JPH07260939A - Collimator replacement carriage for scintillation camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a replacing transport frequency by holding a collimator detached from a scintillation camera and a mounting collimator on the parallel link mechanism of a replacement carriage in a balanced weight condition, and placing both of the collimators in such state as faced to each other vertically. CONSTITUTION:A scintillation camera body frame 11 is rotated 90 degrees about a center shaft, and detectors 1 and 4 are kept in a horizontal condition. Furthermore, the detector 1 is rotated 180 degrees horizontally, thereby directing outside a collimator 5 to be detached. On the other hand, a collimator to be newly mounted is taken out of a collimator storage shelf 3 and, then, placed on a holder at one side on a collimator replacement carriage 2 for transport to the vicinity of a camera. Then, an empty holder is kept faced to the collimator 5 for removal and placement thereon. In this case, the holder at one side holds the collimator to be mounted and, therefore, a weight balance can be maintained. A shock can be thereby alleviated. Thereafter, the carriage 2 is slightly moved away and the holder is rotated 180 degrees for mounting the new collimator on the detector 1. Then, the carriage 2 is moved toward the shelf 3 to store the detached collimator 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a collimator exchange carriage for a scintillation camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A scintillation camera is equipped with a collimator for focusing radiation emitted from the scintillation camera to a predetermined diameter. The collimator is compatible and can be appropriately selected and attached depending on the irradiation site of the subject.

For this reason, various collimators to be selected are prepared in advance, and since the collimator has a considerable weight, it can be transported between the prepared place and the scintillation camera by a collimator exchange carriage. ing.

Here, the conventional collimator exchange cart has a structure in which only one collimator can be mounted.

The collimator to be placed is horizontally arranged, and its height can be adjusted by rotating a handle or the like.

[0006]

However, the collimator exchanging cart constructed in this way has been used in the following procedure.

First, the collimator is detached from the scintillation camera, the detached collimator is placed on an exchange cart, and the collimator to be exchanged is conveyed to a location (collimator storage shelf) where the collimator is placed. Then, place the placed collimator in its original position (collimator storage shelf).
Then, the collimator to be exchanged is placed on the same exchange cart. Further, the exchange cart is conveyed to the scintillation camera, and the collimator mounted on the scintillation camera is attached to the scintillation camera. After that, the emptied exchange cart is moved to the collimator storage shelf side, and the process ends.

From this, it is pointed out that when exchanging the collimator, the exchanging carriage has to be reciprocated three times between the scintillation camera and the collimator storage rack, and the work is complicated. It was.

Further, when the collimator mounted on the exchange cart is mounted on the scintillator camera, the height adjustment for matching the collimator with the mounting surface becomes complicated,
It took a certain amount of force to turn the handle.

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a collimator exchange cart for a scintillation camera capable of reducing the number of round trips for transportation. It is in.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collimator exchange carriage for a scintillation camera, in which height adjustment for matching the collimator with the collimator mounting surface of the scintillator camera is extremely easy.

[0012]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention is basically a collimator exchange table for exchanging a collimator provided in a scintillation camera, which is provided from a scintillation camera. The separated collimator and the collimator to be mounted on the scintillation camera can be vertically arranged to face each other, and each of these collimators has a parallel link mechanism arranged to maintain weight balance with respect to one collimator. It is characterized by being arranged as.

[0013]

According to the collimator exchanging carriage of the scintillation camera having such a structure, the parallel link mechanism is provided, and the parallel link mechanism includes the collimator separated from the scintillation camera and the collimator to be mounted on the scintillation camera. Are face-to-face with each other, and the respective collimators are arranged vertically while maintaining weight balance with respect to one collimator.

Therefore, when the collimator provided in the scintillation camera is replaced with another collimator, the following procedure can be performed.

First, the collimator to be exchanged is placed on the exchange cart. The mounting in this case is arranged on one side of the link mechanism. Then, the exchange cart is transported to the vicinity of the scintillation camera, and the collimator separated from the scintillation camera is placed on the exchange cart. The placement in this case will be arranged on the other side of the link mechanism.

At this time, since the collimator to be exchanged is placed on one side of the link mechanism, when the collimator detached from the scintillation camera is placed, the weight balance is achieved. It is possible to reduce the shock when placing.

Further, the collimator to be replaced has an effect that the height for facing the collimator mounting surface of the scintillation camera can be easily adjusted with a small force (the scintillation camera usually has a collimator mounting surface of the same). The surroundings can now be rotated by a vertical movement).

Next, the collimator to be exchanged is removed from the exchange cart and attached to the scintillation camera. Then, the exchange cart is transported, and the collimator separated from the scintillation camera is arranged at a predetermined position.

As a result, the number of round trips for transportation can be reduced by one round trip as compared with the conventional case.

[0020]

5 (a) and 5 (b) are a front view and a side view showing an embodiment of a so-called two-detector type scintillation camera to which a collimator exchange carriage of a scintillation camera according to the present invention is applied, respectively. It is a figure.

In the figure, there is a body frame 11. A hole 30 into which a subject is inserted (mounted on a bed (not shown)) is provided at substantially the center of the body frame 11.

The body frame 1 provided with the holes 30
Two detectors 1 and 4 are arranged on one surface of 1.

That is, each of the detectors 1 and 4 has the hole 30.
Are arranged so as to face each other with a central axis (xx-axis) therebetween. The detector 1 is supported by the body frame 11 by the arm 7 via the support shaft 9, and the detector 4 is supported by the support shaft 10.
It is supported by the main body frame 11 by the arm 8 via.

Here, each of the detectors 1 and 4 can be moved together with the arms 7 and 8 in a direction (z direction) in which they are separated from or close to each other, and the support shafts 9 and 10 are attached to the respective arms 7 and 8. As a center, it can rotate. The directions of this movement and rotation are indicated by the arrows shown in FIG.

Further, the main body frame 11 for fixing the detectors 1 and 4 via the arms 7 and 8, respectively, is such that the fixing surface thereof can rotate about the x-axis within a range of 360 ° with respect to the other portions. Thus, the detectors 1 and 4 can rotate around the hole 30 while facing each other.

In each of the detectors 1 and 4 of the scintillation camera having such a structure, the radiation irradiation surface is usually oriented toward the hole 30 side, and the collimators 5 and 6 are mounted on the irradiation surface. It has become so. The collimators 5 and 6 are attached to the detectors 1 and 4 by, for example, four fixed knobs 19, respectively.

Next, an embodiment of the collimator exchange carriage 2 used for exchanging the collimator 5 or 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b).

FIG. 3A is a side view and FIG. 2B is a front view. In the figure, four casters 18 are attached to the trolley base 17 and are movable.

The trolley base 17 is provided with a support 16 in the vertical direction substantially at the center of its upper surface.

Further, holders 12 and 13 are arranged in front of and behind the pillar 16, and the holders 12 and 13 are supported by parallel links.

That is, in FIG. 1A, the support 16
A holder 12 for sandwiching a collimator indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure is provided above and below the front of the holder 12, and a holder 13 for sandwiching a collimator indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure is provided above and below the column 16. An arm 14 that rotatably supports the holders 12 and 13 positioned above each other so as to be rotatable with respect to each other.
And the central portion of this arm 14 is supported by
Are rotatably rotatably supported, and those positioned below are supported by an arm 15 rotatably rotatably supported on each other, and a central portion of the arm 15 is rotatably rotatably supported on a support column 16 so as to be parallel to each other. Make up the link.

By doing so, when the collimators are placed on the holders 12 and 13 in the front and rear of the column 16, respectively, the weights of the collimators are kept parallel, and the vertical movements thereof can be performed with an extremely small force. become.

The holders 12 and 13 are so constructed that the support columns 16 for supporting the holders 12 and 13 can rotate with respect to the carriage base 17, whereby the collimators mounted on the holders 12 and 13 respectively. You can easily change the arrangement of the context.

FIG. 2 is a partial structural view showing an embodiment of a height adjusting mechanism incorporated in the collimator exchange cart. This figure shows a mechanism provided between the column 16 and the arm 14, and the height of the collimator placed on the holder 12 or 13 can be adjusted.

In the figure, there is a worm screw 41 which moves up and down by rotating the handle 40 fixed to the column 16. An arm 42 is rotatably supported by the worm screw 41.

A long hole 42A is formed in the arm 42, and a pin 14A planted in the arm 14 which constitutes a parallel link is fitted into the long hole 42A.

Such a height adjusting mechanism has a pin 14A when the weight is heavy as shown in the figure (when the collimator is placed on the holder 13 side when corresponding to FIG. 1).
Due to the engagement with the long hole 42A, the arm 14 on which the collimator is mounted cannot be lowered from the state shown in the figure.

When the collimator is also placed on the other side, the arm 14 becomes horizontal, and at this time, the handle 40 is rotated so that one end of the elongated hole 42A holds the pin 14A. By pressing, the arm 14 can be maintained at a predetermined angle.

Next, FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are configuration diagrams showing an embodiment of a collimator storage shelf used in association with the collimator exchange cart having the above-mentioned configuration, and FIG. 3 (a) is a front view.
(B) is a side view.

The collimator storage rack 3 shown in the figure has a structure in which a plurality of collimators can be stored vertically.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a procedure for exchanging the collimator of the scintillation camera using the collimator exchanging carriage 2.

In the figure, first, the detectors 1 and 4 of the scintillation camera are rotated by 90 ° around the x-axis (see FIG. 5).
(From the state of (b)), install the detector (detector 1 in the case of FIG. 4) equipped with the collimator to be replaced with the arm 7
The collimator 5 is rotated by 180 ° with respect to
Should be positioned outward.

On the other hand, the collimator to be exchanged is taken out from the collimator storage shelf 3, and the collimator is placed on the holder 13 on one side of the collimator exchange carriage 2. In this case, the collimator can be placed on the collimator exchange cart 2 while being held vertically.

Then, the collimator exchange carriage 2 is conveyed to the scintillation camera side, and the other empty holder 12 side on which the collimator is not mounted is made to face the collimator of the detector 1.

In this case, the height of the holder 12 can be adjusted by the height adjusting mechanism so that the empty holder 12 can completely face the detector 1.

The collimator of the detector 1 is removed, and the collimator is placed on the holder 12. Here, when the collimator is placed on the holder, since the collimator is placed on one of the holders 13, there is an effect that the weight is balanced during the placement and the shock can be alleviated. Play.

Thereafter, the collimator exchange carriage 2 is slightly separated from the scintillation camera, and then 180 °
The collimator to be exchanged is rotated to face the detector 1 side. In this case, since the holders 12 and 13 can be rotated with respect to the carriage base 17 of the collimator exchange carriage 2, it is not necessary to rotate the collimator exchange carriage 2 itself.

In this case, in order to make the collimator completely face the detector 1, the handle 40 of the height adjusting mechanism shown in FIG. 2 can be operated.

After the collimator is attached to the detector 1 side in this way, the collimator exchange carriage 2 is moved so that the remaining collimator can be stored in the collimator storage shelf 3.

The collimator exchanging carriage for the scintillation camera according to the embodiment has a parallel link mechanism, and the parallel link mechanism includes a collimator separated from the scintillation camera and a collimator to be mounted on the scintillation camera. Are face-to-face with each other, and the respective collimators are arranged vertically while maintaining weight balance with respect to one collimator.

Therefore, when the collimator provided in the scintillation camera is replaced with another collimator, the following procedure can be performed.

First, the collimator to be exchanged is placed on the exchange cart. The mounting in this case is arranged on one side of the link mechanism. Then, the exchange cart is transported to the vicinity of the scintillation camera, and the collimator separated from the scintillation camera is placed on the exchange cart. The placement in this case will be arranged on the other side of the link mechanism.

At this time, since the collimator to be exchanged is placed on one side of the link mechanism, when the collimator detached from the scintillation camera is placed, the weight balance is achieved. It is possible to reduce the shock when placing.

Further, the collimator to be replaced has an effect that the height adjustment for facing the collimator mounting surface in the scintillation camera can be easily performed with a small force.

Next, the collimator to be exchanged is removed from the exchange cart and attached to the scintillation camera. Then, the exchange cart is transported, and the collimator separated from the scintillation camera is arranged at a predetermined position.

From this, it is possible to reduce the number of reciprocations for conveyance by one reciprocation as compared with the conventional case.

[0057]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the collimator exchange cart of the scintillation camera of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of round trips for transportation. Further, height adjustment for matching the collimator with the collimator mounting surface of the scintillator camera can be extremely facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are a side view and a front view showing an embodiment of a collimator exchange cart according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a height adjusting mechanism provided in the collimator exchange cart according to the present invention.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are a front view and a side view showing an embodiment of a collimator storage rack used together with the collimator exchange cart according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for exchanging a collimator of a scintillation camera using the collimator exchanging carriage according to the present invention.

5A and 5B are a front view and a side view showing an embodiment of a scintillation camera to which a collimator exchange cart according to the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Collimator exchange cart 5 Collimator 6 Collimator 14 Arm 15 Arm 16 Strut

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A collimator exchange table for exchanging a collimator provided in a scintillation camera, wherein a collimator detached from the scintillation camera and a collimator intended to be attached to the scintillation camera are face-to-face vertically with each other. A collimator exchange cart for a scintillation camera, wherein each collimator can be arranged and is arranged via a parallel link mechanism arranged while maintaining weight balance with respect to one collimator.