Patent ID: 12232903

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG.1is a view illustrating an X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure. Hereinafter, a dental X-ray imaging apparatus will be described as an example for convenience, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a main body100, an imaging part200, an examination object alignment part300, a driving controller400, and an image processor (not shown).

The main body100is configured to support the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure, and includes a base110seated on a floor, a column120vertically connected to the base110, a lifting arm130connected to the column120to be movable up and down, and a support arm140vertically connected to the lifting arm130. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and instead of omitting the base110, various modifications are possible such that the column120is directly fixed to the floor or mounted on a wall.

The imaging part200is configured to capture first and second X-ray images of an examination object, and includes: a rotary arm210connected to the support arm140by a rotation axis R; and a generator part220and a detector part230respectively arranged, to face with each other, at opposite ends of the rotary arm210provided with the rotation axis R interposed in between. The generator part220and the detector part230are respectively provided with a generator and a detector.

The examination object alignment part300is configured to align the examination object between the generator part220and the detector part230. In the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure, instead of fixing a position of the rotation axis R of the rotary arm210, a position of at least a part of the examination object alignment part300is variable, so that the examination object is moved and aligned to each of a first alignment position for first X-ray imaging and a second alignment position for second X-ray imaging. The examination object alignment part300will be described in detail in corresponding sections.

The driving controller400is configured to control the first and second X-ray imaging by the imaging part200, and controls rotation of the rotary arm210, X-ray emission of the generator, and X-ray detection of the detector according to user's imaging signals. In particular, the driving controller400controls the imaging part200to capture the first X-ray image when the examination object alignment part300aligns the examination object at the first alignment position, and to capture the second X-ray image when the examination object alignment part300aligns the examination object at the second alignment position. In addition, the driving controller400may control various support operations for capturing the first and second X-ray images, such as adjusting the height of the lifting arm130relative to the column120according to user's operation signals.

The image processor reconstructs the first X-ray image by using first projection data obtained by the first X-ray imaging, and reconstructs the second X-ray image by using second projection data obtained by the second X-ray imaging. To this end, the image processor may include a computer and the like, on which a predetermined reconstruction algorithm is loaded, and for example, the first and second X-ray images may be respectively a CT image and an X-ray panoramic image.

FIG.2is a view illustrating the examination object alignment part of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure. Reference is made in conjunction withFIG.1described above.

The examination object alignment part300of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a frame310connected to the main body100; and an examination object support350configured to support an examination object and move along the frame310.

While providing a movement path for movement of the examination object support350, the frame310connects the main body100and the examination object support350to each other so as to support the examination object support350. The frame310may include: a base frame312configured to have one end thereof connected to the main body100, for example, to a lifting arm130; and a frame cover314configured to cover the base frame312.

The examination object support350is connected to the frame310to directly support the examination object, and moves in reciprocation between a first reference position for aligning the examination object to the first alignment position and a second reference position for aligning the examination object to the second alignment position. The examination object support350may include a base plate352and a plate cover354for covering the base plate352, and the plate cover354may be provided with a predetermined mechanism for supporting the examination object. For example, the mechanism may include: a chinrest392on which the examinee's chin is seated; and a bite394connected to the chinrest392and which the examinee, with his or her chin placed on the chinrest392, bites with his or her mouth.

Accordingly, when the examination object support350moves to the first reference position, the examination object is aligned to the first alignment position, and when the examination object support350moves to the second reference position, the examination object is aligned to the second alignment position.

In addition, the examination object alignment part300may include a handle396connected to a lower end of the frame310or examination object support350and gripped by the examinee's hand; a shelf398connected to the handle396and on which the examinee's accessories and the like may be placed; and the like.

FIGS.3and4are views respectively illustrating internal structures of the examination object alignment part of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure.FIG.3is a view in which the frame cover314of the frame310and the plate cover354of the examination object support350are removed, andFIG.4is a view illustrating the plate cover354of the examination object support350with a hidden line.

The frame310includes a guide rail320installed on the base frame312, and the examination object support350includes a moving block360installed movably along the guide rail320. In addition, the plate cover354of the examination object support350may be fixed to the moving block360with a first screw S1or the like. The base plate352may maintain a predetermined distance from the base frame312at the lower end of the base frame312, and may be fixed to the plate cover354with a second screw S2or the like. The chinrest392may be fixed to the moving block360, and may be exposed to outside through the plate cover354.

Accordingly, when a user moves the examination object support350along a longitudinal direction of the guide rail320, the examination object support350including the moving block360may move along the frame310.

For example, the guide rail320may be installed along the longitudinal direction of the frame310at an end of the base frame312, and the examination object support350may move along the longitudinal direction of the frame310so that the degree of accommodation is adjusted while accommodating an end of the frame310therein. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it is also possible that the guide rail320is arranged at the end of the base frame312in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the frame310so that the examination object support350moves in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the frame310while accommodating the end of the frame310therein.

FIG.5is a view in which the moving block360and components coupled thereto inFIG.3are removed, andFIGS.6and7are respectively a plan view and a bottom perspective view of the moving block360.

The moving block360may be coupled to a slider322movable along the guide rail320, so as to be movable along the guide rail320. In addition, the first and second stopper holders332and334configured to face with each other along the guide rail320installed on the base frame312and to be respectively provided with first and second grooves may be installed to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, and the first and second stopper protrusions362and364respectively press-fitted to the first and second stopper holders332and334may be respectively provided at front and rear ends in the movement direction of the moving block360. In addition, coupling positions of the first and second stopper holders332and334and coupling positions of the first and second stopper protrusions362and364may respectively correspond to the first reference position and the second reference position of the examination object support350.

Accordingly, when the examination object support350moves along the guide rail320in any one direction together with the moving block360so that the first stopper protrusion362is fitted to the first stopper holder332, the examination object support350is fixed to the first reference position, and when the examination object support350moves along the guide rail320in opposite direction of the one direction together with the moving block360so that the second stopper protrusion364is fitted to the second stopper holder334, the examination object support350is fixed to the second reference position. The first and second stopper holders332and334and the first and second stopper protrusions362and364are configured to fix the examination object support350to the respective first and second reference positions and at the same time are press-fitted to each other in order to prevent unnecessary movement of the examination object support350during X-ray imaging, and are easily separated from each other when the user applies force.

FIGS.8and9are views respectively illustrating the moving states of the moving block360together with the driving controller400.FIGS.2and3are referred together.

A sensing means340for detecting positions of the examination object support350may be provided in the examination object alignment part300of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure. In addition, according to detection results of the sensing means340, the driving controller400controls the imaging part200to capture the first X-ray image when the examination object support350is aligned at the first reference position and to capture the second X-ray image when the examination object support350is aligned at the second reference position.

The sensing means340may include: a guide pin372extending along the movement direction of the moving block360from one side of the moving block360; and a light source342and a light sensor344that are mounted on one side of the frame310and configured to face each other while having a point therebetween at which an end of the guide pin372selectively passes by the movement of the moving block360.

Accordingly, when the examination object support350moves to the first reference position in any one direction together with the moving block360, the end of the guide pin372deviates from the point between the light source342and the photosensor344, so that the photosensor344detects the light from the light source342, thereby outputting a first signal. In addition, when the examination object support350moves to the second reference position that is a reverse direction of the one direction together with the moving block360, the end of the guide pin372is inserted between the light source342and the light sensor344so as to block the light emitting from the light source342to the light sensor344, thereby outputting a second signal.

In addition, the first and second signals, which are the detection results of the sensing means340, are transmitted to the driving controller400, and according to the first and second signals, the driving controller400controls the imaging part200to capture the first X-ray image or the second X-ray image by detecting a state in which the examination object support350is aligned to any one of the first and second reference positions.

FIGS.10A and10Bare views respectively illustrating examination object positions provided by the examination object alignment part300during first and second X-ray imaging of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure. For convenience, it is assumed that the examination object support350moves along the longitudinal direction of the frame310.

FIG.10Ais a view illustrating the first X-ray imaging. The examination object support350moves in any one direction along the frame310to be positioned at the first reference position A1, and aligns the examination object to the first alignment position. The first alignment position is for the first X-ray imaging. For example, the first X-ray imaging may be CT imaging of the dental arch, and the first alignment position may be a position at which the rotation axis R coincides with the center of a field of view (FOV), which is a CT imaging area. For reference, the position and size of the FOV may be variously adjusted according to the examination object to be imaged during the CT imaging, and in this case, the center position of the FOV also varies. In addition, the examination object support350of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure moves, so as to allow the center R of the FOV to coincide with the rotation axis, whereby the first reference position A1of the examination object support350may also vary depending on the position and size of the FOV.FIG.10Arepresents a case where the dental arch is used as the FOV for convenience.

FIG.10Bis a view illustrating the second X-ray imaging. The examination object support350arbitrarily moves in the reverse direction of the one direction, that is, toward a front of the first reference position A1relative to an examinee, to be positioned at the second reference position A2, and aligns the examination object at the second alignment position. The second alignment position is for the second X-ray imaging. For example, the second X-ray imaging may be the X-ray panoramic imaging, and the second alignment position may be a position at which the rotation axis R is arranged on a centerline in a forward and backward direction of the dental arch in the inside of the dental arch, that is, on a midline C.