JP2001046365A - Image diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the position of a foot switch unit to be changeable while being matched with the position where an operator performs an operation, to improve operability and to move the foot switch unit to the position capable of preventing the malfunction of a bed in the case of not performing the operation. SOLUTION: This image diagnostic device that a frame 22 provided with a function for photographing a testee body is installed near the bed 21 movable in a vertical direction or the like, is provided with the foot switch unit 24 for adjusting the height of the bed 21 or the like and a guide rail 26 attached around a bed base 21a and a frame base 22d for movably guiding the foot switch unit 24. If the operator pushes the foot switch unit 24 in a rail direction DgL with the foot, the foot switch unit 24 is moved to an optional position along the guide rail 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to moving a couch, for example, in a vertical direction in order to position a subject such as a patient placed on a couch provided in an image diagnostic apparatus such as an X-ray CT apparatus. The present invention relates to an image diagnostic apparatus including a bed positioning operation unit for adjusting the height of a couch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional diagnostic imaging apparatus such as an X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a gantry having a function of imaging a subject (not shown) such as a patient. A foot switch unit 5 that can be moved by being pulled out from a connecting portion 3 connecting the bed 1 for placing the subject with the bed 2 with a cable 4 is placed on the floor. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, foot switch units 6 and 7 are respectively incorporated on both sides of a connecting portion 3 connecting the gantry 1 and the bed 2 to fix the positions of the foot switch units 6 and 7.

The foot switch units 5, 6, 7
Is a couch positioning operation unit that can be operated by an operator stepping on the foot to move the couch 2 in a vertical direction or the like and adjust its height or the like. In this case, the foot switch units 5, 6, 7 can have not only a function for operating the bed 2 but also a function for operating the gantry 1 as described later. The subject placed on the bed 2 is inserted into the imaging opening 1a of the gantry 1 and, for example, is exposed to X-rays in an X-ray CT apparatus.

[0004]

However, the image diagnostic apparatus provided with the above-described foot switch unit has the following problems.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, in the case of an image diagnostic apparatus in which the foot switch unit 5 is pulled out from the connecting portion 3 by the cable 4 and placed on the floor, the movable range of the foot switch unit 5 Becomes narrower. Therefore, the foot switch unit 5 is hard to step on when the operator places the bed 2 on the bed 2 or lowers it while assisting the subject, and the operability of the foot switch unit 5 is reduced. Not good.

Further, since the cable 4 is exposed on the floor surface, when the operator moves around the bed 2 or the like, the foot may be caught on the cable 4 and the foot switch unit 5 may be moved.
May be accidentally stepped on. If the foot switch unit 5 falls down, the bed 2 may malfunction. Furthermore, even when the foot switch unit 5 is not operated, if the foot switch unit 5 is at the foot of the operator, the operator may accidentally step on the foot switch unit 5. If the foot switch unit 5 is stepped on by mistake, the bed 2 may move unexpectedly, thereby giving a feeling of anxiety to the subject.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of an image diagnostic apparatus in which the foot switch units 6 and 7 are incorporated into the connecting portion 3 and their positions are fixed, the image diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. Unlike the case, the cable is not exposed on the floor. Therefore, there is no possibility that the operator may accidentally step on the foot switch unit by stepping on the cable. However, as compared with the case of the image diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1, since the operator cannot operate the foot switch units 6 and 7 at any positions, the range in which the foot switch units 6 and 7 can be operated is considerably large. This limits the operability of the foot switch unit.

For example, a subject is placed on the bed 2 or the bed 2
When the subject P is to be dropped from the bed, the operator S lays down on the bed 2 or rises from the bed 2 while standing at a position substantially at the center of the bed 2 as shown in FIG. It is necessary to operate the foot switch unit while assisting. Therefore, in such a case, it is more preferable that the foot switch unit 8 is provided on the floor side near the center of the bed 2 than the foot switch units 6 and 7 are provided on the connecting portion 3. This is desirable in terms of the operability of the operator S.

On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a subject P whose head is placed on the headrest 9 is to be positioned using a pedestal projector (not shown), the operator S
It is necessary to operate the foot switch unit in a state of being close to the gantry 1 and standing in a position where the head of the subject P is easy to handle. Therefore, in such a case, contrary to the above-described case, the side where the foot switch units 6 and 7 are provided on the floor side at a position close to the gantry 1, for example, on the connecting portion 3, is operated by the operator S. This is desirable from the viewpoint of operability.

However, in the case as shown in FIG. 4, the operator S not only operates the foot switch unit, but also performs operations for turning on and off the gantry projector and tilting the gantry 1 in the tilt direction D. It is necessary to perform operations for Therefore, when the foot switch unit is fixedly provided at the foot of the operator as in the case of the foot switch units 6 and 7, the operator can operate the foot switch unit even when it is not necessary to operate the foot switch unit. There is a risk of accidentally stepping and operating.

When the foot switch unit is fixedly provided as in the case of the foot switch units 6 and 7, when the operator S stands at a position substantially at the center of the bed 2 or a position close to the gantry 1, It is difficult for the operator S to operate the foot switch unit in a natural posture at any of the positions.

Further, even when it is desired to operate the foot switch unit at a position on the back side of the gantry 1 (a position opposite to the side where the bed 2 is provided), for example, the foot switch units 6 and 7 are used. When the switch unit was fixedly provided on the connecting portion 3, the operator could not operate the foot switch unit.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to operate a foot switch unit by changing a position of the foot switch unit in accordance with a position operated by an operator. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image diagnostic apparatus capable of improving the performance and moving the foot switch unit to a position where malfunction of the bed can be prevented when the foot switch unit is not operated.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image diagnostic apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided with a gantry having a function of imaging a subject, and provided near the gantry, A couch on which the subject is placed, moving means for moving the couch, and at least one movable couch positioning operation means for performing the positioning operation of the couch by moving the couch by the moving means; And a guide means for guiding the bed positioning operation means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image diagnostic apparatus, comprising: a frame having a function of photographing a subject; It is characterized by comprising a bed to be placed, one or more movable gantry operation means for operating the gantry, and guide means for guiding the gantry operation means.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows an X-ray computed tomography (CT) as an example of an image diagnostic apparatus provided with a foot switch unit which is a bed positioning operation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the external configuration of the apparatus, FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the configuration of the image diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, viewed from above, and FIG. 7 is the configuration of the image diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows a part of.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the image diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed on a floor such as an examination room of a hospital, and is used to detect a subject such as a patient (not shown). A bed 21 that can be placed and moved vertically, etc., and a bed 2
A moving unit 27 for moving the patient 1 in the up-down direction, etc., and a subject having a photographing opening 22a at the center for X-ray imaging by inserting a subject placed on the bed 21 and inserting the subject placed on the bed 21. A gantry 22 for specimen diagnosis and a foot switch unit 2 which is used as a couch positioning operation unit for adjusting the height of the couch 21 by moving the couch 21 in a vertical direction or the like and which can be operated by an operator's foot
4, 25, and a guide rail 26 attached to the floor side around the bed 21 and the gantry 22 (around the bed base 21a and the gantry base 22d) to guide the foot switch units 24 and 25 to be movable (slidable). ,
A control unit 28 is provided for controlling the operations of the gantry 22 and the moving unit 27 in accordance with the operation of the foot switch units 24 and 25 by the operator.

When the operator pushes the foot switch units 24, 25 in the rail direction Dgl with a foot or the like, the foot switch units 24, 25 move to an arbitrary position along the guide rail 26. The cables of the foot switch units 24 and 25 are curled cords 24.
a is used and when the foot switch units 24 and 25 move along the guide rail 26,
a can be expanded and contracted. Curl cord 24a
Is supported by a cable support arm 24b provided so as to be able to change its direction based on a predetermined fulcrum, and the cable support arm 24b is inclined with respect to the position where the foot switch units 24 and 25 have moved. I do.

The foot switch units 24 and 25
Instead of using a wire such as the curl cord 24a as the cable, it is possible to make the foot switch units 24 and 25 cordless by using wireless or the like, whereby the operator can hook the foot or the like on the curl cord 24a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bed 21 from malfunctioning.

Also, for example, by providing electrodes along the guide rails 26 as in a slip ring structure and by providing electrodes that slide with the electrodes also in the foot switch units 24 and 25, the foot switch can be passed through these electrodes. An electrical signal can be transmitted between the units 24 and 25 and the control unit 28. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the bed 21 from being erroneously operated by the operator hooking the foot or the like on the curl cord 24a. 21 can be easily performed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a foot switch unit provided in the diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Since the foot switch unit 25 has the same configuration as the foot switch unit 24, only the foot switch unit 24 will be described here.

As shown in FIG. 8, the foot switch unit 24 includes a foot switch unit base frame 40 movably provided along the guide rail 26.
And a foot switch 41 attached to the foot switch unit base frame 40 and operated by the operator stepping on the foot Sa.
A spring 42 for maintaining the state of floating from zero, a stopper 43 made of rubber or the like for stopping the movement of the foot switch unit 24 and fixing it at a predetermined position, and the foot switch unit 24 is moved in the rail direction Dg.
1 (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 8) along the guide rail 26, the cam followers 44,
5 and 46.

In the foot switch unit 24, the stopper 43 attached to the bottom surface of the foot switch 41 is normally maintained in a state of being floated by a predetermined gap G from the floor surface 30 by a spring 42, so that the operator can use the stopper 43. Foot S
If the foot switch unit 24 is pushed in the rail direction Dgl in FIG.
6 will move smoothly.

When the operator steps on the foot switch 41 with the foot Sa to operate the foot switch unit 24, the stopper 43 attached to the bottom surface of the foot switch 41 hits the floor surface 30. Thereby, the foot switch unit 24 is moved along the guide rail 26 in the rail direction Dg.
1 is prevented, and the foot switch unit 24 is fixed at the position when the operator steps on the foot switch 41 with the foot Sa.

FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of a configuration in which the bed has a storage section for storing the foot switch unit therein in the diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the storage unit 2 capable of storing the foot switch units 24 and 25 in the bed 21.
1b and 21c are provided. In addition, guide rail 2
Reference numeral 6 is formed so as to be drawn into the storage portions 21b and 21c so that the foot switch units 24 and 25 can be stored therein.

Therefore, the foot switch units 24, 2
5 is not operated, the foot switch units 24 and 25 are moved along the guide rail 26 to the storage section 21.
b, by moving to the inside of 21c and storing,
It is possible to prevent the operator from erroneously stepping on the foot switch units 24 and 25 and causing the bed to malfunction.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of a configuration in which the gantry has a storage section for storing the foot switch unit therein in the diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, storage units 22 b and 22 c capable of storing the foot switch units 24 and 25 are provided in the gantry 22. The guide rail 26 accommodates the foot switch units 24 and 25 in the storage section 2.
It is formed by being drawn into the inside so that it can be stored in 2b, 22c.

Therefore, the foot switch units 24, 2
When the operator does not operate the device 5, the foot switch units 24 and 25 are moved along the guide rails 26 to the insides of the storage portions 22b and 22c and stored therein, as in the case shown in FIG. Thus, it is possible to prevent the bed from malfunctioning by stepping on the foot switch units 24 and 25.

The foot switch units 24 and 25
Is not operated, as described above, the operator does not store the foot switch units 24 and 25 in the storage portions 21b, 21c, 22b and 22c in the bed 21 or the gantry 22, and the operator does not perform other operations than the bed positioning operation. Of course, it is possible to move the foot switch units 24 and 25 to a position where they do not hinder the operation. Further, a storage section for storing the foot switch units 24 and 25 can be provided outside the bed 21 and the gantry 22.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the guide rail for guiding the foot switch unit is provided around both the bed and the gantry, but the cost of the apparatus is reduced and the configuration is simplified. For this purpose, it is also possible to provide a guide rail only around one of the bed or the gantry.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the guide rail is provided to guide the foot switch unit. However, the foot switch unit can be easily moved to an arbitrary position depending on whether the operation is performed or not. If such a mechanism is provided, it is not always necessary to provide a guide rail.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the bed 2
A case has been described in which two foot switch units are movably provided on the guide rails so that they can be operated at a plurality of arbitrary positions, such as a position substantially at the center of the center and a position on the back side of the gantry 22. The present invention is not limited to providing two foot switch units on the guide rail, and it is also possible to provide one foot switch unit or three or more foot switch units on the guide rail.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the foot switch units 24 and 25 have been described as dedicated to the bed operation. However, in order to enhance the function, the foot switch units 24 and 25 are used to further operate the gantry. It is possible to have each function. Further, the foot switch unit 24 can be used exclusively for the bed operation, and the foot switch unit 25 can be used exclusively for the gantry operation, thereby facilitating the operation.

Further, in the present invention, X is used as an image diagnostic apparatus.
Although the present invention has been described using an X-ray CT apparatus as an example, the present invention
The present invention is not limited to application to an apparatus, and can be applied to, for example, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a nuclear medicine apparatus.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, a guide rail for guiding a movable foot switch unit is provided on a floor surface around a gantry and a bed, and a position where an operator stands when operating the foot switch unit. The configuration allows the position of the foot switch unit to be freely changed according to the operator, so that the operator can safely and quickly operate the foot switch unit in a natural posture without difficulty, The operability of the foot switch unit can be improved. Therefore,
The operator can easily and quickly perform operations such as assistance and positioning of the subject.

Further, when the foot switch unit does not need to be operated, the foot switch unit can be stored in a bed or a storage unit in the gantry, so that the subject can be moved from the bed to a moving bed or a wheelchair, Can be prevented from being erroneously operated by the operator when stepping on the foot switch unit and the bed can be erroneously operated, and safety can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an X-ray CT apparatus which is an example of an image diagnostic apparatus in which a foot switch unit which is a bed positioning operation unit is pulled out by a conventional cable.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an image diagnostic apparatus in which a conventional foot switch unit is incorporated and its position is fixed.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining an arrangement position of a couch positioning operation unit when a subject is placed on a couch and assisted in a conventional diagnostic imaging apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement position of a couch positioning operation unit when a subject is positioned by a gantry projector in a conventional diagnostic imaging apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an X-ray CT apparatus which is an example of an image diagnostic apparatus including a foot switch unit which is a bed positioning operation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the configuration of the image diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from above.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of the image diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a foot switch unit provided in the diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of a configuration in which the bed has a storage unit for storing the foot switch unit in the image diagnostic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of a configuration in which the gantry includes a storage unit for storing the foot switch unit therein in the diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Bed 22 Stand 22a Image opening 24, 25 Foot switch unit 24a Curl cord 24b Cable support arm 26 Guide rail 27 Moving unit 28 Control unit 40 Foot switch unit base frame 41 Foot switch 42 Spring 43 Stopper 44, 45, 46 Cam follower

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yuichi Kasuya 2-16-4 Akabane, Kita-ku, Tokyo Inside Toshiba Medical System Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Wataru Taguchi 1385-1 Shimoishigami, Otawara-shi, Tochigi F-term in Toshiba Nasu factory (reference) 4C093 AA22 CA15 CA35 ED06 ED30

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A gantry having a function of imaging a subject, a couch provided in proximity to the gantry, on which the subject is placed, a moving means for moving the couch, and the couch by the moving means An image diagnostic apparatus, comprising: at least one movable couch positioning operation means for performing a positioning operation of the couch by moving the couch; and a guide means for guiding the couch positioning operation means. 2. The image diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit is provided around at least one of the gantry or the bed. 3. The guide means has a guide rail,
The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bed positioning operation unit is moved along the guide rail. 4. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the couch has a storage section for storing the couch positioning operation means. 5. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gantry has a storage unit that stores the bed positioning operation unit. 6. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the couch positioning operation means has a stopper, and the position of the couch positioning operation means is fixed by the stopper. 7. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bed positioning operation means is a foot switch unit. 8. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the couch positioning operation means is cordless. 9. The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning operation means forms a slip ring structure with the guide means. 10. A gantry having a function of imaging a subject, a bed provided close to the gantry, on which the subject is placed, and one or more movable gantry operations for operating the gantry And a guide means for guiding the gantry operation means.