CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-203044 filed on Nov. 8, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a radiographic imaging apparatus.

Description of the Prior Art

As one type of a radiographic imaging apparatus, there is an X-ray imaging apparatus for performing X-ray fluoroscopy or X-ray imaging (hereinafter collectively referred to as “X-ray imaging”) when examining and operating on a cardiovascular system or the like. Such an X-ray imaging apparatus is provided with an X-ray irradiation unit equipped with an X-ray tube, an X-ray detection unit composed of an X-ray detector, such as, e.g., a flat panel detector, for detecting X-rays emitted from the X-ray irradiation unit to a subject and passed through the subject, and a generally C-shaped arm for supporting the X-ray irradiation unit and the X-ray detection unit. The C-shaped arm is allowed to slide, rotate, and move horizontally by a C-shaped arm moving mechanism. The X-rays detected by the X-ray detection unit are displayed on a display unit, such as, e.g., a liquid crystal display panel, as an X-ray fluoroscopic image of a subject.

Patent Document 1 discloses an X-ray diagnostic apparatus in which a C-shaped arm is moved using an arm moving mechanism having a two-axis link mechanism. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a radiographic fluoroscopic imaging apparatus in which a C-shaped arm is moved in two mutually perpendicular directions along rails provided on a ceiling of an examination room.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-86836Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-118910

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

For example, when performing X-ray fluoroscopy using a catheter, surgical processing may sometimes need to be performed on the subject. In such a case, the X-ray irradiation unit and the X-ray detection unit positioned at an imaging position above and below the subject are required to retreat from the imaging position. In such a case, conventionally, the X-ray irradiation unit and the X-ray detection unit are caused to retreat from the imaging position by rotating the C-shaped arm.

FIG. 9andFIG. 10are explanatory views showing a retreat action for causing an X-ray irradiation unit and an X-ray detection unit to retreat from an imaging position by rotating a C-shaped arm84.

FIG. 9shows a state in which X-ray fluoroscopy is being performed on a subject91on a top board81of an examination table. At this time, the X-ray irradiation unit83supported by the C-shaped arm84is arranged above the affected part of the subject91, and the X-ray detection unit is arranged below the top board81. Note that in some cases, the X-ray irradiation unit83is arranged below the top board81and the X-ray detection unit is arranged above the affected part of the subject91. While X-ray fluoroscopy is being performed, a physician92is positioned on one side of the subject91and an assistant93is positioned on the other side of the subject. Further, a peripheral device85, such as, e.g., a monitor and a medical device, is arranged on a head side of the subject91. Further, a support82movably supporting the top board81is arranged below the top board81on the foot side of the subject91.

In such a situation, when performing a surgical procedure or the like on the subject91, the X-ray irradiation unit83may sometimes be required to retreat from the upper imaging position of the subject91. In such a case, generally, by rotating the C-shaped arm84, the X-ray irradiation unit83is caused to retreat from the upper imaging position of the subject91. At this time, as shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, the support82is arranged below the top board81on the foot side of the subject91. For this reason, the rotation direction of the C-shaped arm84should be a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow A inFIG. 10.

When the C-shaped arm84is rotated clockwise to cause the X-ray irradiation unit83to retreat from the upper imaging position of the subject91, the physician92positioned on the side of the subject91is required to retreat once from the rotation region of the C-shaped arm84and then return to the side of the subject91. Furthermore, the peripheral device85arranged on the head side of the subject91is required to be moved laterally as indicated by the arrow B inFIG. 10. For this reason, in order to cause the X-ray irradiation unit83to retreat from the imaging position above the subject91, complicated operations and time are required.

As described in Patent Document 2, in cases where a configuration is adopted in which a C-shaped arm is moved in two directions perpendicular to each other along rails provided on a ceiling of an examination room, the above-described problems can be solved. However, in cases where such a configuration is adopted, not only the rails need to be provided on the ceiling of the examination room, but also the load-bearing of the ceiling needs to be increased, which requires large-scale construction work. In order to further simplify the construction work, it is conceivable to provide rails on the floor of the examination room instead of providing rails on the ceiling of the examination room. But in such cases, the rails are present on the floor, which becomes an obstacle to movements of an operator, a stretcher, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a radiographic imaging apparatus capable of easily moving a radiation irradiation unit and a radiation detection unit between an imaging position for performing radiographic imaging and a retreat position retreated from the imaging position with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problem

According to one aspect of the present invention, a radiographic imaging apparatus includes: a base; a radiation irradiation unit; a radiation detection unit; an arm configured to support the radiation irradiation unit and the radiation detection unit in a state in which the radiation irradiation unit and the radiation detection unit face with each other; and an arm moving mechanism configured to move the arm. The arm moving mechanism includes: a first rotatable member mounted on the base, the first rotatable member being rotatable about a first rotation axis perpendicular to the base; a second rotatable member mounted on the first rotatable member, the second rotatable member being rotatable about a second rotation axis perpendicular to the base; a third rotatable member mounted on the second rotatable member to support the arm, the third rotatable member being rotatable about a third rotation axis perpendicular to the base; and a rotatable member rotation mechanism configured to rotate the first rotatable member, the second rotatable member, and the third rotatable member. The radiographic imaging apparatus further includes a rotation controller configured to control the rotatable member rotation mechanism so that the radiation irradiation unit and the radiation detection unit are moved linearly between an imaging position for performing radiographic imaging is performed and a retreat position retreated from the imaging position.

According to the radiographic imaging apparatus according to the above-described aspect of the present invention, it is possible to move the radiation irradiation unit and the radiation detection unit linearly between the imaging position for performing radiographic imaging and the retreat position retreated from the imaging position with a simple configuration.

