X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Specific application – Absorption
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-17
2003-01-07
Dunn, Drew A. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Specific application
Absorption
C378S098800, C378S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06504897
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an X-ray image radiographing system.
Recently, a tendency to digitize the X-ray image information of patients generated in the hospitals, and by storing and transmitting it, to enhance the efficiency and the speed of diagnosis, is increasing. Accordingly, also in a field of the direct radiographing, the X-ray image radiographing apparatus to output the digital data comes to be used often instead of the conventional screen/film system.
The X-ray image radiographing apparatus to output the digital data can be classified to the X-ray image radiographing apparatus using the solid-state plane detector and the X-ray image radiographing apparatus using the stimulative fluorescent substance (stimulable phosphor plate), according to the kind of the detecting means of X-ray.
In the X-ray image radiographing apparatus using the solid-state plane detector, the solid-state plane detector in which the solid-state image pick-up element, commonly called flat panel detector (FPD), is two-dimensionally arranged, is representative. In the FPD, there is a direct type FPD in which, by using a photoconductive material such as a-Se in which the electron and the electric charge of positive hole are generated by the X-ray energy, as a detecting means, the X-ray energy is directly converted into the electric charge, and the electric charge is read out as an electric signal by the reading-out element (reading-out means) such as a TFT two-dimensionally arranged in a fine area unit.
Further, an indirect type FPD in which the X-ray energy is converted into the light by a scintillator, or the like, and the converted light is converted into the electric charge by the photoelectric conversion element such as a-Si two-dimensionally arranged in a fine area unit, and the electric charge is read out as the electric signal by the reading-out element (reading-out means) such as a TFT two-dimensionally arranged in a fine area unit, which is the same as the photoelectric conversion element, is also widely known.
Further, in the present invention, an image division type FPD in which the X-ray energy is converted into the light by the scintillator, or the like, and the converted light is received by a large number of CCD or CMOS sensors which are arranged grid-like on the same plane, through a converging body such as a lens or optical fiber, and in the inside of the CCD or CMOS sensor, via photoelectric conversion, and electron·voltage conversion, it is read out as an electric signal, is also defined as one of solid state plane detectors.
On the one hand, the X-ray image radiographing apparatus using the stimulative fluorescent substance is normally called the computed radiography (CR). In the apparatus, a part of the X-ray energy transmitted through the subject is detected by a sheet-like detecting means called the stimulative fluorescent substance, and simultaneously, the detected energy is accumulated once inside the stimulative fluorescent substance. When the energy accumulated inside the stimulative fluorescent substance is excited by a predetermined wavelength of laser light, it can be taken out as the stimulation light. This stimulation light can be taken out as an electric signal by using the photoelectric conversion element such as a photo-multiplier, or the like.
Generally, the digital X-ray image radiographing apparatus forms an X-ray image radiographing system in which an X-ray image output apparatus
1
, control apparatus
2
, X-ray generation control apparatus
3
, and X-ray tube
4
are main components, as shown in
FIG. 1
,
FIG. 2
, and FIG.
3
.
Such the X-ray image radiographing system is largely classified into the exclusive-use type. X-ray image radiographing system shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
and the cassette correspondent type X-ray image radiographing system shown in FIG.
3
.
In the exclusive-use type X-ray image radiographing system, because a detecting means for detecting the X-ray (detector section) is fixed or housed in the inside of the radiographing apparatus, the operator can not simply carry the detecting means. As the detecting means, any one of a solid state plane detector and stimulative fluorescent substance can be used.
On the one hand, in the cassette correspondent type X-ray image radiographing system, the X-ray detecting means is housed in a portable thin box-like case called cassette, and the operator can easily carry the X-ray detecting means together with the cassette. As the detecting means, any one of a solid state plane detector and stimulative fluorescent substance can be used.
FIG. 3
is a view showing the cassette correspondent type X-ray image radiographing system, in which the stimulative fluorescent substance is used for the X-ray detecting means. The cassette correspondent type X-ray image radiographing system using the stimulative fluorescent substance is characterized by a portable cassette
6
in which a detecting means
100
for detecting the X-ray
5
, that is, the stimulative fluorescent substance plate is housed, and the X-ray image output apparatus
1
to read the X-ray image information accumulated in the stimulative fluorescent substance. In the present invention, a kind of the X-ray image output apparatus
1
used in the cassette correspondent type X-ray image radiographing system is defined as the cassette correspondent type X-ray image output apparatus.
The exclusive-use type X-ray image radiographing system is further classified into a stand alone type X-ray image radiographing system as shown in
FIG. 1
, and a lying type X-ray image radiographing system as shown in FIG.
2
.
The stand alone type X-ray image radiographing system is characterized by an elevator stand
60
and an X-ray image output apparatus
1
, as shown in
FIG. 1
, and is a system in which the subject
50
is radiographed in an erecting condition. Because the X-ray image output apparatus
1
is structured such that it can be moved up and down, the position of the X-ray image output apparatus
1
can be adjusted in the vertical direction corresponding to a height of the subject
50
. In the present invention, as a kind of the X-ray image output apparatus
1
used in the stand alone type X-ray image radiographing system, the stand alone type X-ray image output apparatus is defined.
On the one hand, the lying type X-ray image radiographing system is characterized by a plate-like member
70
, bed
80
, and X-ray image output apparatus
1
, and is a system in which the subject
50
is radiographed in a lying condition on the plate-like member
70
. In the present invention, a kind of the X-ray image output apparatus
1
used in the lying type X-ray image radiographing system is defined as the lying type X-ray image output apparatus.
As described above, a very large number of types of X-ray image radiographing systems mixedly exist. In the hospital, a demand for a high degree diagnosis and a demand for a diagnosis responsible to various conditions of a patient are increased. Therefore, since it is difficult to cope with these demand with a single type of an apparatus, there is a trend to employ plural type of diagnostic apparatus. Further, it may happens frequently that a diagnosis for a single person is conducted by using plural types of diagnostic apparatus in order to conduct the diagnosis from various aspects. However, because different type of radiographing systems using respective detecting means are used in the individually operating condition, the present condition is in the circumstances in which the operational efficiency is bad for the operator and the operator can hardly operate the system.
However, only by combining plural systems, it may be difficult to obtain an efficient reliable system. Further, there are many problems in the operability of respective systems, and it is hard to say that the system which is easily used and reliable, can be provided to the operators (a medical X-ray technician). Especially, a disadvantage that a finish of the image radiographed between systems using the different detecting means is d
Dunn Drew A.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Konica Corporation
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