JP2653877B2 - Support device for radiation image information processing system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a support apparatus for a radiation image information processing system, and more particularly, for example, reads radiation image information from a stimulable phosphor laminated on a sheet, In a radiation image information processing system that performs predetermined image processing on the image and displays the image on a film or a CRT or the like, a radiation image that enables a user of the system to set an image processing parameter for obtaining a desired image based on the captured image. The present invention relates to an information processing system support device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently, a radiographic image information processing system for recording / reproducing a radiographic image of a subject, for example, a human body, using a stimulable phosphor has been developed by the present applicant, and has been widely used especially in the medical field. Spreading. Regarding the radiation image information processing system, for example, JP-A Nos. 55-12429 and 55-103
Nos. 472, 55-116340, and 55-87970, etc., have filed many patent applications by the present applicant.

Here, the stimulable phosphor is radiation (X-ray, α-ray, β-ray,
Ray, γ-ray, electron beam, ultraviolet ray, etc.), a part of this radiation energy is accumulated, and then, when irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, fluorescent light that emits stimulable light in accordance with the accumulated energy is emitted. Refers to the body.

The radiation image information processing system employs a sheet having a layer made of the stimulable phosphor, and temporarily records radiation image information of a human body or the like on the stimulable phosphor sheet (hereinafter, image information is recorded on the sheet). Record)),
The stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as a laser beam to generate stimulated emission light, and the stimulated emission light obtained here is read using a photoelectric conversion unit, and is converted into an electric signal. (Hereinafter simply referred to as an image signal). After subjecting the image signal to predetermined signal processing, a recording medium such as a photographic photosensitive material or a CR is used.
Display as a visualized image on T etc.

By the way, the visualized image obtained in this way is used for diagnosis by a doctor or the like, but the processing conditions of the image generally differ depending on the diagnosis place or the hospital. In this case, for example, if parameters are changed and output each time shooting is performed, the setting operation becomes extremely troublesome, and considerable skill is required for setting. In addition, once the conditions are set and the image is output on the film, it is practically impossible to take the image again and set the image processing conditions because the radiation will be excessively exposed to the patient. It is.

On the other hand, once the image obtained by shooting is once recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk, the image processing conditions are adjusted by a maintenance staff or the like, and the image processing conditions for obtaining an optimal image are set. There is something. However, in this case, there is a disadvantage that the user cannot arbitrarily adjust the image processing conditions.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, and temporarily stores image information obtained from a radiation image information processing system, and thereafter stores the image information based on various image processing parameters. An object of the present invention is to provide a support apparatus for a radiation image information processing system that enables a user to set desired image parameters from an optimum image obtained by processing image information.

[Means for Achieving the Object] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a radiographic image information processing device that performs predetermined signal processing on a radiographic image to obtain an image signal, and forms a visualized image from the image signal. A support device connected to a system, wherein the storage unit stores a standard image signal provided by the radiation image information processing system, and the image signal stored in the storage unit is visualized by the radiation image information processing system. The radiographic image processing system is characterized by comprising: an image signal transmitting unit for transmitting an image; and a parameter setting unit for setting an image processing parameter for an image signal in the radiation image information processing system.

[Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of a support apparatus for a radiation image information processing system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the support apparatus according to the present embodiment is connected to a radiation image information processing system.

First, a radiation image information processing system will be described. The radiation image information processing system is an image reading apparatus that reads a sheet A on which a radiation transmission image of a subject 12 obtained by an imaging device 10 is recorded under predetermined conditions using a photoelectric conversion unit, converts the read signal into a digital signal, and transmits the digital signal. 14, a control device 16 that controls the image reading device 14 and performs image processing such as gradation processing and frequency processing on an image signal as a digital signal and sends out the signal, and the image signal is a photosensitive material. It basically comprises an image output device 18 that forms a visualized image on a film or the like and creates it, and an image output device 20 that creates the image signal so as to be visually recognized on a screen such as a CRT. Note that the imaging apparatus 10 has an X-ray source 22 and
Are stored and recorded on the sheet A.

Here, the image reading device 14, for example, irradiates the sheet A with excitation light such as a laser light beam, converts stimulated emission light generated from the sheet A into an image signal by a photomultiplier (not shown), and A mechanism having a function of erasing the image information by irradiating the erasing light to the sheet A from which the image signal is read to make the sheet A reusable is included. The image output device 18 irradiates a film such as a photographic photosensitive material (not shown) with a laser beam or the like based on an image signal obtained from the image reading device 14 and develops the film to form a visualized image. The image output device 20 displays the image signal so as to be visually recognized on a CRT or the like.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the support device 30 according to the present embodiment displays a control unit 32, an image signal storage unit 34 that records and holds a plurality of pieces of image information as image signals, and displays various types of processing information. And a keyboard 38 for setting various functions and performing signal processing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the details.

The control section 32 is connected to a control board 44 constituting the control device 16 shown in FIG. In this case, the CPU 46 for controlling the operation of the control device 16 is detached from the control board 44 and mounted on the board of the control unit 32. The control unit 32 and the control board 44 are configured to be connected by a flexible cable Fc or the like via a gate 48. Control device by control unit 32
The 16 maintenance operations are controlled by a support CPU (hereinafter referred to as SCPU) 42 based on a support program stored in a ROM 40.

A bus line 45 is formed in the control unit 32, a ROM 40 and an SCPU 42 are connected to the bus line 45, and a RAM 47 that holds support data and a timer that counts and adds date, time, and the like to the data. A calendar 49, an input / output interface SIO50 having a function of discriminating input / output signals, and a logic circuit 52 are connected. In this case, the SIO50 has a display unit for displaying support data or setting data.
36 is connected together with a keyboard 38 having a processing function.
The logic circuit 52 is supplied with signals from a reset terminal and a power switch. Further, an address counter 58, a RAM (1) 60, a RAM (2) 62, and a logic circuit 64 are connected to the bus line 45, respectively. Address counter 58 is SCPU
The address of the RAM (1) 60 is specified based on a command from the logic circuit 42 and the logic circuit 64. RAM (1) 60 is for control device 16 and C
The processing address of the PU 46, state data such as instructions are held, and the processing address is compared with a comparator (1).
Output to 66. The RAM (2) 62 holds, for example, characteristic addresses, instructions, and the like of the image signals obtained by the control device 16, and outputs the specific address among these data to the comparator (1) 66. Is configured. The comparator (1) 66 compares the processing address with the specific address, and outputs the result of the comparison to the logic circuit 64. The logic circuit 64 uses the gate 48 based on the comparison result.
Outputs an operation stop command (WAIT signal) to the CPU 46 via the CPU, and transmits an interrupt command and support data from the SCPU 42 to the CPU 4.
It is configured to output to 6.

Further, the bus line 45, input-output interface PIO68 performing each buffer operation, the address drive 70 is connected, the output signal is connected so as to be delivered to the respective output terminals T ₁ and T _2.

The image signal storage units 34 are connected to the bus lines 80, respectively.
REG (1) (register) 82, and an image memory 84 having a relatively large storage capacity.
84 is a storage unit 84a to 84d divided into a certain address area
have. In this case, the bus line 80 is configured in common with the bus line of the control device 16, and this bus line 80
The image signal is fetched into the image memory 84 via.

The output signal from the output terminal T ₂ of the control unit 32 is input to the address decoder 86 through the input terminal T ₂ ', the output signal with the first output signal of the address decoder 86 is input to REG88 And REG (1) 82 are supplied to the comparator 90, respectively.

The output signal from the comparator 90 and the second signal of the address decoder 86
Signal from the output terminal T ₁ of the output signal and the control unit 32 is input through the input terminal T ₁ 'respectively logic circuit 92. Logic circuit
Reference numeral 92 is connected to an address of an image signal in the image memory 84, that is, an address counter 94 for instructing and storing one of the four storage units 84a to 84d.
Further, it is connected so that the third output signal of the address decoder 86 is supplied to the logic circuit 92. Further, the fourth output signal of the address decoder 86 and the signal from the input terminal T ₁ ′ are connected to a read address counter 96 for reading an image signal recorded from the image memory 84.

The support apparatus for a radiation image information processing system according to the present embodiment is basically configured as described above,
Next, the operation and effect will be described.

First, the operation of the radiation image information processing system will be described. In this case, an X-ray source
When X-rays are emitted from 22, the X-rays pass through the subject 12 and form a transmitted image of the radiation on the sheet A loaded in the imaging device 10. Next, the sheet A in which the transmission image is accumulated and recorded on the stimulable phosphor is loaded into the image reading device 14, and is converted into an image information signal as an electric signal under the control of the control device 16.

That is, the image reading device 14 irradiates the sheet A conveyed in the sub-scanning direction with excitation light such as a laser light beam in the main scanning direction, and emits stimulated emission light emitted from the sheet A to a photoelectric conversion unit such as a photomultiplier. The image information is obtained by reading and converting to digital signals. The sheet A from which the image information is read is erased by irradiating the entire surface thereof with the erasing light, so that the remaining radiation image information is erased.
Provided for retake in 10.

Next, the image information obtained as an electric signal by the image reading device 14 is subjected to processing such as gradation processing and frequency processing by the control device 16 as necessary.
Alternatively, a visualized image is formed by 20 and displayed so as to be visually recognized. In this case, in the image output device 18, an image is formed by irradiating a laser light beam modulated in accordance with the image information in a main scanning direction on a film as a photographic recording material to be sub-scanned and conveyed, Next, the film is subjected to a development process to obtain a visualized image. In the image output device 20, a subject image corresponding to the image data is displayed on a screen such as a CRT.

At the time of installation of the radiation image information processing system performing such an operation, in order to output an optimum image on a recording medium such as a film, the support control unit of the support device 30 as shown in FIGS. The image signal storage unit 34 is connected to the bus line 80 of the control device 16 while the connection between the control circuit 32 and the control board 44 is made. That is, the maintenance worker removes the CPU 46 from the control board 44 constituting the control device 16, and attaches the CPU 46 to the support device 30.
Is attached to the support control unit 32 constituting Then, the support control unit 32 and the control board 44 are connected via a gate 48 by a flexible cable Fc or the like. The support control unit 32 has a terminal T ₁ ,
The image signal storage unit 34 having a common bus with the control board 44 is connected via T ₁ ′, T ₂ , and T ₂ ′. The REG (1) 82 and the image memory 84 of the image signal storage unit 34 are connected to the bus line 80 of the control board 44 via cables C ₁ and C ₂ , respectively.

Next, the operation of the support device 30 when an error occurs, which is a basic operation of the support device, will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, an image transfer address corresponding to a failure address, which is an error processing address of a processing program when an error occurs, and a start command address for executing image transfer is set in the RAM (2) 62 of the support control unit 32. That is, the fault address and the image transfer address are input using a keyboard 38 having a display unit 36 such as a CRT connected to the support control unit 32, and are loaded into the RAM (2) 62 via the SIO 50.

Next, the user restarts the system after setting the failure address and the image transfer address, and performs processing by the system. In this case, the selectors 100a to 100c and 102a to 102c connects the select signal a ₁ and by a ₂ and the control unit 16 CPU 46 from the logic circuit 92. The selector 104a, 104b the controller 16 and CPU46 a RAM (1) by the select signal a ₃ 60 and a comparator (1) 66
Connect to

Therefore, first, an operation of saving processing information when a failure occurs based on the setting of the failure address will be described. CPU4
The processing information by 6 is transferred to the control device 16 via the gate 48, and predetermined operation control for the image reading device 14 and the like is executed. On the other hand, the processing information is stored in the RAM via the gate 48.
(1) Transferred to 60 and comparator (1) 66. In this case, the RAM (1) 60 stores the processing information. The comparator (1) 66 stores the address of the processing information and the RAM (2) 62
Is compared with the failed address stored in On the other hand, the control device 16 transfers the control signals S ₁ and S ₂ and the address data signal AD / DATA to the CPU 46 via the gate 48. These signals are also passed through the gate 48 to the RAM (1) 60 and the comparator (1) 6
Transferred to 6. Then, the comparator (1) 66 compares the address of the processing information in the control device 16 with the failure address held in the RAM (2) 62, as in the case described above.

Here, the comparator (1) 66 sequentially compares the processing address of the CPU 46, the address data signal from the control device 16, and the like, and if these match the fault address set in the RAM (2) 62 in advance or within a predetermined range of conditions. When it is confirmed that the signal is within the range, a failure detection signal is output to the logic circuit 64. In this case, the logic circuit 64 outputs a wait signal WAIT to the CPU 46 via the gate 48 and interrupts the SCPU 42 via the bus line 45. As a result, the CPU 46 enters the wait state. On the other hand, the SCPU 42 checks and stores the processing information of the CPU 46 secured in the RAM (1) 60 based on the interrupt signal from the logic circuit 64. Next, when a jump instruction to a specific address, that is, an error processing instruction is found, a jump instruction is written to the RAM (1) 60, and the error processing is written to the address of the RAM (1) 60 designated by the jump instruction. Then, a recovery program for avoiding the problem is written, and the wait state of the CPU 46 is released via the logic circuit 64.

Next, the CPU 46 continues the processing operation by the control device 16 based on the restoration program secured in the RAM (1) 60. That is, the CPU 46 executes the recovery program of the RAM (1) 60 through the gate 48, and outputs a predetermined operation command to the control device 16 through the gate 48. In this case, the control device 16
(1) Continue operations such as image processing based on the restoration program secured in 60. Also, the CPU 46 can display an error message or the like on the console of the control device 16 based on the restoration program set in the RAM (1) 60, and can suggest to the user the error processing of the image in response to the occurrence of the error. Become.

Next, the operation of storing the image information to be transferred and storing the abnormal image, if any, will be described.

The comparator (1) 66 compares the address of the processing information by the CPU 46 transferred via the gate 48 and the various information in the control device 16 with the image transfer address held in the RAM (2) 62.

Therefore, when the CPU 46 instructs the processing address at the time of the image transfer to the control device 16, the RAM (2) 62
Is compared with the specified address. In this case, since the specific address matches the processing address or falls within a predetermined condition, the comparator (1) 66 outputs a detection signal indicating image transfer to the logic circuit 64. And the logic circuit 64 is the CPU 46
A WAIT signal is output via the gate 48 to stop the operation of the CPU 46 and interrupt the SCPU 42. Next, the SCPU 42 checks the inside of the RAM (1) 60, identifies the transfer image size and the address, and sets the transfer address of the line size and the number of lines to the DMA in the control device 16. Further, after clearing the REG (1) 82 via the PIO 68, the SCPU 42 enables the REG (1) 82, and sets the end address in the REG (2) 88. The logic circuit 92 is enabled. Therefore, the SCPU 42 continues the processing. As a result, the DMA is started, and the transfer of the image signal is started.

Here, the REG (1) 82 latches the address on the bus line 80 and is compared with the end address of the REG (2) 88 by the comparator (2) 90 until it matches.
The image signals on the bus line 80 are fetched into the storage units 84a to 84d of 84. When the addresses match, the comparator (2) 90 sends a match signal to the logic circuit 92 to disable the address counter 94 and stop writing. In this way, the images are sequentially written to the image memory 84,
When the user detects an abnormal image, the user instructs the image to be held via the keyboard 38, and the SCPU 42 receives the hold command. And
The SCPU 42 instructs the logic circuit 92 to write the value of the address counter based on the above.
Try to avoid addresses from a to 84d. When a maximum of four images are held in this manner, subsequent accumulation is stopped.

The maintenance staff instructs, via the SIO 50, from the keyboard 38 to read the processing information leading to the failure stored in the RAM (1) 60, and saves the information on a floppy disk or the like. Each storage unit 84 of the image memory 84 of the image signal storage unit 34
From the keyboard 38, the abnormal image stored in a to 84d is stored.
A reading instruction is issued via the SIO50. As a result, SCPU42 becomes PIO
The reading address counter 96 is set via the PIO 68, the data is simultaneously read in the cycle via the PIO 68, and the abnormal image is reproduced by the image output device 18. After that, the maintenance person performs a pursuit of the cause of the failure, recovery measures, and the like based on the floppy disk and the reproduced image. In such an apparatus, a user can set image processing parameters for outputting an optimal image using the display unit 36 and the keyboard 38 constituting the support apparatus 30.

That is, the user uses the keyboard 38 to
After instructing the parameter setting mode, the image reading device 14 is loaded with the sheet A carrying a predetermined image, and the image reading operation is started. In this case, gate 48 is CPU4
6 to monitor information such as instructions extracted from the memory of the control device 16 based on the processing address and the processing address output to the control device 16,
The data is stored in the RAM (1) 60. The comparator 66 is a RAM (1) 60
RAM by the processing address and maintenance personnel stored in
(2) A comparison is made with a specific address for taking in the image information stored in 62, and the comparison result is output to the logic circuit 64.

Therefore, when the CPU 46 instructs the control device 16 to issue a processing address when instructing the capture of image information, the processing address signal is stored in the RAM (1) 60 and supplied to the comparator (1) 66. This is compared with a specific address of the RAM (2) 62. In this case, since the specific address matches the processing address, the comparator 66 outputs the match signal to the logic circuit 64.
Output to In this case, the logic circuit 64 outputs a WAIT signal to the CPU 46 via the gate 48 to stop the operation of the CPU 46 and interrupt the SCPU 42. Next, SCPU42 sets RA
M (1) 60 is checked to identify the transfer image size and address, and the transfer address of the line size and the number of lines is set in the DMA in the control device 16. Furthermore, SCPU42 is REG
(1) Clear 82 to enable, and set REG (2) 88 to P
Set the end address via IO68. Next, the processing is continued. As a result, the DMA is started, and the transfer of the image signal is started.

The REG (1) 82 latches an address on the bus line 80, compares the latched address with the end address of the REG (2) 88 by the comparator (2) 90, and stores the same in the image memory 84 until they match. Bus line 80 from 84a to 84d
Capture the above image signal. When the comparator (2) 90 sends a coincidence signal to the logic circuit 92, the logic circuit 92 disables the address counter 94 and stops writing the image signal. Here, when the writing of one image signal is completed
An interrupt is input to the CPU 46, and a termination process is performed.
In this case, the comparator 90 monitors the end processing of the CPU 46 and
Interrupt 2 and stop the operation of CPU46. The SCPU 42 instructs the logic circuit 92 to avoid the addresses in the storage units 84a to 84d of the image memory 84 in which the value of the address counter is written based on the above. Thus, the image signals are stored in the storage units 84a to 84d of the image memory 84, respectively.

On the other hand, when the storage of the image signal in the image memory 84 is completed, the user uses the display unit 36 and the keyboard 38 to set image processing parameters for the image signal, for example, parameters related to gradation processing, frequency processing, and the like. In this case, the storage units 84a to 84d of the image memory 84
A signal for reading a predetermined image signal from a bus line
45, which is sent to the address counter 96 via the PIO 68. The image memory 84 sends, for example, a chest image signal stored in the storage unit 84a to the control device 16 from the specified storage units 84a to 84d.

Thus, the CPU 46 performs image processing on the chest image signal based on parameters set by the user, and outputs a visualized image via the image output device 18 or 20. Here, the user examines the quality of the visualized image including a doctor and the like, and depending on the examination result, sets another image processing parameter again using the keyboard 38, and outputs an image that has been subjected to image processing using this parameter. I do. Then, by repeating the above-mentioned examination work, the optimal image processing parameters can be set.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in setting an image processing parameter in a radiation image information processing system, a support device capable of storing an image signal is connected to the system and read. Once stored image signal,
A desired image processing parameter is set from an optimal image obtained by processing the image signal based on various image processing parameters. In this case, the user can set an image processing parameter by which the optimum image can be obtained. In addition, since image processing can be performed on the stored image signal any number of times, it is preferable without burden on the patient.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various improvements and design changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a support apparatus for a radiation image information processing system according to the present invention together with a radiation image information processing system to which the embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is a radiation image information shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a processing system support device, and FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing one embodiment of a radiation image information processing system support device shown in FIG. 10 imaging device, 12 subject 14 image reading device 16, control device 18, 20 image output device 30 radiation image information processing system support device 32 control unit 34 Image signal storage unit 42 SCPU 44 Control board 46 CPU 84 Image memory A Sheet with storage phosphor

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A support apparatus connected to a radiographic image information processing system for performing predetermined signal processing on a radiographic image to obtain an image signal and forming a visualized image from the image signal, the radiographic image information processing system comprising: Storage means for storing a standard image signal provided by the system, image signal sending means for sending the image signal stored in the storage means as the visualized image in the radiation image information processing system, and the radiation image information And a parameter setting unit for setting an image processing parameter for an image signal in the processing system.