JP5234764B2 - Medical X-ray imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical X-ray imaging apparatus for dentistry and otolaryngology.

  The medical X-ray imaging apparatus has an X-ray irradiation unit that irradiates a patient with X-rays, an X-ray detection unit that detects X-rays transmitted through the patient, and an X-ray irradiation unit and an X-ray detection unit facing each other. And a swivel arm. The medical X-ray imaging apparatus has a panoramic imaging function, a CT imaging function, and the like. The panoramic imaging function performs tomographic imaging while the swivel arm is horizontally moved and swiveled so that the X-ray beam draws a locus along the shape of the dental arch. The CT imaging function performs tomographic imaging of the target tooth while rotating the swivel arm around the target tooth.

  Some medical X-ray imaging apparatuses use two types of imaging means as X-ray detection units. And according to uses, such as panoramic imaging and CT imaging, each imaging means is selected and used. In Patent Document 1, the X-ray detection unit includes two types of electrical imaging means (CCD or the like), one of which is a vertically long panoramic sensor and the other is a planar area sensor that extends in a two-dimensional direction. Become. In Patent Document 2, the X-ray detection unit includes a conventional analog imaging unit using an X-ray film and an electrical imaging unit such as a CCD. In Patent Document 3, there is known one that can be selectively used by inverting two types of electrical imaging means.

In the X-ray detection unit, the two types of imaging means are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and one imaging means is attached and detached according to the usage mode. The medical X-ray imaging apparatus includes a holder unit that holds each imaging unit. Therefore, in one of the two types of image pickup means, when one image pickup means is removed, the removed holder part is unnecessary, which is an obstacle to the operator and the patient.
Special table 2007-526105 gazette Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-135829 JP 2006-288726 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the X-ray detection unit having two types of imaging means is configured so that the removed holder part does not get in the way of the patient even when one of the imaging means is removed. An X-ray imaging apparatus is provided.

In order to solve the above problems, a medical X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes:
X-ray irradiation means for irradiating the subject with X-rays, X-ray detection means for detecting X-rays transmitted through the subject, and turning means for turning the X-ray irradiation means and the X-ray detection means to face each other. In the medical X-ray imaging apparatus, the X-ray detection means includes the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit.
A first holder part for holding the first sensor part; a second holder part for holding the second sensor part; an attaching / detaching means for making the first sensor part detachable from the first holder part; and a first sensor part. A storage means is provided that allows the first holder part to be stored in the second holder part when the first holder part is removed from the first holder part.

  Preferably, with the subject as the center, the first sensor unit is disposed on the inner side, the second sensor unit is disposed on the outer side, and the second sensor unit includes a planar area sensor.

  Preferably, the storage means includes a storage part for storing the first holder part, a guide means for guiding the first holder part to the storage part, and a drive means for driving the first holder part forward and backward. Built-in.

Preferably, a recognition means for recognizing attachment / detachment of the first sensor part with respect to the first holder part is provided,
The recognition means includes a first identification unit that identifies electrical connection and non-connection between the first sensor unit and the first holder unit, and a second identification unit that identifies the presence or absence of the first sensor unit at a predetermined position. And
The control unit controls the storage unit to automatically store the first holder unit in the second holder unit when the recognition unit recognizes the removal of the first sensor unit.

  Preferably, the attaching / detaching means includes a first sensor portion that is detachable in the vertical direction with respect to the first holder portion, and includes a two-stage hook means in the vertical direction.

  Preferably, the area sensor of the second sensor unit uses only the vertically long region in the center in the horizontal direction on the imaging surface, reads the pixel size without binning, increases the frame rate to 60 to 95 fps or more, Take a panoramic shot.

As described above, the present invention includes the first holder part that holds the first sensor part and the second holder part that holds the second sensor part. Further, the present invention provides an attachment / detachment means for making the first sensor part detachable from the first holder part, and the first holder part is attached to the second holder part when the first sensor part is detached from the first holder part. Storage means for enabling storage.
As a result, the storage means can store the first holder part that holds the first sensor part that is no longer used in the second holder part, so that it does not interfere with the patient or the operator.

Further, according to the present invention, the first sensor unit is arranged on the inner side, the second sensor unit is arranged side by side in the lateral direction with the subject as the center, and the second sensor unit includes a planar area sensor. ing.
When the second sensor unit is disposed outside and includes a planar area sensor, by removing the first sensor unit on the inside and storing the first holder unit in the second holder unit, The second sensor unit (area sensor) can be set to a state close to the subject side. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the sensor area (area) of the second sensor unit while securing a necessary imaging range. Sensors such as CCD and MOS are very expensive. Therefore, the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced by reducing the sensor area. Furthermore, since the rotation area of the swivel arm is reduced by bringing the second sensor portion closer to the subject, the required area (required space) of the entire apparatus can also be reduced.

  Hereinafter, a medical X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the basic structure of a medical X-ray imaging apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “X-ray imaging apparatus”) will be described. 1A and 1B show the appearance of an X-ray imaging apparatus, where FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a side view. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the X-ray imaging apparatus.

  The X-ray imaging apparatus is configured to be capable of panoramic imaging, CT imaging, and cephalometric imaging. A configuration for cephalometric imaging is omitted. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes a support frame 7, a turning arm 3, an X-ray irradiation unit 2, an X-ray detection unit 1, a head holding unit 4, and the like. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes a base 5 installed on a floor surface and a support column 6 erected in the vertical direction from the base 5. The support frame 7 is formed in a U shape and is connected to and supported by the column 6. The support frame 7 can be moved up and down along the column 6 via the lifting mechanism 72 (FIG. 2).

  The support frame 7 holds the swivel arm 3. The swivel arm 3 includes a rotation shaft 30 at the top. The swivel arm 3 moves horizontally (XY) and swivels around the rotation shaft 30. The rotating shaft 30 is connected to an XY moving mechanism 70 and a rotation driving mechanism 71 built in the support frame 7. By these 70 and 71, the turning arm 3 enables movement in the XY direction (two-dimensional) and horizontal turning.

  The swivel arm 3 includes an X-ray detection unit 1 suspended at one end and an X-ray irradiation unit 2 suspended at the other end. The X-ray detection unit 1 and the X-ray irradiation unit 2 are arranged to face each other. Between the X-ray detection unit 1 and the X-ray irradiation unit 2, a head holding unit 4 that holds the head of a patient (subject) O is provided. The head holding unit 4 includes a member for positioning the patient, such as a chin rest, a handle for the patient to hold.

  The X-ray irradiation unit 2 irradiates an X-ray beam from a built-in X-ray tube. The X-ray detection unit 1 includes a first sensor unit 10 and a second sensor unit 11. Centering on the patient O, the 1st sensor part 10 is arrange | positioned inside, and the 2nd sensor part 11 is arrange | positioned outside. That is, the first sensor unit 10 is disposed on the patient O side, and the second sensor unit 11 is disposed side by side with the first sensor unit 10.

  The first sensor unit 10 includes a panoramic sensor. The panorama sensor 10 includes an X-ray detection sensor made of a vertically long CCD or the like. The panorama sensor 10 may be a panorama / cephalo sensor so that the panorama sensor 10 can also be used during the above-described cephalo shooting.

  The second sensor unit 11 includes an area sensor. The area sensor 11 includes an X-ray detection sensor including a planar rectangular (two-dimensional) CCD or the like. The panorama sensor 10 and the area sensor 11 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. The panorama sensor 10 is held by a panorama sensor holder 20. The area sensor 11 is held in an area sensor holder 21.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a usage range of the area sensor imaging surface of the second sensor unit during CT imaging (a) and panoramic imaging (b).
Panorama shooting can be performed selectively by the area sensor of the second sensor unit 11 using not only the first sensor unit (panoramic sensor or panorama / cephalo sensor) 10 but also sensor selection means (not shown).
The area sensor 11 of the second sensor unit selected by the sensor selection unit uses only the vertically long (strip-shaped) region (width 5 to 8 mm × height 125 to 200 mm) 11 b in the center in the horizontal direction on the imaging surface 11 a. This corresponds to panoramic photography (FIG. 7B). Normally, without pixel binning (1 × 1 pixel), the frame rate is read at 7.5 fps (frame / second), or 2 × 2 pixels are handled as one pixel by the pixel binning technique, and the frame rate is 30 fps ( In the area sensor 11 of the present embodiment, the frame rate is 60 to 95 fps or more without pixel binning a pixel size of 127 μm × 125 μm in the use area 11 b on the imaging surface 11 a. By scanning at this speed, it is possible to perform panoramic shooting while improving the resolution and increasing the speed of capturing image data. Of course, the resolution improvement and the capture speed increase processing are not limited to the above values as long as the resolution is acceptable for panoramic photography and the capture speed is increased (capturing time). At the time of CT imaging, the area sensor 11 of the second sensor unit performs imaging using almost the entire area 11c of the imaging surface 11a (FIG. 7A).

  The X-ray imaging apparatus includes a control unit (CPU) 78. The control unit 78 is connected to each mechanism such as the XY movement mechanism 70, the rotation drive mechanism 71, the X-ray irradiation unit 2, and the like, and enables control of the entire X-ray imaging apparatus. As will be described later, the controller 78 is also connected to the recognition means 12 and the storage means 13 for storing the panorama sensor holder 20 in the area sensor holder 21 and is configured to control the storage means 13. Yes.

  The X-ray imaging apparatus includes an image capture memory 73 and an image reconstruction unit 74. An image signal output from the X-ray detection unit 1 is input to the image capture memory 73 and converted into a digital signal, and then a tomographic image along an arbitrary tomographic plane by an image reconstruction unit (image reconstruction program) 74. And is displayed on the image display means (monitor) 75.

  Next, the X-ray detection unit 1 will be described. FIG. 3 shows an X-ray detection unit, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a front view. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing the X-ray detection unit. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view illustrating a state in which the panoramic sensor holder is stored in the area sensor holder.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the X-ray detection unit 1 includes a panorama sensor 10 and an area sensor 11. The panorama sensor (first sensor unit) 10 is suspended from the lower part of the panorama sensor holder (first holder unit) 20 and held. The area sensor (second sensor unit) 11 is built in and held in an area sensor holder (second holder unit) 21. The panorama sensor 10 and the area sensor 11 are provided side by side along the horizontal direction. The panoramic sensor 10 is disposed on the patient side, and the area sensor 11 is disposed adjacent to the panoramic sensor 10 (FIG. 2). The area sensor holder 21 is suspended and held by the swing arm 3 (FIG. 2), and the panoramic sensor holder 20 is held on the side surface (patient side) of the area sensor holder 21.

  The panorama sensor 10 is configured to be detachable in the vertical direction with respect to the panorama sensor holder 20. The panoramic sensor holder 20 includes a recognition unit 12 inside. The recognition unit 12 recognizes whether the panorama sensor 10 is attached to or detached from the panorama sensor holder 20. The recognition unit 12 includes a first identification unit 120 and a second identification unit 121. The first identification unit 120 identifies attachment / detachment of the panorama sensor 10 by electrical connection and disconnection with the upper part of the panorama sensor 10. The second identification unit 121 includes a reflection sensor or the like provided below the panorama sensor holder 20, and includes a light projecting element and a light receiving element for the panorama sensor 10, and the panorama sensor 10 exists in the panorama sensor holder 20. Whether the panoramic sensor 10 is attached or detached.

  The area sensor holder 21 incorporates the storage means 13 in the upper part. The storage unit 13 stores the panorama sensor holder 20 in the area sensor holder 21 when the panorama sensor 10 is detached from the panorama sensor holder 20. The storage means 13 stores the panoramic sensor holder 20 by moving it back and forth in the horizontal direction.

  The storage means 13 includes a storage unit 130 formed of a space recessed in the lateral direction. The storage unit 130 is open on the panoramic sensor holder 20 side. The panoramic sensor holder 20 is configured to move forward and backward through the opening and store in the storage unit 130. The storage means 13 includes a guide rail 131 and a screw type feed mechanism 132 that extend in the lateral direction and are arranged in parallel. The panoramic sensor holder 20 is connected to the guide rail 131 and the screw type feed mechanism 132 via the connecting portion 201.

  The storage means 13 includes a drive motor 133 and a connecting belt 134. The drive motor 133 is connected to the screw type feed mechanism 132 via a connecting belt 134. The screw type feed mechanism 132 is configured to rotate forward and backward by forward and reverse driving of the drive motor 133. The panoramic sensor holder 20 is configured to move forward and backward by forward and reverse rotation of the screw type feed mechanism 132.

  The panorama sensor 10 and the panorama sensor holder 20 include first hook means 14. The first hook means 14 locks the panoramic sensor 10 to the panoramic sensor holder 20 to be connected and fixed, and releases the lock so that the panoramic sensor 10 can be disconnected. The panorama sensor 10 and the area sensor holder 21 include second hook means 15. The second hook means 15 prevents the panorama sensor 10 from falling. The second hook means 15 locks the panoramic sensor 10 with respect to the area sensor holder 21 to prevent the panorama sensor 10 from falling, and allows the panoramic sensor 10 to be removed by releasing the lock.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the first hook means 14 includes an arm-shaped first hook portion 140. Further, the first hook means 14 includes a moving cutout 141 in the panoramic sensor 10, and the first hook 140 is arranged in the cutout 141 so as to be movable in the lateral direction. Yes. The first hook part 140 includes a pin 140c at the top and is rotatably supported. The first hook part 140 is urged by a leaf spring 142.

  The first hook means 14 includes a notch portion 144 for locking provided in the panoramic sensor holder 20. With the leaf spring 142, the locking portion 140 a at the center of the first hook portion 140 is locked with the notch 144, and the panorama sensor 10 is connected and fixed to the panorama sensor holder 20. Then, by pressing the button part 140a at the lower part of the first hook part 140, the engaging part 140a of the first hook part 140 is released from the notch part 144, and the panorama sensor 10 is attached to the panorama sensor holder. 20 can be removed.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the second hook means 15 includes an L-shaped second hook portion 150. Further, the second hook means 15 includes a notch 151 for movement in the area sensor holder 21, and the second hook 150 is disposed in the notch 151 so that it can move in the lateral direction. It is configured. The second hook portion 150 is connected to a connection portion 153 fixed to the area sensor holder 21 via a pair of compression springs 152 extending in the lateral direction.

  The second hook means 15 includes a protrusion 154 that protrudes from the panorama sensor 10. By the compression spring 151, the second hook 150 is locked to the protrusion 154, and the panorama sensor 10 is locked to the area sensor holder 21 to prevent the fall. Then, by moving the second hook portion 150 in the lateral direction, the second hook portion 150 is unlocked from the protrusion 154, and the panoramic sensor 10 can be removed from the area sensor holder 21. Here, as shown in FIG. 3B, since the distance between the panoramic sensor 10 and the area sensor holder 21 is relatively narrow, such as the thickness of the hand, the L-shaped second hook 150 is moved in the lateral direction. It was set as the structure which slides and latches and cancels | releases.

  That is, the panoramic sensor 10 can be removed from the panoramic sensor holder 20 by the first hook means 14, but the panoramic sensor 10 is removed in the vertical direction, so there is a risk of falling, and the sensor is very expensive. Therefore, even if the hand slips, it can be prevented from falling by being caught by the second hook means 15.

  The first hook portion 140 and the second hook portion 150 have inclined tip portions, and when the panorama sensor 10 is attached to the panorama sensor holder 20, the inclined portions are projected portions of the panorama sensor 10. 154 and the notch portion 144 of the panoramic sensor holder 20, and the first hook portion 140 and the second hook portion 150 are slid and locked along the inclined portion.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first identification unit 120, the second identification unit 121, and the drive motor 133 are connected to the control unit 78. Then, when the locking of the first hook means 14 is released, the panorama sensor 10 can move downward and slightly moves downward, and the first identification unit 120 is not connected between the panorama sensor holder 20 and the panorama sensor 10. The connection is identified and this signal is sent to the controller 78.

  Furthermore, when the locking of the second hook means 15 is released, the panorama sensor 10 can be completely removed from the panorama sensor holder 20. Accordingly, the second identification unit 121 identifies that the panorama sensor 10 is not stored in the panorama sensor holder 20 and is removed (does not exist), and sends this signal to the control unit 78.

  When the control unit 78 receives signals from both the first identification unit 120 and the second identification unit 121, the control unit 78 recognizes that the panorama sensor 10 has been completely removed from the panorama sensor holder 20, and drives the drive motor 133. (FIG. 5 (a)). Then, the panoramic sensor holder 20 is stored in the storage unit 130 of the storage means 13 by the rotation of the screw type feeding mechanism 132.

  Thereby, when the panorama sensor 10 is removed, the panorama sensor holder 20 is automatically and completely stored in the area sensor holder 21 (FIG. 5B). Thereafter, when the panoramic sensor 10 is used, the control unit 78 drives the drive motor 133 by instructing with the input means 76 (FIG. 2) connected to the control unit 78, and the screw type feed mechanism 132. The panorama sensor holder 20 is extended from the area sensor holder 21 by rotation.

  Next, the operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus will be described. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus. FIG. 6A shows panoramic imaging, and FIG. 6B shows CT imaging.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when panoramic imaging is performed, the panoramic imaging mode is selected by the input unit 76 (FIG. 2), and the X-ray imaging apparatus performs the following operation under the control of the control unit 78. At the time of panoramic photography, the panoramic sensor 10 is attached to the panoramic sensor holder 20. The X-ray irradiation unit 2 emits an X-ray beam. The panoramic sensor 10 detects and captures an X-ray beam irradiated on the patient O. The swivel arm 3 is horizontally moved and swiveled by the XY movement mechanism 70 and the rotation drive mechanism 71, so that the X-ray beam is irradiated along the dental arch of the patient O. By detecting this X-ray, the whole jaw tomography of the dental arch is performed.

  The turning angle of the turning arm 3 is detected by both or one of the angle sensor 77 and the rotation control pulse signal sent to the rotating shaft 30 (FIG. 2). When panoramic imaging is performed, the revolving arm 3 rotates along a predetermined trajectory (fault trajectory) in the horizontal direction and rotates 210 ° without rotating around the entire circumference (360 °) (FIG. 6A-2). ). Note that this rotation angle only needs to be panoramic. The front surface (patient side surface) P1 of the panoramic sensor 10 is capable of panoramic imaging without passing through the occipital region of the patient O (FIG. 6 (a-2)). It will not hit the back of the head.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the panoramic sensor 10 is removed from the panoramic sensor holder 20 when performing CT imaging. Thereby, as described above, the panorama sensor holder 20 is stored in the area sensor holder 21 (FIG. 5). Accordingly, the front surface (patient side surface) P2 of the area sensor holder 21 is substantially flat. Then, the CT imaging mode is selected by the input means 76, and the X-ray imaging apparatus performs the following operation under the control of the control unit 78.

  By instructing the target tooth (part), the turning arm 3 is set by the XY movement mechanism 70 so that the rotation shaft 30 matches the target tooth. Then, the turning arm 3 is turned around the target tooth by the rotation drive mechanism 71. The X-ray irradiation unit 2 emits an X-ray beam. Then, the area sensor 11 detects and images the X-ray beam irradiated to the patient O. This photographing is performed over the entire circumference (360 °) of the target tooth. Note that 180 ° imaging necessary for CT images may be used.

  The turning angle of the turning arm 3 is detected by both or one of the angle sensor 77 and the rotation control pulse signal sent to the rotating shaft 30 (FIG. 2). The front surface P2 of the area sensor holder 21 passes through the occipital region of the patient O, but is set as close as possible so as not to hit the patient O. Thereby, since the area sensor 11 is set so as to be as close as possible to the patient O, the sensor area can be reduced while ensuring a necessary imaging range. In this case, the panoramic sensor holder 20 is stored in the area sensor holder 21 during CT imaging, thereby enabling 360 ° rotation (CT imaging) with the area sensor 11 in proximity to the patient O. Furthermore, since the panorama image is rotated by 210 °, the patient O is not hit even when the panorama sensor holder 20 is extended. If the panoramic sensor holder 20 is not retracted, the patient O hits the patient during CT imaging.

  Further, when the panorama sensor (first sensor unit) 10 is not necessary and is removed, the panorama sensor holder (first holder unit) 20 is stored so that it does not get in the way for the operator or patient. Therefore, in the above embodiment, the first sensor unit is the panorama sensor 10, but may be other electrical imaging means (panorama / cephalo sensor or the like) or analog imaging means. The panorama sensor 10 is attached to and detached from the panorama sensor holder 20 in the vertical direction, but may be attached and detached in the horizontal direction.

The external appearance of an X-ray imaging device is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a X-ray imaging device. An X-ray detection part is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is sectional drawing which shows an X-ray detection part, (a) is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. 3, (b) is sectional drawing on the BB line of FIG. It is a partial cross section side view explaining the state which stores the holder for panoramic sensors in the holder for area sensors. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of an X-ray imaging device, (a) shows panoramic imaging, (b) shows CT imaging. It is a figure which shows the use range of the area sensor imaging surface of the 2nd sensor part at the time of CT imaging | photography (a) and panoramic imaging (b).

Explanation of symbols

1 X-ray detector (X-ray detector)
2 X-ray irradiation unit (X-ray irradiation means)
3 Swing arm (turning means)
10 Panorama sensor (first sensor part)
11 Area sensor (second sensor part)
20 Panorama sensor holder (first holder)
21 Area sensor holder (second holder)
12 recognition means 120 first identification part 121 second identification part 13 storage means 130 storage part 131 guide rail (guide means)
132 Screw type feed mechanism 133 Drive motor (drive means)
14 First hook means 15 Second hook means 78 Control unit O Patient (subject)

Claims (6)

X-ray irradiating means for irradiating an object with X-rays, X-ray detecting means for detecting the X-rays transmitted through the object, and turning for turning the X-ray irradiating means and the X-ray detecting means to face each other In the medical X-ray imaging apparatus, wherein the X-ray detection means includes a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit,
A first holder part for holding the first sensor part; a second holder part for holding the second sensor part; and an attaching / detaching means for making the first sensor part detachable from the first holder part; Storage means for allowing the first holder part to be stored in the second holder part when the first sensor part is removed from the first holder part ;
The medical X-ray imaging apparatus , wherein the first sensor unit is disposed on the inner side and the second sensor unit is disposed on the outer side with the subject as a center . Before Stories second sensor unit medical X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a planar area sensor.   The storage means includes a storage part for storing the first holder part, guide means for guiding the first holder part to the storage part, and drive means for driving the first holder part forward and backward. The medical X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medical X-ray imaging apparatus is built in a holder portion. Recognizing means for recognizing attachment / detachment of the first sensor part to / from the first holder part
The recognition means includes a first identification unit for identifying electrical connection / disconnection between the first sensor unit and the first holder unit, and a second identification for identifying presence / absence of the first sensor unit at a predetermined position. With
The control unit controls the storage unit to automatically store the first holder unit in the second holder unit when the recognition unit recognizes the removal of the first sensor unit. The medical X-ray imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   5. The attachment / detachment means according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor part is detachably attached to the first holder part in the vertical direction, and includes two-stage hook means in the vertical direction. A medical X-ray imaging apparatus according to any one of the above.   The area sensor of the second sensor unit uses only a vertically long region at the center in the horizontal direction on the photographing surface, reads the pixel size without binning, increases the frame rate to 60 to 95 fps or more, and panoramic photography The medical X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

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