JP7779699B2 - X-ray CT device - Google Patents

Description

The embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings relate to an X-ray CT device.

An X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) device is a device that generates cross-sectional images of a subject by reconstructing the data captured while rotating an X-ray tube and X-ray detector pair around the subject at high speed.

The X-ray tube and X-ray detector are fixed to a roughly cylindrical rotating frame with a bore formed in the center, which is the imaging space for the subject. The rotating frame is made of metal, such as aluminum. In addition to the X-ray tube and X-ray detector, various components are attached and fixed to the rotating frame, including a power supply unit that supplies high-voltage power to the X-ray tube, an oil cooler that exchanges heat with the oil that cools the X-ray tube, and a data acquisition device called a DAS (Data Acquisition System) that converts the numerous electrical signals output from the X-ray detector into digital signals and transmits them to the main device.

The rotating frame on which these components are mounted is housed in a housing called a gantry cover for safety reasons. This housing also has an approximately cylindrical shape with a bore in the center. However, the housing itself does not rotate.

Many of the components mounted on the rotating frame generate heat when electricity is applied. Therefore, efficient cooling of these components is essential to ensure their safe and stable operation.

In many X-ray CT scanners, a cooling fan is used to cool heated components by forcibly circulating air drawn in from outside the housing into the housing as cooling air.

Recently, the increasing performance of X-ray CT scanners has led to an increase in the amount of heat generated by components. This has led to the need for high cooling performance, which has led to an increase in the rotation speed and number of cooling fans, making the noise generated by the cooling fans no longer negligible.

On the other hand, due to demands for shorter imaging times and improved temporal resolution, the rotation speed of the rotating frame is also tending to increase, and the noise generated by the rotation of the rotating frame is becoming unbearable.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-219619

One of the problems that the embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings attempt to solve is to reduce noise caused by the cooling fan and the rotation of the rotating frame while maintaining the cooling performance of the components housed within the gantry of an X-ray CT scanner. However, the problems that the embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings attempt to solve are not limited to the above problem. Issues corresponding to the effects of each configuration shown in the embodiments described below can also be positioned as other problems.

In one embodiment, the X-ray CT device 1 comprises a rotating frame to which multiple components are fixed, a housing that houses the rotating frame, a support plate that is provided in the gap between the rotating frame and the housing and that runs along part of the outer periphery of the rotating frame, a first cooling fan that faces a first vent hole formed in the support plate, and a cover plate that is capable of opening and closing a second vent hole formed in the support plate, and the cover plate opens and closes the second vent hole in response to rotation and stopping of the rotating frame.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment. 1A is a structural explanatory diagram of the gantry device according to the first embodiment as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B is a structural explanatory diagram as seen from the side. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration relating to cooling of the gantry device according to the first embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the effects of the cooling configuration of the gantry device according to the first embodiment. 10A is a structural explanatory diagram of a gantry device according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the front, and FIG. 10B is a structural explanatory diagram of a gantry device according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the side. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration relating to cooling of the gantry device according to the second embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the effects of the cooling configuration of the gantry device according to the second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an X-ray CT apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the X-ray CT apparatus 1 includes a gantry 10, a bed 30, and a console 40. The gantry 10 includes a rotating frame 100 and components such as an X-ray generator 20, an X-ray high-voltage device 21, and an X-ray detector 25 that are mounted and fixed to the rotating frame 100. The gantry 10 is also called a gantry.

As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating frame 100 when the rotating frame 100 is in a non-tilted state, or the longitudinal direction of the tabletop 33 of the bed device 30, is defined as the z-axis direction, the direction perpendicular to the z-axis direction and horizontal to the floor surface is defined as the x-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the z-axis direction and perpendicular to the floor surface is defined as the y-axis direction.

The X-ray generator 20 includes an X-ray tube 11, a wedge 16, and a collimator 17. The X-ray tube 11 is a vacuum tube that generates X-rays when high voltage is applied from an X-ray high-voltage device 21. The X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 11 pass through the wedge 16 and collimator 17, then through the subject P and reach the X-ray detection device 25.

The wedge 16 is a filter for adjusting the amount of X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 11. For example, the wedge 16 is a filter that attenuates the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 11 so that the X-rays irradiated from the X-ray tube 11 to the subject P have a predetermined distribution. For example, the wedge 16 is formed by processing aluminum.

The collimator 17 is used to narrow the irradiation range of the X-rays that have passed through the wedge 16, and is sometimes called an X-ray adjustable aperture. The collimator 17 narrows the irradiation range of the X-rays by forming a slit using, for example, a combination of multiple lead plates.

The X-ray detection device 25 is composed of an X-ray detector 12 and a DAS (Data Acquisition System) 18. The X-ray detector 12 detects X-rays that have passed through the subject P and converts them into an electrical signal corresponding to the X-ray dose.

The X-ray detector 12 has an X-ray detection element array in which multiple X-ray detection elements are arranged in the channel direction along a single arc centered on the focal point of the X-ray tube 11. Furthermore, the X-ray detector 12 has a structure in which multiple X-ray detection element arrays are arranged in a slice direction perpendicular to the channel direction.

The X-ray detector 12 is configured, for example, with a grid, a scintillator array, and a photosensor array. The grid is placed on the X-ray incident side of the scintillator array and has an X-ray shielding plate that functions to absorb scattered X-rays. The grid is sometimes called a collimator (one-dimensional collimator or two-dimensional collimator). The scintillator array is an array of multiple scintillators. Each scintillator has a scintillator crystal that outputs light with a photon quantity corresponding to the amount of incident X-rays. The photosensor array is an array of multiple photosensors. Each photosensor converts the light output from the scintillator into an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light. Instead of the above scintillator and photosensor configuration, a configuration with a semiconductor element that directly converts incident X-rays into an electrical signal can also be used.

The DAS 18 is composed of an amplifier circuit, an AD conversion circuit, a data transfer circuit, etc. The electrical signals output from each X-ray detection element of the X-ray detector 12 are amplified by the amplifier circuit, and then converted from analog to digital by the AD conversion circuit, generating detection data.

The detection data generated by the DAS 18 is transmitted, for example, by optical communication from a transmitter equipped with a light-emitting diode (LED) mounted on the rotating frame 100 to a receiver equipped with a photodiode mounted on a non-rotating portion of the gantry 10 (e.g., the fixed frame 102; see Figure 2, etc.), and then transferred to the console device 40. The fixed frame 102 is a frame that rotatably supports the rotating frame 13. Note that the method of transmitting the detection data from the rotating frame 100 to the non-rotating portion of the gantry 10 is not limited to optical communication; any method of non-contact data transmission may be used.

The control device 15 includes, for example, a processor provided on a control board, a memory circuit, and drive mechanisms such as motors and actuators. The control device 15 has a function of receiving input signals from an input interface 43 attached to the console device 40 or the gantry device 10 and controlling the gantry device 10 and the bed device 30. For example, the control device 15 receives input signals and controls the rotation of the rotating frame 100, the tilt of the gantry device 10, and the operation of the bed device 30 and the tabletop 33. The control device 15 may be provided in the gantry device 10 as shown in FIG. 1 , or it may be provided in the console device 40.
The bed device 30 is a device on which the subject P to be scanned is placed and moved, and includes a base 31, a bed driving device 32, a top board 33, and a support frame .

The base 31 is a housing that supports the support frame 34 so that it can move vertically (y direction). The bed drive device 32 is a motor or actuator that moves the tabletop 33, on which the subject P is placed, in the longitudinal direction of the tabletop 33 (z direction). The tabletop 33, which is provided on the upper surface of the support frame 34, is a plate on which the subject P is placed.

The bed driving device 32 may move the support frame 34 in the longitudinal direction (z direction) of the tabletop 33 in addition to the tabletop 33. The bed driving device 32 may also move the entire base 31 of the table device 30. If the present invention is applicable to upright CT, a system may be used in which the patient movement mechanism corresponding to the tabletop 33 is moved.

The console device 40 has memory 41, a display 42, an input interface 43, a network connection circuit 44, and a processing circuit 45. In this specification and drawings, the console device 40 is described as being separate from the gantry device 10, but the gantry device 10 may include some or all of the components of the console device 40. Also, in this specification and drawings, the console device 40 is described below as performing all functions on a single console, but these functions may be performed by multiple consoles.

The memory 41 includes a processor-readable recording medium, such as a semiconductor memory element such as RAM (Random Access Memory), flash memory, a hard disk, or an optical disk. The memory 41 also stores, for example, projection data, reconstructed image data, and previously acquired volume data of the subject P.

The display 42 displays various types of information. For example, the display 42 outputs medical images (CT images) generated by the processing circuitry 45, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for accepting various operations from the user, and the like. For example, the display 42 is a liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, or the like. The display 42 may also be provided on the gantry device 10. The display 42 may also be a desktop type, or may be configured as a tablet terminal capable of wireless communication with the console device 40 main body.

The input interface 43 accepts various input operations from the user, converts the accepted input operations into electrical signals, and outputs them to the processing circuitry 45. For example, the input interface 43 accepts from the user the acquisition conditions for collecting projection data, the reconstruction conditions for reconstructing CT images, and the image processing conditions for generating post-processed images from CT images. For example, the input interface 43 may be implemented by a mouse, keyboard, trackball, switch, button, joystick, a touchpad for performing input operations by touching the operation surface, a touchscreen that integrates a display screen and a touchpad, a non-contact input circuit using an optical sensor, and a voice input circuit. The input interface 43 may also be provided in the gantry device 10. The input interface 43 may also be implemented by a tablet terminal capable of wireless communication with the console device 40 main body.

The network connection circuit 44 implements various information communication protocols according to the type of network. The network connection circuit 44 connects the X-ray CT apparatus 1 to other devices such as an image server in accordance with these various protocols. This connection can be an electrical connection via an electronic network. Here, the electronic network refers to any information communication network that uses electrical communication technology, and includes wireless/wired hospital backbone LANs (Local Area Networks) and the Internet, as well as telephone communication networks, optical fiber communication networks, cable communication networks, and satellite communication networks.
The processing circuitry 45 is a processor that controls the overall operation of the X-ray CT apparatus 1 by reading and executing the programs stored in the memory 41 .

(Cooling structure of gantry device according to first embodiment)
Next, the cooling structure of the gantry 10 of the X-ray CT scanner 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. Fig. 2(a) is a structural explanatory diagram of the gantry 10 according to the first embodiment as seen from the front direction, and Fig. 2(b) is a structural explanatory diagram of the gantry 10 according to the first embodiment as seen from the side. The left side of Fig. 2(b) corresponds to the front side, and the right side corresponds to the rear side. Here, the front direction of the gantry 10 (or the front side of the gantry 10) refers to the direction in which the bed 30 is installed relative to the gantry 10 (or the side on which the bed 30 is installed). Conversely, the rear direction of the gantry 10 (or the rear side of the gantry 10) refers to the opposite direction (or the opposite side) of the front direction.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), the gantry device 10 has an annular rotating frame 100 with a bore 400, which is the imaging space for the subject, formed in the center. As mentioned above, this rotating frame 100 is made of a metal such as aluminum, and various components 300a to 300f are fixed to the rotating frame 100.

For example, component 300a is the X-ray generator 20, and component 300d, which is located opposite the X-ray generator 20, is the X-ray detection device 25. Also, for example, component 300b, which is located adjacent to the X-ray generator 20, is an oil cooler for liquid-cooling the X-ray generator 20, and component 300f is the X-ray high-voltage device 21 that supplies high voltage to the X-ray generator 20. Hereinafter, unless there is a need to distinguish between types, these devices will be referred to collectively as component 300.

The rotating frame 100, to which each component 300 is attached and fixed, is housed in a housing 104 for safety reasons. This housing 104 also has a bore 400 formed in its center.

The housing 104 itself does not rotate; the rotating frame 100 housed in the housing 104 rotates integrally with each component 300. Note that the rotating frame 100 and each component 300 are completely enclosed by the housing 104, and therefore cannot actually be seen from the outside.

Figure 2(b) is a structural explanatory diagram of the gantry device 10 viewed from the side. The housing 104 is not shown in Figure 2(b). As mentioned above, the left side of Figure 2(b) is the front side, and the right side is the rear side. As shown in Figure 2(b), a fixed frame 102 is provided on the rear side of the rotating frame 100. The fixed frame 102 also has a roughly annular shape with a bore 400 formed in the center.

The fixed frame 102 rotatably supports the rotating frame 100. Specifically, a direct drive motor equipped with, for example, a circular rotor and stator is provided between the fixed frame 102 and the rotating frame 100, and this direct drive motor rotates the rotating frame 100 at high speed. Also provided between the fixed frame 102 and the rotating frame 100 are a circular slip ring that supplies power from the fixed frame 102 to the rotating frame 100, and a communication device for contactless data communication, such as optical communication, between the fixed frame 102 and the rotating frame 100.

The fixed frame 102 is provided with two fixed plates 108 extending forward from both its left and right sides (X direction in Figure 1). The gantry device 10 also has a base 112 that contacts the floor surface, and a standing frame 106 extending vertically is provided on each of the left and right sides of the base 112. One end of the standing frame 106 is fixed to the base 112, and the other end rotatably supports the fixed plate 108 via a tilt shaft 110. With this structure, the rotating frame 100, fixed frame 102, and fixed plate 108 are supported by the left and right standing frames 106 so that they can tilt together around the tilt shaft 110.

Meanwhile, in the gap between the rotating frame 100 and the housing 104, a support plate 120 is provided along part of the outer periphery of the rotating frame 100, for example, along approximately the upper semicircle of the outer periphery of the rotating frame 100. The support plate 120 has, for example, a shape obtained by bending a strip-shaped plate into an approximately arc, or a shape obtained by bending a strip-shaped plate into a polygonal shape. One end of the short side of the support plate 120 is connected and fixed to the fixed frame 102 via, for example, the left fixing plate 108 of the left and right fixing plates 108, and the other end of the short side of the support plate 120 is connected and fixed to the fixed frame 102 via the right fixing plate 108.

The support plate 120 has multiple ventilation holes formed therein. A cooling fan 200 (first cooling fan 200) is provided facing one or more of the multiple ventilation holes (first ventilation holes) to forcibly exhaust cooling air through the ventilation hole. Furthermore, a cover plate 210 configured to open and close the ventilation hole is provided facing one or more of the other ventilation holes (second ventilation holes).

Note that the support plate 120 is not limited to the shape illustrated in Figure 2. The support plate 120 illustrated in Figure 2 has a continuous shape extending from the left fixed plate 108 to the right fixed plate 108, but this is not limited to this and the support plate 120 may have a shape in which a portion of the circumference is missing, i.e., a shape in which the support plate 120 is divided in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, while the support plate 120 illustrated in Figure 2 covers only the area of the rotating frame 100 in the front-rear direction (see Figure 2(b)), this is not limited to this and the support plate 120 may have a shape that covers an area including both the rotating frame 100 and the fixed frame 102.

The support plate 120, vent, cooling fan 200, and cover plate 210 described above are characteristic components for cooling the gantry device 10 of this embodiment, and their configuration and operation will be explained in more detail using Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3(a) is a reduced-scale view of Figure 2(a), with reference numerals omitted. Figure 3(b) is an enlarged view of the portion enclosed by the dashed rectangular frame in Figure 3(a). Note that the configuration and structure of the upper part of the gantry 10 is generally symmetrical in the left-right direction of Figure 3(a), and therefore the following description will focus on the configuration and structure of the portion enclosed by the dashed rectangular frame in the upper right part of Figure 3(a).

As shown in Figure 3(b), a cooling fan 200 is attached to the support plate 120, and a first ventilation opening 202 is formed on the rotating frame 100 side of the cooling fan 200 so as to face the fan surface of the cooling fan 200.

A second ventilation hole 212 is also formed in the support plate 120. A cover plate 210 is disposed on the housing 104 side of the support plate 120 so as to cover this second ventilation hole 212. A hinge 211 is provided at one end of the cover plate 210. The second ventilation hole 212 can be opened or closed by rotating the cover plate 210 around the hinge 211.

A plurality of ventilation holes 104a (i.e., exhaust ports) are formed in a partial region of the upper part of the housing 104, specifically in a region near the cooling fan 200 and the cover plate 210. Meanwhile, an air intake port (not shown) is provided in the lower part of the housing 104 for taking in air to cool each component 300. The cooling air flows from the lower part to the upper part of the housing 104, and the air that has cooled each component 300 in the rotating frame 100 (i.e., warm air that has been warmed by heat exchange with each component 300) is discharged through gaps in the cooling fan 200 and the cover plate 210, and further passes through the plurality of ventilation holes 104a in the housing 104 to be exhausted to the outside of the gantry 10.
4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the effects of the first vent 202, the cooling fan 200, the second vent 212, and the cover plate 210 described above.

4A is a diagram illustrating the effect when the rotation of the rotating frame 100 is stopped. Even when the rotation of the rotating frame 100 is stopped, each component 300 is still energized and needs to be cooled. For this reason, even when the rotation of the rotating frame 100 is stopped, the cooling fan 200 rotates at a normal rotation speed (a predetermined rotation speed), and the cooling air (air that has been warmed after cooling each component 300) is forcibly discharged by the cooling fan 200 from the first ventilation opening 202 to the outside of the gantry 10.
The noise generated when the rotation frame 100 stops rotating is mainly noise generated only by the rotation of the cooling fan 200 .

The cover plate 210 is configured to be rotatable around the hinge 211, but when the rotation of the rotating frame 100 stops, the end of the cover plate 210 opposite the hinge 211 abuts against the support plate 120 due to its own weight, blocking the second air vent 212.
On the other hand, FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the effect when the rotating frame 100 is rotating.

When the rotating frame 100 rotates, the noise caused by the rotation of the rotating frame 100 is added to the noise generated by the cooling fan 200. Therefore, in the gantry device 10 of the first embodiment, when the rotating frame 100 rotates, the rotation of the cooling fan 200 is stopped or the cooling fan 200 is operated at a rotation speed lower than the predetermined rotation speed during normal rotation. As a result, the noise generated by the cooling fan 200 can be suppressed.

On the other hand, when the cooling fan 200 stops rotating or its rotation speed decreases, the amount of cooling air blown out by the cooling fan 200 to the outside of the gantry 10 also decreases.

On the other hand, as the rotating frame 100 rotates, an airflow is generated in the circumferential direction of the rotating frame 100, and the force of this airflow acts on the cover plate 210. As a result, the force of the airflow causes the cover plate 210 to rotate around the hinge 211 toward the housing 104, creating a gap between the cover plate 210 and the support plate 120. Cooling air then passes through this gap and is expelled to the outside of the gantry 10.

Therefore, any reduction in the amount of cooling air due to the cooling fan 200 stopping or slowing down in rotation speed is compensated for by the cooling air passing through the gap created by the cover plate 210 being open, thereby preventing a reduction in cooling performance.

Note that control to stop the rotation of the cooling fan 200 or control to reduce the rotation speed is performed, for example, by the processing circuit 45 of the console device 40. In this case, the processing circuit 45 detects rotation and stoppage of the rotating frame 100, and controls the cooling fan 200 so that the cooling fan 200 rotates at a normal rotation speed (a predetermined rotation speed) while the rotating frame 100 is stopped, and stops the rotation of the cooling fan 200 or rotates at a rotation speed lower than the predetermined rotation speed while the rotating frame 100 is rotating.
An example of the control unit in the claims corresponds to the processing circuit 45 or the function realized by the processing circuit 45.

With the gantry 10 according to the first embodiment described above, by stopping the rotation of the cooling fan 200 or slowing down the rotation speed of the cooling fan 200 when the rotating frame 100 is rotating, it is possible to suppress the noise generated by both the rotation of the rotating frame 100 and the cooling fan 200. Meanwhile, the second vent 212, which was closed by the cover plate 210, is opened by the force of the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating frame 100, creating a new path for the cooling air to be discharged from the second vent 212 to the outside of the gantry 10. This compensates for the decrease in cooling performance caused by the cooling fan 200 stopping its rotation or slowing down its rotation speed, and makes it possible to maintain the cooling performance of each component 300.

(Cooling structure of gantry device according to second embodiment)
Figure 5(a) is a structural explanatory diagram of the gantry device 10 according to the second embodiment, viewed from the front, and Figure 5(b) is a structural explanatory diagram of the gantry device 10 according to the second embodiment, viewed from the side.
The gantry 10 of the second embodiment and the gantry 10 of the first embodiment differ in the configuration and structure relating to cooling, such as the cooling fan and the cover plate for the ventilation hole.

Figure 6(a) is a reduced-scale view of Figure 5(a), with reference numerals omitted. Figure 6(b) is an enlarged view of the portion enclosed by the dashed rectangular frame in Figure 6(a). Note that, as with the first embodiment, the configuration and structure of the upper part of the gantry 10 are generally symmetrical in the left-right direction of Figure 6(a). Therefore, the following describes the configuration and structure of the portion enclosed by the dashed rectangular frame in the upper right part of Figure 6(a).

As shown in FIG. 6(b), in the second embodiment, a cooling fan 200 and a cooling fan 220 are attached to the support plate 120. As in the first embodiment, the cooling fan 200 is disposed on the housing 104 side of the support plate 120, facing the first ventilation opening 202. Hereinafter, this cooling fan 200 will be referred to as the first cooling fan 200.

In the second embodiment, a cooling fan 220 is also provided at a position opposite the second ventilation opening 212. Hereinafter, this cooling fan 220 will be referred to as the second cooling fan 220. Like the first cooling fan 200, the second cooling fan 220 is provided on the housing 104 side of the support plate 120.

Also in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the cover plate 230 is provided so as to be able to open and close the second ventilation port 212. However, in the second embodiment, the cover plate 230 is disposed on the rotating frame 100 side of the support plate 120 (i.e., on the opposite side from the second cooling fan 220). The cover plate 230 is configured so that the second ventilation port 212 can be opened and closed from the underside of the support plate 120 (i.e., the rotating frame 100 side) by rotating around the hinge 211.
Similar to the first embodiment, a plurality of ventilation holes 104a are formed in the housing 104 in the area near the cooling fan 200 and the cover plate 210.

Figures 7(a) and (b) are diagrams illustrating the effects of the first ventilation port 202, first cooling fan 200, second ventilation port 212, second cooling fan 220, and cover plate 230 in the second embodiment described above.

Figure 7(a) is a diagram illustrating the effect when the rotating frame 100 is stopped from rotating. As mentioned above, even when the rotating frame 100 is stopped from rotating, each component 300 remains powered and needs to be cooled. For this reason, as in the first embodiment, even when the rotating frame 100 is stopped from rotating, the first cooling fan 200 rotates at a normal rotation speed (a predetermined rotation speed), and the cooling air (heated air after cooling each component 300) is forcibly expelled by the first cooling fan 200 from the first air vent 202 to the outside of the gantry device 10.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the cover plate 230 that opens and closes the second ventilation port 212 is provided on the underside (the rotating frame 100 side) of the support plate 120. Therefore, when the rotating frame 100 is stopped from rotating, the cover plate 230 rotates clockwise around the hinge 211 due to its own weight in Figure 7, creating a gap between the cover plate 230 and the support plate 120. In other words, in the second embodiment, the second ventilation port 212 is open when the rotating frame 100 is stopped from rotating.

In the second embodiment, the second cooling fan 220 also rotates at a normal rotation speed (predetermined rotation speed) while the rotation of the rotating frame 100 is stopped. Therefore, the cooling air is forcibly sucked in through the second ventilation opening 212 by the second cooling fan 220 and discharged to the outside of the gantry 10.
The noise generated when the rotating frame 100 stops rotating is mainly noise generated by the rotation of the first cooling fan 200 and the second cooling fan 220 .
On the other hand, FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the effect when the rotating frame 100 is rotating.

When the rotating frame 100 rotates, noise caused by the rotation of the rotating frame 100 is added to the noise generated by the rotation of the first cooling fan 200 and the second cooling fan 220. Therefore, in the second embodiment of the gantry device 10, the rotation of the second cooling fan 220 is stopped when the rotating frame 100 rotates, and the second ventilation hole 212 is closed with a cover plate 230. As a result, noise from the second cooling fan 220 is eliminated, and furthermore, noise caused by the rotation of the rotating frame 100 leaking out through the second ventilation hole 212 can also be suppressed.

On the other hand, when the rotating frame 100 rotates, the first cooling fan 200 rotates at a normal rotation speed (a predetermined rotation speed). However, the amount of cooling air discharged to the outside of the gantry 10 decreases due to the second cooling fan 220 stopping rotation and the second air vent 212 closing. However, the rotation of the rotating frame 100 generates an airflow circumferentially around the rotating frame 100, and this airflow becomes cooling air and is discharged to the outside of the gantry 10 through the first air vent 202. In other words, the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating frame 100 is added as a new cooling air flow to the flow of cooling air generated by the first cooling fan 200. As a result, the decrease in the amount of cooling air caused by the second cooling fan 220 stopping rotation is compensated for, and a decrease in cooling performance can be suppressed.

Note that, as in the first embodiment, the control for stopping the rotation of the second cooling fan 220 when the rotating frame 100 is rotating is performed, for example, by the processing circuit 45 of the console device 40. An example of a control unit in the claims corresponds to the processing circuit 45 described above in the second embodiment, or the function realized by the processing circuit 45.

Furthermore, the action of closing the cover plate 230 when the rotating frame 100 rotates is based on the force of the airflow generated in the circumferential direction of the rotating frame 100. In other words, when the rotating frame 100 rotates, the force of the airflow causes the cover plate 210 to rotate counterclockwise around the hinge 211, and the end of the cover plate 210 opposite the hinge 211 abuts against the support plate 120, blocking the second air vent 212.

In the gantry device 10 according to the second embodiment described above, by stopping the rotation of the second cooling fan 220 and closing the second vent 212 when the rotating frame 100 is rotating, it is possible to suppress the noise generated by both the first and second cooling fans 200, 220 and the rotation of the rotating frame 100. At the same time, the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating frame 100 is added as a new flow of cooling air through the first vent 202, which compensates for the decrease in the amount of cooling air caused by the second cooling fan 220 stopping its rotation, thereby suppressing a decrease in cooling performance.

In the first embodiment described above, an example was given in which one cooling fan 200 corresponding to the first ventilation port 202 and one cover plate 210 corresponding to the second ventilation port 212 are provided in the upper right portion of the gantry 10 when viewed from the front side. However, the positions and numbers of the first ventilation port 202 and second ventilation port 212, and the positions and numbers of the cooling fans 200 and cover plates 210 corresponding thereto, can be changed as appropriate depending on the required cooling performance, structural constraints of the gantry 10, etc.

In addition, in the second embodiment described above, an example was given in which one first cooling fan 200 corresponding to the first vent 202 is provided in the upper right portion of the gantry 10 when viewed from the front side, and one cover plate 230 and one second cooling fan 220 corresponding to the second vent 212 are provided. However, similar to the above, the positions and number of the first vents 202 and second vents 212, the positions and number of the corresponding first cooling fans 200, and the positions and number of the second cooling fans 220 and cover plates 230 can be changed as appropriate depending on the required cooling performance, structural constraints of the gantry 10, etc.

In the first embodiment described above, the cover plate 210 is configured to open due to the force of the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating frame 100 when the rotating frame 100 rotates, and close due to its own weight when the rotating frame 100 is stopped. In the second embodiment, the cover plate 230 is configured to close due to the force of the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating frame 100 when the rotating frame 100 rotates, and open due to its own weight when the rotating frame 100 is stopped. However, the cover plates 210, 230 are not limited to being opened and closed by the force of the airflow or their own weight. For example, the cover plates 210, 230 may be configured to open and close by electrical driving force using a driving device such as a motor or solenoid.

At least one embodiment of the X-ray CT device described above can reduce noise caused by the cooling fan and by the rotation of the rotating frame while maintaining the cooling performance of the components housed within the gantry of the X-ray CT device.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments may be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims, as well as the scope and spirit of the invention.

1 X-ray CT apparatus 10 gantry device 30 bed device 40 console device 45 processing circuit 100 rotating frame 102 fixed frame 104 housing 120 support plate 200 cooling fan, first cooling fan 202 first vent 210 cover plate 212 second vent 220 second cooling fan 230 cover plate

Claims (8)

a rotating frame to which multiple components are fixed;
a housing that houses the rotating frame;
a support plate provided in a gap between the rotating frame and the housing along a part of the outer periphery of the rotating frame;
a first cooling fan provided opposite a first ventilation hole formed in the support plate;
a cover plate provided to be able to open and close the second ventilation hole formed in the support plate;
Equipped with
the cover plate opens and closes the second vent hole in response to rotation and stopping of the rotating frame;
a second cooling fan disposed opposite the second vent and the cover plate;
the cover plate is configured to open the second vent while the rotating frame is stopped, and the first cooling fan and the second cooling fan rotate at a predetermined rotational speed to exhaust warm air generated by the components through the first vent and the second vent, respectively;
During rotation of the rotating frame, the cover plate is configured to close the second vent hole and the second cooling fan stops rotating, and the first cooling fan rotates at the predetermined rotation speed to discharge the warm air through the first vent hole, and the warm air is further discharged from the first vent hole by the rotation of the rotating frame.
X-ray CT device. a fixed frame that rotatably supports the rotating frame and is housed in the housing together with the rotating frame,
The support plate is connected and fixed to a part of the fixed frame.
The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1. When the rotating frame is stopped, the cover plate is configured to cover the second vent, and the first cooling fan rotates at a predetermined rotational speed to exhaust warm air generated by the component through the first vent;
While the rotating frame is rotating, the cover plate opens the second vent to discharge the warm air, and the first cooling fan stops rotating or shifts to a rotation speed lower than the predetermined rotation speed.
3. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The cover plate is
the cover plate is configured to be able to open and close the second vent opening by rotating around a hinge provided at one end of the cover plate, and is arranged to cover the second vent opening from the housing side of the support plate,
When the rotating frame is stopped, the second ventilation opening is blocked by its own weight;
During rotation of the rotating frame, the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating frame pushes the air toward the housing, thereby opening the second vent hole.
The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 3. a control unit;
the control unit detects rotation and stoppage of the rotating frame, and rotates the first cooling fan at the predetermined rotation speed while the rotating frame is stopped, and stops the first cooling fan or rotates the first cooling fan at a rotation speed lower than the predetermined rotation speed while the rotating frame is rotating.
5. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. The cover plate is
the cover plate is configured to be able to open and close the second vent opening by rotating around a hinge provided at one end of the cover plate, and is arranged to cover the second vent opening from the rotating frame side of the support plate,
while the rotating frame is stopped, the second vent is opened by its own weight;
During rotation of the rotating frame, the force of an air flow generated by the rotation of the rotating frame presses the support plate from the rotating frame side to the support plate side, thereby blocking the second ventilation hole.
The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 . an intake port is provided in a lower portion of the housing for taking in air for cooling the components, and an exhaust port is provided in an upper portion of the housing for discharging warm air obtained by heat exchange between the air taken in through the intake port and the components to the outside of the housing;
the exhaust port further discharges the warm air discharged through the first vent port and the second vent port to the outside of the housing.
7. The X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1. a rotating frame to which multiple components are fixed;
a housing that houses the rotating frame;
a support plate provided in a gap between the rotating frame and the housing along a part of the outer periphery of the rotating frame;
a first cooling fan provided opposite to a first ventilation hole formed in the support plate;
a cover plate provided to be able to open and close the second ventilation hole formed in the support plate;
Equipped with
the cover plate opens and closes the second vent hole in response to rotation and stopping of the rotating frame ;
When the rotating frame is stopped, the cover plate is configured to cover the second vent, and the first cooling fan rotates at a predetermined rotational speed to exhaust warm air generated by the component through the first vent;
During rotation of the rotating frame, the cover plate opens the second vent hole to discharge the warm air, and the first cooling fan stops rotating or shifts to a rotation speed lower than the predetermined rotation speed;
The cover plate is
the cover plate is configured to be able to open and close the second vent opening by rotating around a hinge provided at one end of the cover plate, and is arranged to cover the second vent opening from the housing side of the support plate,
When the rotating frame is stopped, the second ventilation opening is blocked by its own weight;
During rotation of the rotating frame, the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating frame pushes the air toward the housing, thereby opening the second vent hole.
X-ray CT device.