JP2013102992A - X-ray image diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus in which the complicated operation of the user can be avoided.SOLUTION: The X-ray image diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray tube 60 which generates X-rays and an X-ray collimator 70 which irradiates a subject with X-rays in the designated irradiation area of generated X-rays. The X-ray collimator 70 provides an X-ray passage hole which passes X-rays in the corners of more than 2 of X-ray shielding materials for shielding X-rays, and includes a plurality of collimator vanes 80 arranged on a plane which at least crosses with irradiation of X-rays from X-ray tube 60, and collimator vane driving parts 90 which move the collimator vanes 80 along the direction of the plane concerned and are constituted so that they can rotate at a rotation pivot point of each collimator vane 80.

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an improved technique for an X-ray diaphragm.

  The X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus obtains an X-ray signal of a subject by irradiating the subject with X-rays by an X-ray generation unit and detecting transmitted X-rays of the subject with an X-ray detector. The X-ray image diagnostic apparatus obtains an X-ray image by performing signal processing on the X-ray signal of the subject in the image processing unit, and displays the X-ray image on the display unit.

  In addition, the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus is provided with an X-ray stop for X-ray irradiation so that only a portion to be imaged or fluoroscopically becomes an X-ray irradiation region for X-ray image radiography or fluoroscopy.

  The mechanism of the X-ray diaphragm is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. The mechanism of the X-ray diaphragm of Patent Document 1 is formed by a plurality of lead diaphragm blades that shield X-rays. In order to reliably shield X-rays generated from the X-ray source by the plurality of lead diaphragm blades, a portion where the plurality of diaphragm blades overlap in the X-ray irradiation direction is provided. In other words, the X-ray diaphragm has a laminated structure of two or more diaphragm blades.

JP 2009-291504 A

  However, since the mechanism of the X-ray diaphragm of Patent Document 1 is a laminated structure of two or more diaphragm blades, there is a concern that the thickness in the X-ray irradiation direction is increased. If the thickness in the X-ray irradiation direction increases, the C-arm X-ray diagnostic imaging system will move the C-arm closer to the distance between the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector. There is a possibility that both the subject or the top plate (abbreviated as “subject etc.”) and the X-ray diaphragm come into contact with each other because the distance from the diaphragm becomes short.

  When there is a possibility that both the subject and the X-ray diaphragm are in contact with each other, it is necessary to avoid contact between them. That is, the user of the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus needs to perform an operation for avoiding contact between the subject and the X-ray diaphragm, such as moving the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus itself or the C arm. Thus, in the prior art, an unsolved problem that the operation of avoiding contact by the user of the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus is complicated is left.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus that can avoid a complicated operation by a user.

  In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an X-ray source that generates X-rays, and an X-ray that irradiates a subject with X-rays in a predetermined irradiation region of the generated X-rays. An X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising a line diaphragm, wherein the X-ray diaphragm is provided with an X-ray passage hole that allows X-rays to pass through two or more corners of an X-ray shielding material that shields X-rays, A plurality of diaphragm blades arranged in a plane at least intersecting with the X-rays irradiated by the X-ray source, and a diaphragm blade configured to move the diaphragm blades along the direction of the plane and to be rotatable at the rotation center of each diaphragm blade And a drive unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus which can avoid a user's complicated operation can be provided.

1 is a mechanism diagram of an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus common to all embodiments of the present invention. The functional block diagram of FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an X-ray diaphragm according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a mechanism diagram of an X-ray diaphragm according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a concept of an operation until movement of diaphragm blades of the X-ray diaphragm according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 5 using the mechanism diagram of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a concept of an operation until rotation of a diaphragm blade of an X-ray diaphragm according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the operation | movement of FIG. 7 using the mechanism figure of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a concept of an operation until the position of the diaphragm blades of the X-ray diaphragm according to the first embodiment of the present invention is restored. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 9 using the mechanism diagram of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the shape of a contact portion of a plurality of diaphragm blades of the X-ray diaphragm according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a mechanism diagram of an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus common to all the embodiments of the present invention.
The X-ray image diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a top plate 1, an X-ray generation unit 3, an X-ray detection unit 4, and a C arm unit 5. Further, the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus is mounted on a carriage, and can be moved within the installation room of the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus by the carriage.

  The top board 1 places the subject 2 on the bed. The X-ray generator 3 irradiates the subject 2 with X-rays. The X-ray detection unit 4 detects transmitted X-rays of the subject 2. The C arm unit 5 has the X-ray generation unit 3 and the X-ray detection unit 4 disposed at each end, and the X-ray generation unit 3 and the X-ray detection unit 4 are disposed to face each other. The space between the X-ray generator 3 and the X-ray detector 4 is an X-ray image measurement area, and the C arm 5 is placed so that the subject 2 lying on the top 1 is positioned in this measurement area. Move and adjust.

  Next, details of the function of each part of the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, in addition to the top plate 1, the X-ray generation unit 3, the X-ray detection unit 4, and the C arm unit 5 which are the mechanical parts of the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus described in FIG. The image processing unit 40 and the image display unit 50 will be described. The schematic configuration of the X-ray generation unit 3 and the X-ray detection unit 4 will also be described.

  The operator 20 sets various parameters such as the movement, rotation, and re-movement of the diaphragm blade 80 of the X-ray diaphragm 70, the voltage applied to the X-ray tube 60, the current, and the irradiation time. The operation device 20 is an input device for an operator to input various parameters such as a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, and a joystick.

  The image processing unit 40 processes the transmitted X-rays of the subject 2 detected by the X-ray detection unit 4 and outputs X-ray image data. The types of image processing of the image processing unit 40 include gamma conversion, gradation conversion processing, image enlargement / reduction, and the like. The image processing unit 40 has a function corresponding to a CPU of a computer.

  The image display unit 50 displays the X-ray image data output by the image processing unit 40 as an X-ray image. The image display unit 50 includes a CRT monitor, a liquid crystal monitor, a plasma monitor, an organic EL monitor, and the like.

  The X-ray generation unit 3 includes an X-ray generator 30, an X-ray tube 60, and an X-ray diaphragm 70. The X-ray generator 30 is a power source that supplies power to the X-ray tube 60, and the voltage and current of the power source set by the controller 20 are applied to the X-ray tube 60 for the duration of time (synonymous with the X-ray irradiation time). Is supplied as electric energy. The X-ray tube 60 generates X-rays of energy suitable for the imaging region or fluoroscopic region of the subject 2 by the amount of electric power supplied by the X-ray generator 30. The X-ray diaphragm 70 limits the irradiation area so that the X-rays output from the X-ray tube 60 are irradiated only to the target region of the subject 2 for imaging or fluoroscopy. The detailed configuration of the X-ray diaphragm 70 will be described in detail in a later embodiment 1 with reference to FIGS.

  The X-ray detection unit 4 includes types such as a film cassette, an image intensifier, an imaging plate, a flat panel detector, and the like, all of which detect transmitted X-rays of a subject.

  The X-ray diaphragm 70 includes a plurality of diaphragm blades 80 made of a material that shields X-rays (for example, lead or a lead compound) and a diaphragm blade driving unit 90 that moves the plurality of diaphragm blades 80, respectively, and the subject 2 Sets the X-ray irradiation area for.

  Next, a specific configuration, operation, and effect of the X-ray diaphragm 70 will be described in the embodiment.

Here, Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the X-ray aperture according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The X-ray diaphragm 70 has four diaphragm blades 80 and a blade moving / rotating unit 90.

  Two or more corners (here, four corners) of the diaphragm blades 80 can have different sizes for transmitting X-rays (for example, φ5 mm, φ10 mm, φ15 mm, φ20 mm). Different arc-shaped notches are provided. The four diaphragm blades 80 are formed to be rotatable, and a plurality of types of holes through which X-rays pass are formed by the cutout portions of the respective diaphragm blades 80. For this reason, the X-rays spreading from the X-ray tube 60 can be narrowed down to a circle that matches the image input surface (field of view) of the image intensifier.

  In this example, the X-ray is focused according to the aperture of the image intensifier, which is a circular field of view. However, in the rectangular area of the film cassette, imaging plate, and flat panel detector, which are rectangular fields of view. Needless to say, if the cutout is rectangular, the X-rays can be narrowed down to match the rectangular areas of the film cassette, imaging plate, and flat panel detector.

  Further, the description will be made using an example in which cutout portions having different sizes are provided at the four corners of the diaphragm blade 80, but for example, a case where a cutout at one of the four corners of the diaphragm blade 80 is not provided. Can think. When the diaphragm blades 80 are in contact with each other at one corner of the diaphragm blade 80 that is not provided with a notch, X-rays can be shielded.

Next, the configuration of the diaphragm blade drive unit 90 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a mechanism diagram of the X-ray diaphragm according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The diaphragm blade drive unit 90 is attached to the four diaphragm blades 80 via the four racks 100 and has a movable shaft 120 having a driven gear 110, and four drive gears 130 connected to the four racks 100. 4 motors 140 with rotating shafts attached to 4 drive gears 130, 1 motor 160 with rotating shafts attached to 1 drive gear 150, and 1 drive gear 150 And one driven gear 170 to be attached. The movable shaft 120 is disposed on a plane that intersects at least the irradiation X-rays of the X-ray source, and moves the diaphragm blade 80 along the direction of the plane. The diaphragm blades 80 are configured to be rotatable at the rotation center of each diaphragm blade.

  Further, it is desirable that the plurality of diaphragm blades be arranged on a plane orthogonal to the irradiation X-rays of the X-ray source.

The operation of the X-ray diaphragm according to the first embodiment of the present invention is performed according to the procedure illustrated in FIGS.
Here, as an initial state, the four diaphragm blades 80 are assumed to have an X-ray passage hole having a diameter of φ5 mm, and an example in which the X-ray passage hole is set from a diameter of φ5 mm to φ10 mm will be described. To do.
The operation of the X-ray diaphragm 70 is performed in three steps: movement, rotation, and reverse movement.

<Transfer process>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the concept of the operation up to the movement of the diaphragm blades of the X-ray diaphragm according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of FIG. 5 using the mechanism diagram of FIG.

  First, the four motors 140 rotate and move the four movable shafts 120 in the a direction via the four racks 100 and the four drive gears 130. The movement in the a direction is performed until the driven gears 110 of the four movable shafts 120 are engaged with the gear portions inside the single driven gear 170. Finally, when the driven gear 110 of the four movable shafts 120 and the inner gear portion of the single driven gear 170 are fitted, the movement in the direction a stops. In the movement stop in the a direction in the first embodiment, since the moving distance in the process of moving the four movable shafts 120 is a fixed value, the movement stored in the memory (not shown) in the image processing unit 40 A method of controlling stop of movement using distance is adopted.

<Rotation process>
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the concept of the operation until the rotation of the diaphragm blades of the X-ray aperture according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 7 using the mechanism diagram of FIG.

  After the above movement process, one motor 160 rotates four movable shafts 120, so that four diaphragm blades 80 rotate via one drive gear 150 and one driven gear 170. To do. If the four corners of the aperture blades 80 are formed in the order of φ5mm, φ10mm, φ15mm, φ20mm, the rotation angle is 0 °, φ5mm, 90 °, φ10mm, 180 °, φ15mm At 270 °, the relationship is φ20mm. Here, since the diameter of the X-ray passage hole is changed from φ5 mm to φ10 mm, the rotation amount of the four aperture blades 80 may be 90 °. Since the 90 ° rotation amount of the four diaphragm blades 80 of the first embodiment is a fixed value, the four diaphragm blades 80 are used by using the rotation amount stored in the memory (not shown) in the image processing unit 40. The method of controlling the rotation of the is adopted.

  In addition, here, an example in which the aperture formed by the four diaphragm blades 80 is changed from φ5 mm to φ10 mm has been described. However, the change to φ15 mm only requires a rotation amount of 180 °, and the change to φ20 mm is a rotation. The amount may be 270 ° or -90 °.

<Reverse movement process>
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the concept of operation until the position of the diaphragm blades of the X-ray aperture according to the first embodiment of the present invention is restored, and FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of FIG. 9 using the mechanism diagram of FIG. It is.

  After the above rotation process, the four motors 140 rotate and move the four movable shafts 120 in the direction opposite to the direction a (c direction) via the four racks 100 and the four drive gears 130. . The movement in the c direction is performed until the four aperture blades 80 contact each other. Finally, when the four diaphragm blades 80 are in contact with each other, the movement in the c direction stops. In the movement stop in the c direction in the first embodiment, since the moving distance in the process of moving the four movable shafts 120 is a fixed value, the movement stored in the memory (not shown) in the image processing unit 40 A method of controlling stop of movement using distance is adopted.

  As described above, the invention of Example 1 includes an X-ray tube 60 that generates X-rays, and an X-ray diaphragm 70 that irradiates a subject with X-rays in a predetermined irradiation region of the generated X-rays. The X-ray image diagnosis apparatus is provided with an X-ray diaphragm 70 provided with X-ray passage holes for passing X-rays at two or more corners of an X-ray shielding material that shields X-rays, and an X-ray tube 60 A plurality of aperture blades 80 arranged in a plane that intersects at least the irradiation X-rays, and aperture blade drive configured to move the aperture blades 80 along the direction of the plane and to be rotatable at the rotation center of each aperture blade 80 Since the X-ray diaphragm mechanism can be configured with a single layer, it is possible to prevent the X-ray irradiation direction from becoming thick, so that the subject and the X-ray diaphragm are in contact with each other. Therefore, the user of the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus can avoid complicated operations for position adjustment such as moving the X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus itself or the C arm to the left or right. That.

  Further, the effect peculiar to the first embodiment is that the circular arc notches at the corners of the diaphragm blades 80 have different sizes. Since there are four types of notches, four types of X-ray irradiation areas can be formed.

Here, Example 2 will be described.
Although the X-ray irradiation area of the subject is formed by the configuration and operation of the first embodiment, if adjacent cross sections of the plurality of diaphragm blades 80 are simply flat, a gap may be generated between the adjacent cross sections.

In addition, high-precision processing is required to prevent a gap from being generated between adjacent cross sections.
Therefore, the diaphragm blade according to the present embodiment, which does not require high-precision processing on the contact surfaces between adjacent cross sections, will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shape of a contact portion of a plurality of diaphragm blades of the X-ray diaphragm according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 (a) shows an example in which adjacent sections of the plurality of diaphragm blades 80 (here, the first diaphragm blade 80a and the second diaphragm blade 80b) are in contact with each other at the convex portion 80c and the concave portion 80d. ing.
That is, the cross section of the first diaphragm blade 80a has the convex portion 80c, and the cross section of the second diaphragm blade 80b has the concave portion 80d.

  When the first diaphragm blade 80a and the second diaphragm blade 80b are in contact with each other in cross section, the first diaphragm blade 80a has a cross section of the convex portion 80c and the concave portion 80d of the second diaphragm blade 80b with no gap. Contact. The absence of a gap at the location where the first diaphragm blade 80a and the second diaphragm blade 80b are in contact with each other shields X-rays other than the irradiation region.

FIG. 11 (b) shows an example in which adjacent cross sections of a plurality of diaphragm blades 80 are in contact with a stepped portion 80e and a reverse stepped portion 80f.
That is, the cross section of the first diaphragm blade 80a has a stepped portion 80e, and the cross section of the second diaphragm blade 80b has a reverse stepped portion 80f.
When the first diaphragm blade 80a and the second diaphragm blade 80b are in contact with each other, the stepped portion 80e in the section of the first diaphragm blade 80a and the reverse stepped portion 80f in the section of the second diaphragm blade 80b are Contact so that they fit together without any gaps.

Further, FIG. 11 (c) shows an example in which the plurality of aperture blades 80 are constituted by a trapezoid 80g having a long upper base and a short lower base, and a trapezoid 80h having a short upper base and a long lower base. The trapezoid 80g has substantially the same area as the trapezoid 80h turned upside down in the height direction.
That is, the cross section of the first diaphragm blade 80a is a trapezoid hypotenuse 80g, and the cross section of the second diaphragm blade 80b is a trapezoid hypotenuse 80h.
When the cross sections of the first diaphragm blade 80a and the second diaphragm blade 80b are in contact, the oblique side 80g of the first diaphragm blade 80a and the oblique side 80h of the second diaphragm blade 80b are in contact with each other without a gap. To do.

  Further, when the first diaphragm blades 80a and the second diaphragm blades 80b are formed with four sheets, as shown in the lower right of FIG. 11, the first diaphragm blades 80a and the second diaphragm blades 80b are alternately arranged. If arranged, the four aperture blades 80 can come into contact with each other so as to fit with no gap.

  11 (a), FIG. 11 (b), and FIG. 11 (c) are common to the end portions on the opposite side of the contact surfaces of the first diaphragm blade 80a and the second diaphragm blade 80b. Convex part 80c or concave part 80d, step part 80e or reverse step part 80f, hypotenuse 80g or hypotenuse 80h are provided. This is because the first diaphragm blades 80a and the second diaphragm blades 80b rotate, so that when the X-ray passage holes having different sizes are formed, the end opposite to the contact surface becomes a contact surface. is there. Although not shown, the contact surface is also a contact surface in the drawing direction of the drawing, so that a convex portion 80c or a concave portion 80d, a stepped portion 80e or a reverse stepped portion 80f, a hypotenuse 80g or a hypotenuse 80h are provided.

  As described above, the unique effect of the second embodiment, together with the effect of the first embodiment, eliminates a gap at a position where the diaphragm blades 80 are in contact with each other, and can shield X-rays other than the irradiation region.

  60 X-ray tube, 70 X-ray diaphragm, 80 diaphragm blades, 90 diaphragm blade drive

Claims (4)

An X-ray source generating X-rays;
An X-ray diaphragm for irradiating the subject with X-rays in a predetermined irradiation area of the generated X-rays;
An X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising:
The X-ray diaphragm is provided with an X-ray passage hole that allows X-rays to pass through two or more corners of an X-ray shielding material that shields X-rays, and a plurality of X-ray diaphragms disposed on a plane at least intersecting with the irradiation X-rays of the X-ray source An X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising: a diaphragm blade; and a diaphragm blade driving unit configured to move the diaphragm blade along a direction of the plane and to be rotatable at the rotation center of each diaphragm blade. .   2. The X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray diaphragm has the plurality of diaphragm blades arranged on a plane orthogonal to the irradiation X-rays of the X-ray source.   2. The X-ray image diagnosis according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm blade drive unit moves the diaphragm blade to a plane along the direction of the plane so that the plurality of rotated diaphragm blades come into contact again. apparatus.   4. The shape of the joining portion of adjacent diaphragm blades among the plurality of diaphragm blades is formed so that the one diaphragm blade and the different diaphragm blades are fitted to each other. The X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus according to one item.

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