X-ray irradiator and X-ray imaging apparatus

• US 20060126792A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Yuqing
• Granted Patent: US 7,092,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/147
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/509 clamped
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/02 using diaphragms, collimators

Abstract

With a view to providing an X-ray irradiator superior in workability in mounting a collimator box to an X-ray tube, the X-ray irradiator includes: a ring provided on an entry plate of the collimator box so as to surround an X-ray incidence window, the ring receiving therein a flange of the X-ray tube and having plural slots formed radially through the ring; plural tongue pieces inserted through the slots from outside to inside of the ring and holding down the back side of the flange; and a pair of half-rings which holds the plural tongue pieces at positions outside the ring and which, when one ends and opposite ends thereof are respectively opposed to each other, surrounds the ring with the plural tongue pieces inserted respectively into the plural slots.

Claims

1. An X-ray irradiator comprising:

an X-ray tube having a flange formed so as to surround an X-ray output window, the flange having a notch formed in a peripheral edge thereof;

a collimator box having an entry plate formed with an X-ray incidence window, the collimator box accommodating a collimator in the interior thereof;

a ring provided on the entry plate so as to surround the X-ray incidence window, the ring receiving therein the flange of the X-ray tube and having a plurality of slots formed radially through the ring;

a first tongue piece inserted through one of the plural slots from outside to inside of the ring by means of a spring, and fitted at a front end portion thereof into the notch formed in the peripheral edge of the flange;

a lock means for locking the first tongue piece unlockably;

a plurality of second tongue pieces being inserted through the remaining slots of the plural slots from outside to inside of the ring, and holding down a back side of the flange;

a pair of half-rings each taking a partial charge of holding the plural second tongue pieces at positions outside the ring, the pair of half-rings, when one ends and opposite ends thereof are respectively opposed to each other, surrounding the ring in a state in which the plural second tongue pieces are inserted respectively into the plural slots, the opposite ends of the pair of half-rings being pivotally connected to the entry plate so that the one ends thereof can be opened and closed; and

a connecting device for disconnectably connecting the pair of half-rings in a closed state of the one ends of the half-rings.

2. An X-ray irradiator according to claim 1, wherein the notch comprises four notches formed at equal intervals along the peripheral edge of the flange.

3. An X-ray irradiator according to claim 1, wherein the lock device has a locking screw.

4. An X-ray irradiator according to claim 1, wherein the plural second tongue pieces comprise four tongue pieces which hold down the back side of the flange at four equally spaced positions along the circumference of the flange.

5. An X-ray irradiator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device has a connecting bolt.

6. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising an X-ray irradiator and an X-ray detector opposed to each other, the X-ray irradiator comprising:

an X-ray tube having a flange formed so as to surround an X-ray output window, the flange having a notch formed in a peripheral edge thereof;

a collimator box having an entry plate formed with an X-ray incidence window, the collimator box accommodating a collimator in the interior thereof;

a ring provided on the entry plate so as to surround the X-ray incidence window, the ring receiving therein the flange of the X-ray tube and having a plurality of slots formed radially through the ring;

a first tongue piece inserted through one of the plural slots from outside to inside of the ring by means of a spring, and fitted at a front end portion thereof into the notch formed in the peripheral edge of the flange;

a lock device for locking the first tongue piece unlockably;

a plurality of second tongue pieces being inserted through the remaining slots of the plural slots from outside to inside of the ring, and holding down a back side of the flange;

a pair of half-rings each taking a partial charge of holding the plural second tongue pieces at positions outside the ring, the pair of half-rings, when one ends and opposite ends thereof are respectively opposed to each other, surrounding the ring in a state in which the plural second tongue pieces are inserted respectively into the plural slots, the opposite ends of the pair of half-rings being pivotally connected to the entry plate so that the one ends thereof can be opened and closed; and

a connecting device for disconnectably connecting the pair of half-rings in a closed state of the one ends of the half-rings.

7. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the notch comprises four notches formed at equal intervals along the peripheral edge of the flange.

8. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the lock device has a locking screw.

9. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plural second tongue pieces comprise four tongue pieces which hold down the back side of the flange at four equally spaced positions along the circumference of the flange.

10. An X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the connecting device has a connecting bolt.