(12) United States Patent
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`Watanabe
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`(10) Patent N0.:
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`(45) Date of Patent:
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`US006325537B1
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`(54) X-RAY DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS
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`(75)
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`Inventor: Naoto Watanabe, Nasu-gun (JP)
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`9/1991 Grady ................................. .. 378/197
`5,052,036 *
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`5,835,558 * 11/1998 Maschke ............................ .. 378/198
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`6,092,928 *
`7/2000 Mattson et al.
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`(73) Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki
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`(JP)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
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`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
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`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
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`( * ) Notice:
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`(22)
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`(21) Appl. No.: 09/393,195
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`Filed:
`Sep. 10, 1999
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`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Oct. 16, 1998
`(JP) ............................................... .. 10—295526
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`(30)
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`(51)
`Int. Cl.7 .............................. .. H05G1/02; A61B 6/00
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`(52) U.S.Cl. ........................................... .. 378/197; 378/196
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`(58) Field of Search ................................... .. 378/197, 193,
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`378/196, 195, 198, 4, 20, 181
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`(56)
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`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`9/1991 Siczek et al.
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`5,050,204 *
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`* cited by examiner
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`Primary Exami/1er—DreW Dunn
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`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Oblon, Spivak, McClelland,
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`Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
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`(57)
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`ABSTRACT
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`An X-ray generator is rotatably attached to one end of a
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`C-shaped arm, and a planar X-ray detector is attached to the
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`other end of the C-shaped arm via a link mechanism capable
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`of freely changing a position/direction of the detector. The
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`X-ray generator is rotated to achieve imaging in an oblique
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`direction, Without sliding/rotating the C-shaped arm. The
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`link mechanism is driven in association with the rotation of
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`the X-ray generator so that the X-ray detector may face the
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`X-ray generator. Thus, the limit to the slide angle range can
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`substantially be eliminated Without degrading accessibility,
`and various positioning is achieved exactly and easily.
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`28 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
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`Page 1 of 17
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`Elekta Exhibit 1004
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`Page 1 of 17
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`Elekta Exhibit 1004
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 1 of 8
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`Fl G_ 1 PRIOR ART
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`Page 2 of 17
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 2 of 8
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 3 of 8
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`Fl?G.6
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 4 of 8
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`Page 5 of 17
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 5 of 8
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 6 of 8
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 7 of 8
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`F|G.13
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2001
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`Sheet 8 of 8
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`/ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
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`(SUPPORT sECTION>
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`___...—__—————-—————-——--—-----——x
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`X-ARY TUBE R0 ARY
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`DRIVE SECTION
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`204a
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`DETECTOR
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`SECTION
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`X-RA APERTURE
`X-RAY TUBE
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`OPENING DETECTION
`ROTATIONAL POSITION
`DETECTOR POSITION
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`I\)34:.—o-.
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`DETECTION SECTION
`DETECTION SECTION
`SECTION
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`I X-RAY TUBE
`I ROTATIONAL AMOUNT
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`I CALCULATION SECTION
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`BED POSITION
`DETECTION SECTION
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`I AMOUNTCALCULATION
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`\_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.—_/
`SECTION
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`BED DRIVE SECTION
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`(CONTROL SECTION>
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`,_._._._..._._____________\
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`IKZOOC
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`F I G_ 14
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`IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
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`204b
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`OPENING CALCULATION
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`BRAKE RELEASE
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`ELECTRIC
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`OPERATION
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`MANUAL
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`OPERATION
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`2049
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`1
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`X-RAY DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention generally relates to an X-ray diag-
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`nosis apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement of
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`an arm for holding an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector.
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`This application is based on Japanese Patent Application
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`No. 10-295526, filed Oct. 16, 1998, the entire content of
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`which is incorporated herein by reference.
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`An example of the X-ray diagnosis apparatus is an X-ray
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`diagnosis apparatus for a circulatory system.
`In this
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`example, an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector are fixed
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`to both ends of the arm so as to face each other. In general,
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`there are two shapes of the arm, i.e. C-shape and U-shape.
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`The C-shaped arm is now widely used in view of the
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`efficiency of 3D positioning.
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`FIG. 1 shows a conventional circulatory-system X-ray
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`diagnosis apparatus using the C-shaped arm. The C-shaped
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`arm 103 is slidably held by a holder 102. The holder 102 is
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`held to a support column 101 so as to be rotatable about a
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`major axis (axis A1 in FIG. 1). The support column 101 is
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`attached to a ceiling 100 or the floor so as to be rotatable
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`about a support column axis (axis A2 in FIG. 1). Although
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`not shown, a vertical drive mechanism may be provided on
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`the ceiling 101.
`In the case of a ceiling-pending type
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`apparatus, a rail
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`apparatus may be movable in one or two directions.
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`The X-ray detector 105 includes an image intensifier (I.I.).
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`The X-ray detector 105 converts X-ray information, which
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`has passed through an object, to optical information and
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`converges the optical information through an optical lens.
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`The converged information is taken into a TV camera for
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`image display. The X-ray detector 105 can be vertically
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`moved by a drive mechanism (in directions toward and away
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`from the X-ray generator 104).
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`The X-ray detector 105 (including the I.I., optical system,
`TV camera, etc.) and X-ray generator 104 are fixed to both
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`ends of the C-shaped arm 103 so as to face each other. Arail
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`(not shown) is provided on a rear surface or a side surface
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`of the C-shaped arm 103. Rolls (not shown) provided on the
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`holder 102 clamp the rail, whereby the C-shaped arm 103 is
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`slidably held.
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`Because of the structure of the C-shaped arm 103, the
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`range of angles over which the C-shaped arm 103 can slide
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`is limited (180°). On the other hand, with development and
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`diversification of operation techniques, there is a demand for
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`observation of finer vascular images with no overlapping
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`with non-related blood vessels. Specifically,
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`demand for an increase in the slide angle of the C-shaped
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`arm, which will permit image acquisition at greater angles.
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`To meet the demand, there is an idea that the C-shaped
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`arm 103 is extended to increase the slide stroke. If the
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`C-shaped arm 103 is extended, however, the end portions of
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`the C-shaped arm 103 may physically interfere with the
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`object, depending on the direction of access to the object, in
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`particular, when the head portion of the object is accessed by
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`the C-shaped arm 103. Consequently, the slide stroke may
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`decrease, contrary to the expected result.
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`images are
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`there is an idea that
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`acquired while the C-shaped arm is rotated about the major
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`axis and the projection images are three-dimensionally
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`reconstructed to obtain a 3D image. This idea is based on the
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`fact that the slide stroke of the C-shaped arm is limited, as
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`stated above, and there is difficulty in acquiring all image
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`information necessary for 3D reconstruction. When the
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`image acquisition is effected based on the major axis
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`rotation, there is no choice but to access the head portion of
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`the object
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`C-shaped arm and the head of the object. Therefore, the
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`region of application of the apparatus is restricted.
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`Furthermore, there is an idea that the C-shaped arm is
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`rotated around the object to obtain tomographic images. In
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`this case, however, the angle of X-ray detection plane to the
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`object varies and non-linear conversion needs to be per-
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`formed according to the rotation angle after image acquisi-
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`tion. There arise such problems as degradation in image
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`quality and an increase in time needed up to image display.
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`In the meantime,
`there is known a circulatory-system
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`X-ray diagnosis apparatus wherein the arm is formed in a
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`ring shape, like the X-ray computer tomography apparatus,
`so as to obtain a 3D-reconstructed image, the X-ray gen-
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`erator and X-ray detector are disposed on the arm so as to
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`face each other, and the ring-shaped arm is made rotatable
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`so as to perform volume scan. This apparatus can rotate in
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`a sliding manner over 360°0 and can acquire a 3D image by
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`3D reconstruction. However, the ring-shaped arm has no
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`such opening as in the C-shaped arm, and the access to the
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`object is very difficult.
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`The above drawbacks are present not only in the
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`circulatory-system X-ray diagnosis apparatus but in other
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`X-ray diagnosis apparatuses.
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention has been made in consideration of
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`the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an
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`X-ray diagnosis apparatus capable of exactly and easily
`achieving various positioning and applicable to a wide range
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`of diagnostic uses.
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`According to the present
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`following apparatuses.
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`(1) An X-ray diagnosis apparatus comprises:
`an X-ray generator for emitting X-rays towards an object;
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`an X-ray detector for detecting the X-rays which have
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`passed through the object;
`a first arm;
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`an arm support member for supporting the first arm;
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`a detector support member, provided at one end of the first
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`arm, for supporting the X-ray detector such that a
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`position/direction of the X-ray detector is variable; and
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`an X-ray generator support member, provided at the other
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`end of the first arm, for supporting the X-ray generator
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`such that a position/direction of the X-ray generator is
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`variable.
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`(2) In the apparatus (1), the arm support member comprises
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`a holder for slidably supporting the first arm, and a support
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`column for rotatably supporting the holder.
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`(3) In the apparatus (2), the first arm has an arcuated shape.
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`(4) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member com-
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`prises a plurality of arms and a joint for movably coupling
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`the arms, one of the arms being movably coupled to the one
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`end of the first arm, and another of the arms being movably
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`coupled to the detector.
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`(5) In the apparatus (1), the X-ray generator support member
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`comprises a plurality of arms and a joint for movably
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`coupling the arms, one of the arms being movably coupled
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`to the other end of the first arm, and another of the arms
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`being movably coupled to the X-ray generator.
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`(6) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member com-
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`prises a single extendible arm movably coupled at one end
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`to the one end of the first arm and movably coupled at the
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`other end to the detector.
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`invention,
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`there is provided
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`Page 10 of 17
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`(7) In the apparatus (1), the X-ray generator support member
`comprises a single extendible arm movably coupled at one
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`end to the other end of the first arm and movably coupled at
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`the other end to the X-ray generator.
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`(8) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member con-
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`trols the position/direction of the detector such that a center
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`of the emitted X-rays coincides with a center of an image
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`reception plane of the detector, and
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`the X-ray generator controls an X-ray aperture opening in
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`accordance with a positional relationship between the
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`X-ray generator and the X-ray detector.
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`(9) In the apparatus (1), the detector support member con-
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`trols the position/direction of the X-ray detector such that
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`the X-ray detector faces the X-ray generator.
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`(10) In the apparatus (9),
`the detector support member
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`supports the X-ray detector such that a distance (SID)
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`between a focus point of the X-ray generator and a detection
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`plane of the X-ray generator is kept constant.
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`(11) In the apparatus (1),
`the detector support member
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`controls the position/direction of the X-ray detector such
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`that the X-ray detector is parallel to a floor.
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`(12) The apparatus (11) further comprises:
`a bed apparatus for parallel-moving the object in a plane
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`parallel to the floor, and
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`wherein the X-ray generator support member changes the
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`position/direction of the X-ray generator in association
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`with movement of the object, and
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`the detector support member parallel-moves the X-ray
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`detector in a plane parallel to the floor in association
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`with the movement of the object.
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`(13) In the apparatus (11),
`the X-ray generator support
`member changes the position/direction of the X-ray genera-
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`tor such that a direction of the X-rays varies along a body
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`axis of the object, and
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`the detector support member parallel-moves the X-ray
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`detector in a plane parallel to the floor in association
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`with a change in the position/direction of the X-ray
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`generator.
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`the detector support member
`(14) In the apparatus (1),
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`controls the direction of the X-ray detector at a predeter-
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`mined angle to the floor.
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`the detector support member
`(15) In the apparatus (1),
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`controls the position/direction of the X-ray detector such
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`that the X-ray detector is substantially put in close contact
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`with a body surface of the object.
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`(16) The apparatus (1) further comprises a handle provided
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`on a part of one of the detector support member and the
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`detector, and
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`wherein the X-ray generator support member moves the
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`x-ray generator in association with movement of the
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`X-ray detector when the X-ray detector is manually
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`moved with use of the handle.
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`(17) In the apparatus (1),
`the detector support member
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`comprises input means for setting a distance between a focal
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`point of the X-ray generator and a detection plane of the
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`X-ray detector, means for controlling the position/direction
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`of the X-ray detector such that the distance is kept constant,
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`and display means for displaying the set distance.
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`(18) The apparatus (1) further comprises means for control-
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`ling a position of a bed, on which the object is placed, such
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`that a center of an X-ray flux passes through a center of a
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`region-of-interest of the object while an imaging magnifi-
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`cation ratio is kept constant.
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`(19) In the apparatus (1),
`the detector support member
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`includes means for moving the X-ray detector in a given
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`plane, and the X-ray generator support member includes
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`means for controlling an X-ray aperture opening of the
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`X-ray generator such that a center of an X-ray flux coincides
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`with a center of a detector image-reception plane of the
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`X-ray detector.
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`(20) The apparatus (19) further comprises means for con-
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`trolling a position of a bed, on which the object is placed,
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`such that a region-of-interest is always located at a center of
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`an image.
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`the detector support member
`(21) In the apparatus (1),
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`comprises a brake release switch for manually turning on/off
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`braking of respective movable mechanisms.
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`(22) The apparatus (21) further comprises means for con-
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`trolling respective movable portions holding the detector
`support member such that manual operations can be per-
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`formed when the position/direction of the X-ray detector is
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`controlled.
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`the X-ray generator support
`(23) In the apparatus (20),
`member includes means for controlling an X-ray aperture
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`opening of the X-ray generator such that a center of an X-ray
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`flux coincides with a center of an image-reception plane of
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`the X-ray detector.
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`(24) In the apparatus (1), the first arm has an arcuated shape
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`of about 90°.
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`the X-ray detector is a planar
`(25) In the apparatus (1),
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`detector comprising a plurality of solid-state detection ele-
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`ments.
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`(26) In the apparatus (2), the first arm is such an offsetless
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`arm that a rotational axis of the holder is located in a plane
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`defined by the arm.
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`According to the present invention, the X-ray generator
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`for emitting X-rays to the object is attached to the arm such
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`that the position/direction of the X-ray generator is variable.
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`The position/direction of emitted X-rays can be altered by
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`changing the direction of the X-ray generator. The X-ray
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`detector for detecting X-rays, which have passed through the
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`object, is attached to the arm via the mechanism capable of
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`easily changing the position/direction of the X-ray detector
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`in accordance with the direction of emission of X-rays
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`determined by the rotation of the X-ray generator. The bed
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`on which the object is placed is moved to the position
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`corresponding to the direction of emission of X-rays deter-
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`mined by the position/direction of the X-ray generator.
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`Unlike the conventional C-shaped arm, the C-shaped arm of
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`this invention can be positioned at large angles. The degree
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`of freedom of the apparatus increases and this apparatus is
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`applicable to a wide range of clinical uses. Moreover, the
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`slide stroke can be substantially increased without deterio-
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`rating the accessibility to the object, and volume image
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`acquisition is realized. Tomographic images can also be
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`obtained with ease, and the degree of freedom of the
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`apparatus increases. Furthermore,
`the apparatus can be
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`reduced in size and weight.
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`Additional objects and advantages of the present inven-
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`tion will be set forth in the description which follows, and
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`in part will be obvious from the description, or may be
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`learned by practice of the present invention.
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`The objects and advantages of the present invention may
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`be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities
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`and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
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`VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
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`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
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`and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently
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`preferred embodiments of the present
`invention and,
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`together with the general description given above and the
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`detailed description of the preferred embodiments given
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`below, serve to explain the principles of the present inven-
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`tion wherein:
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`Page 11 of 17
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`5
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`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a C-shaped arm and
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`associated parts of a conventional circulatory-system X-ray
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`diagnosis apparatus;
`FIG. 2 shows a basic structure of a C-shaped arm of an
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`X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to a first embodiment
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`of the present invention;
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`FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a rotary mechanism
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`of an X-ray generator according to the first embodiment;
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`FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the rotary
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`mechanism of the X-ray generator;
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`FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a holding mecha-
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`nism for an X-ray plane detector;
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`FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the holding mechanism
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`for the X-ray plane detector;
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`FIG. 7 shows a handle for manually moving the X-ray
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`plane detector;
`FIG. 8 shows another example of the imaging position in
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`the first embodiment;
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`FIG. 9 shows a basic structure of a C-shaped arm of an
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`X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to a second embodi-
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`ment of the present invention;
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`FIG. 10 shows another example of the position in the
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`second embodiment;
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`FIG. 11 shows a basic structure of a C-shaped arm of an
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`X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to a third embodiment
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`of the present invention;
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`FIG. 12 shows a basic structure of a C-shaped arm of an
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`X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to a fourth embodiment
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`of the present invention;
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`FIG. 13 shows a basic structure of a C-shaped arm of an
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`X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to a fifth embodiment
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`of the present invention; and
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`FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
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`a control circuit of the X-ray diagnosis apparatus according
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`to the present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
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`INVENTION
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`Apreferred embodiment of an X-ray diagnosis apparatus
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`according to the present invention will now be described
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`with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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`First Embodiment
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`FIG. 2 shows a C-shaped arm of an X-ray diagnosis
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`apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present
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`invention. The general structure of the first embodiment is
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`the same as that of the prior art shown in FIG. 1, and the
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`showing of the support column, etc. is omitted. Unlike the
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`prior art, in the first embodiment, an X-ray generator 12
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`including an X-ray tube is held to one end of a C-shaped arm
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`14 (having a substantially semicircular shape) such that the
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`position/direction of the X-ray generator 12 can be varied. In
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`addition, a planar X-ray detector 16 in which a plurality of
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`solid-state detector elements are arranged in an array is held
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`to the other end of the C-shaped arm 14 such that
`the
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`position/direction of the planar X-ray detector 16 can be
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`varied. Various types of holding structures can be adopted.
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`In this embodiment,
`the position/direction of the planar
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`X-ray detector 16 can be varied but the position of the X-ray
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`generator 12 can not be varied. The X-ray generator 12 is
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`directly held to the C-shaped arm 14 via a rotary mechanism,
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`and the X-ray detector 16 is held to the C-shaped arm 14 via
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`a link mechanism 20 having two arms. However, the X-ray
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`generator 12 can be held to the C-shaped arm 14 via the link
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`Page 12 of 17
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`the position/
`mechanism 20 having two arms such that
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`direction of the X-ray generator 12 can be varied.
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`The direction of the X-ray generator 12 is varied in
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`association with the position/direction of the X-ray detector
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`16. The rotary mechanism for holding the X-ray generator
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`12 and the link mechanism 20 for holding the X-ray detector
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`16 are controlled such that the X-ray detector 16 may always
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`be opposed to the X-ray generator 12 (in other words, X-rays
`may be made perpendicularly incident on a detection plane
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`of the detector 16). Although not shown, a top plate of a bed,
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`on which the object is placed, is moved in association with
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`the positions/directions of the X-ray generator 12 and X-ray
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`detector 16. The positional relationship among the three is
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`controlled such that the center of the X-ray flux may pass
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`through the center of a region-of-interest (ROI) of the object
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`and an imaging magnification ratio may become constant.
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`The image magnification ratio becomes constant by making
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`an SID (source image distance: a distance between a focal
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`point of the X-ray tube and a detection plane of the detector)
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`and an SOD (source object distance: a distance between the
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`focal point of the X-ray tube and the object) constant.
`Instead of displacing/moving the top plate, the C-shaped
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`arm 14 may be vertically moved and horizontally moved
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`along the ceiling. Thereby,
`the position/direction of the
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`C-shaped arm 14 itself may be varied to relatively change
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`the direction of the object.
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`Reference numeral 18 denotes a holder having rollers (not
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`shown) for clamping a rail (not shown) provided on a rear
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`surface or a side surface of the C-shaped arm 14. Although
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`not shown in FIG. 2, like the prior art shown in FIG. 1, the
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`holder 18 is held to the support column so as to be rotatable
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`about the major axis. The support column is fixed to the
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`ceiling or floor so as to be rotatable about
`the support
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`column axis. Although not shown, a vertical drive mecha-
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`nism may be provided on the support column. In the case of
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`a ceiling-pending type apparatus, a rail is provided on the
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`ceiling so that the apparatus may be movable in one or two
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`directions.
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`According to the first embodiment, the X-ray generator 12
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`is rotated to change the direction of irradiation, and the link
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`mechanism 20 is driven accordingly so as to change the
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`position/direction of the X-ray detector 16 such that the
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`X-ray detector 16 may always be opposed to the X-ray
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`generator 12. Thereby, even if the C-shaped arm 14 is not
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`actually slid/rotated, the imaging angle can be altered. It is
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`thus possible to obtain an image equivalent to an image
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`obtained when the C-shaped arm 14 is slid/rotated at the
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`ROI. For example, when an image is to be obtained at an
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`oblique angle, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2, it is
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`necessary in the prior art to slide/rotate the C-shaped arm 14.
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`In the present embodiment, however,
`imaging can be
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`effected by altering the direction of the X-ray generator 12
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`and the position of the bed and the position/direction of the
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`X-ray detector 16 accordingly, without the need to slide/
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`rotate the C-shaped arm 14.
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`As a result, the slide stroke can substantially be increased
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`while the accessibility to the object can be maintained,
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`without extending the C-shaped arm. If the rotation of the
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`X-ray generator is combined with the sliding/rotating of the
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`C-shaped arm, imaging can be effected at greater angles. If
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`the slide stroke of the C-shaped arm is set at 180°, a 3D
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`image can be obtained by 3D reconstruction only by sliding/
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`rotating the C-shaped arm and rotating the X-ray generator
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`12 by a degree corresponding to the angle of a cone beam
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`radiated from the X-ray generator 12.
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`FIG. 3 shows an example of the rotary mechanism for the
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`X-ray generator 12. The course of rotation of the X-ray
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`US 6,325,537 B1
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`7
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`generator 12 is defined by R-shaped slide guides 22 fixed to
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