JP2009136363A - Method and device for confirming shoulder contact during x-ray photography - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for confirming contact with shoulders at the time of panoramic X-ray photography appropriately configured to prevent failure in the X-ray photography caused by the contact with shoulders and to prevent unnecessary exposure to X-rays in the photography. <P>SOLUTION: A camera is set as a shoulder contact detection means in a position where the image of a patient up to the shoulders is captured in panoramic X-ray equipment, and a contact sensor or approach sensor is set in an X-ray image capturing part of a rotary arm to detect the contact with the shoulders of the patient. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for confirming shoulder contact between an X-ray imaging unit and a patient shoulder during X-ray imaging.

  Conventionally, in dental panoramic X-ray imaging in which a patient's head, especially around a tooth, is taken around the X-ray to obtain tooth image information, X-rays are irradiated toward the subject's imaging region. An X-ray source, an X-ray detector that detects X-rays that have passed through the imaging region, and a swivel arm that holds the X-ray source and the X-ray detector facing each other. Detects the force that prevents the swivel arm from turning in an X-ray imaging device that takes images by rotating the swivel arm with a drive motor so that the part rotates around the subject with the imaging part of the subject in opposition An X-ray is provided that stops the turning drive by the turning drive motor and stops the X-ray irradiation when the drive change detecting device detects a force that prevents the turning arm from turning. An imaging device is known. (Patent Document 1)

  In Patent Document 1, when an external force is applied to the turning arm of the panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus (that is, when a shoulder contact actually occurs), turning of the turning arm and X-ray irradiation are stopped. .

“Shoulder contact” here means that the rotation arm of the X-ray imaging apparatus hits the shoulder of the patient, that is, the subject during X-ray imaging, and smooth rotation is hindered and good X-ray imaging cannot be performed. Say.
JP 2006-61501 A

  Thus, conventionally, unless the photographing operation is actually performed, the contact between the shoulder and the patient cannot be determined, and the surgeon observes the position of the rotating arm and the shoulder of the patient, and the shoulder contact is caused to turn. When the arm speed changes abnormally, the imaging is temporarily interrupted, the posture of the patient is corrected, and the imaging is started again from the beginning. Therefore, the first useless X-ray exposure due to re-imaging cannot be avoided.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder contact confirmation method and a shoulder contact confirmation apparatus appropriately configured and arranged so as to prevent X-ray imaging failure due to shoulder contact and avoid unnecessary X-ray exposure due to imaging. It is something to be done.

In order to solve the present invention, a camera is installed as a means for detecting shoulder contact at a position where a patient's shoulder is reflected in an X-ray imaging apparatus, particularly dental panoramic X-ray imaging.
Alternatively, a contact sensor or a proximity sensor is installed in the X-ray image receiving unit of the rotary arm, thereby making contact determination with the patient's shoulder.
Alternatively, a camera and a sensor can be used together.

  That is, the shoulder contact confirmation method at the time of X-ray imaging of the present invention, particularly at the time of dental panoramic X-ray imaging, is arranged so as to be opposed to each other and the X-ray source capable of rotating around the imaging region of the patient. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising an X-ray imaging unit comprising an X-ray image receiving unit, wherein the X-ray imaging apparatus is provided with a shoulder contact detection means, and the shoulder contact detection means detects the amount of contact per shoulder of a patient before starting X-ray imaging. It is characterized by detecting the presence or absence of possibility.

  In particular, in the method for checking shoulder contact at the time of X-ray imaging according to the present invention, the X-ray imaging unit is rotatable to a substantially C-shaped device body composed of an upper frame, a lower frame and a side frame, and a lower surface of the upper frame. A rotating arm provided, an X-ray head portion including an X-ray source suspended from one end portion of the rotating arm, and a CCD sensor suspended from the other end portion of the rotating arm. An X-ray image receiving portion including the head support, penetrating the rotary arm near a substantially central portion of the lower surface of the rotary arm, and being fixed to the lower surface of the upper frame, and forehead support and side head support respectively. A chin rest installed on the upper surface of the lower frame, and the shoulder contact detection means is positioned at a level substantially the same as the installation position of the X-ray source and the CCD sensor on the side frame. In the X-ray imaging, the patient is introduced into the imaging position of the patient accommodating part, the head of the patient is positioned on the chin rest, and the position of the patient's shoulder is confirmed by the shoulder contact detection means. It is characterized by that.

  According to the shoulder contact confirmation method at the time of X-ray photography of the present invention, particularly at the time of dental panoramic X-ray photography, the shoulder contact detection means is a CCD camera. The shoulder contact detection means is a contact sensor or a proximity sensor. Further, the shoulder contact detection means is both a camera and a contact sensor.

  According to the shoulder contact confirmation method at the time of X-ray imaging of the present invention, particularly at the time of dental panoramic X-ray imaging, warning means for warning the shoulder contact is further provided when the shoulder contact is detected. The warning means is at least one of a buzzer sound, a voice, a lamp blinking / lighting, a warning message to a personal computer, and the like. Further, the warning means stops X-ray imaging.

  In an X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention, particularly in a shoulder contact confirmation device for dental panoramic X-ray imaging, the X-ray imaging unit includes a substantially C-shaped apparatus main body 1 including an upper frame, a lower frame, and a side frame; A rotary arm that is rotatably provided on the lower surface of the upper frame, an X-ray head unit that includes an X-ray source that is suspended from one end of the rotary arm, and a suspension arm that is suspended from the other end of the rotary arm. An X-ray image receiving unit including a CCD sensor, and a rotary arm that passes through the rotary arm near the center of the lower surface of the rotary arm and is fixed to the lower surface of the upper frame. A head support mounting portion that respectively hangs down, and a chin rest that is installed on the upper surface of the lower frame, and a shoulder contact detection means is provided for installing the X-ray source and the CCD sensor of the side frame. In the X-ray imaging, the patient is introduced into the imaging position of the patient accommodating portion, the head of the patient is positioned on the chin rest, and the shoulder of the patient is detected by the shoulder contact detection means. It is characterized in that the position of is confirmed.

  According to the shoulder contact checking device in the X-ray photography of the present invention, particularly panoramic X-ray photography, the shoulder contact detection means is a CCD camera. The shoulder contact detection means is a contact sensor or a proximity sensor. Further, the shoulder contact detection means is both a camera and a contact sensor.

In addition, according to the shoulder contact confirmation device at the time of X-ray imaging of the present invention, particularly panoramic X-ray imaging, warning means for warning the shoulder contact is further provided when the shoulder contact is detected. Further, the warning means is at least one of a buzzer sound, sound, blinking / lighting of a lamp, warning message to a personal computer, and the like.
Further, the warning means stops X-ray imaging.

  In the past, it was confirmed visually that the shoulder contact occurred, and if it was not actually taken, it would not be clear whether or not the shoulder contact occurred. However, according to the present invention, failure of X-ray imaging due to shoulder contact can be prevented, and unnecessary X-ray exposure due to re-imaging can be avoided.

  In order to solve the present invention, a camera and / or a contact sensor is installed in an X-ray imaging apparatus, particularly a panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus, at a position where it is projected to the patient's shoulder. When the X-ray image receiving part of the rotating arm is in contact with or close to the patient's shoulder, a warning display is given to the surgeon. Further, when it is determined that the X-ray image receiving unit of the rotating arm is in contact with or close to the imaging, it is possible to stop imaging (so that imaging cannot be performed).

  That is, the X-ray imaging, especially the panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus used for carrying out the shoulder contact confirmation method at the time of panoramic X-ray imaging, as shown in FIGS. A substantially C-shaped device main body 1 composed of a lower frame 3 and a side frame 4, a rotating arm 5 rotatably provided on the lower surface of the upper frame 2, and suspended from one end of the rotating arm 5. The X-ray head unit 7 including the X-ray source 6, the X-ray image receiving unit 8 including the CCD sensor suspended from the other end of the rotating arm 5, and the lower surface of the rotating arm 5 A head support mounting portion 11 that penetrates the rotary arm 5 near the center and is fixed to the lower surface of the upper frame 2 and vertically mounts the forehead support 9 and the side head support 10, and the upper surface of the lower frame 3. Installed in In a panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus including a rest 12, the side frame 4 of the apparatus main body is in contact with a position at the same level as the CCD sensor installation position of the X-ray source 6 and the X-ray image receiving unit 8. A detection device, for example, a CCD camera 15 is provided.

Alternatively, the shoulder contact detection device is a contact sensor 16 provided at a position where the X-ray image receiving unit 8 of the rotary arm 5 may come into contact with the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 during rotation. (See Figure 2)
The contact sensor 16 may be provided on the entire lower surface or on the side surface as long as it is near the lower surface of the X-ray image receiving unit 8.
Furthermore, although the apparatus main body is C-shaped, it can also be arched.

  Steps from patient introduction to X-ray imaging at the time of general dental X-ray imaging, particularly panoramic X-ray imaging, are as shown in the flowchart 1 of FIG. Press the “Patient” switch 22. Then, the process moves to step 32, and the rotary arm 5 rotates to the patient introduction position. Next, in step 33, the patient 17 is introduced into the apparatus. Here, after the patient is introduced, the jaw of the patient 17 is placed on the chin rest 12 and the bite block is bitten by the patient 17. This indicates that the patient is in the correct posture.

  Further, when the “position” switch 23 is pressed at step 34, the rotary arm 5 is rotated to the position at step 35, and the patient 17 is positioned at step 36. Here, the operator presses the “positioning beam switch” 23 to adjust the position of the patient 17 such as the tilt of the face of the patient 17 with the positioning beam, and the head support (9 and 10) fixes the patient's head. Next, when the “reset” switch 24 is pressed in step 37, the rotary arm 2 is rotationally moved to the photographing start position in step 38. Thereafter, in step 39, the irradiation (imaging) switch 21 is pressed. In this way, the photographing operation is started at step 40.

  In the above flowchart and the subsequent flowcharts, steps surrounded by a double line indicate that a manual operation is performed, and steps surrounded by a single line indicate that an automatic operation is performed.

  According to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, as the shoulder contact detection means 14, the position of the side frame 4 of the apparatus main body at the same level as the installation position of the X-ray source 6 and the CCD sensor. In addition, a CCD camera 15 is provided, and a contact switch 16 is provided at a position of the X-ray image receiving unit 8 that may come into contact with the patient's shoulder 18 during rotation so as to check the shoulder contact.

  The above steps 31 to 40 also apply to general panoramic X-ray imaging steps. Conventionally, if the rotating arm does not hit the patient's shoulder during the imaging operation, the imaging is finished as it is, but the imaging operation is in progress. When the rotating arm hits the shoulder of the patient, the operator visually observes this to stop the photographing operation, corrects the posture of the patient, and then starts the photographing operation from step 34 again. (See Flowchart 1)

  However, as shown in the flowchart 2 of FIG. 9 and FIGS. 1 to 7, in the present invention, the presence or absence of shoulder is confirmed before entering step 40 of actual panoramic X-ray imaging. In this example, a contact sensor 16 or a proximity sensor is provided at a portion of the rotating arm 5 of the apparatus main body 1, particularly in the X-ray image receiving unit 8, which may come into contact with the shoulder 18 of the patient 17. Make a hit detection.

  That is, when the power is turned on or the “patient introduction” switch 22 is pressed in step 31, the process proceeds to step 32, and the rotary arm 5 is rotated to a position where the patient can be introduced. Next, in step 33, the patient 17 is introduced into the apparatus, and then the patient 17's jaw is placed on the chin rest 12 and the bite block is bitten by the patient 17. This indicates that the patient 17 is in the correct posture. Further, the “position” switch 23 is pressed in step 34, and the process proceeds to step 41, and the shoulder contact detection operation is performed by the contact sensor or the proximity sensor provided on the rotation arm while the rotation arm 5 moves to the positioning position.

  Next, in step 42, it is determined whether or not there is a shoulder contact. If it is determined that there is a shoulder contact, the detection operation is stopped in step 43, and a warning message is displayed or generated in step 44. Then, the surgeon corrects the posture of the patient 17 in step 45, returns to step 34 again, presses the “position” switch 23, moves to step 41, and the rotating arm 5 performs the shoulder contact detection operation, and then step again. At 42, it is determined whether or not the shoulder is touched, and when it is confirmed that the shoulder 18 of the patient 1 does not touch the side of the X-ray image receiving portion 8 of the rotary arm 5 and the shoulder is not touched, the process proceeds to step 35, and the rotary arm is reached. 5 moves to the positioning position. Then, in step 36, the patient 17 is positioned, the tilt of the patient's face is corrected by the positioning beam, the head of the patient is fixed with the head support (9 and 10), and the positioning is completed. Press the “Reset” switch 24. Then, in step 38, the rotary arm 5 is rotationally moved to the photographing start position. Next, the irradiation (imaging) switch 21 is pressed in step 39, and the imaging operation is started in step 40.

  During imaging, if the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 enters the rotation passage area 19 of the rotary arm 5 of the imaging apparatus again for any reason, the rotation of the rotary arm 5 is immediately stopped and a warning is generated. Shooting can be canceled.

To generate a warning:
1. A warning message is displayed on the operation panel display or PC screen.
2. Sound a warning buzzer.
3. Make the lamp blink.
4). Turn on the lamp.
5). Alert by voice.
There are five means.

In this flowchart, the shoulder contact detection is automatically performed without pressing the “shoulder contact detection switch”, but it is a matter of course that only the shoulder contact detection can be performed by pressing the “shoulder contact detection switch”.
(See Flowchart 2)

  In another embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment in which a camera 15 is used as the shoulder contact detection means 14 and image processing is not performed will be described. In this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a CCD camera 15 is provided on the side frame 4 of the apparatus main body 1 at the same level as the installation position of the X-ray source 6 and the CCD sensor. The shoulder contact detection is performed so that the shoulder portion 18 of the patient 17 is reflected.

  First, as shown in the flowchart 3 of FIG. 10 and FIGS. 1 to 7, in this example, when the power is turned on or the “patient introduction” switch 22 is pressed in step 31, the process proceeds to step 32. Rotate to a position where can be introduced. Next, in step 33, the patient 17 is introduced into the apparatus. Here, after the patient is introduced, the jaw of the patient 17 is placed on the chin rest 12 and the bite block is bitten by the patient. This indicates that the patient 17 is in the correct posture. Next, when the “shoulder contact detection” switch 27 is pressed in step 50, the rotary arm 5 is rotationally moved to a position where it does not interfere with camera photographing in step 51. At this time, if the rotation arm 5 can be detected without moving, the rotation arm 5 is not rotated. Next, in step 52, camera photographing is performed, and a photographed image is displayed on the screen of the monitor 25.

  At this time, the shoulder position of the patient 17 is photographed, the shoulder position of the patient 17 and the setting reference of the rotation arm passage area 19 are recognized, and the drawing of the area 19 through which the rotation arm 5 passes is displayed in an overlapping manner (FIG. 2). In step 53, the overlap between the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 and the passage area 19 is visually confirmed. At this time, by using the position of the chin rest 12 as a reference, a setting reference for the passage area 19 of the rotary arm 5 can be obtained. Further, since the positional relationship between the lower surface position of the CCD sensor unit 8 of the rotary arm unit 5 and the chin rest 12 can be mechanically grasped, it is possible to avoid shoulder contact by monitoring only the shoulder part position of the patient 17 with the camera 15. it can.

  At this time, the position of the shoulder portion of the patient 17 and the passage area 19 of the X-ray image receiving portion 8 of the rotary arm 5 are grasped on the screen of the monitor 25, and the shoulder portion 18 of the patient 17 is not located in the passage area 19. (That is, the position of the lower surface of the CCD sensor part of the rotating arm part 5 and the shoulder part 18 of the patient 17 are not in contact) (see FIG. 2). Next, if it is determined in step 54 that there is an overlap between the shoulder 18 and the passage area 19 of the patient 17, the posture of the patient 17 is corrected correctly in step 45. Thereafter, the process returns to step 50 and the “shoulder contact detection” switch 27 is pressed again. Steps 51-53 described above are then repeated again to reach step 54, where it is determined that there is no overlap between the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 and the passage area 19, the process proceeds to step 34, and " When the “position” switch 23 is pressed, the rotary arm 5 is rotated to the positioning position in step 35.

At this time, even if the rotary arm 5 is not moved, the rotary arm 5 is not rotated when it is in the positioning position. Next, in step 36, the patient 17 is positioned. Thereafter, the inclination of the face of the patient 17 is corrected by the monitor 25 screen or the positioning beam, the head of the patient is fixed by the head support (9 and 10), and the positioning is completed. Next, when the “reset” switch 24 is pressed in step 37, the rotary arm 5 is rotationally moved to the photographing start position in step 38. Thereafter, the irradiation (photographing) switch 21 is pressed in step 39, and the photographing operation is started in step 40.
Although the passage area 19 is shown only on the left side of the head of the patient 17 in FIG. 2, the passage area 19 actually exists on the right side of the head of the patient 17, but is not shown for convenience of explanation.

  In still another embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment in which image processing is performed using the camera 15 as a shoulder contact detection means will be described. In this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a CCD camera 15 is provided on the side frame 4 of the apparatus main body 1 at the same level as the installation position of the X-ray source 6 and the CCD sensor. Shoulder contact detection is performed so that the patient's shoulder can be seen.

  As shown in the flowchart 4 of FIG. 11 and FIGS. 1 to 7, in this example, when the power is turned on or the “patient introduction” switch 22 is pressed in step 31, the process moves to step 32 and the rotary arm 5 can introduce the patient. Rotate to position. Next, in step 33, the patient 17 is introduced into the apparatus. Here, after the patient is introduced, the jaw of the patient 17 is placed on the chin rest 12 and the bite block is bitten by the patient 17. This indicates that the patient 17 is in the correct posture. Next, when the “shoulder contact detection” switch 27 is pressed in step 50, the rotary arm 5 is rotationally moved to a position where it does not interfere with camera photographing in step 51. At this time, if the rotation arm 5 can be detected without moving, the rotation arm 5 is not rotated. Next, camera photographing is performed in step 56, and the height of the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 is measured from the image. In step 57, the height of the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 is lower than the lower surface of the CCD sensor unit of the rotary arm 5. If it is higher, the process proceeds to step 43 to stop the imaging operation, a warning message is displayed in step 44, and then the posture is correctly corrected for the patient in step 45.

  Thus, returning to step 50 again, the “shoulder contact detection” switch 27 is pressed again, and the above-described steps 51 to 56 are repeated again to reach step 57 where the height of the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 is rotated. If it is not higher than the lower surface of the CCD sensor portion of the arm 5, the process proceeds to step 34, the “position” switch 23 is pressed, the rotary arm 5 is moved to the positioning position in step 35, and the patient 17 is positioned in step 36. , The patient's head is fixed by the head support (9 and 10), and the positioning is completed. Then, the “reset” switch 24 is pressed in step 37, and the rotary arm 5 is rotated to the imaging start position in step 38. . Thus, the irradiation (imaging) switch 21 is pressed in step 39, and the imaging operation is started in step 40.

During imaging, if the height of the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 becomes higher than the lower surface of the CCD sensor unit of the rotary arm 5 of the imaging apparatus for any reason, the rotation of the rotary arm 5 is immediately stopped and a warning is given. And a warning message per shoulder is displayed. In addition, X-ray imaging can be stopped.
During imaging, if the shoulder 18 of the patient 17 reenters the rotation passage area 19 of the rotary arm 5 of the imaging apparatus for any reason, the rotary arm 5 is immediately stopped and a warning is generated. Can be canceled.
The means for generating warnings are as follows: A warning message is displayed on the operation panel display or PC screen.
2. Sound a warning buzzer.
3. Make the lamp blink.
4). Turn on the lamp.
5). Alert by voice.
There are five means.

  In performing the above-described recognition of the position of the shoulder of the patient, the automatic recognition of the position of the patient's shoulder takes the difference between the image before the patient is introduced into the apparatus and the image after the introduction, and the contour of the person (patient) Is extracted so that the positions of the head (face), neck, and shoulder can be recognized from the contour.

  Furthermore, the position of eyes and nostrils can be grasped using pattern matching, and the jaw position can be detected from the contour of the face.

  In the above-described embodiment, the shoulder contact detection is performed before X-ray imaging. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shoulder contact detection check by camera monitoring can be performed simultaneously during imaging. .

For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the shoulder contact is detected before the X-ray imaging shown in the flowchart 2-4 is shown, but the following pattern may be implemented as a modification.
Pattern 1 (using the flowchart 4 of FIG. 11 as an example).
Step 31-> Step 32-> Step 33-> Step 34-> Step 35-> Step 36-> Step 50-> Step 51-> Step 56-> Step 57-> If there is no problem (Warning if any)-> Step 37-> Step 38-> Step 39 (Shooting switch) ) → Step 40 (Shooting).
Pattern 2 (flow chart 4 of FIG. 11 is taken as an example).
Step 31-> Step 32-> Step 33-> Step 34-> Step 35-> Step 36-> Step 39 (Press the shooting switch)-> Step 51-> Step 56-> Step 57-> No problem (if any)-> Step 38-> Step 40 (Shooting)
It is also possible to use both a sensor and a camera.
Furthermore, a shoulder contact detection may be performed after a positioning beam is emitted during patient positioning (refer to flowcharts 3 and 1), and positioning is completed until the patient's face is tilted.

  In addition, the present invention can be used not only for dental panoramic X-ray imaging but also for CT imaging.

  It is used for confirmation of shoulder contact between the patient and the apparatus at the time of X-ray imaging using a panoramic X-ray apparatus, particularly for dental X-ray imaging or CT imaging.

It is a side view which shows the structure of the panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus used for this invention. It is a side view which shows the positional relationship of the rotation passage area of the X-ray image-receiving part of the rotation arm especially of the panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus used for this invention. It is a side view which shows the installation position of the camera as a shoulder contact inspection apparatus in the panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus used for this invention. It is a front view showing an irradiation (photographing) switch and a touch panel type monitor. It is a side view which shows a patient introduction switch. It is a top view which shows the position of the positioning switch and reset switch in a touch panel monitor. It is a top view which shows the structure of the operation panel of a sensor. It is the flowchart 1 which shows the conventional general work order. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flowchart 2 in the case of using a sensor in the operation | work order of this invention shoulder contact confirmation method. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flowchart 3 when using a camera in the operation | work order of this invention shoulder contact confirmation method, and not performing image processing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flowchart 4 in the case of using a camera in the operation | work order of this invention shoulder contact confirmation method, and performing image processing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Upper frame 3 Lower frame 4 Side part frame 5 Rotating arm 6 X-ray source 7 X-ray head part 8 X-ray image receiving part 9 Forehead support 10 Side head support 11 Head support attaching part 12 Chin rest 13 Prop 15 Camera 16 Contact sensor 17 Patient 18 Patient shoulder 19 Rotation passage area of X-ray receiving part of rotary arm 20 Monitor 21 Irradiation (imaging) switch 22 Patient introduction switch 23 Positioning switch 24 Reset switch 25 Touch panel monitor 26 Operation panel 27 Shoulder contact detection switch

Claims (15)

  An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: a patient accommodating unit; and an X-ray imaging unit that is arranged to face each other and is rotatable with an imaging region of the patient interposed therebetween, and an X-ray imaging unit including an X-ray image receiving unit. A method for confirming shoulder contact at the time of X-ray imaging, characterized in that a shoulder contact detection means is provided in the X-ray imaging apparatus, and the presence or absence of a patient's shoulder contact is detected by the shoulder contact detection means before the start of X-ray imaging. .   The X-ray imaging unit includes a substantially C-shaped device main body including an upper frame, a lower frame, and a side frame, a rotary arm rotatably provided on the lower surface of the upper frame, and one end of the rotary arm An X-ray head unit including an X-ray source, which is suspended from the X-ray source, an X-ray image receiving unit including a CCD sensor, etc., which is suspended from the other end of the rotating arm, and a lower surface of the rotating arm. A head support provided in the vicinity of the center, and the shoulder contact detection means is provided at a position of the side frame substantially at the same level as the installation position of the X-ray source and the CCD sensor. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the patient is introduced into an imaging position of the patient accommodating portion, the head of the patient is positioned, and the position of the shoulder of the patient is confirmed by the shoulder contact detection means. Confirmation of shoulder contact during X-ray photography Method.   The method for confirming shoulder contact during X-ray imaging according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising warning means for warning the shoulder contact when the shoulder contact is detected.   The shoulder contact detection method during X-ray imaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shoulder contact detection means is a camera and / or a contact sensor or a proximity sensor.   4. The shoulder contact confirmation method according to claim 3, wherein the warning means is at least one of a buzzer sound, sound, lamp blinking / lighting, warning message to a personal computer, and the like.   The shoulder contact confirmation method at the time of X-ray imaging according to claim 2, wherein the X-ray imaging is panoramic X-ray imaging.   The method according to claim 2, wherein the X-ray imaging is CT imaging.   An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: a patient accommodating unit; and an X-ray imaging unit that is arranged to face each other and is rotatable with an imaging region of the patient interposed therebetween, and an X-ray imaging unit including an X-ray image receiving unit. A shoulder contact confirmation device at the time of X-ray imaging, characterized in that a shoulder contact detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a patient's shoulder contact before the start of X-ray imaging is provided in the X-ray imaging device.   The X-ray imaging unit includes a substantially C-shaped device main body including an upper frame, a lower frame, and a side frame, a rotary arm rotatably provided on the lower surface of the upper frame, and one end of the rotary arm An X-ray head unit including an X-ray source, which is suspended from the X-ray source, an X-ray image receiving unit including a CCD sensor, etc., which is suspended from the other end of the rotating arm, and a lower surface of the rotating arm. A head support provided near the center, and the shoulder contact detection means is provided at a position on the side frame substantially at the same level as the installation position of the X-ray source and the CCD sensor. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the position of the shoulder portion of the patient is confirmed.   10. The shoulder contact confirmation device for X-ray imaging according to claim 8, wherein the shoulder contact detection means is a camera and / or a contact sensor or a proximity sensor.   10. The shoulder contact confirmation device at the time of X-ray imaging according to claim 8, further comprising a warning device that warns the shoulder contact when the shoulder contact is detected.   The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the warning device is at least one of a buzzer sound, a sound, a lamp blinking / lighting, a warning message to a personal computer, and the like.   12. The shoulder contact confirmation device for X-ray imaging according to claim 11, wherein the warning device stops imaging.   The shoulder contact confirmation device during X-ray imaging according to claim 8 and 9, wherein the X-ray imaging is panoramic X-ray imaging.   10. The shoulder contact confirmation device at the time of X-ray imaging according to claim 8, wherein the X-ray imaging is CT imaging.

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