RU2405438C1 - X-ray installation for medical diagnostics - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to medical equipment, namely to X-ray diagnostic apparatuses. In X-ray installation, which contains located on the same optic axis X-ray emitter with slot collimator and linear X-ray detector, mechanical scanning device with system of bringing on the level of tomographic section of X-ray emitter with slot collimator and linear X-ray detector, site for patient's feet with device for its rotation, X-ray emitter is switched to high-frequency X-ray generator and programmed control unit, and linear X-ray detector is connected with system of image transformation, registration and formation. X-ray emitter and linear X-ray detector are installed with possibility of synchronous movement in vertical direction on vertical trusses, and system of bringing on the level of tomographic section includes mechanism of their synchronous movement in vertical direction.

EFFECT: application of invention allows to make construction of X-ray installation convenient and suitable for fast examination of patients in case of mass check fluorography.

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Description

The present invention relates to the field of medical equipment, namely to x-ray diagnostic devices intended for use both in specialized medical institutions, for example, TB dispensaries, and general hospitals.

Famous low-dose digital x-ray unit (ICRC) "Siberia", developed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics. G.I. Budker (Novosibirsk) (Belova I. B., Kitaev V. M. Low-dose digital radiography. - Orel, 2001, p.29). ICRC “Siberia” contains a high-voltage generator of high-frequency type, an x-ray emitter with a slit collimator, a multi-element linear x-ray detector connected to an image recording and reproducing system, a mechanical scanning device, a protective cabin with a platform for the patient’s legs. The patient is scanned vertically with a narrow horizontal fan-shaped x-ray beam.

Also known is a radiographic scanning device (International Application WO 02/17790 A1 of 03/07/2002) containing an x-ray source, a slit collimator, and a linear x-ray receiver sequentially located on the same optical axis. The receiver and collimator are mounted on a single bracket mounted rotatably around a vertical axis passing through the focus of the x-ray source.

In contrast to the first analogue in this apparatus, the patient is scanned horizontally with a narrow vertical x-ray beam.

Also known is a radiographic unit for medical diagnostics (patent RU 2098929 from 05.29.95, АВВ 6/00) containing a high-frequency x-ray generator, an x-ray emitter with a slit collimator, an x-ray detector connected to an image recording and reproducing system, a mechanical scanning device, protective cabin with a platform for the patient’s legs.

The patient is scanned vertically. X-ray radiation that has passed through the patient’s body is detected by a multi-element linear detector (MLD). The detector picks up signals that are minimally higher than the sensitivity threshold of the amplifier, due to which the background radiation is not fixed and an optimal signal-to-noise ratio is created. At the same time, the radiation dose per patient is minimized.

The information accumulated in the MLD during the exposure of the line is copied to the computer memory, and then the registration of the next vertical line begins. For this purpose, the x-ray emitter, the slit collimator, and the MLD simultaneously and uniformly move in the vertical direction during shooting. A narrow slit collimator forms a thin fan-shaped x-ray beam, which, after passing through the patient’s body, enters the MLD entrance window.

The information accumulated by the detector during the exposure of the line is transmitted to the computer. After shooting, the image matrix is formed in the computer's memory (320 × 256 numbers) containing information about the distribution of radiation after passing through the patient’s body. A digital x-ray image is displayed on a computer video monitor 5 seconds after the end of the scan.

The device is controlled by a computer. The software includes the main program that controls the device during shooting, and programs for monitoring the health of the units and the device as a whole.

All known analogues are intended primarily for X-ray examination of the lungs (fluorography) in order to timely detect tuberculosis and other diseases of the chest cavity.

The disadvantage of all known analogues is the inability to obtain a tomographic slice in the zone of interest, which complicates the diagnosis and limits the operational capabilities of the apparatus.

The closest in design to the claimed object is a radiographic installation for medical diagnostics (patent RU 2343836 from 08/15/2007, A61B 6/00), containing a high-frequency x-ray generator, an x-ray emitter with a slit collimator, a linear x-ray detector, a mechanical scanning device, a protective a cabin with a platform for the patient’s legs, equipped with a patient rotation mechanism, the x-ray emitter being connected to a high-frequency x-ray generator and a programmable control unit equipped with a computer, a control panel and a video monitor, and a linear detector is connected to a digital electronic conversion system, registration and image formation. An x-ray emitter with a slit collimator is optically coupled to a linear x-ray detector and mechanically connected to each other by a bracket.

This X-ray unit allows both fluorography of the lungs and transverse computed tomography in the area of interest; It is chosen by us as a prototype.

The design of the prototype makes it difficult to conduct a mass examination of the population during verification examinations, due to the fact that the wall of the cabin and the bracket on which the x-ray emitter and linear x-ray detector are mounted prevent patients from freely passing through the unit. This drawback does not allow the medical staff to rationally organize the flow of patients, which lengthens the examination.

The aim of the invention is the creation of an x-ray unit, the design of which provides a convenient and quick examination of patients with mass verification fluorography.

This goal is achieved by the fact that in a radiographic installation for medical diagnostics comprising an x-ray emitter with a slit collimator and a linear x-ray detector located on the same optical axis, a mechanical scanning device with a system for outputting a tomographic slice of an x-ray emitter with a slit collimator and a linear detector, a platform for the patient’s legs with a device for its rotation, and the x-ray emitter is connected to a high-frequency x-ray generator and the programmable control unit, and the linear X-ray detector is connected to the conversion, registration and imaging system, the X-ray emitter and the linear X-ray detector are mounted with the possibility of synchronous movement in the vertical direction on vertical farms, and the output system to the level of the tomographic slice includes a mechanism for their synchronous movement in the vertical direction.

The invention is further accompanied by drawings and a description thereof. Figure 1 shows the basic elements of an x-ray tripod, and figure 2 shows a block diagram of an x-ray unit.

Tripod x-ray installation for medical diagnostics contains an x-ray emitter 1 with a slit collimator 2 and a linear x-ray detector 3 (figure 1). As a linear detector, a gas-discharge detector or a matrix-type semiconductor line can be used. The output slit 4 of the collimator 2 and the optical input 5 of the linear X-ray detector 3 are in the same horizontal plane. Such an optical coupling of the x-ray emitter 1 and the linear x-ray detector 3 allows you to shoot with a narrow fan x-ray beam. The x-ray emitter 1 is rigidly connected to the carriage 6 mounted on the guides 7 mounted on the vertical truss 8. The carriage 6 is movably connected to the worm shaft 9 and can move in the vertical direction when it is rotated. In turn, the linear X-ray detector 3 is rigidly connected to the carriage 10 mounted on the guides 11 mounted on the vertical truss 12. The carriage 10 is movably connected to the worm shaft 13 and can move in the vertical direction when it is rotated. The worm shafts 9 and 13 are mutually parallel and extend perpendicular to the plane of the installation base. The geometry of the worm shafts 9 and 13 is mutually identical. At its base, the worm shaft 9 is connected to the gearbox 14, which, in turn, is connected to the transfer gearbox 18 through the clutch 15, the connecting shaft 16, the clutch 17. The worm shaft 13 is connected to the gearbox 19, which, in turn, by the clutch 20, the connecting shaft 21, the clutch 22 is connected to the transfer gearbox 18. The gearbox 18 is connected to a reversible type electric motor 23 connected to a programmable control unit. Below, between the trusses 8 and 12 there is a platform 24 for the patient’s legs, equipped with a mechanism for its rotation, containing an electric motor 25, a gearbox 26 and a group of gears 27. The platform 24 is equipped with a screen 28 made of hard X-ray transparent material, such as plexiglass (figure 2) . The chest of patient A is pressed against the screen 28 during shooting. On the site 24 also fixed latches for the legs 29 and hands 30 of patient A.

The x-ray installation contains a system for outputting the scanning device to the level of the tomographic slice, including a coordinate gauge 31, mechanically connected to the electric motor 23 of the scanning device, and electrically through a computer 32 with a video monitor 33 (figure 2).

The apparatus is controlled by a computer 32 from the programmed control unit 34. The software contains the main control program for obtaining a standard digital x-ray image, a test program for monitoring the health of the units and the apparatus as a whole, and an additional program for obtaining transverse tomographic images. High voltage to the x-ray emitter 1 is supplied from the high-frequency generator 35 by command of the computer 32.

Upon receipt of a standard digital X-ray image, the radiation distribution in the horizontal direction (row) is measured using a multi-element linear detector 3. The rows are “stitched” into the frame by mechanical scanning of the patient’s body in the vertical direction. For this purpose, the x-ray emitter 1 with a slit collimator 2 and the detector 3 simultaneously and uniformly move in the vertical direction during shooting. A collimator 2 with a slit width of 0.5 to 2.0 mm forms a thin fan-shaped x-ray beam, which, after passing through the patient’s body A, enters the input window 5 of the linear detector 3. The detector 3 is connected to an electronic system for converting, recording and reproducing a digital image 36 connected to the computer 32. The information accumulated in the receivers of the multi-element linear detector 3 during the exposure of the line is written to the memory of the computer 32, after which the registration of the next vertical line begins. After shooting the frame, a digital image-matrix of numbers is accumulated in memory, which describes the distribution of radiation after passing through the patient’s body.

The first raw image on the video monitor occurs simultaneously with the scan. The video monitor screen displays an X-ray image of the patient’s internal organs, such as the lungs, and a coordinate scale that allows you to determine the position of a structural element of the body by height (in the coordinate system of the device).

If a pathological formation, such as a tuberculous cavity in the lung is detected, the radiologist points the “floating mark” of the video monitor to the target image point and presses the corresponding button on the keyboard 37 of the video monitor 33. In this case, firstly, an additional program is activated on the programmable control unit 34 obtaining a transverse tomographic slice, and, secondly, the signal through the computer 32 and the coordinate gauge 31 is fed to the electric motor 23 of the scanning system, resulting in an x-ray emitter 1 with left collimator 2 and detector 3 are displayed at the level of the tomographic slice. In addition, the motor 25 is turned on, setting the uniform rotation of the pad 24, for example, at a speed of 1 revolution per second. Patient A is given the command “take a deep breath and do not breathe”. After that, the x-ray emitter 1. The computer 30 processes the signal coming from the linear detector 3, and a tomographic slice matrix is formed, which is displayed on the screen of the video monitor for visual analysis.

To obtain one tomographic slice, digital information obtained by a computer for one revolution of the carriage (360 °) is sufficient. With an exposure of one line of 0.015 s per one revolution of the carriage, 67 scans (line scans) are performed. If a multi-element linear detector contains 400 sensors, then upon receipt of one tomographic slice the computer processes 26800 discrete signals.

The proposed technical solution allows patients to freely pass through the unit and exit the X-ray room through a door opposite the entrance, which accelerates the process of fluorography. This possibility is especially important in mass fluorography of the population.

Claims (3)

1. An x-ray apparatus for medical diagnostics, comprising an x-ray emitter with a slit collimator and a linear x-ray detector located on the same optical axis, a mechanical scanning device with an output system to the level of a tomographic section of an x-ray emitter with a slit collimator and a linear x-ray detector, a patient’s foot platform with a device its rotation, and the x-ray emitter is connected to a high-frequency x-ray generator and a programmable unit control, and a linear x-ray detector is connected to a conversion, registration and image forming system, characterized in that the x-ray emitter and linear x-ray detector are mounted with the possibility of synchronous movement in the vertical direction on vertical farms, and the output system to the level of the tomographic slice includes a mechanism for their synchronous moving in the vertical direction. 2. The x-ray installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanism of synchronous movement in the vertical direction of the x-ray emitter and the linear x-ray detector consists of carriages rigidly connected to the emitter and the detector, respectively, and movably with the guides of the vertical trusses, while the carriages are placed with the ability to move along worm shafts installed parallel to the guides and to each other and perpendicular to the base of the installation, and mechanically connected by means of gears, couplings and Interconnect shafts type reversible electric motor connected to a programmable control unit. 3. Radiographic installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the programmable control unit includes a computer, a control panel and a video monitor.

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