JP5623034B2 - Image shooting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus (computer tomography apparatus, computed tomography), and in particular, an image capturing apparatus that moves a gantry along two axes parallel to the body axis direction of a subject. About.

  In medical facilities such as hospitals, medical imaging apparatuses such as X-ray CT apparatuses are used. For example, the gantry of the X-ray CT apparatus includes a rotating unit and an X-ray detector. This rotating part has an X-ray tube and a high voltage generating part. X-rays generated in the X-ray tube are exposed to the subject as the rotating unit rotates, and the X-rays that have passed through the subject are incident on the X-ray detector. The tomographic image is acquired.

  The X-ray detector converts the incident X-ray into an electric signal. The electric signal from the X-ray detector is amplified and then converted into a digital signal by a DAS (Data Acquisition System) unit. The data is transmitted to the console side using a data transmission system.

  The bed on which the subject is placed moves along the body axis direction of the subject and is inserted into the opening of the gantry. This is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The bed is moved by one axis along the body axis direction of the subject, so that the imaging range of the region of the subject is X-rayed.

  As described above, when X-ray imaging of a subject is performed, the bed is driven uniaxially along the body axis direction of the subject. However, a method of scanning and imaging the subject with respect to the gantry by moving the bed is adopted. There are a normal helical scan imaging method shown in FIG. 6A and a helical shuttle scan imaging method shown in FIG. 6B.

  In the normal helical scan imaging method shown in FIG. 6A, the imaging range D of the subject M is a constant speed region H where the bed 200 is driven at a constant speed, and the outer region of the imaging range D is a bed. Reference numeral 200 denotes acceleration / deceleration regions K1, K2 driven by acceleration / deceleration.

  On the other hand, in the helical shuttle scan imaging method shown in FIG. 6B, the imaging range G of the subject M is the constant speed region F where the bed 200 is driven at a constant speed, and before and after the constant speed region F. A certain bed 200 has acceleration / deceleration regions F1 and F2.

JP 2008-259733 A

  However, in the normal helical scan imaging method shown in FIG. 6A, when the bed 200 is moved and the shooting direction is reversed after shooting in the constant speed region H, the bed 200 moves, for example, in the J1 direction to accelerate / decelerate. After decelerating in the area K1, the bed 200 moves in the opposite J2 direction in the acceleration / deceleration area K1 after a rest time of 2 to 3 seconds at the imaging reversal position Q1, and then starts again in the constant speed area H. To do. Then, after shooting in the constant speed region H, the bed 200 decelerates in the acceleration / deceleration region K2 and after a rest time of 2 to 3 seconds at the shooting inversion position Q2, the bed 200 moves in the J1 direction in the acceleration / deceleration region K2. Move and accelerate again. In the helical scan imaging method, imaging is not performed in the acceleration / deceleration areas K1 and K2.

  On the other hand, the helical shuttle scan imaging method shown in FIG. 6B differs from the helical scan imaging method shown in FIG. 6A in that the acceleration / deceleration areas F1 and F2 shown in FIG. Shooting is performed not only in the constant speed area F but also in the acceleration / deceleration areas F1 and F2 within the shooting range G. For this reason, when moving the bed 200, there is a concern that the shaking of the organ of the subject M on the bed 200 may occur during imaging due to the inertia generated in the acceleration / deceleration regions F1 and F2. In addition, in this helical shuttle scan imaging method, when the bed 200 is reversed and moved, it is required to increase the imaging work efficiency so that continuous reciprocal imaging can be performed at the imaging reversal positions C1 and C2 with no pause time. Has been. However, it is difficult to perform a reversal operation of a bed having a large mass at the photographing reversal positions C1 and C2.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the occurrence of shaking of the organ of the subject by not moving the subject when imaging the subject with the helical shuttle scan imaging method, and inversion An object of the present invention is to provide an image capturing apparatus capable of continuously reciprocally capturing an image of a subject without a pause time.

The invention according to claim 1 is an image photographing apparatus for performing helical shuttle scan photographing of a subject in a constant speed region and an acceleration / deceleration region in the image photographing device, wherein a gantry for photographing the subject, A couch that is placed and inserted into the gantry, a movement operation unit that moves relative to an installation surface on which the gantry is installed, and a control unit that controls the movement operation unit, the movement operation unit including the gantry And a first movement base portion that moves the gantry parallel to the body axis direction of the subject and is driven by a drive system different from the first movement base portion, and supports the first movement base portion. And a second movement base part for moving the first movement base part in parallel with the body axis direction of the subject together with the gantry , and the control unit is configured such that the gantry is moved by the first movement base part. For the subject above At the first photographing reversal position of the photographing range obtained by being moved, when the driving of the first moving base unit that moves the gantry is finished, the driving of the second moving base unit is started and the gantry is started. The control unit moves the gantry by reversing the traveling direction of the second moving base unit at a second photographing reversal position opposite to the first photographing reversal position of the photographing range. At the end, the platform is moved by starting driving the first moving base and reversing the traveling direction of the platform again . As a result, the image capturing apparatus prevents the subject's organ from shaking when the subject is imaged by the helical shuttle scan imaging method, thereby preventing the subject's organ from shaking and eliminating the pause time during reversal. Continuous reciprocal shooting is possible. In addition, the imaging device prevents the subject's organs from shaking when the subject is imaged by the helical shuttle scan imaging method, and prevents the subject's organs from shaking, eliminating the downtime during reversal and continuing the subject. You can shoot back and forth. Thereby, according to the instruction | indication of a control part, the idle time in an imaging | photography inversion position can be eliminated and imaging work efficiency can be raised.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image capturing device, the first moving base portion includes a first member, a first electric motor provided on the first member and controlled by a command from the control portion, and the first A first feed screw that is rotated by an electric motor; a first nut portion that is fixed to the frame and meshes with the first feed screw; and that is fixed to the frame and supports the frame with respect to the first member. A first support portion guided in the body axis direction of the subject by rotation of the first feed screw, and the second movement base portion is a second member parallel to the first member; A second electric motor provided on the second member and controlled by a command from the control unit; a second feed screw rotated by the second electric motor; and the second feed screw fixed to the first member. The second nut portion meshing with the first member and the first member A second support portion that is fixed and supports the first member with respect to the second member and is guided in the body axis direction of the subject by rotation of the second feed screw. Features. Thereby, the 1st movement base part and the 2nd movement base part can be simply constituted using an electric motor and a ball screw.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus, the control unit that controls the movement operation unit is a first imaging reversal of an imaging range obtained by moving the gantry relative to the subject on the bed. In the position, when the operation of the first electric motor is finished, the operation of the second electric motor is started and the moving direction of the gantry is reversed to move the gantry, and the control unit At the second photographing reversal position opposite to the first photographing reversal position in the range, when the operation of the second electric motor is finished, the operation of the first electric motor is started to change the traveling direction of the gantry. The gantry is moved by reversing again. Thereby, according to the instruction | indication of a control part, the idle time in an imaging | photography inversion position can be eliminated and imaging work efficiency can be raised.

The invention of claim 4 is an X-ray CT apparatus in the image photographing apparatus. As a result, when performing X-ray tomography, the subject is not moved when taking the image by the helical shuttle scan imaging method, thereby preventing the occurrence of shaking of the organ of the subject and eliminating the pause time during inversion. Can be taken continuously.

  According to the present invention, when the subject is imaged by the helical shuttle scan imaging method, the subject is not moved to prevent the organ from shaking, and the subject is continuously reciprocated without any downtime during inversion. An image photographing apparatus capable of photographing can be provided.

1 is a perspective view showing an X-ray CT apparatus that performs image capturing for medical diagnosis, which is an example of an image capturing apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the X-ray CT apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in detail. It is a side view which shows the structure of the movement operation part of a mount frame. It is the front view which looked at the structure of the movement operation part of the mount frame in FIG. 3 from the W direction. It is a figure which shows the example which carries out X-ray imaging of the imaging range P of the head HD of the subject M by a helical shuttle scan imaging method. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a normal helical scan imaging method, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a helical shuttle scan imaging method.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an X-ray CT apparatus that performs image capturing for medical diagnosis, which is an example of the image capturing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the X-ray CT apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in more detail.

  An X-ray CT apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a gantry 11 and a bed 70. The gantry 11 and the bed 70 are set on the installation surface 12. A rotation unit 13 is provided inside the gantry 11. A circular opening 14 is provided at the center of the gantry 11 and at the center of the rotating unit 13. The subject M placed on the top plate 71 together with the top plate 71 of the bed 70 can be inserted into the opening 14 along the T direction (the axial direction of the opening 14) and positioned.

  Here, a configuration example of the gantry 11 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 1, the gantry 11 includes a main body cover 15 and a base 16, and the main body cover 15 is provided on the base 16. The fixed base portion 34 of the base 16 is fixed to the installation surface 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main body cover 15 includes a front cover part 17, a back cover part 18, and a front cover part 19. The front cover part 17, the back cover part 18, and the front cover part 19 cover the rotating part 13. The front cover part 17 and the back cover part 18 form an opening 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating unit 13 includes an X-ray tube 20 that is a radiation source, a radiation detector 21 that detects X-rays of the X-ray tube 20, a data collection unit 22, and a high voltage (not shown). The X-ray tube 20 and the radiation detector 21 are provided to face each other with the central axis of the opening 14 as the center.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, the head H of the subject M placed on the top 71 together with the top 71 of the bed 70 is inserted into the opening 14. The X-ray tube 20 emits X-rays to, for example, the head H of the subject M, and X-rays transmitted through the head H of the subject M are detected by the radiation detector 21. Thereby, the X-ray detector 21 converts the detected X-ray dose into an electrical signal, which is amplified by a data acquisition unit (DAS: Data Acquisition System) 22 and converted into digital data (projection data).

  The data transmission unit 23 transmits the digital data from the data collection unit 22 to the console 24 in a non-contact manner, and the digital data is transmitted from the transmission unit 23A on the rotating unit 13 side to the receiving unit 23B on the fixed unit side of the gantry 11. By being transmitted, this digital data is transmitted to the console 24 side through the data transmission unit 23. Thereby, the console 24 acquires a tomographic image of the subject M.

  Further, the rotating unit 13 is provided with a slip ring 25, and the slip ring 25 supplies a high voltage to the X-ray tube 20 from a high voltage generating unit (not shown). The radiation detector 21 is a plurality of detection element arrays including, for example, a scintillator array and a photodiode, and is arranged along an arc shape centered on the focal point of the X-ray tube 20.

  The bed 70 shown in FIG. 2 has a top plate 71 and a pedestal 72, and the subject M is placed on the top plate 71. The pedestal 72 can move in the height direction by moving the top plate 71 up and down along the Z direction, and can move in the horizontal direction by moving along the T direction. The T direction and the Z direction are orthogonal to each other. The T direction is parallel to the body axis direction CL of the subject M.

  Next, the movement operation unit 30 of the gantry 11 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the moving operation unit 30 of the gantry 11, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the structure of the moving operation unit 30 of the gantry 11 in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the movement operation unit 30 of the gantry 11 is provided on the base 16. The gantry 11 can be continuously reciprocated in the R direction. The R direction is parallel to the T direction and parallel to the body axis direction CL of the subject M. The movement operation unit 30 and the fixed base unit 34 constitute the base 16.

  The movement operation unit 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a first movement base unit 31, a second movement base unit 32, and a control unit 100. The first movement base part 31 is provided between the bottom part 11 </ b> B of the gantry 11 and the second movement base part 32, and the second movement base part 32 is provided between the first movement base part 31 and the fixed base part 34. Is provided. In addition, the 2nd movement base part 32 may be comprised so that the fixed base part 34 may be included, and may be comprised separately as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first moving base portion 31 includes a flat plate-like first member 41, a first electric motor 42, a first ball screw (feed screw) 43, and two first left and right first members. A guide rail 44, four left and right first support portions 45, and a first nut portion 49 are provided. The first member 41 is disposed in parallel with the R direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, left and right first guide rails 44 are fixed to the upper surface of the first member 41 in parallel with the R direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the first electric motor 42 and the receiving member 47 are fixed to the upper surface of the first member 41. The output shaft 46 of the first electric motor 42 is connected to one end of the first ball screw 43. The other end of the first ball screw 43 is rotatably supported by a receiving member 47.

  The four left and right first support portions 45 are fixed to the bottom portion 11 </ b> B of the gantry 11. Each first support portion 45 can be guided in the R direction by a first guide rail 44 at a corresponding position. The first nut portion 49 is fixed to the bottom portion 11 </ b> B of the gantry 11, and the first nut portion 49 is provided with a nut 48. The first ball screw 43 is engaged with the nut 48 of the first nut portion 49. Thus, by driving the first electric motor 42 according to the command of the control unit 100, the first electric motor 42 rotates the first ball screw 43 forward or backward, and the gantry 11, the first support 45, The first nut portion 49 can linearly reciprocate in the R1 direction or the R2 direction along the first guide rail 44 of the first member 41.

  In this way, the first movement base unit 31 can support the gantry 11 using the first support unit 45 and move the gantry 11 in the R direction parallel to the body axis direction CL of the subject M. At this time, the first support portion 45 is fixed to the gantry 11 and supports the gantry 11 with respect to the first member 41, and the first support portion 45 and the gantry 11 are covered by the rotation of the first ball screw 43. It is guided in the body axis direction CL of the specimen M.

  Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second moving base portion 32 includes a flat plate-like second member 51, a second electric motor 52, a second ball screw (feed screw) 53, and left and right Two second guide rails 54, four right and left second support portions 55, and a second nut portion 59 are provided. The second member 52 is disposed in parallel with the R direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, left and right guide rails 54 are fixed to the upper surface of the second member 51 in parallel with the R direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the second electric motor 52 and the receiving member 57 are fixed to the upper surface of the second member 51. The output shaft 56 of the second electric motor 52 is connected to one end of the second ball screw 53. The other end of the ball screw 53 is rotatably supported by a receiving member 57.

  The four left and right second support portions 55 are fixed to the bottom portion 41B of the first member 41 of the first moving base portion 31, and can be guided in the R direction by the second guide rail 54. The second nut portion 59 is fixed to the bottom 41B of the first member 41, and the second nut portion 59 is provided with a nut 58. The second ball screw 53 is engaged with the nut 58 of the second nut portion 59. Thus, by driving the second electric motor 52 in accordance with a command from the control unit 100, the second electric motor 52 rotates the second ball screw 53 forward or backward, and the first member 41, the gantry 11, the first The two support portions 55 can linearly reciprocate in the R1 direction or the R2 direction along the second guide rail 54 of the second member 51.

  As described above, the second movement base 32 supports the first movement base 31 and moves the first movement base 31 together with the gantry 11 in the R direction parallel to the body axis direction CL of the subject M. it can. At this time, the second support portion 32 is fixed to the first member 41 to support the first member 41 with respect to the second member 51, and the first support portion 31 and the gantry 11 are connected to the second ball screw 53. The body M is guided in the body axis direction CL by the rotation.

  The first electric motors 42 and 52 are electrically connected to the control unit 100, and the control unit 100 is disposed in the console 24, for example.

  Next, an example of an operation for imaging a subject by the helical shuttle scan imaging method using the X-ray CT apparatus 10 described above will be described.

  With reference to FIG. 5, an operation example in which the head HD of the subject M, which is a specific example of the X-ray imaging target region, is X-rayed by the helical shuttle scan imaging method in the reciprocal imaging range P will be described. The reciprocating imaging range P is a range between the first imaging inversion position C1 and the second imaging inversion position C2. The reciprocating imaging range P has a constant speed region N and acceleration / deceleration regions N1 and N2 on both sides thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the top plate 71 of the bed 70 is inserted into the opening 14 of the gantry 11 with the subject M placed thereon, and the head HD of the subject M is positioned in the opening 14. .

  In the helical shuttle scan imaging method in the embodiment of the present invention, unlike the normal helical scan imaging method, not only the constant speed region N of the reciprocal imaging range P shown in FIG. In order to perform X-ray imaging also in the acceleration / deceleration areas N1 and N2 in P, the top plate 71 of the bed 70 is fixed so as not to move. As a result, the subject M can be kept stationary so as not to move, and thus the shaking of the organ of the subject due to inertia due to the movement of the top plate, which has conventionally occurred, is prevented.

  Therefore, in the helical shuttle scan imaging method, instead of moving the top plate 71 of the bed 70 shown in FIG. 1 as described above, the platform 11 side is moved in the R direction instead of the movement of the top plate 71 of the bed 70. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the reciprocal imaging range P of the head HD of the subject M is radiographed.

  3 and 5, the control unit 100 shown in FIG. 3 drives the first electric motor 42, and the gantry 11 is moved to the first member 41 in the acceleration / deceleration region N1 from the second imaging reversal position C2 in FIG. In contrast, when the frame 11 is accelerated and moved in the R2 direction, the gantry 11 is accelerated in the acceleration / deceleration region N1 from the second imaging reversal position C2, and X-ray imaging is started. Then, after the control unit 100 drives the first electric motor 42 and performs imaging while the gantry 11 of FIG. 3 is moved at a constant speed in the constant speed region N of FIG. 5, it is decelerated in the acceleration / deceleration region N2. Photographing is performed and the first photographing reversal position C1 is reached.

  When the photographing operation direction is reversed from the R2 direction to the R1 direction at the photographing reversal position C1, the movement of the first support base 45 in the R2 direction is about to end at the first photographing reversal position C1. In other words, when the control unit 100 finishes rotating the first ball screw 43 of the first electric motor 42, the control unit 100 preferably does not affect the image, so that the second electric motor of the second moving base unit 32 is not affected. The driving of 52 is started.

  As described above, the control unit 100 operates the first electric motor 42 at the first imaging reversal position C1 in the reciprocal imaging range P obtained by moving the gantry 11 with respect to the subject M on the bed 70. At the end, the operation of the second electric motor 52 is started, and the traveling direction of the gantry 11 is immediately reversed from the R2 direction to the R1 direction, so that the gantry 11 is moved in the forward direction.

  As a result, the second ball screw 53 of the second electric motor 52 is rotated, and the unit of the second support portion 55, the first member 41, and the gantry 11 is reversed from the R2 direction to the R1 direction opposite to the R2 direction. And move it. By doing in this way, in the 1st imaging | photography inversion position C1, the inversion operation | movement of the mount frame 11 can be performed immediately and the imaging | photography pause time at the time of inversion can be eliminated.

  Subsequently, the control unit 100 shown in FIG. 3 drives the second electric motor 52, and the first member 41, the second support unit 55, and the gantry 11 are moved in the acceleration / deceleration region N <b> 2 from the first imaging reversal position C <b> 1 of FIG. When the unit is accelerated and moved in the R1 direction, the gantry 11 is accelerated from the first imaging reversal position C1 in the acceleration / deceleration region N2, and X-ray imaging is performed. Then, the control unit 100 drives the second electric motor 52, and the gantry 11 of FIG. 3 performs shooting while moving at a constant speed in the constant speed area N as shown in FIG. Photographing is performed while being decelerated, and the second photographing inversion position C2 is reached.

  When the photographing operation is reversed from the R1 direction to the R2 direction at the photographing reversal position C2, the movement of the first support portion 45 in the second moving base portion 32 in the R1 direction is just before ending at the photographing reversal position C2. When the control unit 100 finishes the rotation of the second ball screw 53 of the second electric motor 52, the control unit 100 preferably does not affect the image, so that the first electric motor 42 of the first moving base unit 31 is not affected. The rotational driving of the one ball screw 43 is started again.

  As described above, the control unit 100 sets the first electric motor 52 when the operation of the second electric motor 52 is terminated at the second photographing reversal position C2 on the side opposite to the first photographing reversal position C1 in the reciprocating photographing range P. The operation of 42 is started and the traveling direction of the gantry 11 is reversed again from the R1 direction to the R2 direction, so that the gantry 11 is moved backward.

  Thereby, the 1st ball screw 43 of the 1st electric motor 42 is rotated, and the unit of the 1st support part 45 and the mount frame 11 is reversed and moved again from the R1 direction to the R2 direction. By doing in this way, in the 2nd imaging | photography inversion position C2, the inversion operation | movement of the mount frame 11 can be performed immediately and the imaging | photography pause time at the time of inversion can be shortened.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the subject M is imaged, the moving operation unit 30 moves the gantry 11 and moves the subject 11 instead of moving the top plate 71 on which the subject M is placed. X-ray imaging can be performed for the reciprocal imaging range P of the specimen M. For this reason, since the subject M is not moved, the organ of the subject M does not shake.

  In addition, the first movement base unit 31 and the second movement base unit 32 of the movement operation unit 30 are arranged in the Z direction so as to be parallel to the R direction. 2. By operating the moving base unit 32 alternately at the first shooting inversion position C1 and the second shooting inversion position C2, the pause time at the time of the operation inversion at the first shooting inversion position C1 and the operation at the second shooting inversion position C2 The downtime at the time of reversal can be eliminated.

  By repeating the reciprocal imaging operation described above, the X-ray imaging target part of the subject can be continuously reciprocated by the helical shuttle scan imaging system, and there is no pause time when the operation is reversed, improving the imaging work efficiency.

  In this case, the speed of the first support part 45 in the first movement base part 31 and the speed of the second support part 55 in the second movement base part 32 are controlled so that the shaking of the gantry 11 does not affect the captured image. be able to.

  When performing helical shuttle scan imaging on a subject as in the past, if the subject is accelerated and decelerated in the acceleration / deceleration region together with the top plate, the subject's organs are considered to have large individual differences, and It is difficult to correct for organ shaking.

  However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the subject is not moved together with the top plate, but the subject is moved without moving the subject, so that the organ does not shake due to the difference in the weight or constitution of the subject. You can shoot.

  The movement operation unit 30 includes a first movement base unit 31 and a second movement base unit 32. The first movement base unit 31 and the second movement base unit 32 adopt a biaxial movement method parallel to the R direction. Therefore, continuous reciprocal imaging with no pause time (or extremely small) at the time of reversal in the reciprocal imaging range P can be performed. Further, even when the shaking of the gantry affects the captured image, the inertia of the gantry is almost constant, so that it is expected that the shaking of the gantry can be easily corrected.

  The X-ray CT apparatus 10 as the image capturing apparatus described above prevents the movement of the subject's organs by not moving the subject when photographing by the helical shuttle scan photographing method, and eliminates the rest time at the time of inversion. The subject can be continuously reciprocated to improve the imaging work efficiency.

  The image capturing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above-described embodiment of the image capturing apparatus of the present invention, an X-ray CT apparatus is taken as an example of the image capturing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an imaging device, such as an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) device, which includes a gantry and captures an image by moving the gantry with respect to a subject placed on the bed, may be used. good.

  As a driving means for moving the gantry, a combination of an electric motor, a ball screw, and a nut is used, but is not limited thereto, and for example, a linear motor can be used. The reciprocating imaging range is not limited to the subject's head, but can be set at any part of the subject.

  Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. For example, you may delete some components from all the components shown by embodiment of this invention. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

10 X-ray CT apparatus (an example of an image capturing apparatus)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Base 12 Installation surface 13 Rotating part 14 Opening part 16 Base 20 X-ray tube 21 Radiation detector 30 Movement operation part 31 1st movement base part 32 2nd movement base part 34 Fixed base part 41 Flat plate-shaped 1st member 42 1st electric motor 43 1st ball screw (feed screw)
44 1st guide rail 45 1st support part 49 1st nut part 51 Flat plate-shaped 1st member 52 2nd electric motor 53 2nd ball screw (feed screw)
54 Second guide rail 55 Second support portion 59 Second nut portion 70 Bed 71 Top plate 72 Pedestal portion M Subject H Head CL Body axis direction of subject C1 First imaging inversion position C2 Second imaging inversion position

Claims (4)

An image capturing apparatus that performs helical shuttle scan imaging of a subject in a constant speed region and an acceleration / deceleration region,
A gantry for imaging the subject;
A bed on which the subject is placed and inserted into the gantry;
A moving operation unit for moving the installation base with respect to the installation surface;
A control unit for controlling the movement operation unit,
The movement operation unit is
A first movement base for supporting the gantry and moving the gantry in parallel with the body axis direction of the subject;
A second movement driven by a drive system different from the first movement base unit and supporting the first movement base unit and moving the first movement base unit together with the gantry in parallel with the body axis direction of the subject. A base portion ,
The control unit moves the gantry at a first imaging reversal position in an imaging range obtained by moving the gantry with respect to the subject on the bed by the first movement base unit. When ending the driving of the moving base part, the driving of the second moving base part is started to move the gantry by reversing the traveling direction of the gantry,
The control unit drives the first moving base unit when the driving of the second moving base unit is finished at a second shooting reverse position opposite to the first shooting reverse position of the shooting range. An image capturing apparatus characterized by starting and moving the gantry by reversing the traveling direction of the gantry again . The first movement base portion includes a first member, a first electric motor provided on the first member and controlled by a command from a control unit, a first feed screw rotated by the first electric motor, A first nut portion fixed to the pedestal and meshing with the first feed screw; and the subject fixed to the pedestal and supporting the pedestal with respect to the first member and rotating the first feed screw. A first support portion guided in the body axis direction of
The second moving base portion is rotated by the second electric motor, a second member that is parallel to the first member, a second electric motor that is provided on the second member and that is controlled by a command from the controller. A second feed screw, a second nut portion fixed to the first member and meshing with the second feed screw, and the first member fixed to the first member with respect to the second member The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second support portion that is supported and guided in a body axis direction of the subject by rotation of the second feed screw. In the first imaging reversal position of the imaging range obtained by moving the gantry relative to the subject on the bed, the control unit is configured to stop the first electric motor when the operation of the first electric motor is terminated. 2 Start the operation of the electric motor and move the gantry by reversing the traveling direction of the gantry,
The control unit starts the operation of the first electric motor when the operation of the second electric motor is ended at the second photographing reversal position opposite to the first photographing reversal position of the photographing range. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the gantry is moved by reversing the traveling direction of the gantry again. Image capturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to claim 3, characterized in that an X-ray CT apparatus.

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