FI117158B - Mammografiaanordning - Google Patents

Description

1,117,158

Mammography equipment

The present invention relates to a mammography device comprising an X-ray tube head, which has an X-ray tube with a collimator and an imaging section thereof, having an imaging object which has passed an imaged object for producing an X-ray image during disassembly of the image forming part.

10 For example, Western lifestyles (fatty diets, etc.) have contributed to the increasing prevalence of breast cancer in women. In the United States alone, approximately 180,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in 2000, and about 41,000 patients died of breast cancer. Because of the seriousness of the disease, early detection of breast cancer is receiving considerable attention in more and more countries. This detection is accomplished with mammographic devices.

In Finland, for example, every woman has the opportunity to examine her breasts.

In the first step of examining the breast, the entire breast is imaged using ...: 20 films of sufficiently wide area or a full-field detector, which may: V be, for example, 18 cm * 24 cm. Women of a certain age group are subjected to a free screening test, • in which two mammograms of each breast are taken in different directions. If a suspect is identified in the screening study, clinical investigation will continue.

«· 25 In a clinical study, suspect chest specimens are taken either in additional directions or in a suspicious breast specimen. Additional images can also be taken by compressing or compressing the breast from the area where the suspicious object is located and * * * taking a magnified view of the subject. In this way, an additional * · "* 30 target can be achieved, and if the target still appears suspicious, m 9 9 9 · Y * sampling is performed. A biopsy needle is used for sampling. • 99 9 99 9 9 2 117158 cells sufficient Sampling is called a biopsy, and it is important that the sampling needle is guided to just the right spot in the breast to take a sample.

In the prior art, sampling is performed by manual biopsy or biopsy based on stereotactic imaging. Manual biopsy of two images at 90 ° to each other, based on images by a doctor | take a sample of a suspicious chest. The disadvantage of manual biopsy is the inaccuracy in sampling, which can at worst lead to a false negative diagnosis.

In biopsy based on stereotactic imaging, the suspicious breast is photographed from two different angles. In the past, filming was performed on film, but nowadays more and more with a digital detector, such as a 5 cm * 5 cm CCD detector (Charge Coupled Device) or a full-field detector. From these images, xyz coordinates with three-dimensional information are calculated to guide the sampling needle to the desired chest location for sampling. Figure 3 shows stereotactic mammography X-rays.

The position 30 represents the X-ray tube head 12 in the so-called basic position 30, Y: where the X-ray tube head is substantially at right angles to the size field detector 11. The X-ray tube head 12 may be moved at least two different *: '*: angles 32, 34 with respect to the full-field detector 11. Such angles may be # *, for example, ± 15 ° from said base position 30. Through the foregoing, * * ***** 25 mammography device is adapted to depict a suspicious chest position at least. . from two different angles and form three-dimensional information based on the description of said at least two different angles. The desired portion of the full-field detector 11 may be displaced as a function of the size of the field-detector cell and the angle * * 30 formed by the space-field detector described herein. Collimated radiation can be transmitted as a function of the size of the field detector • · * * f \ as a function of the space space and the angle of the size field detector described here. The parts of the X-ray imaging device shown in Figure 3 are sufficient to illustrate the displacement of the X-ray tube head at various angles 32, 34 with respect to the full-field detector 11 for stereotactic X-ray imaging.

5 In the localization, the subject is marked for surgical operation. The marking means may be, for example, a hooked wire or a dye substance, for example. Pointing the marking device at a right angle to the subject is a prerequisite for the surgeon to perform the procedure at the right position.

Three-dimensional information about the position of the suspicious breast may also be generated by the TACT technique (Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography) disclosed, for example, in US 6081577 "Method and system for creating task-dependent three-dimensional images". In this technique, based on a reference point and X-rays taken from different angles, for example seven different angles, a three-dimensional X-ray image disturation is created, for example, which can be utilized, for example, to perform a biopsy.

When performing an X-ray imaging, it is important that the X-ray is able to target the subject, the human being, to just the right area to minimize the amount of radiation received by the human: Y:

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Both the control of the sampling needle and the alignment of the x-ray imaging require a ♦ ♦: / * i full alignment in order for the operations to be performed with sufficient accuracy.

25,. In the known manual biopsy and localization, ♦ · · the aiming arrangement of x-ray imaging devices is, for example, a laser beam arrangement aiming at the target. These laser beams are typically highly visible to the human eye, such as laser beams at a wavelength of red light.

* 30 Targeted laser beams direct the required instrument at • the desired target. For this purpose, it is preferable to use two lines formed by the laser beam I · · · m m • 4117158, which must be movable over a sufficiently wide area. Typically, these lines are at 90 ° to each other on the surface of the object to form a lattice pattern.

Also, a localization gating arrangement is used as a targeting arrangement in manual biopsy, such as the prior art shown as an example in FIG. The localization shunt stage 50 comprises two iron rods 51, 53, typically arranged at 90 ° to each other. The arrangement further comprises wirewound guides 58 and actuators 52, 54 10 and, in the x-ray imaging apparatus, a backlight source for directing the backlight (white light) to the wireframes and to the target. The wires between the backlight source and the subject form shadows on the subject. By moving the wires with the guides 58, the shadows are aimed at the desired position at the target. The blind arrangement according to Fig. 4 includes side brackets 56 and rear bracket 57 mounted on guides for slide guides 58, on which the blind plate 55 rests.

Based on the aiming performed by the laser beam arrangement or the localization gate arrangement, the sampling needle or localization marking device 20 is guided at right angles to the correct location on the target surface.

: Y: Pointing the sampling needle at right angles to the target is a prerequisite for the sampling needle to hit the correct spot within the target to take the sample. In localization, the subject is marked for surgical procedure. The marking means may be, for example, a hooked wire or III «4 '···' 25 e.g. The pointing device is at right angles to the target. . a prerequisite for the surgeon to be able to perform the procedures at the right place.

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In the prior art laser beam solution, the movement of the laser beams is arranged mechanically such that the laser beam rotates with the laser beam • · T 30 with its own focal point. This solution requires a curved turning surface.

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The problem is that the curved pivoting surface is difficult to fabricate and that

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• 44 4 4 5 117158 needs a relatively large amount of space. In addition, there are problems in achieving sufficient accuracy because the prior art solution is difficult to adapt to the accuracy requirements. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,316,014 and 5,320,111 disclose such prior art solutions.

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Also, the localization blind arrangement is difficult to fabricate and suffers from inaccuracies. Nowadays, the positions of the automation detectors are marked on the surface of a compression tray fitted to a certain chest thickness. This causes problems when the thickness of the chest to be imaged differs from this, leading to dimensional errors in positioning the subject.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mammo-graphic device capable of providing the aiming arrangement required for X-ray imaging and sampling with relatively simple means and reliable precision. To accomplish this goal, the mammo-graphic device of the invention is characterized in that the X-ray tube head is integrated with a skin and / or compression means to produce the desired optical pattern so that the focal point of said desired optical pattern is substantially x-ray focused.

• 1 • «•« »* · · • 1 The X-ray focal point is the point at which the radiation generated by the X-ray tube • 1 ·: ··: is emitted to the subject to be irradiated. Typically, the point / 1 has a point smaller than 1 mm.

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Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

• tt • · «· * *!; |;! In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which V '30 sa: * 1 • i 1 · 1 1 4 «• 4 6 117158

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the invention,

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a stereotactic X-ray, and Figures 4-5 show a prior art localization shaker.

10

In the various figures of the drawing, the same reference numerals are used for like or functionally similar parts.

The X-ray mammography apparatus used for X-ray mammography examination according to Figure 1 comprises a C-shaped support 1, 5, 6 whose first leg 1 forms an X-ray tube head 12 with an X-ray tube 3 with collimator 4 and its opposite second leg 6 forming an image forming part 23 is an x-ray receiving means 11 for the subject to be imaged to produce an x-ray image. A movable compression plate 7 is provided adjacent to the imaging section 23 for compressing the breast during shooting. The receiving means 11 may be, for example, a conventional x-ray film or a digital detector. The bracket is pivotable to be pivotable parallel to the branches 1, 6 and substantially perpendicular to them t * * '.' *! about an axis 8 attached to the connecting link 5. The shaft 8, in turn, is fixed on a movable slider 9 in the upright column 10, whereby the height adjustment of the device is obtained.

In the illustrated embodiment, a collector 4 is provided with a light source 100 producing a desired a · · *: if optical pattern, which may be, for example, a laser projector or a? 30 lens projector. In addition, a semipermeable mirror 101 is provided inside the collimator 4, which allows radiation from the X-ray tube to pass therethrough, but reflects light from the light source 100 onto the subject's skin and / or the surface of the compression means 7. The light source 100 and the mirror 101 are positioned such that the effective focal point of the optical pattern is substantially the same as the X-ray focal point F. Instead of a semipermeable mirror, it is contemplated that a movable mirror may be used to move away from X-ray radiation.

In an embodiment of the invention in which the X-ray receiving means (11) is an X-ray film, the optical pattern generating device is arranged to reflect the locations of the exposure automation detectors on the skin and / or the compression means.

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a mammography device in which the X-ray tube head 12 is displaceable from its imaging position.

Moving to the side can be effected e.g. by moving the X-ray tube head on guides such as sliding rails towards the upright post 10. In this embodiment, the laser projector 40 is pivotally located outside the X-ray tube head and can be positioned by a joint so that the focal point at substantially the same position as 20 where the X-ray focal point is located with the X-ray tube in the imaging position: *: * ·. Patterns produced by the laser projector can be rotated in different locations within the + image area. Preferably, the laser projector is articulated by a pivoting means such as: ··: that the laser beams can be rotated at the focal point for the purpose of aiming.

* V-: The swiveling device can be, for example, a ball joint.

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Figure 2 also shows a biopsy device 20 that can be integrated with a digital mammography device so that a biopsy can be performed using the same size field detector 11, which is also used for example in field imaging. Integrated in this patent application means * * **: ** 30 that the biopsy device may be integrated as an integral part of the mammography device, or * * Y ** that the biopsy device may be integrated and detached into the mammography device as required. The integration is performed such that the space of the sampling needle 21, that is, the sampling space, can be adapted to operate at a desired location in the imaging area of the full-field detector. Space space comprises an object being viewed or sampled, which is a breast or breast part in mam-5 mography. For example, the sampling space is 5 cm x 5 cm in cross-sectional area of the detector surface. The sampling space can be shifted within the imaging area of the full-field detector as needed. Said space-space sampling and space-space transfer is performed by the needle control unit 22. The electronics and software required for the operation of the needle control unit are located in the needle control unit and / or somewhere else on the X-ray machine or outside the X-ray machine.

The optical patterns used in the embodiments of the invention may be formed by a variety of prior art methods such as, for example, combining an optical radiation pattern with a semi-transmissive mirror to produce a required optical pattern with a light source.

Although the invention is described in the description of this patent application and: **! with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures, the invention is not limited to: Λ: but can be modified within the scope of the claims * 1 • Λ:.

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Claims (10)

9 117158 A mammography device comprising an x-ray tube head (12) having an x-ray tube (3) with a collimator (4) and an imaging section (23) opposite the x-ray tube head (12) having an x-ray imaging means (11) for transmitting the subject. provided with clamping means (7) for chest clamping during imaging, characterized in that the X-ray tube head (12) is integrated with the skin and / or clamping means of the chest to produce the desired optical pattern 10 such that an effective focal point of said desired optical pattern ) to the focal point (F) at the time of the x-ray. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device (100, 101) producing said desired optical pattern is located adjacent to the collimator (4) of the x-ray tube (3). A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the device producing the desired optical pattern comprises a light source (100) which produces said image and a semipermeable mirror (101) inside the collimator which passes through the X-ray and reflects the light source (100). ) * · An incoming optical pattern such that the focal point of the pattern corresponds to the X-ray focal point (F). ψ * • * · «« «« * 9 9 « Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the device producing the desired optical pattern comprises a light source (100) connected to the collimator (4) which produces said pattern and a movable mirror (101) connected to the collimator (4), which reflects the * * optical pattern from the light source (100) such that the focal point of the pattern corresponds to the x-ray focal point (F) and which mirror (101) is displaceable from the x-ray path during the imaging. . ·. : 9 9 10 117158 Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the X-ray tube end (12) is arranged to be moved away from the imaging position and that said optical pattern generating device is hinged to the X-ray tube end (12). 5 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the x-ray receiving means (11) is an x-ray film and that the optical pattern generating device is arranged to reflect the positions of the exposure automation detectors on the skin to be imaged and / or on the compression means. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device producing the optical pattern is arranged to project a grid of sampling or localization on the skin of the imaged breast. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the x-ray receiving device (11) is a digital detector. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device producing the desired optical pattern is a laser projector. ...: 20 * «• Y; Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device producing the desired optical pattern is a lens projector. »1 • · • · · • M • · ·· ♦ • 9 • · • 9 9 9 9 9 99 9 9 99 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9. tif • · · 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 99 9 9 11 117158 Patently