X-ray imaging apparatus

Abstract

The X-ray imaging apparatus according to the embodiments of this utility model includes: a base supported on a guide rail installed on the ceiling and movable along the guide rail; a support arm supported on the base; an X-ray unit supported on the support arm; a cable guide disposed on the base for moving a cable disposed within the base along a variable-length serpentine curve to be received or released; and a cable sequentially passing through the interior of the base and the support arm to connect to the X-ray unit. According to the embodiments of this utility model, the cable runs inside the support arm of the X-ray imaging apparatus, and with the extension and retraction of the support arm and the rotation of the X-ray unit, the cable guide can adaptively receive and release the cable, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an X-ray imaging device. Background Technology

[0002] The cables of current suspended digital X-ray imaging devices are exposed on the outside of the device. During the movement of the X-ray unit (X-ray generation unit and X-ray detection unit) of the suspended digital X-ray imaging device, the cables not only affect the doctor's operation, but also affect the overall appearance of the suspended digital X-ray imaging device. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an X-ray imaging device that allows cables to be routed inside the X-ray imaging device while ensuring the normal operation of the device, thus solving the problem of cables being exposed on the outside.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the X-ray imaging device provided by this utility model includes: a base supported on a guide rail installed on the ceiling and capable of moving along the guide rail; a support arm supported on the base; an X-ray unit supported on the support arm; a cable guide disposed on the base for moving a cable disposed within the base along a serpentine curve of variable length so as to be stored or released; and a cable that passes through the interior of the base and the support arm in sequence and is connected to the X-ray unit.

[0005] According to the above embodiment, the cable is routed inside the support arm of the X-ray imaging device, and as the support arm extends and retracts and the X-ray unit rotates, the cable guide can adaptively store and release the cable, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the X-ray imaging device. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present utility model;

[0007] Figure 2 This is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction;

[0009] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the first cable guide portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the first cable guide portion of the first embodiment of the present invention from another angle.

[0011] Figure 6This is a top view of the cable-receiving operation of the first cable guide part according to the first embodiment of the present utility model.

[0012] Figure 7 A top view of the cable release operation of the first cable guide part according to the first embodiment of this utility model;

[0013] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the second winding disc according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the second cable guide portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the second cable guide portion of the second embodiment of the present invention from another angle.

[0016] Figure 11 This is a top view of the cable-receiving operation of the second cable guide part according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 12 This is a top view of the second cable guide section of the second embodiment of the present invention during cable release. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present invention will now be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited by the following description of the embodiments, but only by the scope of the claims, and includes all modifications having the same meaning as and within the scope of the claims.

[0019] In current suspended digital X-ray imaging devices (hereinafter referred to as X-ray imaging devices), the cables 4 are exposed on the outside of the device. During the movement of the X-ray unit 3 (X-ray generating unit and X-ray detection unit) of the X-ray imaging device, the cables 4 not only affect the doctor's operation, but also affect the overall appearance. In order to solve this problem, this specific embodiment proposes a new cable routing structure suitable for X-ray imaging devices with three moving parts (the up-and-down moving part of the support arm 2, the rotating part of the support arm 2, and the rotating part of the X-ray unit 3). This new cable routing structure is used to realize the routing of the cables 4 inside the X-ray imaging device, while ensuring the normal operation of the X-ray imaging device and solving the problem of the cables 4 being exposed on the outside.

[0020] In the existing technology, different X-ray imaging devices have different design schemes, for example:

[0021] First design scheme: The X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detection unit are suspended from the ceiling side by the same support arm 2.

[0022] Second design scheme: The X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detection unit are suspended from the ceiling side by different support arms 2.

[0023] Third design option: One of the X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detection unit is suspended from the ceiling side by the support arm 2, while the other is fixed to the floor side.

[0024] This utility model provides two embodiments, both of which can be applied to any of the three design schemes mentioned above. To facilitate a brief description of the embodiments of this utility model, the X-ray unit 3 is used below to summarize the X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detection unit. That is, the X-ray unit 3 mentioned below can be used as an X-ray generating unit in any of the above design schemes, or as an X-ray detection unit in any of the above design schemes.

[0025] (First embodiment, reference) Figures 1 to 8 (The X-ray detection unit is not shown in the image)

[0026] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 The X-ray imaging device includes a base 1, a support arm 2, an X-ray unit 3, a cable 4, and a first cable guide 5. The base 1 is supported on a guide rail installed on the ceiling and can move along the guide rail. The support arm 2 is supported on the base 1, and the X-ray unit 3 is supported on the support arm 2. The cable 4 is disposed on the base 1 and is connected to the X-ray unit 3 by passing through the first cable guide 5, the interior of the base 1, and the interior of the support arm 2 in sequence. The first cable guide 5 is disposed on the base 1 and is used to move the cable 4 disposed in the base 1 along a serpentine curve with a variable length, thereby allowing the cable 4 to be stored or released. The length of the serpentine curve can be changed by changing the bending angle or the folding length of the serpentine curve.

[0027] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 The guide rails installed on the ceiling include horizontal guide rails 11 and vertical guide rails 12. The first cable guide 5 is located between the two horizontal guide rails 11 and the two vertical guide rails 12. The space here is relatively large, which is suitable for modifying existing X-ray imaging devices without changing the shape and volume of the X-ray imaging devices.

[0028] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 6 , Figure 7The first cable guide 5 includes at least two fixed guide members 52 and at least one first movable guide member 53. The two fixed guide members 52 are used to constrain the position of the starting end and the ending end of the cable 4 inside the base 1, respectively. The first movable guide member 53 is disposed between the two fixed guide members 52. The cable 4 is guided by each first movable guide member 53 to form a shape that moves along a serpentine curve. The position of the fixed guide member 52 is fixed. The first movable guide member 53 changes the length of the cable 4 between the two fixed guide members 52 by its own movement, thereby achieving the purpose of storing and releasing the cable 4.

[0029] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 The base 1 has a storage container 51 inside, or the base 1 itself is a storage container 51. The storage container 51 is located at the end of the support arm 2 facing the ceiling. The storage container 51 is fixedly connected to the base 1. The shape of the storage container 51 can be a rectangular box with an open top. The fixed guide 52 and the first moving guide 53 are both located inside the storage container 51. The first moving guide 53 can move inside the storage container 51. The cable 4 is stored and released inside the storage container 51.

[0030] The storage container 51 is used to protect the cable 4. When the cable 4 can be protected by other structures (such as the housing of the base 1), the bracket can be used instead of the storage container 51.

[0031] The number of fixed guide members 52 and first movable guide members 53 included in the first cable guide part 5 can be appropriately increased or decreased according to actual needs, for example, referring to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The position of the end of the cable 4 is easily affected by the extension and rotation of the support arm 2. Therefore, two fixed guide members 52 are designed here to clamp the cable 4 from both sides, thereby constraining the position of the end of the cable 4. In addition, there are two first moving guide members 53, and a fixed guide member 52 is added between the two first moving guide members 53. This allows the cable 4 inside the storage container 51 to bend three times between its starting end and ending end, so that the storage container 51 can store and release longer cables 4.

[0032] In summary, the principle of the first cable guide 5 for receiving and releasing the cable 4 is to change the distance between adjacent fixed guide members 52 and first moving guide members 53, or to change the distance between two adjacent first moving guide members 53, thereby increasing or decreasing the length of the cable 4 that is folded.

[0033] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 4Both the fixed guide 52 and the first moving guide 53 include a wheel axle 521 and a concave wheel 522 arranged coaxially. The concave wheel 522 can rotate around the axis of the wheel axle 521. The cable 4 contacts the concave part of the concave wheel 522, so that the fixed guide 52 and the first moving guide 53 support the cable 4 in a rolling manner, reducing the friction force on the cable 4 during movement.

[0034] The fixed guide 52 has its axle 521 fixedly connected to the storage container 51. The first moving guide 53 can move in two ways: linear movement and curved movement. The first cable guide 5 uses linear movement to change the position of the first moving guide 53.

[0035] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 The bottom of the storage container 51 is equipped with a slide rail 54, a slider 55 and a linear drive unit 56. The slide rail 54 is fixedly connected to the storage container 51, and the slider 55 is slidably connected to the slide rail 54. The axle 521 of the first moving guide 53 is connected to the slider 55. The linear drive unit 56 is used to drive the slider 55 to move along the slide rail 54, thereby changing the position of the first moving guide 53.

[0036] Optionally, the slide rail 54, the slider 55 and the linear drive unit 56 are installed below the bottom of the storage container 51. The bottom of the storage container 51 is provided with a first through hole 511 extending along the movement trajectory of the first moving guide 53. The axle 521 of the first moving guide 53 passes through the first through hole 511 and is connected to the slider 55.

[0037] Optionally, the linear drive unit 56 adopts an electric lead screw slide, which is fixedly connected to the storage container 51, and the actuator of the electric lead screw slide is fixedly connected to the slider 55.

[0038] refer to Figure 6 , Figure 7 When the support arm 2 extends or retracts, the electric lead screw slide actively drives the slider 55 to move, so that the cable 4 is adaptively released and stored, thereby ensuring that the cable 4 inside the support arm 2 maintains a certain tension.

[0039] Furthermore, when the X-ray unit 3 rotates around the vertical axis (the center line of the support arm 2), the cable 4 inside the support arm 2 is easily damaged when stretched and twisted because the cable 4 is tensioned. Therefore, the support arm 2 is designed to rotate synchronously with the X-ray unit 3, and two second moving guides 63 are added inside the storage container 51, located at the top of the support arm 2, rotating synchronously with the support arm 2, and clamping the cable 4 from both sides. The cable 4 is connected to the X-ray unit 3 from the ceiling side through the guidance of the first cable guide 5, between the two second moving guides 63, and inside the support arm 2.

[0040] After the improvement, the X-ray unit 3 can not only follow the support arm 2 to perform horizontal and vertical movements along the transverse guide rail 11 and the longitudinal guide rail 12, but the X-ray unit 3 and the two second moving guide members 63 can also follow the support arm 2 to perform forward or reverse rotation around the axis of the plumb bob. At this time, the cable 4 is held by the two second moving guide members 63 to perform stretching and releasing actions, thereby eliminating the torsional movement of the cable 4 inside the support arm 2. At the same time, the first cable guide part 5 adapts to the rotation of the support arm 2 to release and store the cable 4, thereby ensuring that the cable 4 inside the support arm 2 is not stretched due to the rotation of the X-ray unit 3, and finally solves the problem of the cable 4 being stretched and torn and damaged when the X-ray unit 3 rotates around the vertical axis.

[0041] The second moving guide 63 also includes a wheel axle 521 and a concave wheel 522 coaxially arranged. The wheel axle 521 of the second moving guide 63 is fixedly connected to the support arm 2. The concave wheel 522 can rotate around the axis of the wheel axle 521. The cable 4 contacts the concave part of the concave wheel 522 of the second moving guide 63, so that the second moving guide 63 supports the cable 4 in a rolling manner, reducing the friction force on the cable 4 during movement.

[0042] refer to Figure 3 The end of the support arm 2 facing the ceiling is connected to the base 1 of the X-ray imaging device via a bearing 21 and a flange 22. Inside the base 1, there is a first rotary drive unit that drives the support arm 2 to rotate. The first rotary drive unit is not shown in the figure. The first rotary drive unit can be a precision electric indexing plate.

[0043] Because the cable 4 between the second moving guide 63 and the fixed guide 52 is always taut, and the cable 4 is held by only the two second moving guides 63, the cable 4 between the second moving guide 63 and the fixed guide 52 swings with varying radius when the support arm 2 rotates. This makes it difficult to calculate the length of the cable 4 that needs to be stored and released. Furthermore, when the second moving guide 63 rotates to the side of the support arm 2 away from the fixed guide 52, the bending radius of the cable 4 is small and it is easily damaged.

[0044] On the one hand, the number of second moving guides 63 can be increased to solve the above problem. Multiple second moving guides 63 are evenly distributed around the support arm 2, thereby increasing the bending radius of the cable 4.

[0045] On the other hand, the above problem can also be solved by adding a first winding spool 6 inside the storage container 51, see reference. Figure 6 and Figure 7The first winding reel 6 is disposed on the top of the support arm 2, coaxially connected to the support arm 2, and synchronously winds the cable 4 as the support arm 2 rotates. The center of the first winding reel 6 is provided with a second through hole 61 that axially penetrates the first winding reel 6, thereby exposing the interior of the support arm 2. One side of the first winding reel 6 is provided with a through hole 62 that radially penetrates the first winding reel 6, connects the exterior of the first winding reel 6 and the second through hole 61. The second moving guides 63 are respectively disposed on both sides of the through hole 62. The cable 4 passes sequentially from the ceiling side through the guidance of the first cable guide 5, the outer wall of the first winding reel 6, between the two second moving guides 63, through the through hole 62, the second through hole 61, and the interior of the support arm 2, and is connected to the X-ray unit 3.

[0046] Since the first winding reel 6, the support arm 2, and the X-ray unit 3 rotate synchronously around the vertical axis, the swing of the cable 4 is transformed into the movement of coiling around the first winding reel 6. As a result, the stretching length of the cable 4 can be calculated by the rotation angle of the support arm 2. At the same time, the bending radius of the cable 4 when passing the second moving guide 63 is constrained by the first winding reel 6, ensuring that the bending radius of the cable 4 is not too small.

[0047] Furthermore, the X-ray unit 3 can not only perform horizontal and longitudinal movements, but also rotate forward or backward around the axis of the support arm 2. In addition, the X-ray unit 3 can also rotate forward or backward around a horizontal axis passing through its own rotation center.

[0048] When the X-ray unit 3 rotates around the horizontal axis (the rotation center of the X-ray unit 3), the cable 4 inside the support arm 2 is tensioned. The cable 4 is easily damaged when stretched and twisted. Therefore, a second winding disc 7 that rotates synchronously around the horizontal axis with the X-ray unit 3 is added between the support arm 2 and the X-ray unit 3 to solve the problem of the cable 4 being twisted and stretched.

[0049] refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The second winding reel 7 is connected to the suspended side of the support arm 2 and coaxially connected to the rotation center of the X-ray unit 3. The cable 4 passes through the first cable guide 5, the first winding reel 6, the inside of the support arm 2, and the second winding reel 7 from the ceiling side and is connected to the X-ray unit 3.

[0050] As the X-ray unit 3 and the second winding reel 7 rotate synchronously around the horizontal axis, the torsional and stretching motion of the cable 4 with a small bending radius between the X-ray unit 3 and the support arm 2 is transformed into a winding motion of the cable 4 with a large bending radius on the second winding reel 7. At the same time, the first cable guide 5 adapts to the rotation of the second winding reel 7 to release and store the cable 4, thereby ensuring that the cable 4 inside the support arm 2 is not stretched due to the rotation of the X-ray unit 3.

[0051] The structure of the second winding disc 7 can be designed with reference to the structure of the first winding disc 6. That is, the second winding disc 7 can also be designed with corresponding wire through hole 62, second through hole 61 and second moving guide 63.

[0052] (Second embodiment, reference) Figures 9 to 12 )

[0053] refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10 The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a second cable guide 8 is used instead of a first cable guide 5. That is, the X-ray imaging device includes an X-ray unit 3, a support arm 2, a cable 4, and a second cable guide 8. The cable 4 passes sequentially from the ceiling side through the guidance of the second cable guide 8, the guidance of the first winding reel 6, the interior of the support arm 2, and the guidance of the second winding reel 7 to connect to the X-ray unit 3. The cable 4 moves along a curve when passing through the second cable guide 8. The second cable guide 8 receives and releases the cable 4 by changing the curvature of the curve.

[0054] The second cable guide 8 also includes at least two fixed guide members 52 and at least one first moving guide member 53. Unlike the structure used in the first cable guide 5, the second cable guide 8 uses a curved movement method to change the position of the first moving guide member 53, thereby changing the length of the cable 4 between the two fixed guide members 52.

[0055] If necessary, the second cable guide 8 also includes a receiving container 51, see reference. Figure 10 The bottom of the storage container 51 is equipped with a rotating shaft 81, a swing arm 82, and a second rotation drive unit 83. The rotating shaft 81 is rotatably connected to the storage container 51 around a vertical axis. The swing arm 82 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 81. The free end of the swing arm 82 is connected to the axle 521 of the first moving guide member 53. The second rotation drive unit 83 is used to drive the rotating shaft 81 to rotate around its own axis, thereby changing the position of the first moving guide member 53.

[0056] The mounting position of the swing arm 82 can be selected between above and below the bottom of the storage container 51.

[0057] On the one hand, in order to reduce the height of the storage container 51, the swing arm 82 is installed below the bottom of the storage container 51. The bottom of the storage container 51 is provided with a third through hole 512 extending along the movement trajectory of the first moving guide 53. The wheel axle 521 of the first moving guide 53 passes through the third through hole 512 and is connected to the swing arm 82. The advantage of this design is that the height of the storage container 51 only needs to be slightly greater than the height of the first moving guide 53.

[0058] On the other hand, in order to increase the length of the cable 4 stored in the storage container 51, the swing arm 82 is installed above the bottom of the storage container 51. The bottom of the storage container 51 is provided with a fourth through hole through which the pivot 81 passes (the fourth through hole is not shown in the figure). The advantage of this design is that the swing arm 82 can rotate one or several times, so that the cable 4 can not only move along the inside of the storage container 51 in a serpentine manner, but also be wound around the inside of the storage container 51 one or several times.

[0059] Optionally, the rotating shaft 81 extends through the bottom of the storage container 51, and the second rotation drive unit 83 is installed below the bottom of the storage container 51. The second rotation drive unit 83 includes a motor and a gear transmission mechanism. (See reference...) Figure 10 The motor is fixedly connected to the storage container 51, and the gear transmission mechanism includes two gears that mesh with each other and are respectively connected to the rotating shaft 81 and the output shaft of the motor. (Reference) Figure 11 , Figure 12 When the output shaft of the motor rotates, the swing arm 82 drives the first moving guide 53 to swing through the gear transmission mechanism, so that the cable 4 is released and stored in an appropriate manner, thereby ensuring that the cable 4 inside the support arm 2 maintains a certain tension.

[0060] Gear transmission mechanisms can be replaced by other transmission mechanisms, such as worm gear transmission mechanisms, chain transmission mechanisms, belt transmission mechanisms, etc.

[0061] The number of fixed guide members 52 and first movable guide members 53 included in the second cable guide section 8 can also be appropriately increased or decreased according to actual needs, for example, referring to Figure 11 and Figure 12 The position of the cable 4's termination end is easily affected by the extension, retraction, and rotation of the support arm 2. Therefore, two fixed guide members 52 are designed here to clamp the cable 4 from both sides, thereby constraining the position of the cable 4's termination end. In addition, the swing arm 82 is symmetrical about the axis of the rotating shaft 81, and there are two first moving guide members 53, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the rotating shaft 81. This allows the cable 4 inside the storage container 51 to undergo a second bend between its starting end and termination end, enabling the storage container 51 to store and release longer cables 4.

[0062] Other embodiments of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include undisclosed common knowledge or customary techniques in the art. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.

[0063] It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An X-ray imaging apparatus, characterized by have: A base, supported on a guide rail mounted on the ceiling, is movable along the guide rail; Support arm, supported on the base; The X-ray unit is supported by the support arm; A cable guide, disposed on the base, is used to move the cable disposed within the base along a serpentine curve of variable length so as to be stored or released; The cable passes sequentially through the base and the interior of the support arm to connect to the X-ray unit.

2. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cable guide section includes: Fixed guide members, with fixed positions and at least two in number, are used to constrain the positions of the starting and ending ends of the cable inside the cable guide section; There is at least one first movable guide member that is movable inside the cable guide portion. The first movable guide member is used to support the cable and to form the cable in a curved shape inside the cable guide portion. The length of the cable increases or decreases as the first movable guide member moves.

3. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, At the termination end of the cable located inside the base, two guide members are provided to clamp the cable from both sides.

4. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The base is a storage container, and the fixed guide and the first moving guide are both disposed inside the storage container.

5. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cable guide also includes a component installed at the bottom of the storage container: A slide rail is fixedly connected to the storage container; A slider is connected to the first moving guide and is slidably connected to the slide rail; A linear drive unit is used to drive the slider to move along the slide rail, so that the first moving guide moves along a linear trajectory.

6. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The slide rail, the slider, and the linear drive unit are installed below the bottom of the storage container. The bottom of the storage container is provided with a first through hole extending along the movement trajectory of the first moving guide. The first moving guide passes through the first through hole and is connected to the slider.

7. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cable guide also includes a component installed at the bottom of the storage container: A pivot shaft is rotatably connected to the storage container around a vertical axis; The swing arm is connected to the first moving guide and is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft; The second rotary drive unit is used to drive the rotating shaft to rotate around its own axis, so that the first moving guide moves along an arc trajectory.

8. The x-ray apparatus of any one of claims 1-7, wherein, It also has: A first rotary drive unit that drives the support arm to rotate around the center line.

9. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also has: Two second moving guides are disposed on the top of the support arm, rotate synchronously with the support arm, and clamp the cable from both sides; The cable is connected to the X-ray unit from the ceiling side, passing sequentially through the cable guide, between the two second moving guides, and inside the support arm.

10. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, It also has: A first winding reel is disposed at the top of the support arm and coaxially connected to the support arm. It winds the cable synchronously with the rotation of the support arm. Two second moving guides are installed on the first winding reel and clamp the cable from both sides when the cable passes through the first winding reel and enters the interior of the support arm.

11. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The fixed guide, the first moving guide, and the second moving guide each have a coaxially arranged axle and a concave wheel. The concave wheel can rotate around the axis of the axle, and the cable contacts the recess of the concave wheel.

12. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7 and 9-11, characterized in that, It also has: The second winding reel is located on the suspended side of the support arm, coaxially connected to the rotation center of the X-ray unit, and synchronously winds the cable following the rotation of the X-ray unit; The cable is connected to the X-ray unit from the ceiling side, passing through the cable guide, the inside of the support arm, and the second winding reel.

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