Patent Description:
A diagnostic radiation apparatus refers to an apparatus that noninvasively obtains information about the interior of a body at radioscopic angiography and radiologic intervention. The diagnostic radiation apparatus continuously emits radiation for a predetermined period of time to obtain information about the interior of a body in real time, and therefore involves exposure to a considerable amount of radiation in spite of using low-energy radiation.

Conventionally, to reduce the amount of radiation to which a patient is exposed while the diagnostic radiation apparatus is in use, a range of the exposure to the radiation has been limited in such a manner that a shielding material is directly attached to the patient's body or the patient wears protective clothing. Further, the range of the exposure to the radiation has been limited in such a manner that a radiation irradiator employs a collimator, by which area setting is restrictively possible, while maintaining a fixed field shape. Regarding such dose reduction technology of the diagnostic radiation apparatus, there is <CIT>).

However, such a conventional diagnostic radiation apparatus has a limitation on reducing the exposure to the radiation in areas unrelated to diagnosis because the range of the exposure is set in a typical shape.

Further, similar dose adjustment devices according to the preamble of claim <NUM> are known from <CIT> and <CIT>, respectively.

An aspect of the disclosure is to provide an enhanced dose adjustment device mountable to a diagnostic radiation apparatus, which can adjust shielding for each portion, and an enhanced dose adjustment system including the same.

The invention provides a dose adjustment device having the features of claim <NUM> and a dose adjustment system including the same and having the features of claim <NUM>. According to the aspect of the disclosure, there may be provided a dose adjustment device mountable to a diagnostic radiation apparatus including: a power supply; a multi-leaf collimator configured to adjust transmittance for a portion in an irradiation area of diagnostic radiation; an actuator configured to individually adjust positions of single-leaves included in the multi-leaf collimator; a communication module configured to communicate with an outside; and a controller configured to control the actuator so that the transmittance for each portion in the irradiation area of the diagnostic radiation can be adjusted based on a signal received from the communication module.

Here, the dose adjustment device may be provided between a radiation irradiator and a radiation detector of the diagnostic radiation apparatus.

Further, the dose adjustment device may further include a connector detachably provided at an end portion of the radiation irradiator of the diagnostic radiation apparatus.

Meanwhile, the single-leaves may each extend on a plane perpendicular to an irradiating direction of the radiation, and be provided side by side being in close contact with each other.

Meanwhile, the actuator may include a plurality of actuation units to move each single-leaf in a direction where the single-leaf extends.

Meanwhile, the dose adjustment device may further include a cylindrical housing accommodating the power supply, the multi-leaf collimator, the communication module, and the controller, and formed with a hole in a center portion thereof through which the diagnostic radiation can pass.

Furthermore, the multi-leaf collimator may be configured in two rows on the plane, and each row may be configured to adjust the transmittance of a half area in the hole.

The collimator module, the power supply, the communication module and the controller may be stacked as a plurality of layers inside the housing.

Meanwhile, the radiation may include an X-ray.

Meanwhile, the single-leaf may be configured to shield the X-ray.

Further, the single-leaf may be configured to transmit <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the X-ray.

In addition, there may be provided a dose adjustment system mountable to a diagnostic radiation apparatus, including: a dose adjustment device detachably provided in the diagnostic radiation apparatus; and a control device configured to communicate with the dose adjustment device and receive an input of an adjustment amount for transmittance of radiation for a portion, the dose adjustment device including: a power supply; a multi-leaf collimator configured to adjust transmittance for a portion in an irradiation area of diagnostic radiation; an actuator configured to individually adjust positions of single-leaves included in the multi-leaf collimator module; a communication module configured to communicate with the control device; and a controller configured to control the actuator so that the transmittance for each portion in the irradiation area of the diagnostic radiation can be adjusted based on a signal received from the communication module.

Here, the control device may include a display, and is configured to receive an obtained diagnostic image from an external diagnostic radiation apparatus and display the received diagnostic image on the display.

Further, the control device may be configured to generate an adjustment signal for adjusting the multi-leaf collimator based on a touched position and a dragged amount when a user touches and drags an image on the display, and the controller may control the actuator based on the adjustment signal.

A dose adjustment device mountable to a diagnostic radiation apparatus according to the disclosure and a dose adjustment system including the same have effects on preventing exposure to radiation for each portion in a radiation irradiation area, and easily adding a radiation shielding function to the existing equipment without structural changes because the dose adjustment device is modularized to be mountable to the diagnostic radiation apparatus. In particular, an energy supply backup is provided.

Hereinafter, a dose adjustment device mountable to the diagnostic radiation apparatus and a dose adjustment system including the same according to embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements described in embodiments set forth herein may be called other names in the art. However, if the elements are similar or identical in terms of their functions, they may be regarded as equivalents even in alternative embodiments. Further, symbols assigned to the elements are given for convenience of description. However, content on the drawings with these given signs do not limit the elements to a range in the drawings. Likewise, even though the elements on the drawings are partially modified according to alternative embodiments, they having functional similarity and identity may be regarded as equivalents. Further, if those skilled in the art recognizes natural involvement of elements, descriptions of the elements will be omitted.

Below, a multi-leaf collimator module according to the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a mobile diagnostic radiation apparatus with a dose adjustment device according to the disclosure.

As shown therein, the dose adjustment device according to the disclosure is provided as an add-on to the diagnostic radiation apparatus, and configured to add a function of adjusting the amount of radiation shielding for each portion in a radiation irradiation area.

Meanwhile, the diagnostic radiation apparatus, to which the disclosure is applied, may be distinguished from a therapeutic radiation apparatus. The therapeutic radiation apparatus uses high-energy radiation, and thus its essential elements such as an accelerating tube, a collimator, a collimator actuator, a power supply, etc. are installed and used on a large scale. On the other hand, the diagnostic radiation apparatus uses low-energy radiation, and is thus miniaturized and portable. Therefore, the collimator module according to the disclosure may be modularized as a compact and small element that can be actuated independently.

<FIG> is an enlarged view of C-arm parts in <FIG>. The dose adjustment device according to the disclosure may be placed in a space between a radiation irradiator and a radiation detector of the diagnostic radiation apparatus. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the dose adjustment device is provided at an end portion of the radiation irradiator, thereby easily adding a function of adjusting a radiation shielding rate for each portion without separate structural changes.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a dose adjustment device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As shown therein, the dose adjustment device according to the disclosure may include a multi-leaf collimator module, a communication module, a power supply, and a controller.

The multi-leaf collimator module may include a multi-leaf collimator, and an actuator. The multi-leaf collimator includes a plurality of single-leaves, so that the plurality of single-leaves can be combined to adjust the amount of radiation shielding for each portion. The multi-leaf collimator may be provided side by side on a plane perpendicular to an irradiating direction of the radiation. Each single-leaf <NUM> may extend a predetermined length in its lengthwise direction, and be in close contact with other single-leaves <NUM> in its widthwise direction. The single-leaves <NUM> may be arranged to have bilateral symmetry. The left single-leaves <NUM> and the right single-leaves <NUM> are provided to respectively adjust the shielded areas at both sides while bisecting a plurality of divided radiation irradiation areas. The radiation shielding rate of the single-leaf <NUM> may be varied depending on the material and thickness of the single-leaf <NUM>. According to the features of the single-leaf <NUM>, an image of a shielded area may be selected to be opaque or translucent. Meanwhile, detailed operations of such a collimator will be described later.

A actuator <NUM> is configured to move the single-leaf <NUM> in the lengthwise direction. The actuator <NUM> may include actuation units <NUM> as many as the number of single-leaves <NUM> to move the single-leaves <NUM> independently of each other. Each actuation unit <NUM> is connected to one side of the single-leaf <NUM> and has an actuation amount based on a signal of a controller <NUM> (to be described later).

A communication module <NUM> is configured to communicate with an external device. The communication module <NUM> receives a signal, which is input by a user for the positioin of the collimator <NUM>, and transmits the received signal to the collimator <NUM>.

A power supply <NUM> may be configured to supply power to electric elements including the actuator <NUM>, the communication module <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. The power supply <NUM> includes a secondary battery so that charged energy can be used even when power is not separately supplied.

The controller <NUM> may be configured to control the communication module <NUM> and the actuator <NUM>. When a user's input is received through the communication module <NUM>, the controller <NUM> identifies an actuation amount based on the input and ultimately changes a position combination of the multi-leaf collimator.

Below, the structure and shape of a dose adjustment device <NUM> according to the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the dose adjustment device <NUM> according to the disclosure.

As shown therein, the dose adjustment device <NUM> according to the disclosure may be provided as a single body and mounted to a diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM>. For example, the dose adjustment device <NUM> may be shaped like a cylinder having a low height, and formed with a hole <NUM> in a center portion thereof to pass radiation therethrough.

The dose adjustment device <NUM> may include a multi-leaf collimator module <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, the communication module <NUM>, and the power supply <NUM>, which are placed inside a housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include an upper cap <NUM>, a lower cap <NUM>, and a connector <NUM>. The upper cap <NUM> may be provided to include a top side of the housing <NUM>, and the lower cap <NUM> may be provided to include a bottom side of the housing <NUM>. The top and bottom sides are respectively formed with the holes <NUM> having a predetermined inner diameter to pass radiation therethrough. The upper cap <NUM> may be provided with the connectors <NUM> protruding at opposite sides so as to be easily connected to a radiation irradiator <NUM>. The structure of the housing <NUM> is described by taking the shape shown in <FIG> as an example, but the housing may have various structures as long as it can place the multi-leaf collimator, the actuator <NUM> and the controller <NUM> therein. Further, the connector <NUM> may also have various structures for the connection with the end portion of the radiation irradiator <NUM>.

The battery, the controller <NUM>, and the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM> may be stacked inside the housing <NUM>. It is possible to maintain the easiness of mounting the dose adjustment device <NUM> to the end portion of the radiation irradiator <NUM> and the easiness of controlling the diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM> after the mounting.

The battery may be shaped like a disk to enhance a spatial efficiency when being loaded into the housing <NUM>. Specifically, the battery may be shaped to form a part of the disk so that a structure for connection with an external power source can be disposed on the same layer.

The controller <NUM> and the communication module <NUM> may be provided on a substrate. The substrate may also be shaped like a disk formed with the hole <NUM> in a center portion thereof to pass the radiation therethrough.

The multi-leaf collimator module <NUM> may include a base <NUM> shaped like a disk formed with the hollow <NUM> in a center portion thereof, and include the multi-leaf collimator, a shaft <NUM> and the actuator <NUM> which are disposed on the base <NUM>. The base <NUM> may have a symmetric axis as a central axis bisecting the plane thereof, and the multi-leaf collimator and the actuator <NUM> may be arranged to have bilateral symmetry. The outer diameter of the base <NUM> may be set to allow the single-leaf <NUM> to reciprocate between a state where the hollow <NUM> is fully closed and a state where the hollow <NUM> is fully opened. The base <NUM> may include a linear guide (not shown) to guide the moving direction of the single-leaf <NUM> so that the single-leaf <NUM> can reciprocate along a given path.

The actuator <NUM> may include a plurality of actuation units <NUM> to respectively move the single-leaves <NUM> as described above. The plurality of actuation units <NUM> may be arranged in parallel with the lengthwise direction of the single-leaves <NUM>, and disposed outward on the plane of the base <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> may be provided in plural to connect each actuation unit <NUM> and one side of each single-leaf <NUM>. However, this structure of the shaft <NUM> is merely an example, and the shaft <NUM> may have various connection structures as long as the actuation unit <NUM> can move the single-leaf <NUM>.

Below, the operations of the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM> will be described in detail.

<FIG> and <FIG> are enlarged plan views of the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM> fully closes the center portion of the radiation irradiation area. As shown therein, the plurality of single-leaves <NUM> are dedicated to selectively close divisional portions of the radiation irradiation area.

Referring to <FIG>, the center portion of the radiation irradiation area is partially opened. As shown therein, the left three single-leaves <NUM> and the right three single-leaves <NUM> are moved to their opened positions, thereby forming an opened area only in the center portion.

Below, the operations of the dose adjustment system will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate use of the dose adjustment system according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

As shown therein, the dose adjustment system according to the second embodiment of the disclosure may include the dose adjustment device <NUM> mountable to the diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM>, and a control device <NUM>.

The control device <NUM> may be configured to receive an adjustment amount for the dose adjustment device <NUM> from a user, and generate an adjustment signal for adjusting the dose adjustment device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> may include a display <NUM>, the touch panel and the communication module <NUM>. The control device <NUM> is configured to receive and display a diagnostic image obtained by a diagnostic radiation irradiation apparatus. Further, the control device <NUM> is configured to display the adjustment amount for the dose adjustment device <NUM> together with the diagnostic image.

The control device <NUM> is configured to display a boundary line L between the opened area and the shielded area caused by the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM> on the display <NUM>. For example, the boundary line L may be provided as a line connecting the centers on the sides of the single-leaves <NUM> facing the symmetric axis. The diagnostic image displayed on the display <NUM> is obtained in an actually shielded state, and it is thus possible to obtain an image of the shielded portions with the naked eyes. Further, the boundary line L displayed between the shielded area and the opened area makes it easier to recognize the images.

<FIG> shows a diagnostic image obtained corresponding to an affected area, and <FIG> shows a position combination of the multi-leaf collimator in the dose adjustment device <NUM> corresponding to <FIG>. As shown therein, a shading difference between the shielded area and the opened area is made with respect to the boundary line L, and an area except a portion of which an image is needed to be obtained, for example, a portion including blood vessels is shielded from the radiation.

Referring to <FIG>, a user can touch and drag the screen of the control device <NUM> to move the boundary line L. The control device <NUM> receives an input for controlling the boundary line L and communicates with the dose adjustment device <NUM>, thereby selecting the single-leaves <NUM> to be adjusted, setting a moving amount of the selected single-leaves <NUM>, and controlling the actuation unit <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the shielded area is adjusted by a user's input shown in <FIG> in real time when the diagnostic image is obtained using the radiation.

<FIG> and <FIG> show images for comparison between before and after using the dose adjustment device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> shows a conventional method. Referring to <FIG>, the radiation shielding rate of the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM> is not <NUM>% unlike that of the conventional method. Therefore, a certain amount of radiation may pass through the multi-leaf collimator even though the radiation irradiation area is shielded by the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM>. Eventually, it is possible to obtain a translucent image, which is visible to the naked eyes, in a radiation diagnostic image. According to this embodiment, when a user needs to check a rough image of an area outside the area of interest, the material or thickness of the single-leaf <NUM> may be provided to pass a certain amount of radiation. Specifically, the transmittance of an X-ray the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM> has may be within a range of <NUM>% to <NUM>%.

<FIG> and <FIG> show images for comparison between before and after using the dose adjustment device according to still another embodiment of the disclosure. As shown therein, this embodiment shows an example that the multi-leaf collimator module <NUM> fully shields the diagnostic radiation. <FIG> shows that the multi-leaf collimator is not used in a conventional art. Referring to <FIG>, when the multi-leaf collimator is used according to the disclosure, an image of only an area opened through the multi-leaf collimator is obtained in an obtained diagnostic image, and a shielded area selected by a user is set and shielded from the radiation. According to this embodiment, the exposure to the radiation is fundamentally prevented in an area outside the area of interest.

Below, it will be described with reference to <FIG> that the disclosure is applied to a stationary diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> is a conceptual view illustrating the stationary diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM> with a dose adjustment system according to the disclosure.

As shown therein, as one among various types of the diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM>, the stationary diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM> includes a C-arm <NUM> hanging from the ceiling and guided by a plurality of linear guides to move on a plane in a diagnosis room. The C-arm <NUM> is provided to move on the plane and obtain a radiation diagnostic image of a patient lying on a patient supporter <NUM>. The display <NUM> and a control panel <NUM> may be connected to the ceiling and disposed so that a user can use the diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM>.

In the dose adjustment system according to the disclosure, the dose adjustment device <NUM> may be mounted to the end portion of the radiation irradiator <NUM> of the C-arm <NUM> like that of the foregoing embodiment. Meanwhile, the diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM> may be used instead of the control device <NUM>. In this case, the dose adjustment device <NUM> may be controlled through the control panel <NUM> of the diagnostic radiation apparatus <NUM> without separately using the control device <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A dose adjustment device (<NUM>) mountable to a diagnostic radiation apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
a power supply (<NUM>);
a multi-leaf collimator (<NUM>) configured to adjust transmittance for a portion in an irradiation area of diagnostic radiation;
an actuator (<NUM>) configured to individually adjust positions of single-leaves (<NUM>) included in the multi-leaf collimator (<NUM>);
a communication module (<NUM>) configured to communicate with an outside; and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to control the actuator (<NUM>) so that the transmittance for each portion in the irradiation area of the diagnostic radiation can be adjusted based on a signal received from the communication module (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the power supply includes a battery (<NUM>).