Radiographic image capturing apparatus and radiographic image capturing system

• US 20110233415A1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakatsugawa, Haruyasu, Nishino, Naoyuki, Ohta, Yasunori
• Granted Patent: US 8,586,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/370.08
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2985 In depth localisation, e.g. using positron emitters; Tomographic imaging (longitudinal and transverse section imaging; apparatus for radiation diagnosis sequentially in different planes, steroscopic radiation diagnosis); using external radiation sources A61B6/02

Abstract

In a radiographic image capturing apparatus, by interfitting each of panel accommodating units by means of connecting sections so that portions of respective radiation conversion panels are superimposed, and that each of the irradiated surfaces thereof are repeated alternately in a sequence of a first irradiated surface and a second irradiated surface thereof, an image capturing surface of the radiographic image capturing apparatus, which is constituted to include respective image capturing regions, is maintained in a substantially planar condition.

Claims

1. A radiographic image capturing apparatus having a plurality of radiation detection units equipped with radiation conversion panels capable of converting radiation into radiographic images and panel accommodating units accommodating the radiation conversion panels therein, and connecting sections for connecting each of the radiation detection units together respectively, wherein:

the panel accommodating units each include, respectively, a front surface transmissive to the radiation, a rear surface opposed to the front surface and which is transmissive to the radiation, and side surfaces disposed between the front surface and the rear surface;

portions on the side surfaces of each of the panel accommodating units are constructed respectively as blocks that are removable from the panel accommodating units;

the connecting sections comprise step portions, which are formed at the side surfaces of each of the panel accommodating units by removal of the blocks from the panel accommodating units;

among the front surface and the rear surface of each of the panel accommodating units, certain ones of such surfaces are set respectively as irradiated surfaces on which the radiation that has passed through a subject is irradiated, and such that regions within the irradiated surfaces, which are irradiated by the radiation, make up image capturing regions capable of converting the radiation into radiographic images; and

by interfitting the step portions in a state in which portions of each of the radiation conversion panels are superimposed, and in which each of the panel accommodating units are flipped over sequentially so that each of the irradiated surfaces thereof are repeated alternately in a sequence of the front surface and the rear surface, an image capturing surface of the radiographic image capturing apparatus, which is constituted to include the respective image capturing regions, is maintained in a substantially planar condition.

2. A radiographic image capturing apparatus having a plurality of radiation detection units equipped with radiation conversion panels capable of converting radiation into radiographic images and panel accommodating units accommodating the radiation conversion panels therein, and connecting sections for connecting each of the radiation detection units together respectively, wherein:

the panel accommodating units each include, respectively, a front surface transmissive to the radiation, a rear surface opposed to the front surface and which is transmissive to the radiation, and side surfaces disposed between the front surface and the rear surface;

portions on the side surfaces of each of the panel accommodating units are constructed respectively as blocks that are rotatable with respect to the panel accommodating units;

the connecting sections comprise step portions, which are formed at the side surfaces of each of the panel accommodating units by rotating the blocks with respect to the panel accommodating units;

among the front surface and the rear surface of each of the panel accommodating units, certain ones of such surfaces are set respectively as irradiated surfaces on which the radiation that has passed through a subject is irradiated, and such that regions within the irradiated surfaces, which are irradiated by the radiation, make up image capturing regions capable of converting the radiation into radiographic images; and

by interfitting the step portions in a state in which portions of each of the radiation conversion panels are superimposed, and in which each of the panel accommodating units are flipped over sequentially so that each of the irradiated surfaces thereof are repeated alternately in a sequence of the front surface and the rear surface, an image capturing surface of the radiographic image capturing apparatus, which is constituted to include the respective image capturing regions, is maintained in a substantially planar condition.

3. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein;

irradiated surfaces of each of the panel accommodating units include an irradiated surface detector for detecting whether either of the front surface or the rear surface constitutes the irradiated surface; and

the irradiated surface detector comprises one of a gyroscope for detecting an angular speed of the panel accommodating units, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the irradiated surfaces of the panel accommodating units, and a load sensor for detecting a load applied to the irradiated surfaces from the subject.

4. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

each of the radiation detection units further includes a controller therein, respectively, for controlling the radiation conversion panels; and

the controllers are arranged respectively at regions outside of each of the image capturing regions or the image capturing surface.

5. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

each of the radiation detection units includes, respectively, a rotating mechanism capable of rotating the controller with respect to the panel accommodating units; and

by rotation thereof with respect to the panel accommodating units by means of the rotating mechanisms, the controllers are arranged respectively so as not to overlap with each of the panel accommodating units when irradiated with the radiation.

6. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a thickness of each of the controllers is of a thickness substantially flush with the image capturing surface in case that by means of the rotating mechanisms the controllers are arranged respectively so as not to overlap with each of the panel accommodating units.

7. A radiographic image capturing apparatus having a plurality of radiation detection units equipped with radiation conversion panels capable of converting radiation into radiographic images and panel accommodating units accommodating the radiation conversion panels therein, and connecting sections for connecting each of the radiation detection units together respectively, wherein:

the panel accommodating units each include, respectively, a front surface transmissive to the radiation, a rear surface opposed to the front surface, and side surfaces disposed between the front surface and the rear surface;

the connecting sections comprise step portions, which are formed at the side surfaces;

the front surfaces of each of the panel accommodating units comprise irradiated surfaces that are irradiated with the radiation that has passed through the subject, and regions within the irradiated surfaces, which are irradiated by the radiation, make up image capturing regions capable of converting the radiation into radiographic images;

each of the panel accommodating units comprises a first panel accommodating unit having a first irradiated surface, and a second panel accommodating unit having a second irradiated surface;

in the first panel accommodating unit, a surface proximate to step portions of the first panel accommodating unit comprises the rear surface, and a surface opposed to the rear surface and distanced from the step portions makes up the first irradiated surface;

in the second panel accommodating unit, a surface proximate to step portions of the second panel accommodating unit makes up the second irradiated surface, and a surface opposed to the second irradiated surface and distanced from the step portions comprises the rear surface; and

by interfitting the step portions so that portions of each of the radiation conversion panels are superimposed, and that irradiated surfaces are repeated alternately in a sequence of the first irradiated surface and the second irradiated surface, an image capturing surface of the radiographic image capturing apparatus, which is constituted to include the respective image capturing regions, is maintained in a substantially planar condition.

8. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in interior of each of the panel accommodating units, the radiation conversion panel, a radiation shielding member that prevents passage of the radiation therethrough, and a controller for controlling the radiation conversion panel are arranged in this order from the front surface toward the rear surface.

9. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controllers are smaller than the radiation conversion panels as viewed in plan.

10. A radiographic image capturing apparatus having a plurality of radiation detection units equipped with radiation conversion panels capable of converting radiation into radiographic images, panel accommodating units accommodating the radiation conversion panels therein, and controllers for controlling the radiation conversion panels, together with connecting sections for connecting each of the radiation detection units together respectively, wherein:

the panel accommodating units each include, respectively, a front surface transmissive to the radiation, a rear surface opposed to the front surface, and side surfaces disposed between the front surface and the rear surface;

the front surfaces each comprise irradiated surfaces that are irradiated with the radiation that has passed through the subject, and regions within the irradiated surfaces, which are irradiated by the radiation, make up image capturing regions capable of converting the radiation into radiographic images;

the connecting sections comprise projections, which are disposed on the front surfaces on a side thereof proximate to one of the side surfaces, and recesses, which are disposed on the rear surfaces on a side thereof proximate to another of the side surfaces confronting the one of the side surfaces;

each of the controllers are arranged respectively at regions outside of the image capturing regions on the front surfaces of the panel accommodating units, and as viewed from a side surface thereof, between the projections and the recesses, or between the projections and the other of the side surfaces; and

by interfitting the recess of one of the panel accommodating units and the projection of another of the panel accommodating units, such that portions of each of the radiation conversion panels are superimposed, and that the controllers do not overlap therewith respectively, the panel accommodating units are interconnected sequentially, and together therewith, a side of the one of the panel accommodating units proximate to the other of the panel accommodating units abuts against the controller that is arranged on the other of the panel accommodating units.

11. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

each of the controllers is arranged on a side surface of the panel accommodating unit, and as viewed from the side surface, is arranged between the projection and the other of the side surfaces; and

in case that the recess of the one of the panel accommodating units and the projection of the other of the panel accommodating units are interfitted, the controller arranged on the one panel accommodating unit abuts against the controller arranged on the other of the panel accommodating units.

12. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

each of the radiation detection units includes, respectively, a first controller arranged on a side surface of the panel accommodating units, and a second controller arranged on another side surface opposed to the side surface on which the first controller is arranged; and

in case that the recess of the one of the panel accommodating units and the projection of the other of the panel accommodating units are interfitted, a first controller that is arranged on the one panel accommodating unit abuts against a first controller that is arranged on the other panel accommodating unit, and a second controller that is arranged on the one panel accommodating unit abuts against a second controller that is arranged on the other panel accommodating unit.

13. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the one side surface and the other side surface on each of the controllers are constituted respectively as blocks, which are removable from the controllers; and

by removing each of the blocks from the controllers, the recesses of the one panel accommodating unit and the projections of the other panel accommodating unit become capable of being interfitted.

14. The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

in the interior of each of the panel accommodating units, the radiation conversion panel, and a radiation shielding member that prevents passage of the radiation therethrough are arranged in this order from the front surface toward the rear surface;

the controllers are arranged respectively on the rear surfaces of each of the panel accommodating units;

each of the controllers is arranged between the projection and the recess as viewed from a side surface; and

in case that the recess of the one of the panel accommodating units and the projection of the other of the panel accommodating units are interfitted, the controller abuts against the other panel accommodating unit.

15. A radiographic image capturing system comprising:

a radiographic image capturing apparatus having a plurality of radiation detection units equipped with radiation conversion panels capable of converting radiation into radiographic images and panel accommodating units accommodating the radiation conversion panels therein, and connecting sections for connecting each of the radiation detection units together respectively; and

a control apparatus for controlling the radiographic image capturing apparatus, wherein;

the panel accommodating units each include, respectively, a front surface transmissive to the radiation, and a rear surface opposed to the front surface and which is transmissive to the radiation;

among the front surface and the rear surface of each of the panel accommodating units, certain ones of such surfaces are set respectively as irradiated surfaces on which the radiation that has passed through a subject is irradiated, and such that regions within the irradiated surfaces, which are irradiated by the radiation, make up image capturing regions capable of converting the radiation into radiographic images;

by interfitting the connecting sections in a state in which portions of each of the radiation conversion panels are superimposed, and in which each of the panel accommodating units are flipped over sequentially so that each of the irradiated surfaces thereof are repeated alternately in a sequence of the front surface and the rear surface, an image capturing surface of the radiographic image capturing apparatus, which is constituted to include the respective image capturing regions, is maintained in a substantially planar condition;

the radiographic image capturing apparatus further includes an irradiated surface detector for detecting whether either of the front surface or the rear surface constitutes the irradiated surface, and a connection order information generating unit for detecting a connection order of the respective panel accommodating units interconnected by the connecting sections and for generating a detection result as connection order information;

the control apparatus includes an image processor for generating an image of the subject based on radiographic images obtained by each of the radiation conversion panels;

the image processor, after having corrected each of the radiographic images, combines each of the radiographic images after correction thereof based on a detection result of the irradiated surfaces in the irradiated surface detector or based on the connection order information generated by the connection order information generating unit, and generates the image of the subject.