An X-ray diagnostic apparatus has at least one radiation transmitter and at least one radiation receiver arranged spaced therefrom and an examination subject support plate. The radiation receiver is fashioned as a matrix detector and extends over the entire area of the examination subject support plate. Such an X-ray diagnostics apparatus is simply constructed in terms of structure and supplies high-contrast X-ray exposures in a short time and with low radiation exposure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention is directed to an X-ray diagnostic apparatus with at 
least one radiation transmitter and at least one radiation receiver 
arranged spaced therefrom as well as with a examination subject support 
plate, wherein the radiation receiver is fashioned as matrix detector. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
An X-ray detector of the above type is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,079,426. In this known apparatus, a radiation detector fashioned as 
a matrix detector is immovably arranged under a examination subject 
support plate of the X-ray diagnostic apparatus. 
Further, German OS 195 06 810 discloses an X-ray examination apparatus for 
X-ray slit exposure technology having a radiation detector is fashioned as 
a matrix detector, but the arrangement of the matrix detector in the X-ray 
examination apparatus is not described. 
PCT Application WO 96/03077 discloses a method for registering X-ray images 
as well as an examination subject support means with a examination subject 
support plate. The examination subject support means has a longitudinally 
and transversely displaceable X-ray receiver that can be fashioned as a 
matrix detector. In the examination subject support means of PCT 
Application WO 96/03077, whole-body exposures or large-area X-ray 
exposures, for example examinations of the leg vessels, require a 
relatively large amount of time because of the displacement of the matrix 
detector required therefor. Moreover, overlapping exposures can occur in 
the adjustment of the radiation receiver, leading to an undesirable 
radiation exposure in the overlap region. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,268 discloses a matrix detector that has a sensor 
surface of amorphous selenium. 
The Siemens brochure "Vertix U--Universelles Rontgenaufnahmegeratt", order 
number A91001-M1024-G241-04, also discloses an X-ray diagnostic apparatus 
wherein the radiation receiver is fashioned as a catapult screen 
compartment. A film cassette can be inserted into the catapult screen 
compartment. The film arranged behind a screen plate is exposed by the 
incident X-rays. High costs arise due to the employment of films for the 
registration of the X-ray image. Moreover, the required film developing 
represents a certain environmental pollution. Moreover, an electronic 
evaluation of the image signals is also not possible given this X-ray 
diagnostics apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a structurally simply 
constructed X-ray diagnostics apparatus that supplies high-contrast X-ray 
exposures in a short time and with low radiation exposure. 
In an X-ray diagnostics apparatus with at least one radiation transmitter 
and at least one radiation receiver arranged spaced therefrom as well as 
with a examination subject support plate, wherein the radiation receiver 
is fashioned as matrix detector, this object is inventively achieved by 
the matrix detector (also referred to as a solid-state detector) being 
co-extensive in area with the entire examination subject support plate. 
The areas of the matrix detector and the support plate which are 
co-extensive are in planes (or troughs if the support plate is 
trough-shaped) parallel to the c.--c. axis of a patient on the support 
plate. 
No positioning of the matrix detector is required given the inventive X-ray 
diagnostics apparatus since this matrix detector extends substantially 
over the entire examination subject support plate. The time expended for a 
single X-ray exposure is thereby significantly reduced. Given large-area 
X-ray exposures that are required, for example, in the examination of the 
leg vessels, overlap regions are avoided in the X-ray exposures, so that, 
in addition to the low time outlay, the radiation exposure also is 
correspondingly low. 
In an embodiment of the invention the examination subject support plate can 
be radiation-transparent and the matrix detector then can be arranged at 
the underside of the radiation-transparent examination subject support 
plate. As a result of its compact structure and its low weight, the matrix 
detector can also be integrated into the examination subject support plate 
in a simple way. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the 
matrix detector forms at least a part of the examination subject support 
plate. The examination subject support plate can be fashioned flat or 
trough-shaped in all embodiments within the scope of the invention. 
The sensor surface of the matrix detector facing toward the radiation 
transmitter is preferably composed of amorphous silicon or of amorphous 
selenium. 
Due to the small dimensions and the low weight, the matrix detector is also 
suitable for an X-ray diagnostic apparatus wherein the examination subject 
support plate can be folded over and thereby used as a screen wall. 
The small dimensions and the low weight also enable the integration of the 
matrix detectors in X-ray diagnostics apparatus that has a C-arm for the 
radiation transmitter and the radiation receiver as well as in a 
mammography examination apparatus as well as in an apparatus for tomogram 
and figure radiology. In an apparatus for tomogram and figure radiology, 
for example, spiral, elliptical, circular or linear scans can be achieved 
in the X-ray exposure due to the opposed adjustability of the radiation 
transmitter and the matrix detector. Slice figures can thus be produced 
for various subject presentations (for example, skull and joints as well 
as spinal column, gall bladder, kidney and lung). 
In an embodiment wherein the matrix detector has at least one flexibly 
fashioned sensor surface, then the sensor surface comes directly into 
contact with the patient at nearly all locations of the body. An 
improvement of the image quality is thereby achieved. 
Electronic evaluation of the image signals given a matrix detector as the 
radiation receiver is facilitated when the image signals can be can be 
electronically stored. This is particularly simple in the inventive X-ray 
apparatus in an embodiment wherein the apparatus itself includes a memory 
for storing the image signals. A further simplification in the use of the 
inventive X-ray diagnostics apparatus is achieved by the integration of a 
unit for reading out stored patient data and/or image signals from the 
memory. For example, a magnetic card or chip card can serve as a memory 
medium, with a card write/read unit being provided for reading the data in 
or out. Advantageously, the memory for storing the image signals and/or 
the unit for readout from the memory can be integrated in the matrix 
detector. 
According to an advantageous exemplary embodiment, the inventive X-ray 
diagnostics apparatus can also include a receiver for voice input as well 
as a memory for storing voice inputs. It is thus possible that the 
physician can directly undertake and store his/her diagnosis during the 
X-ray exposure or when evaluating the X-ray image.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The apparatus shown in FIG. 1, has a stand 1 at which a swivel arm 2 is 
rotatably held with a lockable swivel device. A radiation transmitter 4, 
which includes an X-radiator 5 and a radiation diaphragm 6, is arranged at 
one side of the swivel arm 2. The radiation transmitter 4 can be 
longitudinally displaced and inclined and can also be locked in a selected 
position. The exemplary embodiment of the inventive X-ray diagnostics 
apparatus shown in FIG. 1 further has a movable examination subject 
support arrangement 10 with a radiation-transparent examination subject 
support plate 11. X-rays emitted by the radiation transmitter 4 are 
acquired by a radiation receiver that is fashioned as a matrix detector 7. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the matrix detector 7 is arranged under 
the radiation-transparent examination subject support plate 11 and extends 
over essentially the entire area of the examination subject support plate 
11, i.e., it is co-extensive therewith. The matrix detector 7 is connected 
to an electronics unit 9 via an electronics cable 8. Only the voltage 
supply of the matrix detector 7 ensues via the electronics cable 8 in the 
illustrated exemplary embodiment. Storage of the image signals ensues in a 
memory that is integrated in the matrix detector 7 in the embodiment shown 
in FIG. 1. 
When the examination subject support arrangement 10 is pushed in, the 
radiation-transparent examination subject support plate 11 is arranged in 
the beam path between the radiation transmitter 4 and the matrix detector 
7. Examinations of a prone or supine patient or a patient lying on his or 
her side are thus possible from head to foot. 
Within the scope of the invention, the matrix detector 7 can also be 
integrated in the examination subject support plate 11 or the matrix 
detector 7 can form at least a part of the examination subject support 
plate 11 instead of the radiation-transparent examination subject support 
plate 11 with the matrix detector 7 arranged at its underside. 
Instead of a portable examination subject support arrangement 10 as in the 
illustrated version, the X-ray diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 can 
have a stationary examination subject support arrangement with a 
radiation-transparent examination subject support plate which can be 
swivelled out of a horizontal position into a vertical position. The 
folded-over, radiation-transparent examination subject support plate can 
then be used as screen wall. 
A further modification (not shown in FIG. 1) allows slice and figure 
radiology. To this end, the radiation transmitter 4 is arranged so as to 
be longitudinally and/or transversely displaceable at a ceiling rail 
system, for example via a telescope-like mount. In addition to being 
adjustable in height, the radiation transmitter 4 can be inclined. This 
embodiment also has a two-dimensionally adjustable examination subject 
support plate (referred to as a "floating table top") that can in turn be 
fashioned in any of the above-described ways. The radiation transmitter 4 
and the matrix detector 7 are thus adjustable opposite one another in a 
spiral, circular, elliptical or linear direction. 
FIG. 2 shows a portable X-ray diagnostic apparatus that has a C-arm 12. The 
radiation transmitter 4 is arranged at the upper end of the C-arm 12 and 
the matrix detector 7 with its electronics unit 9 is arranged at the lower 
end of the retainer arm 12. The C-arm 12 is guided along a circular 
segment-shaped carrier 13. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the 
carrier 13 is rotatable around an axis 14. As a result, the radiation 
receiver 7 and the radiation transmitter 4 lying thereabove can be brought 
into the desired position in a simple way. In this exemplary embodiment, 
the matrix detector 7 forms the examination subject support plate 11 (and 
thus the matrix detector 7 and the examination subject support plate 11 
are co-extensive) that can be inclined in the directions shown by the 
arrows 71 and 72. 
FIG. 3 shows an X-ray diagnostic apparatus for mammography exposures. This 
apparatus has a stand 1 at which a holder 15, pivotable around an axle 14, 
is seated so as to be height-adjustable via this axle 14. The holder 15 
carries the radiation transmitter 4 at its upper end and a examination 
subject support plate 16 in which a matrix detector 7 is integrated at its 
lower end. The examination subject support plate 16 and the matrix 
detector 7 are co-extensive in area. 
A motor-adjustable compression carriage 17 at which a compression plate 18 
is height-adjustably seated is arranged in the holder 15. This compression 
plate 18 can be pivoted around a horizontal axis 19 against the force of a 
spring element 20. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the space between the 
examination subject support plane 21 of the examination subject support 
plate 16 and the compression surface 22 of the compression plate 18 tapers 
toward the patient-proximate side. After a female breast is placed onto 
the examination subject support plane 21, the compression plate 18 is 
adjusted in the direction toward the examination subject support plate 16 
via the compression carriage 17 for compression thereof. 
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the inventive X-ray diagnostics 
apparatus, the matrix detector 7 is integrated in the examination subject 
support plate 16 and the examination subject support plane 21 of the 
examination subject support plate 16 is radiation-transparent. 
Alternatively, the sensor surface of the matrix detector 7 can form the 
examination subject support plane 21--in this case, the matrix detector 7 
then forms the examination subject support plate 16. 
A preferred embodiment of the inventive X-ray diagnostics apparatus is 
shown in FIGS. 4 through 7. The X-ray diagnostics apparatus again has a 
radiation-transparent examination subject support plate 11 with a matrix 
detector 7 arranged beneath it that extends over the entire area of the 
radiation-transparent examination subject support plate 11. By means of a 
swivel foot 37 has a respective rotational axes 37a and 37b at its two 
ends, the radiation-transparent examination subject support plate 11 can 
be adjusted with infinite variation from its lowest horizontal position 
(FIG. 4) into horizontal positions (FIGS. 5 and 6) of various heights. 
Further, the examination subject support plate 11 can be pivoted from the 
positions shown in FIGS. 4 through 6 into a vertical position (FIG. 7). 
The matrix detector 7 is then arranged at the back side of the 
radiation-transparent examination subject support plate 11. In the 
positions according to FIGS. 5 and 6, the radiation-transparent 
examination subject support plate 11 can also be brought into a slanted 
position by swivelling around the horizontal rotational axis 37b. The 
position of the radiation-transparent examination subject support plate 11 
can thus be optimally matched to the particular examination. 
Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the 
art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody within the patent 
warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly 
come within the scope of his contribution to the art.