JP3033679B2 - Gantry device for medical imaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an X-ray CT apparatus,
MR imaging device, single photon ECT device,
The present invention relates to a gantry device of various medical image photographing devices such as a positron emission CT device, and more particularly to a technique for detecting attachment / detachment of a plurality of covers covering a gantry device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional apparatus of this type, for example, X
A gantry device of a line CT device may be used. A gantry apparatus of an X-ray CT apparatus has an opening through which a top plate on which a subject is placed can advance and retreat, and an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector are rotatably arranged in this opening while being opposed to each other. An X-ray detector is provided or a ring-shaped X-ray detector is built in the opening, and the X-ray tube is rotatably arranged. Therefore, since a rotational drive mechanism is provided in the gantry apparatus, the X-ray detector is not affected by noise in order to prevent the photographer and the subject from being endangered by the rotational drive mechanism. The gantry device is entirely covered by combining a plurality of covers, for example, in order to minimize reception. Gantry equipment is usually
When at least one of the plurality of covers is opened or removed for the above-described reason, each of the plurality of covers is controlled so as not to operate the apparatus or to stop the operation of the apparatus during operation. It has a function of detecting the attachment / detachment (so-called interlock).

The function of detecting the attachment / detachment is such that an attachment / detachment detection unit is attached to each of a plurality of covers, and output signal lines of each attachment / detachment detection unit are output in series to a control device. When one of the covers is opened or removed, the output signal changes [on or off] so that it can be detected.

[0004]

However, the prior art having such a structure has the following problems. That is, since the attachment / detachment detection unit is attached to each of the plurality of covers, the same number of attachment / detachment detection units as the covers is required, and the number of attachment / detachment detection units is inevitably increased. There is a problem that wiring is complicated because the output signal lines are connected in series.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by devising the attachment position of the attachment / detachment detecting means and the shape of the adjacent cover, the number of attachment / detachments that is significantly smaller than the number of covers is reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide a gantry device of a medical image photographing device that can detect attachment and detachment of all covers by a detection unit and can easily perform wiring of the covers.

[0006]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. That is, the gantry device of the medical image capturing apparatus according to the present invention is a gantry apparatus of a medical image capturing apparatus, which is entirely covered by a plurality of covers and has a function of detecting attachment / detachment of the plurality of covers, With respect to only one of the plurality of covers (main cover), an attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of the main cover and an adjacent cover (subordinate cover) is provided. At the boundary between the cover and the other cover, an attachment / detachment restricting portion is formed so that the other cover can be removed only when the main cover or the subordinate cover is removed. It is.

[0007]

The operation of the present invention is as follows. Among the plurality of covers covering the gantry device, one cover (main cover) includes a cover adjacent to the main cover (subordinate cover).
Since the attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting the attachment / detachment of the main and subordinate covers is provided, the detachment detection means can detect when the main cover or the subordinate cover is removed. To remove the other covers except the main cover and the subordinate cover, remove the main cover or the subordinate cover because the attachment / detachment restricting part is formed at the boundary between the main cover or the subordinate cover and the other cover. There must be. Therefore, the attachment / detachment detection means provided on the main cover can indirectly detect the attachment / detachment of other covers. As a result, the attachment / detachment of all covers can be detected only by providing the attachment / detachment detection means on only one (main) cover without providing the attachment / detachment detection means on each of the plurality of covers.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. An X-ray CT apparatus will be described as an example of a medical image photographing apparatus with reference to FIGS. 1 is an external perspective view, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a front view thereof.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a gantry device, and an opening 2 is formed near the center of the front of the gantry.
An X-ray tube (not shown) and an X-ray detector (not shown) are rotatably arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the opening 2 while being opposed to each other. The gantry device 1 is used to prevent the photographer and the subject from being exposed to danger by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown), or to suppress the influence of noise on the X-ray detector.
The whole is covered by combining five covers. The outer peripheral portion of the opening 2 may be provided with a ring-shaped X-ray detector (not shown) and an X-ray detector rotatably provided by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown).

First, a front cover 5 is provided on the front side of the gantry device 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 2, the front cover 5 is configured such that the upper part thereof is opened so that the lower end part thereof can be flipped up about a rotation center P disposed on a frame F of the apparatus. . At the vicinity of the upper portion of the frame F and at two places on the left and right of the front cover 5, telescopic gas springs 5a for reducing the burden on the operator when the front cover 5 is flipped up and opened are mounted.

A left side cover 6 and a right side cover 7 are mounted on the side of the gantry device 1, a top cover 8 is mounted on an upper side, and a rear cover 9 is mounted on a rear side.

On the front side of the gantry device 1, a bed 20 is disposed at a position separated by a predetermined distance. This bed 2
Reference numeral 0 denotes a base 21 installed on the floor surface, which can be raised and lowered, and a top plate 22 mounted on the base 21. The top plate 22 is for mounting a subject, and is configured to advance and retreat into the opening 2 of the gantry device 1 with the subject mounted thereon by an advance / retreat driving mechanism (not shown). Then, the site of interest of the subject is sent into the opening 2 under the control of a control device (not shown), and transmitted X-ray data is collected over the entire circumference of the subject while rotating the X-ray detector by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown). Thus, a tomographic image of the region of interest is reconstructed, that is, the region of interest is photographed. Therefore, the apparatus 1 is covered with the above-mentioned five covers so that the photographer or the subject is not exposed to danger and the X-ray detector is not affected by noise during the rotation drive by the rotation drive mechanism (not shown). Therefore, it is necessary to stop or stop the operation of the gantry device 1 when these are opened or removed. This is the so-called interlock function,
It detects that the cover has been opened or removed, and does not start the operation even if the control of the control device (not shown) is urgently stopped or the start of shooting is instructed.

In the gantry apparatus 1, the attachment / detachment detection unit 30 is provided only on the front cover 5, and the attachment / detachment detection unit 30 is provided at two locations on the side inner walls near the left and right side covers 6, 7 adjacent to the front cover 5. It is arranged. Since the two attachment / detachment detection units 30 are the same, respectively, the attachment / detachment detection unit 3 provided on the right side cover 7 side is used here.
Taking 0 as an example, a description will be given with reference to a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4 and a side view of FIG.

The attachment / detachment detector 30 comprises an L-shaped attachment member 31, a microswitch 32, and a magnet 33. The micro switch 32 is mounted on the front cover 5 via the mounting member 31 such that the operation piece 32a faces the right side cover 7 (in the mounted state).
It is attached to the inner wall. Also, the right side cover 7
When the right side cover 7 is attached to the front cover 5 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4), a metal detection is made to contact the operating piece 32a of the microswitch 32 and press the operating piece 32a. A piece 35 is attached. In addition,
When the right side cover 7 is attached, the detection piece 35 is attracted to the convex magnet 33, and the operation piece 32a is pressed to turn on the output signal of the micro switch 32. Further, as shown by a solid line in FIG.
Is removed, the operating piece 32a of the microswitch 32 is in a protruding state, and the microswitch 32
Is turned off. The attachment / detachment detection unit 30 configured as described above not only attaches / detaches the right side cover 7,
Opening and closing of the front cover 5 can also be detected. Therefore, even when the front cover 5 is opened with the right side cover 7 attached, the output signal of the microswitch 32 is turned off in the same manner as described above. Detachment detector 3
When the right side cover 7 and the front cover 5 are attached to each other, the magnet 33 constituting the first side 0 attracts the detection piece 35 of the right side cover 7 with a magnetic force. The seams are in close contact, and the appearance can be felt.

The above-described front cover 5 corresponds to the main cover in the present invention, and the left and right side covers 6 and 7 correspond to the subordinate covers in the present invention, respectively. Further, the attachment / detachment detection section 30 corresponds to the attachment / detachment detection means in the present invention.

Next, reference is made to FIG. 3, FIG. 6, and FIG.
The right side cover 7 has a positioning protrusion 7a formed near the top cover 8 on the upper inner wall thereof, and
And is fixed by locking to a support member 40 disposed in the, and is further fixed by screws (not shown). On the right side of the frame F, a support member 40 mounted substantially horizontally is provided. The support member 40 is provided with a concave portion 40a formed on the frame F side and a position away from the concave portion 40a in the right direction. And a concave portion 40b formed at the bottom. The state where the right side cover 7 is attached (the normal position indicated by the solid line in the figure)
Then, the positioning protrusion 7a is engaged with the concave portion 40a,
When the right side cover 7 is shifted, first, the right side cover 7 is lifted upward, and the positioning protrusion 7a is
0a to move the positioning protrusion 7a to the sliding portion 40.
c, while being moved to and engaged with the recess 40b (this is referred to as an adjustment position). The right side cover 7 can be completely removed from the support member 40 by further shifting the right side cover 7 upward and rightward. The left side cover 6 has the same configuration as described above.

At the boundary of the right side cover 7 with the top cover 8, there is formed a folded portion 7 b projecting toward the top cover 8 from the inner wall.
At a boundary portion with the right side cover 7, a folded portion 8a protruding toward the right side cover 7 from the outer wall is formed. Although not shown, the left side cover 6
Of the top cover 8 and the top cover 8
A folded portion similar to that described above is also formed at the boundary with the left side cover 6. These folded portions 7b,
The top cover 8 cannot be removed in a state where the right side cover 7 or the left side cover 6 is at the normal position due to the engagement of the top cover 8a. As described above, first, it is necessary to shift one of the left and right side covers 6 and 7 to the adjustment position or completely remove it. Therefore, the top cover 8 alone cannot be removed alone, and the left and right side covers 6, 7 are necessarily shifted to the adjustment position or to the adjustment position. Is detected to be shifted to the adjustment position, and it can be indirectly detected that the top cover 8 has been removed. As described above, when it is desired to remove only the top cover 8, it is only necessary to shift the left and right side covers 6, 7 to the left and right without completely removing them, so that work efficiency can be improved. In addition, the above-mentioned folded portion 7
Reference numerals b and 8a correspond to the attachment / detachment restricting portion in the present invention.

Further, the boundary between the rear cover 9 and the left and right side covers 6 and 7 and the
The folded portion as described above is also formed at the boundary portion with the rear cover 9. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, first, after the left and right side covers 6 and 7 are shifted to the adjustment position,
Alternatively, the rear cover 9 cannot be removed unless it has been removed. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the left and right side covers 6 and 7 have been shifted to the adjustment positions or that the right and left side covers 6 and 7 have been removed by the attachment / detachment detection unit 30 and indirectly remove the rear cover 9.

As described above, this gantry device 1
The front cover 5, left and right side covers 6, 7, the top cover 8, and the rear cover 9 are entirely covered by a total of five covers. , But only on the front cover 5 (main cover) and directly on the left and right side covers 6, 7 adjacent to this cover.
Only the attachment / detachment with the (subordinate cover) is detected. As described above, the attachment / detachment of the other covers, that is, the top cover 8 and the rear cover 9, is independently controlled by the folded portion formed at the boundary between the left and right side covers 6 and 7. 6,7
The top cover 8 and the rear cover 9 cannot be removed unless the front cover 8 and the rear cover 9 are displaced or removed to the adjustment position. Specifically, it can be detected that the top cover 8 or the rear cover 9 has been removed. Therefore, in the above-described example, the attachment / detachment of the five covers can be detected only by the two attachment / detachment detection units 30. In the conventional example, five attachment / detachment detection units are required to detect the attachment / detachment of the five covers. The effect can be obtained. Further, since the number of the attachment / detachment detecting sections 30 can be reduced, the wiring for connecting these output signal lines in series and connecting them to a control device (not shown) can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the microswitch 3 is used to detect the detection piece 35 of the attachment / detachment detection section 30.
2, the attachment / detachment detection unit 30 'adopting the reflection type photo sensor 34 may be used as shown in FIG. According to this configuration, since the detachment can be detected in a non-contact manner, a failure due to wear or the like hardly occurs, and the detachment can be detected with high reliability. Further, the reflection type photo sensor 34
Instead, various sensors such as a proximity switch can be adopted. The configuration of the attachment / detachment detection unit 30 can be variously modified, and may be any configuration as long as the attachment / detachment of the main cover and the subordinate cover can be detected. In the above configuration, the metal detection piece 35 is attracted by the magnet 33 in order to make the left and right side covers 6 and 7 adjacent to the front cover 5 come into close contact with each other. Any means may be adopted, for example,
It may be configured by a fitting member whose front end is larger in diameter than the base end, and a locking portion that receives and locks the fitting member, which is adopted in an opening / closing door or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the attachment / detachment detection unit 30 is provided on the front cover 5 (main cover) to detect attachment / detachment of the left and right side covers 6 and 7 (subordinate covers). In addition, various modifications can be made as follows.

The front cover 5 is a main cover and the top cover 8 is a subordinate cover (see FIG. 10). That is, one attachment / detachment detection unit 30 is provided toward the top cover 8 in the front cover 5, and the detection piece 35 is provided on the top cover 8 on the front cover 5 side.
Furthermore, left and right side covers 6, 7 of the front cover 5
The outer surface of the front cover 5 is provided at a boundary portion between the right and left side covers 6 and 7 to restrict lifting of each of the right and left side covers 6 and 7 when the right and left side covers 6 and 7 are shifted from the normal position to the adjustment position or completely removed. A restricting member 5a (corresponding to a detachable restricting portion) is formed on the left and right side covers 6, 7 below the restricting member 5a and interferes with the restricting member 5a when the front cover 5 is closed.
When the front cover 5 is opened, a projection 6a (corresponding to a detachable restricting portion) that does not interfere with the restricting member 5a is formed. Further, at the boundary between the rear cover 9 and the top cover 8, the folded portion 8 of the top cover 8 shown in FIG.
First, a folded portion 9a similar to that of FIG. 1A is formed, so that the rear cover 9 cannot be removed unless the top cover 8 is removed.

With this configuration, the front cover 5
The attachment / detachment of the top cover 8 is directly detected by the attachment / detachment detection unit 30, and the attachment / detachment of the left and right side covers 6, 7 and the rear cover 9 can be indirectly detected by removing the front cover 5 or the top cover 8. . Further, since only one attachment / detachment detection unit 30 can be provided, the number of attachment / detachment detection units can be further reduced as compared with the conventional example.

The rear cover 9 is a main cover and the left and right side covers 6, 7 are subordinate covers (see FIG. 11).
That is, the attachment / detachment detection unit 30 is provided toward the left and right side covers 6 and 7 in the rear cover 9, and the detection piece 35 is provided on each of the left and right side covers 6 and 7 on the rear cover 9 side. Further, one end of a regulating member 5a (corresponding to a detachable regulating portion) having a C-shaped cross section is fixed to each of the front cover 5 near the boundary between the left and right side covers 6 and 7, and the right and left sides are fixed. Side cover 6,7
A restricting member 6a (corresponding to a detachable restricting portion) is formed at a position that does not interfere with the restricting member 5a when the left and right side covers 6, 7 are raised and lowered. Thus, in order to open the front cover 5, first, the left and right side covers 6, 7 must be moved up and down, and both side covers 6, 7 must be moved to the adjustment position. Furthermore, of the top cover 8,
A folded portion 8b (corresponding to a detachable restricting portion) similar to the folded portion 8a of the top cover 8 shown in FIG. 6 is formed at a boundary portion with the rear cover 9, and the top cover 8 is attached only after the rear cover 9 is removed. Make sure it cannot be removed. With this configuration, the rear cover 9 and the left and right side covers 6 and 7 can be directly detected by the attachment / detachment detection unit 30, and the attachment / detachment of the front cover 5 and the top cover 8 can be indirectly detected.

The top cover 8 is a main cover, and the rear cover 9 is a subordinate cover (see FIG. 12). That is, one attachment / detachment detection section 30 is provided toward the rear cover 9 in the top cover 8, and the detection piece 35 is provided on the top cover 8 side of the rear cover 9. Further, folded portions 6b and 7c (corresponding to attachment / detachment regulating portions) that enter the lower surface of the top cover 8 are formed near the boundaries between the left and right side covers 6 and 7 and the top cover 8, respectively.
Further, near the boundary between the top surface of the front cover 5 and the top cover 8, regulating members 8c and 5c (each corresponding to a detachable regulating portion) are formed. With this configuration, since the regulating members 8c and 5b are formed, the front cover 5 cannot be opened unless the top cover 8 is removed, and the top cover 5 must be removed by the folded portions 6b and 7c. The left and right side covers 6, 7 cannot be shifted or removed. Therefore, the attachment / detachment of the top cover 8 and the rear cover 9 can be directly detected by one attachment / detachment detection unit 30, and the attachment / detachment of the left and right side covers 6, 7 and the front cover 5 can be indirectly detected. According to this configuration, the attachment / detachment of all five covers can be detected by a smaller number of attachment / detachment detectors as compared with the conventional example, similarly to the above.

In the above description, the gantry device 1 entirely covered by five covers has been described as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to any gantry device covered by a plurality of covers. If applicable.

In the above-described embodiment and modified examples,
Although the gantry apparatus 1 has been described by taking an X-ray CT apparatus as an example of a medical image photographing apparatus, the present invention is not limited to the X-ray CT apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a gantry device of a medical image photographing device such as a device, a single photon ECT device for detecting gamma rays emitted from a subject to which a radioisotope is administered, and a positron emission CT device.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the main cover or the subordinate cover is removed, the attachment / detachment can be directly detected by the attachment / detachment detecting means, and the other covers can be attached / detached. Since either the main cover or the subordinate cover cannot be removed without being removed by the restricting portion, the attachment / detachment detection means provided on the main cover can indirectly detect the attachment / detachment of the other cover. As a result, the attachment / detachment of all covers can be detected only by providing the attachment / detachment detection means on only one (main) cover without providing the attachment / detachment detection means on each of the plurality of covers. As a result, the attachment / detachment of all the covers can be detected by the attachment / detachment detecting means of a number significantly smaller than the number of the covers, and the wiring can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the gantry device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the gantry device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the attachment / detachment detection section taken along line AA.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the attachment / detachment detection unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a periphery of a support member.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the order of attaching and detaching covers.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the order of attaching and detaching covers.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a modification of the attachment / detachment detection unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modification.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a modification.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Gantry apparatus 2 ... Opening 5 ... Front cover (main cover) 6 ... Left side cover (subordinate cover) 7 ... Right side cover (subordinate cover) 7b ... Folding part (removal control part) 8 ... Top cover 8a ... Folding part (Attachment / detachment restricting part) 9 ... Rear cover 20 ... Bed 30 ... Attachment / detachment detection part (attachment / detachment detection means) 31 ... Attachment member 32 ... Micro switch 32a ... Activating piece 33 ... Magnet 35 ... Detection piece 40 ... Supporting member

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B61B 6/03 B61B 5/055

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A gantry device for a medical imaging apparatus, which is entirely covered by a plurality of covers and has a function of detecting attachment / detachment of the plurality of covers,
One of the plurality of covers (main cover)
Only for the main cover, a detachment detecting means for detecting detachment of the main cover and an adjacent cover (subordinate cover) is provided, and a boundary portion between the main cover or the subordinate cover and another cover is provided with the main cover. Alternatively, a gantry device is provided with a detachable restricting portion so that other covers can be removed only when the dependent cover is removed.