JP2000286092A - X-ray equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To set up a minimum rotation speed exceeding the rating of a rotating anode of an X-ray tube apparatus in accordance with imaging conditions, thereby shortening a start-up time, and setting an imaging ready (Ready) switch. An X-ray apparatus capable of shortening the time from when a button is pressed until X-rays are actually output and the imaging is completed is obtained. SOLUTION: A starter device 40 for rotating a rotating anode 32 of an X-ray tube device 8 has a driving condition memory 5 for storing a relationship between the rotation speed of the rotating anode 32 of the X-ray tube device 8 and a short-time rating.
6, a rotational speed-power time product characteristic memory 54 for calculating a rotational speed during imaging of the rotating anode 32 based on the X-ray tube device 8 selected in the X-ray high-voltage device and the imaging conditions set. A stator 180 Hz drive circuit 54 for maintaining the rotation by raising the rotation speed of the rotary anode 32 of the tube device 8 to the calculated rotation speed at the time of photographing, and receiving a high-speed rotation start signal from the X-ray high voltage device; When the stator 180
The frequency of the rotating anode 32 of the X-ray tube device 8 was increased by the Hz drive circuit 54 to the number of rotations at the time of photographing and was maintained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray apparatus having a starter device for controlling the rotation speed of a rotating anode of an X-ray tube device, and more particularly to a control device for a starter device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an X-ray apparatus, an X-ray tube apparatus in which a rotating anode X-ray tube and a stator for rotating the rotating anode are accommodated in a tube container is used in order to obtain a large tube current during imaging. X-ray imaging is performed by switching the rotation speed of the rotating anode to a higher rotation speed than the normal rotation speed during fluoroscopy during imaging, and controls the mutual switching between the normal rotation speed during fluoroscopy and the high rotation speed during imaging. A starter device is provided, and the starter device is configured to be combined with an X-ray high-voltage device and operate in conjunction therewith. In general radiography such as chest radiography, the surgeon presses (turns on) the radiography preparation button (switch).
When preparation for imaging is performed, a heating current necessary for imaging is supplied to the filament of the X-ray tube device by the filament heating circuit of the X-ray high voltage device to heat the filament. This causes the filament to reach the temperature required for photography after 1.5 seconds.

In addition, when a high-speed rotation operation signal for imaging is output from the X-ray high-voltage device to the starter device, the starter device supplies starting electric power (AC50) to the stator of the X-ray tube device.
(0 V [180 Hz], about 9 A) is applied, and a rotating magnetic field is applied to the rotor of the bearing support connected to the rotating anode (disk) to rotate the rotating anode.
A drive current is passed to the stator continuously for about 3.5 seconds, and the number of rotations is set to the high-speed rotation required for photographing (9000 rotations or more /
Min). On the other hand, the rotation speed detector provided in the starter device determines that the rotation speed of the rotating anode is high (90 rpm).
When the rotation speed reaches 00 rotations / min.
The X-ray high-voltage device is sent to turn on the X-ray high-voltage device ready for imaging (Ready up). After that, intermittent drive power (AC500V [180Hz],
9A, 1.0 second about once every 26 seconds) to keep the high-speed rotation required for shooting.

[0004] The operator displays the completion of the imaging preparation operation (Read).
y up) and confirm that the shooting switch (X-ray
Switch) is turned on to perform the imaging operation, and from the X-ray high voltage device to the rotating anode and cathode (filament) of the X-ray device
During this time, a high voltage is applied for about 0.5 seconds, X-rays are emitted, and imaging ends. Immediately after the end of X-ray emission, braking power (AC 150 V [50 Hz], about 10 A) is continuously applied to the stator for about 5.0 to apply braking to the rotor.
The number of revolutions of the rotating anode is reduced to a specified number of revolutions or less.

[0005]

In general radiography using a conventional X-ray apparatus, an operator presses a radiography preparation button, and then confirms that a radiography preparation operation completion display (Ready up) is lit, and then performs a radiography switch (X-ray). Switch) is turned on and X-rays are actually output from the X-ray tube device.
It takes about 7 seconds. Therefore, for about 3.7 seconds from when the radiographing preparation button is pressed to when the X-ray is actually output, the patient, who is the subject, is forced to stand still with his / her breath stopped. And physical burden, especially for infants and the sick. For this reason, the shorter this time is, the better, and it is required to reduce this time.

[0006] During this time from when the radiography preparation button is pressed to when the X-ray is actually output, the starting anode for high-speed rotation is applied to the stator of the X-ray tube apparatus to rotate the rotating anode at a high speed (9000 rpm or more). / Min). Also, the number of rotations of the rotating anode during shooting is
It also depends on the fact that a high-speed rotation speed (9000 rotations or more / min) is required regardless of imaging conditions (tube voltage, tube current, imaging time). This is because when an overload is calculated before imaging for the imaging conditions set in the X-ray high voltage device, X
This is because the rating of the rotating anode of the tube device is performed using data of the high-speed rotation speed (9000 rotations / minute or more). Therefore, when the thickness of the subject such as an infant is small, the X-ray tube apparatus is used even though the imaging condition itself is low and the imaging is possible without exceeding the rating of the rotating anode even at a rotation speed lower than the high-speed rotation speed. Rotating anode at high speed (9000
It is the current situation that the camera is started up at a speed of more than rotation / min).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a rotation speed that does not exceed the rating of a rotating anode of an X-ray tube apparatus according to imaging conditions set by an X-ray high-voltage apparatus. The time required for applying the start-up power from the starter device to the stator of the X-ray tube device is shortened by performing the imaging at the time, and the time from when the imaging preparation button is pressed to when the X-ray is actually output is obtained. X that can be shortened
It is intended to provide a wire device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray apparatus according to the present invention is used in combination with an X-ray high-voltage apparatus, and operates in conjunction with the rotation of an X-ray tube apparatus. An X-ray apparatus comprising a starter device for rotating an anode at a high speed, means for storing a relationship between the number of rotations of a rotating anode of an X-ray tube device and a short-time rating in the starter device;
Means for calculating a rotation speed during imaging of the rotating anode based on the X-ray tube apparatus selected in the X-ray tube high voltage apparatus and the imaging conditions set; and wherein the number of rotations of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube apparatus is calculated. Means for maintaining the rotation by raising the rotation speed during imaging, and holding the rotation speed of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device during the imaging when receiving a high-speed rotation start signal from the X-ray high voltage device. It is characterized in that the rotation speed is increased and maintained.

The X-ray apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above. When the X-ray tube apparatus and the imaging conditions selected by the operator are output from the X-ray high-voltage apparatus, the starter apparatus sets the X-ray height. From the information of the X-ray tube device selected by the voltage device, the model is obtained, and from the means for storing the relationship between the rotation speed of the rotating anode and the short-time rating for each type of X-ray tube device, the stored rating of the model is obtained. Is read. Then, based on the shooting conditions set, X
The number of rotations during imaging is calculated by means for calculating the number of rotations of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device during imaging, and upon receiving a high-speed rotation start signal from the X-ray high voltage device, the rotation of the X-ray tube device The number of rotations of the anode is increased to the calculated number of rotations to be maintained by the means for maintaining the rotation by raising the number of rotations of the anode to the calculated number of rotations at the time of imaging.

On the other hand, when the rotation speed detector provided in the starter device raises the rotating anode to the holding rotation speed at the time of photographing whose rotation speed has been calculated, it sends a rotation speed confirmation signal to the X-ray high-voltage device, Completion of shooting preparation operation display (Re
dy up) lights up. The operator confirms the lighting of the radiography preparation operation completion display (Ready up) and turns on the radiography switch (X-ray switch) to perform the radiography operation, and from the X-ray high voltage device to the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device. A high voltage is applied between the cathodes (filaments), and X-rays are emitted for an imaging time of about 0.5 seconds set by a timer, and the imaging ends. Immediately after the end of the X-ray emission, braking power (approximately 150 A AC [50 Hz], 10 A) is applied to the stator to apply braking to the rotor, and the rotation speed of the rotating anode is reduced to the resonance rotation speed or less.

As described above, the holding rotation speed at the time of photographing is calculated based on the photographing condition from the relationship between the rotational speed of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device and the short-time rating, and the calculated photographing time corresponding to the photographing condition is calculated. Since the photographing is performed by raising the rotation speed to the holding speed, it is not necessary to uniformly raise the rotation speed to a high-speed rotation speed (9000 rotations / minute or more) irrespective of the photographing condition unlike the conventional apparatus of this type, and the startup time is reduced. This time from when the radiography preparation button is pressed until the X-ray is actually output can be shortened. Therefore, for a thin subject or the like with a lower imaging condition, the completion of the imaging preparation operation of the X-ray high-voltage device (Ready u)
The time until p) is turned on is shortened, and the time until photographing is completed can be shortened.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an X-ray apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray apparatus including a starter device and an inverter type X-ray high-voltage device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of the inverter type X-ray high voltage device will be described first. The AC output from the AC power supply 1 is rectified and smoothed by the rectifier / smoothing capacitor of the rectifier / smoothing circuit 4 of the inverter type high voltage device HG, and is converted to a DC output. The DC output is switched by the inverter circuit 5 and converted into an AC output. The DC output is converted into a high-voltage DC output through the high-voltage generating circuit 6 and applied to the X-ray tube device 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes an X-ray control console, which is an imaging preparation switch (hereinafter, referred to as a Ready switch) 11 for an imaging preparation operation, an X-ray emission switch (hereinafter, referred to as an X-ray switch) 12, for imaging, and imaging conditions. And an X-ray tube device selector 17 for selecting an X-ray tube device.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an X-ray control device, which is an inverter control circuit 13 for controlling the switching operation of the inverter circuit 5, a filament heating circuit 14 for heating the filament 31 of the X-ray tube device 8, and a Ready for the X-ray control console 10.
The microcomputer 11 includes a shooting operation circuit 15 that receives signals from the switch 11 and the X-ray switch 12 and outputs control signals to the inverter control circuit 13 and the starter device 40, and a microcomputer 18. Microcomputer 1
8 reads the X-ray tube device selected by the X-ray tube device selector 17, controls the imaging condition setting device 16, reads the imaging tube voltage setting value, imaging tube current setting value, and imaging time setting value, Perform overload calculation. The overload calculation is performed based on data stored in the microcomputer 18 and stored in the memory storing the short-time rating of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device (not shown).

A filament heating current value corresponding to the photographing tube voltage and the photographing tube current is read out from a memory (not shown) stored in the microcomputer 18, a filament heating signal is outputted, and inputted to the filament heating circuit 14. The X-ray tube device 8 includes a filament 31, a rotating anode 32 that emits X-rays by thermions from the filament 31, a rotor 33 connected to the rotating anode 32, and a stator 34 that generates a rotating magnetic field in the rotor 33. And connected to an inverter type X-ray high voltage device HG. The filament 31 of the X-ray tube device 8 is connected to the filament heating circuit 14 and is heated according to a filament heating signal from the filament heating circuit 14.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a starter device, which is a starter power supply circuit 4 for controlling electric power from a starter AC power supply 41.
2. A stator 180 Hz drive circuit 4 for supplying drive power to the stator 34 for starting and maintaining rotation of the rotor 33
4. A stator 50 Hz braking circuit 43 for supplying electric power for braking the rotor 33, switching devices 60 and 61 for switching the output between the braking circuit 43 and the driving circuit 44 for supplying the stator 34, and the number of rotations of the rotating anode 32. It comprises a rotation speed detection circuit 45 for detecting, and a microcomputer M for controlling these operations.

The microcomputer M transmits the program written in the program memory 57 to the CPU bus line 48.
Through a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 47, and operates according to the read program.
The CPU bus line 48 has an input / output circuit 49 for the X-ray control device 20, a data receiving circuit 53 for receiving X-ray tube device selection / imaging conditions, and a high-speed rotation speed (9000 rotations / minute or more) for each X-ray tube device. A drive condition memory 56 that stores drive conditions, a rotation speed-power time product characteristic memory 54, an output circuit 51 for the braking circuit 43 and the drive circuit 44, and operation times of the starter device 40 are set and measured. The timer 50 is connected.

Next, the operation of the apparatus for executing X-ray photography by the X-ray apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. When an operator first selects an X-ray tube device to be used for imaging with the X-ray tube device selector 14 of the X-ray control console 10, an X-ray tube device selection signal is read into the microcomputer 18. X
The tube device selection signal is also input from the microcomputer 18 to the input circuit 49 of the starter device 40, and the CPU 4
In step 7, an X-ray tube apparatus selection signal is read. Thereafter, the imaging conditions are stored together with the X-ray tube selection. The shooting conditions kW1, mA1, and se set by the shooting condition setting device 16
c1 is read into the microcomputer 18 and an overload calculation is performed on the short-time rating of the rotating anode of the selected X-ray tube device.

The short-time rating of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device 8 is as follows:
FIG. 3 shows a memory (not shown) in the microcomputer 18.
Is stored and given in the form of
It is shown in a 100% rated diagram when the high-speed rotation of more than rotation / minute is maintained. This characteristic diagram indicates that the allowable power time product is determined by specifying the photographing time, and a 100% allowable power time product kWsmax is obtained from FIG. 3 in the set photographing time sec1. Shooting conditions kV1, m
Imaging power time product k obtained from the product of A1 and sec1
If Ws1 exceeds KWsmax1, the rating is exceeded for a short time, and if Ws1 is less than KWsmax1, it is determined that the load is allowable, and photographing is possible. The tube current signal and the tube voltage signal are output from the microcomputer 18 and input to the inverter control circuit 13, and the corresponding filament heating current value is also output and input to the filament heating circuit 14. The filament 31 of the X-ray tube device 8 has been preheated (before the point a in FIG. 2).

The set photographing conditions are output from the microcomputer 18 and read into the CPU 47 via the data receiving circuit 53 of the starter device 40. The shooting power time product kWs1 obtained from the product of the set shooting conditions kV1, mA1, and sec1 is obtained again. This time, based on the data of the rotation speed-power time product characteristic memory 54 which stores the rotation speed-power time product characteristic given in the form of FIG. calculate. From the photographing power time product kWs1 and the set photographing time sec1, a photographing holding rotation speed rpm1 rotation / minute suitable for the photographing condition is obtained [time point a in FIG. 2].

When the Ready switch 11 is pressed, R
A high-speed rotation operation signal is output from the imaging operation circuit 15 of the X-ray control device 20 connected to the ready switch 11, and is input to the input / output circuit 49 of the starter device 40.
7 is read. An output signal of the output circuit 51 turns on a switch 61 that connects the output of the stator 180 Hz drive circuit 44 and the stator 34 of the X-ray tube device 8, and outputs a start operation signal 63 to the stator 180 Hz drive circuit 44. The stator 180 Hz drive circuit 44 receives the start operation signal 63, and the stator start power (AC500
V [180 Hz], about 9 A), a current flows through the stator 34 of the X-ray tube device 8, the rotor 33 (the rotating anode 32) starts rotating, and the number of revolutions increases (b in FIG. 2).
Time).

The rotation speed of the rotating anode 32 (rotor 33) is
The rotation speed of the rotor 33 is detected by the rotation detection circuit 45 of the starter device 40, and the rotation speed at the time of photographing (rpm)
(m1 + 500 rotations / minute), the activation operation signal 63 output to the output circuit 51 is stopped, and the stator 1
The output of the X-ray tube stator starting power from the 80 Hz drive circuit 44 is also stopped (time point c in FIG. 2). When the supply of the driving power is stopped, the rotational speed of the rotor 33 decreases, and the decreasing rotational speed of the rotor 33 (rotating anode 32) is detected by a rotational speed detection circuit 45. When the number of revolutions falls below the number of revolutions held at the time of photographing (rpm 1 revolution / minute) (time point d in FIG. 2), a start operation signal 63 is sent to the stator 180 Hz drive circuit 44, and the stator 3
When the drive power is supplied to 4 to increase the rotation speed, and when the rotation speed at the time of photographing is reached (rpm1 + 500 rotations / minute),
The supply of drive power from the stator 180 Hz drive circuit 44 to the stator 34 is stopped (time point e in FIG. 2). By repeating this operation, the rotation speed of the rotary anode 32 of the X-ray tube device 8 is maintained at or above the imaging holding rotation speed (rpm 1 rotation / minute).

On the other hand, at the time point c in FIG. 2, the rotation confirmation signal from the input circuit 49 is transmitted to the imaging operation circuit 15 of the X-ray controller 20.
In response to this signal, an X-ray control console 10 displays an imaging preparation completion display (not shown). The operator presses the X-ray switch 12 of the X-ray control console 10 after confirming the display of the completion of imaging preparation (at the time point f in FIG. 2). X-ray switch 1
When 2 is pressed, an X-ray emission signal is created from the imaging operation circuit 15 connected to the X-ray switch 12, sent to the inverter control circuit 13, and the switching operation of the inverter circuit 5 is started. The inverter circuit 5 performs a switching operation, a high voltage is output from the high voltage generation circuit 6, a set tube voltage is applied between the rotating anode 32 and the cathode (filament 31) of the X-ray tube device 8, a tube current flows, and X A line is emitted (point g in FIG. 2).

After a set photographing time sec1 by a photographing timer (not shown), the X-ray emission signal is stopped, the operation of the inverter circuit 5 is stopped, and the emission of X-rays is stopped. At the same time, the high-speed rotation operation signal from the photographing operation circuit 15 is also stopped (time point h in FIG. 2). The stop of the high-speed rotation operation signal is read into the CPU 47 through the input / output circuit 49, and the output circuit 5
With the output of 1, the switch 61 for connecting the stator 180 Hz drive circuit 44 to the stator 34 is turned off, and the switch 60 for connecting the stator 50 Hz braking circuit 43 to the stator 34 is turned on to output the braking operation signal 62.

Thus, the stator 50 Hz braking circuit 43
X-ray tube stator braking power (AC150V [50H
z], about 10 A), an electric current flows through the stator 34 of the X-ray tube device 8, and the rotor 33 starts to be braked (time point h in FIG. 2). The rotation speed signal from the rotation speed detection circuit 45 is read via the rotation speed input circuit 52 to start monitoring the rotation speed, and the rotation speed of the rotor 33 (rotating anode 32) is equal to or lower than the resonance rotation speed (4000 rotations / minute). Is detected, the output of the braking operation signal 62 from the output circuit 51 to the stator 50 Hz braking circuit 43 is stopped, and the photographing is terminated (time i in FIG. 2).

As described above, since the imaging is performed by starting up to the minimum rotation speed not exceeding the rating of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube apparatus in accordance with the imaging conditions, the X-ray tube apparatus is not related to the imaging conditions as in this type of conventional apparatus. High speed rotation speed (9000 rotations /
Minutes), there is no need to start up, the startup time can be shortened, and the time from when the radiography preparation button is pressed to when the X-ray is actually output can be shortened. Completion display of the imaging preparation operation of the X-ray high-voltage device for a subject that is thin and has low imaging conditions (Readyup)
The time until is turned on can be shortened, and the time until completion of shooting can be shortened.

The rotation speed-rotation anode short-time rating characteristics shown in FIG. 4 stored in the rotation speed-power time product characteristics memory 54 and the high speed rotation (9000 rotations or more / The driving conditions at the time of (minute) are stored according to the type of the stator by using a characteristic diagram measured and created according to the type of the stator at the time of manufacturing the X-ray tube device in the format shown in FIG. In the above-described embodiment, the X-ray high-voltage device is an inverter type.
It may be a line high voltage device.

[0028]

According to the X-ray apparatus of the present invention, since the imaging is performed at the minimum rotation speed exceeding the rating of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube apparatus according to the imaging conditions, the imaging is performed. Thus, it is not necessary to start up to a high-speed rotation speed (9000 revolutions / minute or more) irrespective of the imaging conditions, and a thin subject with a low imaging condition is displayed ready for the X-ray high-voltage apparatus (Ready up) The time until is turned on can be shortened, and the time until completion of shooting can be shortened.
In addition, since the frequency of imaging at the holding rotation speed during imaging lower than the high-speed rotation speed (9000 rotations / second or more) increases, the load on the bearings supporting the rotor of the rotating anode X-ray tube of the X-ray tube device is reduced. Along with the low power applied to the stator of the X-ray tube device and the suppression of heat generation, deterioration of bearings supporting the rotor of the X-ray tube device can be prevented, and the life of the X-ray tube device can be maintained long. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the X-ray apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a time chart of the embodiment apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing rated characteristics of a rotating anode of an X-ray tube device during high-speed rotation.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between the number of rotations of the rotating anode and a power time product.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a driving / braking condition list.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: AC power supply HG: Inverter type high voltage device 4 ... Rectifying / smoothing circuit 5 ... Inverter circuit 6 ... High voltage generation circuit 8: X-ray tube device 31 ... Filament 32 ... Rotating anode 33 ... Rotor 34 ... Stator 10: X-ray Control console 11 Ready switch 12 X-ray switch 16 Imaging setting device 17 X-ray tube device selector 20 X-ray control device 13 Inverter control circuit 14 Filament heating circuit 15 Imaging operation circuit 18 Micro Computer 40: Starter device 41 Starter AC power supply 42 Starter power supply circuit 43 Stator 50 Hz braking circuit 44 Stator 180 Hz drive circuit 45 Rotation detection circuit M Microcomputer M: Microcomputer 47 CPU 48 CPU bus line 49 ... I / O circuit 50 ... Timer 51 ... Power circuit 52 ... Input circuit 53 ... Data receiving circuit 54 ... Rotation speed-power time product characteristic memory 56 ... Drive condition storage memory 57 ... Program memory 60,61 ... Switching circuit 62 ... Stator 50Hz drive circuit operation signal 63 ... Stator 180Hz drive Circuit operation signal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray apparatus comprising: an X-ray tube device; a starter device for controlling a rotation speed of a rotating anode of the X-ray tube device; and an X-ray tube high-voltage device for controlling the starter device.
Means for storing the relationship between the number of revolutions of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device controlled by the starter device and the short-time rating,
Means for calculating a rotational speed of the rotating anode during imaging based on the X-ray tube device selected in the X-ray high-voltage device and the set imaging conditions; and calculating the rotational speed of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device. Means for raising the rotation speed during imaging and maintaining the rotation, and when receiving a high-speed rotation start signal from the X-ray high voltage device, the rotation speed of the rotating anode of the X-ray tube device during the imaging. An X-ray apparatus characterized in that the rotation speed is increased to and maintained at a holding rotation speed.