Radiographic apparatus

• US 8,798,231 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Inventors: Notohara, Daisuke, Shibata, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US13/387,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20120128119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 378/10, 378/19, 378 21- 27, 378/98.8, 378/98.11, 378/98.12
• US Class Current: 378/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4452 the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5258 involving detection or reduction of artifacts or noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure

Abstract

One object of this invention is to provide radiography apparatus with suppressed exposure to a subject in tomography mode. An FPD provided in X-ray apparatus according to this invention converts X-rays into electric signals, and thereafter amplifies the signals to output them to an image generation section. According to this invention, an amplification factor is higher in a tomography mode than in a spot radiography mode. A tomographic image is obtained through superimposing two or more fluoroscopic image. In comparison of the fluoroscopic images, they differ from one another in appearance of the false image. Accordingly, superimposing the images may achieve cancel of the false images. In this way, the tomographic image finally obtained has no false image.

Claims

1. Radiographic apparatus comprising:

a radiation source for emitting radiation;

a radiation source controlling device for controlling output of radiation;

a radiation detecting device for detecting radiation;

a moving device for moving the radiation source and the radiation detecting device synchronously;

an image generation device for generating a fluoroscopic image based on a detection signal from the radiation detecting device; and

a superimposing device for superimposing a series of fluoroscopic images continuously taken while the radiation source and the radiation detecting device moves or superimposes an identical site of the subject in the series of fluoroscopic images one another, thereby generating a tomographic image,

the radiation detecting device comprising;

(A) a radiation conversion device for converting radiation entering the radiation detecting device into an electric signal; and

(B) an amplifying device for amplifying the electric signal by a given amplification factor,

wherein letting an imaging mode where the radiation detecting device is irradiated with single shot radiation to obtain a single fluoroscopic imaging be a spot radiography mode, and an imaging mode where a tomographic image is obtained be a tomography mode, an amplification factor is higher in the tomography mode than in the spot radiography mode, and output of single-shot radiation from the radiation source is less in the tomography mode than in the spot radiography mode.

2. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the moving device moves the radiation source and the radiation detecting device synchronously in opposite directions to each other, and

the superimposing device superimposes a series of fluoroscopic images to generate a tomographic image.

3. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the moving device moves the radiation source and the radiation detecting device synchronously in an identical direction to each other,

a like angle image generation device is further included that divides a series of the fluoroscopic images into strips to generate strip-shaped images, and selects and joins the strip-shaped images having an equal angle of X-ray radiation to the radiation detecting device to obtain two or more like angle images, and

the superimposing device superimposes a series of the like angle images to form a tomographic image.

4. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the amplifying device is formed of an analog amplifier and includes an A/D converter that converts output of the amplifying device as analog data into digital data.

5. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

an input unit is further provided for inputting operators instructions that allows variation in imaging mode.

6. Radiographic apparatus comprising:

a radiation source for emitting radiation;

a radiation source controlling device for controlling output of radiation;

a radiation detecting device for detecting radiation;

a moving device for moving the radiation source and the radiation detecting device synchronously;

an image generation device for generating a fluoroscopic image based on a detection signal from the radiation detecting device; and

a superimposing device for superimposing a series of fluoroscopic images continuously taken while the radiation source and the radiation detecting device moves or superimposes an identical site of the subject in the series of fluoroscopic images one another, thereby generating a tomographic image,

the radiation detecting device comprising;

(A) a radiation conversion device for converting radiation entering the radiation detecting device into an electric signal;

(B) an amplifying device for amplifying the electric signal by a given amplification factor; and

(C) an amplification factor setting device for setting an amplification factor of the amplifying device in accordance with an imaging mode upon imaging, letting an imaging mode that irradiates the radiation detecting device with single shot radiation to obtain a single fluoroscopic imaging be a spot radiography mode and letting an imaging mode that obtains a tomographic image be a tomography mode,

wherein the amplification factor setting device sets an amplification factor in the tomography mode higher than that in the spot radiography mode, and

the radiation source controlling device sets output of single-shot radiation from the radiation source less in the tomography mode than in the spot radiography mode and to an intensity where no amplification of the amplifying device is saturated.

7. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the moving device moves the radiation source and the radiation detecting device synchronously in opposite directions to each other, and

the superimposing device superimposes a series of fluoroscopic images to generate a tomographic image.

8. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the moving device moves the radiation source and the radiation detecting device synchronously in an identical direction to each other,

a like angle image generation device is further included that divides a series of the fluoroscopic images into strips to generate strip-shaped images, and selects and joins the strip-shaped images having an equal angle of X-ray radiation to the radiation detecting device to obtain two or more like angle images, and

the superimposing device superimposes a series of the like angle images to form a tomographic image.

9. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the amplifying device is formed of an analog amplifier and includes an A/D converter that converts output of the amplifying device as analog data into digital data.

10. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

an input unit is further provided for inputting operators instructions that allows variation in imaging mode.