JP5591614B2 - measuring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a measuring apparatus such as a PET apparatus or a CT apparatus.

  When measuring a subject using a measurement apparatus in the above technical field, the measurement apparatus itself is a large heat source, and therefore the measurement chamber in which the measurement apparatus is arranged is maintained at a relatively low temperature (for example, about 24 ° C.). There is a need. Therefore, when the subject is an anesthetized animal, the metabolic function is lowered due to a decrease in body temperature, so that accurate measurement data may not be obtained. In view of this, there has been proposed a heat retention device including a plate-like heater for retaining the placed subject (for example, see Patent Document 1). In measurement using such a heat retaining device, the subject is inserted into the measurement space together with the heater on which the subject is placed, and measurement is performed while keeping the subject warm.

Utility Model Registration No. 3151723

  However, in the above-described heat retaining device, there is a difference in the heat retaining effect between the portion that is in contact with the heater of the subject and the portion that is not in contact, and as a result, the subject can be sufficiently kept warm. There may not be. Further, when performing measurement using the above-described heat retaining device, the heat retaining device including the heater inserted in the measurement space may adversely affect the measurement, and an accurate measurement result may not be obtained.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, and makes it a subject to provide the measuring apparatus which can hold | maintain a subject sufficiently and can perform an exact measurement.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a measurement apparatus according to the present invention detects a electromagnetic wave emitted from a subject, which is provided in a case provided with a cylindrical measurement space in which the subject is disposed, and the case. A detector; introduction means for introducing air into the housing to cool the detector; deriving means for deriving air introduced into the housing by the introduction means and heated by the detector; and introduction means Inflow means for introducing the air introduced into the housing and heated by the detector into the measurement space, and the inflow amount of the air flowing into the measurement space is adjusted according to the temperature of the measurement space, And control means for controlling at least one of the derivation means and the inflow means.

  In this measurement apparatus, the air that is introduced into the housing and is warmed by the detector to cool the detector is caused to flow into the measurement space, so that the subject placed in the measurement space is kept warm. For this reason, since it is avoided that a difference in the heat insulation effect occurs in each part of the subject, the subject can be sufficiently kept warm in the measurement space. In addition, in this measurement apparatus, air is used to keep the subject warm, so that the heat keeping device or the like does not adversely affect the measurement, and an accurate measurement result can be obtained.

  Here, when the temperature of the measurement space is increased, the control means reduces the amount of air derived outside the housing and decreases the amount of air introduced into the measurement space and increases the amount of air inflow into the measurement space. When controlling at least one of the inflow means and lowering the temperature of the measurement space, it is preferable to control at least one of the derivation means and the inflow means so that the derived amount increases and the inflow amount decreases. In this case, the temperature of the measurement space can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of the warmed air that is led out of the housing and the amount of inflow into the measurement space. In other words, even when the temperature of the measurement space is adjusted, the amount of air introduced into the housing for cooling the detector can be maintained. Therefore, the detector can be appropriately cooled while sufficiently warming the subject.

  Further, the inflow means may cause air to flow from one opening portion of the measurement space toward the other opening portion of the measurement space. Alternatively, the inflow means may allow air to flow from the inside of the measurement space toward one and the other opening of the measurement space.

  Further, it is preferable that the lead-out means and the inflow means include at least one of a valve and a fan. In this case, the amount of air flowing into the measurement space can be accurately adjusted.

  Further, the subject is an animal other than a human, and the inflow means preferably causes anesthetic gas to flow into the measurement space together with air. In this case, the time during which the anesthesia of the subject is effective can be lengthened.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the measuring apparatus which can hold | maintain a test object sufficiently and can perform an exact measurement can be provided.

1 is a perspective view of a PET apparatus as a first embodiment of a measuring apparatus according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the PET apparatus shown by FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the PET apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing of the PET apparatus as 2nd Embodiment of the measuring apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing of PET apparatus as 3rd Embodiment of the measuring apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the PET apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a PET apparatus as a first embodiment of a measuring apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a PET apparatus 1 includes a casing 2 provided with a cylindrical (tunnel-shaped) measurement space S, a bed 3 on which a subject T such as a mouse or a human is placed, and a measurement. And a drive unit 4 for moving the bed 3 back and forth in the direction of the central axis CL of the space S. Such a PET device 1 is configured to obtain a tomographic image of the subject T at a plurality of slice positions from the subject T to which a drug labeled with a positron emitting nuclide (a radioactive isotope that emits positrons) is administered. It is an apparatus for detecting radiation (electromagnetic waves) such as γ-rays emitted. When acquiring a tomographic image of the subject T, the subject T is arranged in the measurement space S by the movement of the bed 3 by the drive unit 4.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the PET apparatus shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, in the housing 2, the radiation detector 6 is configured by arranging a plurality of detection units 5 in the direction of the center line CL so as to correspond to each of a plurality of slice positions. ing. The radiation detector 6 configured in this way has a detector drive circuit (not shown), and is driven by supplying power from the power supply unit 7 to the detector drive circuit. The radiation detector 6 detects the radiation emitted from the subject T as described above, and transmits information indicating the detection result to the measurement server 8 and the signal processing unit 9. Here, one detector module M is configured by arranging three radiation detectors 6 in the direction of the central axis CL.

  Here, an intake fan (introducing means) 10 that introduces air into the housing 2 to cool the radiation detector 6 is disposed on the front surface 2 a of the housing 2. In addition, an intake fan 11 and an intake fan 12 that introduce air into the casing 2 in order to cool the power supply unit 7 and the measurement server 8 are disposed on the front surface 2 a of the casing 2. Further, an intake fan 13 that introduces air into the housing 2 in order to cool the signal processing unit 9 is disposed on the back surface 2 b of the housing 2. FIG. 3A is a schematic rear view of a portion of the housing where the signal processing unit is provided. As shown in FIG. 3A, a plurality of (here, five) intake fans 13 are arranged along the width direction of the housing 2. Note that a plurality of intake fans 10 to 12 may be provided in the same manner as the intake fan 13.

  Air having a relatively low temperature (cold air) introduced into the housing 2 from the intake fans 10 to 13 arranged in this way is the radiation detector 6, the power source, as indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 2. The radiation is supplied to the unit 7, the measurement server 8, and the signal processing unit 9, and warmed by cooling the radiation detector 6, the power supply unit 7, the measurement server 8, and the signal processing unit 9.

  On the back surface 2b of the housing 2, an exhaust fan (leading means, inflow means) 20 for guiding the relatively warm air (warm air) thus heated out of the housing 2 is disposed. . FIG. 3B is a schematic rear view of a portion where the radiation detector is provided in the housing (the housing is omitted in the figure). As shown in FIG. 3B, a plurality of exhaust fans 20 (here, twelve) are arranged near the rear end of the detector module M arranged radially (here, twelve) along the edge of the measurement space S. Then there are four crosses). Thus, the warm air flows as indicated by the black arrows in FIG. 2 and is discharged out of the housing 2 by the exhaust fan 20.

  Here, one end 21 a of a duct (inflow means) 21 is connected to each of the exhaust fans 20. The other end 21b of the duct 21 is disposed in the opening S1 of the measurement space S on the back side of the housing 2 as an exhaust port. Therefore, the warm air exhausted by the exhaust fan 20 circulates in the duct 21 as shown by the black arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3B, and the one opening S1 of the measurement space S is changed to the other opening. It flows into the measurement space S toward S2. As the warm air flows into the measurement space S in this way, the temperature of the measurement space S rises and the subject T arranged in the measurement space S is kept warm. The duct 21 is formed in a bellows shape, and the arrangement position of the other end 21b that is an exhaust port can be adjusted according to the type and size of the subject T.

  An electromagnetic valve (leading means) 22 is provided at a position facing the exhaust fan 20 in the duct 21. Therefore, by opening the electromagnetic valve 22, a part or all of the warm air exhausted by the exhaust fan 20 is not flowed into the measurement space S, but from the electromagnetic valve 22 to the outside (measurement in which the PET apparatus 1 is installed). To the room). On the other hand, by setting the electromagnetic valve 22 in the closed state, all of the warm air discharged out of the housing 2 by the exhaust fan 20 flows into the measurement space S by the duct 21.

  The PET apparatus 1 includes a control unit (control means: not shown) such as a computer that controls opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 22. This control unit controls the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 22 so that the amount of warm air flowing into the measurement space S is adjusted according to the temperature of the measurement space S. More specifically, when the temperature of the measurement space S is increased, the control unit decreases the amount of warm air derived into the measurement chamber (that is, outside the housing 2) and flows warm air into the measurement space S. The opening and closing of the solenoid valve 22 is controlled so that the amount increases. On the other hand, when the temperature of the measurement space S is lowered, the control unit opens and closes the electromagnetic valve 22 so that the amount of warm air derived into the measurement chamber increases and the amount of warm air flowing into the measurement space S decreases. To control. Note that the control unit may control the exhaust fan 20 in addition to controlling the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 22 when adjusting the amount of warm air derived into the measurement chamber and the amount of warm air flowing into the measurement space S. . The PET apparatus 1 may include a measurement space temperature monitor that detects the temperature of the measurement space S, and the control unit may perform the above-described control using the detection result of the measurement space temperature monitor.

  As described above, in the PET apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, air (warm air) introduced into the housing 2 and heated by the radiation detector 6 or the like to cool the radiation detector 6 or the like is measured in the measurement space S. By flowing in, the subject T arranged in the measurement space S is kept warm. For this reason, it is possible to avoid a difference in the heat retaining effect in each part of the subject T, and thus the subject T can be sufficiently warmed in the measurement space S. Moreover, in the PET apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, air is used to keep the subject T warm, so that it is not necessary to insert a heat keeping device including a heater or the like into the measurement space S, for example. Therefore, an accurate measurement result can be obtained without adversely affecting the measurement by a heat retaining device or the like. Further, in the PET apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, warm air is caused to flow into the measurement space S from one opening S1 of the measurement space S toward the other opening S2. For this reason, the warm air discharged | emitted out of the housing | casing 2 can be discharged | emitted efficiently in a measurement chamber.

  Further, in the PET apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the control unit controls the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 22 to adjust the amount of warm air derived into the measurement chamber and the amount of inflow into the measurement space S to perform measurement. Adjust the temperature of the space. For this reason, when adjusting the temperature of the measurement space S, it is possible to maintain the amount of air introduced into the housing 2 in order to cool the radiation detector 6 and the like. Therefore, the radiation detector 6 and the like can be effectively cooled while sufficiently maintaining the temperature of the subject T.

  The PET apparatus 1 includes an exhaust port temperature monitor that detects the temperature of air exhausted from the exhaust port that is the other end 21b of the duct 21, and a temperature display device that displays information indicating the temperature detected by the exhaust port temperature monitor. 30 and a temperature input device that accepts an input of a set temperature. In that case, the control unit described above is configured so that the temperature of the air discharged from the exhaust port becomes the set temperature input from the temperature input device based on the information indicating the temperature detected by the exhaust port temperature monitor. 20 and the solenoid valve 22 are controlled. Thereby, the heat retention state of the subject T can be maintained in a state suitable for measurement.

  The PET apparatus 1 can further include an in-housing temperature monitor that detects the temperature in the housing 2. In this case, the control unit controls the intake fans 10 to 13 and the exhaust fan 20 based on the information indicating the temperature detected by the in-case temperature monitor, and maintains the temperature in the case 2 at a predetermined temperature. . Thereby, the radiation detector 6 etc. can be cooled appropriately.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the PET apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the PET apparatus 1 </ b> A according to this embodiment includes a bed 43 instead of the bed 3 with respect to the PET apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, and a duct instead of the duct 21. (Inflow means) 41 is different. The bed 43 is provided with at least one opening at a predetermined position where the subject T is not placed. The duct 41 has one end 41a connected to the exhaust fan 20 and the other end 41b connected to each other. An opening 41d as an exhaust port is formed in the connection portion 41c between the ducts 41 at a position between the bed 43 and the inner wall Sa of the measurement space S.

  Therefore, the warm air exhausted from the exhaust fan 20 flows through the duct 41 as shown by the black arrow in FIG. 4, and the space between the bed 43 and the inner wall Sa of the measurement space S (that is, the opening 41d) Into the measurement space S), the sample T placed on the bed 43 is provided with heat through the opening of the bed 43. The duct 41 is also provided with an electromagnetic valve 22 at a position facing the exhaust fan 20, as with the duct 21. Therefore, the controller can adjust the temperature of the measurement space S by controlling the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 22 to adjust the amount of warm air introduced into the measurement chamber and the amount of inflow into the measurement space S. it can.

  As described above, according to the PET apparatus 1A according to the present embodiment, the subject T can be sufficiently warmed in the measurement space S and an accurate measurement result can be obtained in the same manner as the PET apparatus 1. be able to. Furthermore, in the PET apparatus 1A according to the present embodiment, since warm air does not directly hit the subject T, measurement can be performed without affecting the subject T by the warm air.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the PET apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the PET apparatus 1B according to the present embodiment is different from the PET apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in that a plurality of openings Sb are formed on the inner surface of the measurement space S. It is different in that it has an introduction means, an inflow means) 50, has an electromagnetic valve (leading means) 52, does not have an exhaust fan 20, and does not have a duct 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, two fans 50 are provided in the vicinity of the rear end of each of the detector modules M that are radially arranged along the edge of the measurement space S (12 in this case). (That is, a total of 24). These fans 50 introduce cool air into the housing 2 as shown by the white arrows in FIG. 5 and between the radiation detectors 6 as shown by the black arrows in FIGS. The warm air is circulated between the radiation detector 6 and the inner wall of the housing 2, and the warm air is caused to flow into the measurement space S through the opening Sb of the measurement space S. Thus, in the PET apparatus 1B, warm air flows into the measurement space S from the inside of the measurement space S toward the one opening S1 and the other opening S2 of the measurement space S.

  A plurality of (for example, four) solenoid valves 52 are provided in the vicinity of the edge of the measurement space S on the front surface 2a and the back surface 2b of the housing 2. Therefore, the control unit controls the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 52, thereby adjusting the amount of warm air derived outside the housing 2 and the amount of inflow into the measurement space S to adjust the temperature of the measurement space. Can do.

  As described above, according to the PET apparatus 1B according to the present embodiment, the subject T can be sufficiently kept in the measurement space S and an accurate measurement result can be obtained in the same manner as the PET apparatus 1. be able to. Furthermore, in the PET apparatus 1B according to the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to provide a duct for allowing warm air to flow into the measurement space S, the configuration of the PET apparatus can be simplified and the manufacturing cost of the PET apparatus can be reduced. Can do.

  In the PET apparatuses 1, 1A, 1B according to the first to third embodiments described above, when the subject T is an animal other than a human, the exhaust fan 20, the ducts 21, 41, the fan 50, or the like is used. Thus, the anesthetic gas can flow into the measurement space S together with the warm air. By doing so, the time during which the anesthesia of the subject T is effective can be lengthened.

  In the first to third embodiments, the PET apparatus has been described as the measurement apparatus according to the present invention. However, the measurement apparatus for detecting electromagnetic waves emitted from the subject according to the present invention is not limited to the PET apparatus. The measurement apparatus for detecting electromagnetic waves emitted from the subject according to the present invention can be suitably applied to, for example, a CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... PET apparatus, 2 ... Housing | casing, 6 ... Radiation detector, 10 ... Intake fan (introduction means), 20 ... Exhaust fan (lead-out means, inflow means), 21, 41 ... Duct (inflow means), 22, 52 ... Solenoid valve (leading means), 50 ... Fan (introducing means, inflow means).

Claims (6)

A casing provided with a cylindrical measurement space in which the subject is arranged;
A detector that is installed in the housing and detects electromagnetic waves emitted from the subject;
Introducing means for introducing air into the housing to cool the detector;
Deriving means for deriving the air introduced into the casing by the introducing means and heated by the detector out of the casing;
Inflow means for introducing the air, which is introduced into the casing by the introduction means and warmed by the detector, into the measurement space;
Control means for controlling at least one of the derivation means and the inflow means so that an inflow amount of the air flowing into the measurement space is adjusted according to a temperature of the measurement space. A measuring device.   When the temperature of the measurement space is increased, the control means decreases the amount of the air that is led out of the housing and increases the amount of the air that flows into the measurement space. When controlling at least one of the derivation means and the inflow means and lowering the temperature of the measurement space, at least one of the derivation means and the inflow means so that the derivation amount increases and the inflow amount decreases. The measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inflow unit causes the air to flow from one opening of the measurement space toward the other opening of the measurement space.   The measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inflow unit causes the air to flow from the inside of the measurement space toward one and the other opening of the measurement space.   The measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the derivation unit and the inflow unit include at least one of a valve and a fan. The subject is a non-human animal;
The measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inflow unit causes an anesthetic gas to flow into the measurement space together with the air.

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