X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Source support – Including movable source
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-10
2001-12-04
Dunn, Drew (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Source support
Including movable source
C378S196000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325537
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an X-ray diagnosis apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement of an arm for holding an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 10-295526, filed Oct. 16, 1998, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
An example of the X-ray diagnosis apparatus is an X-ray diagnosis apparatus for a circulatory system. In this example, an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector are fixed to both ends of the arm so as to face each other. In general, there are two shapes of the arm, i.e. C-shape and U-shape. The C-shaped arm is now widely used in view of the efficiency of 3D positioning.
FIG. 1
shows a conventional circulatory-system X-ray diagnosis apparatus using the C-shaped arm. The C-shaped arm
103
is slidably held by a holder
102
. The holder
102
is held to a support column
101
so as to be rotatable about a major axis (axis A
1
in FIG.
1
). The support column
101
is attached to a ceiling
100
or the floor so as to be rotatable about a support column axis (axis A
2
in FIG.
1
). Although not shown, a vertical drive mechanism may be provided on the ceiling
101
. In the case of a ceiling-pending type apparatus, a rail is provided on the ceiling so that the apparatus may be movable in one or two directions.
The X-ray detector
105
includes an image intensifier (I.I.). The X-ray detector
105
converts X-ray information, which has passed through an object, to optical information and converges the optical information through an optical lens. The converged information is taken into a TV camera for image display. The X-ray detector
105
can be vertically moved by a drive mechanism (in directions toward and away from the X-ray generator
104
).
The X-ray detector
105
(including the I.I., optical system, TV camera, etc.) and X-ray generator
104
are fixed to both ends of the C-shaped arm
103
so as to face each other. A rail (not shown) is provided on a rear surface or a side surface of the C-shaped arm
103
. Rolls (not shown) provided on the holder
102
clamp the rail, whereby the C-shaped arm
103
is slidably held.
Because of the structure of the C-shaped arm
103
, the range of angles over which the C-shaped arm
103
can slide is limited (180°). On the other hand, with development and diversification of operation techniques, there is a demand for observation of finer vascular images with no overlapping with non-related blood vessels. Specifically, there is a demand for an increase in the slide angle of the C-shaped arm, which will permit image acquisition at greater angles.
To meet the demand, there is an idea that the C-shaped arm
103
is extended to increase the slide stroke. If the C-shaped arm
103
is extended, however, the end portions of the C-shaped arm
103
may physically interfere with the object, depending on the direction of access to the object, in particular, when the head portion of the object is accessed by the C-shaped arm
103
. Consequently, the slide stroke may decrease, contrary to the expected result.
On the other hand, there is an idea that images are acquired while the C-shaped arm is rotated about the major axis and the projection images are three-dimensionally reconstructed to obtain a 3D image. This idea is based on the fact that the slide stroke of the C-shaped arm is limited, as stated above, and there is difficulty in acquiring all image information necessary for 3D reconstruction. When the image acquisition is effected based on the major axis rotation, there is no choice but to access the head portion of the object in order to avoid interference between the C-shaped arm and the head of the object. Therefore, the region of application of the apparatus is restricted.
Furthermore, there is an idea that the C-shaped arm is rotated around the object to obtain tomographic images. In this case, however, the angle of X-ray detection plane to the object varies and non-linear conversion needs to be performed according to the rotation angle after image acquisition. There arise such problems as degradation in image quality and an increase in time needed up to image display.
In the meantime, there is known a circulatory-system X-ray diagnosis apparatus wherein the arm is formed in a ring shape, like the X-ray computer tomography apparatus, so as to obtain a 3D-reconstructed image, the X-ray generator and X-ray detector are disposed on the arm so as to face each other, and the ring-shaped arm is made rotatable so as to perform volume scan. This apparatus can rotate in a sliding manner over 360°
0
and can acquire a 3D image by 3D reconstruction. However, the ring-shaped arm has no such opening as in the C-shaped arm, and the access to the object is very difficult.
The above drawbacks are present not only in the circulatory-system X-ray diagnosis apparatus but in other X-ray diagnosis apparatuses.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an X-ray diagnosis apparatus capable of exactly and easily achieving various positioning and applicable to a wide range of diagnostic uses.
According to the present invention, there is provided following apparatuses.
(1) An X-ray diagnosis apparatus comprises:
an X-ray generator for emitting X-rays towards an object;
an X-ray detector for detecting the X-rays which have passed through the object;
a first arm;
an arm support member for supporting the first arm;
a detector support member, provided at one end of the first arm, for supporting the X-ray detector such that a position/direction of the X-ray detector is variable; and
an X-ray generator support member, provided at the other end of the first arm, for supporting the X-ray generator such that a position/direction of the X-ray generator is variable.
(2) In the apparatus (1), the arm support member comprises a holder for slidably supporting the first arm, and a support column for rotatably supporting the holder.
(3) In the apparatus (2), the first arm has an arcuated shape.
(4) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member comprises a plurality of arms and a joint for movably coupling the arms, one of the arms being movably coupled to the one end of the first arm, and another of the arms being movably coupled to the detector.
(5) In the apparatus (1), the X-ray generator support member comprises a plurality of arms and a joint for movably coupling the arms, one of the arms being movably coupled to the other end of the first arm, and another of the arms being movably coupled to the X-ray generator.
(6) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member comprises a single extendible arm movably coupled at one end to the one end of the first arm and movably coupled at the other end to the detector.
(7) In the apparatus (1), the X-ray generator support member comprises a single extendible arm movably coupled at one end to the other end of the first arm and movably coupled at the other end to the X-ray generator.
(8) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member controls the position/direction of the detector such that a center of the emitted X-rays coincides with a center of an image reception plane of the detector, and
the X-ray generator controls an X-ray aperture opening in accordance with a positional relationship between the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector.
(9) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member controls the position/direction of the X-ray detector such that the X-ray detector faces the X-ray generator.
(10) In the apparatus (9), the detector support member supports the X-ray detector such that a distance (SID) between a focus point of the X-ray generator and a detection plane of the X-ray generator is kept constant.
(11) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member controls the position/direction of the X-ray detector such that the X-ray detector is parallel to a floor.
(12) The apparatus (11) further comprises:
a bed apparatus for parallel-moving the object in a plane parallel
Dunn Drew
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
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