JP2007135708A - X-ray detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray detection apparatus in which a rotation mechanism can be easily arranged and an unpleasant feeling given to a patient can be reduced.
SOLUTION: A flat detector 1 that detects X-rays and converts them into an electric signal, and a heat absorbing portion 7 that is disposed on the X-ray transmission surface side of the flat detector 1 and absorbs heat generated from the flat detector 1. The support 91 attached to the X-ray transmission surface side of the flat detector 1, the cooling unit 6 that generates a refrigerant for cooling the heat absorption unit 7, and the refrigerant generated by the cooling unit 6 to the heat absorption unit 7 The refrigerant supply pipe 83 for sending and the main body frame part 4 in which the cooling part 6 is arranged are provided, and the support body 91 is rotatably engaged with the main body frame part 4.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray detection apparatus used for an X-ray diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an X-ray detection apparatus provided with a flat panel detector.

  In recent years, in the medical field, in order to perform treatment quickly and accurately, a database of patient medical information has been developed. There is also a demand for creating a database for image data of X-ray imaging, and accordingly, digitization of X-ray imaging images is desired.

  In the conventional X-ray diagnostic apparatus, since a photograph is taken using a silver salt film, in order to digitize this, it is necessary to develop the photographed film and then scan the film again with a scanner or the like. I spent time and effort.

  A recent cardiovascular X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector disposed opposite to the X-ray generator, and a C-arm that supports the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, A method of directly generating a digital image by using a combination of a CCD (Charge-coupled Device) camera and an image intensifier is used for the X-ray detection unit.

  However, for example, when imaging the lung, since an area of about 40 cm × 40 cm is to be imaged, an optical unit for condensing light is necessary in the X-ray detection unit. Decrease in resolution due to distortion becomes a problem.

  As a means for solving the problem of the X-ray detection unit, for example, a flat panel detector having a photoelectric conversion element as a minute light receiving medium of 150 to 200 μm and an area sensor surface on which several million thin film transistors are arranged has attracted attention. ing. This flat panel detector can detect X-rays from the area sensor surface and directly convert it into a digital image to produce a digital image. Therefore, the flat detector can provide sharpness comparable to that of a film, has a very wide dynamic range, and has a high X-ray irradiation amount. Stable images can be obtained regardless of size.

  However, there is a problem that the entire system does not operate normally unless appropriate heat radiation and cooling means are applied to the heat generated from the electronic circuit in the flat detector. To solve this problem, an X-ray detector provided with a cooling unit in the flat detector has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an X-ray detection unit 200 in which a conventional flat panel detector is provided with a cooling unit. The X-ray detection unit 200 is disposed on a flat detector 201 having a front surface 211 on which X-rays are incident, a back surface 212 including a heat generation region, and the like, and a back surface 212 of the flat detector 201. And a cooling unit 202 that cools the generated heat.

  The cooling unit 202 is disposed between the heat conductors 221a and 221b such as silicone rubber that transfers heat and the heat conductors 221a and 221b, and cools the back surface 212 of the flat detector 201 via the heat conductor 121a. A Peltier element 222, a radiator 223 that radiates heat generated from the Peltier element 222 through the heat conductor 221b, and a fan 224 that forcibly air-cools the radiator 223.

The flat detector 201 detects X-rays that have passed through a subject placed on a bed (not shown) disposed to face the surface 211 of the flat detector 201.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-271456

  However, when the flat detector 201 is inserted at an angle with respect to the body axis of the subject when the flat detector 201 is placed at the time of X-ray imaging, the corner portion of the flat detector 201 formed into a square is X. Since the X-ray detection surface cannot be used effectively because it deviates from the irradiation region, it is necessary to rotate the side of the flat detector 201 so as to be parallel to the body axis direction of the subject. However, since the cooling unit 202 including the Peltier element 222, the radiator 223, the fan 224, and the like is integrally fixed to the back surface 212 of the flat detector 201, a rotation mechanism that rotates the flat detector 201. However, even the cooling unit 202 that does not need to be rotated is rotated, and an unnecessary load is applied to the rotating mechanism.

  In addition, since the flat detector 201 and the cooling unit 202 are set in the vicinity of the patient, the patient poses unfavorable and unpleasant hygiene problems such as dust lifting by the fan 224, rotation noise, and wind contact. There is.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray detection apparatus in which the rotation mechanism can be easily arranged and the discomfort given to the patient can be reduced.

  In order to solve the above problems, an X-ray detection apparatus according to the present invention includes a flat detector that detects X-rays and converts them into an electrical signal, and a support body that is attached to the X-ray transmission surface side of the flat detector. A heat absorbing means for absorbing heat generated from the flat panel detector, a main body frame portion rotatably engaged with the support, and a cooling means and a rotating means arranged inside the main body frame. A cooling means in the main body frame portion is disposed at a position spaced apart from the heat absorption means via the rotation means, the heat absorption means is the cooling means, and a refrigerant pipe for sending refrigerant from the cooling means, And it connected by the exhaust refrigerant pipe which discharges | emits the heat absorbed from the said heat absorption means.

  According to the present invention, a compact endothermic part that absorbs heat from the flat detector is arranged in the flat detector, and a cooling part that cools the endothermic part is arranged apart from the flat detector, so that the flat surface can be easily obtained. X-ray detection device that can rotate the detector and can reduce dust winding and rotation noise and wind perception in the vicinity of the patient, thereby improving hygiene and reducing discomfort for the patient Can provide.

  Examples of the present invention will be described.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the X-ray detection apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray detection apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The X-ray detection apparatus 10 detects an X-ray and converts it into an electric signal. The flat detector 1 whose schematic configuration is described with reference to FIG. 2, a detector control unit 2 that controls the flat detector 1, and flat detection A signal processing unit 3 that processes an electrical signal output from the device 1 to generate X-ray projection data, and a main body frame unit 4.

  Here, a schematic configuration of the flat detector 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The flat detector 1 includes a detection element 11 that converts X-rays arranged near the surface on which X-rays are incident into charges, a gate driver 15 that supplies a drive pulse for reading to the detection element 11, and a detection element 11. A scanning line 16 that connects the gate drivers 15, an amplifier 17 that converts charges accumulated in the detection element 11 into a voltage, a signal line 18 that connects the detection element 11 and the amplifier 17, and an output from the amplifier 17. A multiplexer 19 for selecting a signal and an A / D converter 20 for converting an analog signal from the multiplexer 19 into a digital signal are provided.

  The detection element 11 includes a large number of detection elements 11 (11aa, 11ab, 11ba, 11bb) arranged two-dimensionally in the column direction and the line direction indicated by arrows. Each element 11 senses X-rays and generates a charge according to the incident X-ray dose, and a charge storage capacitor 13 (13aa) that accumulates the charge generated on the photoelectric film 12. , 13ab, 13ba, 13bb) and a switching element (SW) 14 (14aa, 14ab, 14ba, 14bb) such as a thin film transistor for reading out the charge stored in the charge storage capacitor 13 at a predetermined timing.

  In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the configuration of detection elements 11aa, 11ab, 11ba, and 11bb in which two detection elements 11 are arranged in the column direction (vertical direction) and in the line direction (horizontal direction) will be described. .

  The first terminals of the photoelectric films 12aa, 12ab, 12ba, and 12bb are connected to the first terminals of the charge storage capacitors 13aa, 13ab, 13ba, and 13bb. Connected to the source terminal.

  On the other hand, the second terminals of the photoelectric films 12aa, 12ab, 12ba, and 12bb are connected to a bias power source (not shown), and the second terminals of the charge storage capacitors 13aa, 13ab, 13ba, and 13bb are grounded.

  Further, the gates of SW14aa and SW14ba in the line direction are commonly connected to the scanning line 16a of the scanning line 16, and the gates of SW14ab and 14bb are commonly connected to the scanning line 16b of the scanning line 16.

  On the other hand, the drain terminals of SW14aa and 14ab in the column direction are commonly connected to the signal line 18a of the signal line 18, and the drain terminals of SW14ba and 14bb are commonly connected to the signal line 18b of the signal line 18, respectively. The signal lines 18 a and 18 b are connected to the amplifiers 17 a and 17 b of the amplifier 17.

  The gate driver 15 supplies a drive pulse for reading to the gate terminal of the SW 14 in order to read the signal charge generated in the photoelectric film 12 of each detection element 11 by X-ray irradiation and accumulated in the charge storage capacitor 13.

  The amplifiers 17a and 17b convert the charges read from the charge storage capacitors 13aa, 13ab, 13ba, and 13bb of the detection element 11 via the signal lines 17a and 17b into a voltage and amplify them.

  The multiplexer 19 selects the signal amplified by the amplifier 17 for each detection element and outputs it to the A / D converter 20. The A / D converter 20 converts the analog signal input from the multiplexer 19 into a digital signal and outputs a signal. Output to the processing unit 3.

  The signal processing unit 3 processes the digital signal output from the A / D converter 20 of the flat detector 1 based on the control of the detector control unit 2 to generate X-ray projection data.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the main body frame portion 4 includes a cooling mechanism 5 for cooling the flat detector 1 and a rotating mechanism 9 for rotating the flat detector 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body frame portion 4 is disposed on the back surface 1b of the flat detector 1, and houses and arranges a cooling mechanism 5a, a rotation mechanism 9, and a cooling mechanism 5b.

  The case of the main body frame portion 4 includes an upper portion 4a, a lower portion 4c parallel to the back surface 1b of the flat detector 1, a side portion 4b1 perpendicular to the back surface 1b, an inclined side portion 4b2, and further, both side surfaces 4b3 and a lower portion 4c portion. Thus, a storage chamber is formed from a support 91 fixed to the back surface 1b of the flat detector 1 that rotatably supports the case. And the cooling mechanism 5b is hold | maintained by the upper part 4a and the side part 4b1 of the main body frame part 4, and the rotation mechanism 9 is hold | maintained by the side part 4b1 and the lower part 4c. The cooling mechanism 5 a is accommodated in the support 91.

Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 3, the structure of cooling mechanism 5a, 5b and the rotation mechanism 9 is demonstrated.
The cooling mechanism includes a cooling mechanism 5b composed of a cooling unit 6 that sucks and cools outside air, a cooling mechanism 5a composed of a heat absorbing unit 7 that absorbs heat generated from the flat detector 1, and the space between the cooling unit 6 and the heat absorbing unit 7. And a pipe portion 8 connected to the.

  The cooling unit 6 radiates heat generated in the cooler 63, a cooler 63 that generates a refrigerant from the outside air sucked through the fan 61 and the cooling fins 62 that suck in the outside air, a control circuit 64 that controls the cooler 63, and the cooler 63. And is fixed above the side part 4b1 of the main body frame part 4. Further, one end of an intake duct 82 of the pipe portion 8 is connected to the upper portion of the cooling portion 6, and one end of a refrigerant feeding pipe 83 of the pipe portion 8 is connected to the lower portion thereof.

  The fan 61 sends outside air sucked through the intake duct 82 to the cooling fins 62 made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum and copper, and the cooling fin 62 cools the outside air from the fan 61 to generate refrigerant. . Then, the refrigerant generated by the cooling fins 62 is sent out to the refrigerant feeding pipe 83.

  The cooler 63 composed of a Peltier element or the like has a cooling fin 62 joined to the heat absorption side forming one surface and a heat radiator 65 joined to the heat generation side forming the other surface. The radiator 65 may be provided with a forced cooling fan.

  The control circuit 64 is attached to the outside of the side portion 4b1 and controls the cooler 63 based on a temperature signal from the heat absorbing portion 7 of the cooling mechanism 5a to adjust the temperature of the heat absorbing portion 7 within a predetermined range.

  The heat absorbing portion 7 constituting the cooling mechanism 5a housed and arranged in the support 91 is made of the same material between the opposing rectangular upper and lower plates made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as aluminum and copper. A meandering flow path is arranged and provided with a temperature sensor 7a for measuring the temperature inside the flow path.

  The other end of the refrigerant pipe 83 is connected to one end of the flow path of the heat absorbing section 7, and one end of the exhaust refrigerant pipe 84 of the pipe section 8 is connected to the other end of the flow path. The other end passes through the body frame portion 4 and communicates with the outside from the upper portion 4a.

  The temperature sensor 7 a is composed of a sensor such as a thermocouple or a thermistor, measures the temperature inside the heat absorption unit 7, and outputs the temperature signal to the control circuit 64 of the cooling unit 6.

  The heat absorption unit 7 absorbs the heat of the flat detector 1 with the refrigerant sent from the cooling unit 6 to the meandering flow path of the heat absorption unit 7 through the refrigerant transmission pipe 83, and then the refrigerant is transferred to the upper part of the main body frame 4. It is discharged from the exhaust port 85 of the exhaust refrigerant pipe 84 derived from 4a.

  Thus, since the heat absorption part 7 is only provided with the flow path of the refrigerant | coolant which absorbs heat in the inside, it has the compact size with the small thickness between the upper surface and lower surface, and the heat absorption of the flat detector 1 is carried out. A rotating mechanism 9 to be described later can be provided on the back surface 1b on which the portion is arranged by using the upper space. Reference numeral 86 denotes a pipe holding portion that holds the refrigerant supply pipe 83 and the exhaust refrigerant pipe 84.

  The intake duct 82 is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber or soft vinyl chloride resin. The refrigerant pipe 83 and the exhaust refrigerant pipe 84 are made of a hard pipe material such as hard vinyl chloride between the both ends of the meandering flow path of the heat absorbing portion 7 and the vicinity of the central axis 10a of the X-ray detection device 10. The elastic tube material such as silicone rubber and soft vinyl chloride resin has a space between the other end located near the central axis 10a of the cured tube material and the cooling unit 6 and the exhaust port 85. It arrange | positions by length and the heat insulating material is given to the outer periphery of all the pipe materials.

  The refrigerant discharge direction from the exhaust port 85 is set in a direction that does not directly contact a patient positioned on the surface 1a side of the flat detector 1, that is, a direction parallel to the surface 1a (or the back surface 1b) or the surface 1a ( Or what is necessary is just the direction away from the back surface 1b).

  The tube holding portion 86 is disposed below the cooling portion 6 and in parallel with the upper surface of the heat absorbing portion 7, and one end portion thereof is fixed to the side portion 4b1 and is supplied to two holes formed in the tube holding portion 86. The pipe 83 and the exhaust refrigerant pipe 84 are penetrated and supported.

  The rotation mechanism 9 is housed in a space formed by a support 91 fixed to the back surface 1b of the flat detector 1 and a lower portion 4c of the main body frame 4 that engages with the support 91. A motor 92 that rotates 91, a pinion 93 and a gear 94 that transmit the rotational force of the motor 92 to the support 91, and a bearing 95 that smoothly rotates the support 91 are provided.

  An engagement flange 91a of the support 91 is engaged in an opening 4c1 provided in an intermediate portion of the lower portion 4c of the main body frame portion 4, and the engagement flange portion 91a and the lower portion 4c of the main body frame 4 are between the opposing surfaces. A bearing 95 is disposed.

  The motor 92 is fixed to the inside of the side portion 4b1 with the rotating shaft facing downward, and a pinion 93 engaged with an annular gear 94 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor 92.

  The gear 94 is disposed at a position where the rotation center thereof coincides with the central axis 10 a of the opening 4 c 1, and is fixed to the upper surface of the engagement flange portion 91 a of the support 91. The rotational force from the motor 92 transmitted via the pinion 93 and the gear 94 rotates the support 91 via the bearing 95, and the flat detector 1 rotates the central axis 10a by the rotation of the support 91. It turns around the moving axis.

  The refrigerant supply pipe 83 and the exhaust refrigerant pipe 84 are inserted and arranged in the vicinity of the central axis 10a, and the respective pipe members are arranged with elastic bodies so that the refrigerant is supplied by rotation of the flat detector 1. The pipe 83 and the exhaust refrigerant pipe 84 are not blocked and the refrigerant does not flow.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the compact heat absorption part that absorbs the heat generated by the flat detector is disposed on the back surface of the flat detector, and the cooling part that cools the heat absorption part is separated from the flat detector. By arranging at the position, a turning mechanism for turning the flat detector can be easily provided.

  In addition, the refrigerant pipe that sends the refrigerant from the cooling section to the heat absorption section and the exhaust refrigerant pipe that discharges the refrigerant from the heat absorption section are made of an elastic material, and are arranged in the vicinity of the rotation axis of the flat detector with a certain length. By doing so, even if the flat detector is rotated, the refrigerant can flow without closing the refrigerant feeding pipe and the exhaust refrigerant pipe.

  Furthermore, since the cooling unit can be arranged away from the flat detector set in the vicinity of the patient, by further disposing the exhaust port at a position away from the flat detector, it is possible to wind up dust from the cooling unit to be given to the patient. The effects of rotational noise can be reduced. Therefore, hygiene can be improved and the discomfort can be relieved for the patient. Moreover, the discomfort given to the patient can be relieved by setting the discharge direction of the exhaust port refrigerant in a direction parallel to the back surface or away from the back surface.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and a circulation flow path is formed by connecting the intake port and the exhaust port, and the fan is replaced with a circulation pump that circulates a liquid refrigerant such as water. The detector may be cooled and performed.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the X-ray detection apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure for demonstrating schematic structure of the flat detector which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the cooling part which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the conventional X-ray detection apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Planar detector 2 Detector control part 3 Signal processing part 4 Main body frame part 5 Cooling mechanism 6 Cooling part 7 Heat absorption part 7a Temperature sensor 8 Tube part 9 Rotating mechanism 10 X-ray detection device 61 Fan 62 Cooling fin 63 Cooler 64 Control circuit 65 Radiator 81 Intake port 82 Intake duct 83 Refrigerant pipe 84 Exhaust refrigerant pipe 85 Exhaust port 86 Pipe holding part

Claims (7)

A flat panel detector that detects X-rays and converts them into electrical signals;
An endothermic means that is disposed on the X-ray transmission surface side of the flat panel detector and absorbs heat generated from the flat panel detector;
A support attached to the X-ray transmission surface side of the flat detector and supporting the flat detector;
A main body frame portion rotatably engaged with the support;
A cooling means that is disposed in the main body frame portion and generates a refrigerant for cooling the heat absorption means;
An X-ray detection apparatus comprising: a cooling means for sending the refrigerant generated by the cooling means to the heat absorption means.   The X-ray detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation unit that is disposed in the main body frame portion and rotates the support.   The X-ray detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust cooling unit for discharging the refrigerant from the cooling unit from the heat absorption unit.   The X-ray detection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cooling unit and the exhaust cooling unit are a refrigerant transmission tube and an exhaust refrigerant tube made of an elastic material.   The X-ray detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the refrigerant supply pipe and the exhaust refrigerant pipe are arranged in the vicinity of a rotation axis of the flat detector.   An exhaust port of the exhaust refrigerant pipe for discharging the refrigerant to the outside is disposed at a position farther from the flat detector than the cooling means of the main body frame portion, and the discharge direction of the refrigerant is the surface of the flat detector 5. The X-ray detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the X-ray detection apparatus is oriented in parallel to or in a direction away from the surface of the flat detector.   The cooling means sucks outside air and sends the refrigerant to the heat absorbing means, a Peltier element for cooling the outside air sucked by the fan to generate the refrigerant, and a temperature provided in the heat absorbing means The X-ray detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit that controls the Peltier element based on a temperature signal from a sensor.

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