JPH04241843A - X-ray ct device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the cost of a slip ring member, and also, to prevent an unfavorable influence caused by metallic wear powder generated by the rotational contact of the slip ring member with a brush. CONSTITUTION:The slip ring member 13 is fixed and arranged in only a necessary part without extending over the whole periphery of a body to be examined, and also, plural brushing members 11 are arranged so as to come into rotational contact with the inner peripheral surface of the slip ring member 13. Moreover, in the lower direction of the slip ring member 13, a metallic powder collecting and eliminating means consisting of a cleaning brush 12, a brush cleaner member 14, a metallic powder collecting part 15, etc., is arranged. In such a manner, the utilization quantity of the slip ring member 13 is decreased, and also, metallic wear powder is not stuck to any member and is eliminated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Purpose of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray CT apparatus that transmits electrical signals through a slip ring member and a brush member.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A structure as shown in FIG. 5 is known as an example of an X-ray CT apparatus. This X-ray CT device
The pedestal section 2 includes a bed section 1 that supports a patient's body, and a pedestal section 2 that incorporates an X-ray imaging mechanism that integrates an X-ray tube 4 and a detector 5 and rotates around a subject 3. The bed section 1 includes a top plate 6 that directly supports the subject 3 and is movable in the horizontal direction is equipped with a dome 8 that guides the subject 3 moved in the horizontal direction CT imaging is started by emitting X-rays while rotating the X-ray tube 4 and detector 5 that constitute the mechanism. The X-rays that have passed through the object 3 are incident on the detector 5 and detected as X-ray projection data.
By reconstructing these X-ray projection data, a tomographic image along an arbitrary slice plane of the subject 3 can be obtained.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional structure taken along the slice plane l in FIG. Rotate to . Here, power supply and signal transmission (hereinafter simply referred to as electrical signal transmission) to the X-ray tube 4 and detector 5 are performed because the X-ray tube 4 and detector 5 are rotating during operation of the X-ray CT apparatus. This is done using slip rings and brushes.

FIG. 7 shows this situation. A brush 11 is arranged to slide on the surface of a slip ring 13 that rotates together with the rotating member 10, and a signal cable 17 is connected through this brush 11. .

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged structure of part A in FIG. 7, in which a plurality of grooves 13A are formed on the surface of the slip ring 13, and the brushes 11 are brought into contact with each groove so as to be positioned in these grooves 13A. . Here, as the material of the slip ring 13, for example, brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) with excellent rust resistance is used, and its surface is plated with, for example, silver, which has excellent conductivity.On the other hand, as the material of the brush 11, for example, Silver carbon is used.

[0006]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, the conventional X-ray C
In the T device, a slip ring made of an expensive material is provided around the entire circumference of the rotating mechanism, so there is a problem that an increase in cost is unavoidable. In addition, the rotating contact between the slip ring and the brushes generates metal abrasion powder, which can adhere to the grooves and brushes and cause short circuits and noise, which may lead to malfunctions.

The present invention was made in response to the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an X-ray CT apparatus that reduces the amount of slip rings used and avoids the adverse effects of metal wear particles. It is something to do.

[Configuration of the invention]

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an arrangement in which an X-ray tube and a detector are integrated and rotate around a subject, and the X-ray tube and detector are connected to the outside. In an X-ray CT apparatus that transmits electrical signals through a slip ring member and a brush member, there is a slip ring member that is fixedly arranged around the subject without extending around the entire circumference, and an inner part of the slip ring member. a plurality of brush members disposed in rotational contact with the circumference and electrically connected to the X-ray tube and the detector; and metal abrasion powder generated by rotational contact between the slip ring member and the brush member disposed below the slip ring member. The present invention is characterized by comprising a metal powder removal and collection means for removing and collecting metal powder.

0010

[Operation] By arranging the slip ring member in a fixed manner around the subject without covering the entire circumference, the amount of material used can be reduced. In addition, by arranging metal powder collection and removal means below the slip ring member,
Since metal abrasion powder generated by the rotational contact between the spring member and the brush member is collected and removed, it is prevented from adhering to the groove of the slip ring member or the brush. Therefore, causes of short circuits and noise generation can be eliminated.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the X-ray CT apparatus of the present invention, in which 1 is a bed supporting a subject 3, and 2 is an X-ray imaging mechanism consisting of an X-ray tube 4 and a detector 5. It is a built-in pedestal. The bed section 1 directly supports the subject 3 in the horizontal direction
The top plate 6 is movable, and the height adjustment part 7 is provided to adjust the height position of the top plate 6 in the vertical direction Z. The pedestal part 2 is moved in the horizontal direction It is equipped with a dome 8 for guiding. The X-ray tube 4 and detector 5 constituting the imaging mechanism are rotated integrally around the imaging surface (slice surface) of the subject 3 guided into the dome 8 to perform CT. Shooting begins.

In this embodiment, the interior of the pedestal section 2 housing the X-ray photographing mechanism consisting of the X-ray tube 4 and the detector 5 is constructed as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 10 denotes a rotating member for integrally rotating an X-ray tube and a detector (not shown) in the direction of the arrow, and a plurality of brushes 11, 11A, 11B, and 11C, are fixed at desired positions around this rotating member to rotate the X-ray tube and detector (not shown) in the direction of the arrow. It is in communication with the tube and the detector.

For example, an example is shown in which three brushes 11, 11A, 11B, and 11C are arranged at an interval of 120 degrees, and a pair of cleaning brushes 12 (12A, 12B) are adjacent to these brushes 11. , 12C) are fixed. Around the rotating member 10, the brush 11 and the cleaning brush 12 are arranged so that the brush 11 and the cleaning brush 12 are in rotational contact with the inner peripheral surface thereof.
Slip rings 13 are fixedly arranged in a semicircular manner, in this case over a dimension of 120 degrees, corresponding to the spacing of the brushes 11. Also slip ring 1
Brush cleaner members 14 are provided at both ends of the brush cleaner 3 .

Further, a metal powder collection section 15 is arranged below the slip ring 13, and is configured such that metal powder can be discharged to the outside through an opening 16. 17 is a signal cable connected to the rotating member 10 from a control section (not shown).
It is used to transmit electrical signals to the wire tube and detector.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an X-ray tube control section which applies a high voltage to the X-ray tube 4 and controls its timing so as to perform desired X-ray exposure. Reference numeral 19 denotes a data acquisition unit where CT imaging is started and the obtained X-ray projection data are sequentially inputted and stored in a built-in memory. These X-ray projection data are output to an image reconstruction section 20, and the image is reconstructed by a CPU (central processing unit) and the resulting image is displayed on a display 21 such as a CRT. 22 is a system controller that includes the X-ray tube control section 18 and the image reconstruction section 20.
controls the operation of

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The subject 3 to be photographed is supported in a supine position on the top plate 6 of the bed section 1, and guided into the dome 8 of the pedestal section 2 by moving the top plate 6. First, brush 11 (11A, 11B, 11C) and slip ring 1 in Fig. 2
The X-ray imaging mechanism is rotated with the relative position relative to No. 3 as the starting position to open and close X-ray exposure.

The first brush 11A is a slip ring 13
If the inner circumferential surface of the brush 11B rotates in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the slip ring 13 and moves in the direction of the arrow to a region outside the slip ring 13 as shown in FIG. moves and comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the slip ring 13. Similarly, if this second brush 11B moves to an area outside of the slip ring 13 as shown in FIG. It comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the slip ring 13.

Therefore, the electrical connection between the slip ring 13 and the brush 11 is not interrupted while the rotating member 10 makes one revolution and takes one image. Therefore, electrical signals can be transmitted between the outside and the X-ray tube 4 and detector 5 without any problem.

In this way, the rotating member 10 rotates the X-ray tube 4.
And when the detector 5 is continuously rotating integrally, even if metal abrasion powder is generated by the brush 11 that is in rotational contact with the inner circumferential surface of the slip ring 13, the cleaning brush 11 arranged in pair with the brush 11 Slip ring 13 by brush 12
By cleaning the inner circumferential surface of the groove, the metal abrasion powder is removed without being attached to the groove.

Further, due to the presence of the brush cleaner member 14, the brush 11 is cleaned by the brush cleaner member 14 during rotation, so that metal abrasion powder does not adhere to the brush 11. The metal abrasion powder cleaned in this way falls downward and is collected in the metal powder collection part 15, and is collected in the opening 1.
6 and is discharged to the outside by suction.

[0023] According to this embodiment, the slip ring 13 is disposed only in the necessary portions without covering the entire circumference of the subject, so the amount of material used can be reduced, leading to cost reduction. be able to. Also, even if slip rings are placed only in the necessary areas,
Since a plurality of brushes are provided and the brushes are rotated, contact between the slip ring and the brushes is always ensured, so that no problem occurs in operation.

Furthermore, since a metal powder collecting and removing means consisting of a cleaning brush, a brush cleaner member, a metal powder collecting section, etc. is provided, metal abrasion powder generated by rotational contact between the slip ring and the brush is collected in the groove of the slip ring. It is possible to prevent short circuits and noises that may easily occur due to this, and to avoid malfunctions caused by these.

The number of brushes in this embodiment and the dimension (angle) of the slip ring along the rotational direction determined correspondingly are given as an example, and the number of brushes in this embodiment may be changed depending on the purpose, application, etc. It can be arbitrarily determined according to the example.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the slip ring member is fixedly disposed without extending over the entire circumference, and a means for collecting and removing metal powder is provided, thereby avoiding an increase in cost and reducing metal wear. It is possible to prevent the harmful effects of powder.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the main parts of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of an X-ray CT apparatus.

6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the X-ray CT apparatus of FIG. 5. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a slip ring structure of a conventional X-ray CT apparatus.

8 is an enlarged view of section A in FIG. 7. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Frame section 3 Subject 4 X-ray tube 5 Detector 10 Rotating members 11, 11A, 11B, 11C Brush 12, 12A
, 12B, 12C Cleaning brush 13 Slip ring 14 Brush cleaner member 15 Metal powder collecting section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray tube and a detector are integrated and rotate around a subject, and electrical signals are transmitted between the X-ray tube and detector and the outside through a slip ring member and a brush member. In an X-ray CT apparatus that performs a plurality of brush members that are electrically connected to the brush member; and a metal powder removal and collection means that is disposed below the slip ring member and removes and collects metal abrasion powder generated by rotational contact between the slip ring member and the brush member. An X-ray CT device featuring: