Radiographic imaging apparatus and processing method therefor

Abstract

A radiographic imaging apparatus performs imaging based on an examination order including a plurality of imaging protocols, executes image processing for the captured image based on the imaging protocol used at the time of the imaging, designates a change source imaging protocol and a change destination imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction of an operator, and changes the imaging protocol corresponding to the image captured based on the change source imaging protocol from the change source imaging protocol to the change destination imaging protocol. When the change of protocol is made, the apparatus executes image processing based on the change destination imaging protocol for the image before the image processing which is captured based on the change source imaging protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging control apparatus comprising:
 a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, a plurality of pieces of imaging protocol information;   a designation unit configured to designate a first imaging protocol and a second imaging protocol; and   a control unit configured to associate, in a case where imaging using one imaging protocol of the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol has not been executed, an image captured based on the other imaging protocol with the one imaging protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said designation unit designates an imaging protocol of a change destination and an imaging protocol of a change source with which a captured image is associated, and
 in a case where imaging using the imaging protocol of the change destination has not been executed, said control unit associates a captured image associated with the imaging protocol of the change source with the imaging protocol of the change destination.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said designation unit designates an imaging protocol of a change destination and an imaging protocol of a change source with which a captured image is associated, and
 in a case where imaging using the imaging protocol of the change destination has been executed, said control unit interchanges respective images associated with the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said control unit associates an image captured based on the other imaging protocol with the one imaging protocol, and shifts an imaging state based on the other imaging protocol to a non-imaged state. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said display control unit changes a display of at least one of the first and second imaging protocols in accordance with the shift of the imaging state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said control unit associates an image captured based on the other imaging protocol with the one imaging protocol, and shifts an imaging state based on the one imaging protocol to an imaged state. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said display control unit changes a display of at least one of the first and second imaging protocols in accordance with the shift of the imaging state. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a processing unit configured to perform processing for respective images associated with the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol, based on processing conditions corresponding respectively to the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said processing unit performs the processing in accordance with a change of an association between the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said display control unit generates a reduced image from the captured image. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging protocol includes information of an imaging condition for capturing an image. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said display control unit displays the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol and reduced images of the images associated with the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein a display window displayed by said display control unit has a first display area to display the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol and the reduced images, and a second display area to display an image having a size larger than each size of the reduced images. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein, after processing corresponding to the one imaging protocol has been executed, said display control unit displays an image on which the processing has been executed on the second display area. 
     
     
         15 . A processing method for an imaging control apparatus that includes at least a processor and a memory, the method comprising:
 displaying, on a display unit, a plurality of pieces of imaging protocol information;   designating a first imaging protocol and a second imaging protocol in the processor; and   associating in the processor, in a case where imaging using one imaging protocol of the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol has not been executed, an image captured based on the other imaging protocol with the one imaging protocol.   
     
     
         16 . A radiographic imaging apparatus comprising:
 an imaging unit configured to detect radiation; and   a radiographic imaging control apparatus configured to control imaging based on the radiation detected by said imaging unit,   wherein said radiographic imaging control apparatus comprises:
 a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, a plurality of pieces of imaging protocol information; 
 a designation unit configured to designate a first imaging protocol and a second imaging protocol; and 
 a control unit configured to associate, in a case where imaging using one imaging protocol of the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol has not been executed, an image captured based on the other imaging protocol with the one imaging protocol. 
   
     
     
         17 . A radiographic imaging control apparatus which controls imaging based on an examination order including a plurality of imaging protocols, the apparatus comprising:
 a processing unit configured to execute processing for a captured image based on a first imaging protocol, which is used at the time of imaging;   a change source designation unit configured to designate a change source imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from an operator, the change source imaging protocol being the first imaging protocol;   a change destination designation unit configured to designate a change destination imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from the operator;   a changing unit configured to change the imaging protocol corresponding to the image captured based on the change source imaging protocol from the change source imaging protocol to the change destination imaging protocol; and   a change condition management unit configured to manage a change condition at the time of the change by said changing unit in correspondence with the imaging protocol.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein, in a case where making the change if imaging based on the change destination imaging protocol has not been executed, said changing unit shifts an imaging state based on the change source imaging protocol to a non-imaged state, and shifts an imaging state based on the change destination imaging protocol to an imaged state. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein, in a case of shifting an imaging state based on the change destination imaging protocol to an imaged state, said changing unit shifts an imaging state by said imaging unit from an imaging preparation state to an imaging ready state. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said changing unit changes the imaging protocol corresponding to the image captured based on the change destination imaging protocol from the change destination imaging protocol to the change source imaging protocol in a case where imaging based on the change destination imaging protocol has been executed, and
 said processing unit executes processing based on the change source imaging protocol for the image which is captured based on the change destination imaging protocol, in a case where the change is made if imaging based on the change destination imaging protocol has been executed.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether the change destination imaging protocol at the time of the change by said changing unit satisfies the change condition managed by said change condition management unit,
 wherein said changing unit makes the change in a case where said determination unit determines that the change destination imaging protocol satisfies the change condition.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said change condition includes a condition corresponding to at least one of information of the radiation generator, information of the radiation detector, information of processing by said processing unit, and information associated with a grid. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a handover information management unit configured to manage handover information to be handed over from the change source imaging protocol to the change destination imaging protocol at the time of the change made by said changing unit in correspondence with the imaging protocol; and   a reflection unit configured to reflect the handover information managed by said handover information management unit at the time of the change made by said changing unit in the change destination imaging protocol.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the handover information includes at least one of information of the radiation generator, information of the radiation detector, information of processing by said processing unit, and information associated with a grid. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the imaging protocol includes at least one of information of the radiation generator, information of the radiation detector, information of processing by said processing unit, and information associated with a grid. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the processing to be executed by said processing unit includes an image processing. 
     
     
         27 . A processing method for a radiographic imaging control apparatus which controls imaging based on an examination order including a plurality of imaging protocols, the method comprising:
 executing processing for a captured image based on a first imaging protocol, which is used at the time of performing an imaging;   designating a change source imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from an operator, the change source imaging protocol being the first imaging protocol;   designating a change destination imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from the operator;   changing the imaging protocol corresponding to the image captured based on the change source imaging protocol from the change source imaging protocol to the change destination imaging protocol; and   managing a change condition at the time of the change by the changing step in correspondence with the imaging protocol.   
     
     
         28 . A radiographic imaging apparatus comprising:
 an imaging unit configured to detect radiation; and   a radiographic imaging control apparatus configured to control imaging based on an examination order including a plurality of imaging protocols,   wherein said radiographic imaging control apparatus comprises:
 a processing unit configured to execute processing for a captured image based on a first imaging protocol, which is used at the time of imaging by said imaging unit; 
 a change source designation unit configured to designate a change source imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from an operator, the change source imaging protocol being the first imaging protocol; 
 a change destination designation unit configured to designate a change destination imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from the operator; 
 a changing unit configured to change the imaging protocol corresponding to the image captured based on the change source imaging protocol from the change source imaging protocol to the change destination imaging protocol; and 
 a change condition management unit configured to manage a change condition at the time of the change by said changing unit in correspondence with the imaging protocol. 
   
     
     
         29 . A radiographic imaging system comprising:
 a radiation generation apparatus configured to generate radiation;   a radiographic imaging apparatus configured to detect the radiation and execute imaging based on the detected radiation,   wherein said radiographic imaging apparatus comprises:
 an imaging unit configured to detect radiation; and 
 a radiographic imaging control apparatus which controls imaging based on an examination order including a plurality of imaging protocols, 
   wherein the radiographic imaging control apparatus comprises:
 a processing unit configured to execute processing for a captured image based on a first imaging protocol, which is used at the time of imaging by said imaging unit; 
 a change source designation unit configured to designate a change source imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from an operator, the change source imaging protocol being the first imaging protocol; 
 a change destination designation unit configured to designate a change destination imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from the operator; 
 a changing unit configured to change the imaging protocol corresponding to the image captured based on the change source imaging protocol from the change source imaging protocol to the change destination imaging protocol; and 
 a change condition management unit configured to manage a change condition at the time of the change by said changing unit in correspondence with the imaging protocol. 
   
     
     
         30 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a processing method comprising:
 displaying, on a display unit, a plurality of pieces of imaging protocol information;   designating a first imaging protocol and a second imaging protocol;   associating, in a case where imaging using one imaging protocol of the first imaging protocol and the second imaging protocol has not been executed, an image captured based on the other imaging protocol with the one imaging protocol.   
     
     
         31 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a processing method comprising:
 executing processing for a captured image based on a first imaging protocol, which is used at the time of performing an imaging;   designating a change source imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from an operator, the change source imaging protocol being the first imaging protocol;   designating a change destination imaging protocol from the examination order based on an instruction from the operator;   changing the imaging protocol corresponding to the image captured based on the change source imaging protocol from the change source imaging protocol to the change destination imaging protocol; and   managing a change condition at the time of the change by the changing step in correspondence with the imaging protocol.