) of the
radiographic imaging apparatus in the radiographing order
information associated with the icon I displayed in the focused
manner to the information (size) of the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 whose selection switch 38 is operated by the operator
without switching the focused display of the icon I.
[0106] In other words, the operator such as a radiological
technologist conducts the first operation on the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 when the operator intends to changes the
specification of the information (size) of the radiographic imaging
apparatus in the radiographing order information without switching
the focused display of the icon I, that is, without changing the
radiographing to be conducted next to different radiographing. The
console 58 then changes the specification of the information (size)
of the radiographic imaging apparatus in the radiographing order
information associated with the icon I specified by being displayed
in a focused manner as radiographing to be conducted next to the
information (size) of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
according to the first operation.
[0107] [Effects]
[0108] With the radiographic imaging system 50 according to the
present embodiment with the configuration as described above, the
operator such as a radiological technologist can conduct the first
operation on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to properly
change specification of information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 in the radiographing order information associated with
an icon I to the information on the radiographic imaging apparatus
1 on which the first operation is conducted without switching the
focused display of the icon I. It is therefore possible to properly
prevent switching of focused display of an icon I that is not
intended by the operator at the console 58.
[0109] When the operator such as a radiological technologist
conducts radiographing of the "neck" of the patient, for example,
by using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 specified after the
change, image data D, etc. of the "neck" are transmitted from the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to the console 58, and a
radiographic image of the "neck" is generated by the console 58.
The radiographic image of the "neck" is then properly associated
with the radiographing order information specifying radiographing
of the "neck" associated with the icon I3. With the configuration
described above, a generated radiographic image and radiographing
order information can therefore be correctly associated with each
other.
Configuration Example 2
[0110] In a modification of the configuration example 1, for
example, the specification of the information (size) on the
radiographic imaging apparatus in the radiographing order
information associated with the icon I (the icon I3 in the example
of FIG. 11) displayed in a focused manner to the information on the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 on which the first operation is
conducted as described above, and at the same time, when other
radiographing order information items specifying the information on
the radiographic imaging apparatus before the change as described
above are present in the radiographing order information items
specifying radiographing that has not been not conducted, the
specifications of the information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus in the radiographing order information items may also be
changed to the information on the radiographic imaging apparatus
1.
[0111] Specifically, when "11.times.14" is specified as the
information (size) on the radiographic imaging apparatus in both of
the radiographing order information items associated with the icons
I3 and I4 as shown in FIG. 12, for example, and when the operator
such as a radiological technologist conducts the first operation on
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 of 10.times.12 inches, for
example, the information (size) of the radiographic imaging
apparatus in the radiographing order information item associated
with the icon I3 is changed to the information (size) of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 as described above.
[0112] When the operator such as a radiological technologist
conducts radiographing associated with the icon I3 by using the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 of 10.times.12 inches instead of
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 of 11.times.14 inches, other
radiographing for which use of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
of 11.times.14 inches is specified may also be conducted by using
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 of 10.times.12 inches instead
of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 of 11.times.14 inches.
[0113] Thus, when the operator such as a radiological technologist
has conducted the first operation on the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 to change the size of the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 to be used and if other radiographing order information
items specifying the size before the change are present in the
radiographing order information items specifying radiographing that
has not been conducted as described above, the size in the
radiographing order information items can also be changed at the
same time. In this case, when the operator conducts the first
operation on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to change the
size of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to 10.times.12 inches,
for example, in a state shown in FIG. 12, for example, the size of
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to be used for radiographing
associated with the icon I4 is also changed to 10.times.12 inches
in addition to that associated with the icon I3 as shown in FIG.
11, for example.
[0114] With such a configuration, the sizes of the radiographic
imaging apparatuses 1 to be used (to be precise, the information on
the radiographic imaging apparatuses) can be automatically changed
according to the intention of the operator that is a user. The
radiographic imaging system 50 is therefore easy to use for the
operator.
[0115] Although a case where the size of the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 is changed only for radiographing associated with the
icon I4 in addition to that associated with the icon I3 in FIGS. 11
and 12, the information is changed to use the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 of 10.times.12 inches for all radiographing for which
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 of 11.times.14 inches is
specified to be used at the same time according to the
configuration as described above.
Configuration Example 3
[0116] Even if the operator such as a radiological technologist has
conducted the first operation on the radiographic imaging apparatus
1 to change the size of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to be
used for radiographing, however, this may not necessarily mean that
the operator intends to change all the specifications of the same
size in other radiographing order information items for
radiographing that has not been conducted to the changed size.
[0117] The console 58 thus changes the specification of the
information (size) of the radiographic imaging apparatus in the
radiographing order information associated with the icon I (the
icon I3 in the example of FIG. 11) displayed in a focused manner as
to the information of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 on which
the first operation is conducted according to the first operation
on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 conducted by the operator.
At the same time, when other radiographing order information items
specifying the information (size) of the radiographic imaging
apparatus before the change are present in the radiographing order
information times for which radiographing is not completed, the
console 58 can inform the operator of the presence of such
radiographing order information items by outputting sound or
displaying the information on the display unit 58a.
[0118] In this case, the console 58 serves as an informing unit,
but a speaker or a screen may be provided as the informing unit in
the radiography room Ra, for example, to the operator in the
radiography room Ra instead of the console 58. Furthermore, the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 may serve as the informing unit to
announce the above by lighting or making the indicator 40 (see FIG.
2) of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 blink in a predetermined
manner, providing a display unit or providing a speaker on the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
[0119] When predetermined operation is conducted by the operator
such as a radiological technologist that is a user, such as the
first operation conducted again on the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 by the operator after the announcement (that is, when
approval of the operator is provided) or when predetermined
cancellation operation has not been conducted by the operator
within a predetermined period of time after the announcement, the
console 58 then also changes the specifications of the information
(size) of the radiographic imaging apparatus for other
radiographing order information items to the information (size) of
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
[0120] When the predetermined cancellation operation is conducted
by the operator, the console 58 changes the specification of the
information (size) of the radiographic imaging apparatus only for
the radiographing order information item associated with the icon I
(the icon I3 in the example of FIG. 11) displayed in a focused
manner to the information on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
on which the first operation is conducted without changing the
specification of the information (size) of the radiographic imaging
apparatus for the other radiographing order information items.
[0121] With such a configuration, the information (size) of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to be used can be automatically
changed at the same time or can be left without being changed when
such a change is unnecessary according to the intention of the
operator that is a user in a more proper manner. The radiographic
imaging system 50 is therefore easy to use for the operator.
Configuration Example 4
[0122] Note that the announcement described above may be conducted
by display on or sound output by a portable terminal, which is not
shown, carried by the operator such as a radiological technologist
that is a user as the informing unit in the configuration example
3.
[0123] In this case, when the operator who has recognized the
presence of another radiographing order information item specifying
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 of the same size as a result
of the announcement has conducted predetermined operation (that is,
when approval of the operator is provided), the portable terminal
transmits a signal indicating that the predetermined operation is
conducted to the console 58. In this case, when the operator who
has determined not to change the size for other radiographing order
information items specifying the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
of the same size, the portable terminal transmits a signal
indicating that the predetermined cancellation operation is
conducted to the console 58.
[0124] Upon receiving the signal indicating that the predetermined
operation is conducted from the portable terminal, the console 58
then determines that the predetermined operation is conducted by
the operator and changes the specification of the information
(size) of the radiographic imaging apparatus for the radiographing
order information item to the information (size) of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 on which the first operation is
conducted by the operator such as a radiological technologist. When
a signal indicating that the predetermined cancellation operation
is conducted within a predetermined period of time is received from
the portable terminal, the console 58 determines that the
predetermined cancellation operation is conducted within the
predetermined period of time by the operator and changes the
specification of the information (size) of the radiographic imaging
apparatus only for the radiographing order information item
associated with the icon I displayed in a focused manner to the
information on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 on which the
first operation is conducted without changing the specification of
the information (size) of the radiographic imaging apparatus for
the other radiographing order information item.
[0125] With such a configuration, similarly to the configuration
example 3 described above, the information (size) of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to be used can be automatically
changed at the same time or can be left without being changed when
such a change is unnecessary according to the intention of the
operator that is a user in a more proper manner, and the
radiographic imaging system 50 is easy to use for the operator.
Configuration Example 5
[0126] When the second operation different from the first operation
is conducted on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 by the
operator such as a radiological technologist, the console 58 can
switch the focused display of the icon I unlike the configuration
examples 1 to 4 described above, for example.
[0127] Specifically, when the second operation in a different
manner from the first operation is conducted by the operator such
as a radiological technologist that is a user, the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 transmits the second signal different from the
first signal to the console 58, the console 58 in receipt of the
second signal from the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 changes the
radiographing order information specified for radiographing to be
conducted next to the radiographing order information item
specifying the information (size) of the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1 among the radiographing order information items for
radiographing that has not been conducted.
[0128] Thus, when the operator such as a radiological technologist
conducts the second operation (such as pressing the selection
switch 38 for a long time) on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
of 10.times.12 inches in the state shown in FIG. 9, for example,
the console 58 switches the focused display of the icon I3
determined for radiographing to be conducted next to the icon I4
associated with the radiographing order information item specifying
that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 of 10.times.12 inches is
to be used as shown in FIG. 13, for example.
[0129] With such a configuration, when the operator such as a
radiological technologist intends to change the radiographing order
information determined for radiographing to be conducted next (that
is, when the operator intends to switch the focused display of the
icon I), the operator can easily and properly change the
radiographing order information (that is, switch the focused
display of the icon I) by conducting the second operation on the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 having the size specified by the
radiographing order information item to be changed to (that is, the
radiographing order information item associated with the icon I to
which the focused display is switched to). Since the operator can
switch the focused display only by conducting the second operation
(pressing the selection switch 38 for a long time, for example) on
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 in the radiography room Ra
without moving into the anteroom Rb (see FIG. 1) and operating the
console 58 to switch the focused display, the radiographic imaging
system 50 is easy to use for the operator.
Configuration Example 6
[0130] In the configuration example 5 described above, unintended
switching of focused display may also occur in such a case where
the first operation such as pressing of the selection switch 38 for
a short time that is intended to be conducted on the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 by the operator such as a radiological
technologist is determined to be the second operation such as
pressing of the selection switch 38 for a long time by the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
[0131] Thus, in the configuration example 5, similarly to the
configuration example 3, the console 58 may be configured to inform
the operator such as a radiological technologist that the focused
display is to be switched (to be precise, that the radiographing
order information item determined for radiographing to be conducted
next is to be changed to the radiographing order information item
specifying the information on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
among the radiographing order information items for which
radiographing has not been conducted) by outputting sound or
displaying the information on the display unit 58a, announcing the
information from an informing unit provided in the radiography room
Ra or the like, or using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
itself as the informing unit, for example, instead of switching the
focused display upon receiving the second signal from the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
[0132] Then, the focused display of the icon I (the icon I3, for
example) may be switched to another icon I (icon I4, for example)
only when predetermined operation is conducted by the operator such
as a radiological technologist that is a user, such as the second
operation conducted again on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1
by the operator after the announcement (that is, when approval of
the operator is provided) or only when predetermined cancellation
operation has not been conducted by the operator within a
predetermined period of time after the announcement.
[0133] With such a configuration, focused display can be switched
or can be left without being switched when the switching is not to
be conducted according to the intention of the operator that is a
user in a more proper manner. The radiographic imaging system 50 is
therefore easy to use for the operator.
Configuration Example 7
[0134] Furthermore, in the configuration example 6 described above,
similarly to the configuration example 4, the announcement
described above may be conducted by display on or sound output by a
portable terminal, which is not shown, carried by the operator such
as a radiological technologist that is a user as the informing
unit. The portable terminal is configured to transmit a signal
indicating that predetermined operation is conducted to the console
58 when the predetermined operation is conducted by the operator,
and to transmit a signal indicating that predetermined cancellation
operation is conducted to the console 58 when the predetermined
cancellation operation is conducted by the operator. When the
signal indicating that the predetermined operation is conducted is
received from the portable terminal, the console 58 determines that
the predetermined operation is conducted by the operator, or when
the signal indicating that the predetermined cancellation operation
is conducted by the operator within a predetermined period of time
is received from the portable terminal, the console 58 determines
that the predetermined cancellation operation is conducted by the
operator within the predetermined period of time.
[0135] Then, with such a configuration, only when predetermined
operation is conducted on the portable terminal by the operator
such as a radiological technologist (that is, when approval of the
operator is provided) after the announcement, or only when
predetermined cancellation operation has not been conducted on the
portable terminal by the operator within a predetermined period of
time after the announcement, the focused display of the icon I (the
icon I3, for example) is switched to another icon I (icon I4, for
example). Thus, similarly to the configuration example 6, focused
display can be switched or can be left without being switched when
the switching is not to be conducted according to the intention of
the operator that is a user in a more proper manner, and the
radiographic imaging system 50 is easy to use for the operator.
Summary of Configuration Examples 1 to 7
[0136] The configuration examples 1 to 7 described above may be
employed alone or may be employed in combination. It is then
determined in advance as follows: when only the specification of
the information (size) of the radiographic imaging apparatus in the
radiographing order information is to be changed without switching
the focused display of the icon I, the operator such as a
radiological technologist conducts the first operation (presses the
selection switch 38 for a short time, for example) on the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 (in the cases of the configuration
examples 1 to 4), and when the focused display of the icon I is to
be switched to the icon I specifying the size of the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 operated by the operator, the operator conducts
the second operation (presses the selection switch 38 for a long
time, for example) on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 (in the
cases of the configuration examples 5 to 7) as described above.
[0137] With such a configuration, the operator such as a
radiological technologist can change only the specification of the
information (size) of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 in the
radiographing order information without switching the focused
display of the icon I or switch the focused display of the icon I
only by conducting the first operation or the second operation on
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
[0138] Thus, switching of the focused display of the icon I that is
not intended by the operator such as a radiological technologist at
the console 58 can be properly prevented, and the focused display
if the icon I can be properly switched when the focused display is
intended. As a result, the console 58 can correctly associate a
generated radiographic image with radiographing order information,
and the radiographic imaging system 50 is very easy to use for the
operator.
Modified Example 1
[0139] Note that the portable terminal described in the
configuration examples 4 and 7 may have functions equivalent to
those of the console 58 or may have some predetermined functions of
those of the console 58 so that various processes can be executed
at the portable terminal.
Modified Example 2
[0140] Furthermore, although the operator such as a radiological
technologist conducts the first or second operation on the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to switch or not to switch the
focused display of the icon I in the [Summary of Configuration
Examples 1 to 7] described above, the console 58 may be configured
not to switch the focused display of the icon I and conduct only
the process of changing the specification of the information (size)
on the radiographic imaging apparatus in the radiographing order
information associated with the icon I displayed in a focused
manner when the operator has conducted operation such as operating
the selection switch 38 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1,
for example. In this case, the length of the period during which
the selection switch 38 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is
pressed is not distinguished and the console 58 is configured to
execute the process described above when operation is conducted on
the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, for example.
[0141] With such a configuration, at least switching of the focused
display of the icon I that is not intended by the operator such as
a radiological technologist at the console 58 can be reliably
prevented. As a result, the console 58 can correctly associate a
generated radiographic image with radiographing order
information.
[0142] In addition, when the first and second operations are not
distinguished from each other and when the portable terminal is
used in combination as described above, a pressure sensor (refer to
JP 2009-172242 A), an accelerometer (refer to JP 2005-003755 A), a
proximity sensor (refer to JP 2002-191586 A), etc. may also be used
as a unit for detecting the intention of the operator such as a
radiological technologist to conduct radiographing by using another
radiographic imaging apparatus in addition to the selection switch
38 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 described above. The
above unit may be the power switch 37 of the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1, and turning on of the power switch 37 of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 that has been off may be regarded
as the intention of the operator to use the radiographic imaging
apparatus 1.
[0143] Although cases where information on the radiographic imaging
apparatus in radiographing order information is the size of the
radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and the size of the radiographic
imaging apparatus 1 changed as the change in the specification of
the information on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 are
described in the embodiment described above, the present invention
can alternatively be applied to cases where the resolution (that
is, the pixel size) is changed for capturing a high-resolution
image, the scintillator type is changed for reducing the amount of
irradiation, or a combination of the size, the resolution (pixel
size), and the scintillator type is changed, for example, as the
change in the specification of the information on the radiographic
imaging apparatus.
[0144] In such cases, similarly to the embodiment described above,
the specification (size, resolution, scintillator type, etc.) of
each radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is preferably displayed in
the display part Ib of each icon I using different colors,
patterns, etc. of the icons so that the operator such as a
radiological technologist can know the specification of each
radiographic imaging apparatus at a glance.
[0145] It should be appreciated that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiment, configuration examples, modified
examples, etc. described above, but can be modified as appropriate
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0146] Although the present invention has been described and
illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by
way of illustrated and example only and is not to be taken by way
of limitation, the scope of the present invention being interpreted
by terms of the appended claims.
* * * * *