Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system

• US 9,192,350 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hiroike, Taro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US13/864,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 378/91, 378 96- 98, 378/98.7, 378/98.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/42 Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4208 characterised by using a particular type of detector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4241 using energy resolving detectors, e.g. photon counting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4266 characterised by using a plurality of detector units A61B6/4014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/44 Constructional features of apparatus for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/54 Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis
• 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 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/566 involving communication between diagnostic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/08 Electrical details

Abstract

A portable radiation imaging apparatus configured to wirelessly communicate with a radiation generation apparatus includes a radiation image sensor including a two-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of detection elements configured to detect a radiation generated by the radiation generation apparatus, a wireless communication unit configured to receive a generation condition of the radiation generated by the radiation generation apparatus, a storage unit configured to store the received generation condition and radiation image data obtained by the radiation image sensor in association with each other, and a housing configured to accommodate the radiation image sensor, the wireless communication unit, and the storage unit.

Claims

1. A portable radiation imaging apparatus configured to wirelessly communicate with a radiation generation apparatus, the portable radiation imaging apparatus comprising:

a radiation image sensor including a two-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of detection elements configured to detect a radiation generated by the radiation generation apparatus;

a wireless communication unit configured to receive a generation condition of the radiation generated by the radiation generation apparatus;

a control unit configured to associate the received generation condition and radiation image data obtained by the radiation image sensor;

a storage unit configured to store the received generation condition and radiation image data associated by the control unit; and

a housing configured to accommodate the radiation image sensor, the wireless communication unit, and the storage unit.

2. The portable radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to receive the generation condition from the radiation generation apparatus after generation of the radiation.

3. The portable radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to transmit the stored radiation image data to a terminal apparatus along with the generation condition.

4. The portable radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to receive subject information corresponding to the radiation image data from the radiation generation apparatus along with the generation condition, and

wherein the storage unit is configured to store the radiation image data, the subject information, the generation condition, and association information that associates the radiation image data, the subject information, and the generation condition.

5. A radiation imaging system comprising:

a radiation generation apparatus including a first wireless communication unit; and

a radiation detection apparatus including a second wireless communication unit capable of wireless communication with the first wireless communication unit,

wherein the radiation generation apparatus and the radiation detection apparatus are configured to directly exchange information by wireless communication,

wherein the radiation detection apparatus includes a single housing, a storage unit and a control unit in the housing,

wherein the radiation generation apparatus is configured to transmit information with regard to a generation condition of the radiation to the radiation detection apparatus after irradiation with a radiation,

wherein the control unit is configured to associate a captured radiation irradiation image with the information with regard to a generation condition of the radiation and to generate image data, and

wherein the radiation detection apparatus is configured to store the image data into the storage unit.

6. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation detection apparatus includes a single housing, and

wherein the second wireless communication unit and the storage unit are arranged in the housing.

7. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation detection apparatus includes an information input unit and a display unit.

8. The radiation imaging system according to claim 7, wherein the radiation detection apparatus is configured to be capable of inputting an imaging condition from the information input unit, and to store the input imaging condition into the storage unit.

9. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation detection apparatus includes an external interface.

10. The radiation imaging system according to claim 9, wherein the radiation detection apparatus is connectable with an information apparatus such as a PC via the external interface.

11. The radiation imaging system according to claim 9, wherein the information apparatus is configured to transmit an imaging condition to the radiation detection apparatus, and

wherein the radiation detection apparatus is configured to store the transmitted imaging condition into the storage unit.

12. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation detection apparatus is configured to transmit an imaging condition stored in the storage unit to the radiation generation apparatus before imaging of a radiation image.

13. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation generation apparatus is configured to generate a radiation based on an imaging condition.

14. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation detection apparatus is configured to transmit the image data stored in the storage unit to an information apparatus.

15. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the information exchanged between the radiation generation apparatus and the radiation detection apparatus includes an imaging condition, the imaging execution information, and a synchronization signal regarding radiation irradiation and imaging.

16. The radiation imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the synchronization signal is a signal used to notify the radiation detection apparatus of start timing of the irradiation with the radiation from the radiation generation apparatus.

17. The radiation imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the synchronization signal is a signal used for the radiation generation apparatus to notify the radiation detection apparatus of an end of the irradiation with the radiation.

18. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation detection apparatus includes a radiation measurement unit configured to measure a total exposure dose of the radiation.

19. The radiation imaging system according to claim 18, wherein a synchronization signal is a signal used for the radiation detection apparatus to request the radiation generation apparatus to end the irradiation with the radiation based on the total exposure dose of the radiation measured by the radiation measurement unit.

20. The radiation imaging system according to claim 19, wherein the radiation generation apparatus is configured to transmit the imaging execution information to the radiation detection apparatus after transmission of the signal for requesting the end of the irradiation with the radiation.

21. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation generation apparatus includes a portable radiation generation apparatus.

22. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second wireless communication units include short-range wireless communication units.

23. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation detection apparatus further includes a third wireless communication unit as an external interface,

wherein the radiation imaging system includes a unit configured to receive a registration signal from a terminal apparatus among a plurality of terminal apparatuses connectable to the radiation detection apparatus by the third wireless communication unit, and to register the terminal apparatus,

wherein the radiation detection apparatus is configured to receive an imaging condition from the registered terminal apparatus, and

wherein the radiation detection apparatus is configured to transmit the image data stored in the storage unit to the registered terminal apparatus.

24. The radiation imaging system according to claim 23, wherein an SSID different from those of the first and second wireless communication units is assigned to the third wireless communication unit.

25. The radiation imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the information with regard to a generation condition of the radiation includes at least one of a tube voltage, a tube current, and irradiation time.