Radiological image-capturing device, radiological image-capturing system, radiological image-capturing method, and program

Abstract

A radiological image-capturing device includes: a first read control section that executes a first read mode in which electric signals stored in a plurality of pixels are read out simultaneously in units of a plurality of rows; and an emission-start determining section that determines that the emission of radiation from a radiation source onto an image-capturing panel has started when the values of the electric signals read by the first read control section have become greater than an arbitrarily settable threshold. If it is determined by the emission-start determining section that the emission of the radiation has started, the first read control section terminates the reading of the electric signals, and thereby brings the image-capturing panel into an exposure state.

1 . A radiographic image capturing apparatus comprising:
 an image capturing panel containing a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix for converting a radiation, which is emitted from a radiation source and transmitted through a subject, into electric signals and storing the electric signals,   a first readout control part for executing a first readout mode for reading the electric signals stored in the pixels based on an image capturing menu concerning irradiation of the radiation;   a mode transition judgment part for judging start of the first readout mode; and   a first announcement device for announcing a judgment result of the mode transition judgment part to the outside in a case where the mode transition part judges that the first readout mode is started.   
     
     
         2 . The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first readout control part reads the electric signals stored in the pixels in a plurality of rows simultaneously or the electric signals stored in predetermined rows of pixels simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a irradiation start judgment part for judging that emission of the radiation from the radiation source to the image capturing panel is started, and instructing the first readout control part to stop reading of the electric signals and to switch the image capturing panel to an exposure state, in a case where a value of the electric signals read by the first readout control part becomes larger than an arbitrarily given threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first announcement part includes at least one of a sound output device for outputting a sound indicating the judgment result, a light output device for outputting a light indicating the judgment result, and a first communication device for sending a communication signal indicating the judgment result to the outside. 
     
     
         5 . A radiographic image capturing system comprising the radiographic image capturing apparatus according to  claim 4 , the system comprising:
 a table for storing image capturing conditions including at least irradiation times of the radiation;   an image capturing menu setting unit for setting the image capturing menu based on the image capturing conditions;   a second communication device for sending the image capturing menu to the first communication device and receiving the communication signal from the first communication device; and   a second announcement device for announcing start of the first readout mode based on the communication signal.   
     
     
         6 . The radiographic image capturing system according to  claim 5 , further comprising
 an input device for selecting, by a user, image capturing conditions corresponding to an image area of the subject from the image capturing conditions stored in the table,   wherein   the image capturing menu setting unit sets an image capturing menu including the image capturing conditions selected by an input operation of the user,   the second communication device sends the image capturing menu set by the image capturing menu setting unit to the first communication device,   the first readout control part executes the first readout mode based on the image capturing menu in a case where the first communication device receives the image capturing menu.   
     
     
         7 . The radiographic image capturing system according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the radiographic image capturing apparatus further comprises:
 a second readout control part for executing a second readout mode for reading the electric signals stored in the pixels sequentially row by row; and 
 an imaging control device for controlling the first readout control part to start the first readout mode or controlling the second the first and second readout control parts to switch from the second readout mode to the first readout mode in a case where the first communication device receives the image capturing menu. 
   
     
     
         8 . The radiographic image capturing system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the second readout control part, performing the second readout mode before the first readout mode is performed by the first readout control part, reads the electric signals stored in the pixels as offset signals sequentially row by row, or performs a reset operation for discharging the electric signals stored in the pixels to the ground.   
     
     
         9 . The radiographic image capturing system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the second announcement device includes at least one of a displaying unit for displaying an image indicating start of the first readout mode, a sound output device for outputting sound indicating the start of the first readout mode, and a light output device for emitting light indicating the start of the first readout mode.   
     
     
         10 . The radiographic image capturing system according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 the radiation source; and   a radiation switch for emitting the radiation from the radiation source in response to an operation of the radiation switch by a user,   wherein the operation of the radiation switch by the user is allowed by an announcement from the first announcement device and/or the second announcement device.   
     
     
         11 . A method for capturing a radiographic image, performed using a computer equipped with an image capturing panel, wherein the image capturing panel contains a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix for converting a radiation, which is emitted from a radiation source and transmitted through a subject, into electric signals and storing the electric signals, the method comprising:
 executing a first readout mode for reading the electric signals stored in the pixels based on an image capturing menu concerning irradiation of the radiation;   judging start of the first readout mode; and   announcing to the outside a judgment result of judging the start of the first readout mode.   
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory recording medium storing a program, the program causing a computer equipped with an image capturing panel, wherein the image capturing panel contains a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix for converting a radiation, which is emitted from a radiation source and transmitted through a subject, into electric signals and storing the electric signals, to function as:
 a first readout control part for executing a first readout mode for reading the electric signals stored in the pixels based on an image capturing menu concerning irradiation of the radiation;   a mode transition judgment part for judging start of the first readout mode; and   a first announcement device for announcing a judgment result of the mode transition judgment part to the outside in a case where the mode transition part judges that the first readout mode is started.   
     
     
         13 . A method for capturing a radiographic image, performed using a computer equipped with an image capturing panel, wherein the image capturing panel contains a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix for converting a radiation, which is emitted from a radiation source and transmitted through a subject, into electric signals and storing the electric signals, the method comprising:
 executing a first readout mode for reading the electric signals stored in the pixels;   judging start of the first readout mode; and   announcing to the outside a judgment result of judging the start of the first readout mode.