Abstract:
A nuclear magnetic resonance diagnosing apparatus for continuously taking tomograms in a space formed between a pair of magnets includes a cylindrical table top support of a gantry side, a pair of magnets vertically arranged, a table top support of the gantry side being interposed between the pair of magnets; and a column for supporting at least the magnet arranged in an upper side between the pair of magnets. The column is formed so that between a gantry and an examining table body, a width between a bridge construction, which is provided between the column and the table top support of the gantry side, and the table top support of the gantry side may be smaller than an examination width L determined by lines R′ passing through a center of the table top support of the gantry side perpendicular to a center line R.

Description:
This application claims priority and the priority date under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japanese Patent Application 2001-196528, filed on Jun. 28, 2001. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance diagnosting apparatus (MRI apparatus). 
   2. Prior Art 
   The MRI apparatus is used for diagnosing an examined person by continuously obtaining tomograms at a part of inspection in the inspected person using the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) phenomenon. In order to produce the NMR phenomenon at the part of inspection of the examined person, the MRI apparatus is required to generate a magnetic field and to put the part of inspection of the examined person inside the magnetic field. 
   In a conventional MRI apparatus, a tunnel-shaped hole is generally formed inside a high-intensity magnetic field to lay an examined person inside the hole. Although the apparatus of this kind can easily generate the high-intensity magnetic field, there is the problem that inserting the examined person into the narrow hole makes it difficult to perform the inspection. Therefore, the conventional MRI apparatus has been designed so as to generate the NMR phenomenon by supporting a magnet with columns without using the tunnel-shaped hole, that is, space. Although most of the conventional MRI apparatuses employ methods of supporting the magnet with two columns, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-140958, a method of supporting the magnet with a single column is also proposed. 
   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
   In a case where a doctor and others execute both of inspection and medical treatment at a time, particularly in a case of inspection of a head part, they execute the medical treatment by inserting instruments such as needles into the part of inspection while observing an image of the part. In such a case, wide open spaces are required in both right-hand side and left-hand side of the doctor because the doctor and others execute plural kinds of work and the instruments are arranged. There have been conventional apparatuses in which an examined person is laid so as to be perpendicular to a straight line passing through its wall. (column) and its center of measurement space. Therefore, in a case where medical treatment is performed to a part of measurement in an abdominal part of the examined person from an open face opposite to the wall (column) among three open side faces, the doctor can obtain open spaces in both of his right-hand side and his left-hand side by standing at the open space opposite to the wall face, but he can not obtain substantially wide open spaces by being blocked with a support mechanism of a bed for laying the examined person and the head part and the leg parts of the examined parson himself. In a case of performing medical treatment to the head part, an open space is limited to the space opposite to the wall face (column) because either the right-hand side or the left hand-side of the head part of the examined person faces the wall face (column), and the limited open space is the only accessible space of the doctor and others. Accordingly, the conventional apparatus has a problem of difficulty of use. 
   In addition, when the apparatus is installed in a narrow examination room, it is difficult to secure an open space necessary for medical treatment because a gap between the wall face of the examination room and the apparatus is small. 
   In taking the above problems into account, an object of the present invention is to improve accessibility of a doctor and others to an examined person by forming continuous and wide open-areas around an examining table and to provide an MRI apparatus which can form a wide open space particularly over 180 degrees or more. 
   Further, another object of the present invention is to further improve the operability and to provide an MRI apparatus which can be effectively installed in a narrow space. 
   The present invention is characterized by a nuclear magnetic resonance diagnosing apparatus for continuously taking tomograms of an examined person in a space formed between a pair of magnets which comprises a cylindrical table top support of gantry side; the pair of magnets vertically arranged, the table top support of gantry side being interposed between the pair of magnets; and a column for supporting at least the magnet arranged in an upper side between the pair of magnets, which further comprises a support system having a slide table sliding on the table top support of gantry side; a slide table support means for mounting the slide table, the slide support means being arranged in a periphery of the table top support of gantry side and in a radial direction along the periphery; and a slide drive unit for the slide table, wherein the upper magnet is covered with a top magnet cover, the under magnet being covered with an examining table body, the column being formed as the only one column body having the same plane in common with the slide table between the upper magnet and the examining table body, a width of the column body determined by tangent lines passing through a center of the table top support of gantry side being smaller than a width of the table top support of gantry side or the like. 
   Further, the present invention is characterized by that the slide table is arranged in a radial direction within a movable range α 1  and is slid on the table top support of gantry side, the movable range starting from one side of a range which is formed by a line passing through the center of the table top support of gantry side and perpendicular to a rotation center line passing through the center of the table top support of gantry side and extended toward the column body and the rotation center line in the side of the column and ending in the other side, the movable range being larger than 200 degrees and smaller than 270 degrees in angle and being a range of angle limited by the column body. 
   The present invention is characterized by that a connecting part between the table top support of gantry side and the bridge construction is placed in quadrants in a side of the column away from a straight line which passes through a center of the table top support of gantry side and crosses at right angles with a straight line passing through the center of the table top support of gantry side and a center of the column, and the connecting part is a portion both ends of which are set back inward from straight lines perpendicular to the straight line crossing at right angles and extended toward the column from points where the straight line crossing at right angles of the table top support of gantry side and a rim of said table top support of gantry side intersect each other. 
   The table top support of gantry side is generally formed circular. 
   Further, the present invention provides nuclear magnetic resonance diagnosing apparatuses combining the above-mentioned constructions. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a sketch drawing showing the construction of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional vertical view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional plan view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing the relationship between a column  6  and a table top support of gantry side  11  (or a box  27 ); 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a main part of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing the relationship when a technical expert is standing; 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing an operating example corresponding to  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a view showing an operating example corresponding to  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a view showing a modified example; 
       FIG. 11  is a sketch drawing showing the construction of another embodiment; 
       FIG. 12  is a view showing a modified example of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a view showing a comparative example; 
       FIG. 14  is a view showing a modified example of the comparative example; 
       FIG. 15  is a view showing a modified example of control panel arrangement; 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a view showing another modified example of control panel arrangement; 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 19  is a detailed side view showing a bed  3 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a plan view of  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 21  is a modified example of a support system; 
       FIG. 22  is a view showing the construction of a diagnosing system; 
       FIG. 23  is a plan view of  FIG. 22 ; and 
     FIG.  24 ( 1 ), FIG.  24 ( 2 ), FIG.  24 ( 3 ) and FIG.  24 ( 4 ) are views showing modified examples of the table top support of gantry side  11 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, referring to accompanied drawings. 
     FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5  show an embodiment of an MRI apparatus according to the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a gantry  2  of the MRI apparatus  1  is composed of an upper magnet cover  4 ; an under magnet cover  5 ; a bed  3  as a supporting system; a column  6 ; and a table top support of gantry side  11 . The box-shaped upper magnet cover  4  has side covers  21  and  22  formed in the side face nearly vertically to enhance the appearance of the apparatus. 
   Control panels  23  and  24  are provided on the side covers  21  and  22 , respectively, to make it possible to operate the whole MRI apparatus. More specifically, the MRI apparatus  1  is controlled by a computer, not shown, containing a memory unit storing various kinds of data, and instruction is input from the control panel  23  or  24 . Each of the control panels  23  and  24  has a display  41  of a screen part and switches  42  of an input part, and operation of the apparatus can be performed while checking input values on the screen. 
   The table top support of gantry side  11  is nearly circular box-shaped, and includes a horizontal circular part  28  and a table top support circular contacting surface  25  of a circular contacting surface arranged the upper end portion and a box  27  having a circular space containing a tip of foot  26  arranged the lower end portion. The under magnet cover  5  is arranged between the table top support circular contacting surface  25  and the space containing a tip of foot  26 , and is installed parallel to the table top support circular contacting surface  25 . The top surface of the table top support of gantry side  11  is the horizontal circular part  28  on which a slide table  43  is mounted. 
   The box  27  is formed as a box part integrated with a column cover  33  of the column  6 . A box part  29  integrated with the column cover  33  is of a trapezoidal rectangular parallelepiped in cross section, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Accordingly, the box  27  is composed of the circular box-shaped part and the rectangular parallelepiped part, and the connecting face is defined as a connecting part  30 . Therein, the connecting part  30  may have a more distant structure. The integrated box  27  is a box for the table top support of gantry side  11 , and the table top support of gantry side  11  is formed on the integrated box  27 . Therefore, the box  27  under the table-top support of gantry side  11  includes the under magnet cover  5 , and covers the under magnet  18 . 
   In a case where the box  27  has the box main part  35  and the table top support of gantry side  11  and the table top support circular contacting surface  25 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , the connecting parts are formed in both of the box main part  35  and the table top support of gantry side  11 . (The connecting parts are denoted by  30   a ,  30   b ) 
     FIG. 4  shows a cross section VI—VI of  FIG. 3 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the upper magnet  17  and the under magnet  18  are spaced horizontally and oppositely to each other inside the upper magnet cover  4  and the under magnet cover  5 , respectively. The upper magnet  17  and the under magnet  18  are each disk-shaped, and are supported by an iron column main body  16  having a function of securing a flux path. These units are supported by other columns  31 ,  32 . 
   Therefore, the column  6  in the present embodiment is composed of the column main body  16  for supporting the upper magnet  17  and the under magnet  18  and a column cover  33  covering the column main body and integrated with the upper magnet cover  4 , and is a unit having surfaces exposed to the external, and forms part of the gantry  2 . 
   A bridge construction  34  is arranged on the upper face of the box part  29  between the column  6  and an examining table body  10 . The bridge construction  34  is composed of a horizontal flat plane connecting the periphery of the column  6  and the table top support of gantry side  11 , the box  27  and the table top support circular contacting surface  25  which forms a part of the box part  29 . 
   The column  6  in the present embodiment is unified to the only one structural body for connecting the examining table body  10  to the upper magnet cover  4 , and accordingly, the column  6  can reduce the installing area (angle) for the column  6  to be arranged around the table top support of gantry side  11 . Employing of the table top support of gantry side  11  having a small installing area increases an allowable installing area for the bed  3 , and therefore, can provide a continuous and wide open space. 
   A heat insulating material  19  is disposed in a gap portion inside the gantry  2  or inside the column  6 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the bed  3  (support system) is set at any position around the table top support circular contacting surface  25  of the table top support of gantry side  11 . 
   The bed  3  is composed of a bed table top  7 , a part of a table top  45  (table top hold) and a table top support of table  8  for supporting the table top  45  (the both compose a slide table support means), and a slide table  43  is slidably mounted on the table top  45 , and a mat  44  is mounted on the slide table  43 . Further, a holding plate  45 , on which the slide table  43  is slid, is provided. The slide table  43  can be slid onto the table top support of gantry side  11  by a drive mechanism, not shown. In this case, the top end portion of the table top  45  of the table top hold serves as a connecting part  9  to the table top support circular contacting surface  25 . The table top  45  is usually used by bringing the connecting part  9  in contact with, that is, by connecting the connecting part  9  to the table top support circular contacting surface  25 , but the table top  45  may be used by keeping a somewhat small distance between them. The box  27  may be set back inward from the table top support circular contacting surface  25 . An accordion cover is used in the periphery of the table top support of table  8 , and an up/down drive unit, not shown, composed of link mechanisms is installed inside the table top support of table  8 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a cross section V—V of  FIG. 3 . 
     FIG. 5  also shows the relationship between a width l of the column  6  and a width L, such as diameter or the like, of the table top support of gantry side  11 . Letting a width determined by contacting lines (hereinafter, referred to as tangent lines) M, N drawn from a center O so as to come in contact with peripheral corner portions in the front side of the column  6  be l (in a case of a rectangle, l), and a diameter of the examining table body be L, one of outstanding features of the present embodiment is that the apparatus has the only one support body and l&lt;L. 
     FIG. 6  is a view explaining the relationship between the slide table  43  sliding onto the table top support of gantry side  11  and the column  6 , that is, explaining an arrangement limit of the slide table  43 . 
   The above-mentioned connecting part  30  has a function of preventing the table top support of table  8  for supporting the slide table  43  from being set toward the column  6  of the table top support of table  8  for supporting the slide table exceeding the connecting part  30 , and has a function of a setting control part or a setting blocking part. This is the construction produced by that a line connecting between the column  6  and the table top support of gantry side  11  is set back toward the inside from a line extending from an intersection of an orthogonal line with respect to the center of the table top support of gantry side and the rim of an examining table toward the column in a direction perpendicular to the orthogonal line, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   The slide table  43  can be moved up to a setting limit exceeding the position shown in the figure until the holding table top  45  or the table top support of table  8  comes in contact with the column  6  unless the holding table top  45  or the table top support of table  8  is blocked or worn by the box part  29 . Accordingly, in order to obtain a wider open space, it is important to make the lateral width of the column narrower. Therefore, the condition l&lt;L is employed, as described above. 
   In other words, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a line (the connecting part  30 ) connecting between the bridge construction  34 , which is placed between the column and the table top support of gantry side, and the table top support of gantry side  11  is set back from a line R″ extending toward the column in a direction perpendicular to an orthogonal line R′, which passes through the center of the table top support of gantry side and is orthogonal to a centerline R connecting between the center of the table top support of gantry side and the center of the column, from a portion  39  where the orthogonal line R′ and the rim of the examining table intersect each other. 
   The setting position of the slide table  43  capable of obtaining such a wide open space can be determined by setting the following condition to the surrounding of the table top support of gantry side  11 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , letting a centerline passing through the center  0  of the table top support of gantry side  11  and drawn toward the center of the column  6  be a center line R, and letting a line passing through the center of the table top support of gantry side  11  and orthogonal to the centerline R be an orthogonal line R′, the first quadrant A and the second quadrant B are formed in the side of the column by the centerline R and the orthogonal line R′, and the third quadrant and the forth quadrant C are formed in the opposite side of the column. 
   The traveling range of the setting position of the slide table  43  is determined by the range starting from the first quadrant A and ending in the second quadrant B through the forth quadrant C and the third quadrant D, as shown by a solid line. 
   The example of  FIG. 6  shows the condition that the table top support of table  8  for supporting the slide table  43  can not move toward the column side by coming in contact with the connecting part  30 , that is, by being limited by the bridge construction  34  of the box part  29 , and an angle α 3  in this case is set to 70 degrees. Therefore, in this example, the slide table  43  can travel up to the second quadrant B through the third quadrant D and the fourth quadrant C symmetrically with respect to the centerline R. 
   The traveling range in this case becomes 220 degrees which consists of 180 degrees of traveling range in the third quadrant D and the fourth quadrant C and (90−70)×2=40 degrees of traveling range in the first quadrant A and the second quadrant B. Therein, an angle α 0  is 90 degrees. 
   In the above-mentioned case where an angle α 3  of 45 degrees can be realized by the construction of the table top support of table  8  of the slide table and the construction of the bridge construction  34  for connecting the connecting part  30  between the column  6  and the table top support of gantry side  11 , the traveling range becomes 270 degrees. 
   In other words, in a case where the table top support of table  8  can be moved until the side face of the slide table  43  comes in contact with the peripheral corner portions in the front side of and in right hand and left hand sides of the column  6  when seeing from the upside of the drawing plane, as shown in  FIG. 6 , since the center  0  of the table top support of gantry side  11  and the centerline of the slide table are overlapped each other, as shown by dot lines, a wider open space can be obtained by further setting the allowable angle α 3  between the centerline of the slide table  43  and the centerline R to about 45 degrees. It has been found from a functional evaluation that a preferable traveling range from the viewpoint of observing a examined person is 220 degrees to 240 degrees. This traveling range may be further expanded to set 200 degrees to 270 degrees. 
   Although the above-described example is the case that the maximum limited range of the slide table  43  is limited by the column  6 , it is only natural that there is a case where the maximum limited range is limited by coming of the holding table top  45  (or the table top support of table  8 ) for mounting the slide table  43  in contact with the pox portion  29 . In such a case, the maximum limited range is selected within a range of 200 degrees to 260 degrees, and it is possible to set the angle within a range of 200 degrees to 260 degrees. 
   Further, in  FIG. 6 , the angle α 1  indicates a traveling range in the circumferential direction of the bed, that is, a setting range in the circumferential direction of the bed, the angle α 2  indicates an open space angle when a doctor and others stand in the left hand side of the bed  3 , and the angle α 3  indicates an angle between the centerline connecting the center of the column and the center of the table top support of gantry side and the centerline of the bed. 
   When the angle α 3  between the centerline connecting the center of the column  6  and the center of the table top support of gantry side and the centerline of the bed is set to 70 degrees, the angle α 1  of the traveling range in the circumferential direction of the bed  3 , that is, the range of connectable angle of the bed  3  to the table top support of gantry side  11  is 220 degrees, as described above. 
   On the other hand, the open space α 2  is an angle of the sum of the angle  180  degrees of the third quadrant D and the fourth quadrant C and the angle of the second quadrant B up to the column. In this case, by setting an angle between the centerline R and the tangent line drawn from the center of the table top support of gantry side to the peripheral corner portion in the front side of the column  6  so as to come in contact with the peripheral corner portion to about 30 degrees, the open space α 2  becomes 180+(90−30)=240 degrees, and accordingly, a sufficient wide open space can be obtained. 
   The above-described example is the case that the table top support of table  8  for supporting the slide table  43  can not travel any more toward the column side because of coming in contact with the connecting part  30 . 
   Considering a case where the limitation due to the connecting part  30  is released by detaching the table top support of table  8  from the connecting part  30 , the setting position of the slide table  43  in this case is limited by the column  6  because the limitation is determined until the slide table comes in contact with the column  6 . 
   That is, the slide table  43  is arranged opposite to the table top support of gantry side and within a possible setting range α 1  starting from one quadrant in the side of the column and ending in the other quadrant in the side of the column, and the possible setting range is larger than 200 degrees in angle and is an angle limited by the column  6 . 
   It is preferable that the slide table  43  is arranged opposite to the table top support of gantry side and within a possible setting range α 1  starting from one quadrant in the side of the column and ending in the other quadrant in the side of the column, and the possible setting range is larger than 240 degrees in angle and is an angle limited by the column  6 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a case where a medical expert or a doctor  51  is standing near the table top support of gantry side  11  when the angle α 3  between the centerline R of the column  6  and the centerline of the bed  3  (the slide table  43 ) is set to 70 degrees. 
   The angle α 4  is a traveling range starting from the first quadrant A which is one of ranges in the column side of the straight line R′ orthogonal to the centerline R and passing through the center of the table top support of gantry side  11 , and indicates an angle range up to the centerline R in the fourth quadrant C. In this case, the traveling range α 4  becomes 180−70=110 degrees. 
   The angle 0.4 is a traveling range starting from the first quadrant A which is one of ranges in the column side of the straight line R′ orthogonal to the centerline R and passing through the center of the table top support of gantry side  11 , and indicates an angle range up to the centerline R in the fourth quadrant C. In this case, the traveling range 0.4 becomes 180−70=110 degrees. 
   Letting a movable range of the medical expert or the doctor to the bed  3  in the second quadrant B, that is, a traveling range up to the column  6  be 45 degrees, the traveling range in the second and the third quadrants becomes 180−45=135 degrees. 
   Thus, the traveling range described above becomes α 2 =110+135=245 degrees, and accordingly, an angle range above 240 degrees can be secured. 
   Here, an angle of open space will be defined. On the premise that the slide table  43  has generally a nearly equal width in the condition of  FIG. 7 , the angle of open space is defined as an angle up to the column  6  by measuring from the orthogonal line R′ in the fourth quadrant passing through the center  0  of the table top support of gantry side  11  and orthogonal to the centerline R when the setting angle α 3  is set to 70 degrees. 
   Therefore, providing that in the example of  FIG. 7  the angle between the centerline R and a tangent line N drawn from the center  0  toward the peripheral corner portion in the front side of the column  6  is 30 degrees, the angle of open space is 360−(90+30)=240 degrees by subtracting the angle of the first quadrant and the angle between the tangent line N drawn from the center  0  and the centerline R. That is, the wide open space angle of 240 degrees can be obtained to the traveling angle of 245 degrees. 
   One of the features of the present embodiment is that the wide open space angle of 240 degrees can be obtained, an open space angle equal or more to the traveling range of 200 degrees is preferably secured, and the traveling range α 1  and the open space α 2  overlap in most parts of these angles each other. Thereby, the movable area for the medical expert or the doctor can be expanded, and accordingly, a patient observing area to the examined person can be expanded. 
     FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  shows an example in a case where the setting position of the bed  3  is set by being rotated in the radial direction to bring the bed downward in the drawing compared to the state of  FIG. 7 . 
   In the case of  FIG. 8 , the setting angle α 3  of the bed  3  is set to 115 degrees. In this case, although the open space angle α 2 A of the area in the left hand direction of the bed is decreased, but the area of α 2 B is increased by the amount of the rotation in the radial direction to compensate the decreased amount described above. 
   That is, the open space area as the total sum is essentially not changed because the open space angle α 2 B in the right hand side is increased though the open space angle α 2 A in the left hand side is decreased. 
   In the case of  FIG. 9 , the setting angle α 3  is set to 90 degrees. In this case, although the open space angle α 2 A of the area in the left hand direction of the bed is decreased, but the area of α 2 B is increased by the amount of the rotation in the radial direction to compensate the decreased amount described above. 
   That is, the open space area as the total sum is essentially not changed because the open space angle α 2 B in the right hand side is increased though the open space angle α 2 A in the left hand side is decreased. 
   The example of  FIG. 10  shows an example in which the both side ends of the table top  45  are cut out. By employing such a construction, the table top  45  can be brought closer to the column when the table top  45  is brought in contact with the connecting part  30 . 
   That is, when the both side ends are not cut out, the table top  45  is kept at a distance from the column by the amount not having the cutout because the end portion of the table top is in contact with the connecting part  30 . 
   The example of  FIG. 11  shows an example in which the column is arranged more distantly from the table top support of gantry side  11  than that in the example of  FIG. 1 , and the bridge construction  34  is arranged between the column and the table top support of gantry side, though this example is somewhat disadvantageous from the viewpoint of the installation area. 
   In this example, a line (the connecting part  30 ) connecting between the bridge construction  34 , which is placed between the column and the table top support of gantry side, and the table top support of gantry side  11  is set back toward the centerline R from the line R″ extending toward the column in the direction perpendicular to the orthogonal line R′, which passes through the center of the table top support of gantry side and is orthogonal to the centerline R connecting between the center of the table top support of gantry side and the center of the column, from the portion  39  where the orthogonal line R′ and the rim of the examining table intersect each other. Both the connecting part  30  and the bridge construction  34  in this example are set back toward the centerline R from the line R″ extending toward the column in a direction perpendicular to the orthogonal line R′. 
   By such a construction, a wide traveling angle α 1  and a wide open space angle α 2  can be also obtained, and the movable area for the medical expert or the doctor can be expanded, and accordingly, a patient observing area to the examined person can be expanded. 
     FIG. 12  shows a modified example of  FIG. 11  in which the set-back state of the bridge construction  34  is formed by combining straight lines and curved lines. 
   In this example, a line (the connecting part  30 ) connecting between the bridge construction  34 , which is placed between the column and the table top support of gantry side, and the table top support of gantry side  11  is set back toward the centerline R from the line R″ extending toward the column in the direction perpendicular to the orthogonal line R′, which passes through the center of the table top support of gantry side and is orthogonal to the centerline R connecting between the center of the table top support of gantry side and the center of the column, from the portion  39  where the orthogonal line R′ and the rim of the examining table intersect each other. 
   Both the connecting part  30  and the bridge construction  34  in this example are also set back toward the centerline R from the line R″ extending toward the column in a direction perpendicular to the orthogonal line R′. 
   The feature in this case is that each of the traveling range angle α 1  and the open space angle α 2  can be set to 180 degrees or more, for example, set to 220 degrees by incorporating ideas into the shape of the bridge construction  34 . 
   By such a construction, a wide traveling angle α 1  and a wide open space angle α 2  can be also obtained, and the movable area for the medical expert or the doctor can be expanded, and accordingly, a patient observing area to the examined person can be expanded. 
   The example of  FIG. 13  shows a comparative example in which the width of the column  6  is equal to or larger than the width of the table top support of gantry side  11 . 
   In this example, the width of the connecting part  30  and the diameter of the rim of the examining table  39  agree with each other, and the line R″ is also on the same line as the side end of the bridge construction, as shown in the figure, and accordingly, each of the traveling range angle α 1  and the open space angle α 2  is limited to nearly 180 degrees. 
   The example of  FIG. 14  is a modified example of the construction shown in  FIG. 13  of which the intention is to expand the traveling range angle α 1  and the open space angle α 2  by modifying the shape of the bed  3 . 
   That is, the shape of the table top support of table of the bed  3  or the table top  45  is formed trapezoidal by beveling the portion in contact with the bridge construction  34  depending on the shape of the column  6 , as shown in the figure. 
   In this case, although it is certain that the open space angle α 2  is slightly expanded, the traveling angle α 1  remains in 180 degrees, and the change in the shape for expanding the open space angle is necessary, and there is possibility of lacking in accuracy at setting the table top support of gantry side  11  of the bed  3 . 
   In addition, there are problems that the table top support of table  8  or the table top  45  can not be set in the circular table top support of gantry side due to difference in the shape, and that the operability is not easy. 
   The setting position of the control panel  23  will be described below. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , as described above, the gantry  2  covering the upper magnet  2  has the upper magnet cover  4 , and the upper magnet cover has the side cover  21  the surface of which is in the vertical direction, and the cover is composed of the upper magnet cover  4  and the side cover  21 . The side cover  21  has the control panel(s)  23  of the MRI apparatus  1  arranged within one of ranges formed by the centerline R connecting through the center  0  of the table top support of gantry side  11  and the center of the column and the orthogonal line R′ passing through the center  0  of the table top support of gantry side  11  and crossing with the centerline R at right angles or within both of the ranges of the fourth quadrant C and the third quadrant D. 
   In the example of  FIG. 1 , a first control panel  23  is arranged in the area of the fourth quadrant C, and a second control panel  24  is arranged on the line R, but these control panels have a similar function or different functions. 
   As described above, there is an advantage that the operation becomes easier by arranging the control panel on the side cover  21  in the fourth quadrant C or the third quadrant D as the traveling range angle α 1  is increased. 
     FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 , and  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18  show other embodiments of arrangement of the control panels. 
   In the example of  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 , the control panels  23  and  24  are arranged at an area in the first quadrant A and at an area in the fourth quadrant C, respectively. 
   Further, a badge  52  is arranged in a midrange between these control panels. The badge may be a nameplate marking of a manufacture. The badge indicates the front when a patient looks at the apparatus. 
   The example of  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  is an example which has a corrugated pattern  53  as the front marking, and the arrangement of the control panels  23  and  24  is the same as that in the example of  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 . Further, in this example, a third control panel  54  is arranged on the column  6  to improve the operability. 
     FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20  are a detailed view of the bed  3 .  FIG. 20  shows the details of the table top  45 , and the both side end of the table top  45  are cut out so that the table top  45  can be closely moved toward the column when the table top  45  is brought in contact with the connecting part  30 , as described in  FIG. 10 . 
   Further, the shape of the contact part  9  of the table top is conformed to the shape of the circular contact face  25  of the table top support of gantry side. Thereby, setting work of the bed  3  around the table top support of gantry side  11  becomes easy, and there is no gap between the table top support of gantry side and the bed. 
     FIG. 21  shows an embodiment which shows another example of a support unit, and a support mechanism  60  is arranged instead of the bed  3 . This embodiment is the same as the example shown in  FIG. 1  except for the support mechanism  60 , and explanations of the traveling range angle α 1  and the open space range angle α 2  are also the same as those of  FIG. 1 . 
   Although it is similar to the aforementioned explanation that the support mechanism  60  comprises the table top  45 , the slide table  43  and the mat  44 , the shape of the table top  45  is a short-length shape compared to the aforementioned table top. 
   The support mechanism  60  is integrated into the tabletop support of gantry side  11  at the portion of the box part  29 , and the support mechanism  60  comprises an up/down drive unit  61 , and up/down motion of the up/down drive unit  61  is transmitted to the table top  45  by an arm  62  extending in the horizontal direction to move the table top  45 , that is, the slide table  43  in the horizontal direction. 
   The up/down drive unit  61  also has a rotation drive mechanism, not shown, controlled by a computer to rotate the table top  45  by a rink mechanism arranged inside the arm  62  or by electronic control of a motor. 
   By installing of the support mechanism  60 , the setting position and sliding to the table top support of gantry side  11  of the slide table  43  can be controlled through operation-of the control panels  23 ,  24 . 
     FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23  show an example of a diagnosing system which is constructed by combining any one of the MRI apparatus described above and a C-arm type X-ray equipment as another diagnosing equipment. 
   The diagnosing system  100  comprises an X-ray imager  71  which is arranged at a position near the table top support of gantry side and straddling the slide table  43 , that is, straddling the slide table  43 , the mat  44  and the table top  45 . 
   The C-arm type X-ray equipment is suitable as the X-rays imager, and the dotted lines indicate a traveling state when the C-arm type X-ray imager is moved. 
   By employing such a layout, stepping imaging and porous-chasing imaging at leg artery imaging can be performed using the same slide table  43  used for the MRI imaging. Therefore, the examination can be made speedy, and a burden of transferring the examined person can be reduced. 
   FIG.  24 ( 1 ), FIG.  24 ( 2 ), FIG.  24 ( 3 ) and FIG.  24 ( 4 ) show modified examples of the table top support of gantry side  11 . The example (1) of FIG.  24 ( 1 ) is of a quadrilateral type (the setting angle α 3  of the bed is about 45 degrees); the example (2) of FIG.  24 ( 2 ) is of a pentagonal type (the setting angle α 3  of the bed is about 72 degrees); the example (3) of FIG.  24 ( 3 ) is of a hexagonal type (the setting angle α 3  of the bed is about 60 degrees); and the example (4) of FIG.  24 ( 4 ) is of an octagonal type (the setting angle α 3  of the bed is about 45 degrees). It can be understood from these examples that the table top support of gantry side is not always necessary to be circular. 
   Although these examples show the case where the traveling range angle α 1  is limited by the column  6 , the description of  FIG. 1  will be applied in a case where there exist the bridge construction  34 , and the setting range of the slide table  43  is limited by the connecting part  30  between the bridge construction  34  and the table top support of gantry side  11 . 
   According to the above-described embodiments, the MRI apparatus comprises a measurement space formed of an upper face of a table top support of gantry side and an under face of a ceiling part; a column arranged in the side face of the measurement space, that is, in one side of the side faces of the table top support of gantry side, the table top support of gantry side and the ceiling part being connected by the column; a main body of apparatus opening to the front side and right hand side and the left hand side with respect to the measurement space; and a bed to be connected to the main body of apparatus. 
   According to the above-described construction, a doctor and others can approach both sides of the table-top support of gantry side and can more closely approach an examined person because around the table top support of gantry side there are no obstacles preventing the doctor and others from approaching the table top support of gantry side. Therefore, medically dealing with the examined person and medical treatment using medical equipment for the examined person, if necessary, can be performed simultaneously with examination. 
   Further, since the bed putting the examined person on to be connected to the main body of the apparatus is a separated bed, the bed can be connected to the main body of apparatus from any side, front side or right hand side or left hand side with respect to the measurement space. 
   Therefore, (1) the configuration that the bed is connected to the main body of the apparatus from the front side of the measurement space, and the doctor and others approach the examined person from both sides in right hand side and left hand side and (2) the configuration that the bed is connected to the main body of the apparatus near the right side or the left side of the column to make a widely open area in the right side or the left side can be made. Accordingly, there are effect that the MRI apparatus can be compactly arranged in a room, and that an open space area required for examination using medical treatment equipments by the doctor and others can be secured. 
   INDUSTRIAL SUABILITY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   As having been described above, according to the present invention, since the angle of traveling range capable of setting the slide table support system (for example, the bed  3 ) having the slide table slidable on the table top support of gantry side can be expanded by a substantial amount, the angle of open space range largely overlapping with the angle of traveling range can be expanded by a substantial amount to make examination or diagnosing work of an examined person easier.