JP3853647B2 - Radiographic imaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a radiation transmission imaging apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a radiation transmission imaging apparatus including a radiation source, a radiation detector, and a sample stage positioned between the radiation source and the radiation detector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional radiographic apparatus, a radiation detector called an imaging intensifier is generally used. As shown in FIG. 6, in this detector 101, the light receiving surface 102 has a spherical shape, and even if a sample is placed vertically on the detector, distortion occurs in the photographed image. Therefore, when the detector 101 is moved, if the vertical line of the detector does not match the radial axis from the radiation source 100 as indicated by reference numeral 101b, irregular distortion is added and it is difficult to correct the image. Therefore, as shown by reference numeral 101a, it is necessary to match these vertical lines with the radial axis. As a result, there are many restrictions when the detector is moved, and the degree of freedom in photographing is low.
[0003]
In order to change the magnification at the time of imaging, it is necessary to move the detector in the perspective direction from the radiation source and the sample.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of such a conventional situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a radiation transmission imaging apparatus having a high degree of freedom of movement of a detector or the like during imaging.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a feature of the radiation transmission imaging apparatus according to the present invention is a configuration including a radiation source, a radiation detector, and a sample stage positioned between the radiation source and the radiation detector. The radiation detector has a planar light receiving surface, and the radiation detector is tiltable regardless of a positional relationship with the radiation source with respect to a radiation axis of radiation emitted from the radiation source. The transmission image stretched in the axial direction is used as an image pickup.
[0006]
According to this feature, as shown in FIG. 4, the light receiving surface 30 a of the detector 30 is planar, so that the detector 30 is inclined with respect to the radiation axis L from the state indicated by reference numeral 31 to the state indicated by reference numeral 32. If it does, the image of the sample S will be extended | stretched with respect to the axial direction inclined as shown to code | symbol S1 to S2 of FIG. 5, and identification of an image will become easier.
[0007]
Further, even if the detector 30 is tilted with respect to the radial axis L as described above, the image is merely enlarged in the extending direction and no distortion occurs, so that it can be used as it is for imaging. Therefore, there is no need to be constrained by the positional relationship between the detector 30 and the radiation source as in the prior art. As a result, for example, as indicated by reference numeral 33 in FIG. 4, the radiation detector may be movable at each position with a component orthogonal to the radiation axis.
[0008]
Furthermore, the sample mounting part of the sample stage may be rotatable around the radiation axis. According to this configuration, by rotating the sample stage, for example, an image such as S3 in FIG. 5C can be obtained from an image such as S2 in FIG. 5B.
[0009]
In addition, the radiation source may be configured to be movable with a component orthogonal to the radiation axis. According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, by moving the radiation source 2 in the F2 direction orthogonal to the radiation axis L to the position of 2 ′, the movement of the detector 30 is coupled with the movement of the detector S. The shooting angle and magnification can be changed freely.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the feature of the radiation transmission imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the light receiving surface may be inclined with respect to the radiation axis, so that the degree of freedom of movement of the detector and the like during imaging is increased. . In addition, since the image is stretched with respect to the tilted axial direction, the image distinguishability is improved.
[0011]
Other objects, configurations, and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the embodiments of the present invention below.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a radiation transmission imaging apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a radiation source device 3 that becomes an X-ray source 2, a radiation source driving unit 10 that horizontally moves the radiation source, and a sample. A sample stage 20 for placing S, a radiation detector 30 for detecting transmitted X-rays, and a detector drive unit 40 for moving the radiation detector 30 in the YZ direction along the paper surface. ing.
[0013]
Since the radiation source device 3 in the present embodiment generates sufficiently wide-angle X-rays from the radiation source 2, it can correspond to the movement range of the radiation detector 30 by the detector driving unit 40 without being basically moved. it can. The sample stage 20 can move the radiation source device 3 in the X and Y directions in the horizontal plane by the X-axis slider and the Y-axis slider, and the lifting platform 13 can raise and lower the radiation source apparatus 3 in the Z direction. . The behavior of these radiation source driving units 10 is such that the X-rays that pass through the sample S on the upper plate 26 are imaged by the radiation detector 30 according to the position of the radiation detector 30 as shown in FIG. This is for changing the position.
[0014]
In the sample stage 20, a turntable 23 is arranged on a base stand 21 that supports the whole through an annular rotary bearing. An upper plate 26 is disposed on the turntable 23 via a Y-axis slider 24 and an X-axis slider 25. The upper plate 26 moves in the X and Y directions in a horizontal plane and can rotate around the Z axis. The upper plate 26 is rotated by driving a pinion gear engaged with a rack (not shown) provided inside the turntable 23 by a motor 28. The Y-axis slider 24 and the X-axis slider 25 are used for fine adjustment of the position of the sample S so that the radiation passes through the sample S on the mounting portion 27. Further, as described above, the extending direction of the sample images S1 and S2 can be changed by the rotation of the upper plate 26 as shown in FIGS.
[0015]
The radiation detector 30 is obtained by attaching a scintillator that converts X-ray energy into light on an image sensor having a pixel matrix structure. The light receiving surface 30a to which the scintillator of the radiation detector 30 is attached is planar. Finally, the transmission image is output as an electric signal.
[0016]
The detector drive unit 40 rotates the radiation detector 30 around the X axis and moves it in the YZ plane. The horizontal unit 43 is supported so as to be movable in the Y direction via the Y-axis slider 42 and the Y-axis slider 42 with respect to the two Y-axis rails 41 arranged in the Y direction. A lifting unit 46 is supported on a Z-axis rail 44 provided in the Z direction on the horizontal unit 43 via a Z-axis slider 45 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The horizontal unit 43 and the lifting unit 46 are driven by a feed mechanism using a motor and a ball screw (not shown). The radiation detector 30 is supported by the lifting unit 46 via the jig and the rotation unit 47 so as to be rotatable around the X axis.
[0017]
1 and 4, the radiation source 2 and the radiation detector 30 can change their relative positions with respect to the sample S on the mounting portion 27, whereby the photographing position of the sample S, The shooting angle and magnification can be changed freely. In addition, as described above, it is possible to appropriately select the direction of extending the imaging.
[0018]
Finally, the possibilities of yet another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the above embodiment, the radiation detector 30 is inclined with respect to the radiation axis L of the radiation substantially around the rotation axis of the rotation unit 47. However, the radiation detector 30 is irradiated around the axis parallel to the paper surface of FIG. It may be inclined with respect to the radial axis L. However, when the radiation detector 30 is moved in the YZ plane as described above, the radiation detector 30 is inclined with respect to the radiation axis L of the radiation around an axis perpendicular to the YZ plane. It is desirable that the axis is orthogonal to the YZ plane like the rotary unit 47.
[0019]
In the above embodiment, a digital flat panel X-ray detector is used as the radiation detector 30. However, any member may be used as long as the light receiving surface is substantially planar. For example, films, other types of flat panel detectors, scanable line sensors, and the like can be used.
[0020]
The radiation source 2 is not necessarily limited to the X-ray radiation source, and other types of radiation may be used.
[0021]
In addition, the code | symbol entered in the term of the claim is only for the convenience of contrast with drawing, and this invention is not limited to the structure of an accompanying drawing by this entry.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a radiation transmission imaging apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a radiation ray transmissive imaging apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a sample stage.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship among a radiation source, a sample stage, and a radiation detector.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show examples of captured images, where FIG. 5A shows the case where the detector is not tilted, FIG. 5B shows the case where the detector is tilted, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the case where each is rotated 90 degree | times.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a radiation source and a detector in a conventional imaging apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Radiation transmission imaging device, 2: Radiation source, 3: Radiation source device, 10: Radiation source drive unit, 11: X-axis slider, 12: Y-axis slider, 13: Elevating platform, 20: Sample platform, 21: Foundation platform, 22: Rotating bearing, 23: Rotating platform, 24: Y axis slider, 25: X axis slider, 26: Upper plate, 27: Placement part, 28: Motor, 30: Radiation detector, 30a: Light receiving surface , 40: detector driving unit, 41: Y-axis rail, 42: Y-axis slider, 43: horizontal unit, 44: Z-axis rail, 45: Z-axis slider, 46: lifting unit, 47: rotating unit, 48: healing Tool, S: Sample, L: Radiation axis of radiation

Claims (5)

  Radiation comprising a radiation source (2), a radiation detector (30), and a sample stage (20) having a placement portion (27) between the radiation source (2) and the radiation detector (30). A transmission imaging apparatus, wherein the radiation detector (30) has a planar light receiving surface (30a), and the radiation detector (30) emits radiation radiation axes (L) emitted from the radiation source (2). The radiation transmission imaging apparatus is capable of tilting regardless of the positional relationship with the radiation source (2) and using a transmission image stretched with respect to the tilted axial direction as an imaging.   The radiation transmission imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiation detector (30) is movable at each position with a component orthogonal to the radiation axis (L).   The radiation transmission imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sample mounting portion (27) of the sample stage (20) is rotatable around the radiation axis (L).   The radiation transmission imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the radiation source (2) is movable with a component orthogonal to the radiation axis (L).   The radiation transmission imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the radiation detector (30) is a flat panel X-ray detector.

Images