KR20130077807A - Digital mammography apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A digital mammography device is provided to offer convenience to patients and to improve the accuracy of photographing by increasing reliability for the compression operation of a compression pad. CONSTITUTION: A generator (30) emits x-ray and is installed in one end unit of a curved arm (20). A middle unit is connected to a column (10). A detector faces to the generator and is installed in other end unit of the curved arm. A compression pad (60) is located between the generator and the detector. A coupling block (110) is connected to the compression pad including an operation unit operating a belt to move the compression pad. A moving block (120) is movably combined with an elastic member. A movement sensing unit senses the movement of the coupling block and the moving block.

Description

[0001] DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS [0002]

The present invention relates to a digital mammography device for X-ray imaging of the breast, and more particularly, to improve the accuracy of the photographing by increasing the reliability in the compression operation of the compression pad, and to press the compression pad when a repulsive force above a predetermined value is detected. The present invention relates to a digital mammography device capable of providing a comfort to a patient when taking a picture by immediately releasing the pain or discomfort to the patient.

X-ray refers to short-wave electromagnetic waves corresponding to wavelengths of 0.01 nm to 10 nm and frequencies of 30X10 ¹⁵ Hz to 30X10 ¹⁸ Hz. X-rays are radiographs that project and display the inside of a subject with high transmission power of X-rays. It is called radiography.

As is well known, x-rays are accompanied by attenuation due to the material, density, and thickness of an object such as compton scattering and photoelectric effect during the process of transmitting an object.

Therefore, the x-ray photographing uses a dedicated x-ray system for projecting the inside of the object to be photographed on a plane based on the amount of attenuation of the accumulated x-rays during the process of passing through the object to be photographed.

In recent years, X-ray imaging technology has been combined with the semiconductor sector, and instead of the traditional analog method using film, digital X-ray imaging technology has various advantages such as relatively high resolution, wide dynamic range, easy generation of electrical signals, and simple data processing and storage. It is rapidly evolving, and digital-based imaging technology strongly reflects the clinical and environmental needs of early diagnosis of diseases based on the excellent diagnostic capabilities of digital imaging.

Accordingly, the digital mammogram, a breast-only X-ray imaging technology that can detect lesions and microcalcifications for breast cancer detection and early diagnosis by expressing the internal structure of the breast with high resolution images by utilizing the unique biological tissue contrast ability of X-rays. Photography. "

Such digital mammography is rapidly spreading through various features of digital X-ray imaging technology and its unique features such as enlargement of image, decrease of number of photographs, increase of resolution, and minimization of exposure by adjusting brightness and contrast ratio. Hereinafter, "mammograph apparatus" refers to a digital method, which has the same meaning consistently herein.

A typical mammography apparatus includes a columnar column perpendicular to the floor; A C-arm having an intermediate portion bent in an arc shape facing each other with the middle portion being rotatably connected and lifted along the column, and having an overall C shape or similar shape; A generator mounted to one end of the C arm to irradiate the X-ray toward the other end thereof; A detector mounted to the other end of the C arm to face the generator; And a compression pad linearly reciprocating between the generator and the detector along the inner surface of the C arm.

In such a mammography device, when the patient enters the imaging position, the C arm is elevated and rotated along the column to adjust the height and angle so that the patient's breast is in the desired position on the detector, and the compression pad moves in the detector direction. When the breast is pressed, X-rays are radiated from the generator and received by the detector.

The detector generates an electric signal for each position proportional to the incident amount of the X-ray. When the electric signal and the position information are read and processed by an image processing algorithm, the detector may obtain an X-ray image of the breast for the corresponding angle. The above process is repeated while the generator and the detector are rotated face to face with the breast in between, thereby the mammography apparatus obtains a high resolution image of the patient's breast from various angles.

In a typical mammography device that exhibits the above photographing principle, a key driving mechanism for minimizing patient discomfort and obtaining high quality X-ray images is a compression operation of a compression pad. That is, the compression pad is directly related to pain or discomfort that the patient feels as a direct pressure is applied to the breast during X-ray imaging.

However, conventionally, when the compression pad presses the breast placed on the test plate, more pressure may be applied, thereby causing the patient to suffer. In particular, since patients have different breast sizes and densities, they have to be applied at an appropriate pressure, but there is a problem in that they cannot be accurately and reliably controlled.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for an improvement method capable of increasing the reliability of the pressing operation of the pressing pad and precisely and accurately controlling the pressing operation.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problems, and improves the accuracy of the photographing by increasing the reliability of the pressing operation of the pressing pad, and releases the pressing operation when detecting the repulsive force above a predetermined value. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital mammography device that can provide a comfort to a patient when taking a picture by preventing or minimizing pain or discomfort to a patient.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a digital mammography apparatus which can improve the photographing reliability while allowing the degree of compression to be automatically and optimally controlled according to different breast sizes of each patient.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vertical column, a C arm having an intermediate portion connected to the column and bent to face each other, a generator mounted at one end of the C arm and irradiating X-rays, and the C arm. A detector mounted to the other end of the detector and opposed to the generator, a compression pad between the generator and the detector, and driving means installed on the C arm to drive the belt to reciprocate linearly between the generator and the detector. A digital mammography device comprising: a coupling block to which the compression pad is connected; A moving block connected to the belt and coupled to the coupling block via a spring so as to be relatively movable; And a relative movement detecting means for detecting a relative movement of the coupling block and the moving block, and when the relative movement of a predetermined reference or more is detected, the digital mammography apparatus controls the driving means.

In this case, the relative movement detecting means, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit which is installed in any one of the coupling block or the moving block, and installed in the other of the coupling block or the moving block and the light emission by the relative movement An optical sensor unit including a pin selectively blocking the portion and the light receiving portion; Or at least one of a magnetic installed in any one of the coupling block or the moving block, and a magnetic sensor unit installed in the other of the coupling block or the moving block to sense the magnetic field strength of the magnetic. The driving means may include a motor and the belt rotated by the motor to stop or reverse the motor when a relative movement of the predetermined reference or more is detected.

The digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, the present invention can provide a comfort to the patient at the time of shooting by preventing or minimizing the pain or discomfort to the patient by releasing the pressing operation when detecting the repulsive force above a predetermined value in the compression process of the compression pad, There is an effect of improving the accuracy of the shooting by increasing the reliability of the compression operation.

In addition, according to the present invention, the degree of compression can be automatically controlled optimally according to different breast sizes or densities of each patient, and there is an effect of improving imaging reliability.

In addition, the present invention detects and judges whether the pressing pad stops the pressing operation by a mechanical mechanism, so that even when there is a power supply failure such as a power failure, a reliable operation is possible. Since the sensor detects it, the possibility of malfunction can be reduced, and accurate operation can be performed, thereby significantly improving the shooting efficiency.

1 is a perspective view showing a digital mammography apparatus having a pressure sensing means according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the drive means and the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a front perspective view showing the configuration of the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 5 is a rear perspective view showing the configuration of the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 6 is a side view showing the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6.
8 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the drive means showing the configuration of the pressure sensing means of the present invention.
9 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the driving means for explaining the configuration of the optical sensor unit of the distance sensing sensor module constituting the relative movement detecting means according to the present invention.
Figure 10 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional perspective view of the drive means for explaining the configuration of the magnetic sensor unit of the distance sensing sensor module constituting the relative movement detecting means according to the present invention.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is capable of various modifications and various embodiments, and the examples described below and illustrated in the drawings are intended to limit the invention to specific embodiments It is to be understood that the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components may be present in between. Should be. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "comprises" or "having" and the like refer to the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

Also, the terms " part, "" unit," " module, "and the like, which are described in the specification, refer to a unit for processing at least one function or operation, Software. ≪ / RTI >

In the following description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and redundant explanations thereof will be omitted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

Hereinafter, a digital mammography apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the drive means and pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention.

The digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention comprises a column 10; A C arm (20) having an intermediate portion bent in an arc shape facing each other in a state in which the middle portion is lifted and rotatably connected to each other and having a C shape or a similar shape as a whole; A generator 30 mounted to one end of the C arm 20 to irradiate the X-ray toward the other end thereof; A detector 40 mounted to the other end of the C arm 20 to face the generator 30; A compression pad 60 linearly reciprocating between the generator 30 and the detector 40 along the inner surface of the middle portion of the C arm 20; Drive means (70) for driving the compression pad (60); And pressure sensing means 100 which is installed between the pressure pad 60 and the driving means 70 and detects the pressure operation of the pressure pad 60 to control the operation of the driving means 70.

In the digital mammography apparatus of the present invention, components other than the main components such as the driving means and the pressure sensing means may apply general components, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

The column 10 has a column shape perpendicular to the bottom, and an extension portion 21 extending from the middle portion of the C arm 20 is liftably coupled thereto.

The C arm 20 is rotatably coupled to the extension part 21 with a vertical connection part 22 connecting two opposite ends and the other end.

The generator 30 includes an optical system such as a collimator for generating X-rays by colliding electrons having high kinetic energy with a target of metal, and controlling the irradiation direction or the irradiation area of the X-rays.

The detector 40 is a direct conversion method for obtaining an electrical signal directly from the X-ray without an intermediate step according to the X-ray conversion method or an indirect conversion method for obtaining an indirect electric signal by the visible light by converting the X-ray into visible light. General technical information can be applied widely.

The pressing pad 60 presses the breast placed on the detector 40 at a predetermined pressure, and photographs the breast in the pressed state with the generator 30 and the detector 40.

Next, the driving means 70 is configured to drive the pressing pad 40 up and down and is installed at the vertical connection portion 22 of the C arm 20.

The pressure sensing means 100 detects the repulsive force when the pressure pad 60 is moved to the breast side by the driving means 70 to apply a predetermined pressure or more, and the operation of the driving means 70 is based on the detection result. It is configured to control.

The driving means 70 and the pressure sensing means 100, which are the main components of the present invention, will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

3 is a front perspective view showing the configuration of the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention. 5 is a rear perspective view showing the configuration of the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a side view showing the pressure sensing means constituting the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention. It is a cross-sectional block diagram along the AA line of FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the drive means 70 showing the configuration of the pressure sensing means of the present invention.

The drive means 70 includes a moving member and a driving member for driving the moving member.

Specifically, the drive means 70 comprises a pair of horizontal brackets 71; A guide shaft 72 installed perpendicular to and parallel to the horizontal bracket 71; A guide block (73) installed on the guide shaft (72), to which components of the pressure sensing means (100) to be described below are coupled; A belt 74 for moving the guide block 73 and the pressure sensing means 100; And a drive motor and a gear box 75 for driving the belt 74.

Next, the pressure sensing means 100 comprises a moving block 120 fixed to the belt 74; A coupling block 110 to which the movable block 120 is coupled so as to be movable relative to one side and a compression pad 60 is coupled to the other side; Relative movement detecting means for sensing a relative movement between the coupling block and the moving block; And a controller (not shown) that receives the detection signal of the relative movement detecting means and controls the driving means 70.

In the embodiment shown in the figure, the coupling block 110 is formed with a groove 110a into which the movable block 120 is slidably inserted, and the movement of the coupling block 110 in the groove 110a of the coupling block 110. The block 120 is elastically supported by elastic means, such as the spring 140.

It can be seen that the direction in which the moving block 110 is elastically supported to be relatively movable to the coupling block 110 is the movement direction of the pressing pad 60.

In this way, the coupling block 110 and the moving block 120 are coupled to be relatively movable through an elastic means such as the spring 140.

Guide members are formed for smooth relative movement of the coupling block 110 and the moving block 120. For example, the guide members may include guide ribs 151 protruding from both sides of the moving block 120; And guide grooves 152 formed at both sides of the groove 110a of the coupling block 110. Here, the guide rib 151 and the guide groove 152 may be formed in the coupling block and the moving block, respectively.

The relative movement detecting means includes at least one distance sensing sensor module installed at the coupling block 110 and the movement block 120.

The distance sensing sensor module will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

9 is a configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of the optical sensor unit of the distance sensing sensor module constituting the relative movement detecting means according to the present invention, Figure 10 is a distance sensing sensor module constituting the relative movement detecting means according to the present invention It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the magnetic sensor unit of this.

The distance sensing sensor module may include a photo sensor unit 131, a magnetic sensor unit 132, or an ultrasonic sensor unit.

First, the optical sensor unit 131 of the distance detecting sensor module is fixed to the moving block 120 and the light emitting part and the light receiving part 131a fixed to the coupling block 110 as shown in FIG. 9. And a pin 131b that selectively blocks the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit according to the relative movement between the coupling block 110 and the moving block 120.

Next, the magnetic sensor unit 132 of the distance sensing sensor module is fixed to the magnetic block 132a and the coupling block 110 as shown in FIG. 10 and the coupling block 110. The magnetic sensor 132b detects a magnetic change of the magnetic body according to the relative movement between the 110 and the moving block 120.

The controller executes a control operation such as forward rotation, reverse rotation or stop of the drive motor 76 of the driving means 70 according to the detection result detected by the distance detection sensor. The controller may be configured as a separate controller, and preferably may be configured in a main controller that controls the overall digital mammography apparatus.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 112 denotes various components for fixing the pressure pad 60 to the coupling block 110, and reference numeral 121 denotes a moving block 120 that is separated from the coupling block 110. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 133 denotes a circuit board that receives a detection signal from the optical sensor unit 131 and the magnetic sensor unit 132 and transmits the detected signal to a controller (not shown). Reference numeral 134 denotes packing for fixing the magnetic 132a to the moving block 120.

Referring to the operation of the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention as follows.

When the patient enters the imaging position of the mammography apparatus according to the present invention, the C arm 20 is elevated and rotated along the column 10 so that the patient's breast is positioned at the desired position on the detector 40. Adjust. Then, the pressure pad 60 moves in the direction of the detector 40 through the driving means 70 to press the breast with a predetermined pressing force, and the X-ray is irradiated from the generator 30 while the pressing operation is stopped to detect the detector. 40 is received.

The above process may be repeated while the generator 30 and the detector 40 rotate face to face with the breast interposed therebetween, whereby the mammography apparatus according to the present invention obtains a high resolution image of the breast of the patient from various angles.

Here, when the pressing pad 60 is moved in the direction of the detector 40 by the driving means 70 to pressurize the breast, if a predetermined or more repulsive force is applied to the pressing pad 28, the moving block 120 is applied. Coupling block 110 relative to the relative movement, relative movement detection means detects the relative movement between the coupling block 110 and the movement block 120.

For example, two or more sensors of the optical sensor unit 131, the magnetic sensor unit 132, or the ultrasonic sensor may detect the relative movement between the coupling block 110 and the movement block 120 in different ways and provide the controller with the controller. Will be delivered.

Accordingly, the controller provided with the sensing signal of the relative movement detecting means suffers the patient by mitigating the pressing action (pressing force) by stopping or preferably rotating the driving motor 76 of the driving means 70. Do not feel discomfort or minimize.

As described above, referring to the method for controlling mammography in the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention, the digital mammography apparatus includes a compression pad 60 and a driving means 70 for driving the compression pad 60. An imaging control method of photographing a breast by using the method, comprising: moving the compression pad (60) to the breast side; Detecting whether a predetermined or more repulsive force is applied to the compression pad (60); Controlling to stop or reverse move the compression pad based on the detection result.

Here, detecting whether or not a repulsive force is applied to the pressing pad 60 is a pressure sensing means for connecting the pressing pad 60 and the driving means 70, the coupling on the pressing pad 60 side The block 110 and the moving block 120 on the driving means side are configured to be movable relative to each other, and the driving means is controlled by detecting the relative movement through at least one distance sensing sensor.

As described above, the digital mammography apparatus according to the present invention immediately stops or reverses (reverses) the compression operation when a predetermined or more repulsive force is applied to the compression pad while the compression pad presses the patient's breast, thereby causing pain or discomfort to the patient. Prevention or minimization can provide patient comfort.

In addition, the present invention can improve the photographing reliability while allowing the optimum degree of compression can be automatically controlled according to the different breast size of each patient.

In addition, the present invention detects and judges whether the compression pad is stopped by a mechanical mechanism, so that reliable operation is possible even when there is an abnormality in power supply such as a power failure. It can reduce the possibility of malfunction and enable accurate operation, which significantly improves the shooting efficiency.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes within the scope not departing from the technical spirit of the present invention are possible in the art. It will be evident to those who have knowledge of.

10: column 20: C-arm
30: Generator 40: Detector
60: pressure pad 70: drive means
76: drive motor 100: pressure sensing means
110: coupling block 120: moving block
131: optical sensor unit 132: magnetic sensor unit
140: spring 151: guide rib
152: guide groove

Claims (3)

A vertical column, a C arm having an intermediate portion connected to the column and bent to face each other, a generator mounted at one end of the C arm and irradiating X-rays, mounted at the other end of the C arm and opposed to the generator A digital mammography apparatus comprising a detector, a compression pad between the generator and the detector, and driving means mounted on the C arm and driving the belt to linearly reciprocate the compression pad between the generator and the detector.
A coupling block to which the compression pad is connected;
A moving block connected to the belt and coupled to the coupling block via a spring so as to be relatively movable; And
Relative movement detecting means for detecting the relative movement of the coupling block and the moving block,
Controlling the driving means when the relative movement over a certain reference is detected
Digital mammography device.
The method of claim 1,
The relative movement detecting means,
A light emitting unit and a light receiving unit provided in any one of the coupling block or the moving block, and a pin installed in the other of the coupling block or the moving block and selectively blocking the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit by the relative movement. Optical sensor unit comprising a; or
At least one of a magnetic installed in any one of the coupling block or the moving block and a magnetic sensor unit installed in the other of the coupling block or the moving block to sense the magnetic field strength of the magnetic;
Digital mammography device.
The method of claim 1,
The driving means includes a motor and the belt rotated by the motor to stop or reverse the motor when a relative movement of the predetermined reference or more is detected.
Digital mammography device.

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