Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Yutaka Shibata

Kyojiro Nambu

Masahiko Yamazaki

Mitsuru Yahata

Hisanori Tohara

Kozi Natori

An X-ray computerized tomographic (CT) apparatus capable of facilitating alignment of focal spot position at the time of replacing an X-ray tube anew and capable of easily correcting the focal spot position even when the focal spot position of the X-ray tube is deviated. Thereby, the focal spot position of the X-ray tube remains fixed in a predetermined position. The X-ray computerized tomographic (CT) apparatus includes an X-ray tube which is freely movable in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; a detection unit for detecting a dislocated degree of the focal spot position of the X-ray tube; and a controlling unit for automatically controlling the focal spot position of the X-ray tube based on data obtained from the detection unit so that the focal spot position of the X-ray tube remains fixed in a predetermined position. In a case where the CT apparatus is used for a helical scanning operation, the detection unit may further include a detection timing controller for controlling an instance of detection and alignment of the focal spot position by utilizing only an output of the X-ray amount detected at a predetermined position of a gantry.

X-ray CT apparatus having focal spot position detection means for the

An X-ray CT scanner apparatus comprises a rotatable support and a mounting support. The rotatable support holds an X-ray generating source and an X-ray detector in opposition to each other, and is rotated around a patient placed between the X-ray generating source and the X-ray detector. The mounting supporting supports the rotatable support in a rotatable manner. The X-ray CT scanner further comprises an X-ray data collecting unit attached to the rotatable support, a transmission member attached to both the rotatable support and mounting support, and an image-reconstructing circuit. The X-ray data collecting unit includes a data collecting circuit for collecting the X-ray projection data obtained by the X-ray detector when an X-ray CT scan is performed with respect to the patient, and also a buffer for storing the collected X-ray projection data. The transmission member transmits the X-ray projection data from the buffer to the mounting support during a rest time of the X-ray CT scan. By use of this transmitted data, the image reconstructing circuit reconstructs an image of the patient.

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Tochigi, Japan

Yutaka Shibata