JPH11318886A - Panoramic radiographic system capable of x-ray ct imaging - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce size and cost and to execute CT imaging by fixing the image sensor of an X-ray image receiving part in the state of being capable of varying direction. SOLUTION: The X-ray image receiving part 2 is provided with a movable base 6 freely movably supported by a sending screw 5 driven through a transmission mechanism 4 from a moving motor 3. Then, the rectangle image sensor 8 is fixed to the base 6 through a rotary motor 7. In the case of panoramic imaging, the imaging is executed while a sensor 8 turns around the head part of a subject in the state of erecting. In the case of X-ray CT imaging, the imaging is executed in a state where the sensor 8 is rotated by about 90 deg. and rolled. In addition, in CT photographing, when a site to image by one rotation is over the width of the rectangular image sensor, a moving mechanism 4 shifts the sensor 8 by its width size and then imaging is executed repeatedly. Then, a required stereoscopic image is composed from an image obtained as the result of repeating the scanning of a necessary range.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a panoramic X-ray apparatus generally used for the maxillofacial region. Less than,
The panoramic apparatus refers to a panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus, and the panoramic imaging refers to a panoramic X-ray imaging.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a panoramic apparatus or another tomographic apparatus has been used for tomography used in the dental field. However, in these apparatuses, a tomographic image is superimposed on a film or an imaging plate. Since an image is obtained, one image is obtained by one photographing, or an image of a plurality of cross sections parallel to the reference cross section is obtained.
In addition, it was necessary to specify a necessary tomographic plane before imaging and perform imaging.

[0003] With recent advances in medical treatment, there has been an increasing demand for CT imaging in which image information obtained by imaging is processed to obtain an image of an arbitrary cross section in a dental area, particularly in an orthodontic area.

On the other hand, in the medical field, an X-ray CT imaging apparatus capable of obtaining an image of a plurality of arbitrary cross sections by one imaging has been used. However, it is large and expensive, and is generally used in general clinics and clinics. It was not possible for them to buy and could not meet the demands in the orthodontic area. Hereinafter, CT
The apparatus refers to an X-ray CT apparatus, and the CT imaging refers to X-ray CT imaging.

[0005] With the practical use and cost reduction of image sensors, an image sensor can be used instead of a film or an imaging plate used for a panorama device. In, an image of panoramic tomography can be obtained by superimposing X-ray images acquired from the sensor by image processing.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For applications where CT imaging is required only in the maxillofacial region or the head,
By enabling the panoramic apparatus to perform CT imaging by switching, it is possible to provide a small, inexpensive, and panoramic apparatus that can also perform CT imaging, and respond to demands in the dental field, especially in the field of orthodontics. That is.

In addition, since an image of an arbitrary cross section or a three-dimensional image obtained from image information captured from an image sensor can be selected in the processing stage, the subject can be freed from a plurality of times of imaging, and the exposure dose by X-rays can be reduced. It is to reduce.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention uses an image sensor for an X-ray image receiving section of a panorama apparatus, and switches the mounting of the image sensor by rotating the image sensor. Panoramic radiography and CT radiography can be performed on one device.

[0009] First, in the case of performing panoramic radiography, first, an image sensor is mounted upright on an X-ray image receiving section, and a line generator and an X-ray image receiving section mounted on an arm are arranged around the head of the subject. Turn to shoot.

Next, CT imaging will be described. An image sensor is mounted on the X-ray image receiving portion by turning it over, and the X-ray generator and the X-ray image receiving portion mounted on the arm are rotated around the head of the subject for scanning. And shoot.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The panoramic apparatus according to the present invention is constructed as described above, so that it is possible to provide a small-sized and inexpensive panoramic apparatus capable of performing CT imaging, and furthermore to provide a higher sensitivity than film. The X-ray exposure of the subject can be minimized by performing CT imaging in which an image of an arbitrary cross section can be obtained by one imaging using the image sensor.

[0012]

Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a panoramic apparatus (1) using an image sensor, and an X-ray receiving unit (2) of the apparatus is driven by a moving motor (3) via a transmission mechanism (4) as shown in FIG. A rectangular image sensor (8) is mounted via a rotary motor (7) on a moving base (6) movably supported by a feed screw (5).

In the case of panoramic radiography, as shown in FIG. 3, the image sensor is turned around the head of the subject with the image sensor upright, and radiography is performed. In the case of X-ray CT radiography, as shown in FIG. Next, the image sensor is rotated by 90 ° and turned around the subject's head in a state of turning over to take an image.

[0014] In CT imaging, information obtained by imaging in one turn is defined by the width of the sensor.
If the region to be photographed exceeds the width of the rectangular image sensor, the image is repeatedly photographed after shifting the width of the image sensor by the moving mechanism shown in FIG. A required stereoscopic image is synthesized from the obtained image.

In the embodiment, a motor is used for a rotating mechanism, and a motor, a pulley, a wire cable, and a feed screw are used for a moving mechanism, but necessary operations are realized using other mechanisms such as an air cylinder, a gear, and a belt. May be.

[0016]

Since the present invention is implemented in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to perform CT imaging using a panorama apparatus, and to provide a small-sized and inexpensive CT imaging apparatus. Therefore, the amount of exposure of the subject to X-rays can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a panoramic device.

FIG. 2 is a mechanism diagram of an X-ray image receiving unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the position of an image sensor in panoramic shooting.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the position of an image sensor in the case of CT imaging.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Panorama apparatus 2 X-ray receiving part 3 Moving motor 4 Transmission mechanism 5 Feed screw 6 Moving base 7 Rotary motor 8 Image sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotatable arm having an X-ray generator and an X-ray image receiving unit facing the X-ray generator, and having the X-ray generator attached to one end and the X-ray image receiving unit attached to the other end. And further comprising a control device, wherein the control device converts the rotational movement and the movement movement of the arm relative to the head support into orbit data capable of capturing a panoramic X-ray tomographic image passing through the maxillofacial region. A dental panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus for controlling a panoramic X-ray tomographic image passing through a maxillofacial region of a subject, wherein the X-ray receiving unit has a rectangular image sensor having a size capable of supporting panoramic imaging. In a so-called digital panoramic X-ray apparatus for performing panoramic X-ray imaging using a camera, an image sensor of an X-ray receiving unit is mounted so as to be variable in direction so that both panoramic X-ray imaging and X-ray CT imaging can be performed. Done, head And X for local areas such as the maxillofacial area
X-ray imaging device used for radiography.