X-ray photographing device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to prevent the risk when the wire-rope that is hanging an X-ray irradiation element including an X-ray tube breaks. The X-ray imaging apparatus to solve the above problem comprises a wire-ropes 17, 18 that hang and support an X-ray irradiation element 5 and have a different fatigue strength each other, wherein the different between the fatigue progressions of the wire-ropes 17, 18 takes place, the wire-rope 17 or the wire-rope 18 having a weaker fatigue strength breaks first and both wire-ropes 17, 18 never break simultaneously.

Claims

1. An X-ray imaging apparatus, comprising: at least two wire-ropes selected from a group consisting of a plurality of wire-ropes each having a different fatigue strength, wherein: said at least two wire-ropes hang and lift an X-ray irradiation element including an X-ray tube; a pulley; and a balancing mechanism, wherein: each said wire-rope has a first end and a second end; and each said first end of each said wire-rope is connected to said X-ray irradiation element and each said second end thereof is connected to said balancing mechanism that balances out a total weight of said X-ray irradiation element through said pulley.

2. The X-ray imaging apparatus to claim 1, further comprising: a detection means that detects breaking of a wire-rope having a weaker fatigue strength among said wire-ropes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the total system of the fixed-type X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the main system of the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a breaking detection means of the wire-rope of the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) Next, referring to the FIGs., the inventor sets forth one example of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the aspect of the Embodiment.

(5) FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the total system of the fixed-type X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the X-ray imaging apparatus 1 comprises an X-ray irradiation element 5 further comprising an X-ray tube 2, a collimator (not shown in FIG.), an operation panel 3 and an operation handle 4. The X-ray irradiation element 5 is liftable along a guide slit (rail) 11 of the supporting post 10 installed on the floor surface 9 nearby the table 7 on which the subject 6 is lying and, as set forth later, is being hanged with two wire-ropes 17, 18 to be supported (refer to FIG. 2).

(6) In addition, the flat panel detector 8 is installed to the backside of the table 7 facing the X-ray irradiation element 5 and also a housing 12 housing an X-ray high-voltage unit, an image processing device and an image control device in the low-side space of the table 7.

(7) An X-ray irradiation area of X-rays irradiated from the X-ray tube 2 is specified by the collimator (not shown in FIG.) and the X-ray that transmits the subject 6 is detected by the flat panel detector 8. The detection value detected by the flat panel detector 8 is input into the image processing device, not shown in FIG., inside the housing 12, in which the image signal is stored and also the image signal is sent to the image display element following image processing, and the image display element displays the X-ray radiograph corresponding to the image signal.

(8) FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the main system of the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention. The X-ray irradiation element 5, including the X-ray tube 2, the collimator (not shown in FIG.), the operation panel 3 and the operation handle 4, is held by a mounting block 14 via the support member 13.

(9) The mounting block 14 connecting the one end of the wire-ropes 17, 18 winding the pulleys 15, 16 inside the support post 10 is being hanged. The other end of the wire-ropes 17, 18 connects the counter weights 19, 20 that balance out with the total weight of the supporting member 13, the mounting block 14 and the X-ray irradiation element 5. Such structure facilitates to lift the X-ray irradiation element 5 along the guide slit 11 (refer to FIG. 1) of the support post 10 by operating the operation handle 4.

(10) In addition, instead of the counter weights 19, 20, the spring bias (force) can be applied to balance out.

(11) The wire-ropes 17, 18 used in the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention used have a different fatigue strength from each other. Therefore, a difference between progressions of the fatigue of the wire-ropes 17, 18 takes place and either one of the wire-ropes 17, 18, which has a weaker-fatigue strength, breaks first always, so that at least both wire-ropes 17, 18 never breaks simultaneously. The suitable level of difference between the fatigue strengths can be experimentally obtained.

(12) Breaking of the wire-ropes 17, 18 can be easily detected by an adequate breaking detection means. Referring to FIG. 3, the inventor sets forth such example. For example, the mechanical micro-switch 22 having the terminal 21 contacting the wire-rope 17, of which a fatigue strength is weaker, with a predetermined bias force can be applied thereto. The wire-rope 17 hangs the mounting block 14 and the counter weight 19 at both end through the pulley 15 and has consistently the constant tension, but once breaking takes place, the tension becomes almost free, so that the contacting terminal 21, which has been always on, turns off and consequently, breaking can be detected.

(13) In general, it is satisfactory by detecting the breaking of the wire-rope 17, in the side of which the fatigue strength is weaker and which breaks first, but the same breaking detection means, e.g., such as the mechanical micro-switch 22, can be installed to the side of the wire-rope 18 to increase safety.

REFERENCE OF SIGNS

(14) 1 X-ray imaging apparatus 2 X-ray tube 3 Operation panel 4 Operation handle 5 X-ray irradiation element 6 Subject 7 Table 8 Flat panel detector 9 Floor surface 10 Supporting post 11 Guide slit 12 Housing 13 Supporting member 14 Mounting block 15, 16 Pulley 17, 18 Wire-rope 19, 20 Counter weight 21 Terminal 22 Mechanical micro-switch