WO2008061564A1

WO2008061564A1 - X-ray device

Info

Publication number: WO2008061564A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/068803
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Mariéthoz
Original assignee: Swissray International Inc.
Priority date: 2006-11-23
Filing date: 2006-11-23
Publication date: 2008-05-29

Abstract

An X-ray device (1) is composed of a stand (2) and of a digital image receiver (5), which is preferably mounted such that it can be moved vertically and can be pivoted about a pivot axis (4) by means of a rotary bearing (3). The image receiver comprises an image converter with an imaging surface (7) for generating a visible image, and a camera system which is arranged in the beam path of the visible image and is used to store the image. The camera system (8) is arranged at least partially inside the rotary bearing (3) so as to ensure that the obligatory minimum distance between imaging surface and camera system can be integrated into the overall structure in a way that takes up the least possible space.

Description

X-ray machine

The invention relates to an X-ray device according to the preamble of claim 1. Digital X-ray devices are being used more and more frequently in medical radiology today. The mode of operation of the digital X-ray technology is described, for example, in EP 862 748. In order to be able to record x-ray images in as many different patient positions as possible, it is a requirement that the image receiving unit is preferably adjustable in height and pivotally mounted about a pivot axis by means of a pivot bearing. This can be seen for example from EP 1 536 249.

Digital x-ray equipment is still expensive compared to conventional analog x-ray equipment and requires a lot of space. A problem with the digital image conversion is that between the image converter or the imaging surface with the visible image and the camera system, a certain minimum distance must be maintained, which is for example 100 cm. A reduction of this distance can be achieved, for example, by an image division and the use of several camera systems, as described in EP 862 748. However, this measure is cost-intensive and requires special measures for assembling the previously split image segments. In other known X-ray devices, the visible image is deflected parallel to the imaging surface, wherein the camera system is housed in a relatively space consuming and disturbing housing, which connects directly to the image converter.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an X-ray apparatus of the type mentioned, which is very cost-effective, which takes up little space and in which the digital Bildemp- Due to the minimum distance to be maintained between the imaging surface and the camera system from the outside, the catching unit does not appear disturbing from outside. This object is achieved according to the invention with an X-ray machine having the features in claim 1.

As a result of the at least partial integration of the camera system into the rotary bearing, the required minimum distance can be maintained without complicated image splitting being required and without an oversized housing interfering with appearance. An additional advantage is also that the extremely sensitive camera system is protected by the pivot bearing from knocks and bumps.

Depending on the configuration of the x-ray device, it may be expedient if at least one deflecting mirror, which deflects the image by preferably 90 °, is arranged between the image converter and the camera system. The entire distance between image converter and camera system can thus be divided into two sections, wherein depending on the division of the image converter is arranged more or less close to the camera system. In certain applications, it would also be conceivable that the visible image without deflection direct and straightforward falls on the camera system.

Conveniently, the optical axis of the camera system is located on the pivot axis, which significantly simplifies the overall construction. In certain cases, but also an offset arrangement of the axes would be conceivable.

The rotary bearing advantageously has a hollow-cylindrical rotary body in which the camera system is arranged. On the one hand, the hollow-cylindrical revolving body forms a protected space for the camera system and on the other hand it serves as part of a transmission system for pivoting the image receiving unit.

The rotary bearing is also advantageous part of a guide unit to which the image receiving unit is displaceable on the stand. This results in an extremely compact arrangement for the movement of the image receiving unit in different degrees of freedom, which also has an advantageous effect on the transport and assembly of the entire device. The guide unit is usually moved on the stand in the vertical direction. Depending on the design of the device but also other directions, in particular a shift in the horizontal are conceivable.

The X-ray device generally has a cantilever arm for receiving a beam generator, which is also pivotable about the pivot axis. The beam generator could also be mounted independently of the X-ray device, for example on a ceiling suspension.

The image receiving unit may have a closed housing with a pipe section, wherein the cantilever arm is pivotable about the pipe section. It evidently arises a double pivot bearing, which makes it possible to rotate the image receiving unit regardless of the boom or together with this. This is achieved particularly expediently in that the hollow cylindrical rotary body is surrounded by an outer rotary body which is connected to the cantilever arm. The swivel angle of the image receiving unit is preferably smaller than that of the cantilever arm, namely, for example, about 90 °, while the cantilever arm is pivotable through 180 ° to 270 °. On the guide unit can be arranged depending on a drive motor for the rotary drive of the hollow cylindrical rotary body and the outer rotary body. This can significantly simplify the transmission design.

The guide unit may have guide rollers on which it is linearly displaceable in the stand on guide rods. This roller guide is extremely inexpensive and requires, for example, no high-precision machined plain bearings or the like. The guide rods can simultaneously form the support frame for the stand. However, the guide unit may also have guide rails and carriages instead of the guide rollers.

A very advantageous drive for the guide unit is achieved in that it is displaceable by means of at least one chain which can be driven by a drive motor associated with the stator. Other drive means such as e.g. a rack and pinion or a screw would be conceivable.

The camera system may comprise an assembly comprising a lens system, a CCD image sensor and a cooling device, wherein the entire assembly is arranged separable in the hollow cylindrical rotating body. As a result, for example, the maintenance and replacement of these components are greatly simplified.

Further individual features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment and from the drawings. Show it: FIG. 1: a perspective view of an X-ray device with a cantilever arm,

Figure 2: The device according to Figure 1 without side panel and with the guide unit in the lowest position

FIG. 3 shows the device according to FIG. 1 from a different perspective,

4 shows a top view of the device according to FIG. 1, but with individual components disassembled in the pivot axis, FIG.

FIG. 5: a perspective view of the image receiving unit and the guide unit,

FIG. 6: a perspective view of the hollow cylindrical rotating body,

FIG. 7: a detailed representation of the guide unit according to FIG. 5 for driving the extension arm,

FIG. 8: a detailed representation of the guide unit according to FIG. 5 for driving the image receiving unit;

Figure 9: A cross section through the hollow cylindrical rotary body according to Figure 6, and

FIG. 10: a cross section through the image receiving unit according to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 1, an X-ray machine 1 substantially comprises a stand 2, in which a guide unit 11 with an image receiving unit 5 in the direction of arrow a) is vertically displaceable in the manner described in more detail below. The image receiving unit with the visible outer housing 14 is pivotable about a pivot axis b). A cantilever arm 12, which is articulated between the housing 14 and the stand 2 on the guide unit 11, can also be pivoted about the same pivot axis. At the end of the cantilever arm, a beam generator 13 is arranged in the form of an X-ray tube, which in turn in the direction of arrow c) is linear and optionally pivotable about a pivot axis in the direction of arrow d). The stand 2 is firmly screwed to a support surface, it being conceivable in certain cases that even the entire stand about a vertical pivot axis in the direction of arrow e) is rotatable.

From FIG. 2 it can be seen that the guide unit 11 with the image receiving unit 5 or the beam generator 13 fixed thereto can be lowered almost to the ground level. The vertical displacement in the direction of arrow a is effected by means of a drive motor 19, which drives at least one endless chain 22 via a gear 23. For safety reasons, two chains are preferably used, with a chain carrying the load. The guide unit 11 is firmly connected to these chains. The guide unit 11 is guided on a total of 4 guide rods 21, which at the same time form the structure of the upright 2.

FIG. 3 again shows the X-ray apparatus according to FIG. 1 from a different perspective, with a view to the outer screen surface 36, onto which the X-rays can be focused using a collimator. Figure 4 shows an exploded view with a view from above of the stand 2 and the also visible in the assembled state housing 14 of the image receiving unit 5 and the boom 12, which components are both pivotable about the pivot axis 4. Not visible from the outside, is a hollow cylindrical rotating body 10 which is fixedly connected to the housing 14 and the guide unit 11, which is guided in the laterally lined stand 2.

Further details of the guide unit 11 can be seen from FIG. It consists essentially of a cuboid guide housing 37 on which guide rollers 20 are arranged on two parallel sides. In each pair of rollers, the roller axes are arranged at right angles to each other, so that a corner guide is guaranteed. On the front side of the guide housing 37, referring to FIG. 5, the extension arm 12 and the housing 14 are arranged. On the rear side, a drive motor 18 for driving the boom 12 and the boom arm gear 28 is mounted. The drive motor 18 transmits its torque by means of a double chain 30 to a driven sprocket 32. From Figure 7, the seated directly on the motor axis drive sprocket 31 is visible. The redundant chain guide is also used here for safety reasons, so that when tearing a chain, the boom is held in position.

In FIG. 5, the drive motor 17 for swiveling the image receiving unit 5 or the bucket is just visible. As can be seen from FIG. 8, this drive motor arranged in the guide unit 11 transmits its torque to the hollow-cylindrical rotary body 10 via a pinion 33. For this purpose, the pinion gear 33 meshes with a toothed belt 34 stretched around the outer circumference of the hollow-cylindrical rotary body 10 Using a toothed belt instead of a rigid ring gear is Extremely inexpensive and has no negative impact on the transmission function.

Not visible in Figure 5, the hollow cylindrical rotary body 10 according to Figure 6, in which the entire camera system is housed. In the illustration according to FIG. 6, the toothed belt stretched around the outer circumference is missing. For this purpose, a fan 29 is visible, which projects through an opening in the shell of the rotating body and dissipates the heat generated directly on the camera system.

According to Figure 9, the hollow cylindrical rotary body 10 consists of a tube which is closed on one side with a lid 38 and in the jacket lateral openings 39 are arranged. On the opposite side of the lid, a connection flange 27 is screwed to the pipe. At this connection flange, the externally visible housing 14 of the image receiving unit is attached. This lens system is shown in Figure 9 only as a homogeneous material block, but in reality consists of a plurality of optical lenses for focusing the visible X-ray image on a CCD image sensor 25, which is attached to the output end of the lens system is. For physical reasons, the CCD image sensor 25 must be cooled. The cooling is preferably carried out with a Peltier element whose warm side with the help of a cooling device 26 and the fan 29 dissipates the heat removed. The entire assembly, consisting of lens system 24, CCD image sensor 25 and Kuhlvorrichtung 26 is dismantled installed in a hollow cylindrical rotating body.

From Figure 10, the overall structure of the image receiving unit 5 and their independent of the cantilever arm possible rotary drive is visible. The X-rays hit from the direction of arrow X. In the imaging surface 7, a visible image is generated on a scintillator film, which is deflected at a deflection mirror 9 by 90 ° in the pivot axis 4 and directed to the camera system 8. The optical axis between the camera system and deflecting mirror coincides with the pivot axis 4. In the camera system, the visible image is converted in a known manner into digital signals.

The guide unit 11 forms evidently a pivot bearing 3 for the entire image receiving unit 5. The hollow cylindrical rotary body 10 and its connecting flange 27 is connected to a pipe section 15 and this in turn to the housing 14. Upon actuation of the drive motor 17 on the guide unit 11 (FIG. 8), the entire image receiving unit 5 rotates about the pivot axis 4.

However, the hollow-cylindrical rotary body 10 is also surrounded by an outer rotary body 16, which is also rotatably mounted in the guide unit 11 and which is supported by roller bearings 39 in the guide unit. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, the extension arm 12 is fixedly connected to the outer rotary body 16 in the region of the tube section 15. The output sprocket 32 shown in FIG. 5 is associated with the outer rotary body 16, so that upon actuation of the drive motor 18, the outer rotary body 16 and thus the boom arm 12 are rotated or swiveled.

An actuation of the cantilever arm always causes co-rotation of the image receiving unit 5, because this rotates together with the outer rotary body 16. Regardless of the position of the cantilever arm, however, the image receiving unit 5 can also be individually pivoted about the pivot axis 4, because of the hollow cylindrical rotary body 10 is mounted within the outer rotary body 16 and independently of this rotatably driven.

Of course, would be conceivable with respect to the pivot bearing 3 alternative bearings. Depending on the load to be absorbed, it may be necessary to use different types of roller bearings.

Claims

claims

1. X-ray device (1) with a stand (2) and with a preferably adjustable in height on the stand and by a pivot bearing (3) about a pivot axis (4) pivotable digital image receiving unit (5) consisting of an image converter (6) an imaging surface (7) for generating a visible image, as well as with a camera system (8) arranged in the beam path of the visible image for storing the image, characterized in that the camera system is at least partially within the pivot bearing

(3) is arranged.

2. X-ray apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that between the image converter (6) and the camera system (8) at least one deflecting mirror (9) is arranged, which preferably deflects the image by 90 °.

3. X-ray apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical axis of the camera system (8) on the pivot axis (4).

4. X-ray device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pivot bearing (3) has a hollow cylindrical rotating body (10), in which the camera system (8) is arranged.

5. X-ray device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pivot bearing (3) is part of a guide unit (11) on which the image receiving unit (5) on the stand (2) is displaceable.

6. X-ray device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a cantilever arm (12) for receiving a beam generator (13), which is also pivotable about the pivot axis (4).

7. X-ray apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the image receiving unit (5) has a closed housing (14) with a pipe section (15) and that the cantilever arm (12) is pivotable about the pipe section.

8. X-ray apparatus according to claim 4 and one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the hollow cylindrical rotary body (10) by an outer rotary body (16) is surrounded, which is connected to the cantilever arm (12).

9. X-ray apparatus according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the image receiving unit (5) is pivotable either together with the cantilever arm (12) or independently of the cantilever arm, wherein the pivot angle of the image receiving unit is preferably smaller than that of the cantilever arm.

10. X-ray apparatus according to claim 5 and one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that on the guide unit (11) depending on a drive motor (17), (18) for the rotary drive of the hollow cylindrical rotary body (10) and the outer rotary body (16) is arranged.

11. X-ray apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide unit (11) guide rollers (20), where it in the stator (2) on guide rods (21) is linearly displaceable.

12. X-ray apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the guide unit (11) by means of at least one chain

(22) is displaceable, which by a the stator (2) associated drive motor (19) is drivable.

13. X-ray apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the camera system (8) has an assembly containing a lens system (24), a CCD image sensor (25) and a cooling device (26), wherein the entire assembly can be dismantled in the hollow cylindrical rotating body (10 ) is arranged.