JP2007159598A - X-ray ct apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray CT apparatus wherein the knee part of a subject is imaged at a fixed state. <P>SOLUTION: A shield serving also as a patient holding cylinder 19 fixes a patient so as not to move during imaging, and whose position equivalent to the knee part of the patient is formed of a transparent material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a knee partial X-ray CT apparatus that irradiates a part of a patient with X-rays and processes a projection image thereof to take a tomographic image or the like.

In a conventional CT apparatus, a tomogram is reconstructed by irradiating X-rays from the entire circumference of a patient to obtain a projection image and then performing a conversion process. (For example, Patent Document 1)
JP 2005-237752

In recent years, an increasing number of subjects (patients) complain of knee pain. Conventional X-ray CT devices take a picture of a patient sleeping on a bed or sitting on a chair and fixing the patient's body, but when the patient complains of knee pain, it is prominent in a standing position. There is a need to shoot while feeling.
In the prior art described above, no consideration was given to meet the above needs.
Further, in order to perform imaging while standing, it is necessary that the patient does not move during imaging, and it is necessary to restrain the patient to some extent. Nor was it considered necessary to be able to hold the body.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray CT apparatus in which the knee portion of a subject is positioned.

  The object is to generate X-rays, X-ray detection means arranged to face the X-ray generation means to detect the X-rays of the subject two-dimensionally, the X-ray detection means, and the Holding means for holding the subject between the X-ray detection means, the X-ray generation means and the X-ray detection means are integrally held, and a rotation drive means for rotating around the subject; In an X-ray CT apparatus comprising image processing means for creating a tomographic image of the subject based on the transmitted X-rays detected by the X-ray detection means, and display means for displaying the created tomographic image The holding means is achieved by fixing the subject so as not to move during imaging and forming a position corresponding to the knee portion of the subject with a transparent material.

  According to the present invention, X-ray CT imaging can be performed while standing on the subject's knee.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The CT apparatus of the present embodiment includes a scanner mechanism unit 1 and an image processing unit 2. FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention.

  The scanner mechanism unit 1 includes a U arm rotation drive unit 12, a U arm 13, an X-ray generation unit 14, an X-ray detection unit 15, a control device 16, a leg vertical mechanism 17 and a mat switch 1A. The The U arm rotation drive unit 12 holds the U arm 13 and rotates it at a predetermined speed. The X-ray generation means 14 is provided at the tip of one side of the U arm 13. Further, the X-ray detection means 15 is arranged corresponding to the X-ray generation means 14 and detects the X-ray dose transmitted through the patient two-dimensionally, and is provided at the tip on the opposite side of the U arm. Yes. That is, the X-ray generation means 14 and the X-ray detection means 15 are arranged to face each other. The U arm 13 is rotated about 405 degrees by the U arm drive mechanism 12 with the leg vertical mechanism 17 as the rotation center. The shooting range is 360 degrees, but since the shooting starts at a constant rotational speed, the 45-degree view range is wide. Image capture is controlled by a position detection encoder built in the U-arm rotation drive unit 12.

  The X-ray detection means 15 includes a CCD camera 151, an electric diaphragm 152, and an image intensifier (I.I) device 153. The I.I apparatus 153 converts X-rays that have passed through the patient and entered into visible light. The CCD camera 151 receives this visible light and converts it into an electrical signal. The image intensifier 153 has a variable field size, and the electric diaphragm 152 can be changed in accordance with the field size. An X-ray flat sensor (FPD) or the like may be used instead of I.I.

  The leg vertical mechanism 17 is arranged so that the vicinity of the patient's knee is positioned on the rotation center axis of the U arm 13. The leg up-and-down mechanism 17 is attached to the central part of the rotating mechanism unit 12, and can be moved up and down to adjust the imaging position depending on the patient's knee height and to fine-tune the imaging position depending on the imaging site. It has become. The mat switch 1A is a mat provided so as to surround the rotation region of the U arm 13, and has an interlock function for stopping the turning operation when a person or an object enters the mat switch 1A. The shielding / patient-holding cylinder 19 is X-ray shielded except for the X-ray irradiation range portion, and it is considered that scattered radiation generated during rotation is prevented and that no invalid exposure is given to the patient. The shielding and patient holding cylinder 19 is made of a transparent resin so that the irradiation field can be confirmed. In addition, a handle is provided for the patient to hold himself / herself, and X-ray irradiation is not performed unless two handles are held.

The image processing unit 2 includes an image processing device 21, an image display device 22, a keyboard 236, a mouse 24, and the like. The image processing device 21 captures 288 X-ray fluoroscopic images at 360 degrees, reconstructs these images to create a two-dimensional cross-sectional image, and outputs it to the image display device 22. The image reconstruction performed by the image processing apparatus 21 uses the technique of cone beam CT, which is an old technique, and the necessary data can be obtained by rotating the U arm a little by one half rotation around the patient.
As a result, a good CT image can be obtained.
As described above, according to the embodiment, it is possible to easily photograph the knee portion of the patient.

  According to the X-ray CT apparatus of the present embodiment, the patient's knee can be imaged. However, since the installation area can be reduced, the apparatus can be introduced even in a clinic where a large apparatus cannot be introduced. In addition, it is possible to take a picture with the patient standing on the weight.

It is a side view of the structural example of the X-ray CT apparatus by embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. The block diagram which shows the whole structure of the X-ray CT apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner mechanism part, 1A mat switch, 2 Image processing part, 11 Shielding and patient holding cylinder, 12 U arm rotation drive part, 13 U arm, 14 X-ray generation means, 15 X-ray detection means, 151 CCD camera, 152 Electric Aperture, 153 Image intensifier, 16 control device, 161 X-ray control device, 17 leg vertical mechanism, 18 console, 19 shielding and patient holding tube, 20 control device, 21 image processing device, 22 image display device, 23 Keyboard, 24 mice

Claims (3)

Means for generating X-rays; and X-ray detection means for two-dimensionally detecting the X-rays of the subject arranged opposite to the X-ray generation means;
Holding means for holding the subject between the X-ray detection means and the X-ray detection means;
A rotation driving means for holding the X-ray generation means and the X-ray detection means together and rotating around the subject;
Image processing means for creating a tomographic image of the subject based on the transmitted X-rays detected by the X-ray detection means;
In an X-ray CT apparatus comprising display means for displaying the created tomographic image,
The X-ray CT apparatus is characterized in that the holding means fixes the subject so as not to move during radiography, and a position corresponding to the knee portion of the subject is formed of a transparent material.   2. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit is a shield that shields X-rays except for the knee portion of the subject.   The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit includes a handle for the subject to hold.

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