JP2006110332A - X-ray computed tomography apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray computed tomography apparatus which can scan a wide range at high speed. <P>SOLUTION: The X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes an almost ring-shaped rotary frame 11 rotatably supported around a rotation shaft, a plurality of X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 equipped at the rotary frame 11 discretely along the circumference thereof, a plurality of X-ray detectors 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 equipped at the rotary frame 11 discretely along the circumference thereof, a plurality of variably opening slits 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes, respectively, and a plurality of slit control parts 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 to individually control opening width and center positions of the plurality of slits. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray computed tomography apparatus.

  As is well known, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus is an apparatus that realizes reconstruction of a cross-sectional attenuation coefficient distribution, that is, a tomographic image, based on projection data acquired by scanning a subject with X-rays from multiple directions. It is.

  In this type of X-ray computed tomography apparatus, a conventional scan and a helical scan are mainly used as a method for scanning a wide range. As is well known, the conventional scan is a data collection operation in which the scan position is changed by a certain distance by intermittent movement of the bed top, for example, and the scan is repeated in synchronization with the stop, and the helical scan is, for example, the bed top. This is an operation of collecting data by spiral movement by continuous movement of the X-ray tube and continuous rotation of the X-ray tube.

It is important to complete a wide range of data collection at high speed with these conventional and helical scans. For this purpose, multi-row X-ray detectors have been studied, and recently, practical use of a 32-row system has been promoted.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-38957 JP-A-5-168616

  An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray computed tomography apparatus capable of scanning a wide range at high speed.

In the first aspect, the present invention provides a substantially annular rotating frame that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis, a plurality of X-ray tubes that are discretely mounted on the rotating frame along the circumference, A plurality of X-ray detectors discretely mounted on the rotating frame along the circumference; a plurality of variable opening slits respectively corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes; and the widths of the openings of the plurality of slits; And a slit controller that individually controls the center position.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, a substantially annular rotating frame that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis, a plurality of X-ray tubes that are discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame, A plurality of X-ray detectors provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes and arranged so that the center positions in the slice direction are the same, and variable apertures provided corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes, respectively. The center position of the slit, the rotation of the rotating frame, and the generation of X-rays of the X-ray tube so that scanning is performed in a state where the plurality of slits and the center positions of the plurality of slits in the rotation axis direction are different from each other And a control unit for controlling the X-ray detection of the X-ray detector.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, a substantially annular rotating frame that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis, a plurality of X-ray tubes that are discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame, A plurality of X-ray detectors provided respectively corresponding to the X-ray tubes, and a focus control unit for individually controlling the X-ray focal position on the rotating anode in the rotation axis direction in each of the plurality of X-ray tubes; The focus control unit, the rotation of the rotating frame, the X-ray generation of the X-ray tube, and the X-ray of the X-ray detector so that scanning is performed in a state where X-ray focal positions of the plurality of X-ray tubes are different from each other. And a control unit for controlling detection.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a substantially annular rotating frame that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis, a plurality of X-ray tubes that are discretely mounted on the rotating frame along the circumference, A plurality of X-ray detectors provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes, and a plurality of tilt mechanisms provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes, respectively, for tilting the X-ray tubes with respect to the rotation axis The tilt mechanism, rotation of the rotating frame, X-ray generation of the X-ray tube, and X-ray detection of the X-ray detector so that scanning is performed with the tilt angles of the plurality of X-ray tubes being different from each other. And a control unit for controlling.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, a substantially annular rotating frame that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis, a plurality of X-ray tubes that are discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame, A plurality of X-ray detectors provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes, respectively, and a plurality of X-ray detectors provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes, respectively, for sliding the X-ray tubes in directions substantially parallel to the rotation axis. The slide mechanism, the rotation of the rotary frame, the X-ray generation of the X-ray tube, and the X-ray so that scanning is performed in a state where the positions of the plurality of X-ray tubes in the rotational axis direction are different from each other And a control unit for controlling the X-ray detection of the detector.

  According to the present invention, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus capable of scanning a wide range at high speed can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus (X-ray CT apparatus) according to the present invention will be described according to a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. As a scanning method of the X-ray computed tomography apparatus, a rotating / rotating type in which a pair of an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector rotates around a subject, a large number of detection elements arrayed in a ring shape are fixed. There are various types such as a stationary / rotate type in which only the X-ray tube rotates around the subject, and the present invention can be applied to any type, but here, the rotate / rotate type will be described as an example. In addition, to reconstruct one tomographic image data, one set of projection data for about 360 ° around the periphery of the subject is required, and projection data for 180 ° + fan angle is also required for the half-scan method. It is said. Here, the former example will be described. The projection data is defined as integral data relating to the passing distance of the attenuation coefficient (or absorption coefficient) of the tissue or the like on the X-ray path.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the main part of the X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to this embodiment. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to this embodiment includes a scan gantry 10, a bed 20, and a computer device 30. The scan gantry 10 is a structure for collecting projection data relating to a subject, and the projection data is captured by the computer device 30 and used for processing such as image reconstruction. The subject is inserted into a substantially cylindrical imaging region of the scan gantry 10 while being placed on the top plate 21 of the bed 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the scan gantry 10 is a multi-tube type. A plurality of, here three, X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 are arranged around the rotation axis RA in an annular rotation frame 11 that is rotatably supported by the rotation mechanism 4 around the rotation axis RA. It is fixed at a position shifted by 120 °. The positions where the three X-ray detectors 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3 are also shifted by 120 ° with respect to the three X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3. It is fixed to. Usually, in imaging, the subject is placed inside the scan gantry 10 so that its body axis substantially coincides with the rotation axis RA.

  The X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 have a substantially umbrella-like anode rotatably provided around an anode rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis RA, and an electron beam from the cathode is applied to a target on the anode surface. It is a rotating anode type X-ray tube that generates X-rays by colliding. A deflection electrode is disposed along with the focusing electrode along the electron beam flight path from the cathode to the anode. The deflection electrode is composed of deflection electrode portions that are divided into upper, lower, left and right, and the current balance flowing through the opposing deflection electrode portions is adjusted by the focus control units 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3 under the position controller 35. The position where the electron beam collides with the target on the anode surface can be controlled. Here, in particular, the X-ray focal point can be moved along the rotation axis RA by intentionally deflecting the current balance of the vertically divided deflection electrode portions facing in the rotational radius direction.

  Tube tilt / slide mechanisms 7-1, 7-2 and 7-3 are provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3, respectively. The tube tilt / slide mechanisms 7-1, 7-2, 7-3 respectively move the corresponding X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, for example, several centimeters forward and backward along the rotation axis RA. It has a structure and electric motor for sliding with width.

  In addition, the tube tilt / slide mechanisms 7-1, 7-2, and 7-3 respectively move the corresponding X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 to, for example, 5 ° front and rear with respect to the rotation axis RA. And a motor for tilting within the angle range (see FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C). Specifically, when the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 are at the reference position, the rotation axis of the rotary anode is substantially parallel to the rotation axis RA. The tube tilt / slide mechanisms 7-1, 7-2, and 7-3 respectively correspond to the corresponding X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, and 2-3 so that the rotation axis of the rotary anode is inclined with respect to the rotation axis RA. Tilt 1-3.

  The X-ray detectors 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 each have a plurality of X-ray detection elements arranged in a line. The X-ray detectors 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 can be selected by the operator so as to correspond to the movement of the slice in the slice direction (rotation axis RA direction (Z axis)), as will be described later. It has a wide sensitive area (sensitive width in the slice direction) corresponding to the length obtained by multiplying the maximum value among a plurality of slice thicknesses by the number of tubes (here, 3) (FIG. 3A). FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C).

  The slice thickness is between the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and the imaging region, and actually in the X-ray emission windows of the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, 1-3. Slit mechanisms 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 for limiting the above are arranged. Each of the slit mechanisms 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3 has at least two light shielding plates arranged along the slice direction. The two light shielding plates are individually supported so as to be movable along the slice direction. By changing the positions of the two light shielding plates under the control of the slit control units 6-1, 6-2 and 6-3, the opening width in the slice direction can be arbitrarily adjusted, and the center of the opening along the slice direction can be adjusted. The position can be shifted (see FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 5C).

  The data collection devices 3-1, 3-2 and 3-3 are connected to the X-ray detectors 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3, respectively. The outputs of the X-ray detectors 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 are respectively data collection devices 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, slip rings and preprocessing units that enable continuous rotation (not shown). The data is supplied to and stored in the data storage unit 33 as projection data via 32.

  The computer device 30 includes a pre-processing unit 32 and a data storage unit 33, a system controller 31 for controlling the entire device, a rotating mechanism 4 for executing a scanning operation, and data collection devices 3-1 and 3-2. 3-3, a scan controller 36 for controlling a high voltage generator (not shown), a reconstruction unit 34 for reconstructing tomographic image data based on the stored projection data set, and an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse 37, a display 38 for displaying tomographic images, a position controller 35, a zero correction data storage unit 41, and a zero correction processing unit 43.

The zero correction processing unit 43 has a plurality of X-ray detectors 2-1, 2-2, 2, 2, 2-2, in order to correct spatial variations in X-ray intensity and X-ray detection sensitivity for the projection data that has undergone preprocessing. It is provided to correct the output of 2-3 for each detection element. As is well known, the X-ray intensity is not uniform, and the incident angle and reflection angle of the electron beam with respect to the anode surface are the same as illustrated in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c). The maximum value is shown in the direction of, and decreases as the difference between the incident angle and the reflection angle increases. Therefore, as described later with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, the use range of the X-ray intensity distribution is different among the three slices. Thereby, the reference intensity (zero point) differs for each slice. When the image data is reconstructed using the projection data of these three slices as unity data, an artifact is generated due to a difference in zero point. In order to reduce this artifact, zero point correction is performed in the zero correction processing unit 43. A plurality of data sets (a plurality of zero correction data sets) used for the correction processing are stored in advance in the zero correction data storage unit 41. Multiple zero correction data sets
The angle θ at the center of the use area is different. For example, a zero correction data set is generated every 0.05 °. A zero correction data set is generated for each detection element of the plurality of X-ray detectors 2-1, 2-2, 2-3. A zero correction data set is generated for each of the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. The zero correction data set is typically a projection data set collected using a uniform phantom or data generated based thereon. The plurality of zero correction data sets are associated with identification codes of the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and a code for identifying the angle θ. Thereby, the zero correction processing unit 43 can selectively read out the corresponding zero correction data set from the zero correction data storage unit 41 according to the information such as the angle θ from the position controller 35 or the slit opening center position related thereto. .

  The position controller 35 controls the opening width of each of the slit mechanisms 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 in accordance with the slice thickness input via the input device 37, and scan mode (normal scan mode, high-speed scan mode). ) In the slice direction of the X-ray focal point of each of the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3, and the opening center position of each of the slit mechanisms 9-1, 9-2 and 9-3. To control. Further, the position controller 35 controls the tilt slide mechanism unit according to the information on tilt / slide / focus movement input via the input device 37. The tilt / slide / focus movement is used in combination of any one or two. By tilt / slide / focus movement, the angle θ of the X-ray use range can be made zero or close to it.

  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show the X-ray focal position and the aperture width in the normal scan mode. In the normal scan mode, each slit mechanism 9- is set to an opening width corresponding to the slice thickness T1 set by the operator by the slit controllers 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 under the control of the position controller 35. The openings 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 of 1, 9-2 and 9-3 are adjusted, and the center positions of the openings are aligned and unified to the reference position. Further, in the normal scan mode, the focus positions of the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 are controlled by the focus control units 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3 under the control of the position controller 35. Is unified to the reference position. X-rays from the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 are superimposed as shown in FIG. In this normal scan mode, the top 21 repeatedly moves and stops at the distance T1 for conventional scanning. For the helical scan, the top plate 21 is adjusted to move at a distance T1 per one rotation of the X-ray tube. In the normal scan mode, the time resolution of the tomographic image is substantially reduced to 1/3 by reconstructing the tomographic image using the outputs of a plurality of, here three, X-ray detectors in the single slice scan ( Speed up).

  Next, in the high-speed scan mode (wide-area scan mode), as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, the slit controller 6-1 is controlled under the control of the position controller 35. , 6-2, 6-3, the openings 10-1, 10-2, 10 of the slit mechanisms 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 have an opening width corresponding to the slice thickness T <b> 1 set by the operator. -3 is adjusted. The opening center position of the slit mechanism 9-1 is maintained at the reference position (FIG. 5B), and the opening center position of the slit mechanism 9-2 is the plus direction of the slice axis by a distance corresponding to the slice thickness T1 from the reference position. (FIG. 5C), and the center position of the opening of the slit mechanism 9-3 is moved in the minus direction of the slice axis by a distance corresponding to the slice thickness T1 from the reference position (FIG. 5A).

  By controlling the aperture center position, as shown in FIG. 6, it functions substantially the same as a three-row system in which three slices are continuous, that is, three rotations of data are collected at one time by one rotation. Is possible. In this high-speed scan mode, the top plate 21 repeatedly moves and stops “slice thickness T1 × number of tubes” for conventional scanning. Further, for the helical scan, the top plate 21 is adjusted to a speed of moving a distance of “slice thickness T1 × number of tubes” per one rotation of the X-ray tube. Compared to the normal scan mode, in the high-speed scan mode, scanning in the same range can be completed in a time that is one-multiple of the number of tubes. In other words, in the high-speed scan mode, the range of the number of tubes can be scanned in the same time with respect to the normal scan mode.

  In the high-speed scan mode, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 8, the openings 10-1 and 10 of the slit mechanisms 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3. The shift of the X-ray focal points 8-1, 8-2, and 8-3 of the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 may be used together with the movement of the central positions of −2 and 10-3. . Under the control of the position controller 35, the X-ray focal point position of the X-ray tube 1-1 is maintained at the reference position by the focus control units 5-1, 5-2 and 5-3 (FIG. 7B). The X-ray focal point position of the X-ray tube 1-2 is moved in the plus direction of the slice axis by a distance corresponding to the slice thickness T1 from the reference position (FIG. 7C), and further the X-ray focal point of the X-ray tube 1-3. The position is moved in the minus direction of the slice axis by a distance corresponding to the slice thickness T1 from the reference position (FIG. 7A). In this way, by using both the movement of the opening center position and the shift of the X-ray focal point, the X-ray center lines of the X-ray tubes 1-2 and 1-3 on both sides are made perpendicular to or approximate to the rotation axis RA. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of artifacts due to an increase in so-called cone angle. In addition, as described above, by moving the focal point, the angle θ of the X-ray use area of the X-ray tubes 1-2 and 1-3 on both sides is brought to or close to zero °, thereby improving the image quality and improving the zero point correction accuracy. be able to.

  Further, in place of the focal point movement, in the high-speed scanning mode, the X-ray tube 1 is moved along with the movement of the center positions of the openings 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 of the slit mechanisms 9-1, 9-2, 9-3. You may use together the slide of -1,1-2,1-3. Under the control of the position controller 35, the X-ray focal position of the X-ray tube 1-1 is maintained at the reference position in the same manner as the focal point movement by the operations of the slide mechanism units 7-1, 7-2, 7-3. The X-ray focal position of the X-ray tube 1-2 is moved in the plus direction of the slice axis by a distance corresponding to the slice thickness T1 from the reference position, and the X-ray focal position of the X-ray tube 1-3 is sliced from the reference position. The slice is moved in the minus direction of the slice axis by a distance corresponding to the thickness T1. Thus, by using the movement of the opening center position together with the X-ray tube slide, the X-ray center lines of the X-ray tubes 1-2 and 1-3 on both sides are made perpendicular to or approximate to the rotation axis RA. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of artifacts due to an increase in so-called cone angle. Further, the angle θ of the X-ray use area of the X-ray tubes 1-2 and 1-3 on both sides can be brought to or close to zero degrees, thereby improving the image quality and improving the zero point correction accuracy.

  Further, in combination with the tube slide, as shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C, the X-ray tubes 1-1 and 1-2.1-3 are individually tilted. By doing so, the angle θ of the X-ray use area of the X-ray tubes 1-2 and 1-3 on both sides can be brought to or close to zero °, and image quality improvement / zero point correction accuracy can be improved.

  In the high-speed scanning mode, the X-ray focal points 8- of the X-ray tubes 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 are maintained while the center positions of the openings 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 are fixed at the reference positions. You may make it move a slice position by the shift of 1,8-2,8-3.

  According to the present embodiment, even a single-row system can scan a wide range at high speed as in a multi-row system. In addition, it is possible to switch between a wide range of high-speed scanning and single-slice high-speed scanning (normal scanning mode). The switching can be realized without requiring a large-scale mechanism such as an X-ray tube or an X-ray detector moving mechanism.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The block diagram of the principal part of the X-ray computed tomography apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the three X-ray tubes and detectors of FIG. The figure which shows the 1st position of the X-ray tube by the position controller of FIG. The figure which shows the 1st position by the position controller of FIG. 1 comprehensively. The figure which shows the 2nd position of the X-ray tube by the position controller of FIG. The figure which shows the 2nd position by the position controller of FIG. 1 comprehensively. The figure which shows the 3rd position of the X-ray tube by the position controller of FIG. The figure which shows the 3rd position comprehensively by the position controller of FIG. The figure which shows the tilt position of the X-ray tube by the position controller of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Scan gantry, 20 ... Bed, 30 ... Computer apparatus, 21 ... Top plate, 4 ... Rotation mechanism, 11 ... Rotating frame, 1-1 ... X-ray tube, 1-2 ... X-ray tube, 1-3 ... X X-ray detector, 2-1 ... X-ray detector, 2-2 ... X-ray detector, 35 ... Position controller, 5-1 ... Focus control unit, 5-2 ... Focus control unit 5-3: Focus control unit, 7-1: Tube tilt / slide mechanism, 7-2: Tube tilt / slide mechanism, 7-3: Tube tilt / slide mechanism, 9-1: Slit mechanism, 9 -2 ... Slit mechanism, 9-3 ... Slit mechanism, 6-1 ... Slit controller, 6-2 ... Slit controller, 6-3 ... Slit controller, 3-1 ... Data collection device, 3-2 ... Data Collection device, 3-3... Data collection device, 32... Preprocessing unit, 33. ... system controller, 36 ... scan controller, 34 ... reconstruction unit, 37 ... input unit, 38 ... display, 35 ... position controller, 41 ... zero correction data storage unit, 43 ... zero correction processing unit.

Claims (20)

A substantially annular rotating frame supported rotatably around a rotation axis;
A plurality of X-ray tubes discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame;
A plurality of X-ray detectors mounted discretely along the circumference of the rotating frame;
A plurality of aperture-variable slits respectively corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes;
An X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprising: a slit control unit that individually controls a width and a center position of the openings of the plurality of slits. 2. The slit control unit controls the openings of the plurality of slits so that a plurality of slices corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes are substantially continuous along the rotation axis. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus described. 2. The X-ray computed tomography according to claim 1, wherein the slit control unit controls the opening of each of the plurality of slits such that center lines of slices respectively corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes substantially coincide with each other. Shooting device. The slit controller includes a state in which slices corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes respectively continue along the rotation axis, and a state in which the center lines of the slices respectively corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes substantially coincide with each other. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening of each of the plurality of slits is controlled so as to be switched in accordance with an instruction from an operator. 3. The X-ray computer according to claim 2, wherein the slit control unit controls the opening of each of the plurality of slits so that the thicknesses of slices corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes substantially coincide with each other. Tomography equipment. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a focus control unit that individually controls an X-ray focal position on the rotating anode in each of the plurality of X-ray tubes by electron beam deflection control. The X-ray according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit that corrects outputs of the plurality of X-ray detectors for each detection element in order to correct a spatial variation in X-ray intensity and X-ray detection sensitivity. Computer tomography equipment. The X-ray computed tomography according to claim 7, further comprising a reconstruction unit that reconstructs image data by using the corrected outputs of the plurality of X-ray detectors as unity data. Shooting device. A substantially annular rotating frame supported rotatably around a rotation axis;
A plurality of X-ray tubes discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame;
A plurality of X-ray detectors provided corresponding to each of the X-ray tubes and arranged so that the center positions in the slice direction are the same;
A plurality of slits with variable openings provided corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes,
The opening center position of the slit, the rotation of the rotating frame, the X-ray generation of the X-ray tube, and the X-ray detector so that scanning is performed in a state where the opening center positions of the plurality of slits in the rotation axis direction are different from each other. An X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls X-ray detection. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a focus control unit that individually controls an X-ray focal position on the rotating anode in each of the plurality of X-ray tubes by electron beam deflection control. The X-ray according to claim 9, further comprising a correction unit that corrects outputs of the plurality of X-ray detectors for each detection element in order to correct a spatial variation in X-ray intensity and X-ray detection sensitivity. Computer tomography equipment. The X-ray computed tomography according to claim 11, further comprising a reconstruction unit that reconstructs image data using the corrected outputs of the plurality of X-ray detectors as unity data. Shooting device. A substantially annular rotating frame supported rotatably around a rotation axis;
A plurality of X-ray tubes discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame;
A plurality of X-ray detectors provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes,
A focus control unit for individually controlling the X-ray focal position on the rotating anode with respect to the rotation axis direction in each of the plurality of X-ray tubes;
The focus control unit, rotation of the rotating frame, X-ray generation of the X-ray tube, and X-ray detection of the X-ray detector so that scanning is performed in a state where X-ray focal positions of the plurality of X-ray tubes are different from each other. And an X-ray computed tomography apparatus characterized by comprising: A plurality of slits that are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of X-ray tubes, and that have a plurality of variable apertures for substantially continuing a plurality of slices corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes along the rotation axis; The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 13. A substantially annular rotating frame supported rotatably around a rotation axis;
A plurality of X-ray tubes discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame;
A plurality of X-ray detectors provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes,
A plurality of tilt mechanisms provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes, respectively, for tilting the X-ray tubes with respect to the rotation axis;
The tilt mechanism, rotation of the rotating frame, X-ray generation of the X-ray tube, and X-ray detection of the X-ray detector are controlled so that scanning is performed with the tilt angles of the plurality of X-ray tubes being different from each other. An X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprising: a control unit. A plurality of slits that are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of X-ray tubes, and that have a plurality of variable apertures for substantially continuing a plurality of slices corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes along the rotation axis; The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 15. A substantially annular rotating frame supported rotatably around a rotation axis;
A plurality of X-ray tubes discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame;
A plurality of X-ray detectors provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes,
A plurality of slide mechanisms provided corresponding to the X-ray tubes, respectively, for sliding the X-ray tubes in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis;
The slide mechanism, rotation of the rotating frame, X-ray generation of the X-ray tube, and X-ray of the X-ray detector so that scanning is performed in a state where the positions of the plurality of X-ray tubes in the rotation axis direction are different from each other. An X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls detection. A plurality of slits that are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of X-ray tubes, and that have a plurality of variable apertures for substantially continuing a plurality of slices corresponding to the plurality of X-ray tubes along the rotation axis; The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 17. A substantially annular rotating frame supported rotatably around a rotation axis;
First and second X-ray tubes that are discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame;
Comprising first and second X-ray detectors respectively provided corresponding to the first and second X-ray tubes,
The center of the X-ray exposure range in the slice direction of the first X-ray tube is shifted to one side from the center of the first detector, and the X-ray exposure range of the second X-ray tube is An X-ray computed tomography apparatus characterized in that the center is shifted from the center of the second detector to the side opposite to the center of the exposure range of the first X-ray tube. A substantially annular rotating frame supported rotatably around a rotation axis;
First and second X-ray tubes that are discretely installed along the circumference of the rotating frame;
Comprising first and second X-ray detectors respectively provided corresponding to the first and second X-ray tubes,
The center of the X-ray exposure range in the slice direction of the first X-ray tube is shifted to one side from the center of the first detector, and the X-ray exposure range of the second X-ray tube An X-ray computed tomography apparatus characterized in that the center substantially coincides with the center of the second detector.

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