JP4866711B2 - Subject delivery device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a subject delivery device, and more particularly to a device for delivering a subject placed on a support plate.

In a medical field, a subject is often delivered between a plurality of medical devices. The medical device is, for example, a medical image photographing device, a treatment device, a stretcher, or the like. As one method of delivery, there is a method of delivering a subject on a dedicated support plate (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-325746 A

  When delivering the subject while it is placed on the support plate, safety is ensured so that a part of the subject's body, for example, the hand or foot, is not pinched between the support plate and the delivery device. Must have been.

 Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize an apparatus for safely delivering a subject placed on a support plate.

 The invention for solving the problem is an apparatus for delivering a subject to a second support plate in a state of being placed on the first support plate, wherein the first support plate is placed on the second support plate. The first support plate is lifted from the lower side of the first support plate, lifted from the lower side of the support plate, supported from the lower side by the protruding portion from the second support plate, and lowered from this state. A platform capable of being placed on two support plates, lifting means capable of raising and lowering the platform, a portion of the first support plate protruding from the second support plate, and the platform A subject delivery apparatus comprising: a detector that detects the presence of foreign matter between the first and second detectors; and a blocking unit that blocks the lift of the lifting unit based on a detection signal of the detector.

  It is preferable that the platform includes a conveyor for moving the first support plate in a portion that supports the first support plate in terms of facilitating delivery to a stretcher or the like.

It is preferable in terms of easy contact detection that the platform has a guide plate parallel to the vicinity of the side surface of the first support plate, and the detector detects the contact of a foreign object to the guide plate.
The guide plate is supported so as to be movable up and down, and the detector preferably performs contact detection based on the vertical movement of the guide plate in terms of easy contact detection.

It is preferable that the guide plate is supported by a parallel link, and that the detector performs contact detection based on the swing of the parallel link in terms of easy contact detection.
The conveyor is a belt conveyor including a roller that can swing, and it is preferable that the detector detects contact based on the swing of the roller in terms of detecting contact with the conveyor.

It is preferable that the second support plate is a cradle of a medical image capturing apparatus in terms of subject transfer between the medical image capturing apparatuses.
It is preferable that the medical imaging apparatus is an X-ray CT apparatus in terms of subject transfer between the X-ray CT apparatuses.

  According to the present invention, an apparatus for delivering a subject to a second support plate in a state where the subject is placed on the first support plate is below the first support plate placed on the second support plate. The first support plate is lifted from the side by lifting the first support plate while supporting the protruding portion from the second support plate from below and lifting the first support plate to the second support plate. A platform on which the platform can be mounted; lifting means capable of raising and lowering the platform; and a foreign substance provided between the platform and the protruding portion of the first support plate from the second support plate. Since a detector for detecting the presence and a blocking unit for blocking the ascending / descending means based on a detection signal of the detector are provided, an apparatus for safely delivering a subject placed on a support plate is realized. Can do.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the best mode for carrying out the invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the X-ray CT apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray CT apparatus 100 includes a table 110 and a gantry 120. The table 110 is configured to support the subject in a state of being laid on a movable top plate (cradle). The gantry 120 has a cylindrical structure having a hollow portion.

 The table 110 carries the subject into and out of the cavity of the gantry 120 using a cradle. The gantry 120 collects scan data by scanning a subject that has been loaded with X-rays. The direction in which the subject is carried in and out is the z direction, and the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in a plane perpendicular to the z direction are the y direction and the x direction, respectively.

 The X-ray CT apparatus 100 is an example of a medical image photographing apparatus in the present invention. The medical imaging apparatus is not limited to the X-ray CT apparatus, and may be an imaging apparatus of other modalities such as a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, an X-ray imaging apparatus, and the like. . Moreover, it is not limited to a medical imaging apparatus, and may be a therapeutic apparatus such as a radiotherapy apparatus.

 The subject delivery device 200 and the stretcher 300 are arranged in the z direction on the opposite side of the gantry 120 from the table 110. The subject delivery apparatus 200 mediates delivery of the subject between the X-ray CT apparatus 100 and the stretcher 300.

 The subject delivery apparatus 200 is an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention. The configuration of the subject delivery apparatus 200 shows an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention related to the subject delivery apparatus.

 The delivery of the subject is performed with the subject placed on the support plate 400. Accordingly, the support plate 400 is directly delivered. The support plate 400 is an example of a first support plate in the present invention. Delivery of the support plate 400 is performed bidirectionally. In one direction, the support plate 400 is received from the stretcher 300 and passed to the X-ray CT apparatus 100. Hereinafter, this direction is referred to as an in direction. In the other direction, the support plate 400 is received from the X-ray CT apparatus 100 and passed to the stretcher 300. Hereinafter, this direction is referred to as an “out” direction.

 The subject delivery apparatus 200 has a platform 210. The platform 210 can be raised and lowered by the elevating mechanism 220. Delivery of the support plate 400 to the X-ray CT apparatus 100 is performed with the platform 210 lowered. Delivery of the support plate 400 to the stretcher 300 is performed with the platform 210 raised.

 In FIG. 1, the platform 210 is in a lowered state, and the support plate 400 is in a state of being passed to the X-ray CT apparatus 100. In this state, the support plate 400 is supported from below by a cradle that is fed from the table 110 through the cavity of the gantry 120.

 FIG. 2 shows how the support plate 400 is delivered. FIG. 2 is an xy sectional view. As shown in FIG. 2, the cradle 112 that supports the support plate 400 from below is narrower than the support plate 400. The cradle 112 is an example of a second support plate in the present invention.

 The platform 210 has a U-shaped duct-like superstructure. The superstructure has a pair of parallel side walls 212a and 212b that are opposed to each other with a space therebetween. The interval between the side walls 212 a and 212 b is narrower than the width of the support plate 400 and wider than the width of the cradle 112. The depth of the U-shaped duct formed by the side walls 212a and 212b is such that the back surface of the cradle 112 does not touch the bottom of the duct even when the platform 210 is raised to the highest position.

 The platform 210 has rollers 214a and 214b on the upper end surfaces of the side walls 212a and 212b. The rollers 214 a and 214 b are provided over the entire length of the platform 210. The distance between the rollers 214 a and 214 b is narrower than the width of the support plate 400.

 The platform 210 also has guide plates 216a and 216b perpendicular to the upper end surfaces of the side walls 212a and 212b. The lengths of the guide plates 216a and 216b are the same as the length of the platform 210. The distance between the guide plates 216 a and 216 b is wider than the width of the support plate 400. The lower ends of the guide plates 216a and 216b are supported by springs 218a and 218b, respectively, in grooves provided on the end surfaces of the side walls 212a and 212b.

 FIG. 2A shows a state where the platform 210 is lowered to the lowest position. At this time, the support plate 400 is supported by the cradle 112. As a result, the support plate 400 is in a state of being delivered to the cradle 112.

 If the cradle 112 is pulled into the gantry 120 in this state, the subject on the support plate 400 can be scanned. If the cradle 112 is fed over the platform 210 after scanning, the original state is restored.

 FIG. 2B shows a state where the platform 210 has been raised to the highest position. At this time, the support plate 400 is supported by the platform 210 while being lifted from the cradle 112. The platform 210 supports the portions of the support plate 400 that protrude from both sides of the cradle 112 with rollers 214a and 214b.

 As a result, the support plate 400 is transferred to the platform 210. When the support plate is transferred from the platform 210 to the cradle 112, the platform 210 may be lowered to the state (a).

 When the support plate 400 is lifted by the platform 210, the support plate 400 can be delivered to the stretcher 300 by feeding the support plate 400 to the stretcher 300 side using the conveyor function of the rollers 214a and 214b. it can. When the support plate 400 is transferred from the stretcher 300 to the platform 210, the reverse operation may be performed.

 The raising and lowering of the platform 210 may be a relative movement with respect to the cradle 112. Therefore, the cradle 112 may be raised and lowered instead of raising and lowering the platform 210.

 The subject delivery device 200 includes a safety device. The safety device prevents a part of the subject's body such as a limb protruding from the support plate 400 from being caught when the support plate 400 is delivered. The prevention of pinching is performed by detecting the presence or absence of foreign matter contact with a place where pinching may occur when the platform 210 is raised, and preventing the platform from rising when foreign matter contact is detected.

 FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the safety device. As shown in FIG. 3, the safety device is configured to detect contact of a foreign object with a detector 230 and to control the lifting mechanism 220 with a control circuit 240 based on the detection signal. Control of the lifting mechanism 220 is performed in a direction to avoid pinching. The control in the direction to avoid the pinching is, for example, ascending stop or reverse descending. In addition, when the control object of the control circuit 240 is the lifting mechanism of the cradle 112, the direction to avoid the pinching is, for example, the lowering stop or the reverse rising. The control circuit 240 is an example of blocking means in the present invention.

 The detector is provided in a portion of the platform 210 where the distance from the support plate 112 is narrowed when the platform 210 is lifted and is not in contact with the support plate 112 when the platform 210 is lifted. For example, guide plates 216a and 216b are selected as such portions. In this case, detectors such as a touch sensor are provided on the guide plates 216a and 216b. In this way, when the finger or the like of the subject protruding from the support plate 400 comes into contact with the guide plates 216a and 216b, the platform 210 is prevented from rising. This prevents fingers and the like from being sandwiched between the support plate 400 and the platform 210.

 If the touch sensor has a shape that also serves as the guide plates 216a and 216b, the number of parts can be reduced. The touch sensor may be provided at a position where the lower ends of the guide plates 216a and 216b can be contacted in the groove in which the guide plates 216a and 216b are accommodated. In this case, for example, a limit switch or the like is used as the touch sensor.

 When the guide plates 216a and 216b are supported by parallel links 222a and 222b as shown in FIG. 4, the limit switch 232 may be operated by swinging the link 222a at the time of contact. The parallel links 222a and 222b have joints 224a and 224b whose positions are fixed and joints 224c and 224d whose positions are variable, and a pull back force by a spring 226 acts on the link 222a.

 The conveyor on the platform 210 may be a belt conveyor instead of a roller conveyor. For example, a belt conveyor as shown in FIG. 5 is used.

 As shown in FIG. 5, the belt conveyor is configured such that a belt 500 is wound around a plurality of rollers 502a to 502h in an endless manner. The plurality of rollers 502a-502h are supported by a pair of two columns 504a-504d and horizontal branches 506a-506d so as to be symmetric and swingable in a pair. The lower surface of the belt 500 floats from the mounting surface 508 of the support columns 504a to 504d. Limit switches 510a-510d are attached to the lateral branches 506a-506d, respectively.

 In such a belt conveyor, when the pinching with the support plate 400 occurs immediately above the limit switch 510a as shown by an arrow A in FIG. As a result, the limit switch 510a is actuated to detect stagnation.

 Further, as shown by an arrow B, when the pinching occurs in a portion where the rollers 502a to 502h are not supported, any of the limit switches 510b and 510c is caused by the inclination of the roller pair due to the belt 500 being bent at this portion. Either or both are activated to detect stagnation.

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an X-ray CT apparatus using a subject delivery apparatus as an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention. It is a figure which shows the mode of the support plate delivery by the subject delivery apparatus. It is a block diagram of a safety device. It is a figure which shows the support mechanism of a guide plate. It is a figure which shows the structure of a belt conveyor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: X-ray CT apparatus 110: Table 112: Cradle 120: Gantry 200: Subject delivery apparatus 210: Platform 212a, 212b: Side wall 214a, 214b: Roller 216a, 216b: Guide plate 220: Elevating mechanism 222a, 222b: Link 224a -224d: Joint 226: Spring 230: Detector 232: Limit switch 240: Control circuit 300: Stretcher 400: Support plate 500: Belt 502a-502h: Roller 504a-504d: Post 506a-506d: Side 508: Mounting surface 510a-510d: Limit switch

Claims (8)

An apparatus for delivering a subject to a second support plate in a state of being placed on the first support plate,
Ascending from the lower side of the first support plate placed on the second support plate and supporting the protruding portion from the second support plate from below, lifting the first support plate, A platform capable of descending from a state and placing the first support plate on the second support plate;
Elevating means capable of elevating the platform;
A detector provided on the platform for detecting the presence of foreign matter between the platform and a portion of the first support plate protruding from the second support plate;
A subject delivery apparatus comprising: a blocking unit that blocks the lifting unit from ascending based on a detection signal of the detector. The subject delivery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platform includes a conveyor for moving the first support plate in a portion that supports the first support plate. The platform has a guide plate parallel to the side surface of the first support plate,
The object delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the detector detects contact of a foreign object with the guide plate. The guide plate is supported to be movable up and down,
The object delivery device according to claim 3, wherein the detector performs contact detection based on vertical movement of the guide plate. The guide plate is supported by parallel links,
The object delivery device according to claim 3, wherein the detector performs contact detection based on swinging of the parallel link. The conveyor is a belt conveyor containing a swingable roller,
The object delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the detector detects the presence of a foreign substance based on the swing of the roller. The object delivery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second support plate is a cradle of a medical imaging apparatus. The subject delivery apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the medical imaging apparatus is an X-ray CT apparatus.

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