Radiographing system, method of controlling automatic exposure in radiographing system, and radiological image detection device

• US 9,042,519 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuwabara, Takeshi, Kamiya, Takeshi, Kitagawa, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, David E
• Application Number:
  US13/603,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20130058455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 378/51, 378/62, 378/96, 378/97, 378/162, 378/165, 378/114, 378/115, 250/370.08, 250/370.09
• US Class Current: 378/97
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/545 involving automatic set-up of acquisition parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/585 Calibration of detector units

Abstract

A compensation circuit 76 of an AEC unit 67 of an electronic cassette 13 defines the detection signal of a detection pixel 65 of the electronic cassette 13 as a detection signal corresponding to the detection signal of an old AEC sensor 25. The compensation circuit 76 performs compensation so as to exclude the influence on the detection signal due to a difference in the configuration of an intermediate member disposed between an X-ray source 10 and an FPD 35 of the electronic cassette 13 when the detection pixel 65 is used as an AEC sensor instead of the old AEC sensor 25. The detection signal is transmitted from a detection signal I/F 80 to a detection signal I/F 26 of a source control device 11 as it is (instantaneous value) or as an accumulated value obtained using an integration circuit 77.

Claims

1. A radiographing system comprising:

a radiation source which irradiates radiation toward a subject;

a source control device which controls a driving of the radiation source;

a radiological image detection device which receives the radiation transmitted through the subject to detect a radiological image, and has an AEC sensor for detecting the dose of the radiation transmitted through the subject and after the accumulated value of the detected dose reaches an irradiation prohibition threshold value set in advance, performing automatic exposure control to prohibit the irradiation of the radiation;

a compensation part for, in a state where the AEC sensor attached to the radiological image detection device is connected to the source control device and used instead of an old AEC sensor, defining the detection signal of the AEC sensor as a detection signal corresponding to the detection signal of the old AEC sensor so as to exclude the influence on a detection signal due to a difference in the configuration of an intermediate member disposed between the radiation source and the imaging plane of a detection panel of the radiological image detection device in the case of using the AEC sensor instead of the old AEC sensor; and

a detection signal I/F which exchanges a detection signal or the accumulated value of the detection signal between the source control device and the radiological image detection device, further comprising;

an accumulation part which accumulates the detection signal output from the compensation part,

wherein the detection signal I/F exchanges the detection signal output from the compensation part without using the accumulation part when a function of accumulating the detection signal is provided in the source control device, and exchanges the accumulated value of the detection signal output from the accumulation part when the accumulation function is not provided.

2. The radiographing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first storage part for storing the correspondence relationship between the detection signal of the AEC sensor and the detection signal of the old AEC sensor,

wherein the compensation part performs compensation based on the correspondence relationship.

3. The radiographing system according to claim 2,

wherein the intermediate member includes at least one of a housing which covers the detection panel of the radiological image detection device, a scintillator which converts a radiation to a visible light, and a grid which removes the radiation scattered in the subject.

4. The radiographing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detection field selection part for selecting the detection field of the AEC sensor according to the detection field of an old AEC sensor based on positional information of the detection field of the old AEC sensor.

5. The radiographing system according to claim 4,

wherein the detection field selection part selects a detection field in accordance with the posture of the radiological image detection device.

6. The radiographing system according to claim 1,

wherein the AEC sensor attached to the radiological image detection device is a pixel which is connected directly to a signal line for reading signal charges without passing through a switching element.

7. The radiographing system according to claim 1,

wherein the radiological image detection device is an electronic cassette in which a detection panel is contained in a portable housing.

8. A radiographing system comprising:

a radiation source which irradiates radiation toward a subject;

a source control device which controls a driving of the radiation source;

a radiological image detection device which receives the radiation transmitted through the subject to detect a radiological image, and has an AEC sensor for detecting the dose of the radiation transmitted through the subject and after the accumulated value of the detected dose reaches an irradiation prohibition threshold value set in advance, performing automatic exposure control to prohibit the irradiation of the radiation;

an accumulation and compensation part for, in a state where the AEC sensor attached to the radiological image detection device is connected to the source control device and used instead of an old AEC sensor, defining the detection signal of the AEC sensor as a detection signal corresponding to the detection signal of the old AEC sensor so as to exclude the influence on a detection signal due to a difference in the configuration of an intermediate member disposed between the radiation source and the imaging plane of a detection panel of the radiological image detection device in the case of using the AEC sensor instead of the old AEC sensor and accumulating the detection signal;

a comparison part for comparing the irradiation prohibition threshold value on the source control device side with the accumulated value of the detection signal from the accumulation and compensation part and when the accumulated value of the detection signal reaches the irradiation prohibition threshold value, outputting an irradiation prohibition signal; and

,

an irradiation signal I/F which exchanges the irradiation prohibition signal from the comparison part between the source control device and the radiological image detection device, further comprising;

a detection signal I/F which exchanges the detection signal or the accumulated value of the detection signal between the source control device and the radiological image detection device, further comprising;

an information acquisition part for acquiring type-specific information relating to either an ease of installation-priority type giving priority on ease of connection between the source control device and the radiological image detection device or an ease of installation-nonpriority type; and

a switching part for selectively switching the output format of a signal for automatic exposure control so as to exchange the detection signal using the detection signal I/F when the type acquired by the information acquisition part is the ease of installation-priority type and so as to exchange the irradiation prohibition signal using the irradiation signal I/F when the type is the ease of installation-nonpriority type,

wherein the information acquisition part acquires information regarding whether or not a function of accumulating the detection signal is provided in the source control device, and

the switching part outputs the detection signal without accumulating the detection signal using the accumulation and compensation part when the type acquired by the information acquisition part is the ease of installation-priority type and the function of accumulating the detection signal is provided in the source control device, and outputs the accumulated value of the detection signal output from the accumulation and compensation part when the accumulation function is not provided.

9. The radiographing system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a first storage part for storing the correspondence relationship between the detection signal of the AEC sensor and the detection signal of the old AEC sensor,

wherein the compensation part performs compensation based on the correspondence relationship.

10. The radiographing system according to claim 9,

wherein the intermediate member includes at least one of a housing which covers the detection panel of the radiological image detection device, a scintillator which converts a radiation to a visible light, and a grid which removes the radiation scattered in the subject.

11. The radiographing system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a detection field selection part for selecting the detection field of the AEC sensor according to the detection field of an old AEC sensor based on positional information of the detection field of the old AEC sensor.

12. The radiographing system according to claim 11,

wherein the detection field selection part selects a detection field in accordance with the posture of the radiological image detection device.

13. The radiographing system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a second storage part for storing source information associated with a source ID specific to the radiation source,

wherein the information acquisition part acquires a source ID and searches for and extracts a type corresponding to the acquired source ID from the source information.

14. The radiographing system according to claim 13,

wherein the source information stores a type for each shipment area.

15. The radiographing system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a display part for displaying a GUI which receives an input of a type; and

an input device which is used to input a type using the GUI,

wherein the information acquisition part acquires type-specific information from an input result of a type using the input device.

16. The radiographing system according to claim 8,

wherein the switching part is provided in the radiological image detection device.

17. The radiographing system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a converter which is connected to the source control device and the radiological image detection device and relays the exchange of a signal between the source control device and the radiological image detection device,

wherein the switching part is provided in the converter.

18. The radiographing system according to claim 17,

wherein the radiological image detection device has only the detection signal I/F which outputs the detection signal, and the converter has the irradiation signal I/F along with the detection signal I/F.

19. The radiographing system according to claim 17,

wherein the accumulation and compensation part, the comparison part, and the detection field selection part are provided in the radiological image detection device or the converter.

20. The radiographing system according to claim 8,

wherein the irradiation signal I/F exchanges an inquiry signal which inquires for whether or not to start the irradiation of the radiation, and an irradiation permission signal which permits the irradiation of the radiation, along with the irradiation prohibition signal.

21. The radiographing system according to claim 8,

wherein the AEC sensor attached to the radiological image detection device is a pixel which is connected directly to a signal line for reading signal charges without passing through a switching element.

22. The radiographing system according to claim 8,

wherein the radiological image detection device is an electronic cassette in which a detection panel is contained in a portable housing.

23. A method of controlling automatic exposure in a radiographing system,

wherein the radiographing system comprises

a radiation source which irradiates radiation toward a subject;

a source control device which controls a driving of the radiation source, and

a radiological image detection device which receives the radiation transmitted through the subject to detect a radiological image, and has an AEC sensor for detecting the dose of the radiation transmitted through the subject and after the accumulated value of the detected dose reaches an irradiation prohibition threshold value set in advance, performing automatic exposure control to prohibit the irradiation of the radiation, and

the method comprising;

a compensation step of, in a state where the AEC sensor attached to the radiological image detection device is connected to the source control device and used instead of an old AEC sensor, defining the detection signal of the AEC sensor as a detection signal corresponding to the detection signal of the old AEC sensor so as to exclude the influence on a detection signal due to a difference in the configuration of an intermediate member disposed between the radiation source and the imaging plane of a detection panel of the radiological image detection device in the case of using the AEC sensor instead of the old AEC sensor; and

a communication step of exchanging a detection signal or the accumulated value of the detection signal between the source control device and the radiological image detection device,

an accumulation step which accumulates the detection signal output from the compensation step,

wherein the detection signal I/F exchanges the detection signal output from the compensation step without using the accumulation step when a function of accumulating the detection signal is provided in the source control device, and exchanges the accumulated value of the detection signal output from the accumulation step when the accumulation function is not provided.

24. A method of controlling automatic exposure in a radiographing system, wherein the radiographing system comprises

a radiation source which irradiates radiation toward a subject;

a source control device which controls a driving of the radiation source, and

a radiological image detection device which receives the radiation transmitted through the subject to detect a radiological image, and has an AEC sensor for detecting the dose of the radiation transmitted through the subject and after the accumulated value of the detected dose reaches an irradiation prohibition threshold value set in advance, performing automatic exposure control to prohibit the irradiation of the radiation,

an irradiation signal I/F;

a detection signal I/F;

the method comprising;

an accumulation and compensation step of, in a state where the AEC sensor attached to the radiological image detection device is connected to the source control device and used instead of an old AEC sensor, defining the detection signal of the AEC sensor as a detection signal corresponding to the detection signal of the old AEC sensor so as to exclude the influence on a detection signal due to a difference in the configuration of an intermediate member disposed between the radiation source and the imaging plane of a detection panel of the radiological image detection device in the case of using the AEC sensor instead of the old AEC sensor and accumulating the detection signal;

a comparison step of comparing the irradiation prohibition threshold value on the source control device side with the accumulated value of the detection signal output in the accumulation and compensation step, and when the accumulated value of the detection signal reaches the irradiation prohibition threshold value, outputting an irradiation prohibition signal;

acquiring type-specific information relating to either an ease of installation-priority type giving priority on ease of connection between the source control device and the radiological image detection device or an ease of installation-nonpriority type;

acquiring function information regarding whether or not a function of accumulating the detection signal is provided in the source control device,

selectively switching an output format of a signal for automatic exposure control to exchange the detection signal using the detection signal I/F when the acquired type-specific information is the ease of installation-priority type and to exchange the irradiation prohibition signal using the irradiation signal I/F when the acquired type-specific information is the ease of installation-nonpriority type;

a communication step of exchanging the irradiation prohibition signal output in the comparison step between the source control device and the radiological image detection device, and

outputting the detection signal without accumulating the detection signal using the accumulation and compensation step when the acquired type-specific information is the ease of installation-priority type and the acquired function information indicates accumulating the detection signal is provided in the source control device, and outputting the accumulated value of the detection signal output from the accumulation and compensation step when the acquired function information indicates that accumulation function is not provided.