Medical X-ray apparatus

• US 6,614,871 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takuma, Yutaka, Suzuki, Tsutomu, Kobiki, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US09/937,319
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/20, 378/193, 378/197, 378/195, 378/196, 250/522.1
• US Class Current: 378/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/035 Mechanical aspects of CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4447 Tiltable gantries
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography

Abstract

To a supporting frame having an opening portion used to insert a table for mounting thereon an object under examination along a horizontal direction, a rotary member rotated around the opening portion is mounted; and a medical X-ray apparatus is provided with a first supporting member supported by the rotation member, for supporting an X-ray tube apparatus which irradiates an X-ray to an object under examination; a second supporting member for supporting a detection apparatus for detecting a transmission X-ray of the object under examination, the second supporting member being supported by the rotary member and being arranged opposite to the X-ray tube apparatus; a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of the rotary member; a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of said X-ray with respect to a body axial direction of the object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging the detection apparatus opposite to the X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with the set arbitrary irradiation angle; and an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from the detection apparatus so as to produce both a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image. While these control apparatus and rotation control apparatus are controlled, both the X-ray tube apparatus and the detection apparatus are rotated around the object under examination. Alternatively, X-ray fluoroscopic operation is carried out along an arbitrary irradiation angle. An output signal derived from the detection apparatus is processed by an image processing apparatus so as to produce a two-dimensional image and/or a three-dimensional image. Then, the produced images are displayed on a display apparatus.

Claims

1. A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first supporting member supported by said rotary member, for supporting an X-ray tube apparatus which irradiates an X-ray to an object under examination;

a second supporting member for supporting a detection apparatus for detecting a transmission X-ray of said object under examination, said second supporting member being supported by said rotary member and being arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of said X-ray substantially along a body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said set arbitrary irradiation angle;

an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce both a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

2. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said supporting frame owns an opening portion used to insert a table for mounting thereon said object under examination along a horizontal direction; and

said rotating member is rotated around said opening portion.

3. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said control apparatus is comprised of;

a first transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member; and

a second transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member.

4. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said control apparatus is further comprised of;

an irradiation angle control apparatus for setting the irradiation angle of said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary irradiation angle; and

a detection apparatus angle control apparatus for controlling that the angle of said detection apparatus is located opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus in response to said set irradiation angle.

5. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said medical X-ray apparatus is comprised of said first and second supporting members which are formed in an arc shape.

6. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said medical X-ray apparatus is comprised of said first and second supporting members which are formed in a straight-line shape.

7. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises a first image processing apparatus for reconstructing a tomographic image from said output signal from said detection apparatus, said output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination while said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are rotated around said object under examination by rotating said rotary member.

8. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are inclined with respect to a body axis of said object under examination.

9. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

10. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rotary member is rotated while said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus to maintain an opposite positional relationship.

11. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rotary member is rotated while a table on which said object under examination is lying is moved in said body axial direction.

12. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises a second image processing apparatus for executing an image processing to X-ray data obtained in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation.

13. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises a switching device for switching said first and second image processing apparatuses.

14. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said X-ray fluoroscopic operation is executed while a table on which said object under examination is lying is moved in said body axial direction.

15. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises a first image processing apparatus for reconstructing a tomographic image from said output signal from said detection apparatus, said output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination while said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are rotated around said object under examination by rotating said rotary member, and said image processing apparatus comprises a second image processing apparatus for executing an image processing to X-ray data obtained in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation.

16. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises a switching device for switching said first and second image processing apparatuses.

17. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

18. A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first supporting member supported by said rotary member, for supporting an X-ray tube apparatus which irradiates an X-ray to an object under examination;

a second supporting member for supporting a detection apparatus for detecting a transmission X-ray of said object under examination, said second supporting member being supported by said rotary member and being arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus;

an X-ray tube apparatus transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member;

a detection apparatus transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially along a body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said set arbitrary irradiation angle;

an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce both a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

19. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

20. A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;

an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;

a second supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;

a detection apparatus movably supported on said second supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially along said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set;

an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce both a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

21. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

22. A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame having an opening portion used to insert a table for mounting an object under examination thereon along a horizontal direction;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame, said rotary member being able to rotate around said opening portion;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;

an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first arc-shaped supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;

a second arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;

a detection apparatus movably supported on said second arc-shaped supporting member for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;

an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first arc-shaped supporting member;

a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second arc-shaped supporting member;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially along said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle;

a first image processing apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image from a first output signal from said detection apparatus, said first output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object in a first case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship and/or said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second arc-shaped supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship or in a second case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship while said table is moved in said body axial direction;

a second image processing apparatus for producing a two-dimensional image from a second output signal from said detection apparatus, said second output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

23. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

24. A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame having an opening portion used to insert a table for mounting an object under examination thereon along a horizontal direction;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame, said rotary member being able to rotate around said opening portion;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;

an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;

a second supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;

a detection apparatus movably supported on said second supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;

an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member;

a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member;

an X-ray radiation direction control apparatus for controlling an angle of said X-ray tube apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;

an X-ray image receiving direction apparatus for controlling an angle of said detection apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially along said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle by controlling said X-ray radiation direction control apparatus, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set by controlling said X-ray image receiving direction apparatus;

a first image processing apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image from a first output signal from said detection apparatus, said first output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object in a first case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship and/or said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship or in a second case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship while said table is moved in said body axial direction;

a second image processing apparatus for producing a two-dimensional image from a second output signal from said detection apparatus, said second output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

25. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

26. A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;

an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first arc-shaped supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;

a second arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;

a detection apparatus movably supported on said second arc-shaped supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;

an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first arc-shaped supporting member within a curvature plane where an iso-center is located as a center of said first arc-shaped supporting member;

a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second arc-shaped supporting member within a curvature plane where an iso-center is located as a center of said second arc-shaped supporting member;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set;

a first image processing apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image from a first output signal from said detection apparatus, said first output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in a case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship and/or said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship;

a second image processing apparatus for producing a two-dimensional image from a second output signal from said detection apparatus, said second output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

27. A medical X-ray apparatus according to claim 26, wherein each of said first and second arc-shaped supporting members has a length enough to accept an entire portion of said object under examination.

28. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

29. A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;

an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;

a second supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;

a detection apparatus movably supported on said second supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;

an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member;

a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member;

an X-ray radiation direction control apparatus for controlling an angle of said X-ray tube apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;

an X-ray image receiving direction apparatus for controlling an angle of said detection apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle by controlling said X-ray radiation direction control apparatus, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set by controlling said X-ray image receiving direction apparatus;

a first image processing apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image from a first output signal from said detection apparatus, said first output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in a case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship and/or said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship;

a second image processing apparatus for producing a two-dimensional image from a second output signal from said detection apparatus, said second output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

30. A medical X-ray apparatus according to claim 29, wherein each of said first and second supporting members has a length enough to accept an entire portion of said object under examination.

31. A medical X-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

32. A method of obtaining a tomographic image using a medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;

an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first arc-shaped supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;

a second arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;

a detection apparatus movably supported on said second arc-shaped supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;

an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first arc-shaped supporting member within a curvature plane where an iso-center is located as a center of said first arc-shaped supporting member;

a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second arc-shaped supporting member within a curvature plane where an iso-center is located as a center of said second arc-shaped supporting member;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set;

an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of;

setting a portion to be imaged at said iso-center;

arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary angle set;

irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination while said X-ray tube apparatus and said X-ray image receiving apparatus are mutually slid along reverse directions in an arc manner, wherein the iso-center is employed as a fulcrum; and

obtaining a tomographic image of a plane which is located in parallel to a body axis of said object under examination.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.

34. A method of obtaining a tomographic image using a medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;

a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;

a first supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;

an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;

a second supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;

a detection apparatus movably supported on said second supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;

an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member;

a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member;

an X-ray radiation direction control apparatus for controlling an angle of said X-ray tube apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;

an X-ray image receiving direction apparatus for controlling an angle of said detection apparatus substantially along said body axial direction;

a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray with respect to said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle by controlling said X-ray radiation direction control apparatus, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set by controlling said X-ray image receiving direction apparatus;

an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image; and

a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of;

setting a portion to be imaged at an iso-center;

arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary angle set;

irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination while said X-ray tube apparatus and said X-ray image receiving apparatus are mutually slid along reverse directions in a linear fashion, wherein the iso-center is employed as a fulcrum; and

obtaining a tomographic image of a plane which is located in parallel to a body axis of said object under examination.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are arranged so that perpendicular focal planes extending from said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are substantially co-axially aligned with one another substantially along said arbitrary irradiation angle.