Patent Description:
A drum is a vital structural component on a CT machine, which needs to support various vital electrical components such as an X-ray tube, a detector, a high voltage generator, a high pressure tank, and a tube cooling system. In a traditional design, one CT machine is equipped with one drum, and for each type of electrical component, one electrical component is mounted to the drum. Therefore, when the CT machine scans once, the drum needs to rotate by one circle. For detection of cardiac organs, the scan needs to be completed in a short period of time. Therefore, the drum is required to have an extremely high rotational speed, and patients need to hold their breath to complete the scan.

In a traditional dual source CT machine, the drum has a cylindrical structure, and a mounting surface of each type of electrical component is on a side wall of the cylinder. Therefore, the side wall is required to have a sufficient height and thickness. Therefore, the drum with the structure has a large external dimension, and has a large weight.

For example, <NPL> and <CIT> disclose aspects of CT apparatuses.

In view of the above, in order to eliminate or alleviate the above problems, the invention discloses a drum for a dual source CT machine. The dual source CT machine using the drum is particularly suitable for heart scan, and does not require patients to hold their breath during the scan, and can perform high quality imaging in any heart rate condition. The invention further discloses a dual source CT machine using the above drum.

In the drum for a dual source CT machine of the invention, the drum is mounted to an outer rim of a bearing, and an inner rim of the bearing is mounted to a gantry of the dual source CT machine. The drum includes: a ring-shaped front drum, where the ring-shaped front drum has a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to each other, a first system mounting area configured for a first X-ray tube system to be mounted and a second system mounting area configured for a second X-ray tube system to be mounted are arranged on the first side surface of the front drum, and a front flange extending in an axial direction from an inner ring edge of the front drum is formed on the second side surface of the front drum; and a ring-shaped rear drum, where the rear drum has a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to each other, a first component mounting area configured for a first set of components matching the first X-ray tube system to be mounted and a second component mounting area configured for a second set of components matching the second X-ray tube system to be mounted are arranged on the first side surface of the rear drum, and a rear flange extending in the axial direction from an inner ring edge of the rear drum is formed on the second side surface of the rear drum. The front drum and the rear drum are arranged coaxially, the front flange and the rear flange face each other, the front drum is connected to the bearing through the front flange, and the rear drum is connected to the bearing through the rear flange.

Further, the first system mounting area includes a first tube mounting area configured for a first tube to be mounted and a first detector mounting area configured for a first detector to be mounted, and a first X-ray path is formed between the first tube and the first detector; the second system mounting area includes a second tube mounting area configured for a second tube to be mounted and a second detector mounting area configured for a second detector to be mounted, and a second X-ray path is formed between the second tube and the second detector; and the first X-ray path and the second X-ray path are both perpendicular to the axial direction, and an included angle between the first X-ray path and the second X-ray path is between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees.

Further, the front drum includes at least one front protrusion protruding from the first side surface of the front drum, and the at least one front protrusion is arranged around and in contact with at least one X-ray tube system of the first X-ray tube system and the second X-ray tube system; and/or the rear drum includes at least one rear protrusion protruding from the first side surface of the rear drum, and the at least one rear protrusion is arranged around and in contact with at least one set of components of the first set of components and the second set of components.

Further, at least one of the at least one front protrusion is arranged on a radial outer side of the at least one X-ray tube system; and/or at least one of the at least one rear protrusion is arranged on a radial outer side of the at least one set of components.

Further, each of the first tube mounting area and the second tube mounting area has a through hole, so that the first tube mounted in the first tube mounting area and the second tube mounted in the second tube mounting area pass through the corresponding through holes and are mounted to the front drum.

Further, a balance weight is mounted at a position on the second side surface of the front drum staggered from the first system mounting area and the second system mounting area located on the first side surface of the front drum.

Further, one or more grooves are arranged on circumferential surfaces of inner holes of the front drum and the rear drum, and the first X-ray tube system and the second X-ray tube system are respectively connected to the first set of components and the second set of components through cables extending through the one or more grooves.

Further, each of the first component mounting area and the second component mounting area includes a high voltage generator mounting area configured for a high voltage generator to be mounted, a high pressure tank mounting area configured for a high pressure tank to be mounted, and a tube cooling system mounting area configured for a tube cooling system to be mounted, and the first component mounting area and the second component mounting area are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center of the rear drum.

Further, a heat sink and/or a heat dissipation hole is arranged on the front drum and/or the rear drum.

Further, a balance weight is mounted at a position on the second side surface of the rear drum staggered from the first component mounting area and the second component mounting area located on the first side surface of the rear drum.

According to another aspect of the invention, a dual source CT machine includes the above drum.

Through the drum of the invention and the dual source CT machine including the drum, the scan time of the CT machine can be reduced, the scan efficiency can be improved, and clearer scanned images can be obtained. In addition, the drum of the invention has a light weight and low costs, is integrated with many functions, and has a more optimized structure.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings, so as to make a person of ordinary skill in the art be more aware of the above and other features and advantages of the invention. In the figures:.

In order to make the purposes, technical solutions, and advantages of the invention clearer, the following embodiments are provided to describe the invention in further detail.

Referring to <FIG>, the invention provides a drum <NUM> for a dual source CT machine. The drum <NUM> is mounted to an outer rim of a bearing, and an inner rim of the bearing is mounted to a gantry of the dual source CT machine. Generally, the drum <NUM> may include a ring-shaped front drum <NUM> and a ring-shaped rear drum <NUM>. The front drum <NUM> and the rear drum <NUM> both may be made by casting aluminum. Such a casting has materials with a small weight and high strength.

Specifically, referring to <FIG>, the front drum <NUM> has a first side surface 1a and a second side surface 1b opposite to each other. A first system mounting area <NUM> configured for a first X-ray tube system to be mounted and a second system mounting area <NUM> configured for a second X-ray tube system to be mounted are arranged on the first side surface 1a of the front drum <NUM>. A front flange <NUM> extending in an axial direction (the axial direction herein is an axial direction of the drum, and since the drum includes the front drum <NUM> and the rear drum <NUM> arranged coaxially, the axial direction of the drum, in fact, an axial direction of the front drum, and an axial direction of the rear drum are the same) from an inner ring edge of the front drum <NUM> is formed on the second side surface 1b of the front drum <NUM>.

Specifically, referring to <FIG>, the rear drum <NUM> has a first side surface 2a and a second side surface 2b opposite to each other. A first component mounting area <NUM> configured for a first set of components matching the first X-ray tube system to be mounted and a second component mounting area <NUM> configured for a second set of components matching the second X-ray tube system to be mounted are arranged on the first side surface 2a of the rear drum <NUM>. A rear flange <NUM> extending in the axial direction from an inner ring edge of the rear drum <NUM> is formed on the second side surface 2b of the rear drum <NUM>.

The front drum <NUM> and the rear drum <NUM> are arranged coaxially, and the front flange <NUM> and the rear flange <NUM> face each other. The front drum <NUM> is connected to the bearing through the front flange <NUM>, and the rear drum <NUM> is connected to the same bearing through the rear flange <NUM>. Specifically, the front flange <NUM> and the rear flange <NUM> may be connected to the bearing through bolts, for example.

Referring to <FIG>, the first system mounting area <NUM> includes a first tube mounting area <NUM> configured for a first tube to be mounted and a first detector mounting area <NUM> configured for a first detector to be mounted. A first X-ray path R1 is formed between the first tube and the first detector. The first tube and the first detector are not shown in the figure, and only the first X-ray path R1 is schematically shown with a broken line. The second system mounting area <NUM> includes a second tube mounting area <NUM> configured for a second tube to be mounted and a second detector mounting area <NUM> configured for a second detector to be mounted. A second X-ray path R2 is formed between the second tube and the second detector. The second tube and the second detector are not shown in the figure, and only the second X-ray path R2 is schematically shown with a broken line. The first X-ray path R1 and the second X-ray path R2 are both perpendicular to the axial direction (that is, in a radial direction of the drum), and an included angle α between the first X-ray path R1 and the second X-ray path R2 is between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees. Preferably, the included angle α is <NUM> degrees.

Referring to <FIG>, the front drum <NUM> may include at least one front protrusion <NUM> protruding from the first side surface 1a of the front drum <NUM>. The at least one front protrusion <NUM> is arranged around and in contact with at least one X-ray tube system of the first X-ray tube system and the second X-ray tube system. Similarly, referring to <FIG>, the rear drum <NUM> may include at least one rear protrusion <NUM> protruding from the first side surface 2a of the rear drum <NUM>. The at least one rear protrusion <NUM> is arranged around and in contact with at least one set of components of the first set of components and the second set of components. Specifically, at least one of the at least one front protrusion <NUM> is arranged on a radial outer side of the at least one X-ray tube system; and/or at least one of the at least one rear protrusion <NUM> is arranged on a radial outer side of the at least one set of components. When the front drum <NUM> and the rear drum <NUM> rotate at a high speed, the electrical components mounted thereto bear an enormous centrifugal force. Through the arrangement of the front protrusion <NUM> and the rear protrusion <NUM>, not only the centrifugal force on the electrical components can be born, but also the rigidity of the casting can be increased. In this way, the centrifugal force is converted to the casting material, thereby significantly improving the safety.

Referring to <FIG>, each of the first tube mounting area <NUM> and the second tube mounting area <NUM> may have a through hole, so that the first tube mounted in the first tube mounting area <NUM> and the second tube mounted in the second tube mounting area <NUM> pass through the corresponding through holes and are mounted to the front drum <NUM>. In this way, a part of the first tube is located on a first side of the front drum <NUM>, and the other part is located on a second side of the front drum <NUM>, and a part of the second tube is located on the first side of the front drum <NUM> and the other part is located on the second side of the front drum <NUM>, thereby facilitating the structural balance.

Referring to <FIG>, a data transmission system may be mounted to a side end surface 1c of the front drum <NUM> for data transmission with the electrical components. Referring to <FIG>, a balance weight (not shown) may be mounted at a position P1 on the second side surface 1b of the front drum <NUM> staggered from the first system mounting area <NUM> and the second system mounting area <NUM> located on the first side surface 1a of the front drum <NUM>, thereby facilitating the structural balance.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, one or more grooves G1, G2 may arranged on circumferential surfaces of inner holes of the front drum <NUM> and the rear drum <NUM>, and the first X-ray tube system and the second X-ray tube system (not shown) may be respectively connected to the first set of components and the second set of components through cables extending through the one or more grooves G1, G2.

Referring to <FIG>, each of the first component mounting area <NUM> and the second component mounting area <NUM> includes a high voltage generator mounting area <NUM>, <NUM> configured for a high voltage generator to be mounted, a high pressure tank mounting area <NUM>, <NUM> configured for a high pressure tank to be mounted, and a tube cooling system mounting area <NUM>, <NUM> configured for a tube cooling system to be mounted, and the first component mounting area <NUM> and the second component mounting area <NUM> are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center of the rear drum <NUM>. In this way, self-balance can be realized. Therefore, only a weight distribution of the drum and weight differences between the components need to be balanced and adjusted, thereby reducing the weight of the balance weight and reducing the balance adjustment time.

Referring to <FIG>, due to the high power and the large amount of heat of the electrical components, a heat sink and/or a heat dissipation hole may be arranged on the front drum <NUM> and/or the rear drum <NUM>, such as a heat dissipation hole in the first detector mounting area <NUM> or the second detector mounting area <NUM> extending through the front drum <NUM>. The heat dissipation hole is usually arranged near electrical components on the drum that generate a large amount of heat. In addition, the drum casting may be designed as a thin-walled frame structure to facilitate heat dissipation.

Referring to <FIG>, a slip ring system may be mounted to a side end surface 2c of the rear drum <NUM> for transmitting power and signals. Referring to <FIG>, a balance weight (not shown) is mounted at a position (P2) on the second side surface 2b of the rear drum <NUM> staggered from the first component mounting area <NUM> and the second component mounting area <NUM> located on the first side surface 2a of the rear drum <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the front drum <NUM> may include a plurality of support ribs connected between the second side surface 1b of the front drum <NUM> and the front flange <NUM> and spaced apart in a circumferential direction. Similarly, the rear drum <NUM> may also include a plurality of support ribs connected between the second side surface 2b of the rear drum <NUM> and the rear flange <NUM> and spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The arrangement of the support ribs increases the structural stability of the front drum <NUM> and the rear drum.

A dual source CT machine of the invention includes the drum in the above embodiment. The front drum and the rear drum of the drum are mounted to an outer rim of a bearing of the CT machine, and an inner rim of the bearing is mounted to a gantry of the CT machine.

Claim 1:
A drum for a dual source CT machine, the drum (<NUM>) being mounted to an outer rim of a bearing, an inner rim of the bearing being mounted to a gantry of the dual source CT machine, and the drum (<NUM>) comprising:
a ring-shaped front drum (<NUM>), wherein the ring-shaped front drum (<NUM>) has a first side surface (1a) and a second side surface (1b) opposite to each other, a first system mounting area (<NUM>) configured for a first X-ray tube system to be mounted and a second system mounting area (<NUM>) configured for a second X-ray tube system to be mounted are arranged on the first side surface (1a) of the front drum (<NUM>), and a front flange (<NUM>) extending in an axial direction from an inner ring edge of the front drum (<NUM>) is formed on the second side surface (1b) of the front drum (<NUM>); and
a ring-shaped rear drum (<NUM>), wherein the rear drum (<NUM>) has a first side surface (2a) and a second side surface (2b) opposite to each other, a first component mounting area (<NUM>) configured for a first set of components matching the first X-ray tube system to be mounted and a second component mounting area (<NUM>) configured for a second set of components matching the second X-ray tube system to be mounted are arranged on the first side surface (2a) of the rear drum (<NUM>), and a rear flange (<NUM>) extending in the axial direction from an inner ring edge of the rear drum (<NUM>) is formed on the second side surface (2b) of the rear drum (<NUM>); and
the front drum (<NUM>) and the rear drum (<NUM>) are arranged coaxially, the front flange (<NUM>) and the rear flange (<NUM>) face each other, the front drum (<NUM>) is connected to the bearing through the front flange (<NUM>), and the rear drum (<NUM>) is connected to the bearing through the rear flange (<NUM>).