JP4501763B2 - Round-trip X-ray system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a roundabout X-ray apparatus that performs X-ray imaging while visiting a hospital room, and more particularly to a roundabout X-ray apparatus including a flat panel detector.

  The round-trip X-ray device uses a flat panel detector (hereinafter referred to as FPD) as the X-ray image receiving unit, and the device is moved to the bedside to take X-ray images of subjects who have difficulty walking due to serious injury. There is a device in which an FPD is set between a subject and a bed to perform X-ray imaging, and an imaging digital signal from the FPD is stored in an internal memory of the device. An X-ray image is read out through an input / output connector, stored in a hospital system, and can be observed on a terminal monitor or, if necessary, a film image by a laser printer. By using this apparatus, a large number of X-ray images can be obtained without using an X-ray film (for example, see Patent Document 1).

FIG. 4A shows a schematic configuration of a round-trip X-ray apparatus using FPD2.
The round X-ray apparatus includes an X-ray tube 1 provided with a collimator 1a, an arm 16 that holds the collimator 1a and expands and contracts in the horizontal direction, a support column 15 that can turn on a carriage unit 14 that includes the arm 16 and moves, A vertical movement unit (not shown) in which the arm 16 moves up and down along the column 15, a turnable front wheel 13 composed of a pair of casters, and a rear wheel 12 that is connected to the motor 11 and cannot be steered are attached to the apparatus. By operating the operation handle 17 back and forth, the motor 11 provided at the lower part moves forward or backward.
Then, the apparatus is moved to the side of the bed 3 of the subject, the column 15 is turned, the X-ray tube 1 attached to the arm 16 is turned to the subject side, the arm 16 is expanded and contracted in the horizontal direction, and the column 15 The X-ray emission port of the collimator 1a attached to the X-ray tube 1 can be set toward the imaging region of the subject.
The cart section 14 of the round-trip X-ray apparatus is equipped with a control section (not shown) for X-ray imaging, and is a high-voltage transformer with a main circuit 100 to 120 V, 60 Hz as an internal power supply using an automobile battery and an inverter. And a capacitor. The control circuit is made into a solid system, and one-touch type devices that are automatically programmed for shooting operations are often used.
Further, an FPD 2 connected to the apparatus by a cable 2a and set between the subject and the bed 3, an image processing unit 4 in which a digital video signal from the FPD 2 is captured and processed at the time of X-ray imaging, and processing An internal memory 6 for storing the obtained X-ray image, a monitor 5 for displaying the photographed X-ray image, and an input / output connector for inputting subject information from the outside or outputting an X-ray image of the subject to the outside 7. Further, when the apparatus is not used, an FPD storage portion 9 for storing the FPD 2 from which the cable 2 a has been removed is provided on the side surface of the carriage portion 14.
The carriage unit 14 has a weight of 450 kg or more, is designed so as to be freely accessible in hospital rooms, operating rooms, and elevators using rubber tires and the like, and includes a brake system and accessory devices.

FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional structure of the FPD storage unit 9 attached to the carriage unit 14.
The FPD storage unit 9 is provided on the side surface below the operation handle 17 on the cart unit 14 side. A shock absorbing material such as sponge 9b is attached to the inner bottom surface and side surface of the FPD housing portion housing 9a, so that the FPD 2 can be inserted from above. And the impact at the time of driving | running | working is attenuated by sponge 9b, and damage to FPD2 is prevented.

Imaging preparation and operation of the round X-ray apparatus are performed in the following procedure.
Before the round trip, the operator stops the round-trip X-ray apparatus in the vicinity of the image processing room, and is connected to the terminal device of the system provided in the image processing room by a cable from the input / output connector 7 of the apparatus. Is taken into the internal memory 6 via the image processing unit 4 in the round-trip X-ray apparatus.
Then, the operation handle 17 is operated to go around the hospital room and move the apparatus to the vicinity of the bed 3 of the subject. The FPD 2 is taken out from the FPD storage unit 9, and the FPD 2 is set between the back surface of the imaging region of the subject and the bed 3. Next, the cable 2 a is connected to the image processing unit 4 and the FPD 2. Then, the imaging irradiation field is aimed and fixed with the collimator 1a of the X-ray tube 1 directed toward the imaging region of the subject on the bed 3.
Next, the subject information taken into the internal memory 6 is displayed on the monitor 5, and information on the subject to be photographed is selected by touching the panel. Then, an X-ray condition corresponding to the imaging region is set by an X-ray control unit (not shown). When the imaging button is operated, X-ray imaging is performed, and the X-ray imaging image is stored in the internal memory 6 together with the subject information via the image processing unit 4. The stored X-ray image is displayed on the monitor 5 and observed to confirm that the imaging region has been imaged normally.
After completion of the round, the round trip X-ray apparatus is stopped again in the vicinity of the image processing room, a cable is connected to the input / output connector 7, and the other end of the cable is connected to a terminal device of a system provided in the image processing room. The subject information and the photographed X-ray image are stored in a storage device of the system and observed on a monitor or on a film by a laser printer.

This round-trip X-ray apparatus is easy to move because the rear wheel 12 is driven by the motor 11 and can be freely operated by operating the operating handle 17 and moving the operating handle 17 back and forth. Since the captured image can be stored in the internal memory 6, a large number of X-ray images can be easily obtained, and since no development is required, an X-ray image can be obtained quickly. Therefore, it easily moves to a bedroom, a technical room, an operating room, a children's room, an X-ray room, an infant room, etc. in the hospital, and X-ray imaging is easily performed on-site.
JP 11-099144 A (page 4, FIG. 1)

The conventional round X-ray apparatus is configured as described above. However, since the weight of the apparatus itself is large, the impact at the time of climbing over a step in the passage is large, and an impact absorbing material such as a sponge 9b is attached to the FPD storage unit 9. The impact on the FPD 2 cannot be sufficiently attenuated only by being attached to the bottom and side surfaces.
The FPD 2 has a radiation sensor array composed of an X-ray conversion layer that is sensitive to radiation and directly outputs a charge signal corresponding to an incident dose, and is arranged in a matrix immediately below the TFT sensor and connected to a TFT switch. By turning on the TFT switch sequentially, it is a precision device that reads out the signal charge accumulated in each pixel and forms an X-ray image. Since it is vulnerable to external impact, it has a large impact on the FPD2 even during transportation. Then, there is a problem that the FPD 2 is damaged.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is used for round trips provided with an FPD storage unit having a structure in which a large impact is not transmitted to the FPD stored in the FPD storage unit during transportation of the apparatus. An object is to provide a wire device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a roundabout X-ray apparatus according to the present invention includes a flat panel detector that detects an X-ray transmission image of a subject by irradiation from an X-ray tube and outputs an imaging signal, and a flat panel detection. In a round-patient X-ray apparatus that includes a storage unit that can store a vessel and performs X-ray imaging while visiting a hospital room, support means for elastically supporting a flat panel detector is suspended inside the storage unit.

The roundabout X-ray apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above. Specifically, the traveling cart includes a flat panel detector and a storage unit that can store the flat panel detector, and the inside of the storage unit. A support portion is provided that suspends and supports the flat panel detector via an elastic body.
Before transporting the apparatus, the flat panel detector is inserted into the storage unit and set on the support unit suspended from the upper part of the storage unit by an elastic body.
The large impact of the carriage unit being transported is absorbed by the elastic body and attenuated and transmitted to the support unit suspended by the elastic body, so that the impact on the flat panel detector is eliminated.

  The round trip X-ray apparatus of the present invention is provided with the FPD storage section as described above. In the conventional apparatus, the impact force is alleviated by a shock absorbing material such as a sponge attached to the inner surface of the casing of the FPD storage section. However, in this apparatus, the spring of the elastic body is suspended from the upper part of the casing toward the bottom, and a long natural length is secured, so that the spring constant (force per 1 mm of deflection) can be reduced. Therefore, even if the amount of deflection of the spring at the time of impact is large while having the force to hold the FPD, the reaction force due to this is absorbed by the expansion and contraction of the spring, and the impact on the FPD can be attenuated. Since the impact on the FPD can be greatly reduced when the device is run, even with round trip X-ray devices that often get over steps, the risk of damaging an expensive FPD by impact can be greatly reduced. it can.

The roundabout X-ray apparatus provided by the present invention has the following characteristics. The feature is that an FPD support portion suspended from an upper portion of the housing of the FPD storage portion is provided by an elastic body, and the FPD can be set on the FPD support portion.
Therefore, the basic configuration of the best mode is an X-ray apparatus for round visits that includes an FPD support portion that is suspended from an upper portion of the housing of the FPD storage portion by an elastic body.

One embodiment of the round-ray X-ray apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A shows a schematic configuration of the round-trip X-ray apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the FPD storage unit 40.
The X-ray apparatus for round visits includes an X-ray tube 1 equipped with a collimator 1a, a carriage unit 14 including an arm 16, a support column 15, a front wheel 13 and a rear wheel 12, an FPD 2 connected by a cable 2a, and an image processing unit. 4, the internal memory 6, the monitor 5, the input / output connector 7, and the FPD storage unit 40, except for the FPD storage unit 40, which is the same as the conventional apparatus shown in FIG.

The FPD storage unit 40 of the round X-ray apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. (A) is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the FPD storage unit 40, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the FPD storage unit 40 in a state where the FPD 2 is not stored and the spring 40 c is in a natural length.
The FPD storage unit 40 of the present round X-ray apparatus is different in internal structure from the FPD storage unit 9 shown in FIG. The conventional device has a structure in which a sponge 9b is attached inside the FPD storage unit housing 9a of the FPD storage unit 9, but this device is provided inside the FPD storage unit housing 40a of the FPD storage unit 40 from the top of the housing. This is a structure in which an FPD support portion 40b suspended from 40c is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, an FPD storage unit housing 40 a is provided on the rear side surface of the carriage unit 14. The FPD storage unit housing 40a is made of a material such as sheet metal or reinforced resin, and is made a housing that is not damaged by an external collision. On the upper surface of the FPD storage unit housing 40a, there is provided an opening having a margin that allows the FPD 2 to be inserted with the connector for the cable 2a facing upward. A cushion material (not shown) is attached to the periphery of the opening. The four corners of the FPD support portion 40b capable of holding the FPD 2 below the inside are suspended from the upper portion of the FPD storage portion housing 40a with four springs 40c having a small spring constant k.

The FPD 2 is a 360 mm square size capable of general photographing, and its weight is 4.8 kg. The depth of the FPD storage unit housing 40a requires the dimension (f + l + g + d) shown in FIG. Here, l is the natural length of the spring 40c, d is the distance from the lower end of the FPD support portion 40b to the inner bottom surface of the FPD storage portion housing 40a, and f and g are the lengths of the mounting brackets of the spring 40c.
In the embodiment, the depth of the FPD storage unit housing 40a is 340 mm, d is 50 mm, and the spring constant of the corresponding spring 40c is 1 kgf / mm.
The distance d from the lower end of the FPD support portion 40b to the inner bottom surface of the FPD storage portion housing 40a may be d> m / k + x. Here, m is the mass of the FPD 2, k is the spring constant, and x is the maximum step over which the apparatus can ride. m / k is the amount of deflection due to the weight of FPD2.
Further, regarding the relationship between the natural length l of the spring 40c and the spring constant k, the longer the natural length l, the smaller the spring constant k. This is because the equation k∝s / l is generally established. Here, s is a cross-sectional area of the spring 40c, and l is a natural length.

Then, the load M of the FPD 2 and the FPD support portion 40b suspends with the elastic force of the four springs 40c having a small spring constant k, and the spring 40c extends in the vertical direction inside the FPD storage portion housing 40a to support the FPD. The part 40b is stopped in a state of being displaced downward.
Even if an impact force F is applied during traveling of the carriage unit 14, the spring 40c expands and contracts, and even if the amount of deflection is large, the reaction force is absorbed by the expansion and contraction of the spring 40c and is attenuated and transmitted to the FPD2.

  This device is performed by taking the FPD 2 into and out of the FPD storage unit 40 with the same shooting preparation and operation procedure as the conventional device, and receives a similar impact when the device travels over a step in the passage, etc. As described above, the impact is not transmitted to the FPD 2 stored in the FPD storage unit 40.

In the above embodiment, the spring 40c is used as the elastic body in order to reduce the impact on the FPD 2 in the FPD storage section 40. However, the FPD support section 40b and the spring 40c of the fishing part are integrated in FIG. The structure shown may be used. An elastic material (for example, a thin rubber sheet or a rubber net) suspended from the upper peripheral edge of the FPD storage unit housing 41a is supported as an FPD elastic support unit 41b so as to wrap the FPD2.
In the embodiment, the number of the springs 40c in the FPD storage unit 40 has been described as four, but may be six or more. Furthermore, it is possible to adopt a system in which the upper flat panel detector (FPD2) is supported from below by installing it from below instead of suspending the spring 40c (tensile spring).

  The roundabout X-ray apparatus of the present invention relates to a roundabout X-ray apparatus that performs X-ray imaging while visiting a hospital room, and more particularly to a roundabout X-ray apparatus that includes a flat panel detector.

It is explanatory drawing which showed one Example of the X-ray apparatus for round trips of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the FPD accommodating part of the X-ray apparatus for round trips of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the modification of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the conventional X-ray apparatus for roundabouts.

Explanation of symbols

1 X-ray tube 1a Collimator 2 FPD
2a cable 3 bed 4 image processing unit 5 monitor 6 internal memory 7 input / output connector 9 FPD storage unit 9a FPD storage unit housing 9b sponge 11 motor 12 rear wheel 13 front wheel 14 carriage unit 15 strut 16 arm 17 operation handle 40 FPD storage unit 40a FPD storage unit housing 40b FPD support unit 40c spring 41a FPD storage unit housing 41b FPD elastic support unit

Claims (2)

A flat panel detector that detects an X-ray transmission image of a subject by irradiation from an X-ray tube and outputs an imaging signal; and a storage unit that can store the flat panel detector; An X-ray apparatus for round visits, wherein a support means for supporting a flat panel detector is suspended from the upper part of the storage section by an elastic body inside the storage section . A flat panel detector that detects an X-ray transmission image of a subject by irradiation from an X-ray tube and outputs an imaging signal; and a storage unit that can store the flat panel detector; In the roundabout X-ray apparatus to be performed, the elastic material suspended from the upper peripheral edge of the storage portion is supported as a support means for supporting the flat panel detector so as to enclose the flat panel detector. X-ray device for round trip.

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