Accommodating case and device system

A portable radiographic imaging device and a portable X-ray source, that operate due to a first and second rechargeable battery respectively, can be accommodated in an accommodating case that is portable. While the accommodating case is being transported, a charging circuit provided in the accommodating case acquires electric power from a third rechargeable battery accommodated in the accommodating case, and charges the first and second rechargeable batteries. In this way, by accommodating the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source in the accommodating case, the rechargeable batteries for the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source are charged during transport.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-102451, filed on Apr. 27, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an accommodating case that has an accommodating portion that can accommodate at least one of a portable radiographic imaging device and a portable X-ray source, and to a device system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2010-16977 discloses a portable radiographic imaging device (an electronic cassette). A handle portion is provided at this portable radiographic imaging device. By hooking the handle portion on a projecting portion that is provided, the handle portion and the projecting portion are electrically connected, and a rechargeable battery of the portable radiographic imaging device is charged through the handle portion.

However, in conventional techniques, when, due to imaging being carried out during a visit to an individual's home or a visit to a nursing facility or the like for example, the portable radiographic imaging device or the portable X-ray source is brought to the destination of the visit and used thereat, the rechargeable battery, that is provided in order to make the portable radiographic imaging device or the portable X-ray source operate, must be charged in advance. Further, there is also the problem that the rechargeable battery, that is provided at the portable radiographic imaging device or the portable X-ray source, discharges during transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention makes it possible to, when bringing a portable radiographic imaging device or a portable X-ray source to a destination of a visit and using it thereat, charge, during transport, the rechargeable battery that makes the portable radiographic imaging device or the portable X-ray source operate.

A first aspect of the present invention is an accommodating case that is portable and has: an accommodating section that can accommodate at least one of a portable radiographic imaging device, that records radiographic images expressed by irradiated radiation and that operates due to a first rechargeable battery, and a portable X-ray source, that irradiates radiation toward the portable radiographic imaging device and operates due to a second rechargeable battery; and charging unit that acquires electric power from an electric power supplying source, and can charge at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery.

In accordance with the above-described structure, at least one of a portable radiographic imaging device and a portable X-ray source, that operate due to a first rechargeable battery or a second rechargeable battery, can be accommodated in the accommodating section of the accommodating case that is portable. Further, the charging unit provided at the accommodating case acquires electric power from an electric power supplying source, and can charge at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery.

In this way, by providing the charging unit at the accommodating case, at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery can be charged in a state in which at least one of the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source is accommodated in the accommodating case that is portable.

In an accommodating case relating to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-described first aspect, the electric power supplying source is a third rechargeable battery provided in the accommodating case, and a power source cable, that can charge the third rechargeable battery by electric power from an exterior, is provided.

In accordance with the above-described structure, the third rechargeable battery that serves as the electric power supplying source, and the power source cable that can charge the third rechargeable battery by electric power from the exterior, are provided at the accommodating case.

In this way, by providing the third rechargeable battery at the accommodating case, at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery can be charged by a simple structure during transport of the portable radiographic imaging device or the portable X-ray source.

Further, at the destination of a visit or in a hospital, the third rechargeable battery can be charged by connecting the power source cable to an outlet (e.g., a wall outlet) that can supply electric power.

Further, if the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source are to be charged individually, cables provided at the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source respectively must be connected to outlets that can supply electric power. Therefore, there may not be a sufficient number of insertion ports of the outlet. However, in the present invention, the third rechargeable battery, that is used to charge the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery, can be charged by inserting the power source cable, that is provided at the accommodating case, into an outlet. Therefore, the number of insertion ports of the outlet is not insufficient.

The insertion shapes of outlets differ in accordance with the country or geographical region, and differ also in accordance with the means of transport (planes, boats, automobiles and the like). Thus, if cables for charging are provided respectively at the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source, cables suited to respective specifications are needed for both (in this case, two cables×countries or geographical regions, or means of transport). However, in the present invention, because the power source cable is provided at the accommodating case, the third rechargeable battery can be charged by making only the power source cable suit the respective specifications (one cable×countries or geographical regions, or means of transport).

An accommodating case relating to a third aspect of the present invention may be structured such that, in the above-described second aspect, a self-discharge rate of the third rechargeable battery is small as compared with the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery.

In accordance with the above-described structure, the self-discharge rate of the third rechargeable battery is small as compared with the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery. Therefore, when the third rechargeable battery is accommodated in the accommodating case and the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery are charged by using the third rechargeable battery, the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery can be charged effectively.

In an accommodating case relating to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-described second or third aspect, the third rechargeable battery is provided so as to be able to be installed and removed.

In accordance with the above-described structure, the third rechargeable battery is provided so as to be able to be installed in and removed from the accommodating case. Therefore, while the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source are accommodated in the accommodating case and transported, when the charged amount of the third rechargeable battery becomes low, the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery can be charged by replacing the installed third rechargeable battery with a charged third rechargeable battery that has been readied in advance.

In an accommodating case relating to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any of the above-described first through fourth aspects, electricity receiving portions of the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source accommodated in the accommodating section, and electricity supplying portions provided at the accommodating section, do not contact one another.

In accordance with the above-described aspect, the electricity receiving portions of the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source that are accommodated in the accommodating section, and the electricity supplying portions that are provided at the accommodating section, do not contact one another. Therefore, the waterproofness and the appearance of the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source can be improved.

A device system relating to a sixth aspect of the present invention has: the accommodating case of any of the above-described first through fifth aspects; and at least one of a portable radiographic imaging device and a portable X-ray source that is accommodated in the accommodating section provided at the accommodating case.

In accordance with the above-described structure, the accommodating case of any of the above-described first through fifth aspects is provided at the device system. Therefore, at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery can be charged in a state in which at least one of the portable radiographic imaging device and the portable X-ray source is accommodated in the accommodating case that is portable.

In accordance with the present invention, when bringing a portable radiographic imaging device or a portable X-ray source to a destination of a visit and using it thereat, the rechargeable battery, that makes the portable radiographic imaging device or the portable X-ray source operate, can be charged during transport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Examples of an accommodating case66and a device system64relating to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention are described in accordance withFIG. 1throughFIG. 8. Note that arrow UP in the drawings indicates upward in the vertical direction.

As shown inFIG. 6, a radiographic imaging element12is provided within a housing18of a portable radiographic imaging device10(a so-called electronic cassette) that is provided at the device system64(seeFIG. 1). The radiographic imaging element12has an upper electrode, a semiconductor layer, and a lower electrode. Numerous pixels20, that are structured to include a sensor portion14that receives light and accumulates charges and a TFT switch16for reading-out the charges accumulated in the sensor portion14, are provided in a two-dimensional form at the radiographic imaging element12.

Plural scan lines22, for turning the TFT switches16on and off, and plural signal lines24, for reading-out the charges accumulated in the sensor portions14, are provided at the radiographic imaging element12so as to intersect one another.

A scintillator30(seeFIG. 7andFIG. 8) formed from GOS or CsI or the like is adhered to the surface of the radiographic imaging element12relating to the present embodiment. In order to prevent generated light from leaking-out to the exterior, the scintillator30has a light-blocking body30A (seeFIG. 8) that blocks the light generated at the surface at the side opposite the adhered radiographic imaging element12.

At the radiographic imaging element12, radiation such as X-rays or the like that is irradiated is converted into light at the scintillator30, and the light is illuminated onto the sensor portions14. The sensor portions14receive the light illuminated from the scintillator30, and accumulate charges.

Further, due to any of the TFT switches16connected to the signal line24being turned on, an electric signal (image signal), that expresses a radiographic image in accordance with the charge amount accumulated in the sensor portion14, flows to the signal line24.

Plural connectors32for connection are provided so as to be lined-up at one end side, in the signal line direction, of the radiographic imaging element12. Plural connectors34are provided so as to be lined-up at one end side in the scan line direction. The respective signal lines24are connected to the connectors32, and the respective scan lines22are connected to the connectors34.

Further, a control section36, that carries out control of radiation detection by the radiographic imaging element12and control of signal processing on the electric signals flowing to the respective signal lines24, is provided in the present exemplary embodiment. The control section36has a signal detection circuit42and a scan signal control circuit40.

Plural connectors46are provided at the signal detection circuit42. Ones of ends of flexible cables44are electrically connected to the connectors46. The other ends of the flexible cables44are connected to the connectors32, and an amplifying circuit that amplifies the inputted electric signal is incorporated for each of the signal lines24. In accordance with this structure, due to the electric signals inputted from the respective signal lines24being amplified by the amplification circuits and detected, the signal detection circuit42detects the charge amounts accumulated in the respective sensor portions14, as information of the respective pixels20that structure the image.

On the other hand, connectors48are provided at the scan signal control circuit40, and ones of ends of flexible cables52are electrically connected to the connectors48. The other ends of the flexible cables52are connected to the connectors34. The scan signal control circuit40outputs, to the respective scan lines22, control signals for turning the TFT switches16on and off.

Further, as shown inFIG. 8, the portable radiographic imaging device10relating to the present exemplary embodiment has an imaging section60that captures the radiographic image expressed by the radiation that was irradiated. At the imaging section60, the radiographic imaging element12is disposed at one surface of a supporting substrate62that is formed in the shape of a flat plate (seeFIG. 7), and the signal detection circuit42and the scan signal control circuit40, that correspond to the radiographic imaging element12, are disposed at the other surface of the supporting substrate62.

Further, as shown inFIG. 3, a rechargeable battery54, that serves as a first rechargeable battery and makes the portable radiographic imaging device10operate, is provided at the portable radiographic imaging device10. The rechargeable battery54can be freely installed in and removed from an accommodating portion56that is provided in a side surface of the portable radiographic imaging device10.

In contrast, as shown inFIG. 2, at a portable X-ray source70that irradiates radiation onto the portable radiographic imaging device10, there are provided an irradiation window72through which X-rays are irradiated, an adjustment dial74that adjusts the collimator of the portable X-ray source70, and a handle portion76that is grasped when carrying the portable X-ray source70.

A rechargeable battery58, that serves as a second rechargeable battery and makes the portable X-ray source70operate, is provided at the portable X-ray source70. The rechargeable battery58can be freely installed in and removed from an accommodating portion68that is provided in a side surface of the portable X-ray source70.

Further, as shown inFIG. 1, an accommodating case66, in which the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70can be accommodated and carried when carrying out imaging when visiting the home of an individual or a nursing facility, is provided at the device system64in addition to the above-described portable radiographic imaging device10and portable X-ray source70. Note that details of the accommodating case66are described later.

Operation of the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70relating to the present exemplary embodiment is described next.

As shown inFIG. 5, at the time of capturing radiographic images, the portable radiographic imaging device10, that has been accommodated in the accommodating case66(seeFIG. 1) and carried to an individual's home or a nursing facility, is disposed with an interval between the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70that generates radiation. In detail, the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are disposed with an interval in the vertical direction therebetween, by hooking the handle portion76of the portable X-ray source70on a hook portion80of a frame78that is easily assembled at the individual's home or nursing facility.

Further, the region between the portable X-ray source70and the portable radiographic imaging device10at this time is an imaging position for the positioning of a subject82. When capturing of a radiographic image is instructed, the portable X-ray source70emits radiation of a radiation amount corresponding to imaging conditions and the like that are given in advance. Then, due to the radiation, that is emitted from the portable X-ray source70, passing through the subject82positioned at the imaging position, the radiation carries image information, and thereafter, is irradiated onto the portable radiographic imaging device10.

As shown inFIG. 8, at the radiographic imaging element12, the radiation such as X-rays or the like that has been irradiated is converted into light at the scintillator30, and the light is illuminated onto the sensor portions14(seeFIG. 6). The sensor portions14receive the light illuminated from the scintillator30, and accumulate charges.

As shown inFIG. 6, at the time of image read-out, on signals (+10 to 20 V) are successively applied from the scan signal control circuit40via the scan lines22to the gate electrodes of the TFT switches16of the radiographic imaging element12. Due thereto, due to the TFT switches16of the radiographic imaging element12successively being turned on, electric signals corresponding to the charge amounts accumulated in the sensor portions14flow-out to the signal lines24. On the basis of the electric signals that have flowed-out to the signal lines24of the radiographic imaging element12, the signal detection circuit42detects the charge amounts accumulated in the respective sensor portions14, as information of the respective pixels20structuring the image. Due thereto, image information, that expresses the image expressed by the radiation that was irradiated onto the radiographic imaging element12, is obtained.

The accommodating case66, that can accommodate and carry the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70, is described next.

As shown inFIG. 1, a case main body66A, a cover portion66B that opens the interior of the case main body66A, a handle portion66C that is provided at the ceiling plate of the case main body66A and can be grasped, and driven rollers66D that are provided at the bottom plate of the case main body66A, are provided at the accommodating case66.

A first accommodating portion84, that is concave and that can accommodate the portable radiographic imaging device10, is provided in the case main body66A. A second accommodating portion86, that is concave and that can accommodate the portable X-ray source70, is provided next to the first accommodating portion84.

A rechargeable battery88serving as a third rechargeable battery is provided so as to be able to be freely installed in and removed from an accommodating portion90that is formed in the cover portion66B at the accommodating case66. Further, a charging circuit92, that serves as a charging unit that acquires electric power from the rechargeable battery88accommodated in the accommodating portion90and can charge the rechargeable batteries54,58(seeFIG. 2,FIG. 3) of the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70that are accommodated in the accommodating case66, is provided in the accommodating case66.

An electricity receiving portion94, that is provided at the portable radiographic imaging device10and is used at the time of charging, and an electricity supplying portion96, that is provided at the first accommodating portion84, do not contact one another. Similarly, an electricity receiving portion98, that is provided at the portable X-ray source70, and an electricity supplying portion100, that is provided at the second accommodating portion86, also do not contact one another.

Moreover, a power supply cable104that can be taken-up is provided at the cover portion66B. By connecting this power supply cable104to an outlet (e.g., a wall outlet) that can supply electric power, the rechargeable battery88accommodated in the accommodating portion90is charged via a charging circuit106provided in the cover portion66B.

Here, the self-discharge rate of the rechargeable battery88is small as compared with the rechargeable batteries54,58. Namely, it is difficult for the rechargeable battery88to discharge, as compared with the rechargeable batteries54,58.

The method of calculating and the method of measuring the self-discharge rate are described below.
self-discharge rate [%] of battery=(initial discharge capacity−discharge capacity after storage)/initial discharge capacity×100
<Measuring Method>
First Step: A single battery or a battery pack is charged at an ambient temperature of 20±5° C. by a method specified by the manufacturer.
Second Step: The single battery or battery pack is discharged, at an ambient temperature of 20±5° C., at a constant current of 0.2It[A] until the battery voltage becomes a prescribed discharge end voltage. The discharge amount at this time is the initial discharge capacity. Here, It[A] is the hourly-rate current of the single battery or the battery pack.
Third Step: The single battery or battery pack is charged at an ambient temperature of 20±5° C. by a method specified by the manufacturer.
Fourth Step: The single battery or battery pack is left for 28 days in an ambient temperature of 20±5° C.
Fifth Step: The single battery or battery pack is discharged, at an ambient temperature of 20±5° C., at a constant current of 0.2It[A] until the battery voltage becomes a prescribed discharge end voltage. The discharge amount at this time is the discharge capacity after storage.

The operation of the accommodating case66and the device system64is described next.

As shown inFIG. 1, when, due to imaging being carried out during a visit to an individual's home or a visit to a nursing facility or the like, the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are to be brought to the destination of the visit and used thereat, the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are accommodated in the first accommodating portion84and the second accommodating portion86of the accommodating case66. Note that the rechargeable battery88, that is accommodated in the accommodating portion90of the cover portion66B, is charged in advance by using the power source cable104and the charging circuit106.

As shown inFIG. 4A, the cover portion66B of the accommodating case66is closed, the handle portion66C is grasped, the accommodating case66is conveyed while the driven rollers66D are rolled, and the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are carried to an individual's home or a nursing facility.

When the charged amount of the rechargeable battery54accommodated in the portable radiographic imaging device10or the rechargeable battery58accommodated in the portable X-ray source70is low, or when there are several destinations to visit and the charged amount of the battery54,58has become low, the rechargeable battery54,58must first be charged when arriving at the individual's home or the nursing facility. If the rechargeable battery54,58is not charged, imaging may not be able to be carried out immediately after arriving.

However, as shown inFIG. 1, in the present invention, the charging circuit92provided in the accommodating case66acquires electric power from the rechargeable battery88, and charges the rechargeable battery54of the portable radiographic imaging device10and the rechargeable battery58of the portable X-ray source70that are accommodated. Namely, the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are accommodated in the accommodating case66, and the rechargeable batteries54,58are charged during transport.

Further, as shown inFIG. 4B, while using the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70when an individual's home or a nursing facility or the like has been reached, the rechargeable battery88accommodated in the cover portion66B is charged by inserting the power source cable104into an outlet.

As described above, by providing the charging circuit92at the accommodating case66, the rechargeable batteries54,58can be charged in a state in which the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are accommodated and transported in the accommodating case66that is portable.

Further, the rechargeable battery88, from which the charging circuit92acquires electric power, is provided at the accommodating case66. Due thereto, the rechargeable batteries54,58of the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70that are being transported can be charged by a simple structure.

Moreover, the power source cable104, that makes it possible to charge the rechargeable battery88by electric power from the exterior, is provided at the accommodating case66. Due thereto, at the destination of a visit or within a hospital, the rechargeable battery88can be charged by connecting the power source cable104to an outlet (e.g., a wall outlet) that can supply electric power.

Further, if the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are to be charged individually, cables provided at the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70respectively must be connected to outlets that can supply electric power, and there may not be a sufficient number of insertion ports of the outlet. However, in the present exemplary embodiment, the rechargeable battery88, that is used to charge the rechargeable batteries54,58, can be charged by inserting the power source cable104, that is provided at the accommodating case66, into an outlet. Therefore, the number of insertion ports of the outlet is not insufficient.

Moreover, the insertion shapes of outlets differ in accordance with the country or geographical region, and differ also in accordance with the means of transport (planes, boats, automobiles and the like). Thus, if cables for charging are provided respectively at the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70, cables suited to respective specifications are needed for both (in this case, two cables×countries or geographical regions, or means of transport). However, in the present exemplary embodiment, because the power source cable104is provided at the accommodating case66, the rechargeable battery88can be charged by making only the power source cable104suit the respective specifications (one cable×countries or geographical regions, or means of transport).

Further, the self-discharge rate of the rechargeable battery88is low as compared with the rechargeable batteries54,58. Namely, it is difficult for the rechargeable battery88to discharge, as compared with the rechargeable batteries54,58. Therefore, the rechargeable battery88is accommodated in the accommodating case66, and, when charging the rechargeable batteries54,58by using the rechargeable battery88, the rechargeable batteries54,58can be charged effectively.

Moreover, the rechargeable battery88is provided so as to be able to be installed in and removed from the accommodating case66. Therefore, while the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are accommodated in the accommodating case66and transported, when the charged amount of the rechargeable battery88becomes low, the rechargeable batteries54,58can be charged by replacing the installed rechargeable battery88with a charged rechargeable battery88that has been readied in advance.

Still further, the electricity receiving portion94of the portable radiographic imaging device10and the electricity supplying portion96provided at the first accommodating portion84do not contact one another, and the electricity receiving portion98of the portable X-ray source70and the electricity supplying portion100provided at the second accommodating portion86do not contact one another. Therefore, the waterproofness and the appearance of the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70can be improved.

Note that, although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and it will be clear to those skilled in the art that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, although the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70are accommodated in the accommodating case66in the above-described exemplary embodiment, it is possible to accommodate either one thereof.

Further, in the above exemplary embodiment, although not described in particular, a personal computer, such as a notebook type or the like, that controls the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70may be used when images of the subject82are captured by using the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70.

Examples of an accommodating case122and a device system120relating to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention are described next in accordance withFIG. 9andFIG. 10. Note that members that are the same as in the first exemplary embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown inFIG. 10, a rechargeable battery124, that makes the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70operate, is not accommodated in the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70, and is provided separately from the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70.

Further, when using the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70, electric power is supplied to the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70by connecting the rechargeable battery124, and the portable radiographic imaging device10and the portable X-ray source70, by cables130,132.

Moreover, as shown inFIG. 9, an accommodating portion126, that accommodates the rechargeable battery124such that the rechargeable battery124can be freely installed therein and removed therefrom, is provided in a cover portion122B of the accommodating case122that structures the device system120. Still further, a charging circuit128serving as a charging unit is provided at the cover portion122B. The charging circuit128acquires electric power from the rechargeable battery88accommodated in the accommodating portion90, and charges the rechargeable battery124that is accommodated in the accommodating portion126.