US3708662A

US3708662A - X-ray photographing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3708662A
Application number: US00071194A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Kurokawa; S Nishiyama; T Okubo; K Nagai
Original assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Ltd; SHOJI NISHIYAMA
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp; SHOJI NISHIYAMA
Priority date: 1969-09-11
Filing date: 1970-09-10
Publication date: 1973-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-02
Also published as: DE2044887A1; NL156040B; NL7013451A

Abstract

An X-ray photographing apparatus capable of adjustably moving or rotating separately or in combination the following three means: means for rotating a bed board about a shaft fitted thereto; means for rotating the bed board in a vertical plane so as to displace an examinee lying on the bed board from a horizontal to an upright position or vice versa; and means for jointly shifting in the lengthwise direction of the examinee an X-ray tube and Xray image detecting and photographing device which are so disposed as to have the examinee therebetween.

Description

United States Patent H 1 Kurokawa et al. [4 1 Jan. 2, 1973 S4] X-RAY PHOTOGRAPHING [56] References Cited APPARATUS UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventors: Toshro Kurokawa, Mmato-ku,

Tokyo; Nishiyama Hachin. 1,573,571 2/1926 POhl .L ..250/57 ohe-shi Aomori-ken; Toshio okubo 3,500,045 3/l970 Rossi ..250/57 Atsugi-shi, Kanagawa-ken; Katsumi Nagai, Suginarni-ku, Tokyo, all of Japan Assignees: Toshio Kurokawa, Tokyo; Shoji Nishiyama, Hachinohe-shi, Aomoriken; Tokyo Shlbaura Electric Co., Ltd., Kawasaki-shi, Japan Filed: Sept. 10, 1970 Appl. No.: 71,194

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 11, 1969 Japan ..45/71627 Sept. 29, 1969 Japan ..45/77080 1 US. Cl ..250/55, 250/57 Int. Cl. ..G03b 41/16 Field of Search ..250/57, 56, 55

Primary Examiner-Archie R. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. E. Church Attorney-Flynn and Frishauf [5 7 ABSTRACT An X-ray photographing apparatus capable of adjustably moving or rotating separately or in combination the following three means: means for rotating a bed board about a shaft fitted thereto; means for rotating the bed board in a vertical plane so as to displace an examinee lying on the bed board from a horizontal to an upright position or vice versa; and means for jointly shifting in the lengthwise direction of the examinee an X-ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device which are so disposed as to have the examinee therebetween.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures X-RAY PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS The present invention relates to an X-ray photographing apparatus involving means for moving or rotating a bed board, X-ray tube, and X-ray image detecting and photographing device.

Where X-ray photographic examination is made to detect a site of diseases such as cancer or an ulcer in the stomach, there is introduced into an examinees stomach an image forming agent such as a solution of barium and air or a foaming agent. The barium solution is deposited on the creased inner walls of the stomach and the peripheral edge thereof, distinctly presenting the condition of the disease site on an X-ray photographic film. Air or a foaming agent is taken in to allow the interior of the stomach to be photographed in an expanded state. The X-ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device so positioned as to have an examinee therebetween are energized to project the condition of the disease site on the film of the X-ray image detecting and photographing device. However, if, in case such photographing is made of the stomach only in one direction, the examinee does not take a proper position or the photographing device does not define a suitable angle with respect to him, there are occasions where part of the disease site is hidden from the photographing device, failing to be presented on the film. In such case, it is necessary to wave the X-ray tube and X-ray photographing device for adjustment with respect to the examinees position or conversely to change his position, particularly his lying position with respect to the X-ray tube and X-ray photographing device. Displacement of the position of the examinees body results from the necessity of projecting the hidden portion of a disease site and causing the image forming barium solution taken into the stomach to be removed from the place where it is initially settled so as to set the inner walls of the stomach on which there is deposited the barium solution substantially perpendicular to the direction inwhich there is irradiated an X-ray flux from an X-ray tube, thereby to facilitate such photographing.

At this point, consideration should be given to the optimum condition in which the barium solution is deposited on the creased inner walls of the stomach. By the optimum condition of said deposition is meant the condition in which the barium solution only settles on the recesses of the creased stomach walls and not on the projecting parts thereof. To realize such a condition, it is required that amounts of the barium solution used be controlled and its viscosity be properly chosen. The reason is that if there are attached large amounts of the solution to the stomach walls due to excess application, the creased portions of the walls fail to be distinctly observed and if the solution is too viscous, it will also unfavorably settle on the projecting parts. If the, solution is too much diluted, it will upon displacement of the examinees position flow out of the recesses of the creases into the particular section ofthe stomach which will serve as a sort of receptacle to collect such solution.

Selection of not only the amounts and viscosity of a barium solution used, but also, the displacement of the position of an examinees body and the timing of photographing constituteimportant factors in carrying out accurate X-ray photographing. Accordingly, it has been greatly demanded to develop such type of X-ray photographing apparatus as will permit the shifting of an X-ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device for adjustment with respect to the position of an examinees body and also the quick displacement of the position of said body itself, particularly his lying position. However, the conventional X-ray photographing apparatus of the aforementioned type has the drawbacks that the relative peripheral shifting of the X- ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device to effect the proper projection of an X-ray flux on the latter is limited to a certain range of peripheral angles, preventing every nook and corner of the creased inner walls of the stomach assuming a complicated three-dimensional form from being distinctly observed and also the position of an examinees body from being quickly altered to obtain an optimumdeposition of a barium solution. Such a prior apparatus as a whole is mechanically restricted in operation.

It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide an Xray photographing apparatus which is capable of minutely adjusting the following three means involved: means for altering the direction in which there is projected an X-ray flux; means for rotating a bed board about a shaft fitted thereto; and means for rotating in a vertical plane so as to displace the position of an examinees body from a horizontal to an upright position or vice versa.

The present invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic pictorial view of an X-ray photographing apparatus concretely illustrating the principle on which the present invention is based;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration, partly in section, of an X-ray photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram comparingthe manner in which there is conducted X-ray photographing by the device of the invention with that by the conventional device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a bed board 1 has a shaft 2 fitted thereto in a manner to extend in its longitudinal direction. The shaft 2 is supported at both ends by bearings 3a and 3b respectively. Below the bed board 1, there are fixed both ends of an arched'rack 4 to the

bearings

30 and 3b with the curvature turned downward. To one lateral side of the bed board'l is fitted a support arm 5 in a manner to slide lengthwise of the bed board 1 in the direction of the indicated arrows. To both ends of the support arm 5 are fitted an X- ray tube 6 and X-ray image detecting and photographing device 7 ina manner to face the opposite sides of the bed board 1.

The first control means involved in the X-ray photographing apparatus of the present invention permits the adjustable sliding of the X-ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device in the longitudinal direction of the bed board 1 with an examinee (not shown) lying thereon disposed between these two members 6 and'7.

The shaft 2 is fitted near one end with a worm wheel 8, which is connected to a first motor 10 through a worm screw 9 meshing with the first mentioned worm wheel 8. The drive of the motor 10 rotates the worm wheel 8 and in consequence the shaft 2 engaged therewith in either of the directions indicated by the arrows b of FIG. 1, thereby adjusting the rotation of the bed board through 360 max. This operation is undertaken by the second control means of the invention. According to the third control means of the invention, there is meshed a pinion 11 with the outer periphery of the arched rack 4. The pinion 11 is connected to a worm wheel 13 through a shaft 12. The worm wheel 13 meshes with a worm screw 14 and is connected to a motor 16 through a shaft 15. The drive of the motor 16 transmits a rotating moment to the pinion 11 through the worm screw 14, worm wheel 13 and shaft 12. The rotatable engagement of the pinion 11 with the rack 4 permits the latter to rotate in the direction of the indicated arrows c. Said rotation enables the examinee on the bed board 1 to be displaced from a horizontal to an upright position or vice versa.

There will now be described the movement and rotation of the X-ray tube, X-ray image detecting and photographing apparatus and bed board in .three directions indicated by the arrows of a, b and c by reference to an embodiment of the present invention concretely illustrated in FIG. 2. According to FIG. 2, a support arm 20 for supporting a photographing device is rotatably supported on a support stand 22 by means of a support shaft 21. The ends of the support arm 20 are connected through

bearings

23 and 24 and through

shafts

25 and 26 to the corresponding ends of a bed board 27 and a support frame 28 respectively. To both ends of the bed board 27 are fitted

support members

29 and 30 at right angles to the horizontal plane of the bed board 27. The

aforesaid shafts

25 and 26 are fixed to the

support members

29 and 30. The bed board 27 is provided at one end with a footstool on which an examinee steps when he is brought to an upright position. Both ends of the support frame 28 are bent perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the frame 28 to constitute bent sections 31 and 32. These bent sections 31 and 32 are rotatably connected to the

shafts

25 and 26 by bearings 33 and 34. An X-ray tube 36 received in a frame 37 and X-ray image detecting and photographing device 38 are connected by support rods 39 at such positions as to have the bed board 27 and support frame 28 disposed therebetween. These X-ray tube 36 and X-ray' photographing device 38 are fitted to the support frame 28 by a known slide mechanism (not shown) so as adjustably to slide lengthwise of the bed board 27. Outside of the support frame 28 is provided a drive mechanism 40 for the support frame 28 and bed board 27. To the outside of the support frame 28 is fixed one end of another substantially L-shaped frame 41. To the inside of the lateral side of said L-shaped frame 41 is fitted a first motor 42, which is operated when it is desired to rotate the bed board 27 and support frame 28 at the same time. The rotary shaft 43 of the first motor 42 engages a gear 44, which in turn engages another gear 46 through a pinion 45. The latter gear 46 is fixed to the support arm 20 by screws 47 in a manner to rotate jointly with the support arm 20 about the shaft 26 by means of the bearing 24. To the outside of the support frame 28 is fixed another motor 48, which is only intended to rotate the bed board 27. The rotary shaft of the motor 48 meshes with a gear 50, which in turn meshes with another gear 52 through a pinion 51. The latter gear 52 meshes with the shaft 26 to rotate therewith.

There will now be described the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 2 arranged as described above which corresponds to the movement or rotation in the three directions indicated by the arrows a, b and c of FIG. 1. Operation in the direction of the arrows a is effected by a slide mechanism (not shown) as previously described, namely, by causing the X-ray tube 36 received in the frame 37 to slide along the support frame 28 and also the X-ray image detecting and photographing device 38 to slide lengthwise of the bed board 27, together with the X-ray tube 36.

Operation in the direction of the arrows b is conducted in the following manner. In this case, the bed board 27 alone is rotated, with the support frame kept immovable, namely, the X-ray tube 36 and X-ray image detecting and photographing device kept stationary. The second motor 48 is driven to rotate the gear 50, for example, clockwise through the shaft 49. The pinion 51 meshed with the gear 50 rotates counterclockwise, causing the gear 52 meshed with the pinion 51 to rotate clockwise. The gear 52 is fixed to the shaft 26, the end of which is fitted to the support member 30 of the bed board 27. The shaft 25 fixed to the other support member 29 of the bed board 27 is rotatably connected through the

bearings

33 and 23 to the bent section 31 of the support frame 28 and the end of the support arm 20 respectively. The clockwise rotation of the gear 52 causes the bed board 27 to rotate similarly clockwise. When the second motor 48 is rotated in the opposite direction to the preceding case, the bed board 27 will naturally rotate counterclockwise.

The rotation of the bed board 27 alone is performed when it is desired to alter the examinees lying position with the direction in which to project the X-rays unchanged. In this case, the bed board 27 and support frame 28 are rotated at the same time. This operation is conducted as follows. The first motor 42 is driven, for example, counterclockwise, causing the pinion 45 to rotate clockwise. The gear 46 is fixed to the end of the support arm 20 by screws 47, and both ends of the support frame 28 supporting the frame 41 are carried on the bearings 33 and 34. Accordingly, the pinion 45 rotates clockwise about the gear 46 with the support arm 20 kept immovable, so that the support frame 28, together with the first motor 42 and its support frame 41, rotates clockwise. As the result of the rotation of the support frame 28, the second motor 48 fixed thereto though not electrically energized, changes its position. Said displacement is transmitted through the pinion 51 to the gear 52 to cause it to rotate clockwise.

Since the shaft 26 meshed with the gear 52 is fixed to the support member 30 of the bed board 27, the clockwise rotation of the gear 52 causes the bed board 27 to rotate similarly clockwise together with the support frame 28.

Operation in the direction of the arrows c of FIG. 1 is carried out as follows. Manual or electrical rotation of the shaft 21 causes the support arm to be inclined to any desired point so as to match the displacement of the bed board 27 from a horizontal to an upright position or vice versa.

A suitable combination of means capable of movement or rotation in the aforementioned three directions, coupled with proper adjustment, permits the X-ray applied part of an examinees body to be accurately and distinctly projected on a film.

As apparent from FIG. 3, with the conventional X- ray photographing apparatus (indicated by FIGS. 3- 1(a), 3-2(a), 3-8(a), the distance between the X- ray photographing device 5 and examinees body A and the effective photographing area of the examined part vary with the position of his body. In contrast, with the X-ray photographing apparatus of the present invention (indicated by FIGS. 3-l(b), 3-2(b), 3-8(b)), the distance between the X-ray photographing device 5 and examinees body A can be substantially fixed, no matter how the position of his body is altered. Moreover, the X-ray photographing device can be brought very close to the examinees body A and the X- ray applied part of said body always has a maximum effective photographing area as viewed from an X-ray source 4, so that there is obtained a far more distinct photograph than has been possible with the prior apparatus.

In a practical photographing operation, there is introduced into the stomach of the examinee A a solution B of barium indicated by the hatching of the FIG. 3-1 which is used as an image forming agent. After deposition of the barium solution B on those parts of the inner walls of the examinees stomach which are to be photographed, his body is displaced to alter the site of the barium solution B in such a manner as to cause the stomach walls to which there is attached the barium solution B exactly to face the direction in which there is projected an X-ray flux.

FIGS. 3-1(a) and 3-l(b) show an examinees body lying on the back, FIGS. 3-2(a) and 3-2(b) his body disposed slantwise, FIGS. 3-3(a) and 3-3(b) his body vertically set on one side and FIGS. 3-4(a) and 3-4(b) his body slantwise lying on the face. FIGS. 3-5 to 3-8 represent the examinees body A lying on the face with respect to the bed board 1. The latter group of pictures may be explained in the same way as the former group.

As apparent from comparison of the photographing conditions between the conventional and present apparatus, the conventional apparatus only changes the position of an examinees body A with respect to the direction in which there is irradiated an X-ray flux from an X-ray tube 4, with a bed board 1 and X-ray image detecting and photographing device 5 kept unchanged in position. Accordingly, of the inner walls of the examinees stomach on which there is deposited a solution of barium B, that part which acts as a sort of receptacle to collect the portions of said solution B flowing out from the place where it initially settles is brought into the way along which there is projected an X-ray flux to obstruct its irradiation, with the resultant failure to produce a distinct photograph. In contradistinction to this, the X-ray photographing apparatus of the present invention enables, as described above, an X-ray tube, X-ray image detecting and photographing device and bed board involved to be moved or rotated separately or in combination in the directions indicated by the arrows a, b and 0, thereby permitting an X-ray flux to be introduced into the stomach by bypassing the aforesaid receptacle of the barium solution B and in consequence enabling the broader inner wall surface C of the stomach in which there are deposited proper amounts of the solution to be photographed accurately. This favorable effect of the present invention will become prominent by comparison of the present and prior art X-ray photographing apparatus illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3-3, 3-4, 3-7 and 3-8. In addition to the improved photographing effect resulting from the aforesaid enlarged effective photographing area, the present invention further offers an advantageous arrangement whereby the displacement of an examinees body and the setting of photographing time can be quickly carried out, and the X-ray applied part of the examinees stomach can be photographed in an optimum condition by causing a solution of barium to be deposited on the inner walls of the stomach in such a manner as best meets the amount and viscosity of said solution.

A further advantage of the present invention is that since the X-raytube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device or bed board are moved or rotated with an examinees body lying on the bed board kept unchanged in position, photographing can be effected without physically upsetting the examinee as has been the case with the conventional apparatus which requires the examinees body to be forcibly displaced each time photographing is conducted.

What we claim is:

1. An X-ray photographingapparatus comprising:

a bed board (27);

a support arm member (20) for rotatably supporting the bed board (27) by causing each end thereof to be meshed with a bearing mechanism (23,24) through at least two shafts (25,26) extending lengthwise of the bed board, each end of said support arm member being rotatably coupled to respective shafts, said support arm (20) further adjustably rotating said bed board (27) in a vertical plane from a horizontal to an upright position or vice versa;

a first support frame (28), each end of which is rotatably supported on a respective one of said at least two shafts by means of respective bearing mechanisms;

an X-ray tube (36) and X-ray image detecting and photographing device (38) slideably mounted on said first support frame (28) with the bed board (27) therebetween, said X-ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device being slideable inthe longitudinal direction of the bed board;

a first motor (48) fixed to the first support frame (28) and whose rotation is transmitted through a first gear mechanism (50,51,52) to the bed board (27) to rotate said bed board (27) independently of said first frame (28), said first gear mechanism comprising a plurality of gears in mesh with each other, one outermost gear of which is fixed to the shaft of said first motor and another outermost gear opposite to said one outermost gear being fixed to one of said bed board shafts to rotate said bed board;

a second frame (41) coupled to and supported by said first support frame 28);

a second motor (42) fixed to said second frame (41 a second gear mechanism (44, 45, 46) coupling said second motor (42) to said support arm member (20) and comprising a plurality of gears in mesh with each other, one outermost gear of which is fixed to the shaft of said second motor and another outermost gear opposite to said one outermost board and said first frame (28) to simultaneously gear being fixed to the end of said support arm and synchronously rotate; and member, the rotation of Said Second motor a pedestal (2 2) for rotatably supporting said support being transmitted to said second gear mechanism arm member (20) through a further Shaft (21) (44,45,46) to cause said second frame (41) to 2. A X- h t h t d t rotate relative to said support arm member (20), n my p o ograp mg appara us accor mg 0 thereby rotating Said first Support frame (28) claim 1 wherein said at least two shafts are fixedly couthrough said second frame (41) about the end of pled to Said bed board said support arm member (20) to cause said bed i UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE CETIFlCATE 0F CORRECTION Patent N0. 3 ,708 ,662 Dated January 2 1973 lnventor(s) TOSHIO KUROKAWA, ET.AL.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby c'-.'rected as shown below:

IN THE DRAWINGS:

(1) Correct sheet 3 to properly designate Fig. 3-3b and Fig. 3-41);

2 Add sheet 4 (Figs. 3-5 through- Figs 3-8) of the drawings to the issued Letters Patent; and

(3) Re-number the sheets of drawings "1 of 4", "2 of 4" "3 of 4" am" "4 of 4", respectively.

This cer't ifica'te supersedes Certificate of Correction issued August 14, 1973;

Signed and sealed this :7th day? of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR; c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 I uscoMM-oc 6O376-P69 U.S GOVERNMENT HUNTING OFFICE: "l9 0-36Q-394,

Page 2 Patent No, 3,708,662

TMQF Page 3 Patent N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 62 ated January 2 1973 Inventor(s) TOSHIO KUROKAWA, ET.AL.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE DRAWINGS:

(1) Corrects'heet 3 to properly designate Fig. 3-3b and Fig. 3-4 15;-

(2) Add sheet 4' (Figs. 3-5 through Figs, 3-8) be the drawings to the issuedLetters Patent; and

(3) Re-number the sheets of drawings "1 of 4", "2 of 4" "3 of 4"fand "4 of'4", respectively.

This certificate supersedes Certificate of Correction issued August 114 1973.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of August 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON;v R; c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 603764 69 w u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE mos 0-366-334,

FOVRM Po-wso (10459) PAGE 31 mm F mi mw ww WWW SHEET 7 4 of 4

Claims

1. An X-ray photographing apparatus comprising: a bed board (27); a support arm member (20) for rotatably suppoRting the bed board (27) by causing each end thereof to be meshed with a bearing mechanism (23,24) through at least two shafts (25,26) extending lengthwise of the bed board, each end of said support arm member being rotatably coupled to respective shafts, said support arm (20) further adjustably rotating said bed board (27) in a vertical plane from a horizontal to an upright position or vice versa; a first support frame (28), each end of which is rotatably supported on a respective one of said at least two shafts by means of respective bearing mechanisms; an X-ray tube (36) and X-ray image detecting and photographing device (38) slideably mounted on said first support frame (28) with the bed board (27) therebetween, said X-ray tube and X-ray image detecting and photographing device being slideable in the longitudinal direction of the bed board; a first motor (48) fixed to the first support frame (28) and whose rotation is transmitted through a first gear mechanism (50,51,52) to the bed board (27) to rotate said bed board (27) independently of said first frame (28), said first gear mechanism comprising a plurality of gears in mesh with each other, one outermost gear of which is fixed to the shaft of said first motor and another outermost gear opposite to said one outermost gear being fixed to one of said bed board shafts to rotate said bed board; a second frame (41) coupled to and supported by said first support frame (28); a second motor (42) fixed to said second frame (41); a second gear mechanism (44, 45, 46) coupling said second motor (42) to said support arm member (20) and comprising a plurality of gears in mesh with each other, one outermost gear of which is fixed to the shaft of said second motor and another outermost gear opposite to said one outermost gear being fixed to the end of said support arm member, the rotation of said second motor (42) being transmitted to said second gear mechanism (44,45,46) to cause said second frame (41) to rotate relative to said support arm member (20), thereby rotating said first support frame (28) through said second frame (41) about the end of said support arm member (20) to cause said bed board and said first frame (28) to simultaneously and synchronously rotate; and a pedestal (22) for rotatably supporting said support arm member (20) through a further shaft (21).

2. An X-ray photographing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least two shafts are fixedly coupled to said bed board.