Medical X-ray apparatus

A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;
• a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;
• a first supporting member supported by said rotary member, for supporting an X-ray tube apparatus which irradiates an X-ray to an object under examination;
• a second supporting member for supporting a detection apparatus for detecting a transmission X-ray of said object under examination, said second supporting member being supported by said rotary member and being arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus;
• an X-ray tube apparatus transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member;
• a detection apparatus transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member;
• a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially along a body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said set arbitrary irradiation angle;
• an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce both a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image;
• and
• a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;
• a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;
• a first supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;
• an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;
• a second supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;
• a detection apparatus movably supported on said second supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;
• a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially along said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set;
• an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce both a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image;
• and
• a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

• a supporting frame having an opening portion used to insert a table for mounting an object under examination thereon along a horizontal direction;
• a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame, said rotary member being able to rotate around said opening portion;
• a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;
• a first arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;
• an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first arc-shaped supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;
• a second arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;
• a detection apparatus movably supported on said second arc-shaped supporting member for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;
• an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first arc-shaped supporting member;
• a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second arc-shaped supporting member;
• a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially along said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle;
• a first image processing apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image from a first output signal from said detection apparatus, said first output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object in a first case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship and/or said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second arc-shaped supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship or in a second case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship while said table is moved in said body axial direction;
• a second image processing apparatus for producing a two-dimensional image from a second output signal from said detection apparatus, said second output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation;
• and
• a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

• a supporting frame having an opening portion used to insert a table for mounting an object under examination thereon along a horizontal direction;
• a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame, said rotary member being able to rotate around said opening portion;
• a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;
• a first supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;
• an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;
• a second supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;
• a detection apparatus movably supported on said second supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;
• an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member;
• a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member;
• an X-ray radiation direction control apparatus for controlling an angle of said X-ray tube apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;
• an X-ray image receiving direction apparatus for controlling an angle of said detection apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;
• a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially along said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle by controlling said X-ray radiation direction control apparatus, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set by controlling said X-ray image receiving direction apparatus;
• a first image processing apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image from a first output signal from said detection apparatus, said first output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object in a first case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship and/or said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship or in a second case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship while said table is moved in said body axial direction;
• a second image processing apparatus for producing a two-dimensional image from a second output signal from said detection apparatus, said second output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation;
• and
• a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;
• a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;
• a first arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;
• an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first arc-shaped supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;
• a second arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;
• a detection apparatus movably supported on said second arc-shaped supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;
• an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first arc-shaped supporting member within a curvature plane where an iso-center is located as a center of said first arc-shaped supporting member;
• a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second arc-shaped supporting member within a curvature plane where an iso-center is located as a center of said second arc-shaped supporting member;
• a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set;
• a first image processing apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image from a first output signal from said detection apparatus, said first output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in a case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship and/or said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship;
• a second image processing apparatus for producing a two-dimensional image from a second output signal from said detection apparatus, said second output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation;
• and
• a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

A medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;
• a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;
• a first supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;
• an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;
• a second supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;
• a detection apparatus movably supported on said second supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;
• an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member;
• a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member;
• an X-ray radiation direction control apparatus for controlling an angle of said X-ray tube apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;
• an X-ray image receiving direction apparatus for controlling an angle of said detection apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;
• a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle by controlling said X-ray radiation direction control apparatus, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set by controlling said X-ray image receiving direction apparatus;
• a first image processing apparatus for producing a three-dimensional image from a first output signal from said detection apparatus, said first output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in a case that said rotary member is rotated under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship and/or said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus are respectively slid along said first and second supporting members under condition that said X-ray tube apparatus and said detection apparatus maintain an axially opposing positional relationship;
• a second image processing apparatus for producing a two-dimensional image from a second output signal from said detection apparatus, said second output signal being obtained by irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination in an X-ray fluoroscopic operation;
• and
• a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus.

A method of obtaining a tomographic image using a medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;
• a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;
• a first arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;
• an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first arc-shaped supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;
• a second arc-shaped supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;
• a detection apparatus movably supported on said second arc-shaped supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;
• an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first arc-shaped supporting member within a curvature plane where an iso-center is located as a center of said first arc-shaped supporting member;
• a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second arc-shaped supporting member within a curvature plane where an iso-center is located as a center of said second arc-shaped supporting member;
• a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray substantially said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set;
• an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image;
• and
• a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
• setting a portion to be imaged at said iso-center;
• arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary angle set;
• irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination while said X-ray tube apparatus and said X-ray image receiving apparatus are mutually slid along reverse directions in an arc manner, wherein the iso-center is employed as a fulcrum;
• and
• obtaining a tomographic image of a plane which is located in parallel to a body axis of said object under examination.

A method of obtaining a tomographic image using a medical X-ray apparatus comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a rotary member rotatably supported by said supporting frame;
• a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of said rotary member;
• a first supporting member whose one end is supported at a first position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along a body axial direction of an object under examination;
• an X-ray tube apparatus movably supported on said first supporting member, for irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination;
• a second supporting member whose one end is supported at a second position of said rotary member, and which is elongated along the body axial direction of said object under examination;
• a detection apparatus movably supported on said second supporting member, for detecting an X-ray penetrated through said object under examination, which is arranged opposite to said X-ray tube apparatus while sandwiching said object under examination;
• an X-ray tube transporting apparatus for transporting said X-ray tube apparatus to an arbitrary position on said first supporting member;
• a detection transporting apparatus for transporting said detection apparatus to an arbitrary position on said second supporting member;
• an X-ray radiation direction control apparatus for controlling an angle of said X-ray tube apparatus with respect to said body axial direction;
• an X-ray image receiving direction apparatus for controlling an angle of said detection apparatus substantially along said body axial direction;
• a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of an X-ray with respect to said body axial direction of said object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle by controlling said X-ray radiation direction control apparatus, and also for arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary irradiation angle set by controlling said X-ray image receiving direction apparatus;
• an image processing apparatus for processing an output signal from said detection apparatus so as to produce a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image;
• and
• a display apparatus for displaying the image produced by said image processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
• setting a portion to be imaged at an iso-center;
• arranging said detection apparatus to axially oppose said X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence with said arbitrary angle set;
• irradiating an X-ray to said object under examination while said X-ray tube apparatus and said X-ray image receiving apparatus are mutually slid along reverse directions in a linear fashion, wherein the iso-center is employed as a fulcrum;
• and
• obtaining a tomographic image of a plane which is located in parallel to a body axis of said object under examination.