JP2007222412A - X-ray equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide X-ray equipment suppressing vibration caused by actuation of an arm. <P>SOLUTION: This X-ray equipment is provided with an X-ray generation section 1 irradiating X-rays to a subject, an X-ray detecting section 2 converting the X-rays transmitting through the subject into an X-ray image, the arm (a C arm 3) connecting the X-ray generation section to the X-ray detecting section in a prescribed disposition, and a suspension mechanism 4 supporting the arm from a ceiling so as to freely actuate it. This equipment is further provided with a vibration preventing mechanism 5 supporting the suspension mechanism 4 relative to a floor face and suppressing the vibration caused by the actuation of the arm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an X-ray apparatus in which an arm is supported by being suspended from a ceiling, and the X-ray apparatus can suppress vibration accompanying rotation of the arm.

  As a medical X-ray imaging apparatus, an X-ray apparatus having a structure in which a C-shaped arm is supported by being suspended from a ceiling is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The X-ray apparatus includes an X-ray generation unit that irradiates a subject with X-rays, and an X-ray detection unit that converts X-rays transmitted through the subject into an X-ray image. The X-ray generation unit and the X-ray detection unit are connected to a predetermined arrangement by an arm. And this arm is supported so that it can drive from a ceiling via a suspension mechanism. Usually, the arm is driven by a suspension mechanism so as to rotate about a horizontal axis as a rotation axis or slide along an arc of the arm.

  When imaging, the subject is first positioned between the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector. In this state, the subject is irradiated with X-rays from the X-ray generation unit, and an X-ray image is obtained by the X-ray detection unit from the X-rays transmitted through the subject.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-324 FIG.

  In recent years, an X-ray apparatus using a lightweight FPD (Flat Panel Detector) as an X-ray detection unit has been put into practical use. In this type of X-ray apparatus, compared with an X-ray apparatus using an image intensifier, the weight balance between the X-ray generation unit and the X-ray detection unit is unbalanced, and the arm tends to vibrate. As a result, there is a problem that the image quality of the obtained X-ray image is deteriorated.

  When vibration is generated by driving the arm, the image is blurred and proper image quality cannot be obtained unless sufficient vibration attenuation time is taken. On the other hand, if the vibration decay time becomes long, the waiting time until the next photographing becomes long, so that the photographing work as a whole takes a long time. Therefore, it is desired to develop a technique that does not cause deterioration in image quality without taking a long vibration attenuation time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray apparatus capable of suppressing vibration associated with driving of an arm.

  An X-ray apparatus of the present invention includes an X-ray generator that irradiates a subject with X-rays, an X-ray detector that converts X-rays transmitted through the subject into an X-ray image, an X-ray generator, and an X-ray detector An arm for connecting the parts in a predetermined arrangement, and a suspension mechanism for driving the arm from the ceiling. The X-ray apparatus has a vibration preventing mechanism that supports the suspension mechanism with respect to the floor surface and can suppress the vibration associated with the driving of the arm.

  In this X-ray apparatus, the vibration preventing mechanism is configured to support the suspension mechanism with respect to the floor surface because it is necessary to suppress the vibration accompanying the driving while securing the driving of the arm. More specifically, the vibration preventing mechanism may be configured integrally with the suspension mechanism (hereinafter referred to as an integral type) or may be configured separately (hereinafter referred to as an individual type).

  Of these, the integrated vibration prevention mechanism can suppress vibrations associated with driving of the arm without preparing a separate vibration prevention mechanism. This integrated vibration preventing mechanism is preferably configured to be extendable and contracted so as to come into contact with the floor surface by extending it. The setting of the one-piece, telescopic vibration prevention mechanism is very easy to operate, simply by stretching it.

  The telescopic vibration preventing mechanism is preferably configured to be shortened so as to be accommodated in the suspension mechanism. If the vibration prevention mechanism can be shortened and stored in the suspension mechanism, the exclusive volume of the X-ray apparatus can be reduced except during imaging.

  On the other hand, it is also preferable that the vibration preventing mechanism is an individual type configured to be detachable from the suspension mechanism. In the case of the individual type, the vibration preventing mechanism can be retrofitted to an existing X-ray apparatus that can be detached from the X-ray apparatus except during imaging and does not have the vibration preventing mechanism.

  It is desirable that the individual type vibration preventing mechanism has a variable height mechanism so that it can be adjusted to a height corresponding to the distance between the suspension mechanism and the floor surface. By having the height variable mechanism, the height of the vibration preventing mechanism can be easily adjusted according to the distance between the suspension mechanism and the floor surface. This height varying mechanism can also be a telescopic type.

  As a typical example of such an individual type vibration preventing mechanism, there is a configuration having a base that abuts on the suspension mechanism and a leg portion that supports the base on the floor surface. By providing the base, sufficient contact with the suspension mechanism can be ensured, and by providing the legs, the suspension mechanism can be firmly supported. In particular, a height variable mechanism can be provided on at least one of the base and the leg portion, and the vibration preventing mechanism can be configured with a high degree of design freedom.

  In the case where the height variable mechanism is provided on the base, it is preferable to provide an expansion / contraction mechanism that changes the length of the base. As a typical example of the telescopic mechanism, there is a configuration including a lifting shaft that can be lifted and lowered relative to the base, a rotatable lever, and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the rotating operation of the lever to the lifting operation of the lifting shaft. . For example, a configuration using a worm and a gear or a rack and a pinion can be suitably used for the power transmission mechanism so that the rotation operation of the lever can be converted into the lifting and lowering operation of the lifting shaft. In addition to the configuration in which the lifting shaft is manually driven using a lever, the lifting shaft may be driven by an actuator such as a motor.

  Moreover, when providing a height variable mechanism in a leg part, it is suitable to provide the length adjustment mechanism which changes the length of a leg part. As a typical example of this length adjustment mechanism, a structure in which a plurality of pipes having different diameters are combined in a nested manner, or a structure similar to a so-called turnbuckle may be interposed in the middle of the leg portion. The telescopic length adjustment mechanism is suitable for quickly changing the length of the leg. Also, the length adjustment mechanism using the turnbuckle makes it easy to fine-tune the leg length, and the vibration prevention mechanism installed on the floor using multiple legs has rattling When the length of each leg is adjusted, it can be suitably used for eliminating rattling.

  The structure and the number of the leg portions are not particularly limited as long as vibration accompanying the driving of the arm can be suppressed. However, the suspension mechanism can be supported more stably by using a plurality of legs. When providing a plurality of legs, when the X-ray apparatus is viewed in plan, it is preferable to support the suspension mechanism by opening each leg in a direction along an axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the arm. Usually, the arm is formed in a C shape, and the rotation is performed in the radial direction of the arc of the arm and with the axis in the substantially horizontal direction as the rotation axis. Therefore, the arm tends to vibrate in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis in the horizontal plane. Therefore, vibration can be more effectively suppressed by opening the legs in the direction along the axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the arm and supporting the suspension mechanism.

  Furthermore, the leg portion is preferably configured to be foldable. If the leg part is a folding type, the exclusive volume of the vibration preventing mechanism can be reduced by folding the leg part except during photographing, which is convenient for storage.

  The X-ray apparatus of the present invention can suppress the vibration accompanying the driving of the arm by providing the vibration preventing mechanism. In the conventional X-ray apparatus, when the rotational speed of the arm is increased, the acceleration time and deceleration time of the arm can be shortened, but the vibration becomes large and the decay time becomes long. As a result, it is difficult to shorten the waiting time. On the other hand, in the X-ray apparatus of the present invention, since the vibration of the arm can be suppressed by the vibration preventing mechanism, the arm can be driven at a higher speed. Accordingly, the acceleration time and deceleration time of the arm can be shortened, and the vibration attenuation time can be made as close to zero as possible. As a result, blurring of the obtained image can be eliminated, and arteries and veins can be imaged by reciprocal imaging with a single injection of contrast medium. Further, the imaging time can be shortened by high-speed driving of the arm, and the amount of exposure of the subject can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1: Integrated type]
An X-ray apparatus of the present invention in which a vibration preventing mechanism is integrated will be described with reference to FIGS. The X-ray apparatus includes an X-ray generator 1, an X-ray detector 2, a C arm 3, a suspension mechanism 4, a vibration preventing mechanism 5 (see FIG. 2), and a bed 6 (see FIG. 1). . FIG. 1 shows the housed state of the vibration preventing mechanism 5, and FIG. 2 shows the extended state of the vibration preventing mechanism 5. At the time of imaging, the subject P is positioned on the bed 6 between the X-ray generator 1 and the X-ray detector 2.

  The X-ray generator 1 irradiates the subject P with X-rays. The generation unit 1 includes an X-ray tube that generates X-rays and an X-ray diaphragm that limits the X-ray irradiation range. When predetermined imaging conditions such as tube voltage and tube current time product are set from a console (not shown), the high voltage generator is controlled via the imaging control means, and a predetermined high voltage is applied to the X-ray tube to Is generated.

  The X-ray detection unit 2 converts the X-ray transmitted through the subject P into an X-ray image. Here, an FPD that converts and outputs X-rays transmitted through the subject P to digital image data is used for the X-ray detection unit.

  The C-arm 3 holds the X-ray generation unit 1 and the X-ray detection unit 2 at opposing positions. As will be described later, the C-arm 3 is driven, but the opposed state of the X-ray generator 1 and the X-ray detector 2 is maintained regardless of the driving state.

  The C arm 3 is supported by the suspension mechanism 4 so as to be freely driven from the ceiling. The suspension mechanism 4 includes an XY slider 40, a connecting arm 41, a C arm support portion 42, and a C arm slider 43. The XY slider 40 is fixed to the ceiling, and allows the C arm 3 to slide in the X direction and the Y direction via the connecting arm 41, the C arm support portion 42, and the C arm slider 43. One end of the connecting arm 41 is connected to the XY slider 40 and the other end is connected to the C arm support portion 42. The connecting arm 41 may be configured to be foldable. Thereby, the height position of the C arm 3 can be made variable by bending the connecting arm. Further, the C arm support portion 42 supports the C arm slider 43 in a freely rotatable manner. That is, the C arm 3 can be freely rotated with the axis in the radial direction of the C arm 3 and the horizontal axis as the rotation axis. The C arm slider 43 supports the C arm 3 so as to be slidable along the arc direction of the arm 3.

  Such a hanging mechanism 4 is also provided with a vibration preventing mechanism 5 (FIG. 2). The vibration preventing mechanism 5 is a mechanism that supports the suspension mechanism 4 with respect to the floor surface F in order to suppress vibrations that occur as the C arm 3 is driven. Here, as the vibration preventing mechanism 5, an extendable rod-shaped leg integrated with the C-arm support portion 42 is used. This rod-like leg is configured by combining three pipes 50 having different diameters in a nested manner, and is extendable from the lower end of the C-arm support portion 42 to the floor surface F side. By shortening these pipes 50, the bar-shaped legs can be accommodated in the C-arm support portion 42, and by pulling out each pipe 50, the lower ends of the bar-shaped legs can be brought into contact with the floor surface. Further, the vibration preventing mechanism 5 has a flat grounding portion 51 at the lower end of the rod-shaped leg, and is configured so that a sufficient contact area between the vibration preventing mechanism 5 and the floor surface F can be obtained.

  On the other hand, a bed 6 (FIG. 1) is provided on the floor surface F independently of the X-ray generation unit 1, the X-ray detection unit 2, the C arm 3, the suspension mechanism 4 and the vibration prevention mechanism 5. . At the time of imaging, the subject P is placed on the bed 6.

  When performing angiography of the head using the X-ray apparatus as described above, the subject P is laid on the bed 6 and the head of the subject P is placed between the X-ray generation unit 1 and the X-ray detection unit 2. To be located.

  When the subject P and the C arm 3 are positioned, the pipe 50 is pulled out from the C arm support portion 42, the end thereof is brought into contact with the floor surface, and the vibration preventing mechanism 5 is set.

  Next, predetermined imaging conditions are set, a contrast medium is injected into the artery of the subject P, and the C-arm 3 is rotated in the forward direction to perform rotational imaging of the artery.

  When the rotational imaging of the artery is completed, the C-arm 3 is reversed in the backward direction, and the rotational imaging of the vein is performed using the contrast agent already injected from the artery.

  In imaging by the apparatus of the present invention, the vibration accompanying the rotation of the C arm 3 is sufficiently suppressed by the vibration preventing mechanism, and therefore the C arm 3 can be rotated at a higher speed than the conventional X-ray apparatus. For example, as is apparent from the graph of FIG. 3 showing the relationship between the rotation speed and the elapsed time when the C arm rotates, any of the acceleration, constant speed, and deceleration of the C arm can be accelerated. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the exposure time of the subject by shortening the imaging time performed during the constant speed rotation of the C arm. Also, by suppressing this vibration, the vibration attenuation time when reversing the C-arm 3 can be made as zero as possible, and the waiting time including the acceleration / deceleration time and vibration attenuation time of the C-arm 3 is greatly increased. It can be shortened. In this graph, “positive” of “rotation speed of the arm” shown on the vertical axis indicates forward rotation, and “negative” indicates backward rotation. As a result, the artery can be imaged by the forward rotation of the C-arm 3 and the vein can be imaged by the backward rotation with one injection of the contrast medium.

[Embodiment 2: Individual mold (base expansion and contraction)]
Next, an embodiment of the present invention in which the vibration preventing mechanism is configured independently of the X-ray apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the difference in the configuration of the vibration preventing mechanism. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

  The X-ray apparatus itself according to the present embodiment does not have an integrated vibration prevention mechanism, and as shown in FIG. 4, a vibration prevention mechanism 5 is interposed between the C arm support portion 42 and the floor surface F during imaging. As in the first embodiment, the vibration accompanying the driving of the C arm 3 is suppressed. Here, the vibration preventing mechanism 5 includes a base 52 that contacts the lower surface of the C-arm support portion 42 and leg portions 53 that support the base 52 on the floor surface F.

  The base 52 is formed in a cylindrical shape and includes an expansion / contraction mechanism that makes the length of the base 52 variable as shown in FIG. The base 52 includes an outer case 521, an elevating shaft 522 accommodated in the outer case 521, a lever 523 that can be manually rotated, and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation operation of the lever 523 to the elevating operation of the elevating shaft 522. It has. The lever 523 passes through the outer case 521 and has a horizontal rotation axis. The lever 523 is formed in an offset shape, and is a grip portion that is gripped by one end and a worm 524 is formed on the other end. The worm 524 is meshed with a gear 525 having a rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation axis. On the other hand, a pinion 526 extending in the axial direction is formed on a part of the circumferential surface of the lifting shaft 522. The pinion 526 meshes with the gear 525, and when the lever 523 is rotated, the lifting shaft 522 is lifted and lowered via the power transmission mechanism of the worm 524, the gear 525, and the pinion 526.

  Further, the leg portion 53 is a rod-like body attached three below the base body 52. Although the lengths of these three legs cannot be adjusted, the length of the base 52 is made variable by the expansion / contraction mechanism, so that the height of the vibration preventing mechanism 5 can be adjusted according to the distance between the C arm support 42 and the floor F. Can be adjusted. A grounding portion for securing a contact area with the floor surface is also formed at the end of the leg portion 53.

  Also in the present embodiment, the vibration accompanying the driving of the C arm 3 can be suppressed by attaching the vibration preventing mechanism 5 to the X-ray apparatus. In particular, since the vibration preventing mechanism 5 can be detached from the X-ray apparatus, it is preferable to add the vibration preventing mechanism 5 to an existing X-ray apparatus having no vibration preventing mechanism.

[Embodiment 3: Individual type (Leg expansion / contraction + Folding)]
Next, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show an embodiment of the present invention which is a vibration preventing apparatus having a base and a leg as in the second embodiment, the leg is foldable and has a length adjusting mechanism. This will be explained based on. The present embodiment is the same as the second embodiment except for the point that the structure of the vibration preventing mechanism 5 is different. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

  In the vibration preventing mechanism 5 here, a rod-like leg portion 55 is foldably attached to a substantially square columnar base 54. A hexagonal plate-like attachment portion 541 is formed below the base 54, and a total of three rod-like leg portions 55 are attached to the attachment portion 541 through hinges 542 at equal positions. Each leg 55 is rotated by a hinge 542 so that when not in use, it is folded along the outer surface of the base 54 as shown in FIG. 6 (A), and when used, as shown in FIG. 6 (B). The base 54 is supported on the floor by spreading below the base 54. Further, on the outer surface of the base body 54, an engaging portion that holds the leg portion 55 in the state when the leg portion 55 is folded protrudes. Here, a pair of protrusions 543 are used as engaging portions for each of the leg portions 55, and the leg portions 55 are held in a folded state by fitting the leg portions 55 between the pair of protrusions 543.

  Further, in the vibration preventing mechanism 5, the base 54 is not provided with an expansion / contraction mechanism, but the leg portion 55 is provided with a length adjusting mechanism (FIG. 7). Each leg 55 has two lengths: a telescopic length adjusting mechanism in which a plurality of pipes 551 and 552 having different diameters are nested, and a turn buckle type length adjusting mechanism using a so-called turn buckle structure. A height adjusting mechanism is provided.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7A, the length of the leg portion 55 can be easily adjusted by pulling out the thin pipe 552 from the thick pipe 551 as shown in FIG.

  Next, in the latter case, as shown in FIG. 7B, a thin pipe 552 is divided into a distal end side and a base body side, and male threads in opposite directions are formed on the outer periphery of each divided end portion. A sleeve 553 is used to connect the divided pipes. The sleeve 553 has internal threads formed in opposite directions on the inner surfaces of both ends thereof, and the male threads of the divided pipe 552 are screwed together. When the sleeve 553 is rotated, the separated pipes 552 are moved in a direction in which they are removed from the sleeve 553 or inserted into the sleeve 553, so that the length of the leg portion 55 can be easily finely adjusted. Further, a grounding portion for securing a contact area with the floor surface is attached to the end of the leg portion 55 in a swingable manner.

  Similarly to the second embodiment, the X-ray apparatus according to the present embodiment is not integrated with the vibration prevention mechanism 5, and the vibration prevention mechanism 5 is interposed between the C-arm support portion 42 and the floor F during photographing. By doing so, the vibration accompanying the drive of the C arm 3 can be suppressed. In particular, in the configuration of this example, the length of the leg portion 55 can be individually adjusted, so that the suspension mechanism can be stably supported even when there is a step on the floor surface.

  The mobile X-ray apparatus of the present invention can be suitably used for taking X-ray images.

It is a perspective view which shows the X-ray apparatus of this invention in Embodiment 1, and shows the state which accommodated the vibration prevention mechanism. It is a front view which shows the X-ray apparatus of this invention in Embodiment 1, and shows the state which extended the vibration prevention mechanism. In Embodiment 1, it is explanatory drawing which shows the shortening effect of imaging | photography time by the improvement of the rotational speed of C arm. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a use state of a vibration preventing mechanism used in the second embodiment. 4A and 4B show a detailed structure of the vibration preventing mechanism of FIG. 4, in which FIG. 4A is an external view, and FIG. FIG. 6 shows a vibration preventing mechanism used in Embodiment 3, wherein (A) is a state in which a leg portion is folded, and (B) is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the leg portion is opened. FIG. 5 shows a leg length adjusting mechanism in Embodiment 3, (A) is an extendable length adjusting mechanism, and (B) is an explanatory view showing a turnbuckle length adjusting mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

1 X-ray generator 2 X-ray detector 3 C arm 4 Suspension mechanism
40 XY slider 41 Connecting arm 42 C arm support
43 C-arm slider 5 Vibration prevention mechanism
50 Pipe 51 Grounding part
52 Base 521 Outer case 522 Lifting shaft 523 Lever 524 Worm
525 Gear 526 Pinion
53 Leg
54 Base 541 Mounting part 542 Hinge 543 Protrusion
55 Leg 551, 552 Pipe 553 Sleeve 6 Sleeper P Patient S Ceiling F Floor

Claims (3)

An X-ray generator that irradiates the subject with X-rays, an X-ray detector that converts X-rays transmitted through the subject into an X-ray image, and the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector are connected in a predetermined arrangement. An X-ray apparatus comprising an arm and a suspension mechanism that supports the arm so as to be driven from the ceiling,
An X-ray apparatus comprising: a vibration preventing mechanism that supports the suspension mechanism with respect to a floor surface and can suppress vibration associated with driving of an arm.   2. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration preventing mechanism is configured to be extendable and contractable, and is configured to extend to contact with a floor surface.   The X-ray apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration prevention mechanism is configured to be detachable from the suspension mechanism.

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