X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Specific application – Tomography
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-07-17
Porta, David P. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Specific application
Tomography
C378S024000, C378S197000, C378S205000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263041
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tomography device which includes a frame, a table for supporting a patient to be examined, an X-ray source which is pivotable about a pivot shaft in order to direct the X-rays towards the table during operation, and a receiving plate which is displaceable relative to the frame in order to receive the X-rays emitted by the X-ray source during operation. The invention also relates to a method which is suitable for forming a tomographic image by means of such a tomography device.
2. Description of Related Art
In a device and a method of this kind which are known from international patent application WO 88/08277, the X-ray source is pivotable about a pivot shaft which is connected to the frame. A housing accommodating the receiving plate is connected to the pivot shaft. The receiving plate is displaceable relative to the housing via a guide system. The patient table is arranged on the housing. The patient table can be displaced relative to the housing by means of a second guide system.
The patient to be examined is arranged on the patient table in order to form a tomographic image. Subsequently, the patient table is displaced relative to the housing, by way of the second guide system, until the part of the patient to be examined is situated over the receiving plate. During the formation of the tomographic image, the X-ray source is pivoted about the pivot shaft and at the same time the receiving plate is displaced relative to the patient by means of the first guide system. A tomographic image of a desired plane within the patient is formed in dependence on the relative speeds and displacements of the X-ray source and the receiving plate.
It is a drawback of the known device that it requires two guide systems; this makes the device comparatively complex.
Citation of a reference herein, or throughout this specification, is not to construed as an admission that such reference is prior art to the Applicant's invention of the invention subsequently claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a tomography device having a simpler construction.
This object is achieved for the tomography device according to the invention in that the pivot shaft is journalled in a slide which is displaceable relative to the frame by way of a guide system, the slide also accommodating the receiving plate.
Via the slide which is slidable on the guide system, the X-ray source and the receiving plate can be displaced together relative to the patient table, so that the X-ray source and the receiving plate can be positioned near the part of the patient to be examined. Moreover, during the formation of the tomographic image the receiving plate is displaced relative to the patient by means of the slide. Thus, only a single guide system is required. This allows for a comparatively compact construction of the tomography device.
An embodiment of the tomography device according to the invention is characterized in that the center line of the pivot shaft, extending parallel to the receiving plate, also extends through the receiving plate.
Because the center line of the pivot shaft is situated in the same plane as the receiving plate, it is comparatively easy to determine which pivoting motions must be performed by the X-ray source and which displacements must be performed by the slide in order to obtain a tomographic image of a desired plane within the patient.
A further embodiment of the tomography device according to the invention is characterized in that the device includes a controller for controlling the pivoting of the X-ray source and the displacement of the slide during operation.
The controller controls the pivoting motions of the X-ray source and the displacements of the slide in such a manner that a tomographic image can be formed of a desired plane within the patient.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2953683 (1960-09-01), Guntert
patent: 3746872 (1973-07-01), Ashe et al.
patent: 4455668 (1984-06-01), Warden
patent: 5086448 (1992-02-01), Muthmann
patent: 5095501 (1992-03-01), Kobayashi
patent: 5594768 (1997-01-01), Fujii et al.
patent: 2440146 (1976-03-01), None
patent: WO9824368 (1998-06-01), None
Dunn Drew A.
Porta David P.
U.S. Philips Corporation
Vodopia John F.
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