JP4807227B2 - X-ray equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus used in general radiography and to an apparatus to which a fluoroscopic function used in orthopedic surgery or the like is added, and more particularly to an X-ray tube holding apparatus provided with image display means for displaying a fluoroscopic image.

  In an X-ray imaging apparatus in which a fluoroscopy function used in orthopedics is added to an X-ray imaging apparatus used in general imaging including an X-ray tube holding device and an imaging table, the irradiation field of the subject can be controlled remotely. The remote control function of the video system for positioning is not provided. Conventionally, in the X-ray imaging apparatus to which the fluoroscopic function is added, the position of the irradiation field with respect to the body position of the subject is determined by the operator operating the X-ray tube holding device. It is not desirable to determine the irradiation field by moving the plate because the load on the subject increases. The final confirmation of the irradiation field is performed by the operator confirming a fluoroscopic image displayed on a fluoroscopic image display monitor provided separately.

  In the X-ray tube holding device, the horizontal and vertical movements of the X-ray tube in the long and short directions are factors that determine the position of the X-ray tube. In addition, since the X-ray tube rotates around the horizontal axis and changes the X-ray irradiation direction by moving the X-ray tube around the horizontal axis, the rotation angle around the horizontal axis of the X-ray tube is a factor that determines the direction of the X-ray tube. Since the X-ray tube rotates around the vertical axis by the movement of the X-ray tube around the vertical axis to change the X-ray irradiation direction, the rotation angle around the vertical axis of the X-ray tube also determines the direction of the X-ray tube. Is a factor. Specifically, press the brake release switch to release the brake that locks the required horizontal movement, vertical movement, movement around the horizontal axis, and movement around the vertical axis. However, the position and orientation of the X-ray tube are adjusted by moving the X-ray tube by pushing, pulling, or rotating the operation handle. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a conventional X-ray imaging apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, the X-ray tube holding device 20 includes a horizontal movement in the longitudinal direction along the fixed rail 21 arranged on the ceiling and a horizontal movement in the short direction (perpendicular to the paper surface) along the movable rail 22. The X-ray tube 24 and the operation unit 25 are held on the distal end side of the support column 23 that can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction. The X-ray tube 24 and the operation unit 25 are supported so as to be capable of rotating around the horizontal axis HA (moving around the horizontal axis) and rotating around the vertical axis VA (moving around the vertical axis), respectively. The operation unit 25 includes a brake release for operating the horizontal movement and expansion / contraction movement of the long and short sides, movement of the X-ray tube 24 and the movement of the operation unit 25 around the horizontal axis, and movement around the vertical axis. A display (not shown) for position information of the X-ray tube 24 such as a switch, an operation handle (not shown), and an SID (distance between the radiation source image receiving surfaces) is disposed.

The subject M constitutes the imaging table 1 and is placed on the imaging table top plate 2 held so as to be horizontally movable. The position of the irradiation field with respect to the subject M is determined by the operator operating the operation unit 25 to move the X-ray tube 24 or moving the imaging table top 2. The X-ray tube 24 is supplied with a high voltage from the high voltage generator 3 and irradiates the irradiation field of the subject M with X-rays. X-rays that have passed through the subject M are detected by an X-ray detector 4 configured by, for example, a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD), and are converted into image data by a fluoroscopic image processing device 35 and are displayed on a fluoroscopic image display monitor 36. Displayed as a fluoroscopic image. The final confirmation of the irradiation field is performed by the operator confirming the fluoroscopic image displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 36.
JP 2005-185765 A

  In the conventional X-ray imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 4, when determining the irradiation field, the operator needs to operate the operation unit 25 at a remote location while checking the fluoroscopic image displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 36. There is a problem that it is difficult to operate. Further, when the X-ray tube 24 and the operation unit 25 are rotated 180 degrees with the vertical axis VA as the rotation axis, and the operator operates on the opposite side of the imaging table 1, the perspective image displayed on the perspective image display monitor 36 is displayed. The direction and the direction of viewing the subject M from the operator are reversed, and it is difficult to determine the irradiation field by unconsciously operating the direction. An X-ray imaging apparatus in which these operational problems are improved is provided.

  In an X-ray imaging apparatus having an X-ray tube holding device that supports an X-ray tube so that it can move horizontally and vertically, an imaging table on which a subject is placed, an X-ray detector and a high voltage generator, a fluoroscopic image is displayed. An X-ray tube holding device having an operation unit provided with image display means for displaying is provided.

  The orientation of the fluoroscopic image displayed on the image display means includes fluoroscopic image direction changing means that is automatically changed according to the direction of the operation unit of the X-ray tube holding device with respect to the imaging table.

  The fluoroscopic image direction changing means detects the change when the direction of the operation unit of the X-ray tube holding device with respect to the imaging table changes by 180 degrees, and converts the fluoroscopic image to 180 degrees based on an output signal from the detecting means. The image to be converted is composed of 180 degree conversion means.

  The image display means switches and displays information other than the fluoroscopic image, such as X-ray tube position information, in addition to the fluoroscopic image.

  Information display other than the fluoroscopic image such as the X-ray tube position information and the fluoroscopic image display can be switched using the start of fluoroscopy and the movement operation of the X-ray tube or the imaging table top as a trigger.

  Since an image display means for displaying a fluoroscopic image is provided in the operation section, the operator can focus on the operation section and determine the irradiation field, improving operability and operating in a short time. Can be terminated. In addition, since there is no need to provide image display means on the floor in the vicinity of the imaging table, there are fewer obstacles when the subject approaches the imaging table or when the operator operates.

  Since the direction of the fluoroscopic image displayed on the image display means is automatically changed according to the direction of the operation unit of the X-ray tube holding device with respect to the imaging table, the moving direction of the X-ray tube and the subject in the fluoroscopic image The moving direction of the upper irradiation field is always the same, and the irradiation field can be determined by an intuitive operation.

  The image display means arranged in the operation unit switches and displays information necessary for the operation (position information of the X-ray tube such as SID or fluoroscopic image) when necessary for operation, so that the operator can only display the operation unit. It is possible to focus the attention and determine the irradiation field, improving operability.

  The angle of the display surface of the image display means disposed in the operation unit of the X-ray tube holding device is changed according to vertical movement (change in height) so that the operator can easily see.

  The rotation angles of the X-ray tube and the operation unit around the horizontal axis (rotation around the horizontal axis) and around the vertical axis (rotation around the vertical axis) are detected by potentiometers arranged on the horizontal axis and the vertical axis.

  The X-ray tube detected by the potentiometer disposed on the vertical axis and the angle signal of the rotation of the operation unit around the vertical axis are input to the fluoroscopic image processing device and control the direction of the fluoroscopic image displayed on the image display means. .

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the fluoroscopic image direction changing means of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the perspective image display direction conversion of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the X-ray tube holding device 10 is horizontally moved in the longitudinal direction along the fixed rail 11 disposed on the ceiling and horizontally in the short direction (perpendicular to the paper surface) along the movable rail 12. An X-ray tube 14 and an operation unit 15 are held on the distal end side of a support column 13 that can be moved and suspended vertically. The operation unit 15 is provided with a fluoroscopic image display monitor 16.

  The X-ray tube 14 and the operation unit 15 are supported so as to be capable of rotating around the horizontal axis HA (moving around the horizontal axis) and rotating around the vertical axis VA (moving around the vertical axis), respectively. The rotation angle of the X-ray tube 14 and the operation unit 15 around the horizontal axis (rotation around the horizontal axis) and around the vertical axis (rotation around the vertical axis) is a potentiometer (not shown) disposed near the horizontal axis, and It is detected by a potentiometer 17 disposed in the vicinity of the vertical axis, and is displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 as a part of positional information of the X-ray tube 14.

  The operation unit 15 includes a release of a brake for operating each horizontal movement and expansion / contraction movement of the long and short sides, movement of the X-ray tube 14 and movement of the operation unit 15 around the horizontal axis and movement around the vertical axis, and the like. A switch and an operation handle (not shown) are provided.

  The subject M is placed on the imaging table top plate 2 held on the imaging table 1 so as to be horizontally movable. The position of the irradiation field with respect to the subject M is determined by the operator operating the operation unit 15 to move the X-ray tube 14 or moving the imaging table top 2. The X-ray tube 14 is supplied with a high voltage from the high voltage generator 3 and irradiates the irradiation field of the subject M with X-rays. X-rays that have passed through the subject M are detected by an X-ray detector 4 constituted by, for example, a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD), converted into image data by a fluoroscopic image processing device 5, and a fluoroscopic image as a fluoroscopic image. It is displayed on the display monitor 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fluoroscopic image direction changing means is stored in the potentiometer 17 disposed in the vicinity of the vertical axis, the A / D converter 18 disposed in the operation unit 15, and the fluoroscopic image processing device 5. An image display direction changing unit 19 is included. The rotation axis of the potentiometer 17 to which the voltage + V is supplied from the operation unit 15 rotates with the rotation of the X-ray tube 14 and the operation unit 15 around the vertical axis, and the output voltage of the potentiometer 17 is the angle of rotation about the vertical axis. The angle signal changes with time. The analog angle signal is digitized by the A / D converter 18. The image display direction changing unit 19 is a direction in which the subject M is viewed in a state in which the direction of the fluoroscopic image displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 is operated toward the operation unit 15 based on the digitized angle signal. It consists of software that converts to be the same.

  As a representative example of changing the display direction of the fluoroscopic image displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16, there is a case where the operator turns to the opposite side of the imaging table 1 and operates. In this case, the direction of the operation unit 15 of the X-ray tube holding device 10 with respect to the imaging table 1 changes by 180 degrees. This angle change is detected by the potentiometer 17 and output as an angle signal (180 degree change). The angle signal (change of 180 degrees) is digitized by the A / D converter 18 and input to the image display direction changing unit 19. Based on the digitized angle signal (180-degree change), the image display direction changing unit 19 makes the direction of the fluoroscopic image the same as the direction of viewing the subject M while operating toward the operation unit 15. Thus, it is converted 180 degrees. In this case, the image display direction changing unit 19 functions as an image 180 degree conversion unit.

  In FIG. 3, when the operator rotates around the opposite side of the imaging table 1, the subject M can be seen in the direction as shown in (c). In this case, the directions of the operation unit 15 of the X-ray tube holding device 10 and the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 with respect to the imaging table 1 are changed by 180 degrees. When the image display direction changing unit 19 is not functioning, the fluoroscopic image displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 is in the direction shown in (a). If the image display direction changing unit 19 is functioning, the orientation of the fluoroscopic image displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 is converted by 180 degrees to the state shown in (b), and displayed in the same direction as (c). Operation such as irradiation field confirmation becomes easy.

  The fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 displays the position information of the X-ray tube 14 such as SID (distance between the source image receiving surfaces) when moving the position of the X-ray tube 14 or the imaging table top 2 to change the irradiation field. After the final confirmation of the irradiation field and the start of fluoroscopy, a fluoroscopic image is displayed.

  The information displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 is the position of the X-ray tube 14 such as the SID (distance between the source image receiving surfaces) other than the fluoroscopic image triggered by the movement of the position of the X-ray tube 14 or the imaging table top 2. The display is switched to information display, and the display is switched to display of a fluoroscopic image triggered by the final confirmation of the irradiation field or the start of fluoroscopy.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 for displaying a fluoroscopic image is provided in the operation unit 15. Therefore, the operator concentrates attention only on the operation unit 15 to determine the irradiation field. The operability is improved and the operation can be completed in a short time. In addition, since there is no need to provide image display means on the floor near the imaging table 1, there are fewer obstacles when the subject M approaches the imaging table 1 or when the operator operates.

  Since the direction of the fluoroscopic image displayed on the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 is controlled to be the same as the direction of viewing the subject M in the state of being operated toward the operation unit 15, the moving direction of the X-ray tube 14 is controlled. The movement direction of the irradiation field on the subject M in the fluoroscopic image is always the same, and the irradiation field can be determined by an intuitive operation.

  Further, the fluoroscopic image display monitor 16 disposed in the operation unit 15 switches and displays information necessary for the operation (position information of the X-ray tube 14 such as SID or a fluoroscopic image) when necessary for the operation. The operator can concentrate the operation only on the operation unit 15 to reduce the load on the operator.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray tube holding device 10 is a ceiling traveling type, but the present invention can also be applied by replacing it with a floor traveling X-ray tube holding device. Further, the X-ray detector 4 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is constituted by a flat panel type X-ray detector, but this may be replaced by an X-ray detector constituted by an image intensifier or a television camera. The invention is applicable and the apparatus is not limited to the illustrated example.

  The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus used in general radiography and to an apparatus to which a fluoroscopic function used in orthopedic surgery or the like is added, and more particularly to an X-ray tube holding apparatus provided with image display means for displaying a fluoroscopic image.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the X-ray imaging apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the perspective image direction change means of this invention. It is a figure explaining the example of the perspective image display direction conversion of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the conventional X-ray imaging apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging stand 2 Imaging stand top plate 3 High voltage generator 4 X-ray detector 5 X-ray detector 5 X-ray tube holding device 11 Fixed rail 12 Movable rail 13 Support | pillar 14 X-ray tube 15 Operation part 16 Perspective image display monitor 17 Potentiometer 18 A / D converter 19 Image display direction changing unit 20 X-ray tube holding device 21 Fixed rail 22 Movable rail 23 Strut 24 X-ray tube 25 Operation unit 35 Perspective image processing device 36 Perspective image display monitor M Subject

Claims (1)

In an X-ray imaging apparatus having an X-ray tube holding device that supports an X-ray tube so that it can move horizontally and vertically, an imaging table on which a subject is placed, an X-ray detector and a high voltage generator, a fluoroscopic image is displayed. and X-ray tube holding apparatus to have the operating unit image display means is rotatably supported about a vertical axis is arranged to display, the orientation of the fluoroscopic image displayed on the image display unit, the X-ray for the imaging table A fluoroscopic image direction changing unit that automatically changes according to the direction of the operation unit of the tube holding device, and the direction of the fluoroscopic image direction changing unit is such that the direction of the operation unit of the X-ray tube holding device with respect to the imaging table An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: detecting means for detecting a change when the angle changes by 180 degrees; and image 180 degree converting means for converting a fluoroscopic image by 180 degrees based on an output signal from the detecting means. .

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