JP2002014169A - X-ray imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray imaging apparatus, capable of absorbing loads and impact forces imparted by the subject for imaging during X-ray imaging, while assuring the load and impact resistance of the casing, without having to increasing the strength of the casing, and being miniaturized and reduced in weight. SOLUTION: In the X-ray imaging apparatus, a sensor panel 1 is fixed on a support plate 2a provided within the casing 3 and a highly airtight member 5 provided between the outer peripheral portion of the support plate 2a and the inner peripheral portion of the casing defines an airtight area within the casing 3, on the side of the casing to which X-rays are irradiated, with the sensor panel 1 facing that side via the airtight area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray image pickup apparatus such as an electronic cassette for recording an X-ray image in which a sensor panel is fixed on a support plate provided inside a housing. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An X-ray image pickup apparatus has a sensor section in a housing structure as shown in FIG. Here, reference numeral 1 denotes a sensor panel, which is a laminate made of a glass substrate, a fluorescent plate, and a moisture-proof film. 2a is a support plate,
With the sensor panel 1 in front and the signal processing circuit board 4
a is attached to the back. Reference numeral 4b denotes a flexible circuit board having a flexible circuit for extracting a photoelectric conversion signal from a sensor included in the sensor panel 1, and performs an electrical connection between the sensor panel 1 and the signal processing circuit board 4a. 3 is an electronic cassette (for X-ray imaging)
(Flat and rectangular housing), which is made of an X-ray transmitting material such as CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic), and is particularly opaque to visible light. Case lid 3a, opaque upper and lower case cases 3b, 3
and c.

Reference numeral 2b denotes a support plate foot provided on the back surface of the support plate 2a. The support plate 2a is connected to the lower housing case 3c.
It is for support. Further, the lower housing case 3c is provided with an exhaust heat radiating port 3e for radiating heat of the semiconductor element and the like on the signal processing circuit board 4a.

[0004]

However, in the above configuration, the front of the housing 3 (on the side of the housing lid 3a) at the time of X-ray imaging.
The housing 3 may be bent by the load or impact of an object (not shown) applied to the sensor panel, and the sensor panel 1 may be damaged by applying a mechanical load. Had to be designed in advance. Further, even when the housing 3 receives a load or an impact, a cushioning material is provided in the housing 3 so that the load on the sensor panel 1 can be absorbed.
Alternatively, it is necessary to provide a required gap between the inner wall surface of the housing 3 and the front surface of the sensor panel 1, which hinders the reduction in size and weight of the electronic cassette.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to ensure the load resistance and the impact resistance without reinforcing the strength of the housing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an X-ray imaging apparatus capable of absorbing a load or an impact force given by a subject during X-ray imaging, and achieving a reduction in size and weight.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention, a sensor panel is fixed on a support plate provided inside a housing, and the sensor panel is mounted on the support plate. With a highly airtight member provided between the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion of the housing, an airtight region is defined inside the housing on the X-ray irradiation side,
The sensor panel is characterized in that the sensor panel faces the X-ray irradiation side via the airtight region.

In this case, as an embodiment of the present invention, the fact that the highly airtight member is an adhesive or is formed of a non-adhesive packing is effective as a simple airtight holding means. .

By partitioning the hermetic region in this way, a part of the housing, particularly, an X-ray that is subjected to a load can be applied without mechanical reinforcement such as increasing the thickness of the housing. In the part on the irradiation side, the destruction / damage of the sensor panel can be avoided and protected without giving a local impact to the sensor panel by the air cushion effect. For this reason, it is possible to contribute to weight reduction in the housing structure. In addition, since the bending of the housing itself is also reduced by the above-described air cushion effect, the gap in the hermetic region can be reduced, and the overall size can be reduced.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, showing first and second embodiments according to the present invention.

(First Embodiment) In this embodiment, reference numeral 1 denotes a sensor panel, which is a laminate made of a glass substrate, a fluorescent plate, and a moisture-proof film. Also, 2a
Denotes a support plate, on which the sensor panel 1 is mounted on the front and the signal processing circuit board 4a is mounted on the back. Reference numeral 4b denotes a flexible circuit board having a flexible circuit for extracting a photoelectric conversion signal from a sensor included in the sensor panel 1, and performs an electrical connection between the sensor panel 1 and the signal processing circuit board 4a. Reference numeral 3 denotes a housing constituting an envelope of an electronic cassette (for recording an X-ray image), and particularly includes a housing lid 3a opaque to visible light and opaque upper and lower housing cases 3b and 3c. Assembled. In this embodiment, the housing lid 3a is made of an X-ray permeable material such as CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic), and the housing cases 3b and 3c are made of a low density alloy such as a magnesium alloy. ing. Also, the housing lid 3a
The upper case 3b and the upper case 3b are hermetically bonded with an epoxy adhesive 3d.

Reference numeral 2b denotes a support plate foot provided on the back of the support plate 2a. The support plate 2a is connected to the lower housing case 3c.
It is for support. Further, the lower housing case 3c is provided with an exhaust heat radiating port 3e for radiating heat of the electronic component 6 such as a semiconductor element on the signal processing circuit board 4a.

Particularly, in the electronic cassette according to the present invention, the highly airtight member 5 is provided between the outer peripheral portion of the support plate 2a and the flange formed on the inner peripheral portion of the upper housing case 3b. Thus, an airtight area 10 (buffer area) is defined inside the casing 3 on the X-ray irradiation side, and the sensor panel 1 faces the X-ray irradiation side via the airtight area 10. Here, the member 5 is arranged along the periphery of the sensor panel.
In this embodiment, the highly airtight member 5 is an epoxy-based adhesive (the highly airtight member may be an elastic member such as a non-adhesive packing). The sensor panel 1
The flexible circuit board 4b provided for electrical connection between the signal processing circuit 4a and the signal processing circuit 4a comes into contact with the highly airtight member 5 on the support plate 2a. It is more preferable to maintain airtightness with an adhesive or the like.

Of course, even if the gas is not completely airtight, the instantaneous movement of gas moving by deformation due to impact can be prevented.
Alternatively, the above effect can be expected as long as there is airtightness to such an extent that resistance occurs.

In such a configuration, a part of the housing 3, particularly, a portion on the X-ray irradiation side where a load is applied (particularly, without mechanical reinforcement such as increasing the thickness of the housing 3). Case lid 3
In (a), destruction / damage of the sensor panel 1 can be avoided and protected without giving a local impact to the sensor panel 1 by the air cushion effect (buffering effect) of the airtight region 10. For this reason, it is possible to contribute to weight reduction in the housing structure. In addition, since the bending of the housing 3 itself is also reduced by the above-described air cushion effect, the gap in the thickness direction in the hermetic region 10 can be reduced, and the overall size can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) In this embodiment, a flange portion is formed on the inner peripheral side of the lower housing case 3c at the joint surface with the upper housing case 3b. A highly airtight member 5 is mounted between the flange and the peripheral edge of the support plate 2a. Here, unlike the first embodiment, the support feet 2b are omitted from the support plate 2a. This is because the support plate 2a is supported by the lower housing case 3c via the highly airtight member 5, whereby all the electronic components 6 can be mounted on one signal processing circuit board 4a. The number of parts can be reduced, and productivity can be improved.

In this embodiment, the function and effect of the present invention can be achieved in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
Also, in order to secure the airtightness of the airtight region 10, the upper and lower housing cases 3b and 3c are airtightly joined to each other.
Of course.

[0017]

As described above, the X-ray image pickup apparatus (electronic cassette) of the present invention has a housing structure having an airtight region, thereby protecting the sensor panel (enclosure).
Without increasing the thickness of the sensor panel, and by providing an air cushion effect (buffering effect) in the airtight region, destruction and damage can be avoided and protected without giving a local impact to the sensor panel. For this reason, it is possible to contribute to weight reduction in the housing structure. In addition, since the bending of the housing itself is also reduced by the air cushion effect described above, the gap (airtight area) between the sensor panel surface and the inner surface of the housing on the X-ray irradiation side is increased without increasing the airtight area. The gap in the thickness direction at 10 can be reduced, and the size of the housing can be reduced as a whole.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sensor panel 2a Support plate 2b Support plate leg 3 Housing (envelope) 3a Housing cover 3b Upper housing case 3c Lower housing case 3d Adhesive 4a Signal processing circuit board 4b Flexible circuit board 5 High airtight member 6 Electronic components

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01L 31/09 H01L 31/00 A

Claims (3)

[Claims] A sensor panel fixed on a support plate provided inside the housing, a highly airtight member provided between an outer peripheral portion of the support plate and an inner peripheral portion of the housing, An X-ray image capturing apparatus, wherein an airtight region is defined inside a casing on the X-ray irradiation side, and a sensor panel faces the X-ray irradiation side via the airtight region. 2. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the highly airtight member is an adhesive. 3. The X according to claim 1, wherein the highly airtight member is formed of a non-adhesive packing.
Line image pickup device.