Patent Description:
A radiography apparatus that captures a radiation image of a subject is known in the medical field (see <CIT>). The radiography apparatus disclosed in <CIT> comprises a portable radiation image detector and a console that displays a radiation image detected by the radiation image detector. In addition, the radiation image detector is provided with an antenna that wirelessly transmits the radiation image to the console. Mobile radiography apparatus are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Among the radiography apparatuses, there is a mobile radiography apparatus used for, for example, motion picture capturing during surgery. Such a mobile radiography apparatus comprises an arm that holds a radiation source that generates radiation and a radiation image detection unit, a body part to which the arm is rotatably attached, and a carriage on which the body part is mounted. The arm has, for example, a so-called C-arm having a C-shape, and the radiation source and the radiation image detection unit are provided at both ends of the C-arm, respectively.

It is conceivable to provide the antenna that wirelessly transmits the radiation image to an external apparatus in the mobile radiography apparatus having such a rotatable arm. It is preferable that the antenna be provided at a position at which a radio wave emitted toward the external apparatus of a communication partner is not easily blocked. Since an upper end of the arm that holds the radiation source and the radiation image detection unit is positioned at a relatively high position, it is conceivable to provide the antenna at the upper end of the arm. However, at this position, a relative position between the external apparatus and the antenna is changed due to the rotation of the arm, so that there is a problem that stable communication is difficult.

In addition, the mobile radiography apparatus is moved by traveling of the carriage. Therefore, simply fixing the antenna to a location other than the arm cannot handle the change in the relative position between the external apparatus and the antenna in a case in which the carriage travels, and there is still the problem that stable communication is difficult.

<CIT> discloses that the antenna is provided in the portable radiation image detector, but there is not disclosure or suggestion regarding providing the antenna in the mobile radiography apparatus and a problem of providing the antenna in the mobile radiography apparatus.

The technology of the present disclosure provides a mobile radiography apparatus capable of performing relatively stable wireless communication even in a case in which the mobile radiography apparatus is moved due to traveling of a carriage or an arm is rotated.

A mobile radiography apparatus is provided according to claim <NUM>.

The arm may be a C-arm having a C-shape as viewed in a side view.

The antenna may be provided on an upper surface side of the body part.

The mobile radiography apparatus may further comprise a support part that rotatably supports the arm, the support part being disposed on an upper portion side of the body part and capable of being raised and lowered with respect to the body part, in which the antenna is provided on the support part.

The radiation direction in which the antenna emits the radio wave may be inclined upward with respect to a horizontal direction, and in a case in which an inclined angle with respect to the horizontal direction is defined as α, α may satisfy Conditional Expression (<NUM>).

The inclined angle may be fixed at an angle at which the radio wave is not blocked by the arm.

The inclined angle of the antenna may be variable.

The antenna may be attached to an antenna support column extending above the body part from an upper surface side of the body part.

An upper end of the antenna may be lower than a highest reachable position at which one end of the arm is reachable.

The antenna may be rotatable around an axis extending in a vertical direction.

In a case in which a position at which the arm is present in the radiation direction of the radio wave of the antenna is defined as a reference position, a rotation angle range of the antenna may be within a range of ±<NUM>° with respect to the reference position.

The mobile radiography apparatus may further comprise a console monitor used for an operation, in which the antenna is displaceable within a range that does not physically interfere with the console monitor.

The mobile radiography apparatus may further comprise a lock mechanism that fixes an orientation of the antenna.

The mobile radiography apparatus may further comprise an orientation adjustment mechanism that adjusts an orientation of the antenna based on a change in a position relative to the external apparatus.

The orientation adjustment mechanism may include a sensor that detects a rotation of the body part around an axis extending in a vertical direction, and an actuator that rotates the antenna in an opposite orientation to the body part.

The orientation adjustment mechanism may include a position sensor that detects a position of the external apparatus, and an actuator that causes the orientation of the antenna to follow the position of the external apparatus detected by the position sensor.

The mobile radiography apparatus may further comprise a wired communication unit that uses a cable in addition to a wireless communication unit that uses the antenna.

A wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication using the antenna may be a wireless communication unit of a wireless HDMI (registered trademark) standard that uses a radio wave having a frequency band of a <NUM> band.

The external apparatus may be a mobile monitor apparatus that includes a carriage and is movable by traveling of the carriage.

According to the technology of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the mobile radiography apparatus capable of performing relatively stable wireless communication even in a case in which the mobile radiography apparatus is moved due to traveling of the carriage or the arm is rotated.

In the following, a mobile radiography system (hereinafter, simply referred to as a radiography system) <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in order with reference to the drawings. As shown in <FIG>, the radiography system <NUM> comprises a mobile radiography apparatus (hereinafter, simply referred to as a radiography apparatus) <NUM> and a mobile monitor apparatus (hereinafter, simply referred to as a monitor apparatus) <NUM>. In the following, in the drawings, an arrow X indicates a front-rear direction of the radiography apparatus <NUM>, an arrow Y indicates a width direction of the radiography apparatus <NUM>, and an arrow Z indicates an up-down direction, which is a vertical direction.

The radiography apparatus <NUM> is an apparatus that captures a radiation image of a subject H. The radiography apparatus <NUM> can capture, for example, a motion picture and a still image of the subject H. The motion picture capturing is performed, for example, in a case in which a treatment target part of the subject H is displayed as the motion picture during surgery (also referred to as penetrative imaging). The monitor apparatus <NUM> is an example of an external apparatus capable of communicating with the radiography apparatus <NUM>, and can display the radiation image of the motion picture or the still image captured by the radiography apparatus <NUM>.

Since both the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> are mobile types, it is possible to move each installation location individually or change the orientation. In a case in which any of the radiography apparatus <NUM> or the monitor apparatus <NUM> is moved or the like, a relative positional relationship between the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> is changed.

The radiography apparatus <NUM> comprises a radiation source <NUM>, a radiation image detection unit <NUM>, an arm <NUM>, a body part <NUM>, a carriage <NUM>, and an antenna <NUM>. The monitor apparatus <NUM> comprises a monitor <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, a monitor support column <NUM>, and a carriage <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> are used for wirelessly transmitting the radiation image from the radiography apparatus <NUM> to the monitor apparatus <NUM>. The monitor apparatus <NUM> includes the carriage <NUM> and can be moved by traveling of the carriage <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> has a caster 54A and travels by the rotation of the caster 54A.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the arm <NUM> is, for example, a C-arm having a C-shape as viewed in a side view. More precisely, the C-arm is an arm at least partially having an arc shape such that the orbital rotation described below is possible. The arm <NUM> is attached to the body part <NUM> to be displaceable. In the following, a side on which the arm <NUM> is provided is a front side of the radiography apparatus <NUM>, and a side on which the body part <NUM> is provided is a rear side of the radiography apparatus <NUM>.

The arm <NUM> has two end portions, the radiation source <NUM> is provided at one end portion of the arm <NUM>, and the radiation image detection unit <NUM> is provided at the other end portion thereof. The arm <NUM> can hold the radiation source <NUM> and the radiation image detection unit <NUM> in a facing posture. A space into which the subject H and a bed S on which the subject H lies face upward can be inserted is secured between the radiation source <NUM> and the radiation image detection unit <NUM>. It should be noted that, in the following, in the side view of the arm <NUM> (see <FIG>), with the arm <NUM> as a reference, a direction in which the radiation source <NUM> and the radiation image detection unit <NUM> are provided may be referred to as a front side the arm <NUM>, and the body part <NUM> side may be referred to as a rear side the arm <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the radiography apparatus <NUM>, the radiation source <NUM> comprises a radiation tube 21A that generates the radiation and an irradiation field limiting device (also called a collimator or the like) 21B that narrows an irradiation field of the radiation. The radiation is X-rays, for example. The radiation tube 21A generates radiation X by colliding electrons generated from a cathode with an anode. The position at which the electrons collide at the anode is a focus F at which the radiation X is generated.

The radiation image detection unit <NUM> detects the radiation image of the subject H by receiving the radiation X emitted from the radiation source <NUM> and transmitted through the subject H. The radiation image detection unit <NUM> comprises a detection panel 22A and a case 22B that accommodates the detection panel 22A. The case 22B can be removed from, for example, the arm <NUM>. The detection panel 22A can be removed from the case 22B, and for example, the type or size of the detection panel 22A accommodated in the case 22B can be changed.

The detection panel 22A is, for example, a flat panel detector (FPD) of a digital radiography (DR) type. The FPD has a detection surface on which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged and a thin film transistor (TFT) panel (not shown) for driving the pixels. The detection panel 22A converts the incident radiation into an electric signal and outputs the radiation image showing the subject H based on the converted electric signal. For example, as the detection panel 22A, an indirect conversion type that converts the radiation into visible light using a scintillator and converts the converted visible light into the electric signal is used. It should be noted that the detection panel 22A may be a direct conversion type that directly converts the radiation into the electric signal. In addition, as the radiation image detection unit <NUM>, a configuration other than a configuration in which the FPD is used as the detection panel 22A may be adopted, for example, a configuration can be adopted in which an image intensifier (I. I) and a camera are combined.

A connecting part <NUM> disposed on the body part <NUM> side is attached to the arc-shaped part of the arm <NUM>. The connecting part <NUM> is attached to a support part <NUM>. Moreover, the support part <NUM> is attached to the body part <NUM>. In this way, the arm <NUM> is indirectly attached to the body part <NUM> via the connecting part <NUM> and the support part <NUM>.

The arm <NUM> can be rotated by a manual operation of an operator OP such as a medical practitioner. A handle 23A is provided on the side of the arm <NUM> along a C-shaped outer shape. The handle 23A is used, for example, in a case of rotating the arm <NUM>.

As for the rotation of the arm <NUM>, first, the arm <NUM> can be axially rotated around an axis extending in the front-rear direction (axis extending in the X direction in <FIG>) of the body part <NUM>. The support part <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction of the body part <NUM>, and internally accommodates a rotation shaft (not shown) for axially rotating the arm <NUM> to be rotatable. The connecting part <NUM> disposed in front of the support part <NUM> is fixed to the rotation shaft and is axially rotated around the shaft together with the arm <NUM>. Inside the support part <NUM>, the rotation shaft is rotated, but a housing itself of the support part <NUM> accommodating the rotation shaft is not axially rotated.

By this axial rotation, it is possible to reverse the positions of the radiation source <NUM> and the radiation image detection unit <NUM> provided at both ends of the arm <NUM> in the up-down direction with respect to the subject H. That is, it is possible to change a posture of the arm <NUM> to a posture in which the radiation source <NUM> is disposed below the radiation image detection unit <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in contrast, to a posture in which the radiation source <NUM> is disposed above the radiation image detection unit <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Here, since the radiation tube 21A (see <FIG>) provided in the radiation source <NUM> is positioned below the subject H, the posture of the arm <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is called an undertube posture. On the other hand, since the radiation tube 21A is positioned above the subject H, the posture of the arm <NUM> shown in <FIG> is called an overtube posture.

In the overtube posture shown in <FIG>, the radiation image detection unit <NUM> is closer to the position of the bed S than in the undertube posture, and it is possible to widen the distance between the radiation source <NUM> and the subject H. Therefore, it is possible to image a relatively wide region. Therefore, in many cases, the overtube posture is mainly used for capturing the still image of the subject H. On the other hand, in the undertube posture, since a part of the radiation emitted from the radiation source <NUM> is blocked by the bed S or the like, it is possible to reduce an exposure dose of the operator OP or the like around the subject H (see <FIG>). Therefore, in many cases, the undertube posture is used for the motion picture capturing in which the radiation is continuously emitted.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the arm <NUM> can be orbitally rotated. The orbital rotation is a rotation centered on a virtual axis extending in the Y direction with the outer shape of the arc-shaped arm <NUM> as the orbit. The arm <NUM> is attached to the connecting part <NUM> in a state of being capable of being orbitally rotated.

In this way, the rotation of the arm <NUM> includes two types of rotation, the axial rotation and the orbital rotation. The support part <NUM> rotatably supports the arm <NUM>. Moreover, since the support part <NUM> is attached to the body part <NUM>, the arm <NUM> is indirectly and rotatably attached to the body part <NUM> via the support part <NUM>.

In addition, the radiation source <NUM> is rotatably attached to the arm <NUM> around an axis extending in the Y direction. A rotation center of the radiation source <NUM> is the focus F of the radiation tube 21A. As shown in <FIG>, by orbitally rotating the arm <NUM> and rotating the radiation source <NUM> with respect to the arm <NUM>, for example, it is possible to dispose a portable radiation image detector (so called electronic cassette) <NUM> different from the radiation image detection unit <NUM> to face the radiation source <NUM>. As a result, instead of the radiation image detection unit <NUM>, it is possible to perform imaging in which the radiation image detector <NUM> and the radiation source <NUM> are combined.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the support part <NUM> is attached to the body part <NUM> to be able to be raised and lowered in the up-down direction. Moreover, the arm <NUM> can be raised and lowered by raising and lowering the support part <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> (see also <FIG>), the support part <NUM> is disposed on the upper portion side of the body part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the body part <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> has a vertically long substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The rear side of the body part <NUM> is an inclined surface, and the width of the body part <NUM> is increased in the front-rear direction from the upper side to the lower side. The body part <NUM> is mounted on the carriage <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> has a plurality of casters 26A and can travel on a floor surface <NUM>. In addition, at least some of the casters 26A are steering wheels that revolve. Since the steering wheels are provided, it is possible to easily change the direction in which the carriage <NUM> travels.

A handle <NUM> is provided in an upper portion of the body part <NUM>. The handle <NUM> is gripped by the operator OP and is used in a case of moving the radiography apparatus <NUM>. The handle <NUM> has a pipe shape as an example, and is provided to surround the side and the rear side of the body part <NUM>.

In addition, an irradiation switch <NUM> for starting radiography is provided on a rear surface of the body part <NUM>. By operating the irradiation switch <NUM>, an instruction for starting irradiation of the radiation is input. The irradiation switch <NUM> is attached to the body part <NUM> via a telescopic cable, for example, and the irradiation switch <NUM> can be operated at a position away from the body part <NUM> by extending the telescopic cable.

In addition, a recess for accommodating the support part <NUM> is formed on an upper surface 24A of the body part <NUM> at the center in the width direction (that is, the Y direction). The support part <NUM> has a rectangular tubular shape with the front-rear direction, which is a longitudinal direction, and has an upper surface 29A which is substantially flat similar to the upper surface 24A of the body part <NUM>. In a state in which the support part <NUM> is accommodated in the recess of the body part <NUM>, the upper surface 24A of the body part <NUM> and the upper surface 29A of the support part <NUM> are substantially the same height.

A console monitor <NUM> is provided on the upper surface 29A of the support part <NUM>. The console monitor <NUM> is an example of a console monitor used for an operation. On a display screen of the console monitor <NUM>, an operation screen for setting the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the like is displayed, and it is also possible to display the radiation image captured by the radiography apparatus <NUM>. Examples of the setting of the radiography apparatus <NUM> include irradiation conditions, such as a tube voltage of the radiation tube 21A, a tube current, and an irradiation time of the radiation. In a case of the motion picture capturing, basically, the irradiation time is not set, and after an instruction for starting the motion picture capturing is given, the motion picture capturing is continued until an instruction for termination is input.

The console monitor <NUM> is attached to the upper surface 29A of the support part <NUM> via a support arm 37A. The support arm 37A can be rotated around an axis extending in the up-down direction (that is, the Z direction). As a result, the console monitor <NUM> can be rotated around an axis extending in the Z direction. At an initial position of the console monitor <NUM>, the display screen faces the rear side of the body part <NUM>. In addition, the console monitor <NUM> is rotatably attached around an axis extending in the Y direction, as a result, it can also be tilted.

In addition, the antenna <NUM> is provided on the upper surface 29A of the support part <NUM> in addition to the console monitor <NUM>. As described above, the antenna <NUM> is an antenna for wireless communication that emits radio waves for wirelessly communicating with the monitor apparatus <NUM> which is an example of an external apparatus. The antenna <NUM> is an example of an antenna of the present disclosure. The antenna <NUM> is provided on the upper surface 29A via an antenna support column <NUM> extending in the up-down direction (that is, the Z direction). In this way, the antenna <NUM> is provided on the upper surface 24A side of the body part <NUM>. In addition, a lower end of the antenna support column <NUM> is attached to the upper surface 29A of the support part <NUM>, and extends above the body part <NUM>. That is, the antenna <NUM> is attached to the antenna support column <NUM>, which is an example of a support column extending above the body part <NUM> from the upper surface 24A side of the body part <NUM>. In addition, the support part <NUM> is an example of a portion in which a radiation direction RD of the radio waves is not changed even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is rotated.

As shown in <FIG>, an upper end of the antenna <NUM> is lower than a highest reachable position at which one end of the arm <NUM> can reach. That is, in a case in which a height of the upper end of the antenna <NUM> is defined as T1 and the highest reachable position of the arm <NUM> is defined as T0 in <FIG>, a relationship between T1 and T0 is T1 < T0.

As shown in <FIG>, the arm <NUM> can be raised and lowered together with the support part <NUM>. Moreover, in the present example, since the antenna <NUM> is provided on the support part <NUM> of the arm <NUM>, the antenna <NUM> is also raised and lowered as the arm <NUM> is raised and lowered. Therefore, in the present example, even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is raised and lowered, the relationship T1 < T0 between the highest reachable position T0 of the arm <NUM> and the height T1 of the upper end of the antenna <NUM> is not changed. That is, a relative height of the antenna <NUM> to the arm <NUM> is not changed.

In addition, the portion to which the antenna <NUM> is attached is the support part <NUM>, and the support part <NUM> is not displaced even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is rotated (orbital rotation or axial rotation). That is, the antenna <NUM> is provided in the portion in which the radiation direction of the radio waves is not changed even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is rotated. In addition, as will be described below, the antenna <NUM> can change the radiation direction RD of the radio waves independently of the rotation of the arm <NUM>.

In the present example, the antenna <NUM> emits the radio waves obtained by modulating the radiation image captured by the radiography apparatus <NUM>. By the monitor apparatus <NUM> receiving the radio waves emitted by the antenna <NUM>, the monitor apparatus <NUM> can display the radiation image. The monitor apparatus <NUM> is an apparatus independent of the radiography apparatus <NUM> and can be moved. Therefore, for example, as shown in <FIG>, it is possible to dispose the monitor apparatus <NUM> at a distance from the radiography apparatus <NUM>, and it is possible to dispose the monitor apparatus <NUM> at a position at which the operator OP such as the medical practitioner can easily visually recognize.

In a case in which the monitor apparatus <NUM> is moved, the relative position between the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> is changed. As a result, the relative position between the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM> is also changed. As a result, the radio wave intensity of the radio waves transmitted and received between the antenna <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> may be changed, or a shield (including a person) that blocks the radio waves may enter between the antenna <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>. In such a case, a communication quality of the wireless communication can be made stable by changing the orientation in which the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> are emitted.

As shown in <FIG>, at the initial position, the antenna <NUM> is disposed in a posture in which the radiation direction RD of the radio waves faces the front side of the body part <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> of the present example is a plate-shaped antenna in which a radiation surface of the radio waves is formed of a flat surface, and the radiation surface faces the front side at the initial position. Here, the radiation direction RD is a direction representing a traveling direction of the radio waves, and in a case in which the radio waves have a spread angle that spreads from the radiation surface, is a direction matching the center of the spread angle.

Further, the radiation direction RD in which the antenna <NUM> emits the radio waves is inclined upward with respect to a horizontal direction HL (direction parallel to the XY plane in <FIG>). In a case in which the inclined angle with respect to the horizontal direction HL is defined as α, in the present example, the inclined angle α is <NUM>° and the inclined angle α is fixed. By inclining the radiation direction RD of the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> upward by <NUM>° with respect to the horizontal direction HL, the radio waves can be emitted toward a ceiling <NUM>, for example. The radio waves that reach the ceiling <NUM> are reflected by the ceiling <NUM>. By setting the inclined angle α to <NUM>°, it is possible to transmit the radio waves to the monitor apparatus <NUM> by using the reflection by the ceiling <NUM>.

In addition, the inclined angle α is fixed at an angle at which the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM>. The inclined angle α of <NUM>° in the present example is an example of the angle at which the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in a case in which the inclined angle α is <NUM>°, the radio waves emitted by the antenna <NUM> travel above the arm <NUM> disposed in front of the antenna <NUM>, so that the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM>.

In addition, the antenna <NUM> is attached to the antenna support column <NUM> extending above the body part <NUM> from the upper surface 24A side of the body part <NUM>. By attaching the antenna <NUM> to the antenna support column <NUM>, the antenna <NUM> can be disposed at a position higher than the upper surface 24A of the body part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the antenna <NUM> can be rotated around the axis extending in the up-down direction, which is the vertical direction. A rotation center RO of the antenna <NUM> matches, for example, a central axis of the antenna support column <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in a plan view, in a case in which a position at which the arm <NUM> is present in the radiation direction RD of the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> is defined as a reference position, a rotation angle range of the antenna <NUM> is within a range of ±<NUM>° with respect to the reference position. In the present example, a position shown in (A) of <FIG> is the reference position at which the arm <NUM> is present in the radiation direction RD of the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> in a case in which the radiography apparatus <NUM> is viewed in a plan view. More specifically, the reference position is a position at which the radiation direction RD of the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> is parallel to the front-rear direction of the body part <NUM>. With respect to this reference position, the antenna <NUM> can be rotated within a range of a position of -<NUM>° shown in (B) of <FIG> and a position of +<NUM>° shown in (C) of <FIG>. As a result, it is possible to adjust the orientation of the antenna <NUM> in a case in which the relative position between the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> is changed.

Both the antenna <NUM> and the console monitor <NUM> are attached to the upper surface 29A of the support part <NUM>, and are disposed side by side in the front-rear direction of the body part <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, at least in a state in which the console monitor <NUM> is at the initial position (position at which the display screen faces the rear side), the antenna <NUM> can be displaced within a range that does not physically interfere with the console monitor <NUM>. Specifically, the antenna <NUM> is disposed at a distance from the console monitor <NUM> at the initial position such that the console monitor <NUM> does not enter the rotation range of the antenna <NUM>.

In addition, the antenna <NUM> is disposed behind the arm <NUM>, and the distance between the antenna <NUM> and the arm <NUM> in the front-rear direction of the body part <NUM> is fixed. Therefore, the antenna <NUM> is disposed at a position that also does not physically interfere with the arm <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, a lock mechanism <NUM> that fixes the orientation of the antenna <NUM> is provided. The lock mechanism <NUM> fixes the orientation of the antenna <NUM> at any position within the rotation range of the antenna <NUM> shown in <FIG>. <FIG> of <FIG> is a side view of the antenna <NUM> and the antenna support column <NUM>, and (B) of <FIG> is a conceptual diagram of the lock mechanism <NUM>. The lock mechanism <NUM> has a rotation operating part 41A provided on the antenna support column <NUM>. The lock mechanism <NUM> can be switched between a locked state in which the orientation of the antenna <NUM> is fixed and an unlocked state in which the antenna <NUM> is unlocked and caused to be rotated, by rotating the rotation operating part 41A by a manual operation. In the lock mechanism <NUM>, for example, in a case in which the rotation operating part 41A is rotated, the frictional resistance of the rotation shaft that rotates the antenna <NUM> is changed. It is a mechanism to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state by a change in this frictional resistance. It should be noted that an electric mechanism using an actuator may be used as the lock mechanism <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the antenna <NUM> includes, for example, two antenna units 27A. Including two antenna units 27A enables, for example, multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication. As a result, the communication quality and throughput of wireless communication are improved.

The antenna unit 27A is connected to a wireless output inter/face (I/F) <NUM>. The wireless output I/F <NUM> is an example of a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication using the antenna <NUM>. In the present example, the wireless output I/F <NUM> is a wireless communication unit of the wireless high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) standard that uses the radio waves having the frequency band of the <NUM> band. The wireless output I/F <NUM> is composed of a modulation circuit that modulates a video signal into the radio waves and outputs the modulated radio waves, a communication circuit that performs transmission control according to a communication protocol, and the like.

As shown in <FIG>, the monitor apparatus <NUM> comprises two monitors <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to display the motion picture on one monitor <NUM> and the still image on the other monitor <NUM>. The still image may be a still image captured by the radiography apparatus <NUM> or a still image read from an image server (not shown).

The antenna <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM> also includes two built-in antenna units 52A (see <FIG>) having the same standard as the antenna units 27A of the antenna <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> is used for receiving the radio waves from the antenna <NUM>. The antenna unit 52A is connected to a wireless input inter/face (I/F) <NUM>. The wireless input I/F <NUM> is an example of a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication using the antenna <NUM>. In the present example, since the wireless input I/F <NUM> is for communicating with the wireless output I/F <NUM>, it is a wireless communication unit of the wireless high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) standard that uses the radio waves having the frequency band of the <NUM> band, similar to the wireless output I/F <NUM>.

The antenna <NUM> can be displaced with respect to the monitor support column <NUM>. Specifically, the antenna <NUM>, similar to the antenna <NUM>, can be rotated around an axis extending in the up-down direction. As a result, it is possible to adjust the orientation of the antenna <NUM> in a case in which the relative position between the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> is changed.

In addition, a receiving surface of the antenna <NUM> that receives the radio waves is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction HL. The inclined angle of the antenna <NUM> is set to <NUM>°, which is an angle corresponding to the inclined angle α of the antenna <NUM>.

In addition, the antenna <NUM> is disposed above the monitor <NUM>. In many cases, there is a shield that blocks the radio waves around the monitor apparatus <NUM>. In order to avoid such a shield, the height at which the antenna <NUM> is disposed is preferably high. In addition, by disposing the antenna <NUM> above the monitor <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the radio waves from being blocked by the monitor <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the radiography apparatus <NUM> comprises a wired output I/F <NUM> which is an example of a wired communication unit using a connection cable <NUM>, in addition to the wireless output I/F <NUM> using the antenna <NUM>. The wired output I/F <NUM> includes a connector 62A for connecting the connection cable <NUM>. The standard of the connector 62A has, for example, a digital visual interface (DVI) standard. It is needless to say that the standard of the connector62A may be another standard such as the HDMI (registered trademark) standard.

Further, the radiography apparatus <NUM> comprises a controller <NUM> and a video splitter <NUM>. The controller <NUM> comprehensively controls the units of the radiography apparatus <NUM> in addition to the radiation source <NUM> and the radiation image detection unit <NUM>. The controller <NUM> acquires the radiation image detected by the radiation image detection unit <NUM>. The controller <NUM> outputs the video signal of the acquired radiation image to the video splitter <NUM>. The video splitter <NUM> outputs the video signal to be transmitted to the monitor apparatus <NUM> to both the wireless output I/F <NUM> and the wired output I/F <NUM>.

The monitor apparatus <NUM> comprises a switcher <NUM> in addition to the wireless input I/F <NUM>. In addition, the monitor <NUM> comprises a video input I/F <NUM>. A connector 66A of the wireless input I/F <NUM> has, for example, the HDMI (registered trademark) standard, and a connector 67A of the video input I/F <NUM> has, for example, the DVI standard.

The switcher <NUM> is disposed on a connection path connecting the monitor <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>, and selectively outputs, to the monitor <NUM>, the video signal input from the antenna <NUM> and the video signal input from the wired output I/F <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM>. The switcher <NUM> includes connectors 68A, 68B, and 68C. The connectors 68A, 68B, and 68C have, for example, the DVI standard similar to the connector 67A of the video input I/F <NUM>.

An internal cable <NUM> extending from the connector 66A of the wireless input I/F <NUM> is connected to the connector 68A. The connection cable <NUM> for connecting to the wired output I/F <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> is connected to the connector 68B. The internal cable <NUM> connected to the connector 67A of the video input I/F <NUM> is connected to the connector 68C. The connector 68A and the connector 68B are input ports to which the video signal is input, and the connector 68C is an output port from which the video signal input to the connector 68A or the connector 68B is output.

The switcher <NUM> switches an input source of the video signal displayed on the monitor <NUM> to any of the wireless output I/F <NUM> or the wired output I/F <NUM> by switching an electrical connection destination with the connector 68C between the connector 68A and the connector 68B. The switcher <NUM> monitors, for example, the video signal input from the wireless output I/F <NUM> to the connector 68A, and automatically switches the input source of the video signal to the connector 68B in a case in which the input of the video signal to the connector 68A is interrupted or failed. Therefore, even in a case in which a wireless communication failure occurs, in a case in which the connection cable <NUM> is connected by the operator OP, the display of the radiation image on the monitor apparatus <NUM> can be restarted by wired communication.

As described above, the radiography apparatus <NUM> comprises the radiation source <NUM>, the radiation image detection unit <NUM> that detects the radiation image of the subject H by receiving the radiation X emitted from the radiation source <NUM> and transmitted through the subject H, the arm <NUM> that holds the radiation source <NUM> and the radiation image detection unit <NUM>, the body part <NUM> to which the arm <NUM> is attached to be displaceable, the carriage <NUM> on which the body part <NUM> is mounted, and the antenna <NUM> that emits the radio waves for wirelessly communicating with the monitor apparatus <NUM>, which is an example of the external apparatus, the antenna being provided in the portion in which the radiation direction RD of the radio waves is not changed even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is rotated and capable of changing the radiation direction RD of the radio waves.

Therefore, it is possible to perform relatively stable wireless communication even in a case in which the radiography apparatus <NUM> is moved due to traveling of the carriage <NUM> or the arm <NUM> is rotated. That is, the antenna <NUM> is provided in the portion in which the radiation direction RD of the radio waves is not changed even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is rotated. Therefore, even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is rotated, the relative position between the monitor apparatus <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> is not changed. In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the antenna <NUM> can change the radiation direction RD of the radio waves. Therefore, even in a case in which the radiography apparatus <NUM> is moved due to the traveling of the carriage <NUM>, it is possible to make the radiation direction RD of the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> correspond to the change in the relative position between the antenna <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM>. It is needless to say that it is also possible to handle the change in the relative position between the antenna <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> by moving only the monitor apparatus <NUM> without changing the position of the radiography apparatus <NUM>, or changing the orientation of the radiography apparatus <NUM> or the monitor apparatus <NUM>. As a result, it is possible to perform stable wireless communication as compared with a case in which the radiation direction RD of the antenna <NUM> cannot be changed. Since the radiography apparatus <NUM> is a mobile type, the position relative to the monitor apparatus <NUM> is likely to be changed, and thus the technology of the present disclosure is particularly effective.

As an example of a relative positional relationship between the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the monitor apparatus <NUM> may be disposed to face the front surface of the radiography apparatus <NUM> with the bed S interposed therebetween. In the case shown in <FIG>, the orientation of the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> is set to the reference position shown in (A) of <FIG>, and the radiation direction RD of the radio waves is directed to the front side of the body part <NUM> in a plan view. As a result, the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM> can face each other in a plan view (that is, in an XY plane).

In addition, as another example, as shown in <FIG>, the monitor apparatus <NUM> may also be disposed on the right side of the radiography apparatus <NUM>. In this case, as shown in (C) of <FIG>, the orientation of the antenna <NUM> is set to a position of + <NUM>° with respect to the reference position, and the radiation direction RD of the radio waves is directed to the right side of the body part <NUM> in a plan view. As a result, the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM> can face each other in a plan view.

In a case in which the radio waves are transmitted and received, the communication quality is stable in a state in which the antenna <NUM> on the transmission side and the antenna <NUM> on the reception side face each other as compared with a state in which the antenna <NUM> on the transmission side and the antenna <NUM> on the reception side do not face each other. In particular, as the frequency band of the radio waves is higher, the straightness of the radio waves is stronger, so that it is necessary to make the antennas face each other. Therefore, the technology of the present disclosure is more effective as the frequency band is higher.

It should be noted that, in the present example, the support part <NUM> has been described as an example of the portion in which the radiation direction RD of the radio waves is not changed even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is rotated, but the portion in which the radiation direction RD of the radio waves is not changed even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is rotated may be a portion other than the support part <NUM> and, for example, may be the upper surface 24A of the body part <NUM>. It should be noted that, since the support part <NUM> is raised and lowered together with the arm <NUM> with respect to the body part <NUM>, it is preferable to provide the antenna <NUM> on the support part <NUM>. The reason for the above is that there are merits that the antenna <NUM> can be disposed at a position higher than the body part <NUM> in the support part <NUM>, and the relative height between the antenna <NUM> and the arm <NUM> is not changed even in a case in which the arm <NUM> is raised and lowered.

In addition, in the antenna <NUM> of the present example, the radiation direction RD of the radio waves is inclined upward by <NUM>° with respect to the horizontal direction, and the receiving surface of the antenna <NUM> is also inclined upward by <NUM>° with respect to the horizontal direction HL. Therefore, by facing the antenna <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> in a plan view (that is, in the XY plane), the radio waves emitted by the antenna <NUM> can be reflected by the ceiling <NUM> to be transmitted to the antenna <NUM>.

In general, the number of shields that block the radio waves tends to be larger as the distance to the floor surface <NUM> (see <FIG>) is shorter, and the number of shields that block the radio waves tends to be smaller as the distance to the ceiling <NUM> is shorter. By emitting the radio waves upward from the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> with respect to the horizontal direction HL and using the reflection of the radio waves by the ceiling <NUM>, it is possible to transmit the radio waves to the monitor apparatus <NUM> disposed at a distance while avoiding the shield.

In the present example, the frequency band of the radio waves emitted by the antenna <NUM> is the <NUM> band. Since the radio waves having the frequency bands such as a <NUM> band and a <NUM> band used in the wireless local area network (LAN) standard are used in many various communication devices such as a tablet terminal and a wireless access point, the radio wave interference is likely to occur. By using the radio waves having the <NUM> band, the radio wave interference is suppressed, so that the communication quality of wireless communication is stable. In addition, by using the radio waves having the <NUM> band, the transmission amount per unit time can be increased as compared with the radio waves having the <NUM> band and the <NUM> band. Therefore, the radio waves having the <NUM> band are suitable for transmitting the motion picture having a large amount of data. In a case in which the motion picture is transmitted, there is often a concern about display delay in a case of the radio waves having the <NUM> band and the <NUM> band, but in a case of the radio waves having the <NUM> band, the concern about display delay can be reduced.

In addition, as described above, as the frequency band of the radio waves is higher, the straightness of the radio waves is stronger, and it is more easily affected by the shield. Therefore, the technology of the present disclosure is particularly effective in a case in which the frequency band of the <NUM> band, which has stronger straightness than the frequency band such as <NUM> band and <NUM> band, is used.

It should be noted that the technology of the present disclosure is highly necessary in a case in which there are the merits described above, as compared with a case in which the radio waves compliant with the wireless LAN standard are used, and the radio waves having the frequency than the radio waves compliant with the wireless LAN standard is used.

In addition, in the present example, the arm <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> is the C-arm. The radiography apparatus <NUM> having the C-arm is often used for the motion picture capturing. Since motion picture has a large amount of data and requires continuous communication, it is highly necessary to make the quality of wireless communication more stable. Therefore, the technology of the present disclosure is particularly effective for the radiography apparatus <NUM> having the C-arm.

In addition, in the present example, the antenna <NUM> is provided on the upper surface 24A side of the body part <NUM>. The number of shields that block the radio waves on the upper portion side is smaller than the number of shields on the lower portion side of the body part <NUM>. Therefore, by disposing the antenna <NUM> on the upper surface 24A side of the body part <NUM>, blocking of the radio waves is suppressed, so that the communication quality of wireless communication is more stable.

In addition, in the present example, the antenna <NUM> is provided on the support part <NUM> that rotatably supports the arm <NUM>, and the support part <NUM> is disposed on the upper portion side of the body part <NUM> and can be raised and lowered with respect to the body part <NUM>. Therefore, the antenna <NUM> is also raised and lowered as the arm <NUM> is raised and lowered, but the relative height of the antenna <NUM> to the arm <NUM> is not changed, so that the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> are not blocked by the arm <NUM> due to the change in the height of the arm <NUM>.

In addition, in the present example, the inclined angle α is set to <NUM>°, but α may satisfy Conditional Expression (<NUM>).

In a case in which the inclined angle α is <NUM>°, that is, in a case in which the radiation direction RD is the horizontal direction HL, the radio waves are likely to be blocked by the shield, which is not preferable. As described above, in many cases, the number of shields around the radiography apparatus <NUM> is larger as the distance to the floor surface <NUM> is shorter. In a case in which the inclined angle α is larger than <NUM>°, the radiation direction RD of the radio waves faces upward, so that the radio waves can be emitted to the upper side on which the number of shields is small. In addition, in a case in which the inclined angle α is <NUM>°, that is, in a case in which the radiation direction RD is the vertical direction, the radio waves emitted from the antenna <NUM> and reflected by the ceiling <NUM> are returned to the antenna <NUM>, which is not preferable. Therefore, it is preferable that the inclined angle α satisfy Conditional Expression (<NUM>).

Further, it is more preferable that the inclined angle α satisfy Conditional Expression (<NUM>).

In a case in which the inclined angle α is <NUM>° or more, it is easy to avoid many of the shields present in a lateral direction of the radiography apparatus <NUM> as compared with a case in which the inclined angle α is less than <NUM>°. In addition, in a case in which the inclined angle α is <NUM>° or less, it is easy to extend a reach distance of the radio waves in the horizontal direction HL as compared with a case in which the inclined angle α exceeds <NUM>°.

In addition, the inclined angle α of <NUM>° described above is an example of the angle at which the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM>. By setting such an inclined angle α, it is possible to make the communication quality stable. It should be noted that, in the present example, the angle at which the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM> is set to <NUM>°, but it may be an angle other than <NUM>°. The angle at which the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM> is appropriately set according to the size of the arm <NUM>, the height of the antenna <NUM>, the distance between the arm <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>, and the like.

In addition, in the present example, the antenna <NUM> is attached to the antenna support column <NUM> extending above the body part <NUM> from the upper surface 24A side of the body part <NUM>. As a result, the antenna <NUM> can be disposed at a position higher than the upper surface 24A of the body part <NUM> as compared with a case in which the antenna support column <NUM> is not provided. The shield of the radio waves present around the radiography apparatus <NUM> can be avoided as the position of the antenna <NUM> is higher, so that the communication quality of wireless communication is more stable.

In addition, in the present example, as shown in <FIG>, the height T1 of the upper end of the antenna <NUM> is lower than the highest reachable position T0 at which one end of the arm <NUM> is reachable. In a case in which the height T1 of the upper end of the antenna <NUM> is lower than the highest reachable position T0 of the arm <NUM>, there is little concern that the antenna <NUM> physically interferes with the ceiling <NUM> and a shadowless lamp installed on the ceiling <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the antenna <NUM> can be rotated around the axis extending in the vertical direction, which is the up-down direction. As a result, even in a case in which the radiography apparatus <NUM> is moved in the horizontal direction HL due to the traveling of the carriage or the like, the antenna <NUM> is rotated around the axis extending in the up-down direction, so that it is easy to handle the change in the relative position between the antenna <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In addition, as the reference position shown in (A) of <FIG>, in a case in which a position at which the arm <NUM> is present in the radiation direction RD of the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> is defined as a reference position, a rotation angle range of the antenna <NUM> is within a range of ±<NUM>° with respect to the reference position. In this way, by restricting a part of the rotation angle range, it is possible to handle the change in the relative position between the antenna <NUM> and the external apparatus such as the monitor apparatus <NUM> while avoiding physical interference with other parts.

In addition, the radiography apparatus <NUM> further comprises the console monitor <NUM> used for the operation, and the antenna <NUM> can be displaced within a range that does not physically interfere with the console monitor <NUM>. More specifically, as shown in <FIG>, at least in a state in which the console monitor <NUM> is at the initial position, the antenna <NUM> can be displaced within a range that does not physically interfere with the console monitor <NUM>. As a result, it is possible to secure the degree of freedom of the change in the orientation of the antenna <NUM> as compared with a case in which the console monitor <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> physically interfere with each other.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the radiography apparatus <NUM> of the present example comprises the lock mechanism <NUM> that fixes the orientation of the antenna <NUM>, so that it is possible to prevent the orientation of the antenna <NUM> from being inadvertently changed.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the radiography apparatus <NUM> of the present example comprises the wired output I/F <NUM> which is an example of the wired communication unit using the connection cable <NUM>, in addition to the wireless output I/F <NUM>, which is an example of the wireless communication unit using the antenna <NUM>. As a result, even in a case in which wireless communication cannot be used due to the radio wave interference with other devices or a failure of the wireless output I/F <NUM>, it is possible to communicate with the external apparatus such as the monitor apparatus <NUM> by wired communication.

In addition, the wireless output I/F <NUM> is the wireless communication unit of the wireless HDMI (registered trademark) standard using the radio waves having the frequency band of the <NUM> band. By using a general-purpose interface, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost in addition to increasing the types of external apparatuses that can be connected.

The external apparatus is the monitor apparatus <NUM> that includes the carriage <NUM> and can be moved by traveling of the carriage <NUM>. Since both the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> are mobile types, the relative position therebetween is likely to be changed. Therefore, the technology of the present disclosure that achieves the stabilization of wireless communication by making the radiation direction RD of the radio waves of the antenna <NUM> variable is particularly effective for a mobile apparatus.

In addition, in the present example, the antenna <NUM> can be displaced with respect to the monitor support column <NUM>. Even in a case in which the relative position of the radiography apparatus <NUM> to the monitor apparatus <NUM> is changed, a reception state of the radio waves can be improved by the displacement of the antenna <NUM>. As a result, the communication quality can be made more stable.

In addition, in the present example, the antenna <NUM> is disposed above the monitor <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to suppress blocking of the radio waves received by the antenna <NUM> by the monitor <NUM>.

In addition, the monitor apparatus <NUM> comprises the switcher <NUM> is disposed on the connection path connecting the monitor <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>, and selectively outputs, to the monitor <NUM>, the video signal input from the antenna and the video signal input from the wired output I/F <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM>. By providing the switcher <NUM>, switching to the wired communication in a case in which the wireless communication by the antenna <NUM> is impossible or failed is easy. This switching may be performed by the manual operation. It should be noted that it is more preferable that the input source of the video signal be automatically switched by the switcher <NUM>. As a result, for example, the operator OP can restart the display of the radiation image on the monitor apparatus <NUM> by wired communication only by connecting the connection cable <NUM>.

In addition, the radiography apparatus <NUM> comprises the video splitter <NUM> that outputs the video signal to be transmitted to the monitor apparatus <NUM> to both the wired output I/F <NUM> which is an example of the wired communication unit and the wireless output I/F <NUM> which is an example of the wireless communication unit. Therefore, in the radiography apparatus <NUM>, the switcher, as the output destination of the video signal from the controller <NUM>, which switches between the wired output I/F <NUM> and the wireless output I/F <NUM> is unnecessary.

It should be noted that, in the present example, the inclined angle α of the antenna <NUM> is set to <NUM>°. As described above, the inclined angle α of <NUM>° described above is an example of the angle at which the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM>. However, for example, in a case in which the size of the arm <NUM> is larger and the height of the antenna <NUM> is lower than that of the present example, even at the inclined angle α of <NUM>°, the arm <NUM> may also enter the radiation direction RD at the reference position shown in (A) of <FIG>. Even in such a case, the arm <NUM> can be avoided by causing the antenna <NUM> to be rotated around the axis extending in the up-down direction as shown in <FIG>. That is, the antenna <NUM> of the present example can change the radiation direction RD to the position at which the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM>. As a result, it is easy to secure the communication quality of wireless communication. In addition, as an example in which the arm <NUM> enters the radiation direction RD of the radio waves at the reference position shown in (A) of <FIG>, a case in which the inclined angle α is close to <NUM>° can be considered. Even in such a case, it is possible to avoid the arm <NUM> by rotating the antenna <NUM> as shown in (B) of <FIG> of <FIG>.

An example shown in <FIG> is an example in which the inclined angle α of the antenna <NUM> is variable. The antenna <NUM> can be rotated around the axis extending in the Y direction in addition to the rotation around the axis extending in the up-down direction (Z direction in <FIG>). A rotation mechanism 38A which rotatably supports the antenna <NUM> is provided at the upper end of the antenna support column <NUM>. The inclined angle α of the antenna <NUM> is changed by the rotation mechanism 38A in a range of <NUM>° to <NUM>°, for example, with the position at which the inclined angle α is <NUM>° as the reference position. In this way, in a case in which the inclined angle α is variable, an adjustment range of the radiation direction RD of the radio waves is widened, and it is possible to flexibly handle the change in the environment such as the relative positional relationship with the monitor apparatus <NUM> and the presence or absence of the shield. As a result, it is possible to make the communication quality of wireless communication more stable. It should be noted that, in the present example, the range of the inclined angle α is set to <NUM>° to <NUM>°, but it may be set to a range of <NUM>° < α < <NUM>°. In addition, it is preferable that the range of the inclined angle α include the angle at which the radio waves are not blocked by the arm <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the antenna <NUM> may be able to be raised and lowered in the up-down direction. As a result, the adjustment range in a height direction of the antenna <NUM> is widened. Since the antenna <NUM> can be set at a higher position, it is easy to avoid the shield.

It should be noted that even in a case in which the antenna <NUM> can be raised and lowered in this way, it is preferable that a highest position T1A of the upper end of the antenna <NUM> be lower than the highest reachable position T0 of the arm <NUM>. The reason for the above is that it is possible to suppress the physical interference of the antenna <NUM> with the shadowless lamp or the like installed on the ceiling <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, the example has been described in which the orientation of the antenna <NUM> is manually adjusted, but the radiography apparatus <NUM> may comprise an orientation adjustment mechanism that adjusts the orientation of the antenna <NUM> based on the change in the position relative to the external apparatus. As a result, it is easy to adjust the orientation of the antenna <NUM> according to the change even in a case in which the position relative to the external apparatus is changed.

The radiography apparatus <NUM> of the example shown in <FIG> and <FIG> comprises an orientation adjustment mechanism <NUM>. The orientation adjustment mechanism <NUM> comprises a gyro sensor <NUM> which is an example of a sensor that detects the rotation of the body part <NUM> in a case in which the body part <NUM> is rotated around the axis extending in the up-down direction, which is the vertical direction, and a motor <NUM> which is an example of an actuator that rotates the antenna <NUM> in an opposite orientation to the body part <NUM>.

The gyro sensor <NUM> is provided, for example, on the body part <NUM>, and detects the rotation of the body part <NUM> in the up-down direction (Z direction in <FIG>) around the axis. Specifically, the gyro sensor <NUM> outputs an angular velocity in a case in which the body part <NUM> is rotated to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> detects a rotation angle and a rotation direction of the body part <NUM> based on the input angular velocity. The controller <NUM> outputs a drive signal for rotating the antenna <NUM> in the opposite orientation to the motor <NUM> based on the detected rotation angle and rotation direction. The motor <NUM> rotates the antenna <NUM> based on the input drive signal.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, from a state in which the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM> face each other, a case is considered in which the body part <NUM> is rotated clockwise by +<NUM>° as shown in <FIG>. In this case, the controller <NUM> outputs the drive signal for rotating the antenna <NUM> counterclockwise by -<NUM>° to the motor <NUM>. As a result, even in a case in which the body part <NUM> is rotated, since the change in the orientation of the antenna <NUM> is canceled, the positional relationship in which the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM> face each other is maintained.

With such an orientation adjustment mechanism <NUM>, the orientation of the antenna <NUM> can be made stable regardless of the rotation of the body part <NUM>. As a result, stable communication quality of wireless communication can be maintained even in a case in which the body part <NUM> is rotated.

The radiography apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> comprises an orientation adjustment mechanism <NUM> of the second example. The orientation adjustment mechanism <NUM> comprises a camera <NUM> which is an example of a position sensor that detects the position of the monitor apparatus <NUM> as the external apparatus, and the motor <NUM> which is an example of an actuator that causes the orientation of the antenna <NUM> to follow the position of the monitor apparatus <NUM> detected by the camera <NUM>.

The camera <NUM> is, for example, a digital camera that images the subject based on the visible light. The camera <NUM> is provided, for example, on the upper portion of the antenna <NUM>, and its posture is adjusted such that the subject present in the radiation direction RD of the antenna <NUM> is included in a field of view FOV. During activation, the camera <NUM> captures the motion picture at a preset frame rate, and outputs the captured motion picture to the controller <NUM> as a captured image.

Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, in a case in which the monitor apparatus <NUM> is present at a position facing the antenna <NUM>, the monitor apparatus <NUM> appears in the captured image output by the camera <NUM>. The controller <NUM> recognizes the monitor apparatus <NUM> from the captured images by executing image recognition processing based on the captured image input from the camera <NUM>. The recognition processing of the monitor apparatus <NUM> is performed by, for example, pattern matching or a method using a machine learning model.

Moreover, the controller <NUM> executes movement detection processing of detecting a movement direction and a movement amount of the monitor apparatus <NUM> recognized in the captured image. The controller <NUM> detects the movement direction of the monitor apparatus <NUM> that is moved in the captured image. Based on the detected movement direction, the controller <NUM> changes the orientation of the antenna <NUM> via the motor <NUM> such that the monitor apparatus <NUM> appears at the substantially center of the captured image, for example.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, in a case in which the monitor apparatus <NUM> is present at a position facing the antenna <NUM>, the monitor apparatus <NUM> appears at the substantially center of the captured image of the camera <NUM>. Moreover, a case is considered in which the monitor apparatus <NUM> is moved from the position shown in <FIG> to the position shown in <FIG>. In this case, the controller <NUM> detects that the movement direction of the monitor apparatus <NUM> is the right direction based on the captured image input from the camera <NUM>. Moreover, the controller <NUM> rotates the antenna <NUM> clockwise via the motor <NUM> such that the monitor apparatus <NUM> appears at the substantially center of the captured image. As a result, the orientation of the antenna <NUM> follows the position of the monitor apparatus <NUM>.

In this way, the orientation adjustment mechanism <NUM> comprises the camera <NUM> as the position sensor that detects the position of the monitor apparatus <NUM>, and the motor <NUM> that causes the orientation of the antenna <NUM> to follow the position of the monitor apparatus <NUM> detected by the camera <NUM>. As a result, wireless communication can be made stable even in a case in which the relative positional relationship between the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> as the external apparatus is changed.

An orientation adjustment mechanism <NUM> of the third example shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is a mechanism that adjusts the orientation of the antenna <NUM> on the monitor apparatus <NUM> side which receives the radio waves. The orientation adjustment mechanism <NUM> has a radio wave intensity detection unit that detects the radio wave intensity received by the antenna <NUM>, and changes the orientation of the antenna <NUM> based on the detected radio wave intensity. A controller <NUM> provided in the monitor apparatus <NUM> functions as the radio wave intensity detection unit.

Here, the antenna <NUM> is an example of a first antenna, the antenna <NUM> is an example of a second antenna, and the radio wave intensity received by the antenna <NUM> is an example of the radio wave intensity between the first antenna and the second antenna.

As shown in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> acquires the radio wave intensity from the antenna <NUM>. Moreover, the controller <NUM> executes orientation search processing of searching for an optimum orientation of the antenna <NUM> based on the radio wave intensity. For example, the controller <NUM> searches for the orientation in which the radio wave intensity is maximized while rotating the orientation of the antenna <NUM> via the motor <NUM>. Moreover, the orientation of the antenna <NUM> is adjusted to the orientation in which the radio wave intensity is maximized.

As shown in <FIG>, in a state in which the antenna <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM> faces the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM>, the radio wave intensity of the antenna <NUM> is maximized. In a case in which the radiography apparatus <NUM> is moved from a state shown in <FIG> as shown in <FIG>, the radio wave intensity of the antenna <NUM> is decreased. In this case, the controller <NUM> searches for the orientation in which the radio wave intensity is maximized while rotating the orientation of the antenna <NUM>, and adjusts the orientation of the antenna <NUM> based on a search result. As a result, wireless communication can be made stable even in a case in which the relative positional relationship between the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the monitor apparatus <NUM> as the external apparatus is changed.

In addition, in the present example, the example has been described in which the orientation of the antenna <NUM> is adjusted based on the radio wave intensity received by the antenna <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM>, but the orientation of the antenna <NUM> may be adjusted based on the radio wave intensity received by the antenna <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM>. In addition, the radio wave intensity of each of the antenna <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> may be detected. In addition, the orientations of both the antenna <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> may be adjusted.

A third embodiment shown in <FIG> is characterized by a method of switching between wired communication and wireless communication in the monitor apparatus <NUM>. The radiography apparatus <NUM> has the same configuration as shown in <FIG>, and the wired output I/F <NUM> as the wired communication unit includes the connector 62A as a first cable connector for connecting a connection cable <NUM> from the monitor apparatus <NUM>.

On the other hand, the monitor apparatus <NUM> comprises the connection cable <NUM> for connecting the monitor <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> as the second antenna, and a relay <NUM> that includes a connector 92A as a second cable connector which is disposed between the antenna <NUM> and the connection cable <NUM> and to which one end of the connection cable <NUM> can be attached and detached. Moreover, one end of the connection cable <NUM> removed from the connector 92A of the monitor apparatus <NUM> can be connected to the connector 62A as the first cable connector of the radiography apparatus <NUM>.

The relay <NUM> is connected to the wireless input I/F <NUM> by an internal cable <NUM>. The connector 92A of the relay <NUM> is a connector compliant with the DVI standard similar to the connector 62A and the connector 67A. As shown in <FIG>, in the monitor apparatus <NUM>, the connector 92A of the relay <NUM> is provided on the monitor support column <NUM> and is exposed to the outside.

One end of the connection cable <NUM> is connected to the connector 67A of the video input I/F <NUM> of the monitor <NUM>. Moreover, in a case in which wireless communication is performed between the wireless output I/F <NUM> and the wireless input I/F <NUM>, the other end of the connection cable <NUM> is connected to the connector 92A of the relay <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, for example, the connection cable <NUM> passes through the inside of the monitor support column <NUM> from the connector 67A of the monitor <NUM>, and a part thereof including the other end of the connection cable <NUM> is drawn out from an opening 53A formed on the monitor support column <NUM> to the outside of the monitor support column <NUM>. Moreover, the other end of the connection cable <NUM> drawn out from the monitor support column <NUM> is connected to the connector 92A of the relay <NUM>. In the connection cable <NUM>, a length of a drawer part 91A drawn out from the monitor support column <NUM> is, for example, several meters. The drawer part 91A is, for example, hooked on a hook (not shown) provided on the monitor support column <NUM> in a state of being wound and bundled in an annular shape.

Moreover, in a case in which a wireless communication failure occurs as shown in <FIG>, the operator OP removes the other end of the connection cable <NUM> connected to the connector 92A from the connector 92A, and extends the drawer part 91A wound in an annular shape to the radiography apparatus <NUM> to be connected to the connector 62A of the wired output I/F <NUM>. As a result, the wired output I/F <NUM> of the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the video input I/F <NUM> of the monitor apparatus <NUM> are connected by the connection cable <NUM>, and wired communication is possible.

In this way, according to the present example, since it is possible to switch from wireless communication to wired communication simply by replacing the other end of the connection cable <NUM> from the connector 92A of the relay <NUM> to the connector 92A of the wired output I/F <NUM>, the switching operation is very easy. In addition, in the monitor apparatus <NUM>, the connection cable <NUM> used for wireless communication is also used for wired communication. In addition, one video input I/F <NUM> provided on the monitor <NUM> can be used for both wired communication and wireless communication without using the switcher <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Therefore, an apparatus configuration of the monitor apparatus <NUM> can be simplified.

In each of the embodiments described above, the monitor apparatus <NUM> has been described as an example of the external apparatus, but the external apparatus may be an apparatus other than the monitor apparatus <NUM>. The external apparatus other than the monitor apparatus <NUM> may be an image processing apparatus that executes diagnostic support processing by a computer on the radiation image captured by the radiography apparatus <NUM>. As a method of using such an image processing apparatus, for example, the radiation image captured by the radiography apparatus <NUM> is transmitted to the image processing apparatus, and the processing result processed by the image processing apparatus is returned to the radiography apparatus <NUM>. In such a case, bidirectional communication is required between the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the external apparatus, so that a wireless communication unit that can perform bidirectional communication is provided as the wireless communication unit of each of the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the external apparatus.

Among such image processing apparatuses, in addition to a stationary type such as a server apparatus, a small portable type is developed. By combining the radiography apparatus <NUM> and the portable type image processing apparatus, rapid image diagnosis is possible.

In addition, in each of the embodiments described above, the C-arm that can be orbitally rotated and can be axially rotated has been described as an example of the arm <NUM>, but the arm <NUM> may be an arm that can only be axially rotated, for example, a U-arm in which a side surface shape is U-shape.

It should be noted that X-rays have been described as an example of the radiation, but the radiation is not limited to the X-rays, and may be γ-rays or the like.

In each of the embodiments described above, as the hardware structure of the wireless output I/F <NUM> and the wireless input I/F <NUM> as examples of the wireless communication unit, the wired output I/F <NUM> as an example of the wired communication unit, and the processing unit that executes various pieces of processing, such as the controller <NUM> and the controller <NUM>, various processors described below can be used. The various processors include, in addition to the CPU which is a general-purpose processor that executes the software and functions as various processing units, a programmable logic device (PLD) which is a processor of which a circuit configuration can be changed after the manufacture, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated electric circuit which is a processor having a dedicated circuit configuration designed to execute specific processing, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like.

One processing unit may be configured by one of various processors described above or may be configured by a combination of two or more processors (for example, a combination of a plurality of FPGAs and/or a combination of the CPU and the FPGA) of the same type or different types. In addition, a plurality of processing units may be configured by one processor.

As an example in which a plurality of processing units are configured by one processor, there is a form in which one processor is configured by a combination of one or more CPUs and the software, and the processor functions as a plurality of processing units. Second, as represented by a system on chip (SoC) and the like, there is a form in which a processor is used that realizes the functions of the entire system including a plurality of processing units with a single integrated circuit (IC) chip. In this way, various processing units are configured by one or more of the various processors as the hardware structure.

Further, as the hardware structure of these various processors, more specifically, it is possible to use an electrical circuit (circuitry) in which circuit elements such as semiconductor elements are combined.

The technology of the present disclosure can also be appropriately combined with various embodiments and/or various modification examples described above. In addition, it is needless to say that the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various configurations can be employed without departing from the scope of the technology of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
A mobile radiography apparatus comprising:
a radiation source (<NUM>);
a radiation image detection unit (<NUM>) that detects a radiation image of a subject by receiving radiation emitted from the radiation source and transmitted through the subject;
an arm (<NUM>) that holds the radiation source and the radiation image detection unit;
a body part (<NUM>) to which the arm is rotatably attached;
a carriage (<NUM>) on which the body part is mounted;
a support part (<NUM>) that is non-rotatably attached to an upper side of the body part (<NUM>) and which rotatably supports the arm such that the arm is rotatable relative to the body part (<NUM>), and
an antenna (<NUM>) that emits a radio wave for wirelessly communicating with an external apparatus, the antenna being provided on the support part (<NUM>) such that a radiation direction of the radio wave is not changed even in a case in which the arm is rotated and the antenna is capable of changing the radiation direction of the radio wave; and characterized in that a frequency band of the radio wave is a <NUM> band.