JP2009089873A - Device for supporting photographic subject - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for supporting a photographic subject, which enables simultaneous adjustments of heights of the buttocks supporting part and the upper limb holding part. <P>SOLUTION: A chair elevating and lowering device 4 and a backrest unit 5 are provided on a turntable 3. A vertically-moving screw shaft 9 is provided on the device 4, and a vertically-moving block 11 which vertically moves is mounted on the vertically-moving screw shaft 9 to move vertically. The buttocks supporting part 14 for supporting buttocks of a subject S is mounted on the vertically-moving block 11. The upper limb holding part 16 which moves vertically by the same mechanism as that of the device 4 is provided on a backrest unit elevating and lowering device 17. In the device, the buttocks supporting part 14 is adjusted at a desired height by vertical movements of the vertically-moving block 11. In the same manner, the upper limb holding part 16 is adjusted at a desired height by vertically moving a vertically-moving block 23 of the device 17. Consequently, the subject S is placed in a position suitable for imaging. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a subject support device that supports a subject at a predetermined position in a radiation imaging apparatus.

  Conventionally, an imaging system comprising a radiation tube for irradiating radiation and a radiation detector for detecting radiation is disposed opposite to the subject, and the radiation for capturing a radiographic image of the subject while rotating the subject or the imaging system. An imaging device is known.

  As such a radiation imaging apparatus, there is known an imaging apparatus in which a chair is installed on a rotatable turntable and an object is photographed while holding a subject in a sitting position on the chair. There is also known an imaging device that uses an arm holder to hold an upper limb of a subject and take an image.

  Furthermore, as in Patent Document 1, for example, there is a radiation imaging apparatus that performs imaging using a subject support device that can adjust a chair and an arm holder to an appropriate height according to the height and sitting height of each subject. It is disclosed.

JP 2006-255098 A

  However, in the conventional subject support device, when the subject is placed on the turntable using the chair and the arm holder, it is necessary to individually adjust the height of the chair and the arm holder according to the physique of the subject.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a subject support device that solves the above-described problems and can simultaneously adjust height adjustment of a chair and an arm holder, which are subject support tools, according to the physique of a subject.

  In order to achieve the above object, the technical feature of the subject support device according to the present invention is that, in a subject support device used in a radiography apparatus, a heel support portion that supports a buttock of the subject, and an upper limb support that holds an upper limb of the subject And a vertical movement block connected to each of the buttocks support part and the upper limb holding part, and a driving means for moving the hip part support part and the upper limb holding part up and down by driving these vertical movement blocks in synchronization. It is in having.

  According to the subject support device of the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously perform the height adjustment operations of the buttocks support portion and the upper limb holding portion according to the physique of the subject, and the operability is improved.

  The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a radiation imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. A turntable 3 is disposed on the turntable 1 via a drive unit 2 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center O. The turntable 1 detects an angular position and a rotation speed of the turntable 3 (not shown). A detection mechanism is provided. On the turntable 3, a chair lifting device 4 and a backrest unit 5 are installed.

  The chair elevating device 4 is covered with an exterior cover 6, and a guide shaft 8 and a vertical movement screw shaft 9 are provided in parallel with a frame 7 having a U-shaped cross section in the exterior cover 6. Both end portions of the guide shaft 8 are held at the upper and lower portions of the frame 7, and the vertical moving screw shaft 9 is disposed through the upper and lower portions of the frame 7. The vertical moving screw shaft 9 is engraved with a male screw over almost the entire length, and can be idled with respect to the frame 7, and its upper end includes a motor and a drive driver for driving the vertical moving screw shaft 9. It is connected to the motor shaft of the motor unit 10 as drive means.

  Further, a vertical movement block 11 having a screw hole in which a female screw is engraved is screwed onto the male screw of the vertical movement screw shaft 9 so as to be movable up and down. In the vertical movement block 11, a through hole different from the hole screwed into the vertical movement screw shaft 9 is formed and inserted into the guide shaft 8. On the side surface of the vertical movement block 11, a buttock support portion 14 including a seat surface portion 13 that is a subject support tool that supports the heel portion of the subject S via the seat surface support portion 12 is attached.

  The back support unit 5 includes a trunk support unit 15 that supports the trunk of the subject S in the body axis direction, an upper limb holding unit 16 that supports the upper limb of the subject S, and an upper limb lifting device 17 that lifts and lowers the upper limb holding unit 16. Has been. The trunk support unit 15 is made of a plate material such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic that transmits X-rays, and supports the back side of the subject S along the body axis.

  An upper limb lifting / lowering device 17 that moves the upper limb holding portion 16 up and down is attached to the back of the upper end of the trunk support portion 15 with the same structure as the chair lifting / lowering device 4. The upper limb elevating device 17 is covered with an exterior cover 18, and a guide shaft 20 and a vertical moving screw shaft 21 are attached in parallel to a frame 19 having a reverse U-shaped cross section within the exterior cover 18. Similar to the guide shaft 8 and the vertical movement screw shaft 9, both end portions of the guide shaft 20 are held at the upper and lower portions of the frame 19, and the vertical movement screw shaft 21 is supported so as to be idle with respect to the frame 19, and its upper end portion Is connected to the motor shaft of the motor unit 22.

  In addition, a vertical motion block 23 is attached to the vertical motion screw shaft 21, and the vertical motion block 23 is screwed up and down with the vertical motion block 23 in the same manner as the vertical motion block 11. It comes to move. An upper limb holding unit 16 having an upper limb support plate 25 that is a subject support tool that supports the forearm of the subject S is provided on a side surface of the vertical movement block 23 via a pipe 24 that is bent over the trunk support unit 15. It is attached. The upper limb support plate 25 is disposed at a position facing the upper limb lifting device 17 across the rotation center O, and the upper limb is placed in a desired posture by placing both elbows of the subject S.

  A radiation tube 26 for irradiating X-rays is disposed behind the trunk support unit 15 so as to be movable up and down by a mechanism (not shown), and is opposed to the front of the subject S to detect two-dimensional radiation. Similarly to the radiation tube 26, the detector 27 is arranged so as to be movable up and down. The radiation detector 27 includes a known phosphor, a light detection element, an electric circuit, a housing, and the like, and is configured to detect radiation image data.

  FIG. 2 is a block circuit configuration diagram of the radiation imaging apparatus, and the radiation detector 27 is connected to a data collection unit 28 for storing acquired radiation image data. The data collection unit 28 is connected to a display unit 30 for displaying the arithmetically processed image via a reconstruction unit 29 that performs arithmetic processing on the stored image data. In addition, a system control unit 31 that centrally controls the entire imaging apparatus is provided, and includes a turntable 1, a drive unit 2, motor units 10 and 22, a radiation tube 26, a radiation detector 27, a data collection unit 28, and a reconstruction unit 29. Electrically connected. Furthermore, an input unit 32 is connected to the system control unit 31 in order to instruct setting of shooting conditions and start of shooting.

  In such a radiographic apparatus, the vertical movement block 11 moves up and down in conjunction with the motor rotation of the motor unit 10, whereby the height of the seating surface part 13 of the buttock support part 14 can be adjusted to a desired position. . Similarly, the vertical movement block 23 moves up and down in conjunction with the motor rotation of the motor unit 22, whereby the height of the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding unit 16 can be adjusted to a desired position, and the subject S Can be arranged at a position suitable for photographing.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the photographing preparation process. In this photographing preparation process, the height of the subject support, that is, the seat surface portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 16 is adjusted according to the physique of the subject S.

  First, in step S1, ascending / descending commands for the buttocks support part 14 and the upper limb holding part 16 as subject support tools are continuously input from the input part 32 for a desired period. In step S <b> 2, the input elevation command is transmitted to the system control unit 31. In step S <b> 3, the system control unit 31 automatically determines drive information, that is, the rotation direction and the rotation speed of each motor unit 10, 22 based on the input elevation command. In step S4, the motor drive information determined in step S3 is transmitted to the motor units 10 and 22 in synchronization with the elevation command continuously input from the input unit 32, respectively.

  Next, in step S5, based on the motor drive information transmitted to the motor units 10 and 22, the respective motors configured in the motor units 10 and 22 rotate simultaneously in a predetermined direction and speed. In step S6, the seat surface portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 that is the subject support tool and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 16 are moved up and down in synchronization with each other at a predetermined speed.

  In step S7, when the height of the subject support tool reaches a desired position, continuous input of the subject support tool lift command from the input unit 32 is stopped. Subsequently, in step S <b> 8, an elevation stop command is transmitted to the system control unit 31, and the system control unit 31 automatically determines the stop of the motor configured in the motor units 10 and 22.

  In step S9, the motor stop information determined in step S8 is transmitted to the motor units 10 and 22, respectively, and the motors of the motor units 10 and 22 are stopped. And in step S10, raising / lowering of the buttocks support part 14 and the upper limb holding | maintenance part 16 is stopped simultaneously.

  4 shows a standing state in which the subject S stands upright, FIG. 5 shows a first sitting state in which the subject S stands upright, and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the lower part of the knee and the thigh of the subject S are substantially perpendicular to each other. 2 shows the sitting position. When the approximate dimension from the sole to the knee is L1, the approximate dimension from the knee to the boundary between the thigh and the buttocks is L2, and the approximate dimension from the boundary between the thigh and the buttocks to the approximate center of the face is L3, Their approximate ratio is L1: L2: L3 = 1: 1: 1. Even if the physique of the subject S changes, the approximate ratio of the same subject S is considered to be substantially the same.

  Here, by placing the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding unit 16 at a substantially central height of the face of the subject S and placing both elbows of the subject S on the upper limb support plate 25 at that position, the upper limb is viewed from the vicinity of the chest. It will be retracted in the direction of the ceiling.

  For example, in the first sitting state, the height of the seat surface portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 16 is suitable from the state suitable for the short subject S to the high subject S. It is assumed that the adjustment is made. If it is necessary to raise the seat portion 13 of the buttock support portion 14 by the distance ΔL to the height of the buttock of the tall subject S, the increase in the subject size corresponding to the outline (L1 + L2) is ΔL. Then, considering the above-described approximate ratio of the size of the subject S, (L1 + L2) vs. L3 = (1 + 1) vs. 2 = 1: 1, so the increment of the subject size corresponding to L3 is also ΔL.

  Therefore, if the seat surface portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 is raised by ΔL, and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 16 is raised by 2ΔL, the height of the face of the tall subject S is approximately at the center height. An upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding unit 16 can be disposed. This is because the total dimension of the ascending dimension ΔL of the seating surface portion 13 of the buttocks support part 14 and the difference dimension ΔL corresponding to L3 between the short stature subject and the high stature subject is 2ΔL.

  Similarly, for example, in the second sitting state, the height of the seat surface portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 16 is changed from a state suitable for the short stature subject S to the high height subject S. A case where adjustment is made to a state suitable for the case is assumed. If it is necessary to raise the seat surface portion 13 of the buttock support portion 14 by the distance ΔL to the height of the heel portion of the tall subject S, the increase in the subject size corresponding to approximately L1 is ΔL. Then, considering the approximate ratio of the subject dimensions described above, L1 vs. L3 = 1: 2, so the increase in subject dimensions corresponding to L3 is 2ΔL.

  Accordingly, if the seat surface portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 is raised by ΔL, and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 16 is raised by 3ΔL, the upper limb is brought to a height almost at the center of the face of the tall subject S. An upper limb support plate 25 of the holding part 16 can be arranged. This is because the total dimension of the rising dimension ΔL of the seat surface part 13 of the buttocks support part 14 and the difference dimension 2ΔL corresponding to L3 between the short stature subject and the high stature subject is 3ΔL.

  Here, the sitting state that the subject S can take may be considered within the range of the first sitting state and the second sitting state described above. Therefore, the ratio of the vertically moving movement distance for moving the seat surface portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 16 in a synchronized manner may be set within a range of 1 to 2 to 1: 3. Thereby, irrespective of the physique of the subject S, the positions of the seat surface portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 16 can be adjusted according to the subject S in the sitting position.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the CT imaging process. In the shooting preparation step of the flowchart of FIG. 3, after adjusting the height of the subject support base in accordance with the physique of the subject S, shooting is performed by the step of the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S11, the subject S is seated on the seat surface portion 13, the trunk portion and the head are brought into close contact with the trunk support portion 15, and both elbows of the subject S are placed on the upper limb support plate 25. The subject S is placed on the screen.

  In addition, by placing both elbows of the subject S on the upper limb support plate 25, the upper limb of the subject S can be retracted from the vicinity of the chest in the ceiling direction, and the chest of the subject S can be photographed. In step S12, when an imaging start command is input from the input unit 32, the units constituting the imaging apparatus are as follows based on preset imaging parameters such as radiation irradiation conditions and the rotation speed of the turntable 3. Operates on.

  In step S13, the drive unit 2 starts rotating the turntable 3 and accelerates it. Subsequently, in step S14, it is determined whether or not the turntable 3 has reached a predetermined rotation speed. If it is determined that the turntable 3 has reached a predetermined rotation speed, the process proceeds to step S15, and it is determined that the turntable 3 has not reached. If YES, step S14 is repeated until a predetermined rotational speed is reached.

  In step S15, radiation is irradiated from the radiation tube 26 toward the subject S under predetermined irradiation conditions. In step S <b> 16, the photographing of the subject S is started, and the radiation image data of the subject S and the trunk support unit 15 arranged in the radiation irradiation region is set to a predetermined number for each predetermined angle of the turntable 3 by the radiation detector 27. Only get.

  Then, in step S17, it is determined whether or not shooting has been completed. When 360 ° rotation is started after imaging of the subject S is started, imaging for one scan is completed, and acquisition of radiation image data by the radiation detector 27 is stopped. If it is determined that shooting has not ended, the process returns to step S16.

  Next, in step S18, the irradiation of radiation from the radiation tube 26 is stopped, and at the same time, the drive unit 2 decelerates and stops the rotation of the turntable 3.

  On the other hand, in step S <b> 19, a plurality of radiation image data acquired for each predetermined angle of the turntable 3 is sequentially transmitted and stored in the data collection unit 28. In step S <b> 20, the reconstruction unit 29 performs a reconstruction process of the radiation image data, and after a predetermined tomographic image is generated, it is displayed on the display unit 30 in step 21.

  FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of the radiation imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment. The same members as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Similar to the first embodiment, in the radiation imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment, the radiation tube 26 and the radiation detector 27 are arranged to face each other with the turntable 1 interposed therebetween. And a backrest unit 41 is installed. The back support unit 41 includes a trunk support portion 42 and an upper limb holding portion 43. The upper limb holding portion 43 includes an upper limb support plate 25 and a substantially U-shaped pipe 44 that supports the upper limb support plate 25 from above, and both ends of the pipe 44 are connected to the upper portion of the trunk support portion 42 and the upper limb support plate 25, respectively. ing.

  On the chair elevating device 4 that elevates and lowers the buttock support portion 14, a backrest unit elevating device 45 that elevates and lowers the trunk support portion 42 of the backrest unit 41 is installed by the same structure as the chair elevating device 4. A frame 46 having a U-shaped cross section is further placed on the motor unit 10 of the chair lifting device 4. In the frame 46, a guide shaft 47 and a vertical motion screw shaft 48 are provided in parallel, and a motor portion 49 including a motor and a drive driver is attached to the upper end of the vertical motion screw shaft 48. A vertically moving block 50 is attached to the vertically moving screw shaft 48 so as to be vertically movable, and a trunk support portion 42 is connected to the vertically moving block 50. The chair lifting device 4 and the backrest unit lifting device 45 are covered with an exterior cover 51.

  Therefore, in order to move the upper limb holding portion 43 up and down, the vertical movement block 50 is moved by rotating the motor of the motor portion 49 and the trunk support portion 42 is moved up and down to increase the height of the upper limb support plate 25. Adjust to the desired position. Then, the same shooting preparation process as the first embodiment, the arrangement of the subject S, and the shooting process are performed.

  FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of the radiation imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a block circuit configuration diagram of the radiation imaging apparatus. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member same as Example 1, 2, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  A chair lifting device 61 and a backrest unit 41 are disposed on the turntable 3. A chair lifting device 61 that moves the heel support portion 14 up and down is provided with a guide shaft 8 and a vertical moving screw shaft 63 arranged in parallel on a frame 62 having a U-shaped cross section. A motor unit 10 including a motor and a drive driver is provided. The vertical motion block 11 is screwed to the vertical motion screw shaft 63, and a transmission gear 64 is provided at the upper end of the vertical motion screw shaft 63. Further, on the side surface of the vertical movement block 11, a buttock support portion 14 that supports the buttock of the subject S is attached as in the first and second embodiments.

  The transmission gear 64 is connected to a vertical moving screw shaft 67 of a backrest unit lifting device 66 disposed on the chair lifting device 61 via a transmission gear 65. Both ends of a vertical motion screw shaft 67 are held at the upper and lower portions of the frame 68 having a U-shaped cross section, and are supported so as to be able to idle. Similarly to the second embodiment, a vertical movement block 50 for moving the upper limb holding portion 43 up and down is attached to the vertical movement screw shaft 67. The chair lifting device 61 and the backrest unit lifting device 66 are covered with an exterior cover 69.

  Accordingly, by rotating the motor of the motor unit 10, the vertical motion block 11 is moved up and down by rotating the vertical motion screw shaft 63, and the height of the seat surface portion 13 of the collar support portion 14 is adjusted to a desired position. Can do. By rotating the vertical movement screw shaft 63, the vertical movement screw shaft 67 of the backrest unit lifting device 66 is rotated via the transmission gears 64, 65, and the vertical movement block 50 for moving the upper limb holding portion 43 up and down is moved up and down. Can be moved. In this case, for example, the vertical motion screw shaft 63 and the vertical motion screw shaft 67 are reverse screws, and the vertical motion blocks 11 and 50 are both raised and lowered together in synchronization.

  The tooth number ratio between the transmission gear 65 and the transmission gear 64 is 1 to 2 to 1 as in the ratio of the vertical movement distance in which the seat surface portion 13 and the upper limb support plate 25 are moved up and down in synchronization. 3 is set. In this manner, the height of the seat surface portion 13 and the upper limb support plate 25 can be adjusted to a desired position.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the photographing preparation process in the third embodiment. First, steps S1 and S2 of the first embodiment are performed. Next, in step S31, based on the input elevation command, the system control unit 31 automatically determines the drive information of the motor configured in the motor unit 10, that is, the rotation direction and the rotation speed. In step S <b> 32, the drive information of the motor unit 10 determined in step S <b> 31 is transmitted to the motor unit 10 in synchronization with the elevation command continuously input from the input unit 32.

  Next, in step S33, based on the motor drive information transmitted to the motor unit 10, the motor of the motor unit 10 rotates at a predetermined direction and speed, and in step S34, the seat surface portion 13 of the collar support unit 14 is rotated at a predetermined speed. Go up and down. Subsequently, in step S <b> 36, the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 43 is attached to the seat surface portion 13 according to the lifting speed determined by the gear ratio between the transmission gear 65 and the transmission gear 64 and the lifting speed of the seat surface portion 13. It goes up and down in synchronization with the up and down movement. That is, the vertical movement blocks 11 and 50 of the chair elevating device 61 and the backrest unit elevating device 66 are moved up and down through the transmission gears 64 and 65 by the driving force of the motor unit 10 which is a common driving means.

  As in the first embodiment, when there is a command to stop lifting in step S7, the system control unit 31 automatically determines the stop of the motor configured in the motor unit 10 in step S36. In step S37, the determined motor stop information is transmitted to the motor unit 10, and the motor of the motor unit 10 is stopped. Similarly to step S10 of the first embodiment, the raising and lowering of the seat portion 13 of the buttocks support portion 14 and the upper limb support plate 25 of the upper limb holding portion 43 are simultaneously stopped.

  Thereafter, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the arrangement of the subject S and the photographing process are performed.

  In the third embodiment, an inexpensive apparatus can be obtained by reducing the number of two motors used in the first and second embodiments to one motor.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist. For example, the upper limb holding unit 16 and the upper limb elevating device 17 of the first embodiment may be independently fixed to the ceiling of the radiographing room in which the radiographic apparatus is installed instead of the trunk support unit 15.

  When performing chest imaging without rotating the subject S or the imaging system, the upper limb support plate 25 is fixed to the radiation detector 27, and the vertical movement function of the upper limb elevating device 17 is set up and down of the radiation detector 27. It may be substituted with motion.

  Further, it is possible to move the subject support tool up and down manually by using a handle instead of the motor of the motor unit 10 of the third embodiment.

1 is a configuration diagram of a radiation imaging apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block circuit configuration diagram of a radiation imaging apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a shooting preparation process in Embodiment 1. It is a schematic dimension figure of a standing position. It is a schematic dimension figure in the 1st sitting position state. It is a schematic dimension figure in a 2nd sitting position state. It is a flowchart figure of an imaging | photography process. It is a block diagram of the radiography apparatus in Example 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a radiation imaging apparatus according to a third embodiment. 6 is a block circuit configuration diagram of a radiation imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a shooting preparation process in Embodiment 3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Turntable 3 Turntable 4, 61 Chair raising / lowering device 5, 41 Back support unit 6, 18, 51, 69 Exterior cover 7, 19, 46, 62, 68 Frame 8, 20, 47 Guide shaft 9, 21, 48, 63, 67 Vertically moving screw shaft 10, 22, 49 Motor part 11, 23, 50 Vertically moving block 14 Hip part support part 15, 42 Trunk support part 16, 43 Upper limb holding part 17 Upper limb lifting device 25 Upper limb support plate 26 Radiation tube 27 Radiation detector 31 System controller 45, 66 Backrest unit lifting device 64, 65 Transmission gear S Subject

Claims (4)

  In a subject support device used in a radiography apparatus, a buttock support portion that supports a buttock of a subject, an upper limb support portion that holds an upper limb of the subject, and a vertically moving block that is coupled to each of the buttock support portion and the upper limb support portion An object support device comprising: drive means for vertically moving the buttocks support portion and the upper limb holding portion by driving these vertical movement blocks in synchronization.   The subject support device according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a vertical movement distance between the buttocks support unit and the upper limb holding unit is in a range of 1: 2 to 1: 3.   The upper limb holding part is fixed to a trunk supporting part that supports a trunk part of a subject in a body axis direction, and the upper limb holding part moves up and down by moving the trunk supporting part up and down. The subject support device according to 1 or 2.   The subject according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driving force for vertically moving the buttocks support portion and the upper limb holding portion is transmitted from a common driving means via a transmitting means. Support device.

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