IP Library Granted Patent US 8,506,163
Granted Patent B2
US 8,506,163 · App. 12/966,381 · Granted Aug 13, 2013

X-ray CT apparatus and control method of X-ray CT apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,506,163
App. No.
12/966,381
Granted
Aug 13, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An X-ray CT apparatus has a plurality of projectors, a reception unit, a setting unit, a supporter, and a scan execution unit. The projectors each have a light source on a circumference having a same radius as a rotation radius of an X-ray focal point of an X-ray irradiator and each irradiate laser light having an irradiation range simulating an irradiation range of the X-ray. The reception unit receives an instruction for three-dimensionally sliding the projectors as one body. The setting unit sets a position of the projectors. The supporter supports a table and three-dimensionally slides the table by a difference between a position of a center of the circumference of the set projectors and a position of a rotation center of the X-ray focal point of the X-ray irradiator. The scan execution unit executes a scan with the table after the sliding as a scan position.

Claims (53)

1. An X-ray CT apparatus comprising:

an X-ray irradiator configured to irradiate an object with an X-ray;

an X-ray detector configured to detect the irradiated X-ray;

a table on which the object is placed;

a rotation control unit configured to rotate the X-ray irradiator and the X-ray detector as one body around the object;

a plurality of projectors each having a light source on a circumference having a same radius as a rotation radius of an X-ray focal point of the X-ray irradiator and each configured to irradiate an irradiation range simulating an irradiation range of the X-ray with laser light;

a reception unit configured to receive an instruction for three-dimensionally sliding the plurality of projectors as one body;

a setting unit configured to set a position of the plurality of projectors by sliding the plurality of projectors on a basis of the received instruction;

a supporter configured to support the table and three-dimensionally slide the table by a difference between a position of a center of the circumference of the set plurality of projectors and a position of a rotation center of the X-ray focal point of the X-ray irradiator; and

a scan execution unit configured to execute a scan with the table after the sliding as a scan position.

2. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the reception unit receives an instruction for changing a cone angle of the laser light,

the setting unit sets the cone angle of the laser light by changing the cone angle of the laser light, and

the scan execution unit executes the scan by setting the set cone angle as a cone angle of the X-ray.

3. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the reception unit receives an instruction for changing a tilt angle of the plurality of projectors,

the setting unit sets the tilt angle of the plurality of projectors by changing the tilt angle of the plurality of projectors, and

the scan execution unit executes the scan according to the set tilt angle.

4. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the reception unit receives an instruction for changing a fan angle of the laser light,

the setting unit sets the fan angle of the laser light by changing the fan angle of the laser light, and

the scan execution unit executes the scan by setting the set fan angle as a fan angle of the X-ray.

5. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of projectors are provided in the supporter side from the X-ray irradiator.

6. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the setting unit sets positions of two sets of the plurality of projectors,

the supporter slides the table by a difference between a center of the circumference of the projectors at one of the set positions of the two sets and the rotation center of the X-ray focal point of the X-ray irradiator, and

the scan execution unit sets the table after the sliding as a start position of the scan and sets the other of the set positions of the two sets as an end position of the scan.

7. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of projectors are three projectors having the light source at an upper end position in a vertical direction on the circumference and positions at a same height as the circumference center, respectively.

8. A control method of an X-ray CT apparatus comprising:

a first step of receiving an instruction for three-dimensionally sliding a plurality of projectors as one body, which each has a light source on a circumference having a same radius as a rotation radius of an X-ray focal point of an X-ray irradiator which irradiates an object with an X-ray and each irradiates an irradiation range simulating an irradiation range of the X-ray with laser light;

a second step of setting a position of the plurality of projectors by sliding the plurality of projectors on a basis of the received instruction;

a third step of three-dimensionally slide a table on which the object is placed, by a difference between a position of a center of the circumference of the set plurality of projectors and a position of a rotation center of the X-ray focal point of the X-ray irradiator; and

a fourth step of executing a scan with the table after the sliding as a scan position.

9. The control method of the X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the first step receives an instruction for changing a cone angle of the laser light,

the second step sets the cone angle of the laser light by changing the cone angle of the laser light, and

the fourth step executes the scan by setting the set cone angle as a cone angle of the X-ray.

10. The control method of the X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the first step receives an instruction for changing a tilt angle of the plurality of projectors,

the second step sets the tilt angle of the plurality of projectors by changing the tilt angle of the plurality of projectors, and

the fourth step executes the scan according to the set tilt angle.

11. The control method of the X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the first step receives an instruction for changing a fan angle of the laser light,

the second step sets the fan angle of the laser light by changing the fan angle of the laser light, and

the fourth step executes the scan by setting the set fan angle as a fan angle of the X-ray.

12. The control method of the X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the second step sets positions of two sets of the plurality of projectors,

the third step slides the table by a difference between a center of the circumference of the projectors at one of the set positions of the two sets and the rotation center of the X-ray focal point of the X-ray irradiator, and

the fourth step sets the table after the sliding as a start position of the scan and sets the other of the set positions of the two sets as an end position of the scan.

13. The control method of the X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the first step irradiates the irradiation range with the laser light from three projectors having the light source at an upper end position in a vertical direction on the circumference and positions at a same height as the circumference center, respectively.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2016
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038891/0693 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2011
From: SHINNO, TOSHIYUKI
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025830/0640 →