ELECTROSTATIC CAPACITY TYPE DISTANCE SENSOR AND OBSTACLE DETECTION SYSTEM OF MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS USING THE SAME

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the reliability and safety of a function for automatically stopping the operation of the movable part of a medical diagnostic apparatus before the movable part comes into contact with an obstacle. SOLUTION: As a distance sensor for detecting the distance between the movable part of the medical diagnostic apparatus and an obstacle, an electrostatic capacity type distance sensor for emitting electromagnetic waves from a transmission electrode to form an electromagnetic field and detecting the intensity of the electromagnetic field by a receiving electrode is used. This sensor has such a structure that the transmission electrode and the receiving electrode are arranged in opposed relationship and a hollow part is provided in the receiving electrode and the electrostatic capacity type distance sensor having this structure is attached to the movable part of the medical diagnostic apparatus to detect the obstacle before the movable part comes into contact with the obstacle to stop the operation of the movable part.