IP Library Granted Patent US 12,558,046
Granted Patent B2
US 12,558,046 · App. 18/604,966 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

X-ray imaging apparatus and control method of x-ray imaging apparatus

Inventors: Shinobu Takenouchi (Chiba, JP); Atsushi Ogawa (Chiba, JP)
Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
A61B6/4464A61B6/487A61B6/547
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,558,046
App. No.
18/604,966
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an X-ray imaging apparatus that enables an operator to freely manually move an X-ray source along a rail installed on a ceiling or a floor, and can capture a fluoroscopic image. An X-ray control unit continuously emitting X-rays from an X-ray source and permits fluoroscopy only in a case in which one or more predetermined conditions, including a condition in which the X-ray source is stopped at a predetermined position on a rail corresponding to a position at which an X-ray detector is held, are satisfied. Specifically, the X-ray control unit enables an operation of a fluoroscopy switch, and continuously supplies a tube current and a tube voltage to the X-ray tube in a case in which the operator operates the fluoroscopy switch.

Claims (38)

1 . An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:

a rail installed on a ceiling or a floor surface;

an X-ray source;

an X-ray source support mechanism unit that supports the X-ray source to be movable along the rail;

a steering wheel provided in the X-ray source support mechanism unit;

an imaging table for a standing position or for a recumbent position that holds an X-ray detector at an imaging target part of a subject;

a still image capturing switch for giving an instruction to capture a still image of the subject;

a fluoroscopy switch for giving an instruction to capture a fluoroscopic image of the subject; and

an X-ray control unit,

wherein, in a case in which one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied, the X-ray control unit permits an operation of the fluoroscopy switch, and

the predetermined conditions include a condition in which the X-ray source that is moved by an operator operating the steering wheel is stopped at a predetermined position on the rail corresponding to a position at which the X-ray detector is held.

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

wherein the rail is provided with a first mark indicating the predetermined position, and a side surface of a portion of the X-ray source support mechanism unit that is in contact with the rail is provided with a second mark as a mark, and

in a case in which the X-ray source is stopped at the predetermined position on the rail, the second mark is located at the position indicated by the first mark.

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

wherein the X-ray source support mechanism unit includes a brake that stops movement of the X-ray source by control of the X-ray control unit, and

in a case in which the operator operates the steering wheel to move the X-ray source and the X-ray source approaches the predetermined position on the rail corresponding to the position at which the X-ray detector is held, the X-ray control unit operates the brake so that the X-ray source is stopped at the predetermined position.

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

wherein the imaging table for a recumbent position includes a top plate on which the subject is placed, a tray on which the X-ray detector is placed, a detector holding part that holds the tray to be slidable along a longitudinal direction of the top plate, and a position sensor that detects whether or not the X-ray detector held by the detector holding part is located at a predetermined second position, and

the predetermined conditions in which the X-ray control unit permits the operation of the fluoroscopy switch include a condition in which the position sensor detects that the X-ray detector is located at the second position.

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

wherein the imaging table for a recumbent position includes a tray on which the X-ray detector is placed, and an orientation detection unit that detects whether or not an orientation of the X-ray detector placed on the tray is a predetermined orientation, and

the predetermined conditions in which the X-ray control unit permits the operation of the fluoroscopy switch include a condition in which the orientation detection unit detects that the X-ray detector is directed in the predetermined orientation.

6 . The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 5 ,

wherein the orientation detection unit includes two sensors disposed on a surface of the tray on which the X-ray detector is placed, and an interval between the two sensors is longer than a short side of the X-ray detector and shorter than a long side of the X-ray detector.

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

wherein the X-ray control unit obtains a distance between the X-ray detector and the X-ray source, and

the predetermined conditions in which the X-ray control unit permits the operation of the fluoroscopy switch include a condition in which the distance between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector is a predetermined distance.

8 . The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the X-ray source is provided with a stop and an aperture adjustment unit that adjusts an aperture of the stop, and

the predetermined conditions in which the X-ray control unit permits the operation of the fluoroscopy switch include a condition in which the aperture adjusted by the aperture adjustment unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

9 . The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the imaging table for a standing position includes a detector holding part that holds the X-ray detector at a height desired by the operator, and a height sensor that detects the height of the X-ray detector held by the detector holding part,

the X-ray source support mechanism unit includes a driving unit that adjusts a height of the X-ray source by control of the X-ray control unit,

the X-ray control unit controls an operation of the driving unit so that the X-ray source is disposed at a position facing the X-ray detector in accordance with the height of the X-ray detector detected by the height sensor, and

the predetermined conditions in which the X-ray control unit permits the operation of the fluoroscopy switch include a condition in which the X-ray source is disposed at the position facing the X-ray detector.

10 . A control method of an X-ray imaging apparatus including a rail installed on a ceiling or a floor surface, an X-ray source, an X-ray source support mechanism unit that supports the X-ray source to be movable along the rail, a steering wheel provided in the X-ray source support mechanism unit, and an imaging table for a standing position or for a recumbent position that holds an X-ray detector at an imaging target part of a subject, the control method comprising:

continuously emitting X-rays from the X-ray source to enable fluoroscopy only in a case in which one or more predetermined conditions, including a condition in which the X-ray source is stopped at a predetermined position on the rail corresponding to a position at which the X-ray detector is held, are satisfied.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Aug 29, 2024
From: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068807/0625 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: TAKENOUCHI, SHINOBU; OGAWA, ATSUSHI
To: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066774/0962 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-044161 · Mar 20, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240315653A1 · Sep 26, 2024
References Cited (2)
US 20200205759A1 · Shirota · 2020 [cited by examiner]
JP 2012011057A · 2012 [cited by applicant]