X-ray imaging apparatus

• US 8,630,389 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kato, Katsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US13/211,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20110299660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 378 4- 20, 378/62, 378/116, 378193-197
• US Class Current: 378/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/035 Mechanical aspects of CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4423 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/587 Alignment of source unit to detector unit

Abstract

An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit which is rotatable relative to a platform about a shaft portion perpendicular to an X-ray detecting surface, so as to change the orientation relative to a subject.

Claims

1. An X-ray imaging apparatus, comprising:

a support member for rotatably supporting an X-ray detector for detecting X-ray radiation to obtain an X-ray image;

a selector for selecting an imaging mode of the X-ray imaging apparatus; and

a warning transmitter for transmitting a warning in a case that the X-ray detector is not supported in a manner corresponding to the selected imaging mode.

2. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to operate the X-ray imaging apparatus in the selected imaging mode,

wherein the X-ray detector supported by the support member is movable between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, and

wherein the warning transmitter is configured to output a warning when imaging is initiated in a state that the X-ray detector is oriented in neither the first orientation nor the second orientation.

3. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive information input by a user indicating whether or not imaging operation is permitted when the X-ray detector is oriented in neither the first orientation nor the second orientation.

4. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control unit permits operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus in the selected imaging mode, in response to the input of information indicating that imaging operation is permitted when the X-ray detector is oriented in neither the first orientation nor the second orientation.

5. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the warning transmitter stops outputting the warning, in response to the input of information indicating that imaging operation is permitted when the X-ray detector is oriented in neither the first orientation nor the second orientation.

6. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a changing unit configured to change an orientation of the X-ray detector into the orientation corresponding to the selected imaging mode, in response to the input of information indicating that imaging operation is not permitted when the X-ray detector is oriented in neither the first orientation nor the second orientation.

7. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

an orientation detector configured to detect an orientation of the X-ray detector supported by the support member,

wherein the control unit permits operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus in a still imaging mode when the detected orientation is the first orientation.

8. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the warning transmitter outputs the warning when the imaging is initiated in a computed tomography imaging mode and the X-ray detector is oriented in the first orientation.

9. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

an orientation detector configured to detect the orientation of the X-ray detector,

wherein the control unit permits operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus in a computed tomography imaging mode when the detected orientation is the second orientation.

10. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the warning transmitter outputs the warning when the imaging is initiated in a still imaging mode and the X-ray detector is oriented in the second orientation.

11. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

an orientation detector configured to detect the orientation of the X-ray detector,

wherein the control unit permits operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus in a still imaging mode when the detected orientation is the first orientation, and

wherein the control unit permits the operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus in a computed tomography imaging mode when the detected orientation is the second orientation.

12. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 2, further comprising

an X-ray generator;

and

a driving unit configured to relatively rotate the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector around a subject when the X-ray imaging apparatus operates in a computed tomography imaging mode.

13. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the X-ray detector defines a rectangular detection area having short sides and long sides,

wherein the X-ray detector is movable between a first orientation and a second orientation,

wherein, in the first orientation, the long sides of the rectangular detection area are parallel to a longitudinal axis of a subject, and

wherein, in the second orientation, the short sides of the detection area are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the subject.

14. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the X-ray detector defines a rectangular detection area, and

wherein the warning transmitter outputs the warning except when either of the sides of the rectangular detection area is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a subject.

15. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an orientation detector configured to detect an orientation of the X-ray detector in response to the selection,

wherein the selector is configured to select one imaging mode out of a computed tomographic imaging mode and a still imaging mode.

16. A C-arm X-ray imaging device, comprising:

an X-ray detector defining a rectangular detection area and configured to be movable between at least a first orientation and a second orientation;

an X-ray generator;

a selection unit configured to select an imaging mode;

an orientation detector configured to detect an orientation of the X-ray detector in response to the selection by the selection unit;

a control unit configured to selectively operate the C-arm X-ray imaging device in either a computed tomographic imaging mode or a still imaging mode;

a driving unit configured to relatively rotate the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector around a subject when the C-arm X-ray imaging device operates in the computed tomography imaging mode;

a warning unit configured to output a warning when imaging is initiated, wherein the warning unit outputs a warning except when either of the sides of the rectangular detection area is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the subject; and

a receiving unit configured to receive information input by a user indicating whether or not imaging operation is permitted when the X-ray detector is oriented in neither the first orientation nor the second orientation,

wherein the control unit permits operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus in the selected imaging mode in response to the input of information indicating that imaging operation is permitted when the X-ray detector is oriented in neither the first orientation nor the second orientation.

17. A method of operating an X-ray imaging apparatus for detecting X-ray radiation to obtain an X-ray image, the X-ray imaging apparatus including a support member for movably supporting an X-ray detector in at least one of a plurality of imaging modes of the X-ray imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting an orientation of the X-ray detector;

selecting an imaging mode of the X-ray imaging apparatus;

determining whether the detected orientation corresponds to the selected imaging mode; and

outputting a warning in a case that the detected orientation is determined as not corresponding to the selected imaging mode.