Recording sheet usage count evaluation method and apparatus, and medical image processing apparatus

A recording sheet usage count evaluation method of evaluating a usage count of each recording sheet in a radiation imaging system including at least one radiation imaging apparatus for imaging an object by irradiating the object with radiation to record a radiographic image on the recording sheet, at least one radiographic image reading apparatus for reading the radiographic image recorded on the recording sheet to obtain image data, and a plurality of medical image processing apparatuses capable of processing the image data received from said at least one radiographic image reading apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving, in one medical image processing apparatus, recording sheet identification information for use in identifying the recording sheet, when the recording sheet identification information is transmitted together with the image data obtained by reading the radiographic image recorded on the recording sheet, from said at least one radiographic image reading apparatus to any one of said plurality of medical image processing apparatuses;
• and
• (b) counting, in said one medical image processing apparatus, a usage count number of each recording sheet on a basis of the recording sheet identification information received at step (a), weighting a count value in accordance with a set condition, and accumulating the weighted count value to store the accumulated count value in correspondence with the recording sheet identification information.

A medical image processing apparatus for processing image data and evaluating a usage count of each recording sheet and to be used with at least one radiation imaging apparatus for imaging an object by irradiating the object with radiation to record a radiographic image on the recording sheet and at least one radiographic image reading apparatus for reading the radiographic image recorded on the recording sheet to obtain the image data, said apparatus comprising:

• reception control means for controlling receiving operation to receive recording sheet identification information for use in identifying the recording sheet, together with the image data obtained by reading the radiographic image recorded on the recording sheet, from said at least one radiographic image reading apparatus;
• image processing means for processing the image data received under control of said reception control means;
• counting means for counting a usage count number of each recording sheet on a basis of the recording sheet identification information received under control of said reception control means, weighting a count value in accordance with a set condition, and accumulating the weighted count value to store the accumulated count value into a storage section in correspondence with the recording sheet identification information;
• and
• calculating means for calculating a total count value for each recording sheet by referring to count values stored in other medical image processing apparatuses and adding the count values in said other medical image processing apparatuses to the count value stored in the storage section, in accordance with an operation by an operator and/or a set condition.

A medical image processing apparatus for processing image data and evaluating a usage count of each recording sheet and to be used with at least one radiation imaging apparatus for imaging an object by irradiating the object with radiation to record a radiographic image on the recording sheet and at least one radiographic image reading apparatus for reading the radiographic image recorded on the recording sheet to obtain the image data, said apparatus comprising:

• reception control means for controlling receiving operation to receive recording sheet identification information for use in identifying the recording sheet, when the recording sheet identification information is transmitted together with the image data obtained by reading the radiographic image recorded on the recording sheet, from said at least one radiographic image reading apparatus to any one of said plurality of medical image processing apparatuses;
• image processing means for processing the image data transmitted to said medical image processing apparatus;
• and
• counting means for counting a usage count number of each recording sheet on a basis of the recording sheet identification information received under control of said reception control means, weighting a count value in accordance with a set condition, and accumulating the weighted count value to store the accumulated count value into a storage section in correspondence with the recording sheet identification information.

A recording sheet usage count evaluation apparatus for evaluating a usage count of each recording sheet and to be used with at least one radiation imaging apparatus for imaging an object by irradiating the object with radiation to record a radiographic image on the recording sheet, at least one radiographic image reading apparatus for reading the radiographic image recorded on the recording sheet to obtain image data, and a plurality of medical image processing apparatuses capable of processing the image data received from said at least one radiographic image reading apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• reception control means for controlling receiving operation to receive recording sheet identification information for use in identifying the recording sheet, when the recording sheet identification information is transmitted together with the image data obtained by reading the radiographic image recorded on the recording sheet, from said at least one radiographic image reading apparatus to any one of said plurality of medical image processing apparatuses;
• and
• counting means for counting a usage count number of each recording sheet on a basis of the recording sheet identification information received under control of said reception control means, weighting a count value in accordance with a set condition, and accumulating the weighted count value to store the accumulated count value into a storage section in correspondence with the recording sheet identification information.