This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2000-182564, filed Jun. 19, 2000; No. 2000-182566, filed Jun. 19, 2000; and No. 2001-056268, filed Mar. 1, 2001, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an onboard X-ray CT apparatus which can be mounted in a motor vehicle, trailer, or container, a container for mounting the X-ray CT apparatus, and a motor vehicle for mounting the X-ray CT apparatus.
X-ray CT apparatuses for obtaining the tomographic image of an object to be examined by exposing the object from his/her surroundings to X-rays, measuring the amount of X-rays having passed through the object, and performing image reconstruction processing for the obtained projection data by using a computer are effective for detection of a disease in its early stage and determination of an appropriate therapeutic plan. Further, a so-called X-ray CT apparatus onboard vehicle, e.g., a motor vehicle such as a bus which contains an X-ray CT apparatus is moved to a disaster-stricken area where image diagnosis for the presence/absence of a fracture or an injury to a viscus is done. Such a motor vehicle is also exploited for itinerant diagnosis or group examination in a depopulated area such as a mountainous area.
Recently, the development of helical scanning X-ray CT apparatuses enables photographing in a pectoral region within one breath. Along with this, strong demands have arisen for implementation of an X-ray CT apparatus onboard vehicle which contains a helical scanning X-ray CT apparatus for group examination in order to detect a pectoral disease in its early stage.
A known example of a conventional X-ray CT apparatus onboard vehicle is disclosed in Utility Model Registration No. 3,027,769, and schematically shown in FIG. 1. A gantry 2a and bed 2b of an X-ray CT apparatus are mounted at the center of a large-bus type vehicle 1 in the longitudinal direction. A power supply device 3 and high-voltage generator 4 are installed in the space between a driver""s seat 18 at the front portion of the vehicle and the gantry 2a and bed 2b. An X-ray monitor 5 and console 6 are installed at the back portion of the vehicle 1. A doorway 12 and lift device 15 for an object who uses a stretcher or wheelchair are formed in the back wall surface of the vehicle 1. A doorway 13 for an object who can walk by himself/herself is also formed in the backward side wall surface of the vehicle 1.
Other X-ray CT apparatus onboard vehicles are disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 6-154202 and 8-127282.
In the X-ray CT apparatus onboard vehicle disclosed in Utility Model Registration No. 3,027,769, the power supply device 3 is installed in the same room as the gantry 2a and bed 2b of the X-ray CT apparatus, which impairs safety and gives annoying noise to an object during an examination.
The X-ray CT apparatus disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 6-154202 performs X-ray CT photographing while an object sits on a chair, and is not suitable for X-ray CT photographing of a severely wounded object. The X-ray CT apparatus disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-127282 is an industrial X-ray CT apparatus mounted in a large trailer, and is not suited for itinerate diagnosis or group examination in a depopulated area such as a mountainous area owing to the road situation.
These conventional X-ray CT apparatus onboard vehicles do not consider any protection means for the movable portions of the mounted X-ray CT apparatuses, and the movable portions of the X-ray CT apparatuses may be damaged by vibrations or shocks during traveling of the X-ray CT apparatus onboard vehicle.
In the conventional X-ray CT apparatus onboard vehicles, a CT operation room and the like are designed in accordance with a mounted X-ray CT apparatus, which makes it difficult to exchange the X-ray CT apparatus with another type apparatus upon upgrading the apparatus.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an X-ray CT apparatus suitably mounted in a motor vehicle, trailer, or container.
According to the present invention, there is provided an X-ray CT apparatus which can be mounted in a motor vehicle, trailer, or container, comprising locking mechanism unit for locking at least one of movable portions of the X-ray CT apparatus, detectors for detecting locking states of the locking mechanism unit, and a notifying unit for representing the states of the locking mechanism unit on the basis of outputs from the detectors.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.