Radiation imaging apparatus, data processing apparatus, radiation imaging system, and method for controlling radiation imaging system

Abstract

To provide a radiation imaging system using a radiation imaging apparatus capable of selecting an antenna to be used from a plurality of antennas for wireless communication, which is capable of executing efficient selection control.SOLUTION: A radiation imaging system 100 includes a data processing apparatus 107 and a radiation imaging apparatus 101 having a plurality of antennas for executing transmission / reception of data with the data processing apparatus 107 by wireless communication. The data processing apparatus 107 transmits information on the antenna set beforehand as an antenna to be used of the plurality of antennas to the radiation imaging apparatus 101. The radiation imaging apparatus 101 selects the antenna to be used from the plurality of antennas on the basis of the information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a radiation imaging apparatus, a data processing apparatus, a radiation imaging system, and a method for controlling a radiation imaging system. [Background technology]

[0002] With the spread of radiation imaging devices that capture digital radiation images based on irradiated radiation, radiation imaging systems are becoming increasingly digitalized. The digitalization of radiation imaging systems has made it possible to check images immediately after radiation imaging, significantly improving workflow compared to conventional imaging using film or imaging using a CR device. In recent years, the convenience of radiation imaging devices has been further improved by the introduction of radiation imaging devices capable of wireless communication.

[0003] In such radiographic imaging devices capable of wireless communication, a radiographic imaging device that is equipped with multiple antennas for wireless communication and can ensure better wireless communication conditions is being considered, as described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a radiographic imaging device that can select an antenna to be used from multiple antennas for wireless communication based on the measurement results of the communication strength of each of the multiple antennas for wireless communication. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-243486 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when performing selection control based on the measurement results of communication strength as in the cited document 1, depending on the installation environment of the radiation imaging device, unnecessary selection control may occur, which may result in a decrease in imaging efficiency.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a radiation imaging system that uses a radiation imaging device that can select an antenna to be used from a plurality of antennas for wireless communication and that allows efficient selection control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The radiation imaging system of the present invention includes a data processing device and the data processing device. Available for radiography communications between Multiple antennas each Have Multiple A radiation imaging system including a radiation imaging device, the data processing device has a storage unit configured to store in advance settings of antennas to be used for each of the plurality of radiation imaging devices in an environment of the radiation imaging system; The data processing device includes: For the above, the setting of the antenna to be used in advance in the radiation imaging device is included. Antenna setting The radiation imaging apparatus transmits information to the Antenna Settings The plurality of antennas based on the information Inside The antenna to be used is selected from the above. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a radiation imaging system using a radiation imaging device capable of selecting an antenna to be used from a plurality of antennas for wireless communication, the radiation imaging system being capable of performing efficient selection control. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a radiation imaging system 100. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a configuration of a main part of a radiation imaging apparatus; [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of antenna initial value information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating selection control according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of antenna initial value information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a centralized management system 600. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of antenna initial value information according to the third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating selection control according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through its exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although a plurality of features are described in the embodiments, not all of these features are necessarily essential to the invention, and the plurality of features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are given the same reference numbers, and duplicated descriptions are omitted. In addition, the radiation in the present invention may include beams having the same or higher energy, such as X-rays, particle beams, and cosmic rays, in addition to α-rays, β-rays, and γ-rays, which are beams made of particles (including photons) emitted by radioactive decay.

[0011] (First embodiment) A radiation imaging system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a radiation imaging system 100 according to the first embodiment. The radiation imaging system 100 may include radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b, a supine gantry 102, a radiation generating device 104, a synchronization control device 105, a display device 106, a data processing device 107, an access point 108, a communication device 109, and an upright gantry 110. The radiation imaging device 101a is installed on the supine gantry 102, and the radiation imaging device 101b is installed on the upright gantry 110, and a radiation image can be obtained by imaging radiation emitted from the radiation generating device 104 and transmitted through a subject 103. The supine gantry 102 is a gantry on which the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b are placed when imaging a subject in a supine position, and the upright gantry 110 is a gantry on which the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b are placed when imaging a subject in an upright position.

[0012] The data processing device 107 may receive radiation images captured by the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b, perform image processing on the received radiation images, and control display of the image-processed radiation images on the display device 106. The data processing device 107 may also transmit imaging conditions input via an operation unit (not shown) to at least one of the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b. The data processing device 107 may also transmit setting information to at least one of the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b for enabling wireless communication between the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b and the data processing device 107. That is, the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b may at least one of receive control data such as imaging conditions and setting information from the data processing device 107, and transmit radiation image data acquired by imaging based on the control data to the data processing device 107. The data processing device 107 can also perform at least one of transmitting control data to the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b and receiving radiation image data from the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b. These transmissions and receptions can be performed by wireless communication.

[0013] The access point 108 is a wireless radio wave relay device for wirelessly exchanging information (data) between the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b and the data processing device 107. Note that if the radiation imaging devices and the data processing device have the access point function, the access point 108 does not need to be used.

[0014] The communication device 109 is a radio wave transmitter and receiver for short-distance wireless communication between the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b and the data processing apparatus 107. For example, the communication device 109 may be a communication device connected to the data processing apparatus 107 via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. A device compatible with at least one of the Bluetooth Basic Rate / Enhanced Data Rate (BR / EDR) standard and the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) standard may be used. Also, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) ​​device may be used that exchanges information from a tag with embedded ID information by short-distance wireless communication using an electromagnetic field or radio waves. In this case, the RFID communication method may be either an electromagnetic induction method or a radio wave method. The communication device 109 may be substituted by a function built into another apparatus such as a radiation generating apparatus.

[0015] The synchronization control device 105 has a circuit that mediates communication, and can monitor the states of the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b and the radiation generation device 106. For example, the synchronization control device 105 controls the irradiation of radiation from the radiation generation device 104, and the imaging of the subject 103 by the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b. The synchronization control device 105 may also include a built-in hub that connects multiple network devices. The synchronization control device 105 may be configured integrally with the data control device 107, and if the data control device 107 has that function, there is no need to provide the synchronization control device 105 separately.

[0016] The radiation generating device 104 is configured to have a radiation tube that accelerates electrons with a high voltage and causes them to collide with an anode in order to generate radiation such as X-rays.

[0017] Next, the configuration of the main parts of a radiation imaging apparatus 101 that can be used as the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the configuration of the main parts of the radiation imaging apparatus 101.

[0018] The power button 206 is an operation unit (including devices, circuits, circuits described by programs, and other things having the relevant functions) that starts and stops the power supply to each component of the radiation imaging apparatus 101. A user operates the power button 206 to prepare for imaging.

[0019] The battery unit 208 supplies a predetermined voltage from a battery. For example, the battery unit 208 is for supplying power to a preparatory operation detection unit and the like. For example, a lithium ion battery or an electric double layer capacitor is used as the battery. When power is constantly supplied from an external power source, the battery unit 208 may not be necessary.

[0020] The external power supply 207 supplies a predetermined voltage from an external power supply. Generally, wired power supply methods are mainstream, but non-contact power supply also falls into this category.

[0021] Depending on the operation status of the power button 206, the power control circuit 209 controls the power supply to each component from the battery unit 208 or the external power source 207 by connecting to each of them and monitors the remaining battery level. For example, the power control circuit 209 transforms the voltage from the battery unit 208 etc. to a predetermined voltage and supplies it to each component. For example, when the external power source 207 is not connected, pressing the power button 206 switches the power supply from the battery unit 208 on and off.

[0022] The radiation imaging unit 200 includes a drive circuit 201, a readout circuit 202, a radiation detection unit 203, and an ADC 204, and is a unit for obtaining radiation image data by imaging irradiated radiation. The radiation detection unit 203 detects radiation transmitted through the subject 103 as an image signal (electric charge). The radiation detection unit 203 includes a pixel array (not shown) in which a plurality of pixels (not shown) are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Each pixel may include a conversion element that converts radiation into an electric charge, and a switch element that switches between accumulating and outputting an electric signal corresponding to the electric charge. The conversion element may include, for example, a photoelectric conversion element and a scintillator that converts radiation into light that can be sensed by the photoelectric conversion element. The drive circuit 201 is a circuit that drives the radiation detection unit by supplying a drive signal for driving the pixels to the radiation detection unit 203, and is an integrated circuit that causes the pixels to accumulate and output an electric signal corresponding to the electric charge. The readout circuit 202 is an integrated circuit that reads out electrical signals output from the pixels, and may have a function of amplifying and reading out the electrical signals and a function of converting electrical signals read out in parallel into serial electrical signals. The ADC 204 has an analog-to-digital conversion function of converting analog electrical signals read out by the readout circuit 202 into digital data, and may output the converted digital data as radiation image data. The radiation image data output from the ADC 204 may be input to the control unit 206.

[0023] The storage unit 211 may store radiation image data and a system identifier output from the ADC 204, a calculated distance threshold calculated from the radio wave intensity between the radiation imaging apparatus 101 and the communication device 109, and an offset image. In addition, a technician ID which is identification information of a technician corresponding to the generated image data, a patient ID which is identification information of a patient, imaging conditions including imaging time, imaging dose, imaging part, and number of images, a transfer history of radiation image data, and the like may be linked and stored in the storage unit 211. The storage unit 211 is a readable and writable device, and is exemplified by a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. However, the storage unit 211 is not limited to this, and may be a volatile storage device such as an SDRAM. In addition, the storage unit 211 may be removable and attached to the data processing device 107, for example, like an SD card.

[0024] The first communication unit 212 is a unit that performs wireless communication with the data processing device 107 and the synchronization control device 105, and a wireless communication module is set appropriately according to a medium used for wireless communication. For example, the first communication unit 212 can communicate with the access point 108 through a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The first communication unit 212 can transmit and receive control data, radiation images, and the like to and from the data processing device 107 via the access point 108. The antennas ANT_1 and ANT_2 constitute a plurality of antennas for wireless communication for the first communication unit 212.

[0025] The second communication unit 213 is a unit that performs wireless communication with the data processing device 107, and a wireless communication module is appropriately set according to a medium used for wireless communication. For example, the second communication unit 213 can perform short-distance wireless communication with the communication device 109 by a wireless PAN (Personal Area Network). That is, the type of wireless communication between the communication device 109 and the second communication unit 213 may be different from that between the data processing device 107 and the first communication unit 212. The second communication unit 213 may have a function of receiving antenna initial value information, which is information about an antenna to be used in advance among the multiple antennas ANT_1 and ANT_2, transmitted from the data processing device 107. In addition, the second communication unit 213 may receive wireless communication setting information such as an identifier of the radiation imaging system, an SSID (Service Set Identifier), an encryption key, and an IP address required for communication with the first communication unit 212. These pieces of information are stored in the storage unit 111 of the data processing device 107 shown in FIG. 1, and may be transmitted to the second communication unit 213 via the communication device 109. The antenna initial value information will be described in detail later with reference to Fig. 3. Based on the antenna initial value information received by the second communication unit 213, the selection unit 214 can select an antenna to be used as a default from the multiple antennas ANT_1 and ANT_2 in response to an instruction from the control unit 205. The control unit 205 can control each unit of the radiation imaging device 101 for imaging in response to control data from the data processing device 107.

[0026] The operation unit 210 may be used as a manual trigger for transferring setting information between the radiation imaging apparatus 101 and the communication device 109. For example, when the operation unit 210 is operated, it may be possible to transmit and receive an identifier of the radiation imaging system, antenna initial value information to be set for the first communication unit 212, an SSID, an encryption key, an IP address, and the like.

[0027] Next, the antenna initial value information will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of antenna initial value information stored in the storage unit 111. FIG. 3 shows that the initial setting antenna, which is an antenna used in advance as a default for the radiation imaging device 101a, is ANT_1, and the initial setting antenna for 101b is ANT_2. That is, in a radiation imaging system having a plurality of radiation imaging devices, antenna initial information is stored in the storage unit 111 for each radiation imaging device. Note that the radiation imaging device 101a installed on the supine type gantry 102 has the antenna ANT_1 set as the antenna to be used in advance. Also, the radiation imaging device 101b installed on the upright type gantry 110 has the antenna ANT_2 set as the antenna to be used in advance. That is, an antenna suited to the installation situation of each radiation imaging device can be selected in advance. The antenna initial value information is transmitted to the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b via the communication device 109 as wireless communication settings such as an identifier of the radiation imaging system, an SSID, an encryption key, and an IP address required for communication with the first communication unit 212. The antenna initial value information may be any information that allows each antenna to be individually identified from among a plurality of antennas.

[0028] Next, selection control of antennas determined in advance to be used in a radiation imaging device having a plurality of antennas in a radiation imaging system will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the selection control.

[0029] In step S101, antenna initial value information shown in Fig. 3 is created, and in step S102, the antenna initial value information shown in Fig. 3 is stored in the storage unit 111 of the data processing device 107. Next, in step 103, the antenna initial value information is transmitted from the storage unit 111 of the data processing device 107 to at least one of the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b. Next, the antenna initial value information received via the second communication unit 213 is stored in the storage unit 211. Then, in step 105, the control unit 105 controls the selection unit 214 based on the antenna initial value information stored in the storage unit 211, and the controlled selection unit 214 selects an antenna according to the antenna initial value information from the multiple antennas ANT_1 and ANT_2.

[0030] In this manner, the data processing device is configured to set in advance an antenna (initial antenna) to be used among a plurality of antennas of the radiation imaging device, which enables efficient selection control in a radiation imaging system using a radiation imaging device that can select an antenna to be used from a plurality of antennas for wireless communication without relying on the measurement result of communication strength.

[0031] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. In the second embodiment, a suitable example will be described for a case where a radiation imaging apparatus can be mounted on a plurality of types of gantry. Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of antenna initial value information stored in a storage unit 111 according to the second embodiment.

[0032] 5, an initial antenna when the radiation imaging apparatus 101a is mounted on the lying-type gantry 102 and used is set to antenna ANT_1, and an initial antenna when the radiation imaging apparatus 101a is mounted on the upright gantry 110 and used is set to antenna ANT_2. An initial antenna when the radiation imaging apparatus 101b is mounted on the lying-type gantry 102 and used is set to antenna ANT_1, and an initial antenna when the radiation imaging apparatus 101a is mounted on the upright gantry 110 and used is set to antenna ANT_1. In this way, in each radiation imaging apparatus, antenna initial value information corresponding to the usage form is stored in the storage unit 111. With such a configuration, efficient selection control corresponding to each usage form is possible.

[0033] Third embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0034] 6 shows a centralized control system 600 that manages two radiation imaging systems 601 and 602. In the centralized control system 600, the data processing devices 107 configured in each radiation imaging system are connected to a central data processing device 603 of the centralized control system. The radiation imaging system 601 has the same configuration as the radiation imaging system 100 shown in FIG. 1, and the radiation imaging system 602 has a configuration in which an upright gantry 110a is added to the configuration of the radiation imaging system. That is, the central data processing device 603 is configured to function as a data processing device together with each data processing device 107. The central data processing device 603 may include a storage unit 604 in which antenna initial value information for each system that may be stored in the storage unit 111 of each data processing device 107 is stored.

[0035] 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a table of antenna initial value information in the centralized management system 600 stored in the storage unit 604. For each radiation imaging system 601 and each radiation imaging system 601, antenna initial value information corresponding to the radiation imaging apparatus configured in each imaging system and the usage form is set. In the imaging system 601, antenna initial value information is set for the combination of the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b and the lying-type gantry 102 and the upright gantry 110, which are the usage forms. In the imaging system 602, antenna initial value information is set for the combination of the radiation imaging apparatuses 101a and 101b and the lying-type gantry 102, the upright gantry 110, and the upright gantry 110a, which are the usage forms. The antenna initial value information stored in the storage unit 604 can be transmitted to the storage unit 111 of the data processing device 107 of each system for each system and stored in each storage unit 111.

[0036] Next, the antenna selection control according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flow chart for describing the selection control according to the third embodiment. In step S201, the data processing device 107 creates antenna initial value information shown in FIG. 3. In step S202, the antenna initial value information is stored in the data processing device 107 and simultaneously transmitted to the central data processing device 603 and stored in the storage unit 604 of the central data processing device 603. At this time, the storage unit 604 stores antenna initial information for each imaging system as shown in FIG. 7, and can be transmitted to the data processing device as backup data or the like for the data processing device 107 for use. Also, the central data processing device 603 can update the antenna initial information and transmit it to the data processing device 107 for use. Next, in step S203, the data processing device 107 transmits the antenna initial value information to the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b. Next, in step S204, the antenna initial value information is stored in the storage units 211 of the radiation imaging devices 101a and 101b. In step S205, the antenna selection control is performed by referring to the antenna initial information during imaging.

[0037] Each embodiment can also be realized by executing the following process: That is, software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-described embodiments are supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads and executes the programs.

[0038] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the following claims are appended to disclose the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 100 Radiation imaging system 101 Radiation imaging device 107 Data Processing Device ANT Antenna

Claims

1. A radiation imaging system including: a data processing device; and a plurality of radiation imaging devices each having a plurality of antennas available for communication related to radiation imaging between the data processing device and the radiation imaging device, the data processing device has a storage unit configured to store in advance settings of antennas to be used for each of the plurality of radiation imaging devices in an environment of the radiation imaging system; the data processing device transmits antenna setting information including settings of an antenna to be used in advance in the radiation imaging device to the radiation imaging device; The radiation imaging device selects an antenna to be used from among the plurality of antennas based on the antenna setting information. A radiation imaging system comprising:

2. The data processing device has a storage unit in which the antenna setting information is stored, The radiation imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation imaging device has a first communication unit that receives control data and / or transmits radiation image data via wireless communication, and a second communication unit that receives the antenna setting information.

3. The radiation imaging system according to claim 2 , further comprising a communication device for transmitting the antenna setting information from the data processing device to the second communication unit.

4. 4. The radiation imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the type of wireless communication between the communication device and the second communication section is different from the type of wireless communication between the data processing device and the first communication section.

5. The radiation imaging system according to claim 4 , wherein the wireless communication between the communication device and the second communication unit is short-range wireless communication.

6. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5 , wherein the wireless communication between the communication device and the second communication unit is performed using a predetermined antenna among the plurality of antennas.

7. 7. The radiation imaging system according to claim 2, wherein the storage section stores the antenna setting information corresponding to a usage mode of the radiation imaging apparatus.

8. 8. The radiation imaging system according to claim 2, wherein the storage section stores the antenna setting information for each of the radiation imaging devices.

9. A method for controlling a radiation imaging system including a data processing device and a plurality of radiation imaging devices each having a plurality of antennas available for communication related to radiation imaging between the data processing device and the radiation imaging device, the method comprising the steps of: storing, in the data processing device, antenna settings to be used in advance for each of the plurality of radiation imaging devices in an environment of the radiation imaging system; transmitting, in the data processing device, antenna setting information including settings of an antenna to be used in advance in a predetermined radiation imaging device among the plurality of radiation imaging devices, to the predetermined radiation imaging device; selecting an antenna to be used from among the plurality of antennas in the radiation imaging apparatus based on the antenna setting information; 2. A method for controlling a radiation imaging system, comprising:

10. A radiation imaging device having a plurality of antennas available for communication related to radiation imaging with a data processing device, a means for acquiring antenna setting information including a setting of an antenna to be used in advance in the radiation imaging apparatus from among settings of antennas to be used in advance in each of a plurality of radiation imaging apparatuses managed by the data processing device; a means for selecting an antenna to be used from among the plurality of antennas based on the antenna setting information; A radiation imaging apparatus comprising:

11. 1. A data processing device that performs communication with a radiation imaging device having a plurality of antennas available for communication related to radiation imaging, comprising: a storage unit in which settings of antennas to be used for each of a plurality of radiation imaging devices in the environment of the radiation imaging system are stored in advance; a unit for transmitting antenna setting information including settings of an antenna to be used in advance in a predetermined radiation imaging device among the plurality of radiation imaging devices to the predetermined radiation imaging device.

Images