X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Accessory – Alignment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-10-30
Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Accessory
Alignment
C378S020000, C378S195000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309103
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The invention relates to an X-ray image apparatus for conducting fluoroscopy or radiograph by X-ray, especially an improvement of the X-ray image apparatus for conducting fluoroscopy or radiograph from various directions while allowing the apparatus to rotate around an examinee or subject to be examined.
There is known an X-ray image apparatus, which is a combination of an X-ray tube and an image intensifying TV camera, for conducting fluoroscopy or radiograph for an examinee to mainly medically examine the examinee. The X-ray image apparatus may be rotated around the examinee to conduct fluoroscopy or radiograph from various directions. In this case, if the center of rotation of the X-ray apparatus does not coincide with an observing area to be examined, the locations of the observing area shown in the different images taken from the various directions become different to make observation of the images difficult.
Therefore, it is required to adjust the height and so on of an examination table on an examination base to allow the observing area to coincide with the center of rotation of the X-ray apparatus. Conventionally, an operator considers a location of the observing area based on a knowledge of anatomy and experiences, and manually adjusts so that the center of rotation of the X-ray apparatus coincides with the location of the observing area.
However, even if the operator is a skilled person, it is very difficult to estimate the location of the observing area in a body of the examinee. Practically, the observing area can not be located in the center of the image. Therefore, conventionally, the location is roughly set, and the filming or observing range is set greater than the actual observing area. As a result, an X-ray is irradiated to unnecessary portions, which may cause excess amount of exposure to the X-ray.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the invention is to provide an X-ray image apparatus, which can correctly take the position of a subject to be observed.
Another object of the invention is to provide an X-ray image apparatus as stated above, wherein the center of rotation of the X-ray apparatus can be set easily according to the position of the subject.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to attain the above objects, an X-ray image apparatus of the invention comprises X-ray irradiation means for irradiating X-ray to a subject, i.e. patient, with an observing area; X-ray image taking means for receiving the X-ray irradiated from the X-ray irradiation means and passing through the subject, the X-ray image taking means providing image signals for the X-ray passing through the subject; support means connected to the X-ray irradiation means and the X-ray image taking means for supporting and moving both means around the subject, and calculating means for calculating a location of the observing area in the subject by image signals obtained from at least two different directions.
Also, the X-ray image apparatus may include control means for controlling a relative position of the support means with respect to the subject in order to accord the center of rotation of the support means with the observing area in the subject based on the information of the location of the observing area by the calculating means.
Further, the X-ray image apparatus may include display means for displaying the locational information of the calculated observing area.
In case two X-ray images different in directions are taken, it is possible to calculate the location of the observing area relative to the center of rotation when the X-ray irradiation means and the X-ray image taking means are rotated through the support means. Namely, since the observing area is shown in each X-ray image, the location of the observing area in each image can be obtained. On the other hand, since the rotational angles when the two X-ray images are taken are known, it is possible to calculate the location of the observing area relative to the center of the rotation by the locations of the observing areas in the images and the rotational angles.
Since the location of the observing area relative to the center of the rotation is calculated, the control means for controlling the relative position of the support means with respect to the subject may be actuated based on the calculation to automatically control such that the observing area in the subject coincides with the center of rotation. Also, the locational information of the observing area may be displayed, by which the locational adjustment may be made such that the observing area in the subject coincides with the center of the rotation manually. In case of the automatic locational adjustment, since the work of an operator is eliminated, it is very convenient. In case of the manual locational adjustment, since the location of the observing area has been obtained accurately, the locational adjustment to accord the observing area with the center of the rotation can be made accurately.
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patent: 5090401 (1992-02-01), Schwieker
patent: 5285772 (1994-02-01), Rattner
patent: 5395299 (1995-03-01), Herrmann et al.
patent: 5542906 (1996-08-01), Herrmann et al.
patent: 5583901 (1996-12-01), Reitter et al.
Ho Allen C
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Kim Robert H.
Shimadzu Corporation
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