X-ray goniometer

Abstract

To solve the problem with a conventional angle meter configured so that a ball-like movable body that does not transmit an X-ray passes through a curved passage that a substantial material of the ball is limited to ceramics or metal from a viewpoint of durability since the ball involves a rolling movement, and if the ball is enlarged to enhance a discrimination performance, artifacts are generated.SOLUTION: An angle meter for radiography includes a container formed of an X-ray transmission material and an X-ray blocking agent put into the container. The container is formed with a scale of the X-ray blocking agent at a position corresponding to a horizontal plane that changes in the container if the container is tilted. The angle meter for radiography achieves high visibility and hardly causes artifacts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a goniometer that can check the supine angle of a patient when taking an X-ray image using an X-ray device and can display that angle on the taken X-ray image. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, mobile X-ray machines (portable X-ray machines) are often used to take X-rays of critically ill patients in hospital rooms using support lines and tubes. Mobile X-ray machines differ from standard laboratory X-rays in that the patient is positioned nearly supine on a bed.

[0003] First, there is a difference in the direction of the X-rays, and second, there is a difference in posture during the scan. In laboratory scans, the patient stands in front of the cassette and the X-rays are irradiated from behind. On the other hand, when using a mobile X-ray machine, the patient is scanned in a semi-sitting position with the upper body raised from a supine position. Therefore, the X-rays are irradiated from the chest side. This causes the heart to appear different in size.

[0004] In addition, the angle of the upper body during imaging is within a certain range (0° to 90°), which also affects how the photograph appears. In other words, with mobile X-ray imaging equipment, the angle of the upper body during imaging is an important factor to consider when interpreting the images later.

[0005] Current mobile X-ray equipment uses a flat panel detector (FPD) as a cassette, allowing X-ray images to be managed electronically. Therefore, there is no particular problem with recording the angle of the upper body for each photograph. However, even so, if the angle of the upper body could be recorded in the X-ray image, it would be possible to avoid any misunderstandings later.

[0006] In response to such a demand, Patent Document 1 discloses a housing attached to the front of a cassette, the housing having a first passage through which a first moving body moves in relation to the angle at which the cassette is currently positioned; a plurality of markers protruding from the inner surface of the passage through which the first moving body passes; The present invention discloses an angle meter in which the current position of the first moving body relative to a plurality of markers in the passageway represents the angle at which the first moving body is positioned when the X-ray image is taken, and the first moving body and the plurality of markers are visible on the X-ray image generated by the X-ray device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014 / 0112454 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The goniometer disclosed in Patent Document 1 can indicate the angle of a housing by moving a ball-shaped moving body to the lowest position of a curved first passage when the housing is tilted. However, because the ball body involves a rotational movement, considering durability, the materials that can be used are essentially limited to metal or ceramic. However, there is a problem in that making the moving body larger to improve visibility results in unwanted artifacts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention was conceived to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a goniometer for X-ray photography that is thin but can record the angle of the upper body (the angle that the cassette placed between the patient and the bed has with respect to the horizontal) in an X-ray image.

[0010] More specifically, the radiography goniometer according to the present invention comprises: a container having an enclosed space between a main body and a back panel formed of an X-ray transparent material; a liquid X-ray shielding agent enclosed in the enclosed space; The container contains: the container In front When tilted towards the back panel, Obtained from a side view The angle θ between the horizontal plane and the back panel is The scale displayed using X-ray shielding material is The above-mentioned when viewed from the front of the main body Liquid Position corresponding to the liquid level of the X-ray shielding agent In the shape It is characterized by being made up of: [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The X-ray goniometer of the present invention uses a liquid X-ray shielding agent, so the goniometer can be thin. Therefore, the tilt angle at the time of shooting can be captured on the X-ray image without generating unnecessary artifacts. If the tilt angle at the time of shooting can be captured on the X-ray image, the reproducibility of the image will be improved when repeatedly taking X-rays of the same patient (because the angle visually recognized during the examination can be made to match the angle captured on the image). As a result, comparison with previous photographs can be made with confidence when interpreting the images. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] These are three-view diagrams of a goniometer for X-ray photography. (a) is a front view, (b) is a right side view, and (c) is a plan view from above. [Figure 2] Assembly drawing of a goniometer for X-ray photography. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 shows a state in which a radiography goniometer is used with a portable radiography device. [Figure 4] This figure shows the tilt of an X-ray goniometer and how the shadow appears. (a) is a side view when the tilt angle is 90°. (b) is a front view when the tilt angle is 90°. (c) is a side view when the tilt angle is 75°. (d) is a front view when the tilt angle is 75°. (e) is a side view when the tilt angle is 60°. (f) is a front view when the tilt angle is 60°. [Figure 5]This figure shows the tilt of an X-ray goniometer and how the shadow appears. (a) is a side view when the tilt angle is 45°. (b) is a front view when the tilt angle is 45°. (c) is a side view when the tilt angle is 30°. (d) is a front view when the tilt angle is 30°. (e) is a side view when the tilt angle is 15°. (f) is a front view when the tilt angle is 15°. [Figure 6] Enlarged views of the scale of the radiographic goniometer. (a) shows the scale when the tilt angle is 75°. (b) shows the scale when the tilt angle is between 30° and 45°. [Figure 7] This is a diagram showing the locations where the scale is placed. (a) is when it is placed on the front surface of the back panel. (b) is when it is placed on the wall surface of the recess in the main body. (c) is when it is placed on the front surface of the main body. (d) is when it is placed on the rear surface of the back panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The goniometer for X-ray photography according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings and examples. Note that the following description exemplifies one embodiment of the present invention and one example, and the present invention is not limited to the following description. The following description can be modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0014] In the following description, the side facing the X-ray irradiation device 50 (see FIG. 3) is referred to as the "front," and the opposite side is referred to as the "rear." Furthermore, the top and bottom when placed so that a scale 24 (described later) can be read correctly are referred to as the "top" and "bottom."

[0015] Figure 1 shows three views of a goniometer 1 for X-ray photography according to the present invention. Figure 1(a) is a front view, Figure 1(b) is a right side view, and Figure 1(c) is a plan view from above. The goniometer 1 for X-ray photography is composed of a container 10 and an X-ray shielding agent 12 sealed within the container 10. A solution that is lighter in specific gravity than the X-ray shielding agent 12 and that transmits X-rays and visible light may also be sealed within the container. This is called a sealing liquid 14.

[0016] 2 shows an assembly diagram of the container 10. The container 10 is composed of a back plate 16, a partition plate 18, a main body 20, and a lid 22. The back plate 16 is adhered from the rear to the main body 20, which is provided with a recess 20c that corresponds to a groove (the partition plate 18 may be inserted therein), and the top is closed with the lid 22, thereby forming an enclosed space 26 (see FIG. 1) inside the container 10. The X-ray shielding agent 12 and sealing liquid 14 are sealed in this enclosed space 26.

[0017] A scale 24 is provided on the front surface 16a of the rear panel 16 (in FIG. 2, the number portion 24f (see FIG. 6) of the scale 24 is omitted). The scale 24 is drawn with an X-ray blocking material. Alternatively, the scale 24 may be formed by engraving letters and lines on the front surface 16a of the rear panel 16 and embedding an X-ray blocking material therein.

[0018] The rear surface 16b of the back panel 16 is formed parallel to the front surface 16a on which the scale 24 is formed. Since the rear surface 16b is attached parallel to the surface of the cassette C (see FIG. 3) as will be described later, the tilt angle of the cassette C cannot be measured accurately unless the rear surface 16b is parallel to the front surface 16a on which the scale 24 is formed and is flat.

[0019] The partition plate 18 separates the front surface 16a of the rear panel 16 from the main body 20. A thinner partition plate 18 allows for more accurate reading of the tilt angle of the X-ray goniometer 1. Therefore, the partition plate 18 may not only be a thin plate-like member, but may also be made of a film or a membrane applied to the front surface 16a of the rear panel 16.

[0020] The partition plate 18 separates the X-ray shielding agent 12 filled in the main body 20 from the scale 24 provided on the front surface 16a of the back panel 16. It also serves to prevent a gap from being formed between the main body 20 and the back panel 16. It also serves to prevent the X-ray shielding agent 12 from adhering to the scale 24 and solidifying. Therefore, if no problems arise even if the scale 24 comes into direct contact with the X-ray shielding agent 12 and if a means is provided to prevent the X-ray shielding agent 12 from leaking into the gap between the main body 20 and the back panel 16, the partition plate 18 may be omitted.

[0021] The main body 20 is provided on its back surface 20b with a recess 20c that, together with the rear plate 16 and the lid 22, forms an enclosed space 26 (see FIG. 1) into which the X-ray shielding agent 12 is filled. The lid 22 seals the upper surface 20u of the main body 20 and the upper surface 16u of the rear plate 16. Here, the bottom surface 20cb of the recess 20c is formed in the main body 20, but the recess 20c may also be formed as a groove that penetrates from the upper surface 20u to the lower surface 20d, and the bottom surface (not shown) may be joined to the lower surface 20d to form the recess 20c.

[0022] Of the main body 20, partition plate 18, back panel 16, and lid 22, at least the main body 20, back panel 16, and partition plate 18 are preferably made of a material that transmits X-rays and also visible light. If X-rays do not transmit, images of the X-ray shielding agent 12 and scale 24 will not be captured on the cassette C (see Figure 3). This is also to prevent the occurrence of unnecessary artifacts. Furthermore, if visible light does not transmit, the angle at the time of installation cannot be confirmed. For example, a transparent plastic such as acrylic is preferably used. Of course, it is even more preferable if the lid 22 is also made of a material that transmits X-rays and also visible light. A material that transmits X-rays is called an X-ray container transparent material.

[0023] The X-ray shielding agent 12 is preferably a liquid that shields against X-rays. Here, "shielding against X-rays" means shielding against X-rays to the extent that they can be identified as a shadow on an X-ray image when an X-ray is taken. Furthermore, a substance that is safe for the human body is preferable in case of leakage. For example, barium sulfate is used as a contrast agent for X-ray imaging of the stomach, and is therefore suitable for use in terms of safety and X-ray shielding properties.

[0024] Additionally, sodium meglumine amidotrizoate, iodinated poppy seed oil fatty acid ethyl ester, iodixanol, iotrolan, iopromide, iohexol, ioversol, ioxilan, iomeprol, iopamidol, iotroxate meglumine, ioxaglic acid, iothalamate meglumine, iothalamate sodium, and the like can also be used.

[0025] A solid substance is used as the X-ray shielding material for the scale 24. Fine metal powder can be used, but dry barium sulfate powder or mineral pigments can also be used. Alternatively, the partition plate 18 may be made of film, and the scale 24 may be printed on the film using an X-ray shielding material.

[0026] The sealing liquid 14 is present on the upper surface of the X-ray shielding material 12, and always covers the liquid surface of the X-ray shielding material 12 in accordance with the movement of the X-ray shielding material 12. This prevents the X-ray shielding material 12 from adhering to the wall surface of the enclosed space 26. Because the sealing liquid 14 is present above the X-ray shielding material 12, when the container 10 is tilted, it always comes into contact with the wall surface of the enclosed space 26 before the X-ray shielding material 12 does. Therefore, a buffer layer is provided between the X-ray shielding material 12 and the wall surface of the enclosed space 26 that it comes into contact with, preventing the X-ray shielding material 12 from adhering to the wall surface of the enclosed space 26 and solidifying.

[0027] Furthermore, when the tilted container 10 is returned to its original position, the sealing liquid 14 always comes into contact with the wall surface of the enclosed space 26 that the X-ray shielding agent 12 was in contact with afterwards, and therefore washes away any X-ray shielding agent 12 that may have adhered to the wall surface of the enclosed space 26. As described above, the presence of the sealing liquid 14 can prevent the X-ray shielding agent 12 from adhering to the wall surface of the enclosed space 26.

[0028] An oil-based substance can be suitably used as the sealing liquid 14. Specifically, mineral oil, paraffin, vaseline, etc. can be suitably used. The sealing liquid 14 may be filled so as to fill the enclosed space 26.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows how to use the X-ray goniometer 1. When taking an X-ray, the backrest of bed A is raised to a predetermined angle θ. Therefore, patient G is in a semi-supine position. Cassette C is placed between bed A and patient G. X-ray irradiation device 50 is positioned so that X-rays are irradiated at a right angle to cassette C. The X-ray goniometer 1 is positioned so that the rear surface 16b of the back panel 16 is aligned with the surface of cassette C.

[0030] When the backrest of bed A is tilted at angle θ, the liquid surface of X-ray shielding agent 12 in X-ray goniometer 1 becomes horizontal. As a result, cassette C is photographed as if the X-ray shielding agent 12 is higher than when X-ray goniometer 1 is placed vertically.

[0031] Figures 4 and 5 show how the X-ray goniometer 1 is tilted. Figure 4(a) is a side view of the X-ray goniometer 1 when it is set at a right angle (θ=90°). The arrow indicates the direction in which X-rays are emitted. Figure 4(b) is a front view of the same. The front view can be said to be the state in which an observer sees the image captured by cassette C (see Figure 3).

[0032] Figures 4(c) and (d) show the state in which the X-ray goniometer 1 is tilted 15° from the vertical direction (tilt angle θ is 75°), and Figures 4(e) and (f) show the state in which the X-ray goniometer 1 is tilted 30° from the vertical direction (tilt angle θ is 60°).

[0033] Figures 5(a) and (b) show the X-ray goniometer 1 tilted 45° from the vertical (tilt angle θ is 45°). Figures 5(c) and (d) show the X-ray goniometer 1 tilted 60° from the vertical (tilt angle θ is 30°). Figures 5(e) and (f) show the X-ray goniometer 1 tilted 75° from the vertical (tilt angle θ is 15°).

[0034] In each figure, looking at the front view on the right, it can be seen that as the X-ray goniometer 1 is tilted, the height from the bottom surface 20cb of the X-ray shielding material 12 increases, allowing the angle to be read. Therefore, when X-raying patient G in a hospital room using the X-ray irradiation device 50, simply placing the X-ray goniometer 1 on the cassette C allows the angle at that time to be recorded in the captured image.

[0035] 6 shows an enlarged view of the scale 24 of the X-ray goniometer 1. The scale 24 has a number portion 24f representing the angle and a line portion 24L. Preferably, the tip 24La of the line portion 24L on the enclosed space 26 side extends into the enclosed space 26 when viewed from the front.

[0036] This is because it is easy to read the position of the X-ray shielding material 12 when the tip 24La of the line portion 24L is located within the enclosed space 26. Figure 6(a) shows the case where the inclination angle is 75°, but since the line portion 24L of 60° is located in the enclosed space 26, it can be clearly read that it is not 60°.

[0037] On the other hand, in the case of Figure 6(b), the tip 24La of the 30° line portion 24L is visible, and the tip 24La of the 40° line portion is hidden by the X-ray shielding material 12, so it can be seen that the inclination angle is still not enough to reach 30°.

[0038] Figure 7 shows the positions where the scale 24 is formed. As already mentioned, it is preferable to provide the scale 24 on the front surface 16a (Figure 7(a)) of the back panel 16, but this does not exclude providing the scale 24 on the rear surface 16b (Figure 7(d)) ​​of the back panel 16, the front surface 20a (Figure 7(c)) of the main body 20, or the wall surface 20cg of the recess 20c (Figure 7(b)). In particular, the wall surface 20cg (Figure 7(b)) of the recess 20c, which is almost in contact with the X-ray shielding material 12, is more preferable than the front surface 20a (Figure 7(c)) of the main body 20 or the rear surface 16b (Figure 7(d)) ​​of the back panel 16, as it reduces reading errors. [Industrial Applicability]

[0039] The X-ray goniometer according to the present invention can be suitably used when using a portable X-ray device, and can also be suitably used when taking X-ray images in an X-ray room. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 X-ray goniometer 10 containers 12 X-ray shielding agents 14 Sealing liquid 16 Back plate 16a (Front of back panel) 16b (back panel) rear 16u (back panel) top 18 Partition 20 Main Unit 20a (Main unit) Front 20b (Main body) back 20c (Main body) recess 20cb (concave) bottom 20d (bottom) 20cg (body) wall 20u (Main unit) top 22 Lid 26 Enclosed Space 24 scales 24f (scale) number part 24L (scale) line part 24La (line part) tip 50 X-ray irradiation device A Bed C Cassette G patient

Claims

1. a container having an enclosed space between a main body formed of an X-ray transparent material and a back panel; a liquid X-ray blocking agent enclosed in the enclosed space; The container contains: When the container is tilted toward the rear plate, a scale indicating the angle θ between the horizontal plane obtained in a side view and the rear plate is made of an X-ray shielding material, a goniometer for X-ray photography formed at a position corresponding to the liquid surface of the liquid X-ray blocking agent when viewed from the front of the main body;

2. 2. The goniometer for radiography according to claim 1, wherein a sealing liquid having a specific gravity lighter than that of said X-ray shielding agent is filled together with said X-ray shielding agent.

3. 3. The goniometer for radiography according to claim 1, wherein the scale is provided behind the container with respect to the X-ray shielding material.

Images