JP2011206434A - Radiation image capturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radiation image capturing apparatus capable of relaxing a subject when capturing images.SOLUTION: This radiation image capturing apparatus includes: an imaging platform coming into contact with the subject's mamma at an imaging surface; a radiation application section that applies radiation to the imaging surface; an imaging section that captures a radiation image expressed by the radiation applied to the imaging surface and passing through the mamma; a compression panel for compressing the mamma towards the imaging platform; a control section that, when capturing the image, controls the compression panel to compress the mamma by a target compression value and at the same time controls the radiation application section to apply the radiation to the mamma compressed by the target compression value; a detecting section (106) that detects the compression value of the mamma that is compressed by the compression panel; and a notification control section (110) that controls a notification section to notify a rate of the compression value, which is detected by the detection section, with respect to the target compression value.

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiographic image capturing apparatus, and more particularly, to a radiographic image capturing apparatus that captures an image while pressing a target portion (for example, a breast) of a subject.

  Conventionally, a radiographic imaging apparatus (imaging apparatus) that performs radiographic imaging for medical diagnosis is known. As this type of radiographic imaging apparatus, for example, there is a mammography for imaging (imaging) a subject's breast with a compression plate for the purpose of early detection of breast cancer or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). .

  In the mammography apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a breast placed on an imaging table is gradually compressed by a compression member. If the sensor detects that the pressing force applied to the breast has reached a preset appropriate pressing force, the pressing member emits blue light and the pressing force applied to the breast is When the pressing force is exceeded, the pressing member emits red light.

  In the X-ray diagnostic apparatus for mammography examination described in Patent Document 2, the current exposure period of the X-ray is compared with the entire exposure period, and the ratio of the current exposure time to the entire exposure period is determined. Displayed by a progress bar.

JP 2008-36279 A JP 2009-89739 A

  Here, when taking a picture while pressing the subject's breast, it is desirable to relax the subject's tension. This is because when the subject is nervous, the subject's muscles become stiff and the pain felt by the subject when the breast is compressed increases. As a cause of the tension of the subject, for example, it is conceivable that the pain felt by the subject does not know how much will increase in the future. That is, since the subject does not know the ratio of the compression force that is currently being compressed on the breast to the compression force that is the target compression value, the subject may be nervous without knowing how much the compression force will increase from now on. .

  However, the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 do not know the ratio of the compression force currently compressed on the breast with respect to the compression force that is the target compression value, and the effect of relaxing the subject is low. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, if the subject turns his face sideways with respect to the mammography apparatus during imaging, the color of the compression member cannot be recognized.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described phenomenon, and an object of the present invention is to provide a radiographic imaging device that can relax a subject during imaging.

  In order to achieve the above object, a radiographic imaging device according to claim 1 is a radiographic imaging device that comes into contact with a breast of a subject on an imaging surface, a radiation irradiation unit that irradiates the imaging surface with radiation, and an imaging surface. An imaging unit that captures a radiation image represented by radiation that has been transmitted through the breast, a compression plate that compresses the breast between the imaging table, and the breast when the imaging is performed The compression plate is controlled to be compressed with a compression value, and the control unit is configured to control the radiation irradiation unit so as to emit radiation to the breast compressed with the target compression value. A detection unit that detects the compression value of the breast, and a notification control unit that controls the notification unit to notify the ratio of the compression value detected by the detection unit to the target compression value.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the ratio of the compression value detected by the detection unit with respect to the target compression value is notified by the notification unit, the subject is compressed by the current breast against the compression force that becomes the target compression value. I understand the ratio of the compression force that I have, and I am not nervous more than necessary. Therefore, according to the present invention, the subject can be relaxed at the time of photographing.

  Further, according to the present invention, as in the invention according to claim 2, the notification unit may notify the ratio at a predetermined time interval. Thus, the subject can recognize at a predetermined time interval how much the compression force will increase from now on.

  In the present invention, as in the invention described in claim 3, the notification unit may display the ratio or notify the ratio by voice.

  Moreover, this invention may make it the said alerting | reporting part display the said ratio on the wall surface of the room in which it is located like invention of Claim 4. Thereby, for example, when the ratio is displayed on the wall surface of the room where the radiographic imaging device is located and visible when the subject turns his face sideways with respect to the radiographic imaging device. The above ratio can be recognized even by a subject who faces the face sideways.

  Further, according to the present invention, as in the invention described in claim 5, the notification unit may display a progress bar indicating the ratio.

  Further, according to the present invention, as in the invention described in claim 6, the target compression value is used as the target compression value in the past photographing of the subject previously stored in the storage unit, the value designated by the designation unit. It is good also as a predicted value predetermined based on the change of the thickness of the said breast with respect to the change of the obtained value or the compression value of the said breast by the said compression board.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that the subject can be relaxed at the time of photographing.

It is a top view which shows the structure of the radiographic imaging apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure at the time of CC imaging | photography of the radiographic imaging apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure at the time of MLO imaging | photography of the radiographic imaging apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the radiographic imaging system which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the ratio alert control process of the ratio alert control process program which concerns on this Embodiment. It is an example of the ratio notified. It is a figure for demonstrating the other modification at the time of deriving a target compression value.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a radiographic imaging apparatus (imaging apparatus) capable of MLO imaging and CC imaging will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment captures the breast N of the subject W with radiation (for example, X-rays) in the standing state where the subject W stands. An apparatus, for example, called mammography. In the following, when the subject W faces the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 at the time of imaging, the near side near the subject W is defined as the front side of the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10, and the subject W faces the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10. The far side away from the subject W in this case is the rear side of the radiographic imaging device 10, and the left-right direction of the subject W when the subject W faces the radiographic imaging device 10 is the left-right direction of the radiographic imaging device 10. (See each arrow in FIGS. 1 to 3).

  Moreover, the imaging target of the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 is not limited to the breast N, and may be, for example, another part of the body or an object. The radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 may be an apparatus that captures the breast N of the subject W in a sitting position where the subject W is sitting on a chair or the like. Any device capable of photographing the breast N of the subject W may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 includes a measuring unit 12 having a substantially C-shaped (U-shaped) in a side view provided on the front side of the apparatus, and a base that supports the measuring unit 12 from the rear side of the apparatus. Part 14.

  The measuring unit 12 presses the breast N between the imaging surface 22 on which the planar imaging surface 20 that contacts the breast N of the subject W in the standing state is formed and the imaging surface 20 of the imaging table 22. And a holding portion 28 that holds the imaging table 22 and the compression plate 26. The compression plate 26 is made of a material that transmits radiation.

  The measurement unit 12 is provided with a radiation source 30 (see FIG. 4) such as a tube, and a radiation irradiation unit 24 that irradiates the imaging surface 20 with radiation for inspection from the radiation source 30 and a holding unit 28. And a support portion 29 that supports the radiation irradiation portion 24. The holding unit 28 and the support unit 29 may be integrated without the holding unit 28 and the support unit 29 being separated. Moreover, what integrated the holding | maintenance part 28 and the support part 29 may be called a support part.

  The holding unit 28 is provided with a compression force detection sensor 58 for detecting a compression value of the breast being compressed by the compression plate 26, and the compression force detection sensor 58 is compressed by the compression plate 26. A detection signal indicating the compression value of the breast is output.

  The measuring unit 12 is provided with a rotating shaft 16 that is rotatably supported by the base unit 14. The rotation shaft 16 is fixed to the support portion 29 and the holding portion 28, and the rotation shaft 16 and the support portion 29 and the holding portion 28 are rotated together.

  Note that various mechanical elements can be used for switching between transmission and non-transmission of the rotational force of the rotating shaft 16.

  The holding unit 28 holds the imaging table 22 and the radiation irradiation unit 24 so that the imaging surface 20 and the radiation irradiation unit 24 are separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and the interval between the compression plate 26 and the imaging surface 20 is variable. The compression plate 26 is slidably held.

  The imaging surface 20 with which the breast N abuts is made of carbon, for example, from the viewpoint of radiolucency and strength. A radiation detector 42 for detecting radiation that is irradiated with radiation that has passed through the breast N and the imaging surface 20 is disposed inside the imaging table 22. The radiation detected by the radiation detector 42 is visualized and a radiation image is generated.

  The radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus capable of at least performing both CC imaging (imaging in the head-tail direction) and MLO imaging (imaging in the internal and external oblique directions) of the breast N. . FIG. 2 shows the attitude of the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 during CC imaging, and FIG. 3 shows the attitude of the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 during MLO imaging of the imaging apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, MLO imaging is performed by supporting the radiation irradiation unit 24 and inclining a support unit 29 that supports the imaging table 22 via the holding unit 28.

  As shown in FIG. 2, during CC imaging, the posture of the holding unit 28 is adjusted so that the imaging surface 20 faces upward, and the radiation irradiation unit 24 is positioned above the imaging surface 20. Thus, the posture of the support portion 29 is adjusted. Thereby, radiation is irradiated from the radiation irradiation unit 24 to the breast N from the head side to the foot side of the subject W in the standing position, and CC imaging (imaging in the head-tail direction) is performed.

  In addition, a chest wall surface 25 is formed on the surface of the imaging stand 22 on the front side of the apparatus so that the chest portion below the breast N of the subject W abuts during CC imaging. The chest wall surface 25 is flat.

  At the time of MLO shooting, as shown in FIG. 3, generally, the posture of the holding unit 28 is adjusted in a state where the shooting table 22 is rotated 45 ° or more and less than 90 ° compared to CC shooting, and the shooting table 22 is adjusted. The subject W is positioned so that the axilla of the subject W is applied to the side wall corner 22A on the front side of the apparatus. Thereby, the radiation is irradiated from the radiation irradiation unit 24 toward the breast N from the axial center side of the body of the subject W to the outside, and MLO imaging (imaging in the internal and external oblique directions) is performed.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the radiation image capturing system 5 according to the present embodiment.

  The radiographic image capturing system 5 includes the radiographic image capturing device 10 described above, a display device 80 that displays a captured radiographic image, and an indoor wall surface in which the radiographic image capturing device 10 is located. 10 is provided with a projector 82 for displaying the ratio of the compression value to the target compression value, which will be described in detail below, on a wall surface that can be visually recognized when the subject W turns his face sideways. In other words, the ratio is displayed by the projector 82 to notify the subject W of the ratio. The projector 82 is an example of a notification unit. Further, the projector 82 may be provided in the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10.

  The radiographic imaging apparatus 10 includes a radiation detector 42, an operation panel 44 to which various operation information such as exposure conditions and posture information and various operation instructions are input, and an imaging apparatus control unit that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. 46, a transmission I / F unit 48 that transmits various types of information between other devices, and a compression force detection sensor 58. The exposure condition includes a target compression value for breast compression at the time of imaging. The operation panel 44 is an example of a designation unit.

  The imaging device control unit 46 is a non-volatile storage unit (memory) including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, and the like. And is connected to the radiation irradiation unit 24, the radiation detector 42, the operation panel 44, the compression force detection sensor 58, and the transmission I / F unit 48.

  The exposure conditions specified on the operation panel 44 include information such as tube voltage, tube current, and irradiation time, and the target compression value as described above. The posture information specified on the operation panel 44 includes In addition, information indicating whether the photographing posture is CC photographing or MLO photographing, and the posture angle at the time of photographing (inclination angle of the photographing surface 20) are included when MLO photographing is performed. In addition, you may make it obtain various operation information, such as this exposure condition and attitude | position information, and various operation instructions from another control apparatus.

  The imaging device control unit 46 irradiates the imaging surface 20 with the radiation X from the radiation source 30 provided in the radiation irradiation unit 24 based on the exposure conditions. Note that the imaging device control unit 46 of the present embodiment gradually increases the size of the compression on the breast N to the target compression value by the compression plate 26, and the breast N is compressed with the specified target compression value. Imaging is performed by irradiating the radiation X in the state of being performed. Moreover, at the time of imaging | photography, the ratio alerting | reporting control process which demonstrates a detail below is performed. The ratio notification control processing program is stored in advance in a predetermined area of the ROM.

  The radiation detector 42 receives the irradiation of the radiation carrying the image information, records the image information, and outputs the recorded image information. For example, a radiation sensitive layer is disposed, and the radiation is converted into digital data. And output as an FPD (Flat Panel Detector). When the radiation is irradiated, the radiation detector 42 outputs image information indicating the irradiated radiation image to the imaging device control unit 46. In the present embodiment, the radiation detector 42 receives image radiation that has passed through the breast N to obtain image information indicating a radiation image.

  The imaging device control unit 46 is connected to the display device 80 and the projector 82 via the transmission I / F unit 48.

  Next, the operation of the radiographic image capturing system 5 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  When radiographic imaging is performed, the radiographic imaging apparatus 10 is designated by inputting exposure conditions and posture information to the operation panel 44.

  The subject W brings the breast N into contact with the imaging surface 20 of the radiographic imaging device 10. In this state, when an operation instruction for starting compression is given to the operation panel 44 in this state, the compression plate (pressing plate) 26 moves toward the imaging surface 20. When the compression plate 26 comes into contact with the breast N and further presses (presses), and the compression force (pressing force) of the compression plate 26 reaches the target compression force (set pressing force), the compression plate is controlled by the imaging device control unit 46. The movement of 26 stops.

  In this state, the radiation image capturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment irradiates the imaging surface 20 with radiation from the radiation source 30 of the radiation irradiation unit 24 when an operation start instruction is given to the operation panel 44. To do. The radiation irradiated from the radiation irradiator 24 reaches the radiation detector 42 after passing through the breast N.

  When radiation is irradiated, the radiation detector 42 outputs image information indicating the irradiated radiation image to the imaging device controller 46, respectively.

  The imaging device control unit 46 performs various processes such as shading correction on the image information indicating the captured radiation image, and the correction is performed on the display device 80 so that the radiation image indicated by the corrected image information is displayed. The later image information is output. As a result, a radiation image is displayed on the display device 80.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart showing the flow of the ratio notification control process of the ratio notification control process program executed by the CPU of the imaging device control unit 46 according to the present embodiment. Note that, as described above, the ratio notification control process is executed when radiographic images are captured.

  First, in step 100, the target compression value is derived. More specifically, the target compression value is derived by acquiring the target compression value specified by operating the operation panel 44.

  In the next step 102, a timer is started and time measurement is started.

  In the next step 104, it is determined whether or not the time measured by the timer (time indicated by the timer) has reached a predetermined time T or more. If it is determined in step 104 that the time (time indicated by the timer) measured by the timer is equal to or greater than the predetermined time T, the process proceeds to step 106. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 104 that the time (time indicated by the timer) measured by the timer is not equal to or greater than the predetermined time T (that is, the measured time is less than the predetermined time T), the step is again performed. The same determination is performed at 104. Thereby, the ratio which demonstrates a detail below is alert | reported by the predetermined time T space | interval, and the test subject W can recognize by the predetermined time T space | interval how much compression force will increase from now on.

  In the next step 106, the detection signal from the compression force detection sensor 58 is captured, and the compression value indicated by the captured detection signal is detected as the compression value for the current breast N.

  In the next step 108, the ratio of the compression value detected in step 106 to the target compression value derived in step 100 (the compression value detected in step 106) / (the target derived in step 100). Calculate the compression value)).

  In the next step 110, control is performed so that the ratio calculated in step 108 is notified. More specifically, in step 110, the wall surface in the room where the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 is located and visible when the subject W faces his face side to the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10. The projector 82 is controlled to display the ratio calculated in step 108. As a ratio to be displayed, a progress bar 84 indicating the ratio may be displayed as shown in FIG. 6A, or the ratio may be displayed as a percentage as shown in FIG. 6B. Thereby, the ratio is displayed on the wall surface, and the ratio is notified to the subject W. Thus, since the ratio of the compression value detected by the compression force detection sensor 58 with respect to the target compression value is notified by the projector 82 as an informing unit, the subject W can apply the current breast N to the compression force that becomes the target compression value. Knows the proportion of pressure that is being pressed, and does not strain more than necessary. Therefore, the subject can be relaxed at the time of photographing. 6A and 6B are examples of display when the ratio value calculated in step 108 is 0.46.

  In step 112, the timer is reset. In the next step 114, it is determined whether or not shooting has been completed. If it is determined in step 114 that shooting has not ended, the process returns to step 102 and the above-described processing is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 114 that the shooting has been completed, the ratio notification control process is terminated.

  The radiation image capturing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has been described above. According to the radiographic image capturing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to relax the subject during imaging.

  In addition, although the case where it applied to the radiographic image image | photographed by mammography was demonstrated in the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to this, You may apply to another radiographic image imaging device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where digital image information indicating a radiation image is directly obtained by the radiation detector 42 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an imaging plate or an X-ray film For example, digital image information may be obtained by irradiating a cassette or the like with a built-in component, etc., and reading an imaging plate or an X-ray film incorporated in the cassette.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the target compression value is derived by acquiring the target compression value designated by the operation of the operation panel 44 in step 100 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), a target compression value used in past imaging is stored for each subject in advance in a memory as a storage unit, and in step 100, the subject W stored in the memory in advance is stored. The target compression value may be derived by acquiring a value used as the target compression value in past imaging.

  In step 110, the sound generating means for generating sound may be used to control the sound generating means so as to notify the ratio by sound.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, a function indicating the relationship between the compression force and the thickness in the breast N from the magnitude E of the change in the thickness of the breast N when the applied compression force is changed from C to D. F is estimated, and the compression value of the compression force when the gradient H of the estimated tangent line G of the function F is approximately 0 (that is, 0 ≦ H <α, where α is a minute value) is predicted. The compressed pressure value (predicted value) may be derived as the target compression value. That is, in step 100, a predicted value that is predetermined based on a change in the thickness of the breast N with respect to a change in the compression value of the breast N by the compression plate 26 may be derived as the target compression value.

  In addition, the configurations of the radiographic image capturing system 5, the radiographic image capturing device 10, and the display device 80 described in the above embodiment are merely examples, and can be changed according to the situation without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say.

  The flow of the ratio notification control process of the ratio notification control processing program described in the above embodiment is also an example, and it goes without saying that it can be changed according to the situation without departing from the gist of the present invention.

5 Radiation Imaging System 10 Imaging Device 24 Radiation Irradiation Unit 30 Radiation Source 42 Radiation Detector 46 Imaging Device Control Unit 58 Compression Force Detection Sensor 80 Display Device 82 Projector N Breast W Subject

Claims (6)

An imaging table that comes into contact with the subject's breast on the imaging surface;
A radiation irradiating unit for irradiating the imaging surface with radiation;
An imaging unit that irradiates the imaging surface and captures a radiation image represented by radiation transmitted through the breast;
A compression plate for compressing the breast with the imaging table;
When performing imaging, the compression plate is controlled so that the breast is compressed with the target compression value, and the radiation irradiation unit is controlled so as to emit radiation to the breast compressed with the target compression value. A control unit;
A detection unit for detecting a compression value of the breast being compressed by the compression plate;
A notification control unit that controls the notification unit to notify the ratio of the compression value detected by the detection unit with respect to the target compression value;
A radiographic imaging apparatus comprising:   The radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the ratio at a predetermined time interval.   The radiographic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit displays the ratio or notifies the ratio by voice.   The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit displays the ratio on a wall surface in a room where the notification unit is located.   The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit displays a progress bar indicating the ratio.   The target compression value is a value designated by the designation means, a value used as a target compression value in the previous photographing of the subject stored in advance in the storage means, or a change in the compression value of the breast by the compression plate The radiographic image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predicted value is set in advance based on a change in the thickness of the breast with respect to the breast.

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