JP3842169B2 - Bone mineral content measuring device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bone mineral content measuring apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for measuring a bone mineral content for a subject placed on a bed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional bone mineral content measuring apparatus includes a bed on which a subject is placed, a radiation detection unit provided below the bed, and a radiation generation unit provided above the bed. The bed, radiation detection unit, and radiation The generating units are mechanically connected and configured as an integral device.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a medical institution such as a hospital, a relatively large bed for radiography is installed in the X-ray room as a radiation control area. The bet is used to place the subject in a desired posture when radiographing various parts of the subject.
[0004]
The bone mineral content measuring device is also installed in the radiation management area in the medical institution, but depending on the circumstances of the medical institution, the bone mineral content measuring device is installed in the same X-ray room together with the X-ray imaging device. Since the bone mineral content measuring apparatus also has a dedicated bed, if two beds are installed in the X-ray room, the room is inevitably crowded or the installation itself is impossible. This is a problem that occurs particularly in small and medium-sized medical institutions, but space saving is also desired in large-scale medical institutions. It is also pointed out that such problems hinder the spread of bone mineral content measuring devices.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to use an existing bet as it is when measuring bone mineral content.
[0006]
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of material in the radiation control area and realize space saving.
[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bone mineral content measuring apparatus that can be used in combination with various types of beds.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bone mineral content measuring apparatus configured separately from a bed on which a subject is placed and used in combination with the bed . And a lower unit that is inserted into the lower space of the bet from the back side of the bet and a lower end portion supported by the scan mechanism, and passes through the vicinity of the back side of the bet and passes upward. The lower unit for measuring bone mineral content is provided above the subject placed on the bed while being supported by the upper end of the support and the upper end of the support , and having an X-ray generator with an upper unit for radiation measurement, depending on the form of the bet, the a mechanism for adjusting the position and the position of the upper unit of the lower unit, adjusts the height of the lower unit from the floor surface A position adjusting mechanism having a vertical positioning mechanism for adjusting the height of the upper unit simultaneously by Rukoto, characterized in that it comprises a.
[0009]
According to the above configuration , the X-ray detector and the scanning mechanism are built in by adjusting the height of the lower unit from the floor surface according to the bet configuration such as the lateral width and height of the bed by the position adjusting mechanism. The heights of the lower unit, the column whose lower end is supported by the scanning mechanism , and the upper unit having the X-ray generator can be adjusted simultaneously . Therefore, it is possible to apply this apparatus even when the heights of the bets vary, and bets other than the bets dedicated to the apparatus (for example, X-ray imaging bets and other bone mineral content measuring apparatus bets). Etc.) can be used to measure bone mineral content.
[0010]
Preferably, the bet is an X-ray imaging bet, and bone mineral content can be measured with the subject placed on the X-ray imaging bet. According to this configuration, for example, bone mineral content can be measured even when only one bed can be placed in the X-ray room.
[0011]
Preferably, the position adjusting mechanism includes a horizontal positioning mechanism that adjusts horizontal positions of the lower unit and the upper unit according to a lateral width of the bet. According to this configuration, the horizontal position of each unit can be optimized even if the lateral width of the bet (generally the width in the short direction) is different. Positioning in the horizontal direction may be performed manually or a mechanism for automatically performing the positioning by a driving source may be provided.
[0012]
Preferably, the horizontal positioning mechanism has a stopper that contacts the side portion of the bed. According to the stopper, since the horizontal positioning can be performed only by contact, it is convenient. However, instead of the stopper or together with the stopper, a mechanism for detachably connecting the device to the bed may be provided.
[0013]
Preferably, the position adjusting mechanism includes a vertical positioning mechanism that adjusts vertical positions of the lower unit and the upper unit according to the height of the bet. According to this configuration, the height of each unit can be optimized even if the height of the bet is different. The height adjustment may be performed manually, or a mechanism that automatically performs the drive may be provided. Although the height of each unit may be adjusted independently, it is desirable to adjust the height of each unit integrally as will be described later. The units are particularly preferably connected to each other, but may be in a non-connected relationship.
[0014]
Preferably, the vertical positioning mechanism is a mechanism that adjusts the height of the lower unit and the upper unit while maintaining a constant interval between them. If the distance between both units is constant, the measurement accuracy can be maintained.
[0015]
Preferably, it includes a connecting mechanism that extends upward from the lower unit and supports the upper unit on the back side of the bed, and the vertical positioning mechanism has a function of adjusting the height of the lower unit from the floor surface. is there. The back side of the bet is the side where the above-mentioned connecting mechanism exists, and in this case, the near side is the side on which the subject gets on the bed.
[0016]
(2) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bone mineral content measuring device used in combination with an X-ray imaging bed on which a subject is placed, and is provided below the bed. A lower unit including one of an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector, and an upper unit provided above the subject placed on the bed and including the other of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector A horizontal positioning mechanism that adjusts the horizontal position of the lower unit and the upper unit according to the lateral width of the bet, and the vertical direction of the lower unit and the upper unit according to the height of the bet. And a vertical positioning mechanism for adjusting the position.
[0017]
Preferably, a connection mechanism for connecting the lower unit and the upper unit is provided on the back side of the bed, and a back end portion of the upper unit is rotatably supported by an upper end portion of the connection mechanism, The front end portion of the upper unit is configured to be able to swing up and down.
[0018]
According to the above configuration, since the upper unit is configured to be swingable, for example, when the subject gets on the bed, the upper unit can be lifted upward. Can be lowered to a defined state (usually horizontal) and face the lower unit.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 shows a state in an X-ray imaging room where a bone mineral content measuring apparatus according to the present invention is installed. However, the bone mineral content measuring device itself is not shown in FIG. The bone mineral content measuring apparatus will be described in detail later using FIG.
[0021]
As described above, for example, the X-ray imaging bed 12 is arranged in an X-ray imaging room in a medical institution. Specifically, a bed 12 is placed on the floor 10 in the X-ray room. In this example, the bed 12 includes a table 14 and an acrylic plate 16 that transmits X-rays.
[0022]
The table 14 includes a frame 14A that surrounds the periphery of the acrylic plate 16, and leg portions 14B provided at the four corners of the frame 14A. In the bet 12 shown in FIG. 1, the length of the leg portion 14B is fixed, and the height of the bet 12 cannot be adjusted.
[0023]
On the lower side of the acrylic plate 16, a photographing cassette (bucket unit 18) is provided. Specifically, as shown by reference numeral 20, a photographing cassette 18 is attached so as to be slidable in the Y direction. For this purpose, the bed 12 is provided with a slide mechanism, which is not shown. In FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction of the bet 12 is the Y direction, the short direction of the bet 12 is the X direction, and the vertical direction is the Z direction. This is the same in each figure other than FIG.
[0024]
An irradiation unit 22 is provided above the bed 12. The irradiation unit 22 includes a rail 24, a shaft 26, and an X-ray generation source 28. An X-ray generation source 28 is provided by the rail 24 so as to be movable in the Y direction in the drawing. The shaft 26 is provided with an expansion / contraction mechanism for adjusting the height of the X-ray generation source 28.
[0025]
The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is a configuration for general X-ray imaging, that is, X-rays emitted from the X-ray generation source 28 pass through the body of the subject placed on the bed 12 and are imaged. The photographic film provided in the cassette 18 is exposed. Of course, there may be a case where an X-ray detector is disposed without providing such a film to electrically detect the amount of X-ray transmission.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, the bone mineral content measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment is used in combination with the bed 12 shown in FIG. This bone mineral content measuring device is a device that measures the amount of mineral components present in the bone of a subject using X-rays. By measuring such bone mineral content, bone brittleness and bone health Can be diagnosed. The measurement principle of the bone mineral content is known per se.
[0027]
In FIG. 2, the bone mineral content measuring device 30 is roughly composed of a lower unit 32, an upper unit 34 and a connecting unit 36. In the present embodiment, the lower unit 32 has an X-ray detector composed of one or a plurality of X-ray sensors. In the present embodiment, the upper unit 34 has an X-ray generator. This X-ray generator may generate pencil beam-like X-rays or fan-beam-like X-rays. The lower unit 32 may be provided with an X-ray generator, and the upper unit 34 may be provided with an X-ray detector. The connecting unit 36 functions as a support for attaching the upper unit 34 to the lower unit 32. In this embodiment, the connecting unit 36 extends in the vertical direction on the back side when viewed from the front side of the bed 12. Is provided. A scanning mechanism that scans the connecting unit 36 in the Y direction in FIG. That is, the upper unit 34 can be continuously moved in the Y direction in the drawing. In the present embodiment, for example, the lumbar vertebra of the human body is the object of bone mineral content measurement. However, the bone mineral content measurement target is not limited to the lumbar spine.
[0028]
In FIG. 2, a mechanism of a so-called measuring unit is shown as the bone mineral content measuring device 30, but actually, a data processing unit is connected to such a measuring unit via a signal line or the like and measured. The data is analyzed by such a data processing unit.
[0029]
Incidentally, when the bone mineral content measuring device 30 is used in combination with the bed 12, as shown in FIG. 2, the X-ray generation source 28 is moved along the rail 24, and at least the upper unit 34 and The X-ray generation source 28 is positioned so as not to physically interfere with the X-ray generation source 28. Further, the photographing cassette 18 is also positioned at one end in the Y direction by the above-described slide mechanism, so that the photographing cassette 18 does not become an obstacle in measuring the bone mineral content.
[0030]
Incidentally, reference numeral 100 in FIG. 2 represents a moving direction when the upper unit 34 is scanned by the above-described scanning mechanism. In the bone mineral content measuring apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 2, the upper unit 34 is integrally connected to the lower unit 32 by the connecting unit 36, but other configurations can be adopted. . However, by constructing such an integral connection relationship, positioning of the bone mineral content measuring device 30 with respect to the bed 12 is facilitated.
[0031]
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the bone mineral content measuring device 30.
[0032]
As described above, the connecting unit 36 is provided on the back side of the lower unit 32, and specifically, the lower end portion 36 </ b> B is supported by the lower unit 32. The lower end portion 36B is scanned in the Y direction by the scanning mechanism described above. The upper end portion 36 </ b> A of the coupling mechanism 36 supports a back end portion (rear end portion) 34 </ b> B in the upper unit 34. The front end 34A of one upper unit 34 is a movable end as will be described below.
[0033]
That is, the upper unit 34 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 101. The rotation angle is represented by reference numeral 102, and the upper unit 34 in a state of being flipped up by reference numeral 34 'is schematically represented. That is, according to this configuration, when the subject gets on the bed 12 or gets off the bed 12, the upper unit 34 can be lifted upward to smoothly get on and off, By maintaining the upper unit 34 in a horizontal state, which is a normal use state, during measurement, the distance h2 between the lower unit 32 and the upper unit 34 can be set to an appropriate distance. Note that a handle or the like may be further provided on the front end portion 34A, and the handle may be operated when the handle is lifted. Alternatively, the lifting operation or the like can be mechanically performed by a motor or the like.
[0034]
The bone mineral content measuring device 30 in the present embodiment has a horizontal positioning mechanism 40 and a vertical positioning mechanism 42 for use in combination with the X-ray imaging bed 12. The horizontal positioning mechanism 40 functions to appropriately determine the positions of the lower unit 32 and the upper unit 34 in the X direction in accordance with the lateral width (X direction width) of the bed 12, that is, the table 14, and will be described later in this embodiment. The horizontal positioning is performed using a stopper. Further, the vertical positioning mechanism functions to adjust the height of the lower unit 32 and the upper unit 34 according to the height of the bed 12, that is, the table 14, and specifically, in the present embodiment, the lower unit 32. A vertical positioning mechanism 42 exists as a mechanism capable of adjusting the height h1. That is, the lower unit 32 is pushed into the lower space of the table 14 as described above. In this case, the height h1 of the lower unit 32 can be adjusted according to the height of the table 14. Desirably, the lower unit h1 is set so that the upper surface of the lower unit 32 abuts on the lower edge of the frame in the table 14 or is positioned at a certain minute interval. Of course, as described above, since the lower unit 32 and the upper unit 34 are integrally connected by the connecting unit 36, the distance h2 between them is always constant. However, even when the distance h2 between the two is varied, for example, if the measurement accuracy can be maintained by using correction by data processing, it is not always necessary to integrally connect both units. That is, the height may be adjusted for each unit.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 3, the lower unit 32 is provided with a handle 44, and the device can be pushed into the bed 12 or separated from the bed 12 by grasping the handle 44.
[0036]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the horizontal positioning mechanism 40 described above. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal positioning mechanism 40 and the stopper member 52 are provided. The stopper member 52 is roughly divided into a vertical portion 52A and a horizontal portion 52B, and the vertical portion 52A has a stopper surface. That is, the side surface of the bed is brought into contact with the surface, and the device is positioned with respect to the bed 12 with the contact. For this reason, it is desirable that the stopper member 52 be made of, for example, an elastic member.
[0037]
A screw hole 50 is formed in the upper surface of the lower unit 32, and a long hole 54 is formed in the stopper member 52. A screw 56 is inserted through the elongated hole 54, and the screw 56 is screwed into the screw hole 50. The elongated hole 54 is formed to extend along the depth direction of the bed. For this reason, after the stopper member 52 is positioned at a desired position according to the lateral width of the bed, the stopper member 52 is tightened by tightening the screw 56 in that state. It can be fixed at an appropriate position with respect to the lower unit 32. That is, the lower unit 32 can be positioned at an appropriate position with respect to the bed. Incidentally, it is desirable to provide a plurality of such stopper members 52 with respect to the lower unit 32. In the present embodiment, two stopper members 52 are provided side by side in the longitudinal direction of the bed.
[0038]
The configuration shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and other configurations can be used as the horizontal positioning mechanism 40. For example, a structure that is detachably engaged with the bed may be used.
[0039]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the vertical positioning mechanism 42 shown in FIG. In this example, the vertical positioning mechanism 42 has a spacer member 64. The spacer member 64 is prepared in various lengths, and the height of the lower unit 32 can be made desired by selectively using them. More specifically, a screw hole 64B is provided in the lower portion of the spacer member 64, and a screw 66A provided in the caster 66 is screwed into the screw hole 64B.
[0040]
In addition, a screw 64 </ b> A is provided on the upper portion of the spacer member 64, and the screw 64 </ b> A is screwed into a screw hole 62 formed in the frame 60 in the lower unit 32. When the spacer member 64 is replaced, for example, the lower unit 32 may be lifted using a jack or the like, and the spacer member 64 having a desired length may be attached.
[0041]
Of course, the height of the lower mechanism 32 can be adjusted using, for example, a hydraulic mechanism.
[0042]
In any case, according to the bone mineral content measuring apparatus of this embodiment, the horizontal positioning mechanism 40 and the vertical positioning mechanism 42 are provided as shown in FIG. Even if it has a form, it becomes possible to optimize the position in the horizontal direction and the position in the vertical direction of the bone mineral content measuring device 30 according to the form.
[0043]
Therefore, according to the configuration according to the present embodiment, the bone mineral content can be measured using the existing X-ray imaging bed as it is, and the bone mineral content can be measured even in a relatively small X-ray imaging room. There are special advantages.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an existing bet can be used as it is when bone mineral content is measured. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to save space by reducing the amount of material in the radiation management area.
[0045]
In addition, according to the present invention, bone mineral content can be measured in combination with various types of beds.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a bet for X-ray photography used in combination with a bone mineral content measuring apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment for measuring bone mineral content according to the present invention used in combination with the bed shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the bone mineral content measuring apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a horizontal positioning mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vertical positioning mechanism.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 floor, 12 bed, 14 table, 22 irradiation unit, 30 bone mineral content measuring device, 32 lower unit, 34 upper unit, 36 connecting unit, 40 horizontal positioning mechanism, 42 vertical positioning mechanism.

Claims (6)

In the bone mineral content measuring apparatus configured separately from the bed for placing the subject and used in combination with the bed ,
A lower unit that incorporates an X-ray detector and a scanning mechanism and is inserted into the space below the bed from the back side of the bed ;
A column having a lower end supported by the scanning mechanism and extending upward from there through the vicinity of the back side of the bed,
An upper part that is supported by the upper end of the support column and that is provided above the subject placed on the bed and that has an X-ray generator and performs radiation measurement together with the lower unit for bone mineral content measurement Unit,
A mechanism for adjusting the position of the lower unit and the position of the upper unit according to the form of the bet, and simultaneously adjusting the height of the lower unit from the floor surface by adjusting the height of the lower unit. A position adjusting mechanism having a vertical positioning mechanism for adjusting;
A bone mineral content measuring apparatus comprising: The apparatus of claim 1.
The bet is a bet for X-ray photography,
An apparatus for measuring the amount of bone mineral, wherein the amount of bone mineral can be measured with the subject placed on the X-ray imaging bed. The apparatus of claim 1 .
The bone mineral content measuring apparatus, wherein the vertical positioning mechanism is a mechanism that adjusts the height of the lower unit and the upper unit while maintaining a constant distance therebetween. In the bone mineral content measuring device used in combination with the bed on which the subject is placed,
A lower unit provided below the bed,
An upper unit that is provided above the subject placed on the bed and performs radiation measurement together with the lower unit for bone mineral content measurement;
A position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the lower unit and the position of the upper unit according to the form of the bet;
Including
The position adjustment mechanism has a horizontal positioning mechanism that adjusts the horizontal position of the lower unit and the upper unit according to the lateral width of the bed,
The bone mineral content measuring apparatus, wherein the horizontal positioning mechanism includes a stopper that abuts against a side portion of the bed. In the bone mineral content measuring device used in combination with the bed on which the subject is placed,
A lower unit provided below the bed,
An upper unit that is provided above the subject placed on the bed and performs radiation measurement together with the lower unit for bone mineral content measurement;
Including
A connection mechanism for connecting the lower unit and the upper unit on the back side of the bed is provided,
The upper side end of the upper unit is rotatably supported by the upper end of the coupling mechanism,
The bone mineral content measuring apparatus characterized in that the front end of the upper unit is movable up and down. In a bone mineral content measuring device used in combination with a bed for X-ray photography on which a subject is placed,
A lower unit provided below the bed and including one of an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector;
An upper unit provided above the subject placed on the bed and including the other of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector;
A horizontal positioning mechanism that adjusts the horizontal position of the lower unit and the upper unit according to the lateral width of the bet;
A vertical positioning mechanism that adjusts the vertical position of the lower unit and the upper unit according to the height of the bet;
Including
A connection mechanism for connecting the lower unit and the upper unit on the back side of the bed is provided,
The upper side end of the upper unit is rotatably supported by the upper end of the coupling mechanism,
The bone mineral content measuring apparatus characterized in that the front end of the upper unit is movable up and down.

Images