Couch of medical image capturing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a couch of a medical image capturing apparatus in which a cover can be easily attached and detached.SOLUTION: A couch includes a top plate on which a subject lies, a caster portion that is installed on a floor surface side, an elevating mechanism that is provided between the top plate and the caster portion and is used to adjust a height of the top plate, and a cover that is tubular to cover a periphery of the elevating mechanism and is capable of expanding and contracting vertically according to driving of the elevating mechanism. The cover has an opening and closing portion that is openable and closable and is configured by a cutout longitudinally extending from an upper end on a top plate side to a lower end on a caster portion side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology of the present disclosure relates to a bed for a medical imaging apparatus.

[0002] Medical imaging devices such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT (Computed Tomography) devices are used in medical facilities. These medical imaging devices are equipped with a bed. The bed includes a tabletop on which a subject (patient) lies, a base installed on the floor, a lifting mechanism installed between the tabletop and the base for adjusting the height of the tabletop, and a cylindrical cover that covers the lifting mechanism.

[0003] The cover has a structure that can expand and contract up and down in response to the drive of the lifting mechanism. Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 disclose a medical imaging device bed that has a cover with a bellows structure that can expand and contract up and down. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 042589 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-121584 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-018599 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The cover can be removed and replaced if it becomes soiled and / or damaged. Conventionally, when removing the cover from the bed for replacement, the cylindrical cover was folded and slipped under the base, much like removing a skirt, to remove it. However, this method required many cumbersome steps, such as jacking up the base and inserting blocks under it to ensure space for the cover to pass through. Attaching the cover to the bed also required many cumbersome steps.

[0006] The bed for a medical imaging device is relatively heavy due to the aforementioned lifting mechanism, the sliding mechanism for the tabletop, and the attachments such as belts for fixing the position of the subject on the tabletop. Therefore, the above-mentioned conventional method places a great burden on the operator. Therefore, there has been a demand for a measure to make it easier to attach and detach covers for the bed for a medical imaging device.

[0007] One embodiment of the technique of the present disclosure provides a bed for a medical imaging device, the cover of which can be easily attached and detached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The bed of the medical imaging device disclosed herein comprises a tabletop on which the subject lies, a base portion installed on the floor side, a lifting mechanism provided between the tabletop and the base portion for adjusting the height of the tabletop, and a cylindrical cover that covers the periphery of the lifting mechanism and is capable of expanding and contracting up and down in response to the operation of the lifting mechanism, the cover having an openable / closable portion formed by a slit running vertically from the upper end on the tabletop side to the lower end on the base portion side.

[0009] The cover preferably has a bellows structure made up of a flexible sheet and a plurality of frame members extending in a direction intersecting the opening and closing portion.

[0010] It is preferable that the sheet has one end and the other end facing each other at the opening and closing portion be detachably connected by a detachable member.

[0011] The detachable member is preferably a hook-and-loop fastener or a wire fastener.

[0012] The sheet is preferably arranged so that one end facing the opening / closing portion is on the outside and the other end is on the inside, and the one end is overlapped with the other end to cover the other end.

[0013] The frame members are preferably detachably connected by fitting together one end and the other end facing each other at the opening and closing portion.

[0014] The cover preferably has a bending portion that bends when the opening / closing portion is opened.

[0015] At the bent portion, it is preferable that the frame member is separated and connected only by the sheet.

[0016] At the bent portion, it is preferable that the frame members are separated and connected by a flexible connecting member.

[0017] It is preferable that the cover has a rectangular shape having short and long sides when viewed from above, and the opening / closing portion is provided on the short side.

[0018] The opening and closing section is preferably provided on the shorter side of the two shorter sides that is closer to the gantry.

[0019] It is preferable that the cover has a rectangular shape having short and long sides when viewed from above, and the opening / closing portion is provided on the long side.

[0020] It is preferable that a plurality of opening and closing sections are provided.

[0021] The base portion is preferably a caster portion having casters attached thereto.

[0022] It is preferably removably connected to the gantry. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the technique of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a bed for a medical imaging device that allows the cover to be easily attached and detached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an MRI apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of an MRI apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover with the opening / closing portion closed. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover with the opening / closing portion open. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover from the side where the opening and closing portion is located. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cover from the side where the opening and closing portion is located. [Figure 7] 10 shows how the frame members are detachably connected to each other by fitting one end and the other end of the frame members facing each other in the opening and closing portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the side of the cover where the bent portion is located. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a linear fastener is used as a detachable member. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a view showing an embodiment in which the frame members of the bending portion are connected by a rubber tube. [Figure 11] This shows an embodiment in which one end and the other end of the frame members facing each other in the opening and closing portion are detachably connected by a clip. [Figure 12] This shows an embodiment in which one end and the other end of the frame members facing each other in the opening and closing portion are detachably connected by a hook-shaped engaging portion. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cover having an opening / closing portion on the long side. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cover with opening and closing sections at the corners. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cover provided with a plurality of opening and closing portions. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 shows a cover having multiple bends. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] As an example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an MRI apparatus 10 is composed of a gantry 11 and a bed 12. The gantry 11 is cylindrical with an imaging space, which is a hollow space with a circular cross section, in the center. The gantry 11 houses magnets and coils that generate a magnetic field in the imaging space, a detector that detects nuclear magnetic resonance signals emitted from a subject passing through the imaging space in response to the magnetic field, and the like. The MRI apparatus 10 is an example of a "medical imaging apparatus" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The bed 12 is also an example of a "medical imaging apparatus bed" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

[0026] The bed 12 comprises a top plate 15, a caster unit 16, a lifting mechanism 17 (see Figure 2), and a cover 18. The subject lies on the top plate 15. The caster unit 16 is installed on the floor opposite the top plate 15. A plurality of casters 19 are attached to the caster unit 16. The caster unit 16 allows the bed 12 to move within the medical facility. Foot covers are attached to the caster unit 16 to prevent feet from hitting the caster units 19. The caster unit 16 is an example of a "base" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

[0027] The lifting mechanism 17 is provided between the tabletop 15 and the caster unit 16. The lifting mechanism 17 is a so-called scissor lift that has an X-shaped pantograph arm connected to the tabletop 15 and the caster unit 16 and a cylinder that provides driving force to the pantograph arm. The lifting mechanism 17 adjusts the height of the tabletop 15 by raising and lowering the tabletop 15 relative to the caster unit 16. The cover 18 is a substantially square tube that covers the periphery of the lifting mechanism 17 and can expand and contract up and down in response to the drive of the lifting mechanism 17. In addition to the tabletop 15, the caster unit 16, the lifting mechanism 17, and the cover 18, the bed 12 also includes a slide mechanism for sliding the tabletop 15 into the imaging space of the gantry 11 and attachments such as belts for fixing the position of the subject on the tabletop 15.

[0028] A connector (not shown) is provided on the side of the bed 12 facing the gantry 11. This connector is mechanically and electrically connected to a connector (not shown) of the gantry 11. A docking pedal 20 is provided on the end of the castor unit 16 on the side opposite the gantry 11. By pressing the docking pedal 20 and pushing the connector of the bed 12 into the connector of the gantry 11, the bed 12 can be mechanically and electrically connected to the gantry 11. By pressing the docking pedal 20 again and pulling the connector of the bed 12 away from the connector of the gantry 11, the bed 12 can be removed from the gantry 11. In other words, the bed 12 is a so-called dockable bed that can be detachably connected to the gantry 11 without any work such as attaching or detaching cables.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as an example, the cover 18 has a bellows structure composed of a sheet 25 and a frame member 26. The sheet 25 constitutes the entire cover 18 and is made of a flexible material, such as cloth, resin, leather, or carbon fiber. A plurality of frame members 26 are arranged at equal intervals from an upper end 27 on the tabletop 15 side to a lower end 28 on the caster section 16 side. Unlike the sheet 25, the frame members 26 are made of a rigid material, such as a thin metal pipe (see FIG. 7). The frame members 26 extend horizontally and are bent in places to form a rectangular shape that surrounds the lifting mechanism 17, serving as a framework for maintaining the shape of the sheet 25 in a substantially rectangular tubular shape. The frame members 26 also serve as mountain folds of the bellows structure when the sheet 25 expands and contracts up and down in response to the operation of the lifting mechanism 17. The top plate 15 and the upper end 27, and the caster portion 16 and the lower end 28 are each detachably connected at multiple locations by screws (not shown).

[0030] The frame member 26 defines the cover 18 in a rectangular shape in top view, having two short sides 29 and 30 and two long sides 31 and 32. Of the two short sides 29 and 30, the short side 29 is the short side facing the gantry 11 and is straight, intersecting the two straight long sides 31 and 32 at a right angle. Meanwhile, the short side 30 opposite the short side 29 is curved, forming no angle between the two long sides 31 and 32. Thus, the term "rectangular shape" in the technology disclosed herein also includes a roughly rectangular shape (semi-elliptical or elliptical) in which the long and short sides are connected in a curved manner and the boundaries between the long and short sides are unclear. The terms "right angle" and "straight line" refer not only to perfect right angles and straight lines, but also to right angles and straight lines that include errors generally accepted in the technical field to which the technology disclosed herein pertains and that do not deviate from the spirit of the technology disclosed herein.

[0031] An opening / closing section 35 is provided at the center of the short side 29 on the gantry 11 side. The opening / closing section 35 is formed by a slit 36 that runs vertically through the sheet 25 and frame member 26 from the upper end 27 to the lower end 28. This allows the opening / closing section 35 to be opened and closed. A bending section 37 is also provided at the center of the short side 30 opposite the opening / closing section 35. As shown in FIG. 4, the bending section 37 bends when the opening / closing section 35 is opened. The opening / closing section 35 and bending section 37 give the cover 18 a structure similar to the blades of nail clippers.

[0032] As described above, the frame member 26 extends horizontally. Furthermore, the slit 36 that constitutes the opening / closing section 35 runs vertically in a straight line from the upper end 27 to the lower end 28. Therefore, it can be said that the frame member 26 extends in a direction that intersects with the opening / closing section 35, more specifically, in a direction that is perpendicular to the opening / closing section 35. The horizontal direction is an example of a "direction that intersects with the opening / closing section" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

[0033] The multiple frame members 26 have similar shapes that decrease in size from the upper end 27 to the lower end 28. The multiple frame members 26 are arranged so that the centers of their short sides 29 are aligned perpendicular to the up-down direction. Therefore, when viewed from the left-right direction, the surface of the cover 18 on the side of the short side 30 is inclined inward from the upper end 27 to the lower end 28 (see FIG. 2). When viewed from the front-to-back direction, the surfaces of the cover 18 on the side of the long sides 31 and 32 are inclined inward from the upper end 27 to the lower end 28 (see FIG. 5, etc.).

[0034] As an example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, one end 40 and the other end 41 of the sheet 25, which face each other at the opening / closing section 35, are detachably connected by a hook and loop fastener 42. The hook and loop fastener 42 is attached between a plurality of frame members 26. The hook and loop fastener 42 is composed of a pair of a hook 43 attached to the one end 40 and a loop 44 attached to the other end 41 at a position corresponding to the hook 43 (see Figure 6). The hook and loop fastener 42 is an example of a "detachable member" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

[0035] In the opening / closing section 35, the sheet 25 is arranged with one end 40 on the outside and the other end 41 on the inside, and the one end 40 is overlapped with the other end 41. As a result, the one end 40 covers and conceals the other end 41 and further the hook-and-loop fastener 42 so that they cannot be seen from the outside.

[0036] 7, one end 50 and the other end 51 of the frame member 26 face each other in the opening / closing section 35, and the outer diameter φA of the one end 50 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter φB of the other end 51. Therefore, as shown below the arrow, it is possible to insert the one end 50 into the other end 51. In other words, the frame member 26 is detachably connected by fitting the one end 50 and the other end 51 facing each other in the opening / closing section 35 together.

[0037] The following configuration may also be employed. Specifically, the inner diameters of the one end 50 and the other end 51 are set to be the same. A cylindrical metal piece having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the one end 50 or the other end 51 is inserted into one of the one end 50 and the other end 51 and crimped to secure it. The metal piece is then inserted into the other of the one end 50 and the other end 51, thereby fitting the one end 50 and the other end 51 together. Alternatively, the outer diameters of the one end 50 and the other end 51 are set to be the same. A cylindrical metal piece having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the one end 50 or the other end 51 is inserted into one of the one end 50 and the other end 51 and crimped to secure it. The other of the one end 50 and the other end 51 is then inserted into the metal piece, thereby fitting the one end 50 and the other end 51 together.

[0038] 8, at the bending portion 37, the frame member 26 is separated and the portion is connected only by the sheet 25. As a result, when the opening / closing portion 35 is opened, the bending portion 37 bends.

[0039] Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, when attaching the cover 18 to the bed 12, the hook 43 of the hook-and-loop fastener 42 at one end 40 is removed from the loop 44 of the hook-and-loop fastener 42 at the other end 41 of the sheet 25, thereby releasing the connection between the one end 40 and the other end 41. Also, the one end 50 is pulled out from the other end 51 of the frame member 26, thereby releasing the engagement between the one end 50 and the other end 51. This makes it possible to open the opening / closing section 35.

[0040] 4, the opening / closing section 35 is opened using the bent section 37 as a fulcrum. Then, the cover 18 is inserted between the top plate 15 and the castor section 16 from the side opposite the gantry 11, and the cover 18 is moved horizontally toward the gantry 11 to cover the lifting mechanism 17.

[0041] Thereafter, one end 50 is inserted into the other end 51 of the frame member 26, and the one end 50 and the other end 51 are fitted together to connect them. Also, the hook 43 of the hook-and-loop fastener 42 at one end 40 is attached to the loop 44 of the hook-and-loop fastener 42 at the other end 41 of the sheet 25, connecting the one end 40 to the other end 41. Furthermore, the top plate 15 and the upper end 27 are fastened and connected at multiple locations, and the caster portion 16 and the lower end 28 are fastened and connected at multiple locations with screws.

[0042] The procedure for removing the cover 18 from the bed 12 is roughly the same. That is, the hook 43 of the hook-and-loop fastener 42 at one end 40 is removed from the loop 44 of the hook-and-loop fastener 42 at the other end 41 of the sheet 25, thereby releasing the connection between the one end 40 and the other end 41. Also, the one end 50 is pulled out from the other end 51 of the frame member 26, thereby releasing the engagement between the one end 50 and the other end 51. Next, the opening / closing portion 35 is opened using the bent portion 37 as a fulcrum. Then, the cover 18 is moved horizontally toward the side opposite the gantry 11, and the cover 18 is removed from between the tabletop 15 and the castor portion 16.

[0043] As described above, the bed 12 includes the tabletop 15 on which the subject lies, the caster section 16 installed on the floor side, the lifting mechanism 17 provided between the tabletop 15 and the caster section 16 for adjusting the height of the tabletop 15, and the cylindrical cover 18 that covers the periphery of the lifting mechanism 17 and can expand and contract up and down in response to the operation of the lifting mechanism 17. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cover 18 has an openable / closable section 35 that is configured by a slit 36 that runs vertically from the upper end 27 on the tabletop 15 side to the lower end 28 on the caster section 16 side.

[0044] Conventionally, when removing the cover 18 from the bed 12, the cover 18 must be folded and passed under the caster unit 16 for removal. This requires a number of cumbersome tasks, such as removing the bed 12 from the gantry 11, jacking up the caster unit 16, inserting blocks under the caster unit 16, and ensuring space under the caster unit 16 for the cover 18 to pass through. In contrast, according to the technology disclosed herein, it is only necessary to open the opening / closing unit 35 and move the cover 18 horizontally to remove it. The same applies when attaching the cover 18 to the bed 12. Therefore, the cover 18 can be easily attached and detached. This effect is particularly valuable for the bed 12 of the MRI apparatus 10, which is relatively heavy and requires a significant burden on the operator for handling, such as jacking up the bed.

[0045] Furthermore, in conventional methods, during assembly at a factory, cover 18 is installed and then top plate 15 is attached. This means that the assembly worker has to be careful not to soil and / or damage cover 18 during work after installation. In contrast, according to the technology of the present disclosure, cover 18 can be installed after all other work has been completed, allowing the assembly worker to work without hesitation.

[0046] Furthermore, conventional methods have imposed various design constraints on the cover 18 to facilitate its attachment and detachment. For example, the cover 18 must be cylindrical, and care must be taken to minimize the number of protruding components, such as the docking pedal 20, on the caster unit 16. In contrast, the technology disclosed herein allows for the cover 18 and other components to be freely designed without these constraints. That is, when viewed from the left and right, the surface on the short side 30 side can be inclined inward from the upper end 27 to the lower end 28, and when viewed from the front and back, the surfaces on the long sides 31 and 32 side can be inclined inward from the upper end 27 to the lower end 28. By providing a slope to the cover 18 in this way, the cover 18 and, by extension, the bed 12 can be given a streamlined appearance and the sense of oppression felt by the patient can be reduced. Furthermore, the docking pedal 20 and other components can be easily attached to the caster unit 16.

[0047] 3 and 4, the cover 18 has a bellows structure made up of a flexible sheet 25 and a plurality of frame members 26 extending in a direction intersecting with the slits 36. A telescopic structure, in addition to the bellows structure, can be used as a structure that can expand and contract up and down in response to the drive of the lifting mechanism 17. However, the bellows structure is simpler and less expensive than the telescopic structure. Therefore, the bellows structure makes it possible to provide a simple and inexpensive bed 12.

[0048] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, one end 40 and the other end 41 of the sheet 25, which face each other at the opening / closing section 35, are detachably connected by a hook-and-loop fastener 42. This prevents the sheet 25 from sagging loosely at the opening / closing section 35, improving its appearance. The hook-and-loop fastener 42 is also easy to attach and detach. Furthermore, because the hook-and-loop fastener 42 is as thin as the sheet 25, it does not get in the way when the sheet 25 is folded.

[0049] 5 and 6, sheet 25 is arranged such that one end 40 facing opening / closing section 35 is on the outside and the other end 41 is on the inside, and one end 40 overlaps and covers the other end 41. This improves the appearance and prevents the user from being aware of opening / closing section 35.

[0050] 7, the frame member 26 is detachably connected by fitting together one end 50 and the other end 51 that face each other in the opening / closing section 35. Therefore, the frame member 26 can be easily attached and detached.

[0051] 3 and 4, the cover 18 has a bending portion 37 that bends when the opening / closing portion 35 is opened, so that the opening / closing portion 35 can be easily opened.

[0052] 8, at the bent portion 37, the frame member 26 is cut off and connected only by the sheet 25. Therefore, the bent portion 37 can be produced easily and inexpensively.

[0053] 3 and 4, the cover 18 has a rectangular shape having short sides 29 and 30 and long sides 31 and 32 when viewed from above, and the opening / closing section 35 is provided on the short side 29. This allows the opening width of the opening / closing section 35 to be made larger, making it easier to attach and detach the cover 18. In addition, providing the opening / closing section 35 on the short side 29 is suitable when there is space on the left and right sides of the bed 12.

[0054] Furthermore, if the opening / closing section 35 were provided on the short side 30 opposite the gantry 11, the gantry 11 would get in the way when attaching or detaching the cover 18 while the bed 12 is attached to the gantry 11. In contrast, according to the technology of the present disclosure, the opening / closing section 35 is provided on the short side 29 on the gantry 11 side, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Therefore, the gantry 11 does not get in the way when attaching or detaching the cover 18, and the cover 18 can be attached or detached smoothly. Furthermore, because the opening / closing section 35 is hidden in the shadow of the gantry 11 and is not noticeable, the user does not need to be aware of the opening / closing section 35.

[0055] In this embodiment, the base is a caster part 16 to which casters 19 are attached. This allows the bed 12 to be moved freely within the medical facility. Note that the base is not limited to the caster part 16 to which casters 19 are attached, and may be an original base without casters 19.

[0056] 1, the bed 12 is a so-called dockable bed that is detachably connected to the gantry 11. This allows for the following operation: the bed 12 is carried into a hospital room, the subject is transferred from a bed in the hospital room to the top plate 15 of the bed 12, and the bed 12 with the subject lying on the top plate 15 is carried into the imaging room of the MRI device 10 for imaging. Note that the bed is not limited to the dockable bed shown as an example, and may be a stationary bed that is non-detachably connected to the gantry 11.

[0057] Although hook and loop fasteners 42 have been used as an example of a detachable member, this is not limiting. As an example, as shown in Figure 9, a wire fastener 55 may be used instead of hook and loop fasteners 42. Wire fasteners 55 are easy to attach and detach, just like hook and loop fasteners 42. Furthermore, hook and loop fasteners 42 may have a risk of one end 40 and the other end 41 becoming misaligned in the vertical direction depending on how they are attached, but wire fasteners 55 do not have this risk.

[0058] 9, one end 40 is not overlapped with the other end 41 and the one end 40 does not cover the other end 41. In this way, it is not essential to overlap one end 40 with the other end 41 and cover the other end 41 with the one end 40. Of course, also in FIG. 9, one end 40 may be overlapped with the other end 41 and the one end 40 may cover the other end 41.

[0059] Similarly, in Figure 9, one end 50 and the other end 51 of the frame member 26 are not fitted together. Thus, it is not essential to fit the one end 50 and the other end 51 of the frame member 26 together. It is sufficient that at least the one end 40 and the other end 41 of the sheet 25 that face each other in the opening / closing section 35 are detachably connected by detachable members such as the hook-and-loop fastener 42 and the wire fastener 55. Of course, the one end 50 and the other end 51 of the frame member 26 may also be fitted together in Figure 9.

[0060] Furthermore, although the embodiment in which the frame member 26 is separated at the bending portion 37 and connected only by the sheet 25 has been exemplified, the present invention is not limited to this. As an example, as shown in FIG. 10 , the frame member 26 may be separated at the bending portion 37 and connected by a rubber tube 60. The rubber tube 60 is an example of a "flexible connecting member" according to the technology of the present disclosure. With this configuration, the strength of the bending portion 37 can be increased compared to when the frame member 26 is separated and connected only by the sheet 25.

[0061] The frame member 26 is detachably connected by fitting one end 50 and the other end 51 facing each other in the opening / closing portion 35, but this is not limiting. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, the one end 50 and the other end 51 may be detachably connected by a clip 65.

[0062] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12 , one end 50 and the other end 51 may be detachably connected by a hook-shaped engaging portion 70. The hook-shaped engaging portion 70 is composed of a cylindrical protrusion 71 provided on the circumferential surface of the one end 50 and a rectangular engaging portion 72 attached to the other end 51. The engaging portion 72 has a semi-elliptical notch 73 formed therein that engages with the protrusion 71. The hook-shaped engaging portion 70 makes it less likely to come off than a mode in which the one end 50 and the other end 51 are fitted together. Furthermore, the hook-shaped engaging portion 70 is less bulky than the clip 65.

[0063] Although the short side 29 has been exemplified as a location where the opening / closing portion 35 is provided, this is not limiting. The opening / closing portion 35 may also be provided on the opposite short side 30. As an example, the opening / closing portion 35 may be provided on the long side 32, as in the case of cover 75 shown in FIG. 13. In this case, the bending portion 37 is provided on the portion of the long side 31 opposite the opening / closing portion 35. Here, even when the opening / closing portion 35 and the bending portion 37 are provided on the long sides 32 and 31, it is preferable to provide them closer to the gantry 11 as shown in FIG. 13, taking into consideration ease of removal of the cover 18.

[0064] When the opening / closing portion 35 is provided on the long side 32, the opening width of the opening / closing portion 35 can be made smaller than when the opening / closing portion 35 is provided on the short side 29 or 30. Even with such a small opening width, the cover 18 can be easily attached and detached. Furthermore, providing the opening / closing portion 35 on the long side 32 is suitable when there is space in front of and behind the bed 12. It is also possible to provide the opening / closing portion 35 on the long side 31 and the bent portion 37 on the long side 32.

[0065] Furthermore, as an example, as in the cover 80 shown in FIG. 14 , the opening / closing section 35 may be provided at the corner between the short side 29 and the long side 31. In this case, the bent portion 37 is provided at the corner between the short side 30 and the long side 32 opposite the opening / closing section 35. With this configuration, the opening width of the opening / closing section 35 can be made larger than when the opening / closing section 35 is provided on the short side 29 or 30 or when the opening / closing section 35 is provided on the long side 31 or 32, making it easier to attach and detach the cover 18. Furthermore, providing the opening / closing section 35 at a corner is preferable when there is space on the left and right sides of the bed 12. Furthermore, providing the opening / closing section 35 at a corner is preferable when the lifting mechanism 17 is relatively large and the lifting mechanism 17 cannot be avoided unless the opening width is made larger.

[0066] As an example, as in the cover 85 shown in FIG. 15 , the opening / closing sections 35 may be provided approximately in the center of each of the long sides 31 and 32. In other words, the cover 85 may be separable into two pieces, a front piece and a rear piece. In this case, the bending section 37 is not necessary. With such a configuration, the cover 85 is easy to transport when a new cover 85 is transported from a factory to a medical facility to replace a soiled and / or damaged cover 85. Furthermore, the cover 85 does not take up much space when stored in the factory or medical facility. Note that the opening / closing sections 35 may be provided in the center of the short sides 29 and / or 30 instead of or in addition to the centers of the long sides 31 and 32. Furthermore, multiple opening / closing sections 35 may be provided at any location, not just the center of the sides.

[0067] 16, the opening / closing portion 35 is provided on the short side 29, but multiple bent portions 37 may be provided on the long side 31 instead of the short side 30. In short, the bent portion 37 does not need to be provided at a location opposite the opening / closing portion 35 as long as it can make the opening / closing portion 35 easier to open, and the number of bent portions 37 is not limited to one.

[0068] The detachable members may be buttons such as four-hole buttons, snap buttons, or magnetic buttons, or hooks such as keyholes or spring hooks, instead of the illustrated hook-and-loop fasteners 42 and wire fasteners 55. The hook-and-loop fasteners 42 and buttons or hooks, or buttons and hooks, may be used in combination. However, although magnetic buttons are easy to attach and detach, there is a risk that they may be attracted to the gantry 11, so their adoption should be carefully considered when the medical imaging apparatus is an MRI apparatus 10.

[0069] As a method of connecting one end 50 and the other end 51 of the frame member 26 in the opening / closing section 35, instead of the fitting shown in Fig. 7, the clip 65 shown in Fig. 11, and the hook-type engaging section 70 shown in Fig. 12, a method of attaching magnets to the one end 50 and the other end 51 and connecting the one end 50 and the other end 51 by the magnets may be used. However, even in this case, there is a risk that the magnets may be attracted to the gantry 11, so if the medical imaging device is an MRI device 10, careful consideration should be given to whether to adopt this method.

[0070] As the configuration of the bending portion 37, instead of the configuration shown in Fig. 8 in which the frame members 26 are separated and connected only by the sheet 25, or the configuration shown in Fig. 10 in which the frame members 26 are separated and connected by the rubber tube 60, a configuration in which the separated frame members 26 are connected to each other by a hinge may be adopted. If a hinge is used, the strength of the bending portion 37 can be increased more than in the case of the rubber tube 60. However, the configuration is more complicated and expensive than the rubber tube 60.

[0071] The cuts 36 may be in the form of oblique straight lines, or in the form of steps. They may also be in the form of a square wave or sawtooth wave with periodic concaves and convexes.

[0072] The cover may be formed only from the sheet 25 without the frame member 26. In other words, the cover does not have to have a bellows structure.

[0073] Although the MRI device 10 has been exemplified as a medical imaging device, the present invention is not limited to this and may be a CT device, a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) device, a SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) device, or the like.

[0074] From the above description, the technology described in the following supplementary paragraphs can be understood.

[0075] [Additional note 1] The tabletop on which the subject lies, a base portion installed on the floor surface side; a lifting mechanism provided between the top plate and the base portion for adjusting the height of the top plate; a cylindrical cover that covers the lifting mechanism and can expand and contract up and down in response to the operation of the lifting mechanism, the cover having an openable / closable portion that is formed by a slit that runs vertically from the upper end of the top plate side to the lower end of the base portion side; Equipped with A medical imaging device bed. [Additional note 2] The cover is a flexible sheet; Item 1. A medical imaging device bed according to claim 1, which has a bellows structure made up of a plurality of frame members extending in a direction intersecting the opening / closing portion. [Additional note 3] The bed for a medical imaging device according to claim 2, wherein one end and the other end of the sheet facing each other at the opening and closing portion are detachably connected by a detachable member. [Additional note 4] 4. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 3, wherein the detachable member is a hook-and-loop fastener or a wire fastener. [Additional note 5] The sheet has one end facing the opening / closing portion on the outside and the other end facing the opening / closing portion on the inside, 5. The medical imaging device bed according to claim 2, wherein the one end is superimposed on the other end and covers the other end. [Additional note 6] The bed for a medical imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the frame member is detachably connected by fitting one end and the other end facing each other in the opening and closing section. [Additional note 7] 7. The medical imaging device bed according to claim 2, wherein the cover has a bending portion that bends when the opening / closing portion is opened. [Additional note 8] 8. A medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 7, wherein the frame member is separated at the bent portion and only the sheet is connected. [Additional note 9] 8. The medical imaging device bed according to claim 7, wherein the frame members are separated from each other at the bending portion and connected by a flexible connecting member. [Additional Note 10] the cover has a rectangular shape having short sides and long sides when viewed from above, The bed for a medical imaging device according to any one of supplementary items 1 to 9, wherein the opening / closing portion is provided on the short side. [Additional Note 11] The bed for a medical imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the opening / closing section is provided on one of the two short sides closer to the gantry. [Additional Note 12] the cover has a rectangular shape having short sides and long sides when viewed from above, 12. The bed for a medical imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the opening / closing section is provided on the long side. [Additional Note 13] 13. The bed for a medical imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a plurality of opening / closing sections are provided. [Additional Note 14] 14. A bed for a medical imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the base is a caster part to which casters are attached. [Additional Note 15] A bed for a medical imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which is detachably connected to a gantry.

[0076] The technology of the present disclosure can be appropriately combined with the various embodiments and / or various modified examples described above. Furthermore, it is needless to say that it is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various configurations can be adopted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0077] The above-described description and illustrations are a detailed explanation of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure and are merely an example of the technology of the present disclosure. For example, the above description of the configuration, functions, actions, and effects is an explanation of an example of the configuration, functions, actions, and effects of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure. Therefore, it goes without saying that unnecessary parts may be deleted, new elements may be added, or replacements may be made to the above-described description and illustrations within the scope of the gist of the technology of the present disclosure. Furthermore, to avoid confusion and facilitate understanding of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure, the above-described description and illustrations omit explanations of common technical knowledge that do not require particular explanation to enable the implementation of the technology of the present disclosure.

[0078] In this specification, "A and / or B" is synonymous with "at least one of A and B." In other words, "A and / or B" means that it may be only A, only B, or a combination of A and B. Furthermore, in this specification, the same concept as "A and / or B" is also applied when three or more things are expressed connected by "and / or."

[0079] All publications, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, or technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 10 MRI machine 11 Gantry 12 berths 15 Top plate 16 Caster section 17 Lifting mechanism 18, 75, 80, 85, 90 cover 19 Casters 20 Docking Pedal 25 sheets 26 Frame members 27 Top edge of cover 28 Bottom edge of cover 29, 30 short side 31, 32 long side 35 Opening and Closing Section 36 Break 37 Bend 40 One end of the sheet 41 Other end of sheet 42 hook and loop fastener 43 Hook 44 Loops 50 One end of frame member 51 Other end of frame member 55 Wire fastener 60 rubber tube 65 clips 70 Key-type engagement part 71 Protrusion 72 Engagement part 73 Cutout φA: Outer diameter of one end of the frame member φB: Inner diameter of the other end of the frame member

Claims

1. The tabletop on which the subject lies, a base portion installed on the floor surface side; a lifting mechanism provided between the top plate and the base portion for adjusting the height of the top plate; a cylindrical cover that covers the lifting mechanism and can expand and contract up and down in response to the operation of the lifting mechanism, the cover having an openable / closable portion that is formed by a slit that runs vertically from the upper end of the top plate side to the lower end of the base portion side; Equipped with A medical imaging device bed.

2. The cover is a flexible sheet; 2. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 1, wherein the bed has a bellows structure formed of a plurality of frame members extending in a direction intersecting the opening and closing portion.

3. 3. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 2, wherein the sheet has one end and the other end facing each other at the opening and closing portion detachably connected by a detachable member.

4. 4. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 3, wherein the detachable member is a hook-and-loop fastener or a wire fastener.

5. The sheet has one end facing the opening / closing portion on the outside and the other end facing the opening / closing portion on the inside, The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 2 , wherein the one end is superimposed on the other end and covers the other end.

6. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 2 , wherein the frame members are detachably connected by fitting together one end and the other end facing each other in the opening and closing portion.

7. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 2 , wherein the cover has a bending portion that bends when the opening / closing portion is opened.

8. 8. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 7, wherein the frame member is separated at the bent portion, and only the sheet is connected.

9. 8. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 7, wherein the frame members are separated at the bent portion and connected by a flexible connecting member.

10. the cover has a rectangular shape having short sides and long sides when viewed from above, The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing portion is provided on the short side.

11. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 10 , wherein the opening / closing section is provided on the short side of the two short sides that is closer to the gantry.

12. the cover has a rectangular shape having short sides and long sides when viewed from above, The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing portion is provided on the long side.

13. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the opening and closing sections are provided.

14. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 1 , wherein the base portion is a caster portion having casters attached thereto.

15. 2. The medical imaging apparatus bed according to claim 1, which is detachably connected to the gantry.

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