Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Yuji Yanagida

Nobuyuki Iwama

Kiyoshi Okazaki

Toshiyuki Shinno

Shigeyuki Nakashima

Satoru Nakanishi

Miwa Okumura

Masahiko Yamazaki

Machiko Iso

Yoshiaki Yaoi

Minoru Horinouchi

An X-ray computed tomography apparatus of this invention includes a first data detecting system which includes a first X-ray tube and a first X-ray detector and a second data detecting system which includes a second X-ray tube and a second X-ray detector. A reconstructing unit reconstructs image data on the basis of the data detected by at least one of the first and second data detecting systems. A monitoring unit monitors the first data detecting system. In a period during which the first data detecting system is normal, data acquisition is performed by both the first and second data detecting systems. In a period during which the first data detecting system is faulty, data acquisition is performed by the second data detecting system alone.

X-ray computed tomography apparatus

An X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes a first X-ray tube configured to generate X-rays with which a subject to be examined is irradiated, a first X-ray detector configured to detect X-rays transmitted through the subject, a second X-ray tube which generates X-rays with which a treatment target of the subject is irradiated, a rotating mechanism which rotates the first X-ray tube, the first X-ray detector, and the second X-ray tube around the subject, a reconstructing unit configured to reconstruct an image on the basis of data detected by the first X-ray detector, and a support mechanism which supports the second X-ray tube. The central axis of X-rays from the second X-ray tube tilts with respect to a body axis of the subject. This makes it possible to reduce the dose on a portion other than a treatment target.

In a shock wave generating system, a width of a focused region synthesized from a plurality of focal points formed by a plurality of shock waves is varied by properly controlling delay times and/or drive voltages for a plurality of ring-shaped piezoelectric transducer elements. The shock wave generating system includes a shock wave generating unit having a plurality of shock-wave generating elements and a driving unit for separately driving the plurality of shock-wave generating elements by controlling at least delay times to produce a plurality of shock waves in such a manner that a dimension of a focused region synthesized from a plurality of different focal points formed by the plurality of shock waves, is varied in accordance with a dimension of a concretion to be disintegrated which is present in a biological body under medical examination.

Shock wave generating system capable of forming wide

In a shock wave generating apparatus, phase shifts contained in echo signals reflected from a calculus are corrected in order to clearly judge whether or not such a calculus is actually present at a focal point or a near region. The shock wave generating apparatus includes: a shock wave producing unit constructed of at least two transducer elements, for producing shock wave pulses used to disintegrate an object located near a focal point of said shock wave producing unit within a biological body under medical examination upon receipt of first drive pulses having first energy levels, and also for producing ultrasonic pulses used to obtain echo pulses reflected from said object near the focal point, as echo signals, upon receipt of second drive pulses having second energy levels lower than said first energy levels of the first drive pulses; an analog type phase-shift correcting unit for correcting phase shifts contained in the echo signals reflected from the object near the focal point by making respective phases of the echo signals coincident with each other as to a time domain of the analog echo signals, thereby obtaining an analog phase-corrected echo signal; a peak detecting unit for detecting a peak value of the analog phase-corrected echo signal; and a controlling unit for controlling the shock wave producing unit based on the peak value of the analog phase-corrected echo signal to determine whether or not the shock wave pulses are produced in order to destroy the object near the focal point.

Growing community of inventors

Otawara, Japan

Yuji Yanagida