JP2000173795A - X-ray photographing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a X-ray photographing equipment, wherein the selection of a plurality of phototimer light-receiving parts is automatically executed by only having to position a subject in a photographing posture on a photography table. SOLUTION: When a subject 3 in a photographed posture is positioned at the front part of a mirror camera, and the jaws of the subject 3 abuts on a jaw seat 4, the CPU of a touch controller 17 recognizes the posture of the examined body 3 by means of its signal, selects the most suitable phototimer light-receiving part from a plurality of phototimer light-receiving parts 5, automatically switches over change-over switches 18, and starts photographing. The X-ray beam from an X-ray tube 1 is narrowed by a collimator 2, passes through the examined body 3 and is converted into an optical image by a fluorescent plate 7, while scattered rays are removed by a grid 6. Only a specific part of the light emitting through lead glass 8 is caught by the phototimer light-receiving part 5, its electrical signal is integrated by an integrating capacitor 12, and its voltage and the reference voltage of a concentration setting unit 14 are input to a comparator 13, and when the voltage of both of them become the same, a high-voltage cut-off signal is sent to a switch 15, thereby cutting off the high-voltage of an X-ray high-voltage generation device 16 and stopping the emission of the X-ray, so that an X-ray photograph can be taken with optimum concentration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray photographing apparatus, and more particularly to an automatic exposure control for automatically and optimally controlling a film density at the time of X-ray photographing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic exposure control devices in radiography are used for most indirect radiography, and are also widely used for direct radiography of the chest and abdomen. The automatic exposure control device
It operates to keep the film density constant by automatically controlling the imaging time. It converts the amount of X-ray transmitted through the subject into an electric signal, and shuts off the X-rays when this amount of electricity reaches a certain value. , To obtain a desired film density.

Referring to FIG. 11, a conventional automatic exposure control X-ray apparatus using a mirror camera MC for indirect X-ray imaging used for mass examination of the chest will be described. X from X-ray tube 1
The line beam is narrowed down to a required visual field size by the collimator 2 and irradiated to the subject 3. The X-rays transmitted through the subject 3 are scattered by the grid 6, and are incident on the fluorescent screen 7. The X-rays are converted into an optical image by the transmitted X-rays. A lead glass 8 for X-ray protection is provided behind the fluorescent plate 7, and a light image of the fluorescent plate 7 is formed on the film surface of the camera 11 through the lead glass 8 by a mirror lens 10 in a hood 9.

On the other hand, the hood 9 of the mirror camera MC
A plurality of phototimer light-receiving portions 5 are provided inside the front and upper part of the light-emitting device, and the mechanism is set so that each of the phototimer light-receiving portions 5 can receive light in a specific area of the light emitting surface of the fluorescent screen 7. Therefore, before imaging, the operator manually selects one of the phototimer light-receiving units 5 corresponding to the specific region suitable for the imaging region on the control panel (switch 18 in FIG. 11). FIG. 12 shows an arrangement of a specific area suitable for an imaging part in chest imaging. For the chest front, two front chest light receiving parts 25 in the wide part of both lung fields are used,
In the case of the chest side, the light receiving unit 2 for the chest side in the vertically long central part
6 is used.

During the photographing, the selected phototimer light receiving unit 5
Captures light in a specific area of the light emitting surface and detects it as a current signal proportional to the X-ray dose. This current signal is supplied to the switch 1
8, an integration capacitor 12, a density setting reference device 14, a comparator 13, and a switch 15. Is done. On the other hand, the comparator 13 refers to the reference voltage for determining the film density from the density setting device 14, compares the integrated voltage signal with the reference voltage, and when the two match, the switch 1 is turned on.
5 to output an X-ray cutoff signal. X-ray high voltage generator 16
Receives this signal, shuts off the high voltage, and stops the X-ray emission from the X-ray tube 1.

[0006]

The conventional X-ray imaging apparatus is constructed as described above.
Is provided with a plurality of light-receiving parts to correspond to various body positions of the subject, and the operator manually switches on the control panel before imaging, registering the ID of the object, setting the imaging voltage and imaging current For example, there is a problem in that various operations are performed before photographing, and switching of the phototimer light receiving unit 5 is mistaken. When there are many subjects such as a chest mass examination, to prevent mistakes in switching the light receiving unit, for example, when imaging the front of the chest and the side of the chest, sound a buzzer when the light receiving unit for the side is selected However, in this case, there is a problem that the operator has to switch manually.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an X-ray imaging apparatus that can automatically switch the phototimer light receiving unit 5 without the operator manually switching the phototimer light receiving unit 5. Aim.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of phototimer light receiving sections for detecting transmitted X-rays of a subject, and an electric power supply from the phototimer light receiving sections. In an X-ray imaging apparatus having a photo timer control unit that sends an X-ray cutoff signal to a high-voltage device when an integrated value of a signal reaches a reference voltage, a subject body position is detected above an X-ray input surface of an imaging table. A chin rest is provided, and means is provided for automatically selecting a photo timer light receiving unit suitable for the body position of the subject from the plurality of photo timer light receiving units by a chin rest detection signal.

Further, in the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention, a shoulder pad for detecting the position of the subject is provided above the X-ray input surface of the imaging table. It is characterized by comprising means capable of automatically selecting a phototimer light receiving section suitable for the body position of the specimen.

The X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention may further comprise a bar which is gripped by the subject at the time of imaging, and a sensor for detecting whether or not the subject has gripped the grip on the grip of the bar. And a means for automatically selecting a phototimer light receiving unit suitable for the body position of the subject from the plurality of phototimer light receiving units based on a detection signal of the sensor.

The X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above. By attaching a chin rest or a shoulder rest to the upper part of the X-ray input surface of the imaging stand, the X-ray imaging apparatus can be used only when the subject grips the subject during imaging. By providing a rod and a sensor for detecting whether or not the subject has gripped the gripping portion in the gripping portion of the bar, the chin rest or the shoulder rest detects the subject's position, or Since the disposed sensor detects and automatically selects a phototimer light receiving unit suitable for the site, it is not necessary for the operator to manually switch, and the operability is improved.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This device is an X-ray tube 1
A mirror camera MC for indirect photography, a chin rest 4 (incorporating a sensor) attached to the upper part of the front of the input of the mirror camera MC, and a phototimer light receiving unit 5 for picking up light of an X-ray image on a fluorescent screen. , A photo timer control unit for performing automatic exposure control, a touch controller 17, and an X-ray high voltage generator 16. The photo timer control unit includes a changeover switch 18, an integrating capacitor 12, and a density setting unit 1.
4, a comparator 13 and a switch 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, the chin rest 4 is provided above the front part 31 of the mirror camera, and a limit switch or a sensor 30 such as a piezoelectric element is provided therein. And the subject 3 touching the chin
And sends the signal to the touch controller 17.

In photographing the front part of the chest, as shown in FIG. 3, the subject 3 faces the mirror camera front part 31 side, and the chest of the subject 3 comes into contact with the surface of the mirror camera front part 31 so that the subject 3 The chin is taken at a position where the chin rests exactly on the chin rest 4. Further, in imaging of the side surface of the chest, as shown in FIG. 4, the body position of the subject 3 faces in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the mirror camera front part 31, and the subject 3 does not touch the upper surface of the chin rest 4.

When the subject 3 is in the position of the front part of the chest, the chin of the subject 3 comes into contact with the upper part of the chin rest 4, the built-in sensor 30 works, and the signal is sent to the touch controller 17.
The touch controller 17 selects the chest front light receiving unit 25 (FIG. 12) of the photo timer light receiving unit 5 and captures an image. When there is no signal from the sensor 30 of the chin rest 4, the touch controller 1
The image 7 is picked up by selecting the light receiving part 26 (FIG. 12) for the side of the chest of the photo timer light receiving part 5.

Another embodiment of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This apparatus comprises an X-ray tube 1, a mirror camera MC for indirect imaging, and a mirror camera MC.
4A (built-in sensor) mounted on the upper part of the input front of the camera, a photo timer light receiving unit 5 for picking up light of an X-ray image on a fluorescent screen, a photo timer control unit for performing automatic exposure control, and a touch controller 17 and an X-ray high voltage generator 16. Here, the phototimer control section includes a changeover switch 18, an integrating capacitor 12, a density setting device 14, a comparator 13, and a switch 15.

As shown in FIG. 6, a shoulder pad 4A is provided above the front surface 31 of the mirror camera, and a limit switch or a sensor 30 such as a piezoelectric element is provided below the mirror. Subject touches and touches shoulder 3
And sends the signal to the touch controller 17.

In photographing the front part of the chest, as shown in FIG. 7, the subject 3 faces the mirror camera front part 31 side, and the chest of the subject 3 contacts the surface of the mirror camera front part 31, and the subject 3 An image is taken with the position of the shoulder just hitting the shoulder pad 4A. Also, in imaging of the side surface of the chest, as shown in FIG. 8, the body position of the subject 3 is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the mirror camera front part 31, and the subject 3 does not touch the lower surface of the shoulder pad 4A.

When the subject 3 is in the position of the front part of the chest, the shoulder of the subject 3 contacts the lower part of the shoulder pad 4A, and the built-in sensor 3
0 works and the signal is sent to the touch controller 17. The touch controller 17 selects the chest front light receiving unit 25 (FIG. 12) of the photo timer light receiving unit 5 and captures an image. Shoulder rest 4A
When there is no signal from the sensor 30, the touch controller 17
Is a light receiving part 26 for the side of the chest of the photo timer light receiving part 5 (FIG. 1)
2) is selected and photographed.

Another embodiment of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The apparatus includes an X-ray tube 1, a mirror camera MC for indirect imaging, and a photo timer light receiving unit 5 for picking up light of an X-ray image on a fluorescent screen.
, A photo timer control unit for performing automatic exposure control, a touch controller 17, and an X-ray high voltage generator 16. Here, the phototimer control section includes a changeover switch 18, an integrating capacitor 12, a density setting device 14, and a comparator 1.
3 and a switch 15. The support 20 supports the input front part of the mirror camera MC,
A bar 4B is provided as long as the subject 3 holds with both hands when imaging the side of the chest.

As shown in FIG. 10, a sensor 30 such as a limit switch or a piezoelectric element is embedded or attached to the portion of the subject 3 which is gripped when photographing the side of the chest, as shown in FIG. When the gripper of the bar 4B is grasped, the body position of the subject 3 is detected, and the signal is sent to the touch controller 17.

In imaging of the front part of the chest, the subject 3 faces the front side of the mirror camera 31 and the subject 3
Therefore, no signal is sent from the sensor 30 to the touch controller 17, so that it is possible to recognize that the imaging is a front part of the chest. For this reason, the touch controller 17 controls the light receiving unit 25 (FIG.
Select 2).

When the subject 3 is in the position on the side of the chest, the subject 3 grips the bar 4B, so that a signal is sent from the sensor 30 to the touch controller 17, and the touch controller 17 Light receiving part 26 for the chest side (FIG. 1)
Select 2).

Next, the operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described. First, the subject 3 stands on the imaging table, and presses the body against the mirror camera front part 31 in a posture for imaging. FIG.
4 shows the case of the front part of the chest, and FIG. 4 shows the case of the side part of the chest. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a photo timer for obtaining the optimum film density in the front and side views of the chest. It is necessary to select a lighting part of the light receiving unit 5. First, when the subject 3 is in front of the chest, the chin rest 4 or the shoulder rest 4A sends a touch signal of the sensor 30 to the touch controller 17, so that the body position of the subject 3 is determined by the presence or absence of the signal. (Not shown) reads. As a result, the touch controller 17 selects a photo timer light receiving unit having an optimal lighting range from among the plurality of photo timer light receiving units.

In the embodiment in which the grip bar 4B is provided, as shown in FIG. 10, the subject 3 grips the grip bar 4B at the time of imaging the side surface of the chest. Since the signal is sent to the touch controller 17, the CPU (not shown) of the touch controller 17 reads the body position of the subject 3 depending on the presence or absence of the signal. As a result, the touch controller 17 selects a photo timer light receiving unit having an optimal lighting range from among the plurality of photo timer light receiving units.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 9, two phototimer light receiving parts 5 are provided, as shown in FIG. 12, a front light receiving part 25 for the chest and a light receiving part 26 for the side of the chest. Is shown. Changeover switch 18 for the selection
However, the changeover switch 18 is switched by the signal of the touch controller 17, and either the light receiving unit 25 for the chest front or the light receiving unit 26 for the chest side is selected. The changeover switch 18 switches between the phototimer light receiving unit 5 and the reference voltage of the density setting unit 14 for determining a suitable film density. The operation of the changeover switch 18 is performed automatically, and there is no need for the operator to manually set it.

X-ray photography is started in this state. The operation is the same as that of the conventional apparatus. The X-ray beam from the X-ray tube 1 is narrowed down to a required visual field size by the collimator 2 and is irradiated on the subject 3. The X-rays transmitted through the subject 3 are scattered by the grid 6, and are incident on the fluorescent screen 7. The X-rays are converted into an optical image by the transmitted X-rays. A lead glass 8 for X-ray protection is provided behind the fluorescent plate 7, and a light image of the fluorescent plate 7 is formed on the film surface of the camera 11 through the lead glass 8 by a mirror lens 10 in a hood 9.

On the other hand, a plurality of phototimer light-receiving parts 5 are provided inside the front upper part of the hood part 9 and
Each of the phototimer light-receiving units 5 is configured to receive light of a specific area of the light-emitting surface. Therefore, before imaging, one of the phototimer light-receiving units 5 corresponding to the specific region suitable for the imaging region is automatically selected by the touch controller 17 by a signal from the chin rest 4 or the shoulder rest 4A (FIG. 1 switch 18), the photo timer light receiving unit 5 selected during shooting captures light in a specific area of the light emitting surface,
It is detected as a current signal proportional to the X-ray dose.

This current signal is integrated by the integration capacitor 12 of the phototimer control unit 5 and is converted into a voltage signal by the comparator 13.
Is input to On the other hand, the comparator 13 refers to the reference voltage for determining the film density from the density setting device 14, compares the integrated voltage signal with the reference voltage, and outputs an X-ray cutoff signal to the switch 15 when they match. . The X-ray high voltage generator 16 receives this signal, cuts off the high voltage, and stops the X-ray emission from the X-ray tube 1.

In the above embodiment, the mirror camera MC has been described as a photographing table. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a photographing table provided with a chin rest 4 or a shoulder rest 4A, such as a bucky photographing stand for chest photographing. Can be applied.

[0031]

The X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, and the phototimer light-receiving unit 5 suitable for the body position of the subject is attached to the chin rest provided on the upper part of the front surface of the mirror camera 11. By automatically selecting the signal from the signal 4 or the shoulder pad 4A, the operator's complicated work before photographing can be eliminated, and an X-ray photographic film having the optimum density can be obtained by automatic X-ray exposure control.

In addition, by providing a sensor on the grip portion of the bar, it is possible to automatically recognize that the chest side is photographed of the subject, so that the operator's complicated work before photographing can be eliminated. An X-ray photographic film having an optimum density can be obtained by automatic exposure control.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a chin rest on a front part of a mirror camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a front part of the chest using a chin rest.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a side part of the chest using a chin rest.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a shoulder pad on a front part of a mirror camera.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a chest front region using a shoulder pad.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a chest side portion using a shoulder pad.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the subject is gripping a nipple bar during chest side imaging.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional X-ray imaging apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a light receiving unit on a mirror camera image receiving surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... X-ray tube 2 ... Collimator 3 ... Subject 4 ... Chin rest 4A ... Shoulder rest 5 ... Photo timer light receiving part 6 ... Grid 7 ... Fluorescent plate 8 ... Lead glass 9 ... Hood part 10 ... Mirror lens 11 ... Camera 12 ... Integration Capacitor 13 ... Comparator 14 ... Density setting device (reference voltage) 15 ... Switch 16 ... X-ray high voltage generator 17 ... Touch controller 18 ... Changeover switch 25 ... Light receiving part for chest front 26 ... Light receiving part for chest side 27 ... Image receiving surface 30 ... Sensor 31 ... Mirror camera front part MC ... Mirror camera

Claims (3)

[Claims] A plurality of phototimer light-receiving portions for detecting transmitted X-rays of a subject, and an X-ray cutoff signal is sent to a high voltage device when an integrated value of an electric signal from the phototimer light-receiving portion reaches a reference voltage. In an X-ray imaging apparatus including a photo timer control circuit, a chin rest for detecting a subject posture is provided above an X-ray input surface of an imaging table. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: means for automatically selecting a phototimer light receiving unit suitable for a body position of a sample. 2. A photo-timer light-receiving unit for detecting transmitted X-rays of a subject, and an X-ray cutoff signal sent to a high-voltage device when an integrated value of an electric signal from the photo-timer light-receiving unit reaches a reference voltage. In an X-ray imaging apparatus having a photo timer control circuit, a shoulder pad for detecting a body position of a subject is provided above an X-ray input surface of an imaging table, and the plurality of photo timer light receiving units receive signals from the plurality of photo timer light receiving units according to a detection signal of the shoulder pad. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: means for automatically selecting a phototimer light receiving unit suitable for a body position of a sample. 3. A plurality of phototimer light receiving units for detecting transmitted X-rays of a subject, and an X-ray cutoff signal is sent to a high voltage device when an integrated value of an electric signal from the phototimer light receiving unit reaches a reference voltage. In an X-ray imaging apparatus including a phototimer control circuit, a bar that is gripped by the subject during imaging, and a sensor that detects whether or not the subject grips the grip on the grip of the bar. An X-ray imaging apparatus, further comprising: means for automatically selecting a phototimer light receiving unit suitable for a body position of the subject from the plurality of phototimer light receiving units based on a detection signal of the sensor.