Radiographic diagnostic apparatus

• US 4,928,297 A
• Filed: 04/22/1988
• Issued: 05/22/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Osamu, Watanabe, Hiroshi, Tsutsui, Hiroshi, Baba, Sueki, Ohmori, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Application Number:
  US07/184,829
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 378/146, 378/197
• US Class Current: 378/146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/02 using diaphragms, collimators

Abstract

A radiographic diagnostic apparatus including an X-ray tube for generating X-ray radiation, a line slit for shaping the X-ray radiation into a fan beam, a linear X-ray sensor array for detecting the X-ray radiation, and apparatus for driving the components is provided. The focal spot of the X-ray tube and the line slit are disposed on a straight line that connects between a specified fixed point and the center of the linear sensor array of a line extending therefrom. The X-ray tube, the line slit and the linear X-ray sensor array are driven together in a direction perpendicular to the direction of alignment of the linear X-ray sensor array so as to scan an object and thereby produce a radiographic image of the object.

Claims

1. A radiographic diagnostic apparatus comprising:

an X-ray tube for generating X-ray radiation, said X-ray tube having a focal spot,

a line slit for shaping said X-ray radiation into a fan beam, said line slit extending in a direction of alignment,

a linear X-ray sensor array for detecting said X-ray radiation, and

movable means for rotating said X-ray tube, said line slit, and said linear X-ray sensor array about a specified fixed point so as to maintain alignment of said X-ray tube, said line slit, and said linear X-ray sensor array relative to said specified fixed point such that said focal spot of said X-ray tube and said line slit are disposed on a straight line which passes through said specified fixed point and a predetermined portion of said linear sensor array, such that said X-ray tube, said line slit and said linear X-ray sensor array move together in a direction perpendicular to the direction of alignment of said linear X-ray sensor array to scan an object, said focal spot of said X-ray tube being spaced from said specified fixed point, and such that a radiographic image of the object can be produced from an output of said linear X-ray sensor array; and

said X-ray tube and said line slit are movable along said straight line connecting said fixed point and said predetermined portion of said linear X-ray sensor array.

2. A radiographic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said linear sensor array has a shape which corresponds to the arc of a circle whose center is at said specified fixed point.

3. A radiographic diagnoystic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance between said X-ray tube and said line slit is a predetermined fixed distance.

4. A radiographic diagnostic apparatus, comprising:

an X-ray tube for generating X-ray radiation, said X-ray tube having a focal spot,

a line slit for shaping said X-ray radiation into a fan beam, said line slit extending in a direction of alignment,

a linear X-ray sensor array for detecting said X-ray radiation,

movable means for maintaining alignment of said X-ray tube, said line slit, and said linear X-ray sensor array relative to a specified fixed point so as to maintain alignment of said X-ray tube, said line slit, and said linear X-ray sensor array relative to said specified fixed point such that said focal spot of said X-ray tube and said line slit are disposed on a straight line which passes through said specified fixed point and a predetermined portion of said linear sensor array, such that said X-ray tube, said line slit and said linear X-ray sensor array move together in a direction having a component which is perpendicular to the direction of alignment of said linear X-ray sensor array to scan an object, said focal spot of said X-ray tube being spaced from said specified fixed point, and such that a radiographic image of the object can be produced from an output of said linear X-ray sensor array;

said X-ray tube, said line slit, and said linear X-ray sensor array are caused to be aligned along said straight line in sequence from said fixed point and are driven by said movable means for maintaining alignment, such that they have translational motion; and

said X-ray tube and said line slit are movable along said straight line connecting said fixed point and said predetermined portion of said linear X-ray sensor array.