JP2013153938A - Movable x-ray diaphragm device and x-ray apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a movable X-ray apparatus having means for easily recognizing an X-ray irradiation range limited by a movable X-ray diaphragm without depending on the color of the surface of a subject.SOLUTION: A movable X-ray diaphragm device for adjusting the irradiation range of X-ray irradiating a subject by an X-ray generator, includes a projector sighting device to emit visible light for displaying the X-ray irradiation range in a simulated manner before performing X-ray photography. The projection sighting device has a mechanism for changing the color phase of the visible light.

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray movable aperture device for adjusting an X-ray irradiation range mounted on an X-ray apparatus.

  In order not to give the patient excessive X-ray exposure, it is necessary to adjust the X-ray irradiation range using an X-ray movable diaphragm (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Therefore, when performing X-ray imaging, usually, the surface of the subject is illuminated with light by a light projecting sight mounted on the X-ray aperture, and the X-ray irradiation range is simulated and positioned. Thereafter, actual X-ray output is performed.

  The state of the surface of the subject varies depending on the type of clothes worn by the patient. Therefore, in order to perform X-ray imaging, X-rays are output after irradiating light on clothes having different surface conditions and confirming the X-ray irradiation range in a simulated manner.

JP 2009-18208 A

  As described above, when checking the alignment before X-ray output using the projection sight, depending on the color of the subject surface, the light illuminated by the projection sight is inconspicuous and the irradiation range is difficult to understand. There was a case.

  Since the color of the surface of the subject is not necessarily a fixed color, it is desirable that the light color of the light projecting sight can be changed to a plurality of colors.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is made in view of the above problems, and is to make it easy to recognize an X-ray irradiation range limited by an X-ray movable diaphragm without depending on the color of the subject surface.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an X-ray movable diaphragm device for adjusting an X-ray irradiation area irradiated to a subject from an X-ray generator, before performing X-ray imaging of the subject. And a projection sight that emits visible light for simulating the X-ray irradiation range, and the projection sight has a mechanism for changing the hue of visible light.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to change the light source color of the light projecting sight mounted on the X-ray movable diaphragm, thereby making it easy to identify the X-ray irradiation range regardless of the color of the subject. The burden on positioning can be reduced.

It is a structural diagram of a conventional X-ray movable diaphragm device. 1 is a structural diagram of an X-ray movable diaphragm device in a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of an X-ray movable diaphragm device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which identifies the color of a to-be-photographed object automatically and switches a light source color. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a mobile X-ray imaging apparatus.

  First, a schematic configuration of a mobile X-ray imaging apparatus equipped with the X-ray movable diaphragm device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus showing a schematic configuration of the mobile X-ray imaging apparatus. As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile X-ray imaging apparatus is an apparatus in which an X-ray imaging apparatus is mounted on a moving carriage. The moving carriage is based on a carriage 11, two drive wheels (rear wheels) 12 arranged at the rear of the carriage 11, two front wheels 13 arranged at the front, and a drive output from the control circuit. A travel drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the drive wheels 12 and a housing 15, and a battery 16 is housed in the interior space of the carriage 11. For example, when the traveling handle mechanism 30 is operated in the direction of arrow A (the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body) in the figure, the drive wheels 12 are driven by the motor of the traveling drive mechanism (not shown), and the apparatus main body is illustrated in the figure. It is possible to move in the arrow B direction.

Above the front of the carriage 11, a support column 17 is erected in the vertical direction with one end side rotatably supported on the upper surface of the carriage 11. The rotation direction of the support column 17 is a rotation direction around the central axis in the extending direction of the support column 17 as indicated by an arrow C in FIG.
One end side of the X-ray tube support mechanism 18 is fixed to a side surface portion on the other end side of the support column 17 through a known slide mechanism (not shown). By adopting a configuration through this slide mechanism, the X-ray tube support mechanism 18 can be moved in the extending direction of the support column 17, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow D (vertical direction in the figure). Further, the X-ray tube support mechanism 18 is configured to include a well-known expansion / contraction mechanism.

  At the other end of the X-ray tube support mechanism 18, an X-ray tube device 19 is arranged via an expansion / contraction mechanism. As a result, the X-ray tube device 19 is movable in the expansion / contraction direction of the expansion / contraction mechanism of the X-ray tube support mechanism 18, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow E (the left-right direction in the figure). A known diaphragm device 20 for limiting the irradiation range of the X-ray beam is attached to the X-ray beam irradiation window portion (the lower surface side of the X-ray tube device 19 in the figure) of the X-ray tube device 19. Yes.

  An X-ray control device 21 including an X-ray high-voltage device and each drive control unit described in detail later are mounted above (above) the carriage 11, and a casing 15 is formed so as to surround these devices. ing. The X-ray control device 21 supplies tube voltage and tube current to the X-ray tube device 19 and performs on / off control of X-ray radiation.

  In the X-ray apparatus shown in the embodiment, the operation panel 22 is disposed on the upper surface of the housing 15. The operation panel 22 includes an operation device for setting X-ray imaging conditions (tube voltage, tube current, imaging time), an X-ray imaging push button switch, an X-ray irradiation field setting operation device, and the like. Further, a well-known lock mechanism 23 for fixing the position of the X-ray tube apparatus 19 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 15 when the X-ray apparatus travels.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Here, “subject” and “subject”, which are terms used below, will be described. “Subject” refers to a target in the case of irradiation with X-rays, while “subject” refers to a target irradiated by a light projecting sight. When the “subject” does not wear clothing, the “subject” is the body surface of the “subject”, and when the clothing is attached, the “subject” corresponds to clothing.

  The X-ray movable diaphragm described below rotates the X-ray tube device around the support column 17 as indicated by an arrow C in FIG. 5 and is irradiated from the X-ray tube moved near the upper portion of the subject. It is a device for narrowing the irradiation range of the line.

  First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an X-ray movable diaphragm device that defines an irradiation range of X-rays irradiated from the X-ray tube device 19 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, X-rays output from the X-ray tube focal point 1 in the direction of arrow A pass through the inside of the diaphragm housing 7, are restricted by the line-panning restriction blade 3, and are irradiated onto the subject. . Here, the “ray pan” refers to a primary X-ray with a limited spread for use in X-ray imaging of a subject.

  The wire panning restricting blade 3 is composed of a pair of shielding plates that move in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 and another pair of shielding plates that move in the front and back directions in FIG. In FIG. 1, only the former is illustrated. The wire panning restricting blade 3 is configured to open and close in the front-rear and left-right directions of FIG. It is assumed that the wire panning restriction blade 3 described below has a similar structure.

  In order to reduce the exposure to the subject as much as possible when performing X-ray imaging, a light projecting sight for displaying the X-ray irradiation field with light in a simulated manner is provided.

  Before the X-ray imaging, the operator turns on the light source 5 disposed inside the diaphragm. The light output from the light source 5 is reflected by the mirror 2, is limited by the line limiting blade 3 like the X-ray, and is irradiated onto the subject. At this time, by passing through the cross board 6, a cross pattern is projected so that the center can be seen in the irradiation field indicated by light.

  Further, since X-rays pass through the mirror 2, the structure has almost no influence on the amount of X-rays irradiated to the subject.

Here, the optical axis of the X-ray of the mirror 2 and the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source 5 are set to coincide with each other, and the irradiation range of the X-ray irradiation range and the simulated irradiation range match. It is set to be.
<First Embodiment>
Next, a first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a plurality of light sources 5 a (such as LEDs) that emit visible light having different hues such as blue, yellow, and red are arranged in the aperture housing 7.
The operator turns on the light source before X-ray imaging and positions the subject. At that time, according to the color of the subject, the operator selects a light source that can easily identify the irradiation field and manually switches it with the operation device. . In FIG. 2, an apparatus (for example, the hue control unit 24) for performing automatic switching is illustrated, but the automatic switching will be described later.

The light source that is easy to distinguish is, for example, a light source having a hue different from the hue of the subject.
In the X-ray movable diaphragm, the light source arranged on the turntable 8a rotates, the light source having a desired hue stops at a predetermined position, and the light source 5a is turned on, so that the irradiation field can be easily identified. Is possible.
<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of films 9 having different hues such as blue, yellow, and red are arranged on the turntable 8b.
As in the first embodiment described above, the operation field is manually switched in order to change the irradiation field to a hue that is easy to distinguish. In FIG. 3, an apparatus (for example, the hue control unit 24) for performing automatic switching is illustrated, but automatic switching will be described later.

Inside the X-ray movable diaphragm, a film 9 with a different hue arranged on the turntable 8b rotates, the film 9 with a desired hue stops at a predetermined position, turns on the light source 5b, and passes through the film 9. By doing so, it is possible to easily determine the irradiation field.
<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first and second embodiments, the operator manually selects the light source or the film 9, but in the third embodiment, the color of the subject surface is determined by a sensor. Its purpose is to automate the selection.

  First, the hue sensor 10 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is used to determine the hue of the subject, and as a result, from among a plurality of color light sources or films, hues that do not resemble as much as possible can be moved to the main X-ray. This is a method in which the hue control unit of an apparatus equipped with an aperture is automatically selected and automatically switched without being operated by the operator.

  In FIG. 2, based on the detection result of the hue sensor 10, the hue control unit 24 controls the motor 25, rotates the turntable 8 a by rotating the motor 25, and selects a desired light source 5 a, thereby It can be changed to hue. Information about the hue control unit 24 can be input from the operation panel 22.

  Similarly, in FIG. 3, based on the detection result of the hue sensor 10, the hue control unit 24 controls the motor 25, and the turntable 8 b is rotated by the rotation operation of the motor 25 to select the desired film 9. Thus, the desired hue can be changed. Information about the hue control unit 24 can be input from the operation panel 22.

The hue control unit 24 is built in the X-ray control device 21 shown in FIG.
<Fourth Embodiment>
The present embodiment relates to a function that can be added by changing the light source color of the light projecting sight of the X-ray movable aperture.

  The change of the light source color in the present embodiment is performed using a dimmer mounted on the light projecting sight. Light from a light source that emits natural light is dimmed by the dimmer to set light having a desired wavelength.

  Normally, the lighting time of the light source of the light projecting sight is set as a timer, and is automatically turned off after a certain time has elapsed. For example, it is stipulated that the lamp of the light projecting sight has a timer that limits the lighting time to 30 seconds (see JIS Z 4712: 1998 guide).

Therefore, if the operator takes time to position the X-ray image, the remaining time until the timer setting time is not known and the light is turned off at an unexpected timing.
If the operator changes the color of the light source at regular intervals after turning on the light projecting sight, it can be used as a measure of the time until the light is turned off.

  Of course, there is a method of displaying the remaining time until the light is turned off on the display, but it may be difficult to check the display while positioning X-ray imaging.

  Therefore, in accordance with the above rules, when the irradiation timer is set to 30 seconds, after the operator turns on the projection sight, the blinking sight is blinked a predetermined time before the turn-off time, for example, 10 seconds before. There is a method of giving a warning to the operator.

  Alternatively, instead of blinking the light projecting sight, a warning display may be displayed on the screen a predetermined time ago.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... X-ray tube focus, 2 ... Mirror, 3 ... Ray-thin restricting blade, 4 ... Knob, 5, 5a, 5b ... Light source, 6 ... Cross plate, 7 ... Housing, 8a, 8b ... Turntable, 10 ... Hue Sensor,
11 ... Mobile cart,
12 ... Driving wheel (rear wheel),
13 ... Front wheels,
15 ... Case,
16 ... Battery,
17 ... posts,
18 ... X-ray tube support mechanism,
19 ... X-ray tube device,
20: A diaphragm device,
21 ... X-ray control device,
22: Operation panel,
23 ... Lock mechanism,
30: A steering handle mechanism.

Claims (8)

In the X-ray movable diaphragm device for adjusting the irradiation region of the X-ray irradiated to the subject from the X-ray generator,
Before performing X-ray imaging of the subject, a projecting sight that emits visible light toward a subject portion of the subject to simulate display of the X-ray irradiation range,
The X-ray movable diaphragm device, wherein the projection sight has a mechanism for changing a hue of the visible light.   The mechanism for changing the hue of visible light includes a substrate on which a plurality of light emitting elements emitting different wavelengths are mounted on the projecting sight, and moving the substrate to select a light emitting element that emits a desired wavelength. The X-ray movable diaphragm according to claim 1, wherein the hue is changed.   The mechanism for changing the hue of the visible light includes a substrate on which a plurality of color films having different wavelengths that can be transmitted to the light projecting sight is arranged, and the substrate is moved so that light from a predetermined light source is transmitted to the color film. The X-ray movable diaphragm device according to claim 1, wherein the hue is changed by selecting a desired wavelength by transmitting light.   The mechanism for changing the hue of the visible light is equipped with a dimmer for dimming light from a light source that emits natural light in the projecting sight, and sets light having a desired wavelength by the dimmer. The X-ray movable diaphragm apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hue is changed by the step.   5. The X-ray movable diaphragm device according to claim 1, wherein the hue is changed by a hue changing unit that can be arbitrarily changed by an operator.   5. The X-ray movable diaphragm device according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing a hue based on a detection result of a hue sensor that determines a hue of the subject. When there is a time limit for lighting of the light source provided in the light projecting sight,
The X-ray movable according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein before reaching the time limit, the light from the light source is blinked to warn an operator of the approach of the time limit. Aperture device.   An X-ray imaging apparatus using the X-ray movable aperture device according to claim 1.

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