JP3047733U - Head positioning mechanism for X-ray equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head positioning mechanism of an X-ray imaging apparatus which has a simple configuration, can easily adjust the position in steps, quickly and accurately. In performing the operation, in the head positioning mechanism for positioning the head of the subject with respect to the X-ray imaging apparatus, the positioning mechanism includes a contact member 28 that contacts a part of the head of the subject and the contact member 28. A fixing portion 42 for fixing the member to the X-ray imaging apparatus, and one of the contact member 28 and the fixing portion 42
And the other of the contact member 28 or the fixed portion 42 is engaged with the engaging portion 44 to position the contact member 28 at the first position with respect to the fixed portion 42. A second position for positioning the engaged portion 48 and the contact member 28 at a second position different from the first position with respect to the fixing portion 42;
And the engaged portion 50.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to a medical X-ray imaging apparatus mainly used in dentistry, otolaryngology, and the like, particularly to a panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus, and more particularly, to positioning a head of a subject to be X-rayed at an appropriate position. To a head positioning mechanism for performing the operation.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus used for dental diagnosis generally has a substantially U-shaped swing arm provided with an X-ray generation device and an X-ray image receiving device so as to face each other. The head of the subject is located between the X-ray generator and the X-ray receiver and is held at a predetermined position by a head positioning mechanism. In this state, the swivel arm is swiveled to panorama X along the dental arch. Radiography is performed.

On the other hand, this panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus can also perform curved tomography of the maxillary sinus region of the head. It is necessary to lower the position a little. Therefore, the position of the subject's head has been lowered by a screw-type adjustment mechanism provided in the head positioning mechanism.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 However, such a screw-type adjustment mechanism can continuously adjust the position of the subject's head to an arbitrary position, but there is a problem that the mechanism is complicated and the adjustment requires time and effort. . Although fine adjustment is possible with the screw type joint mechanism, the X-ray imaging area has a certain width in the vertical direction, so that it is not necessary to make fine adjustment. It is preferable that the mechanism be capable of easily adjusting the position of the subject's head to a predetermined position in a stepwise manner for maxillary sinus imaging.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a head positioning mechanism of an X-ray imaging apparatus which has a simple configuration, can easily perform stepwise positioning, can be quickly and accurately performed.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a head positioning mechanism for positioning the head of a subject with respect to an X-ray imaging apparatus when performing head X-ray imaging, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a head of the subject. And a fixing portion for fixing the contact member to the X-ray imaging apparatus. Either the contact member or the fixing portion has an engaging portion. The other of the contact member and the fixed portion is engaged with the engagement portion to form an engaged portion that selectively positions the contact member at a plurality of specific positions with respect to the fixed portion. It is characterized by having. Further, one of the contact member and the fixing portion has an engaging portion, and the other of the contact member and the fixing portion is engaged with the engaging portion and the contact member is fixed to the fixing portion. A first engaged portion positioned at a first position with respect to the first engaging portion; and a second engaged portion positioned at a second position different from the first position with respect to the fixed portion with respect to the fixed portion. It is characterized by having a part.

In the head positioning mechanism according to the present invention, the fixing portion is a mounting hole into which the mounting portion of the contact member is inserted, and the engaging portion is a projection provided on an inner surface of the mounting hole. The engaged portion may be a concave portion formed on the outer surface of the mounting portion. Conversely, the projection may be provided on the outer surface of the mounting portion, and the concave portion may be formed on the inner surface of the mounting hole.

Further, the concave portion is a groove-shaped concave portion, and is formed as a plurality of groove-shaped concave portions branched from one groove-shaped concave portion or a plurality of independent groove-shaped concave portions which are not continuous with each other. Each end of the groove-shaped recess or each end of the plurality of independent groove-shaped recesses may be an engagement recess to which the above-mentioned projection is engaged. In addition, the direction of the projection toward each end of the groove-shaped recess is upward when engaging the upper part of the protrusion at each end of the groove-shaped recess, and upward when engaging the lower part of the protrusion. By moving downward, the movement of the protrusion in the circumferential direction and the downward direction may be restricted.

Further, the projection may protrude in a state of being urged by an elastic member, and may be pushed inward from a certain recess until it is engaged with another recess.

Further, the contact member positioned at the first position corresponds to a dentition panoramic imaging mode, and the contact member positioned at the second position corresponds to a maxillary sinus imaging mode. You may make it.

[0011] The contact member may be a chin rest, a nose root press, a bite block, or a sub nose press.

[0012]

[Effect of the invention]

 According to the head positioning mechanism of the present invention, the head is brought into contact with a part of the head to be photographed simply by changing the engaging position of the engaging part from the first engaged part to the second engaged part. The contact member can be positioned step by step. Therefore, it is possible to easily, quickly, and accurately adjust the position of the subject's head by positioning the contact member. In addition, the number of components can be reduced as compared with the screw type adjusting mechanism, so that the configuration is simplified, the cost is reduced, and the rigidity is high, so that loosening or failure is unlikely to occur.

[0013]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus 10 to which the present invention is applied. The X-ray imaging apparatus 10 has a base 14 fixed to the floor 12 of an X-ray proof room for dental care, and a support 16 fixed vertically to the base 14. An X-ray imaging unit 18 is provided on the support 16, and the imaging unit 18 can be moved up and down along the support 16 by a lifting motor (not shown). The photographing unit 18 has a main frame 20, an upper frame 22 and a lower frame 24 protruding forward from upper and lower portions of the main frame 20, respectively. The upper frame 22 supports the revolving arm 26 via a connecting shaft (not shown). The lower frame 24 has a head positioning mechanism for positioning the head of the subject. The head positioning mechanism includes a chin rest (contact member) 28 on which the subject places a chin, and an attachment hole (fixing portion) for fixing the chin rest 28 to the lower frame 24. In addition, the lower frame 24 includes a pair of temporal pressing plates 30 for pressing the temporal region of the subject from both sides, and a handle 32 that the subject grips with both hands.

The turning arm 26 has a substantially U-shape with both ends extending downward, and has an X-ray generator 34 at one end and an X-ray image receiving device 36 at the other end. Each device 34, 36 faces each other. The turning arm 26 has a driving mechanism (not shown), and can turn based on the driving of the driving mechanism. As shown in FIG. 2, the subject's head is positioned at a predetermined position by being pinched on both sides of the head with the temporal holding plate 30 with the chin resting on the chin rest 28. In this state, the revolving arm 26 is revolved to perform panoramic radiography or maxillary sinus radiography of the head.

As shown in FIG. 3, the chin rest 28 has a columnar mounting portion 40 at a lower portion thereof, and the mounting portion 40 is inserted into a mounting hole 42 provided at a distal end 38 of the lower frame 24. Fixed. A protruding pin (projection) 44 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 42. On the other hand, a groove-like concave portion 46 cut from the lower portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion 40. The groove-shaped concave portion 46 is branched in the middle, and each end of each of the two groove-shaped concave portions is provided with a first engaging concave portion (first engaged portion) 48 and a second engaging concave portion. (The second engaged portion) 50. The first engagement recess 48 and the second engagement recess 50 are formed so as to be aligned in the axial direction of the mounting portion 40.

When the mounting portion 40 of the chin rest 28 is inserted into the mounting hole 42 and the pin 44 engages with the first engaging concave portion 48 of the groove-shaped concave portion 46, the movement of the chin rest 28 in the downward and circumferential directions is restricted. And is positioned at the first position. The dentition panoramic imaging is performed with the chin resting on the chin rest 28 at the first position and the head of the subject fixed. Next, when adjusting the position of the chin rest 28, the pin 44 is returned to the branch point 52 of the groove-shaped concave portion 46 by slightly lifting and rotating the chin rest 28, and then the pin 44 is lowered by lowering the chin rest 28. When the engagement portion 50 is engaged with the engagement concave portion 50, the movement of the chin rest 28 in the downward and circumferential directions is restricted, and the chin rest 28 is positioned at the second position. The chin rest 28 at the second position has a position lower than that of the first position relative to the X-ray generator 34 and the image receiving device 36, and the chin rest 28 at the second position has a chin. The maxillary sinus imaging is performed with the subject's head fixed on the subject.

As described above, according to the head positioning mechanism of the present embodiment, the position of the chin rest 28 can be easily, quickly, and accurately adjusted in two stages corresponding to the two photographing modes of dentition panoramic photographing and maxillary sinus photographing. Can be adjusted. In addition, since the positioning mechanism has a very simple structure as compared with the screw type adjusting mechanism, the cost is low.

Next, a modification of the positioning mechanism of the chin rest 28 will be described with reference to FIGS. In each figure, the same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 4A, the groove-shaped concave portions formed in the mounting portion 40 of the chin rest 28 are formed as discontinuous first and second grooves 46a and 46b, respectively, and the respective grooves 46a and 46b are respectively formed. May be the first engagement recess 48 and the second engagement recess 50. Further, even when a plurality of grooves are branched from one groove, the shape is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and may be, for example, a shape as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the pin 44 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion 40 of the chin rest 28, and the groove-shaped concave portion 46 may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 42. In this case as well, various groove shapes are conceivable. For example, the groove shape may be a branched groove shape as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 (b), or two independent grooves as shown in FIG. 6 (a). Is also good.

The manner of positioning the chin rest 28 in the above-described modified example is substantially the same as that described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the chin rest 28 shown in FIG. 7, the mounting portion 40 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and first and second groove-shaped concave portions 52 and 54 are formed in parallel on one side surface. On the other hand, the mounting hole 42 is also formed in a square hole corresponding to the mounting portion 40, so that the mounting portion 40 can be inserted with almost no gap. A ball 56 is embedded in one wall surface 42a of the inner surface of the mounting hole 42, and a part of the ball 56 is urged by an elastic member 58 such as a spring to protrude from the wall surface 42a. When the mounting portion 40 of the chin rest 28 is inserted into the mounting hole 42, the ball 56 once pushed inward engages with the first grooved concave portion 52, and the chin rest 28 is in the first position for panoramic radiography. Positioned. When the chin rest 28 is pushed downward from this state, the ball 56 is pushed inward and the engagement with the first groove-shaped recess 52 is released. When the second groove-shaped concave portion 54 comes to the opposing position, the ball 56 is pushed out again and engaged, and the chin rest 28 is positioned at the second position for maxillary sinus imaging.

In the chin rest 28 shown in FIG. 7, the mounting portion 40 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the mounting portion 40 may be formed in a columnar shape, and the mounting hole 42 may be formed in a round hole. Good. In this case, in order to prevent the rotation of the mounting portion 40 in the mounting hole 42, it is preferable to form a concave groove 60 and a convex portion 62 that fit together. Further, the first and second concave portions 52 and 54 may be formed as circular concave portions.

Next, a case will be described in which the contact member that comes into contact with the head of the subject is a nose root press. As shown in FIG. 9, the nasal root presser 70 is attached to the upper frame 22 through a space (not shown) substantially at the center of the swing arm 26, and is attached to the upper frame 22. The distal end 72 abuts on the root of the nose located at the center between the eyes to position the subject's head at a predetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 10, the nasal root presser 70 has a columnar mounting portion 40 on an upper portion thereof, and the mounting portion 40 is inserted into the mounting hole 42 and fixed. A pin (projection) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 42 so as to protrude inward. On the other hand, a groove-like concave portion 46 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion 40. The groove-shaped recess 46 is branched into two, and each end of each of the branched groove-shaped recesses 46 is a first engagement recess 48 and a second engagement recess 50. The pin 44 is inserted into the mounting hole 42 so that the pin 44 fits into the groove-shaped concave portion 46, and is inserted to the innermost position and then rotated. Engage with the mating recess 48. In this state, the movement of the nasal root presser 70 in the downward and circumferential directions is regulated, and the nose root presser 70 is positioned at the first position. By contacting the tip 72 of the nose root presser 70 at the first position with the nose root of the subject's head, the head is positioned at a position for panoramic radiography.

Next, the nose root presser 70 is slightly lifted to release the engagement of the pin 44 with the first engagement recess 48, and is rotated. Then, the nose root presser 70 is lowered to set the position of the pin 44. The pin 44 is engaged with the second engagement recess 50 by returning to the branch point 52 of the groove-shaped recess 46 and then rotating it again. In this state, the movement of the nose root presser 70 in the downward and circumferential directions is regulated, and the nose root presser 70 is positioned at the second position lower than the first position. By contacting the tip 72 of the nose root presser 70 at the second height with the nose root, the head of the subject is positioned at the position for imaging the maxillary sinus. Note that the effect of the positioning mechanism of the nose root presser 70 is the same as that of the above-described chin rest 28, and thus the description is omitted.

Next, a modified example of the positioning mechanism of the nasal root retainer 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 11A, the groove-shaped concave portions formed in the mounting portion 40 of the nasal root presser 70 are formed as independent first grooves 46a and second grooves 46b, which are not continuous. , 46b may be a first engagement recess 48 and a second engagement recess 50, respectively. Further, even when a groove branched from one groove is formed, the shape is not limited to that shown in FIG. 10, and may be, for example, a shape as shown in FIG. 11B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the pin 44 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion 40 of the nasal root presser 70, and the groove-shaped concave portion 46 may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 42. . In this case as well, various groove shapes are conceivable. For example, a groove shape branched as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 (b) may be used, or two independent groove shapes as shown in FIG. 13 (b). It may be a groove.

The mounting portion 40 of the nasal root presser 70 shown in FIG. 14 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has first and second groove-shaped concave portions 52 and 54 formed on one side thereof in parallel. On the other hand, the mounting hole 42 is formed in a square hole so that the mounting portion 40 can be inserted with almost no gap. A ball 56 is embedded in one wall surface 42a of the inner surface of the mounting hole 42, and is urged by an elastic member 58 such as a spring so that the ball 56 projects from the upper wall surface 42a. The method of positioning the nose tip holder 70 having such a positioning mechanism is substantially the same as the method of adjusting the chin rest 28 described with reference to FIG.

The mounting portion 40 of the nasal root presser 70 shown in FIG. 14 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, as shown in FIG. 15, the mounting portion 40 is formed in a columnar shape, and the mounting hole 42 is formed in a round shape. May be implemented. The method of positioning the nose root presser 70 having such a positioning mechanism is substantially the same as the method of adjusting the chin rest 28 described with reference to FIG.

The nose tip holder 70 may be of a type that is suspended from above, or may be of a type that rises from the distal end portion 38 of the lower frame 24 as shown in FIG. The positioning mechanism in this case is the same as that used for the chin rest 28 described above.

Next, the case where the contact member that contacts the head of the subject is a bite block will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, the bite block 80 is attached to the distal end portion 38 of the lower frame 24, and the head is positioned at a predetermined position by the subject biting the distal end.

As shown in FIG. 18, two V-grooves 82 and 84 are formed opposite to each other near the tip of the bent portion of the bite block 80 so that the upper and lower front teeth are fitted. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19, a mouthpiece 90 having grooves 86 and 88 into which upper and lower front teeth are fitted may be attached to the tip of the bite block 80 for use. The mouthpiece 90 is formed of, for example, styrofoam and can be used as a disposable member.

The positioning mechanism of the bite block 80 is the same as that of the chin rest 28 described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Further, a case where the contact member that contacts the head of the subject is a nasal point holder will be described. As shown in FIG. 20, the lower nose point holder 92 is attached to the distal end portion 38 of the lower frame 24, and presses the lower nose point just above the upper lip of the subject and just below the center of the nose. The part is positioned at a predetermined position. The positioning mechanism of the lower nose point presser 92 is the same as that of the chin rest 28 described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the contact member such as the chin rest described above, the position adjustment is performed in two stages. However, three or more recesses are formed by engaging three or more recesses with the projections such as the pins 44 and the balls 56, and the adjustment is performed in three or more stages. May be possible. Further, in the mounting portion of the contact member such as the chin rest, the male and female relationship between the mounting portion 40 and the mounting hole 42 may be reversed. That is, taking the chin rest 28 as an example, a column serving as an attachment portion may be provided upright at the distal end portion 38 of the lower frame 24, and a boss may be fixed to the chin rest 28 so that a hole inside the boss may be used as an attachment hole. Further, for example, only one engaged portion such as a hole is provided, and a plurality of engaging portions such as a convex member which is removably fitted and disengaged are provided in this, and only the engaging portion at a desired position is covered with the above-mentioned engaged portion. You may comprise so that it may be engaged with an engagement part. Further, the chin rest and the nasal root holding member each provided with the positioning mechanism as described above may be selectively combined with the bite block and used simultaneously.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an X-ray imaging apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the subject's head is positioned by a chin rest.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting portion and a mounting hole of the chin rest.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a groove-shaped recess formed in a mounting portion of the chin rest.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a modified example in which a projection is provided on a mounting portion of the chin rest and a groove-shaped recess is formed in the mounting hole.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a modified example in which a projection is provided on a mounting portion of the chin rest and a groove-shaped recess is formed in the mounting hole.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing another modification of the chin rest positioning mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified example in which the mounting portion and the mounting hole shown in FIG. 7 have a circular cross section.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state where the head of the subject is positioned by pressing the nose root.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting portion and a mounting hole of a nasal root holding member.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing a modified example of a groove-shaped concave portion formed in a mounting portion of a nose root presser.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a modified example in which a projection is provided on a mounting portion of a nose root presser and a groove-shaped recess is formed in the mounting hole.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a modified example of a groove-shaped concave portion formed in a mounting portion of a nose root point holding portion provided with a protrusion.

FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing another modified example of the positioning mechanism of the nose root presser.

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing another modified example of the positioning mechanism of the nose root presser.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing an example in which a nose root support is attached to a lower frame.

FIG. 17 is a side view showing a state where the head of the subject is positioned by the bite block;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view showing a tip shape of a bite block.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a mouthpiece is attached to the tip of a bite block.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the shape of a lower nose point holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 medical X-ray imaging apparatus, 26 rotating arm, 28
Chin rest (contact member), 34 ... X-ray generator, 36 ...
X-ray receiving apparatus, 40: mounting portion, 42: mounting hole (fixing portion), 44: pin (projection), 46: groove-shaped concave portion, 48: first engaging concave portion (first engaged portion), 50: second engagement concave portion (second engaged portion).

Claims (10)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A head positioning mechanism for positioning a head of a subject with respect to an X-ray imaging apparatus when performing head X-ray imaging, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a part of the head of the subject. An abutting member, and a fixing portion for fixing the abutting member to the X-ray imaging apparatus; one of the abutting member and the fixing portion has an engaging portion; The other of the member and the fixed portion has an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion and selectively positions the contact member at a plurality of specific positions with respect to the fixed portion. A head positioning mechanism for an X-ray imaging apparatus. 2. One of the contact member and the fixing portion has an engaging portion, and the other of the remaining contact member and the fixing portion engages with the engaging portion to fix the contact member. A first engaged portion positioned at a first position with respect to the fixed portion, and a second engaged portion positioned at a second position different from the first position with respect to the fixed member relative to the fixed portion. The contact portion positioning mechanism for an X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion. 3. The fixing portion is a mounting hole into which a mounting portion of the contact member is inserted, the engaging portion is a projection provided on an inner surface of the mounting hole, and the engaged portion is the mounting portion. The head positioning mechanism for an X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head positioning mechanism is a recess formed on an outer surface of the part. 4. The fixing portion is a mounting hole into which a mounting portion of the contact member is inserted, the engaging portion is a protrusion provided on an outer surface of the mounting portion, and the engaged portion is the mounting portion. 3. A concave portion provided on an inner surface of the hole.
4. A head positioning mechanism for an X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The concave portion is a groove-shaped concave portion, and is formed as a plurality of groove-shaped concave portions branched from one groove-shaped concave portion, or a plurality of discontinuous independent groove-shaped concave portions, and a plurality of branched groove-shaped concave portions. 5. The head positioning mechanism of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each end of the recess or each end of the plurality of independent groove-shaped recesses is an engagement recess with which the projection engages. 6. The direction of the projection toward each end of the groove-shaped recess is upward when the upper end of the projection is engaged with the end of the groove-shaped recess at each end of the groove-shaped recess. The head positioning mechanism of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the head moves downward to restrict movement of the protrusion in a circumferential direction and a downward direction. 7. The projection is projected in a state of being urged by an elastic member, and is pushed inward from a certain recess until it engages with another recess. The head positioning mechanism of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein 8. The abutment member positioned at the first position corresponds to a dentition panoramic imaging mode, and the abutment member positioned at the second position corresponds to an maxillary sinus imaging mode. The head positioning mechanism for an X-ray imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein: 9. The head of an X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a chin rest, a nose point holder, a bite block, or a subnasal point holder. Positioning mechanism. 10. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising the head positioning mechanism according to claim 1.