JP5115022B2 - Radiation image reading system and image reading apparatus evaluation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiation image reading system and an image reading apparatus evaluation method.

  Conventionally, in the medical field, a radiation image reading system is used to obtain an image for diagnosis of a medical condition of a patient. In the radiographic image reading system, a part of the radiation energy transmitted through the subject by radiography is temporarily stored inside the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the stimulable phosphor sheet in which the radiation energy is accumulated is two-dimensionally with excitation light. Scanning is performed to generate stimulated emission, and this stimulated emission is photoelectrically read to obtain an image signal, which is A / D converted to obtain digital image data.

  An image reading apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a reading apparatus) used in such a radiation image reading system is roughly divided into a photostimulable phosphor sheet and stored in the built-in stimulable phosphor sheet. When an integrated type for reading a radiation image and a cassette containing a stimulable phosphor sheet are loaded, the cassette type is classified into a cassette type for reading a radiation image accumulated in the loaded cassette.

If the image quality of the image obtained in such a radiation image reading system is poor, an appropriate diagnosis cannot be performed. Therefore, a quality control system for performing QA (Quality Assurance) and QC (Quality Control) of the reading apparatus and the cassette has been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a radiographic image of a QC phantom, which is a quality evaluation pattern for quality control in which a material that shields and absorbs radiation is arranged on a radiation transmissive substrate, is taken. A system is described in which a radiation image is read by a reading device to be inspected and an operation (hereinafter referred to as QC operation) is performed on the image data of the obtained radiation image to acquire a quality evaluation result using a console. The console refers to the selection of quality evaluation (QC) imaging or general imaging for imaging a patient, registration of cassettes or readers used for imaging, patient information and imaging area of patients to be imaged in general imaging This is an apparatus for registering imaging order information such as image data, associating image data read by a reading device with imaging order information, and performing image processing and computation on image data.
JP 2004-226875 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, selection for performing QC shooting (hereinafter referred to as selection of a QC menu), registration of a cassette to be evaluated for quality and an integrated reading device, shooting of a QC phantom, and reading device Reading of the radiation image recorded on the photostimulable phosphor sheet, transmission of the read image data to the console, calculation in the console and output of the evaluation results were performed in a series of flows. Therefore, if QC imaging is started during a medical examination time when there is a possibility of imaging the patient, the console will be occupied during the calculation, and even if interrupt shooting is taken in an emergency, etc. The console could not be used unless the calculation was interrupted and the QC phantom was shot again after interrupt shooting. Such a problem does not occur if the QC shooting and calculation are performed all at once, such as at night when the patient is not photographed. There was a problem that it could not be used effectively.

  In particular, when there are a large number of cassettes and readers as in the distributed processing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-159476, the series of flow from QC shooting to calculation is repeated. Is repeated, the time required for the QC becomes longer, and the problem is remarkable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a radiation reading image system and an image reading apparatus evaluation method capable of efficiently performing a quality evaluation calculation without interfering with other general imaging operations.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
One or more image reading devices that obtain image data by reading the radiation image from a recording medium on which a radiographic image of a subject is recorded by radiography, and the image data is acquired from the image reading device and the image data is captured. In a radiation image reading system comprising a console that associates with the order information and performs image processing on the image data,
Image data of general imaging obtained by reading an image of a patient recorded on the recording medium by radiography with the image reading device, for quality evaluation recorded on the recording medium to be subjected to quality evaluation by radiography image data of the obtained quality evaluation by reading the image by the image reading apparatus, or by reading an image wherein an image reading apparatus comprising a quality evaluation target for quality assessment, which is recorded on the recording medium by radiography Image data input means for inputting the obtained image data for quality evaluation ;
Identification information input means for inputting apparatus identification information for specifying the image reading apparatus or the recording medium subjected to quality evaluation;
When the image data input by the image data input means is image data for general shooting, shooting order information is associated with the image data, and when the image data is for quality evaluation, the image data Control means for associating quality evaluation identification information indicating that it is data for quality evaluation and device identification information input by the identification information input means;
With storing image data and radiographing order information of a general imaging associated with said control means, the image data for quality assessment associated with said control means, the quality evaluation identification information and storage means for storing device identification information When,
Quality that retrieves and reads out image data for quality evaluation stored in association with the quality evaluation identification information from the storage means, and performs evaluation processing for quality evaluation on the read image data to obtain an evaluation result An evaluation calculation means;
An output means for outputting the evaluation result acquired by the quality evaluation calculation means in association with the apparatus identification information associated with the image data subjected to the calculation processing by the control means;
Is provided.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
The console includes the storage unit and the control unit.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2,
The console includes a plurality of consoles, and at least one of the plurality of consoles includes the quality evaluation calculation unit and the output unit.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
There are a plurality of the image reading devices.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4,
A plurality of types of image reading devices are provided.

The invention described in claim 6
An evaluation method for an image reading device in a radiation image reading system comprising one or more image reading devices that read image data from a recording medium on which a radiographic image of a subject is recorded by radiography and obtain image data,
Image data of general imaging obtained by reading an image of a patient recorded on the recording medium by radiography with the image reading device, for quality evaluation recorded on the recording medium to be subjected to quality evaluation by radiography image data of the obtained quality evaluation by reading the image by the image reading apparatus, or by reading an image wherein an image reading apparatus comprising a quality evaluation target for quality assessment, which is recorded on the recording medium by radiography An image data input step for inputting the obtained image data for quality evaluation from the image data input means,
An identification information input step of inputting, from an identification information input means, device identification information for specifying the image reading device or the recording medium subjected to quality evaluation;
When the image data input in the image data input step is image data of general shooting, the control unit associates shooting order information with the image data, and when the image data is quality evaluation image data, An associating step of associating quality evaluation identification information indicating that the image data is data for quality evaluation with the control means and device identification information input in the identification information input step;
General imaging image data and imaging order information associated in the association step , or quality evaluation image data, quality evaluation identification information, and apparatus identification information associated in the association step are stored in a storage unit. A storage process to
The quality evaluation calculating means retrieves the image data for quality control stored in the storage means together with the image data of the general photographing and stored in association with the quality evaluation identification information from the storage means and reads out the data, A quality evaluation calculation step of performing an evaluation process for quality evaluation on the read image data and obtaining an evaluation result;
An output step in which the evaluation result acquired by the quality evaluation calculation step is output from the output unit in association with the device identification information associated with the image data subjected to the calculation processing in the association step;
including.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently perform a quality evaluation calculation for an image reading apparatus or the like without interfering with other general photographing operations.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the radiation image reading system 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the radiation image reading system 1 includes an imaging device 10, a reading device 20, an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) imaging device 30, a console 40, and an imager 50. The reading device 20, the FPD photographing device 30, the console 40, and the imager 50 are connected to each other via a communication network N so that data can be transmitted and received. The number of each device is not particularly limited.

  As the communication network N, various line forms such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the Internet can be applied. Note that wireless communication or infrared communication may be used as long as it is permitted within a medical institution such as a hospital. However, since important patient information is included, it is preferable to encrypt information to be transmitted and received. In general, DICOM (Digital Image and Communications in Medicine) standard is used as an in-hospital communication method, and DICOM MWM (Modality Worklist Management) is used for communication between devices on the communication network N described above. ) Or DICOM MPPS (Modality Performed Procedure Step).

Hereinafter, each component device of the radiation image reading system 1 will be described.
The imaging apparatus 10 includes a radiation irradiation switch (not shown), a radiation source 11 such as an X-ray source, and the like, and performs imaging by irradiating the subject M with radiation. When photographing is performed with the photographing apparatus 10, a cassette 12 containing a stimulable phosphor sheet is disposed in a direction opposite to the radiation source 11 of the subject M.
The cassette 12 is a portable radiation conversion medium in which a radiation image conversion sheet including a stimulable phosphor sheet that accumulates radiation energy is accommodated, and the subject M has a radiation dose from the radiation source 11 of the imaging apparatus 10. The radiation dose according to the radiation transmittance distribution is accumulated in the stimulable phosphor layer of the provided stimulable phosphor sheet, and the radiation image information of the subject M is recorded in this stimulable phosphor layer. Further, a cassette ID (cassette identification information) for individually identifying the cassette 12 is affixed to the surface of the cassette 12.

  The reading device 20 (20A, 20B) controls the entire device according to a program and executes various processes, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) for storing various programs and data. A reading unit that reads a radiographic image of the subject M recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet housed in or incorporated in the loaded cassette 12 and obtains image data. An erasing unit for erasing afterimages on the photostimulable phosphor after reading, a bar code reader for reading a bar code attached to the loaded cassette 12, a communication unit for controlling data transmission / reception with each device on the communication network N, etc. It is configured with. The photostimulable phosphor sheet is a recording medium for recording a radiation image.

  The reading unit two-dimensionally scans the stimulable phosphor sheet in which the radiation energy transmitted through the subject M is stored with the excitation light, and generates the stimulated light emission. An image signal is obtained by reading and A / D conversion is performed to obtain digital image data. For example, a laser beam is used as excitation light, the laser beam is deflected in the main scanning direction and incident on the photostimulable phosphor sheet, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. By scanning the photostimulable phosphor sheet two-dimensionally, propagating the photostimulated luminescence light with a light propagator and detecting it with a photodetector such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a photomultiplier. The radiation image recorded on the photostimulable phosphor is read.

  When the cassette 12 containing the photostimulable phosphor sheet is loaded, the reading device 20 includes a cassette-type reading device 20A that reads a radiographic image recorded on the loaded cassette 12, and a radiation source in the device itself. In addition, there is an integrated type reader 20B that incorporates a stimulable phosphor sheet and reads a radiation image recorded on the incorporated stimulable phosphor sheet. The radiation image reading system 1 may include a cassette type reading device 20 </ b> A and an integrated type reading device 20 </ b> B, or may include only one of them.

  The FPD imaging apparatus 30 controls the entire apparatus according to a program and executes various processes, a control unit including a ROM and a RAM that stores various programs and data, a radiation source that irradiates the subject M with radiation, and radiation irradiation An operation unit having a switch or the like, a radiation detection unit that detects radiation that has been irradiated from a radiation source and transmitted through at least the subject M according to its intensity, converts it into an electrical signal, and stores the electrical signal. The electrical signal stored in the radiation detection unit This is an integrated type reading device including an erasing unit for erasing, a communication unit for controlling data transmission / reception with each device on the communication network N, and the like.

  The radiation detection unit of the FPD imaging apparatus 30 includes, for example, a glass substrate, and detects radiation that has been irradiated from a radiation source and transmitted through at least the subject M at a predetermined position on the substrate according to its intensity. A plurality of pixels that convert the detected radiation into electrical signals and store them are arranged in a matrix. That is, the radiation detection unit is a recording medium that records a radiation image. Each pixel of the radiation detection unit is configured by a switching unit such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor), for example, and the control unit controls the switching unit of each pixel to read the electric signal accumulated in each pixel. The image data is acquired by switching and reading the electrical signal accumulated in the radiation detection unit.

  In the present embodiment, the FPD imaging device 30 is an integrated type in which the radiation detection unit and the imaging device are integrated. However, the imaging device and the device for detecting radiation (FPD) are separate devices. Also good. That is, the above-described radiation detection unit, a control unit that controls the switching element of the radiation detection unit and the like to control reading of electrical signals accumulated in each pixel, an image memory that accumulates read image data, and image data transmission A cassette-type FPD in which a communication unit or the like is stored so as to be portable can be loaded into a holding unit of an imaging apparatus having a radiation source for each imaging to perform imaging.

  The reading device 20A, the reading device 20B, and the FPD photographing device 30 described above are assigned device IDs for identifying individual devices. Further, the reading device 20B and the FPD imaging device 30 each include a stimulable phosphor sheet or a radiation detection unit as a recording medium for recording a radiation image, and the device ID of each of these devices is It is used as identification information for identifying both the device itself and the built-in recording medium.

  The console 40 selects an imaging menu (there is a QC menu for imaging for QC and a general imaging menu for imaging a patient), registration of a cassette 12 or an integrated reader used for imaging, and general imaging. Registration of imaging order information such as patient information and imaging region of a patient to be imaged, association and storage of image data read by the reading device 20 and imaging order information, image processing for image data, image data imager 50 This is a device for performing transmission and output control to the network.

FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration example of the console 40. As shown in FIG.
A CPU 41, an operation unit 42, a display unit 43, a communication unit 44, a barcode reader 45, a RAM 46, a storage unit 47, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 48, and the like are configured.

  The CPU 41 reads out various programs stored in the storage unit 47, develops them in a work area formed in the RAM 46, executes centralized control of each unit by executing processing according to the program, and controls the control means. Realize.

  The operation unit 42 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse. The operation signal is input to the CPU 41 by a key operation on the keyboard or a mouse operation. Output. Further, the operation unit 42 may include a touch panel on the display screen of the display unit 43, and in this case, an instruction signal input via the touch panel is output to the CPU 41.

  The display unit 43 is configured by a monitor such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a CRT, and displays an input instruction, data, or the like from the operation unit 42 in accordance with an instruction of a display signal input from the CPU 41. In this Embodiment, the display part 43 outputs the evaluation result value and determination result which were acquired in the QC calculation process mentioned later on a screen as an output means.

  The communication unit 44 includes a LAN adapter, a router, a TA (Terminal Adapter), and the like, and controls communication with each device connected to the communication network N. That is, the communication unit 44 functions as an image data input unit that inputs image data obtained by the reading device 20 or the FPD photographing device 30 via the communication network N, and further, the device ID of the reading device 20 or the FPD photographing device 30. When the cassette ID is input via the communication network N, it functions as identification information input means.

  The barcode reader 45 reads the cassette ID represented by the barcode attached on the cassette 12 and outputs it to the CPU 41.

  The RAM 46 forms a work area for temporarily storing various programs, input or output data, parameters, and the like that can be executed by the CPU 41 read from the storage unit 47 in various processes controlled by the CPU 41.

  The storage unit 47 is configured by a non-volatile semiconductor memory or the like, and stores various programs executed by the CPU 41 and parameters necessary for execution of processing by the program or data such as processing results. These various programs are stored in the form of readable program codes, and the CPU 41 sequentially executes operations according to the program codes.

  An HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 48 is a storage unit, and stores and stores general shooting image data transmitted from the reading device 20 or the FPD shooting device 30 in association with shooting order information. The HDD 48 also reads the QC image data (QC image data) transmitted from the reading device 20 or the FPD photographing device 30, and the device ID of the device that has read the cassette ID (cassette photographing In the case of QC image data, it is stored and stored in association with QC identification information (quality evaluation identification information), reading time (including date) information, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the HDD 48 includes a QC shooting management information file 481, a general shooting management information file 482, and an image file storage area 483.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the QC shooting management information file 481. As shown in FIG. 3, the QC imaging management information file 481 includes a “management No.” field 4811, an “apparatus ID” field 4812, a “cassette ID” field 4813, a “QC identification information” field 4814, “ The database file has a “reading time information” field 4815, a “processed flag” field 4816, and an “image ID” field 4817. That is, the QC shooting management information file 481 stores the management No. for each QC image data. , Device ID, cassette ID, QC identification information, reading time information, processed flag (default is OFF), and image ID are associated with each other and stored as one record. Note that in the integrated reading device 20B and the FPD photographing device 30 incorporating the photostimulable phosphor sheet, the device and the recording medium are always managed integrally, and therefore it is not always necessary to associate the cassette ID.
The general shooting management information file 482 is a file that stores the registered shooting order information and the image ID of image data shot in accordance with the shooting order information in association with each other.
The image file storage area 483 is an area provided for storing and storing image data received from the reading device 20 or the FPD photographing device 30.
Note that the image data transmitted from the reading device 20 or the FPD photographing device 30 is a DICOM format image file, and accompanying information including an image ID is attached. In the present embodiment, the image data is acquired based on the image ID using information related to the image data stored in the QC shooting management information file 481 and the shooting order related to the image data stored in the general shooting management information file 482. Associated with information.

The storage capacity of the HDD 48 needs to be prepared with a certain margin.
Usually, imaging is performed and interpretation by a doctor is started within one week at the latest after image data is received from the reading device 20, the FPD imaging device 30, or the like. Alternatively, a QC calculation process described later is executed. Accordingly, the storage capacity must be at least one week after the image data is received.

  For example, if the image data handled by the console 40 is 2000 pixels × 2500 pixels per image and about 100 images are generated per day, the HDD has a capacity of 40 GB (the storage capacity for image storage is 20 GB). 2000 images can be stored for about 20 days.

  In the radiation image reading system 1, the QC tool 401 is mounted on at least one console 40. The QC tool 401 is a quality evaluation calculation program, and the CPU 41 of the console 40 on which the QC tool 401 is mounted realizes a quality evaluation calculation means by software processing in cooperation with the QC tool 401. The console 40 equipped with the QC tool 401 has a QC evaluation result file 484 that stores an evaluation result acquired by QC calculation. Hereinafter, the console 40 on which the QC tool 401 is mounted will be described as a console 40a.

  The imager 50 is an apparatus that records an image on a recording medium such as a film based on image data received from the console 40 and outputs a hard copy reproduced as a visible image. Examples of the imager 50 include a photothermal silver salt type imager that records a latent image by laser exposure on a transmission type recording medium (film) based on image data, and visualizes the latent image by thermal phenomenon processing, or an inkjet An imager or the like that records on a reflective recording medium (paper medium, sticker, or the like) by a method or a laser method can be used.

Next, the operation of QC in the radiation image reading system 1 will be described.
FIG. 4 shows a processing sequence until acquisition of QC image data used for the QC calculation when the combination of the cassette 12 and the reading device 20A is a quality evaluation target in the radiation image reading system 1. FIG. 5 shows a processing sequence until the QC image data is acquired with the reading device 20B as the quality evaluation target in the radiation image reading system 1. FIG. 6 shows a flow of QC calculation processing executed in the console 40a on which the QC tool 401 is mounted.

Here, the quality of the image data obtained in the radiation image reading system 1 depends on a recording medium such as a photostimulable phosphor sheet or FPD that records a radiation image and a reading device that reads the image data from the recording medium. In other words, when reading is performed with the cassette 12 already photographed loaded in the reading device 20A, the quality of the obtained image data is determined by the combination of the cassette 12 and the reading device 20A to be used. When reading is performed using the reading device 20B or the FPD photographing device 30 in which the recording medium and the reading device are integrated, the quality of the obtained image data is determined by the reading device to be used. When reading is performed using a cassette-type FPD, the recording and reading of radiation are performed by the FPD, so the quality of the obtained image data is determined by the cassette-type FPD used. Accordingly, the quality evaluation target in the radiation image reading system 1 is the combination of the cassette 12 and the reading device 20A, the integrated reading device 20B, or the FPD imaging device 30.
Further, by using the cassette 12 (calibration cassette) defined for quality evaluation and reading and processing the QC image data by the plurality of reading devices 20A, it is possible to know mainly quality fluctuations (quality deterioration) caused by the reading devices. Can do. Similarly, by using the reading device 20A (calibration reading device) defined for quality evaluation and reading and processing QC image data from a plurality of cassettes 12, it is possible to know mainly quality fluctuations (quality deterioration) caused by the cassettes. Can do. Therefore, the reading device 20A can be set as a quality evaluation target by using the cassette determined for calibration as the cassette 12, and the cassette 12 is set as the quality evaluation target by using the reading device 20A set for calibration. It can be.

  First, a processing sequence until the QC image data is acquired with respect to the combination of the cassette 12 and the reading device 20A as a quality evaluation target will be described with reference to FIG. The console 40 side process in the sequence is a process realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 41 and a program stored in the storage unit 47, and the reading device 20A side processing is performed with the CPU of the reading device 20A. This process is realized by software processing in cooperation with a program stored in the ROM.

  In the console 40, a shooting menu screen is displayed on the display unit 43 in response to an operation from the operation unit 42 by an operator (photographer or the like), and one of the QC menus is selected from the shooting menu screen (step S1). When the barcode of the cassette 12 to be subjected to quality evaluation according to the selected QC menu is read from the barcode reader 45 and the cassette ID is input by the operator's operation, the input cassette ID and QC are captured. The QC identification information indicating the presence and the type of the selected QC menu is registered in the QC shooting management information file 481 (step S2). Then, via the communication unit 44, the self console ID, the registered cassette ID, and the QC identification information are associated with each other and notified (transmitted) to all the reading devices 20A connected to the communication network N (step S3). ).

In the present embodiment, QC menus 1 to 3 can be selected in step S1.
The QC menu 1 is an image quality (for example, display dimensional accuracy, linearity, dynamic range, low range) of image data obtained by the combination of the cassette 12 and the reading device 20A, the reading device 20B, or the FPD photographing device 30 to be evaluated. QC calculation is performed using the image data for QC obtained by recording and reading the radiation image of the QC phantom P (see FIG. 7) by the quality evaluation object, and the quality evaluation and determination are performed. Is to do.
The QC menu 2 is a uniform exposure image data obtained by a combination of the cassette 12 and the reading device 20A, the reading device 20B, or the FPD imaging device 30 to be evaluated for quality (radiation is stored in the cassette 12 or the reading device). QC image data obtained by uniformly reading the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet or the radiation detection unit) and evaluating whether there is variation in the signal value Is.
The QC menu 3 is used to evaluate and determine the erasing performance of the combination of the cassette 12 and the reading device 20A, the reading device 20B, or the FPD photographing device 30 that are quality evaluation targets.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the QC phantom P used for photographing with the QC menu 1. The QC phantom P is a subject for quality evaluation in which a material that shields radiation and a material that absorbs radiation are disposed on a radiation transmissive substrate such as an acrylic plate.
The metal discs 1a to 1c are made of a metal disc such as copper, for example, and are members used for quantitatively evaluating the display dimensional accuracy of image data acquired by a quality evaluation target.

The tungsten plate 2 is a pattern in which an edge portion having a sharp edge is formed, and is a member used for quantitatively evaluating the sharpness of image data acquired by a quality evaluation target.
The metal plate steps 3a to 3d are composed of a plurality of copper plates having different thicknesses step by step, and the image data acquired by the quality evaluation target depends on the difference in radiation dose reaching the photostimulable phosphor sheet. It is a member used for quantitative evaluation of the linearity and dynamic range of the brightness of the photostimulated luminescence.
The jitter evaluation members 4a and 4b are made of a rectangular copper member. One of the long sides of the jitter evaluation members 4a and 4b is arranged to be parallel to the main scanning direction of the QC phantom P in the reading device (reading devices 20A and 20B) subject to quality evaluation, and the other long side is Are arranged so as to be parallel to the sub-scanning direction. The jitter evaluation members 4a and 4b are members used for evaluating the scanning performance of the reading laser in each scanning direction.
The acrylic plates 5a to 5e are made of acrylic members having a predetermined diameter and different thicknesses. The acrylic plates 5a to 5e are arranged so that the thickness changes stepwise, and are members used for visual evaluation or quantitative evaluation of the low contrast resolution of the image data acquired by the quality evaluation target. .
The acrylic plates 6a to 6e are the same as the acrylic plates 5a to 5e, but the diameter of the acrylic plates 5a to 5e> the acrylic plates 6a to 6e.

  When the cassette ID and the QC identification information are notified from the console 40 via the communication unit in the reading device 20A, the notified console ID, cassette ID, and QC identification information are associated with each other and stored in the RAM (step S4). ). When an operator performs radiation imaging according to the selected QC menu using the cassette 12 for quality evaluation registered in the console 40, and the cassette 12 is loaded into any of the reading devices 20A to be subjected to quality evaluation. (Step S5; YES), the cassette ID of the cassette 12 loaded by the barcode reader of the reading device 20A is read (Step S6), and the console ID and QC stored in association with the cassette ID read in the RAM are stored. Identification information is searched (step S7). Then, according to the QC identification information obtained by the search, the QC image recorded on the loaded cassette 12 is read (in the case of the QC menu 3, the radiation image recorded on the cassette 12 and the image after erasure are erased). Reading) is performed (step S8), and the obtained image data includes image ID for identifying the image, own device ID, cassette ID of the read cassette 12, reading time information, and QC identification information as supplementary information. The information is transmitted to the console 40 (console ID console 40 obtained by the search) attached and registered with the cassette 12 via the communication unit (step S9).

  In the console 40, when image data and its accompanying information are received from the reading device 20A via the communication unit 44 (step S10: image data input process and identification information inputting process), the received image data is added to the accompanying information. The device ID, cassette ID, reading time information, QC identification information, and the like of the device included in the quality evaluation included are stored in association with each other (step S11: association step and storage step), and this processing ends. Specifically, the incidental information attached to the image data is registered in the latest record in which the cassette ID and QC identification information stored in the QC imaging management information file 481 match the information of the incidental information of the image data. Not registered information (image ID, reading device ID, reading time information) is additionally registered, and the image data is stored in the image file storage area 483 so that the image data and the associated information are associated with each other. Saved.

  In the processing sequence shown in FIG. 4, if a cassette defined for calibration is used as the cassette 12, the reading device 20A is targeted for quality evaluation, and a QC for evaluating quality fluctuations and the like of the reading device 20A. Image data can be acquired. If the reading device 20A defined for calibration is used as a device for reading the cassette 12, the cassette 12 is used as a quality evaluation target, and QC image data for evaluating the quality variation of the cassette 12 is acquired. be able to.

  Next, a processing sequence until the QC image data is acquired with the reading device 20B as a quality evaluation target will be described with reference to FIG. The console 40 side processing in the sequence is processing realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 41 and the program stored in the storage unit 47, and the reading device 20B side processing is performed by the CPU of the reading device 20A. This process is realized by software processing in cooperation with a program stored in the ROM.

  In the console 40, a shooting menu screen is displayed on the display unit 43 in response to an operation from the operation unit 42 by the operator, and one of the QC menus is selected from the shooting menu screen (step S21). When the device ID of the reading device 20B to be subjected to quality evaluation by the selected QC menu is input by the operation, the input device ID and QC shooting are indicated, and the type of the selected QC menu is set. The indicated QC identification information is registered in the QC imaging management information file 481 (step S22). The input of the device ID of the reading device 20B is performed, for example, by pressing an icon indicating the device ID of the reading device 20B displayed in a list on the screen of the display unit 43. When registration is completed, its own console ID, registered device ID, and QC identification information are notified (transmitted) to the selected reading device 20B via the communication unit 44 (step S23). The QC menu that can be selected in step S21 is the same as that described above. The QC phantom P used in the QC menu 1 is the same as described above.

  When the console ID and the QC identification information are notified from the console 40 via the communication unit in the reading device 20B registered as the quality evaluation target, the notified console ID and the QC identification information are associated with each other and stored in the RAM. (Step S24). When the operator prepares for radiation imaging according to the selected QC menu and the radiation irradiation switch of the operation unit of the reading device 20B is pressed and an imaging instruction is input (step S25; YES), the radiation source Radiation is irradiated (step S26), and in accordance with the QC identification information transmitted from the console 40, reading of the QC image recorded on the photostimulable phosphor sheet incorporated in the apparatus by radiography (QC menu 3) In the case of, the recorded QC image is erased and the image after erasure is read) (step S27), and the obtained image data is an image ID for identifying the image, its own device ID, and the reading time. Information, QC identification information is attached as additional information, and console 40 registered via the communication unit (console stored in RAM) It is sent to the console) of D (Step S28).

  In the console 40, when image data and its accompanying information are received from the reading device 20B via the communication unit 44 (step S29: image data inputting step and identification information inputting step), the received image data is added to the accompanying information. The device ID, reading time information, QC identification information, and the like of the device that is included in the quality evaluation target are stored in association with each other (step S11: association step and storage step), and this process ends. Specifically, the registration of the incidental information attached to the image data is registered in the latest record in which the device ID and the QC identification information registered in the QC imaging management information file 481 match the information of the incidental information of the image data. Information (image ID, reading time information) that has not been added is additionally registered, and the image data is stored in the image file storage area 483, whereby the image data and the accompanying information are stored in association with each other.

  The processing sequence until the acquisition of the QC image data when the FPD imaging apparatus 30 is a quality evaluation target is that the reading of the radiation image in S27 is performed on the radiation image detected by the radiation detection unit. This is the same as described in FIG. Further, the processing sequence until the acquisition of the QC image data in the case of using the cassette type FPD is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 4 except that the reading method is different, but the erasing operation is not performed. In the case of the QC menu 3, an image is simply acquired without performing radiation irradiation. When a cassette type FPD is used, the image data of the FPD may be transmitted to the registered console 40 via a cradle or the like provided on the console 40. Alternatively, the image data of the FPD may be transmitted to the registered console 40 by wireless communication.

  As described above, the image data read for QC by the processing shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is the device identification information (cassette ID, device ID) for specifying the recording medium or the reading device that is the quality evaluation target. ), And stored in association with information such as QC identification information and reading time information. For this reason, the operator searches for image data obtained by a desired quality evaluation target from among the stored image data at a console 40a on which the QC tool 401 is mounted at a desired time, for example, after the end of a medical examination time. QC calculation processing can be executed.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the QC calculation process executed in the console 40a on which the QC tool 401 is mounted will be described. The process is a process realized by a software process in cooperation with the CPU 41 and the QC tool 401 when execution of a QC calculation is instructed by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 42.

First, the QC screen 431 is displayed on the display unit 43 (step S31).
FIG. 8 shows an example of the QC screen 431. The QC screen 431 is a screen on which an operator selects a reading device to be subjected to QC calculation or a combination of the reading device and the cassette 12 and a type of an image used for the QC calculation, and the QC calculation result, that is, quality It is a screen which displays an evaluation result. FIG. 8 shows a display state on the QC screen 431 before the calculation is started.
As shown in FIG. 8, on the QC screen 431, a reader selection button group 431a for selecting a device ID of a reading device (reading devices 20A, 20B and FPD photographing device 30) to be subjected to quality evaluation is displayed. Has been. The reader selection button group 431a displays a list of buttons displaying device IDs and icons for the reading devices 20A and 20B and the FPD photographing device 30 connected to the communication network N. When a button corresponding to the reading device to be subjected to QC calculation is selected from the reader selection button group 431a, information about the selected reading device is displayed in the reader information display field 431b.
In addition, the QC screen 431 displays a cassette selection instruction button 431c for instructing to select a cassette 12 as a quality evaluation target. When the cassette selection instruction button 431c is pressed, a cassette selection button group is displayed at a position where the reader selection button group 431a is displayed. In the cassette selection button group, a list of buttons on which cassette IDs and icons for individually identifying the cassettes 12 are displayed. When a button corresponding to the cassette 12 subject to QC calculation is selected from the cassette selection button group, information about the selected cassette 12 is displayed in the cassette information display field 431d. In the present embodiment, since the reading device 20B and the FPD photographing device 30 do not use the cassette 12 for photographing, there is no need to select a cassette ID, and the device IDs of the reading devices that do not require the selection of the cassette ID are the same. When it is selected by the reader selection button group 431a, it is preferable not to accept the press of the cassette selection instruction button 431c and to disable the cassette ID selection. In addition, when the apparatus ID of a reading apparatus (reading apparatus 20A) that requires the selection of a cassette ID for using the cassette 12 for photographing is selected, the cassette selection instruction button 431c blinks to prompt the user to input the cassette ID. It is preferable that
The QC screen 431 displays selection buttons 431e to 431g for selecting the type of image (QC menu) used for the QC calculation. The types of images include QC phantom images (image data acquired with the QC menu 1), uniform exposure images (image data acquired with the QC menu 2), and erased images (image data acquired with the QC menu 3). You can choose from.

  When the device ID of the reading device to be subjected to QC calculation or the combination of the device ID and the cassette ID and the image type are selected by the operation unit 42 via the QC screen 431 (step S32), via the communication unit 44. The selected device ID, the QC identification information corresponding to the selected image type, and the cassette ID (only when selected) are transmitted as search conditions to all consoles 40, and the QC calculation is unprocessed. Then, a search request for image data that meets the search conditions is made (step S33).

  Here, in each console 40 that has received the search request, the processed flag is OFF, and the image data that matches the received search conditions, for example, the device ID, cassette ID, and QC identification information, is QC. Information indicating that there is corresponding image data for the console 40a when the image processing management file 481 is searched, the processed flag is OFF, and image data matching the received search condition exists; For example, image ID information is returned. If the processed flag is OFF and there is no image data that meets the received search condition, information indicating that there is no corresponding image data is returned. Also in the console 40a, the search flag in the QC shooting management information file 481 for image data that matches the received search condition is executed, and the result of the presence or absence of image data is acquired.

  When information indicating the presence of image data is received from any of the consoles 40 (including the console 40a) via the communication unit 44 (step S34; YES), an image data transmission request is transmitted to the transmission source console 40. Then, the image data that has not been subjected to the QC calculation and matches the selection condition of the QC screen 431 is acquired (step S35). Then, the QC calculation corresponding to the image type (that is, the QC menu) selected on the QC screen 431 is executed (step S36: quality evaluation calculation step). When information indicating that there is no image data is received from all the consoles 40 (step S34; NO), an error message is displayed on the QC screen 431 (step S40), and this process ends.

  For example, when the selected image type is a QC phantom image, the image data to be subjected to the QC calculation is image data with the QC phantom P as a subject, and each member of the QC phantom P of the searched image data is located. The signal value of the area is read, and arithmetic processing corresponding to the evaluation item corresponding to each area is performed. The coordinates of the start point and end point of the pixel corresponding to the reference area where each member should be located, and the reference signal value of each area are stored in the storage unit 47 in advance. The region where each member is located is specified by comparing the signal value of the pixel around the coordinates of the reference region with the reference signal value.

Among the evaluation items, for example, the display dimensional accuracy is calculated by calculating the distance between the metal disks 1a to 1b on the image data and actually measuring the QC phantom P to obtain the metal disk 1a. The evaluation result value (%) is calculated by a predetermined arithmetic expression based on the actually measured value of the distance (stored in advance) between ˜1b. Further, the distance between the metal disks 1b to 1c on the acquired image data is calculated, and the distance between the obtained metal disks 1b to 1c obtained by actually measuring the QC phantom P is calculated. Based on the value, an evaluation result value is calculated by a predetermined arithmetic expression. Note that the distance between two points on the image data is represented by the number of pixels between the two points of the image data × read pixel size.
Further, for example, for the linearity, the average value of the signal values of each pixel of the image data in the region corresponding to each of the metal plate steps 3a to 3d is calculated, and the difference value of the average value between the adjacent steps is calculated. Based on the calculated difference value between the steps, an evaluation result value is calculated by a predetermined arithmetic expression.

  For example, the evaluation result value of the sharpness is calculated based on the amount of change in the signal value at the edge portion of the edge of the tungsten plate 2. The evaluation result value of the dynamic range is calculated based on the maximum signal value and the minimum signal value of the metal plate steps 3a to 3d. The evaluation result value of the scanning performance of the reading laser is calculated based on the amount of deviation in the X direction of pixels arranged in the Y direction of the jitter evaluation member 4a and the amount of deviation in the Y direction of pixels arranged in the X direction of the jitter evaluation member 4b. The evaluation result value of the low contrast resolution is calculated based on the result of the operator selecting an acrylic plate that can be viewed with the operation unit 42 from the image, or based on the signal value of each acrylic plate.

  Then, for each result item, it is determined whether or not the calculated evaluation result value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and each evaluation item is passed (PASS) or rejected (FAIL) according to the determination result. Is determined.

On the other hand, when the selected image type is a uniform exposure image, for example, an average value and a standard deviation of signal values of each pixel of the image data are calculated, and an evaluation result value is calculated based on the calculated average value and standard deviation. And the determination of pass or fail is performed.
On the other hand, when the selected image type is erasure, similarly, the average value and standard deviation of the signal value of each pixel of the image data are calculated, and the evaluation result value is calculated based on the calculated average value and standard deviation. And a determination of pass or fail.

  When the calculation is completed, the evaluation result value and the determination result are displayed on the QC screen 431 of the display unit 43 (step S37: output process), and the evaluation result value and the determination result are stored in the QC evaluation result file 484 of the HDD 48 of the console 40a. Saved (step S38). Then, the console 40 that is the transmission source of the image data is notified of the end of the processing of the image data via the communication unit 44 (step S39), and this processing ends. In the console 40 that is the transmission source of the image data, the processed flag of the record corresponding to the image data transmitted to the console 40a in the QC shooting management information file 481 is set to ON. Note that the evaluation result value and the determination result are information that can specify the reading device, cassette, type of QC, and reading time that are subject to quality evaluation, for example, device ID + cassette ID (0 if not selected) + image Management No. consisting of a combination of type (QC identification information) + reading time information, etc. It is preferable to store them in a searchable state in association with these pieces of information. In addition, it is preferable that the evaluation result value and the determination result are displayed on the console 40a in time series, for example, by graph display, so that it is possible to instantly grasp whether the performance is stable or is in a deterioration tendency. .

FIG. 9 shows an example of the QC screen 431 displayed in step S37.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the execution of the QC calculation is completed, the evaluation result value and the determination result are displayed on the QC screen 431 together with the display of the reader information display field 431b and the cassette information display field 431d indicating the information on the QC calculation target. Is done. That is, the QC screen 431 includes a QC phantom image result display field 431h, a uniform exposure image result display field 431i, and an erased image result display field 431j, and corresponds to the image type selected in step S32. An evaluation result value (%) and determination (pass / fail) are displayed in the result display column.

  As described above, according to the radiation image reading system 1, when the QC menu is selected and the cassette ID or the device ID to be evaluated is registered in any of the consoles 40, the registered cassette 12 is displayed. The radiographic image accumulated in the cassette 12 is read by any of the reading devices 20A, or the radiographic image is read by imaging by the registered reading device 20B or the FPD imaging device 30. The obtained image data is transmitted to the registered console 40. In the console 40, when the image data is received, information necessary for the search of the image data such as the device ID, cassette ID, reading time information, and QC identification information that has been read is associated with the image data in the HDD 48. Memorized and saved.

  In addition, when the console 40a on which the QC tool 401, which is a program for performing QC calculation, is mounted, when a reading device or a combination of a reading device and a cassette to be subjected to QC calculation and an image type are selected, the selected condition When the image data matching request is transmitted to each console 40 and image data is received from any of the consoles 40, QC calculation processing is executed, and the obtained evaluation result value and determination result are displayed on the display unit 43. And is stored in the HDD 48 of the console 40a.

  Accordingly, since the process of acquiring image data by QC shooting and reading and the process of performing QC operation on the acquired image data can be separated, the timely QC image data is obtained in a time zone that does not affect general shooting. It is possible to search, read necessary image data and perform QC calculation, and to efficiently perform QC calculation without interfering with other general photographing operations. In particular, when a large number of cassettes 12 and a plurality of reading devices are used in the radiation image reading system 1, it is possible to greatly reduce the influence on the general imaging by the QC calculation.

 Further, by adopting a configuration in which the image data obtained by photographing and reading for QC is stored in the HDD 48 of the console 40, it is not necessary to newly provide a storage device for storing QC image data.

  Further, by providing the QC tool 401 and the display unit for displaying the quality evaluation result in at least one console, QC can be performed without increasing the number of devices for QC.

  In addition, the description content in the said embodiment is a suitable example of the radiographic image reading system 1, and is not limited to this.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the console 40 that has registered the cassette ID to be subjected to the quality evaluation is notified of its own console ID and the registered cassette ID to all the reading devices 20A. In the reading apparatus 20A loaded with the cassette to be read, the read image data can be transmitted to the console 40 that has registered the cassette, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the radiation image reading system 1 includes a server device that manages information in the system, and stores the console ID of the console 40 that has registered the cassette for quality evaluation in the server device in association with the registered cassette ID. The server device may be configured to notify the relationship between them in response to an inquiry from the reading device 20A or the console 40a. Similarly, when the device ID is registered at the console 40, the server ID may be stored in association with the device ID at the server device, and the server device may notify the relationship between them in response to an inquiry from each device. . Further, the evaluation result and the image data by the QC calculation may be stored in the server device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cassette and the reading device to be evaluated for quality are registered in advance in the console 40. However, registration is performed in advance only in the case of general shooting, and the quality evaluation target is not registered. Thus, the cassette 12 may be loaded in the reading device 20A (without registering in advance) to perform reading, or the reading device 20B and the FPD photographing device 30 may perform photographing and reading. In this case, in the configuration described in the above embodiment, since the correspondence between the cassette ID and the console ID is not notified to the reading device side in the case of QC photographing, the reading device is loaded even when the cassette 12 to be evaluated for quality is loaded. The correspondence between the cassette ID corresponding to the cassette 12 and the console ID is not stored in the side RAM. For this reason, if the console ID corresponding to the read cassette ID is not stored in the RAM, it is determined that the reader is a quality evaluation target, and the read image data is attached with additional information and the QC tool 401 is installed. To the console 40a. Similarly, in the configuration using the server device, since the correspondence relationship between the cassette ID and the console ID for quality evaluation is not stored, when the server device notifies that the console ID corresponding to the cassette ID does not exist, the reading device side It is determined that it is a quality evaluation target, and additional information is attached to the read image data, and is transmitted to the console 40a on which the QC tool 401 is mounted. In this way, all the image data for QC can be stored in the console 40a, and the search for the image data to be subjected to QC calculation becomes easy. Alternatively, the image data is transmitted from the apparatus that has been read to any console 40 that is not busy, and the image data is stored in any console 40, and when performing QC calculation, all of the console 40a performs all QC calculations. The console 40 may be inquired of the presence or absence of image data that matches the selected condition, and the image data may be obtained from the storage destination console 40.

  When there are a plurality of QC menus as in the above-described embodiment, it is necessary to select the QC menu via the operation unit on the reading device side without registration. In this case, if the QC menu is selected on the reading device side, it can be determined that the image data to be read next is a quality evaluation target. Therefore, the image data read after the QC menu is selected is transferred to the console 40a equipped with the QC tool 401. It is good also as a structure which transmits.

  Moreover, it is good also as a structure with which each reading apparatus 20A, 20B and the FPD imaging device 30 are provided with the display part for displaying a QC tool and an evaluation result. In this case, in each reading device, when the QC menu is selected and the cassette is loaded (or when shooting is instructed), the reading and image reading are performed according to the selected QC menu. The image data is stored in a nonvolatile RAM or the like in association with QC identification information (QC identification information and cassette ID when the cassette 12 is used) or the like. When the execution of the QC calculation is instructed, the calculation is performed on the stored unprocessed image data, and the evaluation result value and the determination result are displayed and stored. Then, a processed flag is associated with the image data to be calculated.

  In the above embodiment, when performing the QC calculation, the cassette ID, device ID, and image type that are the target of the QC calculation are selected. However, the range of the reading time information that is the target of the QC calculation is further selected. May be specified.

  In the above-described embodiment, the evaluation result value and the determination result are described as being output by being displayed on the display unit 43, but may be output from the imager 50.

  When selecting the QC calculation target, the operator does not select the image type, but the QC calculation is performed on the image data of all image types that are unprocessed and satisfy the conditions of the selected cassette ID and device ID. And the results may be displayed on the QC screen 431 at a time.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each apparatus constituting the radiation image reading system 1 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the reading device and the console may be configured integrally.

It is a figure which shows the example of whole structure of the radiographic image reading system in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the console shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data storage example of a QC shooting management information file illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence until acquisition of QC image data used for QC calculation when the combination of the cassette of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence until acquisition of QC image data used for QC calculation when the integrated reading apparatus of FIG. 1 is a quality evaluation target. It is a flowchart which shows QC arithmetic processing performed by CPU of the console carrying a QC tool. It is a figure which shows an example of QC phantom. It is a figure which shows an example of the QC screen displayed in the QC calculation process of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the QC screen which displayed the evaluation result in the QC calculation process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Radiation image reading system 10 Imaging device 11 Radiation source 12 Cassette 20 Reading device 20A Reading device (cassette type)
20B Reader (integrated type)
30 FPD photographing device 40 Console 41 CPU
42 Operation unit 43 Display unit 44 Communication unit 45 Bar code reader 46 RAM
47 Storage unit 48 HDD
481 QC shooting management information file 482 General shooting management information file 483 Image file storage area 49 Bus 401 QC tool 484 QC evaluation result file 50 Imager

Claims (6)

One or more image reading devices that obtain image data by reading the radiation image from a recording medium on which a radiographic image of a subject is recorded by radiography, and the image data is acquired from the image reading device and the image data is captured. In a radiation image reading system comprising a console that associates with the order information and performs image processing on the image data,
Image data of general imaging obtained by reading an image of a patient recorded on the recording medium by radiography with the image reading device, for quality evaluation recorded on the recording medium to be subjected to quality evaluation by radiography image data of the obtained quality evaluation by reading the image by the image reading apparatus, or by reading an image wherein an image reading apparatus comprising a quality evaluation target for quality assessment, which is recorded on the recording medium by radiography Image data input means for inputting the obtained image data for quality evaluation ;
Identification information input means for inputting apparatus identification information for specifying the image reading apparatus or the recording medium subjected to quality evaluation;
When the image data input by the image data input means is image data for general shooting, shooting order information is associated with the image data, and when the image data is for quality evaluation, the image data Control means for associating quality evaluation identification information indicating that it is data for quality evaluation and device identification information input by the identification information input means;
With storing image data and radiographing order information of a general imaging associated with said control means, the image data for quality assessment associated with said control means, the quality evaluation identification information and storage means for storing device identification information When,
Quality that retrieves and reads out image data for quality evaluation stored in association with the quality evaluation identification information from the storage means, and performs evaluation processing for quality evaluation on the read image data to obtain an evaluation result An evaluation calculation means;
An output means for outputting the evaluation result acquired by the quality evaluation calculation means in association with the apparatus identification information associated with the image data subjected to the calculation processing by the control means;
A radiation image reading system comprising:   The radiographic image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the console includes the storage unit and the control unit.   The radiation image reading system according to claim 2, wherein the console includes a plurality of consoles, and at least one of the plurality of consoles includes the quality evaluation calculation unit and the output unit.   The radiographic image reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein there are a plurality of the image reading devices.   The radiation image reading system according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of types of the image reading devices. An evaluation method for an image reading device in a radiation image reading system comprising one or more image reading devices that read image data from a recording medium on which a radiographic image of a subject is recorded by radiography and obtain image data,
Image data of general imaging obtained by reading an image of a patient recorded on the recording medium by radiography with the image reading device, for quality evaluation recorded on the recording medium to be subjected to quality evaluation by radiography image data of the obtained quality evaluation by reading the image by the image reading apparatus, or by reading an image wherein an image reading apparatus comprising a quality evaluation target for quality assessment, which is recorded on the recording medium by radiography An image data input step for inputting the obtained image data for quality evaluation from the image data input means,
An identification information input step of inputting, from an identification information input means, device identification information for specifying the image reading device or the recording medium subjected to quality evaluation;
When the image data input in the image data input step is image data of general shooting, the control unit associates shooting order information with the image data, and when the image data is quality evaluation image data, An associating step of associating quality evaluation identification information indicating that the image data is data for quality evaluation with the control means and device identification information input in the identification information input step;
General imaging image data and imaging order information associated in the association step , or quality evaluation image data, quality evaluation identification information, and apparatus identification information associated in the association step are stored in a storage unit. A storage process to
The quality evaluation calculating means retrieves the image data for quality control stored in the storage means together with the image data of the general photographing and stored in association with the quality evaluation identification information from the storage means and reads out the data, A quality evaluation calculation step of performing an evaluation process for quality evaluation on the read image data and obtaining an evaluation result;
An output step in which the evaluation result acquired by the quality evaluation calculation step is output from the output unit in association with the device identification information associated with the image data subjected to the calculation processing in the association step;
Evaluation method for an image reading apparatus including:

Images