JP2023093141A - radiography equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to tactilely recognize the effective imaging area and the front and back sides of a radiation imaging apparatus, and to suppress deterioration in the strength of a housing. A radiation imaging apparatus (100) includes a housing (7) having an entrance surface (71) on which radiation is incident, a rear surface (73) arranged to face the entrance surface (71), and a side surface (72) connecting the entrance surface (71) and the rear surface (73), and a radiation detection panel (1) housed in the housing (7). At least one side surface 72 of the side surfaces 72 of the housing 7 is provided with an incident surface-side stepped portion 10a located on the incident surface 71 side and a rear surface-side stepped portion 10b located on the rear surface 73 side, which are arranged corresponding to the effective imaging area of the radiation detection panel 1. The entrance surface-side stepped portion 10a and the rear surface-side stepped portion 10b have different shapes, and at least one of them has a convex shape. [Selection drawing] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to radiographic imaging equipment.

2. Description of the Related Art In industrial non-destructive inspection and medical diagnosis, a radiographic apparatus that obtains a radiographic image by detecting the intensity distribution of radiation transmitted through an object is widely used. When performing imaging using a radiation imaging apparatus, an irradiation area of radiation emitted from a radiation source, an effective imaging area of the radiation imaging apparatus, and an imaging target are aligned. In order to facilitate this alignment, it is desirable that the operator be able to recognize the effective imaging area of the radiation imaging apparatus.

In order to make the effective imaging area recognizable, an index indicating the range and center of the effective imaging area is provided on the radiation incident surface.
Patent Document 1 discloses an X-ray imaging apparatus that displays an index outside the detection range of an area sensor, and describes a configuration in which the index is displayed so as to reach the side surface of the housing.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200001 discloses a radiographic imaging apparatus having a step portion provided corresponding to an effective imaging area, which is arranged on the side surface of a housing, so that the effective imaging area of the radiographic imaging apparatus can be tactilely recognized. It's like

JP-A-2002-291730 JP 2017-198614 A

However, in the configuration for visually recognizing the index, it is assumed that the index cannot be visually recognized, for example, when the inspection object is placed on the side of the radiation incident surface. In Patent Literature 1, the indicator is displayed so as to reach the side surface of the housing, but even so, the indicator may not be visible depending on the handling method or usage situation. For example, when an X-ray imaging apparatus is placed under the body of a patient lying on a bed for examination, even if the index is on the side, it is difficult to visually recognize it.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-100000, the stepped portion has a concave shape on both the incident surface side and the back surface side, and there is a possibility that it may be difficult to tactilely recognize the front and back sides of the radiation imaging apparatus. Further, when the stepped portion has a concave shape, the side surface becomes partially thin, and there is a concern that the strength of the housing may be lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to enable tactile recognition of the effective imaging area and front and back sides of a radiation imaging apparatus and to suppress deterioration in the strength of the housing.

A radiographic imaging apparatus of the present invention comprises: a housing having an incident surface on which radiation is incident; a back surface arranged to face the incident surface; and a side surface connecting the incident surface and the back surface; and a radiation detection panel to be accommodated, wherein at least one of the side surfaces of the housing is arranged corresponding to an effective imaging area of the radiation detection panel, and the incidence An incident surface side stepped portion located on the surface side and a back side stepped portion located on the back side are provided, and the incident surface side stepped portion and the back side stepped portion have different shapes from each other, At least one of them has a convex shape.

Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to tactilely recognize the effective imaging area and the front and back sides of a radiation imaging apparatus, and to suppress deterioration in the strength of the housing.

1 is an external view of a radiation imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a radiographic imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a radiographic imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is an external view of a radiographic imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a radiographic imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a radiographic imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[First embodiment]
A radiation imaging apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.
1A and 1B are external views of a radiographic imaging apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, FIG. 1A being an external view of the entire radiographic imaging apparatus 100, and FIG. be. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1(a). FIG. 3 is a view showing only the vicinity of the end portion of the housing 7 in the cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 1(a).

The radiation imaging apparatus 100 acquires a radiographic image corresponding to radiation emitted by a radiation generator (not shown) and transmitted through a subject. The radiographic imaging apparatus 100 transfers acquired radiographic images to an external device (console). The external device displays the radiographic image transferred from the radiographic imaging apparatus 100 on a display device or the like.

The radiation imaging apparatus 100 includes a thin box-shaped housing 7 that constitutes its exterior. The housing 7 has an entrance surface (front surface) 71 on which radiation is incident, a rear surface 73 arranged to face the entrance surface 71, and four side surfaces 72 connecting the entrance surface 71 and the rear surface 73, A closed space is formed inside it. In the present application, the direction perpendicular to the incident surface 71 and the back surface 73 is referred to as the thickness direction or the radiation incident direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 7 accommodates the radiation detection panel 1, the support base 6, the control board 5, the secondary battery 2, and the like. The support base 6 supports the radiation detection panel 1 on the incident surface 71 side. Further, the support base 6 supports the control board 5 and the secondary battery 2 on the back surface 73 side. A cushioning material 3 is provided between the housing 7 and the radiation detection panel 1 to protect the radiation detection panel 1 from external forces.

The radiation detection panel 1 converts the radiation incident from the incident surface 71 into electrical signals. The radiation detection panel 1 includes a sensor substrate 1a in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are two-dimensionally arranged on a glass substrate, a phosphor layer 1b placed on the sensor substrate 1a, and a phosphor layer 1b on the phosphor layer 1b. and a phosphor protective film 1c arranged. For the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged on the sensor substrate 1a, MIS type and PIN type conversion elements capable of detecting visible light are used. The phosphor protective film 1c is made of a material with relatively high moisture resistance and protects the phosphor layer 1b. Here, the radiation detection panel 1 has a rectangular effective imaging area capable of imaging incident radiation as a radiographic image. In the radiation detection panel 1, all or part of a planar area where the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged is defined as an effective imaging area when viewed from the incident direction of radiation.
In the radiation detection panel 1 configured as described above, the phosphor layer 1b emits light by incident radiation, and the photoelectric conversion element arranged on the sensor substrate 1a converts the emitted light into an electric signal. Instead of the phosphor layer 1b and the photoelectric conversion element, a direct conversion type conversion element that directly converts radiation into an electric signal may be used.

The radiation detection panel 1 is electrically connected to the control board 5 via the flexible circuit board 4 . The control board 5 reads the electric signal converted by the radiation detection panel 1 and processes the read electric signal. Then, the control board 5 converts the electric signal into a digital signal to obtain radiation image data.

The secondary battery 2 supplies power for operating the radiation detection panel 1 and the control board 5 . The secondary battery 2 has a function as a battery. As the secondary battery 2, for example, a lithium ion battery or an electric double layer capacitor is used.

The housing 7 will be described in detail below.
Since the entrance surface 71 allows radiation to enter, it is desirable that the radiation transmittance is relatively high. Moreover, it is desirable that the incident surface 71 be light in weight and secure a certain strength against impact. Therefore, for example, a resin material, CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic), or the like is used for the incident surface 71 .

It is desirable that the back surface 73 and the side surface 72 ensure strength against dropping and impact, reduce weight for the purpose of reducing the burden during transportation, and ensure high operability. For the back surface 73 and the side surface 72, for example, metal alloy such as magnesium or aluminum, CFRP which is a composite material including carbon fiber, fiber reinforced resin, or the like is used. In this embodiment, the side surface 72 and the rear surface 73 are integral parts, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which the side surface 72 is an integral part with the incidence surface 71, or a configuration in which a part of the side surface 72 is an integral part with the incidence surface 71 and a part is an integral part with the rear surface 73 (see a second embodiment described later). 5). Alternatively, the side surface 72 may be configured as a separate part from the incident surface 71 and the rear surface 73 .

The side surface 72 has a side surface portion 72a and an inclined surface portion 72b. The side portion 72 a connects to the incident surface 71 and extends perpendicularly to the incident surface 71 . The inclined surface portion 72b is inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the housing 7 and extends inward of the housing 7 as the rear surface 73 is approached from the side surface portion 72a. In this embodiment, the inclined surface portion 72b is provided over the entire area between the side surface portion 72a and the back surface 73, but the present invention is not limited to this. The inclined surface portion 72b may be present only between some side surface portions 72a and the rear surface 73, or the inclined surface portion 72b may be absent.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, an index 12 indicating the range and center of the effective imaging area is provided on the surface of the incident surface 71 . The index 12 is represented by a line, and is provided by attaching a sheet material on which the index 12 is marked on the incident surface 71 or by directly coating or printing the surface of the incident surface 71 . The user can visually recognize the range and center of the effective imaging area by the index 12 . Note that the index 12 is not limited to this, and may be a step recessed in the direction of the radiation detection panel 1 or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each side surface 72 has an incident surface side stepped portion 10a which is arranged corresponding to the center of the effective imaging area and which is located on the incident surface 71 side, and a stepped portion 10a which is located on the back surface 73 side. A rear-side stepped portion 10b is provided.
More specifically, the stepped portions 10a and 10b are arranged at positions that intersect the center line extending vertically and horizontally through the center of the effective imaging area. That is, the positions of the stepped portions 10a and 10b match the center coordinates of the sides forming the effective imaging area.

As shown in FIG. 3, the incident surface side stepped portion 10a is formed on the side surface portion 72a and has a concave shape with respect to the side surface portion 72a. The concave shape of the incident surface side stepped portion 10 a is in the shape of a groove extending toward the incident surface 71 side and opening at the incident surface 71 .

Further, the rear-side stepped portion 10b is formed on the bottom surface 11a of the recessed portion 11 formed in the inclined surface portion 72b, and has a substantially rectangular pedestal-like convex shape that protrudes from the bottom surface 11a. The maximum height of the convex shape of the back-side stepped portion 10b is lower than the depth of the concave portion 11 so that it does not protrude from the concave portion 11 .

With the configuration described above, even when the user cannot visually recognize the index 12, the user can tactilely recognize the center of the effective imaging area by touching the incident surface side stepped portion 10a or the back side stepped portion 10b.
In addition, since the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the back side stepped portion 10b have different shapes, the user can easily see the difference between the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the back side stepped portion 10b even when the indicator 12 cannot be visually recognized. By touching, the front and back of the radiation imaging apparatus can be tactilely recognized. In the present embodiment, one of the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b has a concave shape, and the other has a convex shape. In this case, the difference in the shape of the stepped portions 10a and 10b is clear compared to the concave shape of both the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the back side stepped portion 10b, and the front and back of the radiographic apparatus can be tactilely sensed. be clearly recognizable.
This makes it possible to easily perform alignment when performing imaging using the radiation imaging apparatus 100 .

In addition, since at least one of the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the back side stepped portion 10b has a convex shape, the side surface 72 is partially thinned by an amount as compared with a concave shape only. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the strength of the housing 7 by reducing it.

In addition, the convex shape of the back-side stepped portion 10b should not protrude beyond the end of the incident surface 71, that is, the side surface portion 72a when viewed from the incident surface 71 side. As a result, when the radiation imaging apparatus 100 is moved while being slid on a bed, a table, or in a gantry, it is possible to prevent the convex shape from being caught.

The width of the concave shape of the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the convex shape of the rear side stepped portion 10b is preferably 30 mm or less. The width refers to the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the side surface 72, and FIG. 1B shows the width w of the incident surface side stepped portion 10a. By setting the width to 30 mm or less, one finger can touch both edges of the concave shape and the convex shape at the same time, which makes it easier to recognize them tactilely.

Also, the edges and corners of the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b are desirably curved so as not to hurt the fingers touching them and to improve cleanability.

Part of the incident surface side stepped portion 10 a and the rear surface side stepped portion 10 b may be formed so as to straddle the incident surface 71 and the rear surface 73 .
Also, the incident surface side stepped portion 10 a and the back side stepped portion 10 b may have frictional resistance different from that of the side surface 72 .

In addition, in the present embodiment, the convex shape of the back-side stepped portion 10b is formed on the bottom surface 11a of the concave portion 11 formed in the inclined surface portion 72b, but it is not limited to this. For example, a convex shape may be formed directly on the inclined surface portion 72b so as to protrude with respect to the inclined surface portion 72b. Also in this case, the convex shape should not protrude beyond the end of the incident surface 71 when viewed from the incident surface 71 side.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the incident surface side stepped portion 10a has a concave shape, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the incident surface side stepped portion 10a may have a convex shape. For example, the incident surface side stepped portion 10a may be formed on the bottom surface of a concave portion formed in the side surface portion 72a, and may have a convex shape protruding from the bottom surface. Also in this case, the convex shape should not protrude beyond the end of the incident surface 71 when viewed from the incident surface 71 side.

Further, in the present embodiment, the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the back side stepped portion 10b are arranged corresponding to the center of the rectangular effective imaging area, but this is not the only option. The incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b may be arranged corresponding to predetermined positions in the effective photographing area. As an example, the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b may be arranged on an extension line of the end portion of the effective imaging area indicated by the index 12 .

In addition, in the present embodiment, one incident surface side stepped portion 10a and one rear surface side stepped portion 10b are formed on one side surface 72, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of incident surface side stepped portions 10 a and rear side stepped portions 10 b may be formed on one side surface 72 .

Further, in this embodiment, the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b are formed on all the side surfaces 72 of the housing 7, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the effective imaging area. This improves the ease of adjusting the attitude of the radiation imaging apparatus 100 . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b may be formed only on a part of the side surface 72 of the housing 7 . Further, the shape, width and length of the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b may be different for each side surface 72, and the positions may be different.

In the present embodiment, the incident surface side stepped portion 10a has a groove shape, and the back side stepped portion 10b has a substantially rectangular pedestal shape. It may have a shape such as a triangle, a letter, or the like.

[Second embodiment]
A radiation imaging apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. In the following description, the same components as those of the radiation imaging apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of common points with the first embodiment are omitted. The explanation will focus on the differences between the two.
4A and 4B are external views of a radiographic apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment, in which FIG. 4A is an external view of the entire radiographic apparatus 200, and FIG. be. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 4(a). FIG. 6 is a view showing only the vicinity of the end portion of the housing 7 in the cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 4(a).

In the radiation imaging apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment, the side surface 72 of the housing 7 has an inclined surface portion 72c on the incident surface 71 side, a side surface portion 72d, and an inclined surface portion 72e on the rear surface 73 side. The side surface portion 72 d is located between the inclined surface portions 72 c and 72 d and extends perpendicularly to the incident surface 71 . The inclined surface portion 72c is inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the housing 7 and extends toward the inside of the housing 7 as it approaches the incident surface 71 from the side surface portion 72c. The inclined surface portion 72e is inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the housing 7 and extends toward the inside of the housing 7 as it approaches the rear surface 73 from the side surface portion 72c.
By forming the inclined surface portions 72c and 72e on both the entrance surface 71 side and the rear surface 73 side of the side surface 72 in this manner, the handling of the radiation imaging apparatus 200 is improved. For example, when the radiation imaging apparatus 200 is placed so that the incident surface 71 is grounded, it can be easily lifted by hooking a finger on the inclined surface portion 72c. Also, when the radiation imaging apparatus 200 is placed so that the back surface 73 is grounded, it is possible to easily lift it by hooking a finger on the inclined surface portion 72e.

In the second embodiment, both the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear surface side stepped portion 10b have a convex shape.
The incident surface side stepped portion 10a is formed on the inclined surface portion 72c and has a substantially rectangular pedestal-like convex shape that protrudes from the inclined surface portion 72c (that is, the side surface 72).
Further, the back-side stepped portion 10b is formed on the inclined surface portion 72e and has a substantially rectangular pedestal-like convex shape that protrudes from the inclined surface portion 72e (that is, the side surface 72).
The entrance surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b have different convex widths. In this embodiment, the width of the convex shape of the incident surface side stepped portion 10a is narrower than the width of the convex shape of the rear side stepped portion 10b.

With the configuration described above, even when the user cannot visually recognize the index 12, the user can tactilely recognize the center of the effective imaging area by touching the incident surface side stepped portion 10a or the back side stepped portion 10b.
In addition, since the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the back side stepped portion 10b have different shapes, the user can easily see the difference between the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the back side stepped portion 10b even when the indicator 12 cannot be visually recognized. By touching, the front and back of the radiation imaging apparatus can be tactilely recognized. In the present application, "different shape" means not only the difference between concave shape and convex shape as described in the first embodiment, but also a convex shape, for example, which enables tactile recognition of the front and back of the radiation imaging apparatus. It is meant to include cases where the length, width, depth, etc. are different as much as possible.
This makes it possible to easily perform alignment when performing imaging using the radiation imaging apparatus 100 .

In addition, since both the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b have a convex shape, it is possible to reduce the amount of partial thinning of the side surface 72, thereby suppressing a reduction in the strength of the housing 7. . In addition, in order to prevent contact with structures inside the housing 7 at the inclined surface portion, it may not be possible to form an inward concave shape. In such a case, both the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the rear side stepped portion 10b have a convex shape, thereby eliminating the inwardly convex shape.
The convex shape of the incident surface side stepped portion 10a and the convex shape of the rear side stepped portion 10b should not protrude from the end of the incident surface 71, that is, the side surface portion 72a when viewed from the incident surface 71 side. It is as described in one embodiment.
Moreover, as described in the first embodiment, it is desirable to set the width of the convex shape to 30 mm or less and to form the edges and corners into curved surfaces.

As described above, the present invention has been described together with the embodiments, but the above-described embodiments merely show specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not construed in a limited manner. It should not be. That is, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.
Details such as the structure and dimensions of each part shown in each embodiment are not limited to these. Radiation handled by the radiation imaging apparatus to which the present invention is applied includes not only X-rays but also α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, particle beams, cosmic rays, and the like.

100: radiographic apparatus, 1: radiation detection panel, 7: housing 71: incident surface, 72: side surface, 72a, 72d: side surface portion, 72b, 72c, 72e: inclined surface portion, 73: back surface, 10a: incident surface side Stepped portion 10b: back side stepped portion 11: concave portion 11a bottom surface

Claims (9)

a housing having an incident surface on which radiation is incident, a back surface arranged to face the incident surface, and a side surface connecting the incident surface and the back surface;
A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a radiation detection panel housed in the housing,
At least one of the side surfaces of the housing is provided with an incident surface side stepped portion located on the incident surface side and located on the back surface side, the stepped portion being disposed corresponding to the effective imaging area of the radiation detection panel. A stepped portion on the back side is provided to
A radiation imaging apparatus, wherein the incident surface side stepped portion and the back side stepped portion have different shapes, and at least one of them has a convex shape. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the incident surface side stepped portion and the back surface side stepped portion has a convex shape that protrudes from the bottom surface of the concave portion formed on the side surface. Radiography equipment. 2. The radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the incident surface side stepped portion and the back side stepped portion has a convex shape protruding with respect to the side surface. the side surface has an inclined surface portion inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the housing on at least one of the incident surface side and the rear surface side;
4. The radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface portion is provided with the convex shape. 5. The radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the convex shape does not protrude beyond the edge of the entrance surface when viewed from the entrance surface side. 6. The radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incident surface side stepped portion and the back side stepped portion are provided on all of the side surfaces of the housing. 7. The radiation imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incident surface side stepped portion and the back side stepped portion are arranged corresponding to the center of the effective imaging area. 8. The radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the entrance surface side stepped portion and the back side stepped portion have a width of 30 mm or less. 9. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side surface is made of an alloy containing at least one of magnesium and aluminum, or a composite material containing carbon fiber.

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