IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,610,053
Granted Patent B2
US 9,610,053 · App. 14/759,353 · Granted Apr 4, 2017

Radiographic device

Inventors: Tomoharu Okuno (Kyoto, JP); Hideki Fujii (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
A61B6/486A61B6/40A61B6/5241A61B6/542A61B6/461A61B6/54
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,610,053
App. No.
14/759,353
Granted
Apr 4, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to this radiography device, by taking images in rapid succession while appropriately obtaining the timing for which an X-ray tube in a rest state should be activated, rapid successive imaging and protection of a radioactive source can both be achieved. That is, in the configuration of the present invention, a time difference is calculated, obtained by subtracting a temporal width of an activation period from a temporal width of an undetectable period, and the time after the time difference has elapsed from the time at which an X-ray is irradiated is determined as the timing for activating the X-ray tube. The temporal width of an undetectable period is the temporal width between the time at which an FPD detects an X-ray once and the time at which the following X-ray can be detected, and the temporal width of an activation period is the temporal width between the start of activation of the X-ray tube to the completion of activation. Thus, while simultaneously activating the X-ray tube and preparing the detector, images can be taken in rapid succession without excessive burden on the X-ray tube and the life of the X-ray tube can be extended.

Claims (21)

1. A radiographic apparatus, comprising:

a radiation source emitting a radiation during a use as an activated radiation source, and changing into a rest state after a one-time emission of said radiation;

a detector of radiation, the detector requiring an interval time between a first detection and a next detection of the detector;

an image generator generating a plurality of images in accordance with said first detection and a next detection of the detector;

an activation instruction input apparatus operable to input an activation instruction to the radiation source in the rest state;

an emission instruction input apparatus operable to cause an input radiation emission instruction to the activated radiation source;

a storing device operable to store a time width of an activation time period as a time period required for activating the radiation source and a time width of a non-detectable time period that the detector requires between detection and next detection;

a difference time calculating apparatus operable to subtract the time width of the activation time period from the time width of the non-detectable time period; and

a determining apparatus operable to determine during said use that a timing to activate the radiation source in the rest state has arrived after the calculated difference time elapsed from the radiation emission means.

2. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a notifying apparatus operative during said use to notify an external operator of arrival of the timing determination.

3. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:

the notifying apparatus is operative to provide a visible display to said external operator.

4. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:

the notifying apparatus is operative to provide a sound to said external operator.

5. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:

the notifying device is operative to count down a timing before the difference time elapses if the emission instruction input apparatus provides the radiation emission instruction.

6. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a long-length image generator operative to generate a long-length image by combining a series of images generated by said radiographic apparatus while the detector is moved relative to a target.

7. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a radiation source controller operative to activate an instruction to the radiation source when the timing arrives.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2015
From: OKUNO, TOMOHARU; FUJII, HIDEKI
To: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036003/0574 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160073989A1 · Mar 17, 2016