KR102668614B1 - Guide light assembly for c-arm radiography system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a guide light assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device.
The guide light assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device according to the present invention is installed in a Siam radiation imaging unit including an As installed, it irradiates light to mark a plurality of reference points that can be seen with the naked eye in the treatment area, and is characterized by being attachable and detachable to the Siam radiation imaging unit.

Description

Guide light assembly for C-ARM radiation imaging device {GUIDE LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR C-ARM RADIOGRAPHY SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a guide light assembly mounted on a C-ARM radiation imaging device used for nerve treatment to inject drugs into the lumbar or cervical spine.

An X-ray imaging device transmits X-rays to an object to be inspected and obtains an image of the internal structure of the human body. X-ray imaging devices are relatively simple and have the advantage of being able to obtain medical images of the subject within a short period of time.

C-ARM equipment obtains medical images using In other words, in nerve treatment, the drug is injected into the inflamed nerve area by injection. If the injection needle is inserted into the affected area and the image is taken with a C-ARM device, the needle and the affected area (ex: lumbar spine) are displayed together in the image. You can check whether the injection needle has been inserted in the correct location.

Due to the above advantages, the C-ARM device is used for nerve treatment, but there is a problem in that patients and medical staff are exposed to x-rays. Patients are exposed to x-rays only during one treatment, but medical staff must continuously treat multiple patients using the C-arm. For doctors in charge of nerve treatment using C-ARM in clinics, it is inevitable to be exposed to and accumulate a significant amount of radiation each year, and as a result, everything from unexplained fatigue, hair loss, and sexual dysfunction to radiation-induced osteomyelitis and hematological tumors has been reported. there is.

Explain in more detail. In endodontic treatment, multiple imaging sessions are first required to accurately identify the exact point where the injection needle will be inserted. For example, Medial Branch Block (MBB), the most commonly performed nerve treatment, requires injections into three places on the left side and three places on the right side of the spine, as shown in the photo in Figure 1. The location of the spine as seen with the naked eye from the outside There may be differences in the actual location, and because the X-ray imaging area is local, it is not easy to secure an X-ray image to show all affected areas. Therefore, the amount of radiation exposure increases as the imaging is repeated several times to obtain an X-ray image of the desired area. In addition, once a suitable It is fortunate if the needle is inserted into the correct location at once, but in other cases, needle insertion and imaging must be repeated several times. In order to be covered by health insurance even after treatment is completed, an X-ray image must be obtained with the injection needle inserted, as shown in Figure 2. This is why the amount of X-ray exposure inevitably increases during treatment using C-ARM.

Efforts to reduce radiation exposure have led to the development of radiation shielding equipment for practitioners. However, radiation shielding equipment is made of lead or metal and is heavy, which interferes with the procedure. It is also very expensive, and if it is repeatedly put on and taken off, it may lose its functionality and become useless. Additionally, it is of no help to patients, and lead itself is a widely known carcinogen.

In order to reduce radiation exposure, rather than developing unreasonable shielding equipment, a change in thinking is needed to reduce the number of cancer imaging required for the procedure.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problem. When taking an X-ray using a C-ARM, the The purpose is to provide a guide light assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device that can easily and precisely identify the target point and minimize the number of X-ray imaging.

Meanwhile, other unspecified purposes of the present invention will be additionally considered within the scope that can be easily inferred from the following detailed description and its effects.

The light guide assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes an It is installed in the Siam radiation imaging unit, irradiates light to display a plurality of reference points that can be visually confirmed in the treatment area, and has the characteristic of being detachable from the Siam radiation imaging unit.

The guide light assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device according to the present invention irradiates at least two X-axis laser beams parallel to each other and at least two Y-axis laser beams that intersect and are parallel to the X-axis laser beams to visually Identifiable grid lines are displayed on the treatment area, and the reference point is preferably an intersection of the grid lines.

In one example of the present invention, an X unit that irradiates the X-axis laser beam and a Y unit that irradiates the Y-axis laser beam may be provided.

In addition, in one example of the present invention, the It is provided with two second light sources spaced on both sides from the light source at a second interval narrower than the first interval corresponding to the size of the cervical vertebrae, and the Using the central light source and the first light source, 3 Three X-axis laser beams and three Y-axis laser beams are irradiated to form nine intersections.

In one example of the present invention, the It is preferable that the detector be disposed to protrude from the detection unit.

In particular, the Light sources that emit a laser beam may be installed on the moving member.

In one example of the present invention, the X unit irradiates an X-axis laser beam on an The Y-axis laser beam is irradiated from above.

By using the guide light assembly for the C-ARM radiological imaging device according to the present invention, it is possible to precisely identify the area where X-ray imaging should be performed and the point where the injection needle should be inserted when performing nerve treatment, thereby reducing the number of X-ray imaging. This can minimize damage from radiation exposure to both medical staff and patients.

In addition, by using the light guide assembly for the C-ARM radiation imaging device according to the present invention, the number of needle invasions can be reduced and the treatment time can be shortened, which is beneficial to both medical staff and patients.

Additionally, treatment using the current C-ARM equipment requires personnel assisting the doctor, but the use of the present invention has the advantage that treatment can be performed by a doctor alone.

Meanwhile, it is to be added that even if the effects are not explicitly mentioned herein, the effects described in the following specification and their potential effects expected from the technical features of the present invention are treated as if described in the specification of the present invention.

Figure 1 is an X-ray image taken using C-ARM equipment, showing the point where the injection needle will be inserted in the MBB procedure.
Figure 2 is an X-ray image taken with an injection needle inserted to apply for health insurance.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a C-ARM radiation imaging unit, and FIG. 3B is a schematic perspective view of a C-ARM radiation imaging device combined with a guide light assembly according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the guide light assembly shown in FIG. 3.
Figure 5 is a bottom view viewed from below the detection unit.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the guide light assembly according to an example of the present invention in a state coupled to the detection unit.
Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining the light source arrangement of the guide light assembly.
Figure 8 is a diagram showing a state in which three X-axis laser beams are irradiated from the X unit.
Figures 9a and 9b show grid lines displayed on the patient's body by the X unit and Y unit.
Figure 10 shows reference points displayed on the image of the display unit.
※ The attached drawings are intended as reference for understanding the technical idea of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known functions will be omitted if they are obvious to those skilled in the art and are judged to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a guide light assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device according to an example of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a C-ARM radiation imaging unit, and FIG. 3B is a schematic perspective view of a C-ARM radiation imaging device combined with a guide light assembly according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the guide light assembly shown in FIG. 3.

First, the C-ARM radiation imaging unit to which the guide light assembly according to the present invention is attached and detachable will be briefly described.

The C-ARM radiation imaging unit 10 is a known equipment, and is equipped with an X-ray generator 11 that irradiates X-rays, and a detector 12 that detects the do. A receiving surface 13 on which X-rays are incident is disposed on the front of the detection unit 12. This receiving surface 13 and the X-ray generating unit 11 are arranged to face each other. A rubber ring 16 is fitted to the end of the detection unit 12 for a cushioning effect. Referring to the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, the bottom of the detection unit 12 is stepped by the rubber ring 16.

The X-ray generator 11 and the detector 12 are connected by a frame 15 in the shape of the letter C. The patient's affected part is positioned between the X-ray generator 11 and the detector 12, and X-ray imaging is performed. Since the C-ARM radiation imaging unit 10 is a known device, further detailed description will be omitted.

The guide light assembly 50 according to the present invention radiates light to mark a plurality of reference points on the patient's treatment area (eg, waist, neck) so that medical staff can visually check them. More specifically, in this example, the guide light assembly displays a grid line by irradiating a plurality of laser beams in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, where the intersection of the grid lines becomes the reference point.

The guide light assembly 50 may be composed of a single laser device, but in this example, it is composed of an X unit 20 and a Y unit 40. Both the X unit 20 and the Y unit 40 are mounted on the detection unit 12 of the C-ARM radiation imaging unit. As shown in Figure 5, the They are arranged perpendicularly to each other based on the center point of 12).

In addition, so that the laser irradiated from the light source provided in the It is desirable to place it so that it protrudes.

In more detail, the mechanical configuration of the X unit 20 and Y unit 40 will be described. Since the X unit 20 and Y unit 40 differ only in the installation position and direction and have completely the same mechanical configuration, they will be described using the X unit 20 as an example. However, it should be noted in advance that the structure described below is only an example and that various other mechanical configurations can be used.

Referring to the drawing, the X unit 20 includes a mounting member 21 and a moving member 25. The mounting member 21 is mounted on the upper stepped portion of the rubber ring 16 in the detection unit 12 of the C-ARM radiation imaging unit 10 using double-sided tape or a magnet. In this example, since the detection unit 12 is cylindrical, it is preferable that the lower surface of the mounting member 21 is also formed as a curved surface corresponding to it. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the thickness of the mounting member 21 is slightly thicker than the thickness of the rubber ring 16. A pair of guide rails 22 are formed on the upper surface of the mounting member 21.

The moving member 25 is slidably coupled to the guide rail 22 of the mounting member 21 and can move back and forth as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4 . When the moving member 25 slides, it protrudes downward with respect to the detection unit or the rubber ring, thereby avoiding interference by the detection unit or the rubber ring when irradiating laser light. A plurality of light sources capable of irradiating laser beams are installed at the lower part of the moving member 25. Figure 7 shows the light source arrangement of the guide light assembly. Referring to FIG. 7, in this example, five light sources are installed. A central light source 31 is installed in the center, and two first light sources 32 and 33 are spaced at a first distance on both sides of the central light source 31. This is placed. Here, the first gap corresponds to the size of the vertebrae and is approximately 3 to 4 cm. Additionally, second light sources 34 and 35 are installed on both sides of the central light source 31 at a second interval. Since the second gap is narrower than the first gap, the second light sources 34 and 35 are disposed between the central light source 31 and the first light sources 32 and 33. The second gap corresponds to the size of the cervical vertebrae and is approximately 1 to 2 cm. All five light sources (31~35) can radiate laser beams to display a laser line on the patient's body, but when treating the neck area, only the central light source (31) and the second light source (34,35) are operated, and the waist When treating a part, only the central light source (31) and the first light source (32, 33) are used. That is, the X unit 20 irradiates three X-axis laser beams (X1, X2, and X3) as shown in FIG. 8. For reference, the X plane through which the X-axis laser beam passes, for example, the plane including the central light source 31 and the central Likewise, the Y plane through which the Y-axis laser beam passes is arranged perpendicular to both the X plane and the receiving surface 13.

The Y unit 40, like the Since the Y unit 40 is different from the X unit only in the installation location and direction and has the same mechanical configuration, a separate description will be omitted.

When the Form a 3*3 grid line in the area. The nine intersection points (P) of the grid lines serve as reference points for needle insertion. In addition, when the central light source 31 and the two second light sources 34 and 35 are irradiated for treatment of the neck area, the center line (X2, Y2) and the dotted lines on both sides (X4, Form a 3*3 grid line. Likewise, the intersection point (Q) of the grid lines becomes the reference point for treatment.

When treating the neck area or the waist area, a light source must be selected and a guide light assembly must be activated. In this example, a foot switch (not shown) that can be switched by stepping on the medical staff is used for convenience.

Meanwhile, the display unit 90 accompanying the C-ARM imaging unit 10 displays the X-ray image captured by the C-ARM radiation imaging unit 10 as an image so that medical staff can check it. In addition, the reference points (P, Q) displayed on the patient's body by the guide light assembly 50 according to the present invention can be displayed by attaching a sticker to the display panel as shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, it can be implemented to be displayed along with the X-ray image.

The location of the reference point on the patient's body on the X-ray image can be calculated using geometric techniques. Additionally, if the guide light assembly is operated and a small marker that does not transmit X-rays is placed at the intersection and the photograph is taken, the marker appears in the image of the display unit 90. By storing the pixel in the area where this mark appears in the display unit, the reference point can always be displayed at that pixel. In other words, you can fix reference points on specific pixels on the display screen and have the reference points always appear on the image when treating a patient. It can be implemented as an image on the display unit, but since the pixel value is fixed, it can also be used by attaching stickers, etc. to the display panel, as mentioned earlier.

This explains why it is okay to fix the pixel where the reference point is displayed. The imaging area may be narrowed or widened depending on whether the patient is placed between the However, since the treatment is performed on a bed (of constant height) placed in the hospital's treatment room, the actual distance the patient is away from the X-ray generator is constant. Also, the distance from the X-ray generator may vary depending on the patient's physique, but the difference is not large and can be ignored. In other words, the area and area imaged by the C-ARM device can be considered fixed. Meanwhile, the imaging area may vary depending on the magnification of the C-ARM radiation imaging unit 10, but most medical staff use the magnification fixed. Ultimately, it can be said that the area and area imaged by the C-ARM radiation imaging unit 10 are specified. Additionally, since the guide light assembly 50 is fixed to the detection unit, the position and size of the grid created by the laser beam are also fixed. Therefore, it is possible to fix the position of the reference point displayed on the patient's body to a specific pixel of the display image.

By using the guide light assembly composed of the above configuration together with the C-ARM radiation imaging unit, the number of X-ray imaging can be reduced when performing nerve treatment on a patient, thereby minimizing damage from radiation exposure to both the medical staff and the patient. .

First, the imaging area must be specified so that all areas to be treated can be shown in the can be confirmed through the X-ray image and reference point implemented in the image. For example, the image should be taken so that lumbar vertebrae 3, 4, and 5 are visible together, but in the actual image taken, lumbar vertebrae 2, 3, and 4 are visible. By comparing the reference points shown on the X-ray image with the reference points marked on the patient's body, the patient's You can easily check how much more you need to move your body. Through this, an appropriate shooting area can be determined.

Now, the injection needle is inserted into the affected area to inject the drug. Using the present invention, the needle insertion point can be accurately confirmed while minimizing trial and error. That is, through X-ray imaging, the point where the injection needle should be inserted can be confirmed on the When finding the point identified in the X-ray image on the actual patient's body, the reference point marked on the patient's body by the guide light assembly can be used. Previously, the injection needle had to be inserted into the affected area and an X-ray had to be taken to confirm the needle insertion location, which required several trials and errors. Since an X-ray must be taken every time a needle is inserted, the amount of radiation exposure inevitably increases. However, using the present invention, the injection needle can be immediately inserted into the correct location without such trial and error, and the number of X-ray imaging can be reduced.

In addition, if the guide light assembly according to the present invention is used in C-ARM nerve treatment, the number of needle invasions can be reduced and the treatment time can be shortened, which is beneficial to both the medical staff and the patient.

In addition, currently, treatment using C-ARM equipment requires personnel to assist the doctor, but the use of the present invention has the advantage that treatment can be performed by a doctor alone.

The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the description and expression of the embodiments explicitly described above. In addition, it is to be added once again that the scope of protection of the present invention may not be limited due to changes or substitutions that are obvious in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

10... C-ARM radiation imaging unit, 11... X-ray generator
12 ... detection unit, 13 ... receiving surface
20...X unit, 21...mounting member,
22 ... guide rail, 25 ... moving member
31~35 ... laser light source, 40 ... Y unit
50 ... guide light assembly, 90 ... display unit

Claims (7)

It is installed in a Siam radiation imaging unit having an
By irradiating light, a plurality of reference points that can be seen with the naked eye are displayed in the treatment area, and it is attachable and detachable to the Siam radiation imaging unit.
At least two X-axis laser beams that are parallel to each other and at least two Y-axis laser beams that intersect with the is the intersection point of the grid lines,
It is further provided with an
The X unit and Y unit are mounted on the detection unit of the Siam radiation imaging unit,
A guide light assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device, characterized in that it is disposed to protrude from the detection unit so that the laser irradiated from the light sources provided in the X unit and the Y unit does not interfere with the detection unit.
delete delete According to paragraph 1,
The Provided with two second light sources spaced on both sides at a second interval narrower than the first interval,
When irradiating a laser beam to the spinal region, the When irradiating a laser beam to an area, 3 X-axis laser beams and 3 Y-axis laser beams are irradiated using the central light source and the second light source to form 9 intersection points. Guide light assembly.
delete According to paragraph 1,
The
A guide light assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device, wherein light sources that irradiate a laser beam are installed on the moving member. According to paragraph 1,
The X unit irradiates an X-axis laser beam on the A guide light assembly for a C-ARM radiation imaging device, characterized in that.

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