Patent Application
20130070906
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a portable X-ray imaging apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
X-ray imaging systems configured to photograph an X-ray image using a semiconductor sensor has been developed with the recent rise of a semiconductor process technique. These systems have a very wide dynamic range as compared with an X-ray photographing system using a conventional photographic film.
Therefore, the systems have an advantage of obtaining an X-ray image which is not influenced by the variation of an exposure amount of X rays. Furthermore, because chemical treating is not required for the systems unlike a conventional photographic film method, the systems have an advantage of instantaneously obtaining an output image.
The X rays transmitted through the subject 6 are converted into visible light via a fluorescent material. The visible light is radiated to a photoelectric transfer element arranged in a two-dimensional lattice state, and is detected as an electric signal.
The X-ray imaging apparatus 1 includes a control unit configured to perform control such as read-out driving or image transfer. An image output from the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is subjected to digital image processing in an image processing unit 4. The X-ray image of the subject 6 is displayed on a monitor 5. The system has an advantage of instantaneously displaying an image on the monitor unlike the X-ray image recording-reproducing system configured to read the image in post-processing.
In recent years, a portable X-ray imaging apparatus has spread. The use of the portable X-ray imaging apparatus has been increased in photographing in an optional photographing attitude and a round application.
Recently, a portable photographing apparatus having a handle function has been proposed as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-237074. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-237074, the portable photographing apparatus has a detachably-attached handle in a short side direction.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-300603 discusses a photographing apparatus having detachably-attached handles on one side surface and the other side surface perpendicular to the side surface.
In recent years, the portable X-ray imaging apparatus has spread. However, many users are accustomed to an operation of a conventional film cassette. Demand for performing the same operation as that of the conventional film cassette in the portable X-ray imaging apparatus is increased.
More specifically, in addition to the utilization of the X-ray imaging apparatus in the photographing in the optional attitude and the round application which are previously described, the operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus in a state where the X-ray imaging apparatus is stored in an erect position stand and a decubitus table stand is increasingly demanded.
However, due to limitations of the shape of a handle unit, the X-ray imaging apparatus having the handle cannot be stored in the existing erect position stand or decubitus table stand. Even if the X-ray imaging apparatus having the handle can be stored in the existing film cassette stand, it is difficult to adjust the center position of an image effective area of a reading unit in the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 to the positioning center of the stand.
The apparatus discussed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-237074 has the handle on the short side thereof. When the photographing apparatus supports a half cut size, the handle unit becomes obstructive in the case where the photographing apparatus is stored in the existing film cassette stand, and the photographing apparatus cannot be stored. Although the handle has a detachably-attached structure, the handle is screw-fixed, which complicates attachment and detachment of the handle by a user. Even if the handle can be easily attached and detached, it is necessary to manage the handle itself, that is, to reserve a place for storing the detached handle, which impairs convenience.
The apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-300603 also has a detachably-attached handle. However, in the X-ray imaging apparatus supporting a half cut size, the X-ray imaging apparatus does not have such a shape that enables the X-ray imaging apparatus to be stored in the existing film cassette stand with the handle attached.
Even if the handle can be easily attached and detached as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-237074, it is necessary to manage the detached handle itself, which impairs convenience. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide an attaching/detaching mechanism to attach and detach the handle unit. To improve the convenience of attachment and detachment operations, the structure of the attaching/detaching mechanism becomes complex, and requires an increasing number of components, which cause a cost increase. Furthermore, the apparatus becomes heavy, which impairs portability.
The present invention is directed to an X-ray imaging apparatus including a handle unit with improved convenience when the X-ray imaging apparatus is stored in a cassette stand.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an X-ray imaging apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a portable X-ray imaging apparatus including an X-ray plane detection unit and a carrying handle unit, and a positioning member configured to position a photographing center of the storage unit and a photographing center of the portable X-ray imaging apparatus by deviating a position of the portable X-ray imaging apparatus stored in the storage unit by an offset of the handle unit.
Further features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent 0from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
As illustrated in
The positioning mechanisms 12 and 13 are moved interlockingly with each other. The positioning mechanisms 14 and 15 are moved interlockingly with each other. The maximum outer size of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 includes an image effective area of 14×17 inches, which is the maximum size of a conventional film cassette, and is of a standard size of 384×460 mm.
Because the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is mounted in a state where the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is rotated by 90 degrees in some cases, the maximum outer size of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 that can be stored in the storage unit 8 is about a 460 mm-side square.
When the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 has a symmetric shape such as a rectangle, the positioning mechanisms 12 to 15 are operated, thereby moving the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 to the center direction of the storage unit 8 and fixing the position of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1.
The mechanism can make a center 23 of an image effective area (effective photographing area) of a reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 coincide with a positioning center 16 of the storage unit 8.
When the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in the storage unit 8, the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 vanishes from a photographing user such as an engineer. Therefore, even if the centers deviate from each other, it is difficult for the user to position an area to be photographed and the X-ray imaging apparatus 1.
In the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in
Thus, the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 including the handle 22 can be stored in the existing film cassette stand. The center 23 of the image effective area of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 can be adjusted to the positioning center 16 of the stand. In the present exemplary embodiment, the offset of the handle 22 is corrected by disposing the spacer 17 (positioning member). However, a position of a holding member configured to hold the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 in the storage unit 8 is adjusted by an adjusting unit (not illustrated), and thereby the offset can be corrected. The adjusting unit may adjust the position of the holding member according to the user's manual operation. The adjusting unit may include a detection sensor configured to detect the position of the handle 22 to automatically adjust the position of the holding member.
The shape can make the center 23 of the image effective area of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 coincide with the positioning center 16 of the stand even when the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in a state where the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is rotated by 90 degrees as illustrated in
In this manner, the center 23 of the image effective area of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 coincides with the positioning center 16 of the stand. Therefore, when the user such as the engineer photographs a subject, the user can appropriately grasp the photographing area, which leads to improvement in usability.
An opening having a certain level of size is required in order to pass the fingers. However, it is difficult to provide the grip unit 26 and the opening portion 27 within the limitation of B≦230 mm.
In a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the handle 22 is a movable. When the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is transported, the opening portion 27 of the handle 22 is increased by D3 as illustrated in
When the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in the storage unit 8, a part of the handle 22 is stored in the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 as illustrated in
A cable guide 24 is provided in a connecting unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 and the cable 25. The cable guide 24 has a role to relieve local bending of the cable 25, and is made of an elastic member such as a silicon rubber.
The outlet opening of the cable 25 is on the same side surface as that of a handle 22. A relation between a distance C and a distance B is B>C. The distance C is between the tip of the cable guide 24 and the center 23 of the image effective area of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1. The distance B is between the outermost shape of the handle and the sensor center 23. Thus, the offset of the cable guide 24 is smaller than that of the handle 22. Not the tip of the cable guide 24 but the handle 22 constitutes the outermost shape. The shape prevents the positioning mechanisms 12 to 15 from contacting the cable guide 24 even if the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in a storage unit 8, and positioning mechanisms 12 to 15 are operated to perform positioning. Therefore, the center 23 of the image effective area of the reading unit of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 can be adjusted to a positioning center 16 of a stand without having an influence on the positioning of the X-ray imaging apparatus 1.
A distance between the tip of the cable guide 24 and a side surface near the tip of the cable guide 24, of two side surfaces perpendicular to a side surface having the handle 22 is R2. The distance R2 is greater than the permissible minimum bending R1 of a wired cable. Therefore, the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 can be safely stored without applying an excessive bending load to the cable 25 when the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 is stored in the storage unit 8.
An X-ray detection unit 101 includes an X-ray detection sensor 102. The X-ray detection unit 101 includes a photoelectric transfer element configured to detect X rays transmitted through a subject and arranged in a two-dimensional lattice state. The X rays are radiated to the subject by an X-ray generator 103.
A control unit 104 controls image acquisition of the detection unit 101, and is configured to display a photographed image on a monitor 5.
In addition to the X-ray detection sensor 102, the detection unit 101 includes an electric circuit 106 provided on the back side of the X-ray detection sensor 102. The electric circuit 106 controls a photographing operation such as drive or read-out of the X-ray detection sensor 102, and communicates with the control unit 104.
The detection unit 101 also includes a cable 107 configured to bear communication transmission and power supply to give and receive a control signal and an image signal between the electric circuit 106 and the control unit 104.
When an X-ray image is actually photographed, it is necessary to change a positional relation between the detection unit 101 and a subject according to a region to be photographed or a condition of the subject. Therefore, various stands are used to constantly maintain a state where the detection unit 101 is positioned to the subject.
A typical stand is illustrated in
When scattered X rays are generated by the X rays radiated to the subject, the scattered X rays become noise components, which lower image quality. Therefore, a grid having a cross section structure illustrated in
The grid includes the lead foils 1101 and the intermediate materials 1102 arranged so as to converge in a direction of an arrow A illustrated in
Because the center of the effective photographing area coincides with the center of the outer shape of the cassette in a conventional cassette, a unit is provided such that the outer shape is made to coincide with the photographing center of the stand.
A storage unit 121 to which the detection unit 101 is attached is provided on the photographing table 120 illustrated in
Next, the detection unit 101 in the present exemplary embodiment will be described. The built-in X-ray detection sensor 102 includes a glass substrate on which a semiconductor layer is formed. The robustness of a housing is important as countermeasures against a risk such as static pressure or fall, which are required for portable photographing. In addition, because various electric substrates are mounted on the detection unit 101, an increase in weight thereof cannot be avoided as compared with a conventional film cassette.
Therefore, it is important to provide the handle from the viewpoint of operability in consideration of portability. Consequently, in the present exemplary embodiment, in consideration of the attaching property to the stand 120, a distance between the center of the photographing area and the outer shape of the handle is equal to or less than Lh/2 on the photographing area surface perpendicular to the X-ray incidence. The outer shape of a photographing unit is equal to or less than Lh×(Wh/2+Lh/2), and is greater by the addition of the handle (Lh−Wh)/2 than the film cassette. The shape can set the photographing unit in the movable range of the positioning member even if the center of the photographing area of the detection unit 101 is adjusted to the center of the grid 122. However, because the photographing unit has an asymmetric shape to the center of the photographing area of the detection unit 101, a position correction unit is required for the stand having the automatic aligning mechanism.
The position correction unit in the present exemplary embodiment will be described. In the present exemplary embodiment, a spacer member 130 having the same width dimension as that of the addition of the handle is set so as to be detachably attached on the drawing unit 125 of the storage unit 121. Thereby, the center of the photographing area of the detection unit 101 coincides with the center of the portion sandwiched between the positioning members 126 and 127. Because the drawing unit 125 is not generally moved up to a position where the back side positioning member 127 is generally exposed to the outside, an auxiliary unit grasped for handling is required when the spacer member 130 is attached to the storage unit 121. In the present exemplary embodiment, the spacer member 130 can be attached to the storage unit 121 without losing the attachment space of the detection unit 101 by attaching a thin sheet member 131 as illustrated in
In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the spacer member is attached to the storage unit of the stand, and thereby the position correction unit is realized. In a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the equivalent purpose is attained by attaching the spacer member to the detection unit.
In a detection unit 140 illustrated in
On the other hand, projections 151 and 152 are formed on a spacer member 150 so as to correspond to positions corresponding to the recessed portions 143 and 144 of the detection unit 140. A portion abutting on the magnet 145 is made of a magnetic metal 153. The spacer member 150 is attached by a magnetic force in a state where relative deviation is hardly generated by inserting the projections 151 and 152 into the recessed portions 143 and 144 of the detection unit 140. Even if the spacer member 150 is attached, the overall outer shape is set to be equal to or less than Lh×Lh. The spacer member 150 can be attached to the storage unit 121 as illustrated in the fourth exemplary embodiment.
The detection unit 140 may be used in a state where the detection unit 140 is attached to the stand, or may be independently used on a photographing table. In this case, the spacer member 150 is unnecessary, and the detection unit 140 is used in a state where the spacer member 150 is removed. Because a grid 122 incorporated in the stand cannot be used, a grid unit 160 can alternatively be attached to the outside of the housing of the detection unit 140. The grid unit 160 is obtained by fixing a grid 162 to a frame part 161. When the grid unit 160 is attached to the detection unit 140, attachment interfaces such as the recessed parts 143 and 144 and the magnet 145, which are used in attaching the spacer member 150 to the detection unit 140, are shared. Bending portions 163 and 164 are formed on one end of the frame part 161 so as to correspond to the recessed parts 143 and 144 of the detection unit 140. A plane portion 165 on which the magnet 145 abuts is formed. Bending portions 166 and 167 hooked to the detection unit are provided on the other end part.
In the fourth exemplary embodiment and the fifth exemplary embodiment, the spacer member is used. There are many cases to use the spacer member in combination with the existing cassette. When the spacer member is frequently replaced, the replacement work is troublesome. A sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention eliminates this issue, and solves the problem without the need for attaching and detaching the spacer member.
When a conventional cassette having an outer shape of Lh×Wh is attached to the drawing unit 180, the detection unit 170 can be used without any problems in both states where the center of the cassette coincides with the center of the grid when the detection unit 170 is horizontally set and vertically set.
As described above, the exemplary embodiments have been described by taking the half cut cassette having an outer shape size of Lh×Wh as an example. However, a stand having the other size such as a quarter cut size, for example, a pediatric stand, may be used. Even in such a case, the similar effect is obtained by generally replacing Lh×Wh with L×W.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2011-201865 filed Sep. 15, 2011 and No. 2011-248822 filed Nov. 14, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-201865 | Sep 2011 | JP | national |
| 2011-248822 | Nov 2011 | JP | national |
