Electronic cassette

An electronic cassette has a casing that houses a radiation converter thereinside. The radiation converter detects radiation from a radiation source that has been transmitted through a subject, and converts the radiation into radiographic image information. Plural handles are disposed on the casing of the electronic cassette, so that a person can grip the plural handles and carry the electronic cassette. Thus, the person can grip and carry the electronic cassette while dispersing the weight of the electronic cassette, so carrying the electronic cassette becomes easy. Further, when the person loads the electronic cassette into a shooting table or the like, the person can grip either of the plural handles and load the electronic cassette. For this reason, handling of the electronic cassette becomes easy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-153163, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable electronic cassette.

2. Description of the Related Art

As an electronic cassette, the electronic cassette disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication (JP-A) No. 2004-77641 is publicly known. The electronic cassette of JP-A No. 2004-77641 is configured such that its handle can move in the electronic cassette and can be detached from the electronic cassette so that the handle does not get in the way when a person handling the electronic cassette loads the electronic cassette into a standing mount. Moreover, in the electronic cassette of JP-A No. 2004-77641, the handle is configured such that it can be used as a chin rest for an examinee who is standing to rest his/her chin on.

In this connection, when the detection region that detects the radiation is rectangular, it is necessary to know, depending on the purpose of imaging, whether to orient the electronic cassette vertically or horizontally when imaging an examinee who is standing, but in a configuration where the handle is disposed in one direction of the electronic cassette as in JP-A No. 2004-77641, loading the electronic cassette into a standing mount becomes difficult depending on the orientation in which the electronic cassette is to be loaded.

Further, when imaging an examinee who is lying down, sometimes the person handling the electronic cassette loads the electronic cassette such that its long sides are aligned with the longitudinal direction of the bed on which the examinee lies, and sometimes the person handling the electronic cassette loads the electronic cassette such that its short sides are aligned with the longitudinal direction of the bed on which the examinee lies, but loading the electronic cassette into the bed becomes difficult depending on the orientation in which the electronic cassette is to be loaded.

Meanwhile, from another standpoint, in JP-A No. 2004-77641, no consideration is given in regard to safely carrying a heavy cassette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the above-described circumstances, the present invention provides an electronic cassette whose handling becomes easy.

An electronic cassette pertaining to a first aspect of the invention includes: a casing; a radiation converter that is housed inside the casing, detects radiation from a radiation source that has been transmitted through a subject, and converts the radiation into radiographic image information; a control component that controls the radiation converter; a power supplying component that supplies electrical power to at least one of the radiation converter and the control component; and plural grip portions that are disposed on the casing.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the electronic cassette includes the radiation converter that is housed inside the casing, the control component and the power supplying component, and when a person carries a heavy electronic cassette, the person can grip the plural grip portions and carry the electronic cassette. For this reason, the person can carry the electronic cassette while dispersing the weight of the electronic cassette, so carrying the electronic cassette becomes easy.

Further, when the person loads the electronic cassette into a shooting table or the like, the person can grip either of the plural handles and load the electronic cassette.

In this manner, according to the first aspect of the invention, handling of the electronic cassette becomes easy

In the electronic cassette pertaining to the first aspect of the invention, at least one of the plural grip portions is detachable.

According to this configuration, when a person handles the electronic cassette, the grip portion that is configured to be detachable can be removed when it is not needed, that grip portion does not get in the way, and handling of the electronic cassette becomes easy.

The electronic cassette pertaining to the first aspect of the invention may be configured to further include an attachment detecting component that detects whether or not the grip portion that is detachable is attached, wherein the control component changes, on the basis of the detection result that the attachment detecting component has detected, image processing of the radiographic image information that the radiation converter has converted.

According to this configuration, the image processing content of the radiographic image information that the radiation converter has converted changes depending on the attachment situation of the grip portions, so it becomes unnecessary to separately perform operation to change the image processing content of the image information.

In the electronic cassette pertaining to the first aspect of the invention, at least one of the control component and the power supplying component may be integrated with the grip portion that is detachable.

According to this configuration, at least one of the control component and the power supplying component is integrated with the grip portion that is detachable, so at least one of the control component and the power supplying component can be detached, and handling such as maintenance becomes easy.

The present invention is configured as described above, so handling of the electronic cassette becomes easy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Below, an example of an embodiment pertaining to the present invention will be described on the basis of the drawings.

(Configuration of Electronic Cassette Pertaining to Present Embodiment)

First, the configuration of an electronic cassette12pertaining to the present embodiment will be described.FIG. 1is a general diagram showing the disposition of the electronic cassette12during shooting of a radiographic image.FIG. 2is general perspective diagram showing the internal structure of the electronic cassette12.FIG. 3is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the electronic cassette12.

The electronic cassette12pertaining to the present embodiment is portable and is capable of detecting radiation from a radiation source that has been transmitted through a subject, generating image information of a radiographic image expressed by the detected radiation, and storing the generated image information. Specifically, the electronic cassette12is configured as described below.

As shown inFIG. 1, the electronic cassette12is disposed a distance away from a radiation generating component14that serves as a radiation source that generates radiation during shooting of a radiographic image. The space between the radiation generating component14and the electronic cassette12at this time serves as a shooting position for a subject16to be positioned in. When shooting of a radiographic image is instructed, the radiation generating component14emits radiation of a radiation quantity corresponding to a shooting condition or the like that has been given beforehand. The radiation that has been emitted from the radiation generating component14carries image information as a result of being transmitted through the subject16positioned in the shooting position, and thereafter the electronic cassette12is irradiated with the radiation.

As shown inFIG. 2, the electronic cassette12is covered by a quadrangular flat plate-shaped casing20that has a predetermined thickness and comprises a material that allows radiation X to be transmitted therethrough. Inside the casing20, there are disposed, in order from an irradiated surface22side of the casing20that is irradiated with the radiation X, a grid24that removes scattered radiation of the radiation X that arises in accompaniment with the radiation X being transmitted through the subject16, a radiation detector (radiation detecting panel)26that serves as one example of a radiation converter that detects the radiation from the radiation source that has been transmitted through the subject16and converts the radiation into radiographic image information, and a lead plate28that absorbs back scattered radiation of the radiation X. Further, a casing30that houses components such as a signal processing component48, a power supplying component80, a control component70, an image memory50and a communication component52(seeFIG. 3) is disposed on one end side of the inside of the casing20.

The radiation detector26of the electronic cassette12is configured as a result of a photoelectric conversion layer that absorbs and converts radiation into electric charges being laminated on a TFT active matrix substrate32shown inFIG. 3. The photoelectric conversion layer comprises, for example, non-crystalline a-Se (amorphous selenium) whose main component (e.g., having a content percentage equal to or greater than 50%) is selenium, and when the photoelectric conversion layer is irradiated with radiation, the photoelectric conversion layer converts the radiation with which it has been irradiated into electric charges by generating, inside of itself, electric charges (electron-hole pairs) of an electric charge quantity corresponding to the quantity of radiation with which it has been irradiated.

Further, on the TFT active matrix substrate32, numerous pixel components40(inFIG. 3, the photoelectric conversion layer corresponding to the individual pixel components40is schematically shown as photoelectric conversion components38) equipped with storage capacitors34that store the electric charges that have been generated by the photoelectric conversion layer and TFTs36for reading the electric charges that have been stored in the storage capacitors34are disposed in a matrix. The electric charges that have been generated by the photoelectric conversion layer in accompaniment with the irradiation of the electronic cassette12with the radiation are stored in the storage capacitors34of the individual pixel components40. Thus, the radiographic image expressed by the radiation that has been transmitted through the subject and with which the electronic cassette12has been irradiated is converted into image information resulting from electric charges and is held in the radiation detector26.

Further, on the TFT active matrix substrate32, there are disposed plural gate lines42, which extend in a constant direction (row direction) and are for switching ON and OFF the TFTs36of the individual pixel components40, and plural data lines44, which extend in a direction (column direction) orthogonal to the gate lines42and are for reading the stored electric charges from the storage capacitors34via the TFTs36that have been switched ON. The individual gate lines42are connected to a gate line driver46, and the individual data lines44are connected to a signal processing component48. When the electric charges are stored in the storage capacitors34of the individual pixel components40, the TFTs36of the individual pixel components40are switched ON in order in row units by signals that are supplied via the gate lines42from the gate line driver46, and the electric charges that are stored in the storage capacitors34of the pixel components40whose TFTs36have been switched ON are transmitted through the data lines44as electric charge signals and are inputted to the signal processing component48. Consequently, the electric charges that are stored in the storage capacitors34of the individual pixel components40are read in order in row units.

The signal processing component48is equipped with amplifiers and sample/hold circuits that are disposed for each of the individual data lines44, and the electric charge signals that have been transmitted through the individual data lines44are amplified by the amplifiers and are thereafter held in the sample/hold circuits. Further, multiplexers and A/D converters, which serve as one example of electric signal converting components that convert electric signals that include image information, are connected in order to output sides of the sample/hold circuits. The electric charge signals held in the individual sample/hold circuits are inputted in order (serially) to the multiplexers, and analog electric signals are converted into digital electric signals by the A/D converters. An image memory50is connected to the signal processing component48, and the image information that has been outputted from the A/D converters of the signal processing component48is stored in order in the image memory50. The image memory50has a storage capacity that is capable of storing image information of plural frames, and each time shooting of a radiographic image is performed, the image information obtained by the shooting is sequentially stored in the image memory50.

Further, the electronic cassette12is equipped with a communication component52for transmitting data to and receiving data from a display device15by wireless communication and a control component70that serves as one example of a control component that controls the radiation detector26.

The control component70is configured by a microcomputer that includes a CPU that controls the entire electronic cassette12, a ROM that serves as a storage medium in which data transmitting and receiving processing programs are stored, a RAM that temporarily stores data as a work area, and a memory that serves as storage means in which various information is stored.

It will be noted that the control component is not limited to a component that controls operation of the entire device as in the present embodiment; the control component may also be a component that controls operation of part of the device.

Further, a power supplying component80that serves as one example of a power supplying component that supplies electrical power to at least one of the radiation detector26and the control component70is disposed in the electronic cassette12.

The power supplying component80is configured to supply electrical power to the various circuits and elements in order to allow the electronic cassette12to operate. As the power supplying component80, a configuration that has a built-in battery (a rechargeable secondary battery) and supplies electrical power to the various circuits and elements from the charged battery so as to not impair the portability of the electronic cassette12is preferable, but a primary battery may also be used as the battery, or the power supplying component80may also have a configuration that is always attached to a commercial power source, rectifies and transforms electrical power that has been supplied from the commercial power source, and supplies the electrical power to the various circuits and elements.

It will be noted that the power supplying component is not limited to a component that supplies electrical power to the components of the entire device as in the present embodiment; the power supplying component may also be a component that supplies electrical power to some of the components of the device. Further, the electronic cassette12may also have a configuration that includes plural power supplying components.

Next, the display device15will be described. The display device15is configured by a keyboard and a mouse that serve as input means, a display that serves as display means, and a PC (personal computer) that includes a CPU, a ROM and a RAM. Further, the display device15is equipped with a communication component for transmitting data to and receiving data from the electronic cassette12by wireless communication.

(Shape of Electronic Cassette12and Grip Portions that Attach to Electronic Cassette12)

Next, the shape of the electronic cassette12and grip portions that attach to the electronic cassette12will be described.

The electronic cassette12has a shape including four sides on its periphery when seen in a planar view. Specifically, the electronic cassette12has a quadrangular shape (seeFIG. 3andFIG. 4). More specifically, the electronic cassette12has a rectangular shape. It will be noted that the electronic cassette12may also have a shape where its corners are rounded.

It will be noted that the detection region of the radiation detector26that detects the radiation is also configured to have the same shape as that of the electronic cassette12. The detection region is configured to have a rectangular shape whose long sides are disposed along the long sides of the electronic cassette12that has a rectangular shape. It will be noted that the detection region may also be configured to have a rectangular shape whose short sides are disposed along the long sides of the electronic cassette12that has a rectangular shape.

Further, as shown inFIG. 4, a handle13and a handle18for carrying the electronic cassette12are, as one example of grip portions that are capable of being gripped by a person handling the electronic cassette12, disposed on the casing20of the electronic cassette12.

The handle13and the handle18are disposed respectively on side surfaces that configure mutually adjacent sides of the electronic cassette12that has a rectangular shape when seen in a planar view. The handle18is attached to a short side of the electronic cassette12, and the handle13is attached to a long side of the electronic cassette12. Thus, the handle13is disposed in a position whose orientation differs 90 degrees with respect to the handle18.

The handle13and the handle18each include connection terminals60aand60bfor attaching to the electronic cassette12. The electronic cassette12includes connection terminals54aand54bto which the connection terminals60aand60bof the handle13and the handle18detachably connect. Thus, the handle13and the handle18are configured to be attachable to and detachable from the electronic cassette12and function as handles in a state where they have been attached to the electronic cassette12.

It will be noted that the handle13and the handle18may also be configured such that just one of the handle13and the handle18is detachable, or, the handle13and the handle18may also be configured such that they cannot be detached from the electronic cassette12.

Further, the handle13and the handle18are configured to be U-shaped. It will be noted that the grip portions may also be T-shaped or square U-shaped or have a shape with a hole such as a round shape; it suffices as long as they have shapes that function as grip portions. Further, the electronic cassette12may also have a configuration where three or more of the plural grip portions are disposed. Further, the electronic cassette12may also have a configuration where the handle13and the handle18are disposed on opposite sides of the four sides or can be configured such that the handle13and the handle18are disposed in different orientations. Further, the handle13and the handle18may also be disposed on the same side of the four sides (seeFIG. 13).

Moreover, the grip portions may also have a configuration that is not penetrated, that is, a configuration that does not include a space for a person handling the electronic cassette12to insert his/her hand (part of the hand, such as the fingers); for example, the grip portions may be ones where recessed portions for a person handling the electronic cassette12to catch onto with his/her hand (part of the hand, such as the fingers) are formed or may be ones on which grippable convex portions are formed.

Further, as shown inFIG. 5, the power supplying component80and the control component70may also be disposed in the handle13and the handle18rather than in the body of the electronic cassette12.FIG. 5shows a configuration where both the power supplying component80and the control component70are integrated with the handle18. By disposing the power supplying component80in the handle18, as shown inFIG. 6, it becomes possible to detach the handle18from the electronic cassette12, attach the handle18to a charger82, and charge the handle18.

It will be noted that both the power supplying component80and the control component70may also be disposed in the handle13. Further, the electronic cassette12may also be configured such that one of the power supplying component80and the control component70is disposed in the handle13and such that the other of the power supplying component80and the control component70is disposed in the handle18. Further, either one of the power supplying component80or the control component70may be disposed in either one of the handle13or the handle18.

Moreover, as long as the component is one other than the component configuring the radiation detection region that detects the radiation (specifically, the radiation detector26), it is possible to dispose that component in at least one of the handle13and the handle18.

Consequently, as shown inFIG. 7, the image memory50can be disposed in the handle18, or, as shown inFIG. 8, the communication component52can be disposed in the handle18.

Moreover, when the handle13and the handle18are disposed in a positional relationship where they are orthogonal to each other, the handle13or the handle18in which a component other than the component configuring the radiation detection region that detects the radiation (specifically, the radiation detector26) is installed can be disposed in proximity to the signal processing component48and wires can be shortened from whichever position, which is a preferable configuration from the standpoint of countering electromagnetic waves.

Further, the electronic cassette12may also be configured such that an ID storing ROM, in which is stored a display device ID that discriminates the display device15and is used in order to identify between which electronic cassette12and which display device15communication is to be performed, is disposed in at least one of the handle13and the handle18. Because of this configuration, the data transmission and reception destination display device15can be identified by attaching the handle in which information of the display device ID is stored to the electronic cassette12and acquiring the display device ID from the handle. When seen from the display device15side, the electronic cassette12to which the handle in which the information of its own display device ID is stored has been attached can be identified as the communication destination electronic cassette12.

Moreover, the electronic cassette12may also have a configuration where a memory that stores a shooting condition when shooting a radiographic image, information of a patient who becomes the subject16and various information such as an electronic cassette ID is disposed in at least one of the handle13and the handle18.

(Relationship Between Attachment Situation of Handle13and Handle18and Image Processing)

Next, the relationship between the attachment situation of the handle13and the handle18and image processing will be described.

The electronic cassette12includes attachment detecting components56that detect whether or not the handle13and the handle18are attached to the electronic cassette12.

The attachment detecting components56are configured to be electrically connected when, for example, the connection terminals60aand60bare connected to the connection terminals54aand54b, and the attachment detecting components56detect whether or not the handle13and the handle18are attached to the electronic cassette12depending on whether or not electricity is flowing between the connection terminals60aand60band the connection terminals54aand54b.

It will be noted that the attachment detecting components56may also be configured to detect whether or not the handle13and the handle18are attached to the electronic cassette12utilizing light such as infrared light or an electrostatic effect (e.g., a method that detects, by capacitance, whether or not a dielectric is near).

The electronic cassette12pertaining to the present embodiment is configured such that the control component70changes, on the basis of the detection results that the attachment detecting components56have detected, the image processing content of the image information that has been converted by the radiation detector26.

For example, in a configuration where the attachment position of the handle changes depending on the orientation in which the electronic cassette12is loaded into a shooting table, the electronic cassette12can be configured to change the orientation of the image information on the basis of the detection results that the attachment detecting components56have detected.

A specific configuration of this configuration will be described below. As shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, a shooting table100is, for example, configured as a bed on which an examinee that becomes the subject16can lie down, and the shooting table100is for shooting an examinee who is lying down. It will be noted that the shooting table100may also be for shooting an examinee who is standing.

The electronic cassette12is configured such that it can be loaded into this shooting table12. The electronic cassette12is inserted and loaded into the shooting table100along an orthogonal direction (direction of arrow B inFIG. 9andFIG. 10) that is orthogonal to the head-to-foot direction (direction from the head to the feet; direction of arrow A inFIG. 9andFIG. 10) of an examinee who is lying on the shooting table100, and the electronic cassette12is removed and unloaded from the shooting table100in the opposite direction of that insertion direction.

Further, the electronic cassette12is configured such that the electronic cassette12can be loaded into the shooting table100such that the long direction of the electronic cassette12is along the head-to-foot direction of an examinee who is lying on the shooting table100(seeFIG. 9). This way of loading will hereinafter be called vertical loading.

Further, the electronic cassette12is configured such that the electronic cassette12can be loaded into the shooting table100such that the short direction of the electronic cassette12is along the head-to-foot direction of an examinee who is lying on the shooting table100(seeFIG. 10). This way of loading will hereinafter be called horizontal loading.

In this configuration, the radiation generating component14is disposed above the shooting table100, and the examinee is disposed between the radiation generating component14and the electronic cassette12(the shooting table100).

The radiation from the radiation generating component14is transmitted through the examinee who is lying on the shooting table100, and the electronic cassette12that has been loaded into the shooting table100is irradiated with that radiation. Thus, the examinee is imaged.

Here, when the electronic cassette12is to be vertically loaded, the electronic cassette12cannot be loaded into the shooting table100in a state where the handle18that attaches to a short side of the electronic cassette12is attached to the electronic cassette12. This is because, for example, the handle18that is attached to the electronic cassette12touches the edge of the insertion opening through which the electronic cassette12is inserted into the shooting table100.

Further, when the electronic cassette12is to be horizontally loaded, the electronic cassette12cannot be loaded into the shooting table100in a state where the handle13that attaches to a long side of the electronic cassette12is attached to the electronic cassette12. This is because, for example, the handle13that is attached to the electronic cassette12touches the edge of the insertion opening through which the electronic cassette12is inserted into the shooting table100.

Further, the electronic cassette12is configured such that it is not actuated unless at least one of the handle13and the handle18is attached to the electronic cassette12. For example, imaging operation of the electronic cassette12stops when the supply of electrical power from the power supplying component80stops. It will be noted that the electronic cassette12may also be configured to stop the irradiation with radiation by the radiation generating component14. Further, the electronic cassette12may also be configured to notify and prompt an operator to attach either the handle13or the handle18to the electronic cassette12.

Thus, when the electronic cassette12is to be loaded into the shooting table100and shooting is to be performed, the electronic cassette12is vertically loaded when the handle13is attached to the electronic cassette12.

Further, when the electronic cassette12is to be loaded into the shooting table100and shooting is to be performed, the electronic cassette12is horizontally loaded when the handle18is attached to the electronic cassette12.

The control component70is, in regard to an image that has been shot in a state where the handle13is attached, configured to store in the image memory an image where a short side12B of the electronic cassette12positioned on the head side of the examinee is on top.

Thus, when an image that has been imaged by the electronic cassette12is to be displayed on the display device, an image where the short side12B is on top is displayed, and when an image that has been imaged by the electronic cassette12is to be recorded in a recording medium, an image where the short side12B is on top is recorded.

Further, the control component70is, in regard to an image that has been shot in a state where the handle18is attached, configured to store in the image memory an image where a long side12A of the electronic cassette12positioned on the head side of the examinee is on top. That is, an image obtained by rotating 90 degrees an image where the short side12B is on top is stored.

Thus, when an image that has been imaged by the electronic cassette12is to be displayed on the display device, an image where the long side12A is on top is displayed, and when an image that has been imaged by the electronic cassette12is to be recorded in a recording medium, an image where the long side12A is on top is recorded.

It will be noted that, in a configuration where, for example, just the handle18of the handle13and the handle18is detachable, when the electronic cassette12is to be vertically loaded, the electronic cassette12is loaded into the shooting table100in a state where just the handle13is attached to the electronic cassette12, and when the electronic cassette12is to be horizontally loaded, the electronic cassette12is loaded into the shooting table100in a state where both the handle13and the handle18are attached to the electronic cassette12; thus, processing of images corresponding to the attachment situation of the handles becomes possible.

Further, rather than performing image processing when storing an image in the image memory, the electronic cassette12may also be configured to process an image such as when displaying an image and when recording an image.

Consequently, for example, the electronic cassette12may send image information and attachment information of the handle13and the handle18to an external device such as the display device, and the display device may perform image processing.

(Action of Electronic Cassette12Pertaining to Present Embodiment)

Next, the action of the electronic cassette12pertaining to the present embodiment will be described.

In the electronic cassette12pertaining to the present embodiment, the handle13and the handle18are disposed, so a person handling the electronic cassette12can grip the handle13and the handle18and carry the electronic cassette12as shown inFIG. 11. Thus, the person can grip and carry the electronic cassette12while dispersing the weight of the electronic cassette12, so carrying the electronic cassette becomes easy.

At this time, the handle13and the handle18may be disposed on the same side as shown inFIG. 13. By disposing the handle13and the handle18in this manner, it becomes easier for two people to carry the electronic cassette12.

Further, when the person loads the electronic cassette12into the shooting table100or the like, the person can grip either the handle13or the handle18and load the electronic cassette12.

Further, because the handle13and the handle18can be detached, the person can detach the unnecessary handle13and handle18when carrying the electronic cassette12, and it becomes easier for the person to carry the electronic cassette12without the handle13and the handle18getting in the way.

Further, the person carrying the electronic cassette12can select, from the handle13and the handle18, the handle with which it is easier to handle the electronic cassette12and can attach the selected handle to and carry the electronic cassette12.

For example, it is conceivable that it is easier for a tall person to handle the electronic cassette12by attaching the handle18and carrying the electronic cassette12such that, as shown inFIG. 12A, the long sides of the electronic cassette12become upright and that it is easier for a short person to handle the electronic cassette12by attaching the handle13and carrying the electronic cassette12such that, as shown inFIG. 12B, the short sides of the electronic cassette12become upright. Further, it is conceivable that, when the person handling the electronic cassette12carries the electronic cassette12through a narrow corridor or a corridor where there are many people, it is easier for that person to handle the electronic cassette12by attaching the handle18and carrying the electronic cassette12such that the long sides of the electronic cassette12become upright.

Further, by disposing the power supplying component80and the control component70in the handle13and in the handle18, handling of the electronic cassette12during maintenance, upgrading or charging becomes easier. Further, by disposing the power supplying component80in the handle18, as shown inFIG. 6, it becomes possible to detach the handle18from the electronic cassette12, attach the handle18to the charger82, and charge the handle18. Thus, handling of the electronic cassette12during charging becomes easy, and the charger82itself can also be made compact.

Moreover, when the electronic cassette12pertaining to the present embodiment is to be vertically loaded into the shooting table100, the operator can grip the handle13and load the electronic cassette12into the shooting table100in a state where the handle13is attached to a long side of the electronic cassette12. In regard to an image that has been shot in a state where the handle13is attached, the control component70stores, in the image memory, an image where the short side12B of the electronic cassette12positioned on the head side of the examinee is on top.

Further, when the electronic cassette12pertaining to the present embodiment is to be horizontally loaded into the shooting table100, the operator can grip the handle18and load the electronic cassette12into the shooting table100in a state where the handle18is attached to a short side of the electronic cassette12. In regard to an image that has been shot in a state where the handle18is attached, the control component70stores, in the image memory, an image where the long side12A of the electronic cassette12positioned on the head side of the examinee is on top.

The orientation of the image of the image information changes depending on the attachment situation of the handle13and the handle18in this manner, so it becomes unnecessary to separately perform operation to change the orientation of the image of the image information.

As described above, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, handling of the electronic cassette12becomes easy. The present invention is not limited to the preceding embodiment, and various modifications, changes and improvements are possible.