# US 12,178,622 B2 · Medical image capturing apparatus

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- Number: US 12,178,622 B2
- Document ID: US12178622B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/720,244
- Filed: 2022-04-13
- Published: 2022-11-03
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-28
- Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation
- Applicants: Fujifilm Corporation
- Inventors: Takashi Tajima; Masakazu Fukuyo; Sho Shimizukawa; Takeyasu Kobayashi; Hisatsugu Horiuchi; Naoyuki Nishino
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178622B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/035: {Mechanical aspects of CT}
- A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]}
- A61B 6/4435: {the source unit and the detector unit being coupled by a rigid structure}
- A61B 6/0407: {Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body}
- A61B 6/0478: {Chairs}
- A61B 6/4275: {using a detector unit almost surrounding the patient, e.g. more than 180°}
- A61B 6/4405: {the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley}
- G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection}
- G06T 2207/10081: Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A CT apparatus includes a radiation source that emits radiation, a radiation detector that detects the radiation, an annular frame to which the radiation source and the radiation detector are attached and in which a subject is positioned in a bore, and three columns that hold the frame to be movable up and down in a vertical direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical image capturing apparatus comprising:
an x-ray radiation source that emits x-ray radiation;
an x-ray detector that detects the x-ray radiation,
an annular frame to which the x-ray radiation source and the x-ray radiation detector are attached and in which a subject is positioned in a bore; and
three or more columns that hold the frame to be movable up and down in a vertical direction, and that allow the subject in the bore to be directly visually recognized from an outside between any two columns;
wherein at least one of the three or more columns has an opening formed therein for allowing the subject to be visually recognized from an outside through the opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein, in a case where the frame is viewed in plan view and a polygon with the three or more columns as apexes is assumed, a center of the frame falls within the polygon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the frame has an annular shape, and
the columns hold the frame to be rotatable around the subject.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the three or more columns are disposed at regular intervals on the same periphery.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein, in a case where the columns are viewed from a direction in which the frame is viewed in plan view, the columns are in an arc shape following a shape of the frame.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein at least one of an input device or a display is attached to at least one of the three or more columns.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein the column to which at least one of the input device or the display is attached has rigidity higher than other columns.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
connecting members that are connected to the frame at a first connection position and are connected to the columns at a second connection position,
wherein the first connection position is higher than the second connection position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein both the x-ray radiation source and the x-ray radiation detector protrude from any one of an upper edge or a lower edge of the frame.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
casters for transport.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the x-ray radiation source emits the x-ray radiation having a pyramidal shape.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the subject is positioned in the bore in any one of an upright posture or a sitting posture.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the three or more columns includes a plate member, a surface of which is directed outward, and the opening is formed on the surface of the plate member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The medical image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed by hollowing the at least one of the three or more columns in a rectangular shape.