JP4772484B2 - In-vehicle X-ray CT system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular X-ray CT apparatus in which a rotation fixing means and a tilt fixing means for protecting a movable part from vibrations and shocks during traveling can be operated from the front of the apparatus main body.

In recent years, with the widespread use of examination cars equipped with X-ray CT devices in vehicles, it has become possible to examine the chest, etc. by X-rays without going to hospitals. An X-ray CT apparatus designed to be installed and used at a place is mounted on a vehicle, but the X-ray CT apparatus is provided with many movable parts (for example, Patent Document 1).
That is, the gantry that constitutes the apparatus main body has a circular opening at the center, and an X-ray tube that irradiates the subject at a position opposed to the subject around the opening. A rotating body provided with an X-ray detector for detecting X-rays transmitted through the subject is rotatably supported.

Further, the gantry for rotatably supporting the rotating body is supported on the upper portion of the support frame installed on the floor so as to be tiltable via a support shaft, and the gantry is tilted about the support shaft by a tilt driving means. Thus, the incident angle of the X-ray with respect to the subject can be arbitrarily adjusted.
For this reason, when a vehicle equipped with an X-ray CT apparatus travels, vibrations or shocks during traveling cause a bearing means for supporting the rotating body, a bearing for supporting the spindle, a power supply brush for supplying power to the X-ray tube, Since the signal from the X-ray detector is added to a signal brush or the like that transmits the signal to the control means side, there is a risk of damage.
In order to prevent this, the conventional X-ray CT apparatus for vehicles is provided with a rotating body fixing means for fixing the rotating body during movement and a tilt fixing means for fixing the tilt of the gantry. By preventing the rotating body from rotating and the gantry from tilting, the movable part is protected from vibrations and impacts during traveling.
JP 2003-305033 A

However, the rotation fixing means installed in the conventional X-ray CT apparatus has a structure in which a rotating body is fixed to the gantry by inserting a handle into the apparatus main body from the rear of the apparatus main body. Also, the structure is such that a handle is inserted between the support means and the support frame that supports the gantry from the rear of the apparatus main body to fix both.
For this reason, it is difficult for an operator to move from the front of the apparatus main body to the rear through the side of the apparatus main body in the examination car in which the X-ray CT apparatus is mounted in the entire imaging room provided at the rear of the vehicle.

Therefore, the worker once goes out of the imaging room from the examination entrance provided at the rear of the imaging room, and then enters the imaging room again from the operation entrance provided on the side of the vehicle. There is a problem that the operation for releasing the rotation fixing means and the tilt fixing means has to be performed from the rear, so that the workability is very bad and the work becomes more complicated when it rains.
The present invention has been made to remedy such a problem, and provides an X-ray CT apparatus for a vehicle which can operate a rotation fixing means and a tilt fixing means from the front of the apparatus main body to improve workability. It is intended.

  An in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention includes a rotating body in which an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector are arranged to face each other, a gantry that rotatably supports the rotating body, and a support unit that supports the gantry in a tiltable manner. An in-vehicle X-ray CT system in which the device body equipped with tilt drive means for tilting the gantry is installed in the examination room of the examination car, and the rotation of the rotating body is fixed at a position where it can be operated from the front of the device body A rotation fixing means for fixing and a tilt fixing means for fixing the tilt of the gantry.

With the above configuration, since the rotation of the rotating body and the tilt of the gantry can be fixed and released from the front of the apparatus main body, the front side surface of the radiographing room as in a conventional in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus can be obtained. It is no longer necessary to enter or shoot from the back of the main body of the equipment through the work entrance and exit, so that preparations for screening can be performed quickly and efficiently. Since there is no need to go out of the car and work, the work in rainy weather is not troublesome.
Further, when the examination vehicle travels, the rotation of the rotating body provided in the gantry can be fixed by the rotation fixing means, and the tilt of the gantry can be fixed by the tilt fixing means. However, it may be added to the support means for supporting the rotating body, the bearing for supporting the gantry, the power supply brush for supplying power to the X-ray tube, the signal brush for transmitting the signal from the X-ray detector to the control means side, etc. Therefore, they can be prevented from being damaged.
Further, if the rotation fixing means and the tilt fixing means are collectively installed at one place on the front surface of the apparatus main body, the operability is further improved.

The rotation fixing means of the in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing pin installed in the gantry, a biasing means installed in the gantry and biasing the fixing pin, a fixing bracket installed in the rotating body, And the rotating body is fixed by inserting the fixing pin into the fixing bracket.

  With the above configuration, since the fixing pin is always urged to the fixing release side by the urging means, there is no worry that the rotating body is inadvertently fixed during the rotating operation of the rotating body, and the rotating body is Since the rotation fixing means can be configured with a small number of parts, it can be implemented easily and inexpensively, and it can be employed without requiring significant modification to an existing X-ray CT apparatus, which is economical.

The tilt fixing means of the in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing pin installed in the gantry, a biasing means installed in the gantry and biasing the fixing pin, a fixing member installed in the support means, The gantry is configured to be fixed by fitting the fixing pin to the fixing member.

  With the above configuration, since the fixing pin is always urged to the unlocking side by the urging means, there is no fear that the gantry is inadvertently fixed during the gantry tilting operation, and the tilting is performed with a small number of parts. Since the fixing means can be configured, it can be implemented easily and inexpensively, and the existing X-ray CT apparatus can be adopted without requiring significant modification, which is economical.

  In the in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention, display means for displaying the fixing and releasing states of the rotation fixing means and the tilt fixing means is installed on the front surface of the apparatus main body.

  With the above-described configuration, the operation states of the rotation fixing means and the tilt fixing means can be confirmed by the display means, so that operations such as X-ray imaging can be performed safely and safely.

  According to the in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention, the rotation of the rotating body and the tilt of the gantry can be fixed or released from the front of the apparatus main body. It is no longer necessary to enter and shoot from the rear of the main body, and to perform fixing and releasing operations from the back of the main body of the apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is a schematic plan view of a medical examination vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus, FIG. 2 is a front view of the in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus, FIG. 3 is a front view with the front cover removed, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the rotation fixing means, FIG. 5 is a side view of the tilt fixing means, FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the main part, and FIG.
The examination car 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with an imaging room 2 behind a driver's cab 1a, and a main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body) 3 of an in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus is installed in the imaging room 2. Yes.
As shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus main body 3 has a gantry 4 having a circular hole 4a opened at the center, and the periphery of the gantry 4 is covered with a cover 3a.

A pair of support frames 5 are horizontally provided on both sides of the gantry 4, and the main frame 4 a of the gantry 4 is fixed to the front ends of the support frames 5. A support shaft 6 protrudes in the horizontal direction slightly behind the intermediate portion.
The front end side of each support shaft 6 is supported on an upper portion of a support means 8 made up of a column erected on the floor surface 7 through a bearing 8a so as to be tiltable. The front end side of the support frame 5 and the support means 8 Between them, there is provided a tilt driving means 9 for tilting the gantry 4 in the vertical direction about the support shaft 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the tilt drive means 9 is formed by, for example, a linear actuator that expands and contracts using electric power as a drive source, and the lower end side of the tilt drive means 9 is a bracket protruding from the front surface of the support means 8. The upper end of the tilt driving means 9 is supported by the front end side outer surface of the support frame 5 via a bearing (not shown).
A biasing means (not shown) is installed at a position facing the tilt driving means 9 with the gantry 4 interposed therebetween. The biasing means is formed of, for example, a gas spring, and biases the front portion of the gantry 4 upward so as to cancel the rotational moment generated around the support shaft 6 by the weight of the gantry 4. Thus, by reducing the load applied to the tilt driving means 9, the gantry 4 can be tilted with less driving force.

On the other hand, the front cover 3a covering the front surface of the apparatus main body 3 is formed with an opening 3c closed on the side of the tilt driving means 9 by a door 3b that can be opened and closed. A rotation fixing means 14 for temporarily fixing the rotation of the supported rotating body 12 and a tilt fixing means 15 for temporarily fixing the tilt of the gantry 4 are provided.
The rotating body 12 is formed in an annular shape, and is rotatably supported so as to be concentric with the circular hole 4a opened in the gantry 4, and the subject is located at a position facing the center of the circular hole 4a. An X-ray tube for irradiating X-rays toward the center and an X-ray detector (both not shown) for receiving X-rays transmitted through the subject are installed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation fixing means 14 for temporarily fixing the rotation of the rotating body 12 has a plate-like bracket 14a fixed to the left support frame 5 almost vertically.
For example, a pair of guide holes 14b are formed in the bracket 14a so as to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and guide pins 14c are fitted into the guide holes 14b so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction.
A hook-shaped stopper 14d is provided on the front end side of each guide pin 14c, and one end of a compression spring 14e fitted to the guide pin 14c is in contact with the stopper 14d.

The other end of the compression spring 14e is in contact with a spring seat 14f fixed to the front surface of the bracket 14a, and each guide pin 14c is urged forward of the apparatus body 3 by the compression spring 14e. A plate-shaped movable member 14g is fixed to the rear end surface in the vertical direction.
A fixing screw 14h is rotatably supported under the movable member 14g. The fixing screw 14h is provided with a knob 14i on the front end side, and by rotating the knob 14i with a finger, a screw portion 14j formed at the tip of the fixing screw 14h is a fixing bracket provided on the rotating body 12 side. It can be screwed into a 14k screw hole 14m.
The fixed bracket 14k protrudes from the rotating body 12 so that the position of the screw hole 14m coincides with the center of the fixing screw 14h when the rotating body 12 is stopped at a fixed position.

A limit switch 17 is installed on the upper portion of the bracket 14a with the operating portion 17a facing the movable member 14g.
The limit switch 17 detects the operation of the rotation fixing means 14 and displays it on the display means 18 provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 3. When the rotation of the rotating body 12 is fixed by the rotation fixing means 14, The indicator lamp 18a of the display means 18 is turned on by a detection signal sent from the limit switch 17.

On the other hand, the tilt fixing means 15 for temporarily fixing the tilt of the gantry 4 has a plate-like support bracket 15a protruding vertically on the outer surface of the support frame 5 as shown in FIGS. A pin hole 15b is formed in the bracket 15a.
A guide cylinder 15c is projected from the front surface of the support bracket 15a concentrically with the pin hole 15b, and a fixing pin 15d is fitted into the guide cylinder 15c and the pin hole 15b so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. .
A relatively large diameter knob 15e is fixed to the front end of the fixing pin 15d, and a cylindrical portion 15f having a diameter larger than that of the guide cylinder 15c projects from the inner surface of the knob 15e.

A female screw 15h that can be screwed into a male screw 15g formed on the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 15c is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 15f, and a fixing pin is provided between the guide tube 15c and the knob 15e. A compression spring 15i that biases 15d toward the front of the apparatus main body is interposed.
A taper hole 15j having an end with a large diameter and a gradually decreasing diameter toward the back is formed on the distal end side of the fixing pin 15d, and the knob 15e is rotated with a finger to be formed in the cylindrical portion 15f of the knob 15e. By screwing the female screw 15h into the male screw 15g of the guide cylinder 15c, the tapered hole 15j at the tip of the fixing pin 15d can be fitted to the fixing member 15k protruding from the upper front surface of the support means 8.
The fixing member 15k is formed of a shaft whose tip is formed in a hemispherical shape, and when the gantry 4 is stopped at the horizontal position, the support member 6 so that the center of the fixing pin 15d and the center of the fixing member 15k coincide. It protrudes horizontally on the front of the.

Further, a limit switch 19 is installed on the upper portion of the support bracket 15a with the operating portion 19a facing the knob 15e.
The limit switch 19 detects the operation of the gantry fixing means 15 and displays it on the display means 18 provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 3. When the tilt of the gantry 4 is fixed by the tilt fixing means 15, the limit switch 19 The indicator lamp 18b of the display means 18 is turned on by a detection signal sent from the switch 19.

On the other hand, in the imaging room 3 of the examination car 1, a top 20 on which the subject lies is placed in front of the apparatus body 3 in a horizontal manner.
The top plate 20 is movable in the horizontal direction with the subject to be subjected to X-ray imaging laid down, and an operation partitioned by a partition wall 2a at the rear of the top plate 20, that is, at the rear portion of the imaging room 2. A chamber 3b is provided. An operation console 21 for controlling the operation of the apparatus main body 3 is installed in the operation room 2b. By operating the operation console 21, X-ray imaging can be performed at an arbitrary position of the subject. .
Further, an entrance 2c through which the subject enters and exits is provided on the rear surface of the imaging room 2. By using the step 22 hung on the entrance 2c, the entrance to the imaging room 2 can be safely performed. An entrance 2d through which an operator enters and exits for maintenance or the like is provided on the front side surface of the photographing room 2.

Next, the operation of the thus configured in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus will be described.
When the examination vehicle 1 moves from the hospital or the like to the examination location, the rotation of the rotating body 12 provided in the gantry 4 is fixed by the rotation fixing means 14, and the tilt of the gantry 4 is fixed by the tilt fixing means 15, Vibrations or impacts during travel generate signals from the support means for supporting the rotating body 12, the bearing 8a for supporting the support shaft 6 of the gantry 4, the power supply brush for supplying power to the X-ray tube, and the X-ray detector. Since they are not added to the signal brush or the like to be transmitted to the control means side, there is no possibility of damaging them.

On the other hand, when the examination car 1 arrives at the examination place and the examination car 1 is parked at a predetermined place, the rotation fixing means 14 and the tilt fixing means 15 are released to prepare for examination.
The rotation fixing means 14 is released by opening the door 3b provided on the front surface of the cover 3a from the front side of the apparatus main body 3 installed in the photographing room 2, that is, the side on which the top plate 20 is installed. The knob 14i of the rotation fixing means 14 provided in 3c is rotated in the direction opposite to that at the time of fixing, and the screw portion 14j of the fixing screw 14h is removed from the screw hole 14m of the fixing bracket 14k.
As a result, the movable member 14g is moved back to the position shown in FIG. 4 by the spring force of the compression spring 14e, so that the fixing of the rotating body 12 is released, and at the same time, the operating portion 17a of the limit switch 17 is operated by the movable member 14g. For this reason, the interlock of the control means (not shown) that has been interlocked so that it cannot be scanned until now is released, and the display unit 18a of the display means 18 is turned on to indicate that the fixing of the rotating body 12 has been released. To do.

  Similarly, when the tilt fixing means 15 is released, the knob 15e of the tilt fixing means 15 provided in the opening 3c is rotated from the front of the apparatus body 3 in the opposite direction to the fixing direction, and the female screw 15h on the knob 15e side is turned off. When it is removed from the male screw 15g on the support bracket 15a side, the fixing pin 15d is retracted to the position shown in FIG. 7 by the spring force of the compression spring 15i, so that the fixing of the gantry 4 is released and at the same time the operating part of the limit switch 19 Since 19a is separated by the knob 15e, the power to the tilt driving means 9 which has been turned off is turned on, and the display portion 18b of the display means 18 is lit to indicate that the fixing of the gantry 4 is released. .

As described above, the rotating body 12 and the gantry 4 can be released from the front of the apparatus main body 3 and thus provided on the front side surface of the imaging room 2 as in a conventional in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus. Since it is not necessary to enter the imaging room 2 through the maintenance entrance 2d and perform the release operation from the rear of the apparatus body 3, preparation for the examination can be performed efficiently in a short time, and once out of the vehicle for preparation. There is no need to carry out any work, so there will be no obstacle to work in rainy weather.
When the examination is completed and the rotating body 12 and the gantry 4 are fixed again, the operation opposite to that at the time of the release may be performed, and the description thereof is omitted.

1 is a plan view of a medical examination vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view of an in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the state which removed the cover of the vehicle-mounted X-ray CT apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded side view of the rotation fixing means provided in the vehicle-mounted X-ray CT apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the rotation fixing means provided in the vehicle-mounted X-ray CT apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded side view of the tilt fixing means provided in the vehicle-mounted X-ray CT apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a partial cross section figure which shows the principal part of the tilt fixing means provided in the vehicle-mounted X-ray CT apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the tilt fixing means provided in the vehicle-mounted X-ray CT apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Examination wheel 2 Imaging room 3 Apparatus main body 4 Gantry 8 Support means 9 Tilt drive means 12 Rotating body 14 Rotation fixing means 14e Energizing means 14h Fixing pin 14k Fixing bracket 15 Tilt fixing means 15d Fixing pin 15i Energizing means 15k Fixing member 18 Display means

Claims (2)

A rotating body in which an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector are arranged to face each other, a gantry for rotatably supporting the rotating body, a support means for tiltably supporting the gantry, and a tilt driving means for tilting the gantry the device body with a, installed in photographing room examination vehicle, the operable position from the front of the apparatus main body, and the rotation fixing means for fixing the rotation of the rotating body, the stationary tilt for fixing the tilt of the gantry in X-ray CT apparatus for placing vehicles installed means,
The rotation fixing means includes a fixing pin installed in the gantry, a biasing means installed in the gantry and biasing the fixing pin, and a fixing bracket installed in the rotating body, An in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus, wherein the rotating body is fixed by inserting a fixing pin into the fixing bracket. A rotating body in which an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector are arranged to face each other, a gantry for rotatably supporting the rotating body, a support means for tiltably supporting the gantry, and a tilt driving means for tilting the gantry An apparatus main body equipped with a rotation fixing means for fixing the rotation of the rotating body and a tilt fixing for fixing the tilt of the gantry at a position operable from the front of the apparatus main body. In the in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus provided with the means,
The tilt fixing means includes a fixing pin installed in the gantry, a biasing means installed in the gantry and biasing the fixing pin, and a fixing member installed in the support means, An in-vehicle X-ray CT apparatus, wherein the gantry is fixed by fitting a fixing pin to the fixing member.

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