JP5836720B2 - X-ray imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable X-ray imaging apparatus.

  With recent advances in semiconductor process technology, X-ray imaging systems have been developed that take X-ray images using semiconductor sensors. These systems have a very wide dynamic range compared to conventional X-ray photographic systems using photosensitive films.

  Therefore, there is an advantage that an X-ray image that is not affected by fluctuations in the amount of X-ray exposure can be obtained. Further, unlike the conventional photosensitive film system, there is an advantage that an output image can be obtained instantly because no chemical treatment is required.

  FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a general X-ray imaging system using such an X-ray imaging apparatus.

  The X-ray imaging apparatus 1 incorporates reading means 2 arranged in a two-dimensional manner capable of detecting the X-ray distribution transmitted through the subject. An X-ray generator 3 is provided above the X-ray imaging apparatus 1, and the subject 6 is irradiated with X-rays from the X-ray generator 3.

  X-rays transmitted through the subject 6 are converted into visible light through the phosphor. Visible light is applied to the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional lattice, and is detected as an electrical signal.

  The X-ray imaging apparatus 1 includes a control unit that performs control such as read driving and image transfer. The image output from the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is subjected to digital image processing by the image processing means 4, and an X-ray image of the subject 6 is displayed on the monitor 5. Unlike the above-described X-ray image recording / reproducing system in which an image is read out by post-processing, this system has an advantage in that an image can be immediately displayed on a monitor.

  In recent years, portable X-ray imaging apparatuses have become widespread, and their use for imaging in arbitrary imaging postures and round trips has been spreading.

  Recently, as described in Patent Document 1, a portable photographing apparatus having a handle function has been proposed. In this patent document 1, it has a handle which can be attached or detached in the short side direction.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 proposes an imaging apparatus having a detachable handle on one side and one side that goes directly to the side.

JP 2009-237074 A JP 2009-300603 A

  In recent years, portable X-ray imaging apparatuses have become widespread, but many users have become accustomed to the operation of conventional film cassettes, and the portable X-ray imaging apparatuses operate in the same manner as conventional film cassettes. There is a growing demand.

  In other words, in addition to the above-described use in any posture and round-trip use, it is desired to operate the X-ray imaging apparatus in a state where it is stored in a standing stand or a standing table stand. It has become to.

  However, in an X-ray imaging apparatus having a handle, there is a restriction on the shape of the handle, and it has not been possible to store the handle on an existing standing table or standing table table. Even if the X-ray imaging apparatus having the handle can be stored in the existing film cassette frame, the center position of the image effective area of the reading means in the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 and the alignment center of the frame are determined. It was difficult to match.

  In the apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the handle is provided on the short side, when the photographing apparatus is compatible with a half-cut size, the handle portion is provided when being stored in an existing film cassette mount. It gets in the way and cannot be stored. Although the handle is structured to be detachable, it is fixed with screws, and it is difficult for the user to detach the handle. Even if the handle is structured so that it can be easily attached and detached, it is necessary to manage the handle itself, such as the place where the removed handle is placed, and the convenience is impaired.

  The device disclosed in Patent Document 2 also has a detachable handle. However, when the X-ray imaging apparatus is a half-cut size, the X-ray imaging apparatus does not have a shape that can be accommodated in an existing film cassette mount with the handle attached.

  Further, as in Patent Document 1, even if the handle can be easily attached and detached, it is necessary to manage the removed handle itself, which impairs convenience. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide an attachment / detachment mechanism in order to attach / detach the handle portion. If an attempt is made to improve the convenience of attachment / detachment, the structure of the attachment / detachment mechanism is complicated and the number of parts is increased, which increases the cost. In addition, the device becomes heavy and the portability is impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve convenience when an X-ray imaging apparatus having a handle portion is stored in a cassette mount.

In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the shape of the first plane viewed from the X-ray incident direction is a square, and is provided on the first plane. A portable X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: an effective imaging area ; and a portable handle portion provided on a side surface connecting the first plane and the second plane facing the first plane ; An X-ray imaging apparatus having a gantry that can store a portable X-ray imaging apparatus , wherein the portable type is sandwiched between the handle portion and a second side surface facing the first side surface having the handle portion. A positioning part for defining the arrangement of the X-ray imaging apparatus; a distance from the center of the effective imaging area to the outermost shape of the handle part; and a positioning part arranged on the second side surface from the center of the effective imaging area So that the distance is equal. The portable X-ray imaging apparatus includes an alignment member that aligns the alignment center of the gantry with the center of the effective imaging area when the portable X-ray imaging apparatus is housed in the gantry.

  According to this invention, the convenience at the time of accommodating the X-ray imaging device which has a handle part in a cassette mount frame can be improved.

It is the figure which showed an example of the usage condition of an X-ray imaging device. It is the figure which showed the structure of the X-ray image imaging device in 1st embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the X-ray image imaging device in 1st embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the X-ray image imaging device in 1st embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the X-ray image imaging device in 2nd embodiment. It is the figure which showed the structure of the X-ray image imaging device in 3rd embodiment.

(First embodiment)
2A and 2B show a view in which the portable X-ray imaging apparatus 1 (portable X-ray imaging apparatus) is mounted on the gantry 7.

  2a is a view seen from the X-ray incident direction, and FIG. 2b is a view seen from the side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 8 of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is installed under the gantry 7 so that the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 can be stored.

  FIG. 3a is a detailed view of the storage part 8 as seen from the direction of FIG. 2a. The storage unit 8 includes movable positioning mechanisms 12, 13, 14, and 15 for moving the stored X-ray imaging apparatus 1 in the central direction of the storage unit 8.

  The positioning mechanisms 12 and 13 and 14 and 15 are movable in conjunction with each other. The maximum external dimension of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 has an image effective area of 14 × 17 inches, which is the maximum size of a conventional film cassette, and is a standard size of 384 × 460 mm.

  Since the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 may be mounted by being rotated by 90 °, the maximum external dimension of the imaging apparatus 1 that can be stored in the storage unit 8 is a square having a side of about 460 mm.

  When the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 has a symmetrical shape such as a rectangle, the positioning mechanisms 12 to 15 are operated to move the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 toward the center of the storage unit 8 to fix the position. .

  With this mechanism, the center 23 of the image effective area (effective imaging area) of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 can be aligned with the alignment center 16 of the storage unit 8.

  FIG. 3B is a detailed view when the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 having a portable handle is mounted on the storage section 8 of an existing film cassette gantry. The X-ray imaging apparatus 1 having a handle 22 (handle portion) on the long side has an asymmetric shape. Therefore, in the same positioning mechanism as in FIG. 3a, even if the positioning mechanism is operated, the center 23 of the image effective area of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 and the alignment center 16 of the storage unit 8 are shifted.

  When the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in the storage unit 8, the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 cannot be seen by a user who performs imaging such as a technician. For this reason, even if the respective centers are shifted, it is difficult for the user to match the position of the region to be photographed with the position of the X-ray image photographing apparatus 1.

  In the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the distance A to the two side surfaces orthogonal to the side surface having the handle 22 and the image effective region center 23 of the reading unit, and the image effective region of the reading unit The relationship with the distance B from the center 23 to the outermost shape of the side surface having the handle 22 is set such that A ≦ B. Further, on the opposite side of the side surface having the handle 22, the spacer 17 (positioning is performed so that the distance B from the image effective region center 23 of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 to the outermost shape of the handle 22 is the same. Member). The offset of the handle 22 is corrected by the spacer 17.

  Thus, the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 having the handle 22 can be stored in an existing film cassette frame, and the image effective area center 23 of the reading means of the X-ray image imaging apparatus 1 and the alignment center 16 of the frame Can be combined.

  Further, by adopting this shape, even when the imaging apparatus 1 is rotated 90 ° and stored as shown in FIG. 4B, the image effective area center 23 of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 and the alignment center of the gantry 16 can be matched.

  As described above, when the image effective area center 23 of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 and the alignment center 16 of the gantry coincide with each other, the imaging area is appropriately set when a user such as an engineer images the subject. It becomes possible to grasp and leads to improvement of usability.

(Second embodiment)
5a and 5b are enlarged views of the handle 22 portion of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1. FIG. The handle 22 includes a grip part 26 and an opening part 27. The opening 27 is for passing a finger to grip the grip portion 26 when an operator such as an engineer carries it.

  An opening of a certain size is required to pass a finger, but it is difficult to provide the grip part 26 and the opening part 27 within the restriction of B ≦ 230 mm.

  In this embodiment, the handle 22 is movable, and when the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is carried, the opening 27 of the handle 22 is enlarged by D3 as shown in FIG. 5a. With this mechanism, the opening 27 can be sufficiently secured and the portability can be improved.

  Further, when the storage unit 8 is stored, a part of the handle 22 is stored in the X-ray imaging apparatus as shown in FIG. 5B, and the opening 27 of the handle 22 becomes small so as to satisfy A ≦ B. Even if the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in the storage unit 8 by this mechanism, the spacer 17 is used so that the image effective area center 23 of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 and the alignment center 16 of the gantry are aligned. It becomes possible to match. In addition, portability can be improved. Further, by adopting the movable mechanism as described above, the grip portion 26 can be made thicker as necessary, and the portability can be further improved.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the cable 25 is attached to the X-ray image capturing apparatus 1.

  For the cable 25, a cable guide 24 is provided at a connection portion with the X-ray imaging apparatus 1. The cable guide 24 has a role of relaxing local bending of the cable, and is made of an elastic member such as silicon rubber.

  The outlet of the cable 25 is on the same side as the handle 22. The distance C from the tip of the cable guide 24 to the image effective region center 23 of the reading means of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 and the distance B from the outermost shape of the handle to the sensor center 23 have a relationship of B> C. . That is, the offset of the cable guide 24 is smaller than the offset of the handle 22, and the handle 22 has the outermost shape, not the tip of the cable guide 24. With this shape, even if the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in the storage unit 8 and the positioning mechanisms 12 to 15 are operated to perform positioning, the positioning mechanism does not contact the cable guide 24. Therefore, the image effective area center 23 of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 and the alignment center 16 of the gantry can be aligned without affecting the positioning of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1.

  Further, the tip end of the cable guide 24 has a distance of a side R2 close to two side surfaces that are orthogonal to the side surface having the handle 22. R2 is larger than the allowable minimum bend R1 of the wired cable. As a result, even when the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in the gantry 8, it can be safely stored without applying an excessive bending load on the cable. As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 X-ray imaging device 2 Reading means 3 X-ray generator 4 Image processing means 5 Monitor 6 Subject 7 Base 8 Storage part 12 Positioning mechanism 13 Positioning mechanism 14 Positioning mechanism 15 Positioning mechanism 16 Center alignment center 17 Spacer 22 Handle 23 Image Center of effective area 24 Cable guide 25 Cable 26 Grip part 27 Opening part

Claims (8)

The shape of the first plane viewed from the X-ray incident direction is a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the effective imaging area provided on the first plane, the first plane and the first plane are opposed to each other An X-ray image having a portable X-ray imaging apparatus having a portable handle portion provided on a side surface connecting the second flat surface and a gantry that can store the portable X-ray imaging apparatus In the shooting device,
A positioning unit that defines the arrangement of the portable X-ray imaging apparatus by sandwiching the handle unit and a second side surface facing the first side surface having the handle unit;
The portable X-ray so that the distance from the center of the effective imaging region to the outermost contour of the handle portion is equal to the distance from the center of the effective imaging region to the positioning portion disposed on the second side surface. An alignment member that aligns the alignment center of the gantry and the center of the effective imaging area when the image capturing device is housed in the gantry;
An X-ray imaging apparatus characterized by comprising: In the portable X-ray imaging apparatus, the shape of the first plane viewed from the X-ray incident direction is a rectangle,
The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion is disposed on a long side of the portable X-ray imaging apparatus.   The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the handle portion can be stored in the portable X-ray imaging apparatus. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alignment member is disposed on the second side surface side . The portable X-ray imaging apparatus further includes a cable unit including a cable and a cable guide disposed on the first side surface for relaxing local bending of the cable ,
The amount of the cable guide protruding outward from the first side surface is smaller than the amount of the handle portion protruding outward from the first side surface. The X-ray imaging apparatus described. The positioning unit further sandwiches a third side surface different from the first side surface and the second side surface and a fourth side surface facing the third side surface, and the portable X-ray imaging apparatus. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an arrangement of the X-ray image is defined. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit is movable in a center direction of the gantry. The shape of the first plane viewed from the X-ray incident direction is a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an effective imaging region provided on the first plane, the first plane and the first plane are opposed to each other In a storage device capable of storing a portable X-ray imaging apparatus having a portable handle portion provided on a side surface connecting the second plane to be
A positioning unit that defines the arrangement of the portable X-ray imaging apparatus by sandwiching the handle unit and a second side surface facing the first side surface having the handle unit;
The portable X-ray so that the distance from the center of the effective imaging region to the outermost contour of the handle portion is equal to the distance from the center of the effective imaging region to the positioning portion disposed on the second side surface. An alignment member that aligns the alignment center of the gantry and the center of the effective imaging area when the image capturing device is housed in the gantry;
A housing device comprising:

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