Patent ID: 12207956

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a computed tomography device1, having a gantry20with an opening9, and a radiation protection apparatus75for covering the opening9, wherein the radiation protection apparatus75has a radiation protection cover7and a pivoting apparatus70, wherein an object under examination14can be inserted into the opening9along a system axis SA of the gantry20when the radiation protection cover7is in a first position relative to the gantry20, wherein the radiation protection cover7is pivotably mounted relative to the gantry20about a pivot axis7A via the pivoting apparatus70such that a first pivoting motion of the radiation protection cover7about the pivot axis7A enables the radiation protection cover7to be lowered relative to the gantry20from the first position to a second position.

The pivot axis7A is located in a region of a second edge72of the radiation protection cover7. The first edge71and the second edge72are disposed opposite one another with respect to a central region of the radiation protection cover7.

The object under examination14is the head of the patient13. The computed tomography device1is a mobile head computed tomography device. The computed tomography device1furthermore has a head tray19in which the head of the patient13can be accommodated, and an upper body support plate15on which the upper body of the patient13can be supported.

The gantry20has a first gantry part21and a second gantry part22, wherein the first gantry part21has a rotatably mounted rotor24having a projection data acquisition system27, wherein the second gantry part22has at least one section of the opening9, wherein the radiation protection cover7is connected to the second gantry part22via the pivoting apparatus70and is pivotably mounted relative to the second gantry part22about the pivot axis7A.

The first gantry part21is movably mounted relative to the second gantry part22such that a translational movement of the first gantry part21relative to the second gantry part22can be performed while, at the same time, the second gantry part22is stationary relative to the object under examination14and the radiation protection apparatus75is stationary relative to the object under examination14and relative to the at least one section of the opening9when the object under examination14is located in the opening9.

The first gantry part21has a rotational mount25and a supporting structure26, wherein the rotatably mounted rotor24is connected to the supporting structure26via the rotational mount25and is rotatably mounted relative to the supporting structure26about the system axis SA.

FIG.2shows the computed tomography device1, wherein the radiation protection cover7is in the first position. The radiation protection apparatus75furthermore has a damper77for braking the first pivoting motion of the radiation protection cover7.

The computed tomography device1furthermore has a lighting system81designed to illuminate the opening9at least when the radiation protection cover7is in the second position of the radiation protection cover7. The lighting system81of the computed tomography device1shown inFIG.2has a camera light source attached to the radiation protection cover7.

The computed tomography device1also has a camera system82designed to optically capture the object under examination14at least when the object under examination14is located in the opening9and when the radiation protection cover7is in the second position of the radiation protection cover7. The camera system82of the computed tomography device1shown inFIG.2has a camera attached to the radiation protection cover7. The computed tomography device1has the display screen38. For example, an image of the object under examination14generated by the camera system82can be displayed on the screen38.

The computed tomography device1also has an acoustic system83designed to transmit an acoustic signal to the object under examination14and/or to receive an acoustic signal from the object under examination14at least when the object under examination14is located in the opening9and when the radiation protection cover7is in the second position of the radiation protection cover7. The acoustic system83of the computed tomography device1shown inFIG.2has a microphone and a speaker attached to the radiation protection cover7.

The computed tomography device1furthermore has an optical system84which is designed to transmit an optical signal to the object under examination14at least when the object under examination14is positioned in the opening9and when the radiation protection cover7is in the second position of the radiation protection cover7. The optical system84of the computed tomography device1shown inFIG.2has a display attached to the radiation protection cover7.

FIG.3shows the computed tomography device1, wherein the radiation protection cover7is in the second position. The radiation protection cover7has a region79transparent to visible light, such that the object under examination14is visible through the radiation protection cover7when the object under examination14is located in the opening9and when the radiation protection cover7is in the second position of the radiation protection cover7.

The radiation protection apparatus75also has a radiation protection curtain5, wherein the radiation protection curtain5is attached to the radiation protection cover7and hangs down from the radiation protection cover7. A first lateral portion51of the radiation protection curtain5extends from the gantry20to a first edge71of the radiation protection cover7. A second lateral portion52of the radiation protection curtain5extends from the gantry20to the first edge71of the radiation protection cover7. A front portion50of the radiation protection curtain5extends from the first lateral portion51of the radiation protection curtain5to the second lateral portion52of the radiation protection curtain5. The system axis SA is located between the first lateral portion51of the radiation protection curtain5and the second lateral portion52of the radiation protection curtain5when the radiation protection cover7is in the second position of the radiation protection cover7.

FIG.4shows the computed tomography device1with a patient bed10for accommodating the patient13. The gantry20has an interior region4and paneling V (also referred to as a covering V) for separating the interior region4from the external environment U, wherein the radiation protection cover7abuts a region of the paneling V when the radiation protection cover7is in the first position of the radiation protection cover7, wherein the radiation protection cover7projects away from the region of the paneling V when the radiation protection cover7is in the second position of the radiation protection cover7.

The radiation protection cover7extends flatly in a cover plane7E, wherein the cover plane7E is essentially parallel to the pivot axis7A. The system axis SA is horizontal and parallel to the horizontal direction z. The pivot axis7A is horizontal and perpendicular to the horizontal direction z. The pivot axis7A is located above the opening9.

The vertical position Y1of the first edge71of the radiation protection cover7in the second position of the radiation protection cover7is lower than in the first position of the radiation protection cover7. With respect to the vertical direction y, there is a space between the patient13and the radiation protection cover7. The risk of the patient13colliding with the radiation protection cover7is thereby reduced.

The radiation protection apparatus75also has a locking system76, wherein the locking system76is designed to lock the radiation protection cover7in the first position relative to the gantry20and to lock the radiation protection cover7in the second position relative to the gantry20.

The head of the patient13can be inserted into the opening9along the system axis SA even if the longitudinal axis of the patient13is not parallel to the system axis SA. This may be necessary, for example, in the case of spinal anomalies.

The camera system82of the computed tomography device1shown inFIG.4has a camera attached to the gantry20in a region of the front side of the opening9. The acoustic system83of the computed tomography device1shown inFIG.4has a microphone and a speaker attached to the gantry20in a region of the front side of the opening9.

The lighting system81of the computed tomography device1shown inFIG.4has a gantry-side light source which is attached to the first gantry part21, in particular to paneling of the first gantry part21, in a region of the rear side of the opening9and is in the form of a light ring. The patient13is thus not dazzled by light emanating from the light ring.

The light ring is disposed coaxially with respect to the system axis SA. The arrangement of the light ring on the first gantry part21and the dimensions of the paneling of the second gantry part22in the region of the opening9are adjusted to one another such that the paneling of the second gantry part22in the region of the opening9does not conceal the light ring even when the first gantry part21is fully retracted into the second gantry part22. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that a gantry-side light source, in particular in the form of a light ring disposed coaxially with respect to the system axis SA, is attached to the second gantry part22in the region of the opening9.

The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to a person skilled in the art. Any connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components, or other physical or functional units shown in the drawings or described herein may also be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling. A coupling between components may also be established over a wireless connection. Functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or,” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The phrase “at least one of” has the same meaning as “and/or”.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below,” “beneath,” or “under,” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below” and “under” may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. In addition, when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements, the element may be the only element between the two elements, or one or more other intervening elements may be present.

Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules) are described using various terms, including “on,” “connected,” “engaged,” “interfaced,” and “coupled.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the disclosure, that relationship encompasses a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, and also an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly” connected, engaged, interfaced, or coupled to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between,” versus “directly between,” “adjacent,” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “and/or” and “at least one of” include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. Also, the term “example” is intended to refer to an example or illustration.

It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

It is noted that some embodiments may be described with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations (e.g., in the form of flow charts, flow diagrams, data flow diagrams, structure diagrams, block diagrams, etc.) that may be implemented in conjunction with units and/or devices discussed above. Although discussed in a particularly manner, a function or operation specified in a specific block may be performed differently from the flow specified in a flowchart, flow diagram, etc. For example, functions or operations illustrated as being performed serially in two consecutive blocks may actually be performed simultaneously, or in some cases be performed in reverse order. Although the flowcharts describe the operations as sequential processes, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, concurrently or simultaneously. In addition, the order of operations may be re-arranged. The processes may be terminated when their operations are completed, but may also have additional steps not included in the figure. The processes may correspond to methods, functions, procedures, subroutines, subprograms, etc.

Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing embodiments. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein.