JP2016112025A - Imaging apparatus and controlling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus with which position adjustment of breast may be easily carried out while reducing photographer's burden.SOLUTION: A device comprises: a breast photographing bed 111 comprises X-ray source radiating X-ray to breast of a subject, X-ray detecting part detecting X-ray penetrated breast and an opening part 115 into which breast is inserted; a moving top plate 121 arranged on an upper surface of the breast photographing bed 111; an air mat arranged on the moving top plate 121 and lifting the subject from the moving top plate 121; and an air controlling device 117 controlling air supplied to the air mat.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus that captures an image of a breast of a subject and a control method thereof. In the description of the present specification, an example in which X-rays are applied as radiation in the present invention is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as radiation, α rays, β rays, γ Lines etc. are also included.

  In the conventional so-called mammography, in order to obtain a good image quality, the breast is sandwiched with a compression plate and flattened to obtain an X-ray image, which may cause pain to the subject. In addition, since the obtained X-ray image is a two-dimensional image, it may be difficult to discriminate these when a tumor part or calcification overlaps an object forming an X-ray image such as a mammary gland. It was.

  In order to eliminate such inconveniences, the following Patent Document 1 discloses that an X-ray generator and an X-ray generator are inserted into the breast by inserting a breast through an opening provided in the bed with a subject lying on the bed. A breast tomographic imaging apparatus that rotates an X-ray detector to capture an X-ray image (tomographic image) of the breast has been proposed.

  In addition, as a technique for taking an image of the subject by placing the subject on a bed, the following Patent Document 2 includes an opening that penetrates from one surface to the opposite surface, and the opening. A gantry for accommodating the subject from inside and collecting in-vivo information of the subject, a top plate for placing the subject and transporting it to the opening of the gantry, and the top plate to and from the gantry There has been proposed a medical image diagnostic apparatus including a bed apparatus provided with a bed body that is movably supported.

JP 2010-69241 A Japanese Patent No. 5196663

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the X-ray source and the detection unit are rotated around the breast, the X-ray source emits X-rays, and the detection unit detects radiation that has passed through the breast. In order to photograph an image, it is necessary to photograph either the left or right breast of the subject alone. However, depending on the medical condition, it may be difficult for the subject to easily align the breast by himself from the prone position. In this case, the imaging technician must move the subject, There was a problem that the burden on the engineer increased.

  In this regard, with the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to easily align the breast. In the first place, the technique described in Patent Document 2 does not assume a breast as a subject to be examined, and it is difficult to obtain a good image of the breast.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of easily aligning the breast while reducing the burden on the imaging technician.

An image capturing apparatus of the present invention includes a radiation source that irradiates a subject's breast with radiation, and a detection unit that detects radiation transmitted through the breast, wherein the radiation source and the detection unit are included in the breast. An image capturing apparatus that captures an image of the breast by irradiating the radiation from the radiation source while rotating around and detecting the radiation transmitted through the breast by the detection unit. A housing including an opening for inserting the breast, a top plate provided on an upper surface of the housing, and a top plate provided on the top plate so as to float the subject from the top plate An air mat for controlling the air supplied to the air mat.
According to another aspect of the image capturing apparatus of the present invention, a light source that irradiates a subject's breast with a near-infrared laser beam, and an ultrason that is generated when the near-infrared laser beam is irradiated onto the breast. An image capturing apparatus that captures an image of the breast by irradiating the near-infrared laser light from the light source and detecting the ultrasound by the detection unit, A housing including a light source and the detection unit and having an opening for inserting the breast; a top plate provided on an upper surface of the housing; and a top plate provided on the top plate, the subject being placed on the top plate And an air control device for controlling the air supplied to the air mat.
The present invention also includes a method for controlling the image capturing apparatus described above.

  According to the present invention, breast alignment can be easily performed while reducing the burden on the imaging technician.

It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance of the imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of schematic structure of the imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the upper surface structure of the movable top plate shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the lower surface structure of the movable top plate shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the raising / lowering direction of the upper surface of the head air mat shown in FIG. 3, and the upper surface of an abdominal part air mat. It is a figure which shows an example of an internal structure of the bed for mammography shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the 1st process in the imaging | photography preparation procedure of a subject's breast. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the 2nd process in the imaging | photography preparation procedure of a subject's breast. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the 3rd process in the imaging | photography preparation procedure of a subject's breast. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the 4th process in the imaging | photography preparation procedure of a test subject's breast. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the 5th process in the imaging | photography preparation procedure of a subject's breast. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance of the bed for mammography of the image imaging device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the 3rd process in the imaging | photography preparation procedure of a test subject's breast. It is a figure which shows an example of schematic structure of the imaging device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of schematic structure of the imaging device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of an image capturing apparatus 100-1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The prone posture of the subject 200 shown in FIG. 1 is less likely to cause body motion of the subject 200 during the imaging of the breast 201 (specifically, a tomographic image). Since it is relatively small to impose an unreasonable posture, the burden on the subject 200 during photographing is small. Therefore, it is an advantageous imaging method that makes it easy for a radiographer to easily obtain an X-ray image with good image quality.

  FIG. 1 shows an X-ray source (radiation source) that irradiates X-ray (radiation) to a breast 201 (subject) that is a part of a subject and is an examination target, and an X-ray that has passed through the breast 201 A mammography bed 111 is shown which is an enclosure including an X-ray detection unit for detecting the inside and an opening 115 for inserting the breast 201 on the upper surface. The mammography bed 111 is one configuration of the image photographing apparatus 100-1.

  Specifically, in FIG. 1, the subject 200 is placed above the mammography bed 111, and the breast 201 is arranged near the opening 115 formed on the upper surface (upper part) of the mammography bed 111. Represents the situation.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the image capturing device 100-1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image capturing apparatus 100-1 includes an input unit 110, a mammography bed 111, a subject mounting step 112, a wheel 113 with a mammography bed fixing mechanism, a housing 114 with a built-in imaging mechanism, an air Supply source 116, air control device 117, abdominal air mat air piping 118, head air mat air piping 119, moving top plate air piping 120, moving top plate 121, moving top plate air supply unit 126, head air mat air supply It has the part 135 and the abdominal part air mat air supply part 136, and is comprised.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a top surface configuration of the movable top plate 121 illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the same components as those shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a breast hanging hole 122 for hanging the left and right breasts 201 of the subject 200 is provided substantially in front of the center of the movable top plate 121. In addition, on a predetermined area on the upper surface of the movable top plate 121 (specifically, in front of and behind the breast dropping hole 122), the head and abdomen of the subject 200 having the breast 201 are supported, respectively. A head air mat 123 and an abdominal air mat 124 for floating the examiner 200 from the movable top plate 121 are provided. The head air mat air supply unit 135 is a mechanism for supplying air to the head air mat 123. The abdomen air mat air supply unit 136 is a mechanism for supplying air to the abdomen air mat 124.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the lower surface configuration of the movable top plate 121 illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those shown in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 4, an air blowing hole 125 is provided on the lower surface of the movable top plate 121 in addition to the above-described breast hanging hole 122. Specifically, a mobile top plate internal air circulation hole (172 in FIG. 9 to be described later) is configured inside the mobile top plate 121 so that air can flow therethrough. Air blowing holes 125 are formed. The moving top plate air supply unit 126 is a mechanism for supplying air to the air blowing holes 125 provided on the lower surface of the moving top plate 121.

Here, it returns to description of FIG. 2 again.
The mammography bed 111 is supported by a wheel 113 with a mammography bed fixing mechanism so as to be movable and lockable. In the mammography bed 111, the subject 200 can be placed on the upper surface of the movable top plate 121 by the subject mounting step 112. The mammography bed 111 is provided with an imaging mechanism built-in housing 114 in which an X-ray imaging system is incorporated, and an opening 115 is arranged at the imaging center so that the breast 201 of the subject 200 is in the imaging area. Can be imported. In addition, a movable top plate 121 having a breast hanging hole 122 is mounted above the upper surface of the mammography bed 111.

  An abdominal air mat air pipe 118 that is detachably and flexibly movable is provided on the side of the movable top plate 121 via an abdominal air mat air supply unit 136. A head air mat air pipe 119 that is detachable and can be moved flexibly is provided on the side of the movable top plate 121 via a head air mat air supply unit 135. Further, a movable top plate air pipe 120 that is detachable and can be moved flexibly is provided on the side of the movable top plate 121 via a movable top plate air supply unit 126.

  The air control device 117 supplies controlled air to each air pipe of the abdomen air mat air pipe 118, the head air mat air pipe 119, and the moving top plate air pipe 120. The air control device 117 is connected to an air supply source 116 that supplies air. Also, the air control device 117 is connected to an input unit 110 through which a photographing engineer performs various operation inputs.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the elevation direction of the upper surface of the head air mat 123 and the upper surface of the abdominal air mat 124 shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the same components as those shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the head air mat upper surface 131, which is the upper surface of the head air mat 123, varies in the head air mat upper surface ascending / descending direction 133 according to the amount of air supplied from the head air mat air supply unit 135. . For example, the head air mat upper surface 131 rises when the amount of air supplied from the head air mat air supply unit 135 increases, and falls when the amount of air supplied from the head air mat air supply unit 135 decreases.

  In FIG. 5, the abdominal air mat upper surface 132, which is the upper surface of the abdominal air mat 124, varies in the abdominal air mat upper surface ascending / descending direction 134 according to the amount of air supplied from the abdominal air mat air supply unit 136. For example, the abdomen air mat upper surface 132 rises when the amount of air supplied from the abdomen air mat air supply unit 136 increases, and falls when the amount of air supply from the abdomen air mat air supply unit 136 decreases.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the mammography bed 111 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 6, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  Inside the mammography bed 111, as shown in FIG. 6, an X-ray source (radiation source) 141, an X-ray source support unit 144, an X-ray detection unit 145, an X-ray detection unit support unit 146, a breast monitoring camera 147, the rotary disk 149, and the rotation drive part 150 are comprised.

  Specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which an image of the breast 201 of the subject 200 captured in the imaging area by the alignment mechanism is captured. The breast monitoring camera 147 is a camera for confirming that the breast 201 of the subject 200 captured in the imaging area has reached the target position, and captures an image of the breast 201. The breast monitoring area 148 of the breast 201 is set by the breast monitoring camera 147.

  The X-ray source 141 irradiates the subject's breast 201 with X-rays. The X-ray detection unit 145 detects X-rays that have passed through the breast 201. The rotation drive unit 150 is fixed at a predetermined position on the mammography bed 111, and a rotation disk 149 is connected to the rotation drive unit 150. Specifically, the rotation driving unit 150 is fixed to the imaging mechanism built-in housing 114. On the rotating disk 149, an X-ray source 141 is fixed via an X-ray source support part 144, and an X-ray detection part 145 is fixed via an X-ray detection part support part 146. For example, when the rotary disk 149 is rotated in the rotation direction 151 by the rotation driving unit 150, the X-ray source 141 and the X-ray detection unit 145 mounted on the rotary disk 149 are integrated around the breast 201. Rotate.

  The image capturing apparatus 100-1 according to the present embodiment irradiates X-rays from the X-ray source 141 while rotating the X-ray source 141 and the X-ray detection unit 145 around the breast 201 and causes the X-ray detection unit 145 to perform irradiation. An image of the breast 201 is taken by detecting X-rays transmitted through the breast 201.

Next, a shooting preparation procedure will be described.
The image capturing apparatus 100-1 according to the present embodiment performs alignment of the breast 201 in the order shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows the first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing an example of the first step in the preparation procedure for photographing the breast 201 of the subject.
First, as a first step, in FIG. 7, the subject 200 is placed on the moving top plate 121 arranged on the mammography bed 111 from the subject mounting step 112 and takes a prone posture. . Then, the subject 200 inserts the right breast 201 approximately in the vicinity of the opening 115. This is the end of the work for the subject 200 to perform, and the subsequent work is performed by the radiographer who performs X-ray imaging.

FIG. 8 shows the first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing an example of the second step in the imaging preparation procedure for the breast 201 of the subject.
As the second step, in FIG. 8, the radiographer raises the head air mat upper surface 161 and the upper surface of the abdominal air mat so that the imaging technician places the maximum protruding portion of the breast 201 above the upper surface of the movable top plate 121 from the input unit 110. Information on the amount of movement in the upward direction 162 is input. In response to the information on the amount of movement, the air control device 117 performs control to supply air corresponding to the amount of movement from the air supply source 116 to the head air mat 123 via the head air mat air supply unit 135. . At the same time, the air control device 117 performs control to supply air corresponding to the amount of movement from the air supply source 116 to the abdominal air mat 124 via the abdominal air mat air supply unit 136. As a result, the head air mat upper surface 131 rises in the head air mat upper surface rising direction 161, and the abdominal air mat upper surface 132 rises in the abdominal air mat upper surface rising direction 162. At this time, the air control device 117 synchronizes the rising states of the head air mat upper surface 131 and the abdominal air mat upper surface 132 and controls the rising speed and the rising amount.
By this series of operations, the subject 200 is not obstructed when moving horizontally.

FIG. 9 shows the first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing an example of the third step in the imaging preparation procedure for the breast 201 of the subject.
As a third step, in FIG. 9, air is supplied between the lower surface of the movable top plate 121 and the upper surface of the mammography bed 111 so that the movable top plate 121 is slightly lifted.
Specifically, when the imaging engineer inputs information on a flying command by air from the input unit 110, the air control device 117 controls the air blown from the air blowing hole 125 provided on the lower surface of the moving top plate 121 to move the moving sky. The plate 121 is lifted from the mammography bed 111. More specifically, the high-pressure air supplied from the air supply source 116 is adjusted to an appropriate flying pressure by the air control device 117. The adjusted supply air 171 is guided to the mobile top plate air supply unit 126 via the mobile top plate air pipe 120 and then sent into the mobile top plate internal air circulation hole 172 inside the mobile top plate 121. The adjusted supply air 171 passes through the moving top plate internal air circulation hole 172 and is blown out from the air blowing hole 125 to the entire lower surface of the moving top plate 121 as high-pressure (positive pressure) blowing air 173. The blown air 173 enters the entire gap between the lower surface of the moving top plate 121 and the upper surface of the mammography bed 111 and flows toward the end surface of the moving top plate 121. At this time, a uniform minute gap 174 is created between the upper surface of the mammography bed 111 and the lower surface of the movable top plate 121.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the fourth step in the imaging preparation procedure of the subject's breast 201 according to the first embodiment of this invention.
As the fourth step, in FIG. 10, for example, the moving top plate 121 slightly floated by the photographing engineer is adjusted to a position suitable for photographing the breast 201. Specifically, first, for example, the imaging engineer checks how much the position of the breast 201 above the movable top plate 121 is with respect to the opening 115. Subsequently, for example, the radiographer determines the correction direction and the correction amount of the position, and the subject head side movement direction 181, the subject foot side movement direction 182, the subject right side movement direction 183, and the subject left side movement. The movable top plate 121 is manually moved in each direction of the direction 184 for positioning. At this time, for example, the photographing engineer can move the movable top plate 121 with almost no resistance thanks to the minute gap 174. Subsequently, when the imaging engineer inputs information on the fixing instruction of the movable top plate 121 from the input unit 110, the air control device 117 switches the air from the air blowing hole 125 from positive pressure to negative pressure to eliminate the minute gap 174. . As a result, the position of the movable top plate 121 is fixed by bringing it into close contact with the mammography bed 111.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the fifth step in the imaging preparation procedure of the breast 201 of the subject according to the first embodiment of this invention.
As a fifth step, in FIG. 11, the imaging engineer inputs information on a command to lower the subject 200 to the upper surface of the movable top plate 121 from the input unit 110. In response to this command information, the air control device 117 controls the air supplied to the head air mat 123 and the abdominal air mat 124. Specifically, the air control device 117 performs control to slowly lower the head air mat upper surface 131 in the head air mat upper surface lowering direction 186, and slowly lowers the abdominal air mat upper surface 132 in the abdominal air mat upper surface lowering direction 185. To control. At this time, for example, the air control device 117 lowers the head air mat upper surface 131 and the abdominal air mat upper surface 132 to the position of the upper surface of the movable top plate 121.

  The breast 201 on the right side of the subject 200 is placed in the imaging area in the opening 115 through the first to fifth steps. With the operations so far, preparation for imaging of the breast 201 on the right side of the subject 200 is completed.

Next, the operation proceeds to an imaging operation for the breast 201 on the right side of the subject 200.
When moving to the imaging operation, first, the rotation driving unit 150 shown in FIG. 6 rotates the rotating disk 149 in, for example, the rotating direction 151 (or in the reverse direction), and the X-rays mounted on the rotating disk 149. The source 141 and the X-ray detector 145 start to rotate together. At the same time, the X-ray source 141 starts X-ray irradiation from the X-ray focal point 142 to the X-ray irradiation field 143. The irradiated X-ray passes through the breast 201 whose position has been adjusted, and is detected by the X-ray detector 145. Then, the X-ray image detected by the X-ray detection unit 145 is converted into an electric signal by the X-ray detection unit 145, for example, and converted into data as an X-ray image. This series of operations is continuously performed, and X-ray image data from the X-ray detection unit 145 is read at any time while synchronizing with the rotation driving unit 150 at specific intervals.

  Thereafter, a calculation is performed based on each X-ray image data read from the X-ray detection unit 145 and each rotation angle data of the rotating disk 149, and a reconstruction process is performed so that a stereoscopic image is obtained. 3D images and tomographic images are obtained. Furthermore, as a method for improving the accuracy of the stereoscopic image, a large amount of X-ray image data is obtained by reading out the X-ray image data at high speed at a finer pitch about the entire circumference of the rotating disk 149, and the acquired X-ray image data By reconstructing, a more accurate stereoscopic image can be obtained.

  When the imaging operation for the right breast 201 is completed, the process proceeds to imaging preparation for the left breast 201. Hereinafter, a procedure for preparing for photographing the left breast 201 will be described.

  When the preparation for photographing the left breast 201 is started, the process returns to the second step described with reference to FIG. In the imaging preparation procedure for the left breast 201, the second process described using FIG. 8 and the third process described using FIG. 9 are the same as the imaging preparation procedure for the right breast 201 described above. is there. Further, the fourth process described with reference to FIG. 9 is different only in that the movement is greatly performed from the right breast 201 to the left breast 201. The fifth process described with reference to FIG. 10 is the same, and the left breast 201 is arranged in the imaging area in the opening 115. With the operation so far, preparation for imaging of the left breast 201 of the subject 200 is completed.

Next, the operation proceeds to the imaging operation of the breast 201 on the left side of the subject 200.
The imaging operation of the left breast 201 is performed in exactly the same process as the imaging operation of the right breast 201 described above.

The image capturing apparatus 100-1 according to the first embodiment performs the following processing. That is, when the breast 201 is moved, the air control device 117 controls the air blown out from the air blowing hole 125 provided on the lower surface of the moving top plate 121 to lift the moving top plate 121 from the mammography bed 111. (See FIG. 9). Further, when the breast 201 is moved, the air control device 117 controls the air supplied to the head air mat 123 and the abdomen air mat 124 so that the subject 200 floats from the moving top plate 121. (See FIG. 8).
According to such a configuration, it is possible to easily replace the left and right breasts and to align the breasts that are part of the subject and to be examined while reducing the burden on the imaging technician (see, for example, FIG. 10). ).

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, one type of imaging is not performed for one breast without performing two types of imaging of CC (head-to-tail imaging) and MLO (inside / outside oblique imaging) as in conventional mammography. A tomographic image of the entire breast can be acquired by imaging. Further, according to the first embodiment, unlike the conventional mammography, it is not necessary to sandwich the breast between two compression plates and make it extremely thin, so that there is no concern that the subject will be painful. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, when the subject is put on the mammography bed 111, the air mats 123 and 124 are provided, so that the subject can be placed softly on the mammography bed 111. It can also give a sense of security to the subject. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to acquire a tomographic image or the like that can detect early detection of a breast mass, microcalcification, or the like.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment described below, description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment described above will be omitted, and parts different from those of the first embodiment described above will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of a mammography bed 191 of the image capturing apparatus 100-2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The mammography bed 191 includes an X-ray source 141 and an X-ray detection unit 145 inside, as in the mammography bed 111 in the first embodiment, and inserts the breast 201 of the subject 200 on the upper surface. A housing having an opening 115.

  In the image capturing apparatus 100-2 according to the second embodiment, the air blowing holes 125 formed on the lower surface of the movable top plate 121 shown in FIG. 4 are eliminated, and instead, the upper surface of the mammography bed 191 shown in FIG. An air blowing hole 192 is configured. As for the piping and the air supply unit, the mobile top plate air piping 120 and the mobile top plate air supply unit 126 shown in FIG. 2 are abolished. Instead, a mammography bed air pipe (not shown) and a mammography bed air supply are provided. Part 193 is configured. For this reason, the moving top plate internal air circulation hole 172 shown in FIG. 9 is abolished, and instead, a mammography bed internal air circulation hole (194 in FIG. 13 described later) is formed on the upper surface of the mammography bed 191.

Next, a shooting preparation procedure in the second embodiment will be described.
First, the first step shown in FIG. 7 and the second step shown in FIG. 8 in the first embodiment are performed.

FIG. 13 shows the second embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing an example of the third step in the imaging preparation procedure for the breast 201 of the subject.
As the third step, in FIG. 13, air is supplied between the lower surface of the moving table 121 and the upper surface of the mammography bed 191 to make the moving table 121 float finely.
Specifically, when the imaging engineer inputs information on the ascent command by air from the input unit 110, the air control device 117 controls the air blown out from the air blowing hole 192 provided on the upper surface of the mammography bed 191 and moves. The top plate 121 is raised from the mammography bed 191. More specifically, the high-pressure air supplied from the air supply source 116 is adjusted to an appropriate flying pressure by the air control device 117. The adjusted supply air 171 is guided to a mammography couch air supply unit 193 via a mammography couch air pipe (not shown), and then the mammography couch internal air circulation hole in the mammography couch 191. Into 194. The adjusted supply air 171 passes through the mammography bed internal air circulation hole 194 and is blown out from the air blowing hole 192 to the entire upper surface of the mammography bed 191 as high-pressure (positive pressure) blowing air 195. The blown air 195 enters the entire gap between the lower surface of the moving top plate 121 and the upper surface of the mammography bed 191 and flows toward the end surface of the moving top plate 121. At this time, a uniform minute gap 174 is created between the upper surface of the mammography bed 191 and the lower surface of the movable top plate 121.

  Subsequently, the fourth step shown in FIG. 10 and the fifth step shown in FIG. 11 in the first embodiment are performed. The breast 201 of the subject 200 is placed in the imaging area in the opening 115 through the first to fifth steps. With the operation so far, the preparation for photographing the breast 201 of the subject 200 is completed.

Next, the operation proceeds to an imaging operation for the breast 201 of the subject 200.
The imaging operation of the breast 201 of the subject 200 in the second embodiment is the same as the imaging operation of the breast 201 of the subject 200 in the first embodiment described above.

  According to the second embodiment described above, an effect similar to the effect in the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that in the third embodiment described below, the description of the same parts as those of the above-described first embodiment will be omitted, and parts different from those of the above-described first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image capturing device 100-3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 14, the same components as those shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 14, the image capturing apparatus 100-3 includes an input unit 110, a mammography bed 111, a subject mounting step 112, and a mammography bed fixing mechanism that are similar to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2. It includes an attached wheel 113, an imaging mechanism built-in housing 114, an air supply source 116, an air control device 117, a movable top plate air pipe 120, a movable top plate 121, and a movable top plate air supply unit 126.

  The image photographing apparatus 100-3 includes a first head air mat 311 and a second head air mat 312 instead of the head air mat 123 shown in FIG. Therefore, the image capturing apparatus 100-3 includes the first and second head air mat air pipes 331 and 332, and the first and second heads, respectively, instead of the configurations 119 and 135 shown in FIG. Air mat air supply sections 351 and 352 are configured. Here, the first head air mat air pipe 331 and the first head air mat air supply unit 351 are mechanisms for supplying air to the first head air mat 311. The second head air mat air pipe 332 and the second head air mat air supply unit 352 are mechanisms for supplying air to the second head air mat 312.

  Further, the image photographing apparatus 100-3 includes a first abdominal air mat 321, a second abdominal air mat 322, a third abdominal air mat 323, and a fourth abdominal air instead of the abdominal air mat 124 shown in FIG. A mat 324 is configured. Therefore, in the image capturing apparatus 100-3, the first to fourth abdominal air mat air pipes 341 to 344 and the first to fourth abdominal air are replaced with the configurations 118 and 136 shown in FIG. Mat air supply units 361 to 364 are configured. Here, the first abdomen air mat air pipe 341 and the first abdomen air mat air supply unit 361 are mechanisms for supplying air to the first abdomen air mat 321. The second abdominal air mat air pipe 342 and the second abdominal air mat air supply unit 362 are mechanisms for supplying air to the second abdominal air mat 322. The third abdomen air mat air pipe 343 and the third abdomen air mat air supply unit 363 are mechanisms for supplying air to the third abdomen air mat 323. The fourth abdomen air mat air pipe 344 and the fourth abdomen air mat air supply unit 364 are mechanisms for supplying air to the fourth abdomen air mat 324.

  An image capturing apparatus 100-3 illustrated in FIG. 14 is configured to finely control the head air mat 123 and the abdominal air mat 124 illustrated in FIG. Specifically, the image capturing apparatus 100-3 shown in FIG. 14 divides the head air mat 123 shown in FIG. 3 into two horizontally and divides it into a plurality of air chambers (311 and 312). The air mat 124 is vertically divided into four and divided into a plurality of air chambers (321 to 324). In the image capturing device 100-3 shown in FIG. 14, the air control device 117 independently supplies the air supplied to each air chamber in the plurality of air chambers (311, 312, 321 to 324) configured as an air mat. It is configured to be controllable. For example, the air control device 117 according to the third embodiment is configured so that each air chamber in the plurality of air chambers described above corresponds to information input to the input unit 110 by the imaging engineer who is an examiner based on the image of the breast monitoring camera 147. The position of the breast 201 is adjusted by independently controlling the air supplied to.

Next, a shooting preparation procedure in the third embodiment will be described.
First, the first step shown in FIG. 7, the second step shown in FIG. 8, the third step shown in FIG. 9, and the fourth step shown in FIG. 10 in the first embodiment are performed. Here, in the second step shown in FIG. 8, the air control device 117 sends air corresponding to the amount of movement information input from the input unit 110 by the imaging engineer from the air supply source 116 to each of the air mats 311, 312, 321. ˜324 is controlled.

  As a fifth step, in FIG. 14, the imaging engineer inputs information of a command to uniformly lower the subject 200 to the upper surface of the movable top plate 121 from the input unit 110. In response to this command information, the air control device 117 performs control to exhaust the air from the air mats 311, 312, 321 to 324. Specifically, air begins to be extracted from the head air mats 311 and 312 and the abdominal air mats 321 to 324 via the air mat air pipes 331, 332, 341 to 344. As a result, the subject 200 gently moves downward and descends to the position of the upper surface of the movable top plate 121, and the breast 201 of the subject 200 is placed in the imaging area in the opening 115.

  In this state, the imaging technician confirms the position of the breast 201 from the image of the breast monitoring camera 147. If there is no problem, the operation proceeds to the photographing operation of the breast 201 as it is. If it is likely that more breasts 201 can be captured by changing the posture of the subject 200, the imaging technician can obtain information on operation commands for the individual air mats 311, 312, 321 to 324 from the input unit 110. input. In accordance with the information input to the input unit 110, the air control device 117 in the third embodiment independently controls the air supplied to the air mats 311, 312, 321 to 324, so that the position of the breast 201 Adjust. For example, the air control device 117 slightly changes the posture of the subject 200 by supplying air from the air supply source 116 whose expansion amount is individually controlled to the air mats 311, 312, 321 to 324. be able to. As a result, the radiographer can take an image of the breast 201 while optimizing the breast 201 of the subject while confirming the breast 201 captured in the imaging area with the breast monitoring camera 147. With the operation so far, the preparation for photographing the breast 201 of the subject 200 is completed.

Next, the operation proceeds to an imaging operation for the breast 201 of the subject 200.
The imaging operation of the breast 201 of the subject 200 in the third embodiment is the same as the imaging operation of the breast 201 of the subject 200 in the first embodiment described above.

  According to the third embodiment described above, in addition to the effects in the first embodiment described above, the state of the breast that is a part of the subject and is the examination target is set to a more optimal state. Images can be taken.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that in the fourth embodiment described below, the description of the same parts as those of the above-described first embodiment will be omitted, and parts different from those of the above-described first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image capturing device 100-4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 15, the same components as those shown in FIG. FIG. 15 illustrates only the movable top plate 121 and the mammography bed in the schematic configuration of the image capturing apparatus 100-1 according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, and the other configurations are illustrated in FIG. It is the same.

  The mammography bed 401 is a housing that is included in the holding container 402, the light source 410, and the ultrasonic detection unit 420, and has an opening 115 into which the breast 201 of the subject 200 is inserted on the upper surface. The holding container 402 has a bowl shape, and is filled with, for example, an acoustic impedance matching material (not shown) of the subject's breast 201 and the holding container 402. The light source 410 irradiates the subject's breast 201 with near-infrared laser light. The ultrasonic detector 420 detects ultrasonic waves generated when the breast 201 is irradiated with near-infrared laser light from the light source 410. The image capturing apparatus 100-4 according to the fourth embodiment irradiates the breast 201 with a near-infrared laser beam from the light source 410, and detects an ultrasonic wave with the ultrasonic detection unit 420 to display an image of the breast 201. Take a picture.

  The mammography bed 401 has a light source support unit that supports the light source 410 corresponding to the X-ray source support unit 144 shown in FIG. 6 and an X-ray detection unit support unit 146 shown in FIG. The ultrasonic detection unit support unit that supports the ultrasonic detection unit 420 is configured. Here, since the holding surface of the holding container 402 is a curved surface, an R guide is formed on the light source support part and the ultrasonic wave detection part support part, and this R guide has the same curvature as the holding surface of the holding container 402. Have. Further, the rotation disk 149 and the rotation driving unit 150 shown in FIG. 6 are not configured in the mammography bed 401, instead, a light source driving unit for moving the light source 410, an ultrasonic detection, and the like. An ultrasonic detection unit driving unit for moving the unit 420 is configured.

An imaging preparation procedure in the fourth embodiment will be described.
The shooting preparation procedure in the fourth embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in the first step shown in FIG. 7, the second step shown in FIG. 8, the third step shown in FIG. The fourth step shown and the fifth step shown in FIG. 11 are sequentially performed.

  Next, the operation proceeds to an imaging operation for the breast 201 of the subject 200.

  The ultrasonic detection unit driving unit configured inside the mammography bed 401 scans the breast 201 of the subject while scanning the ultrasonic detection unit 420 along the holding surface of the holding container 402.

  In addition, for example, a large area of the breast 201 of the subject can be imaged by synchronously controlling the driving of the ultrasonic detection unit 420 by the ultrasonic detection unit driving unit and the driving of the light source 410 by the light source driving unit. it can. About arrangement | positioning of both the light source 410 and the ultrasonic detection part 420, various positional relationships can be taken, such as opposing arrangement | positioning which pinched | interposed the breast 201, and arrange | positioning the light source 410 in the position close | similar to the ultrasonic detection part 420.

  The image capturing apparatus 100-4 according to the fourth embodiment also includes the air control device 117, and performs the same air control as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same effect as that of the above-described first embodiment is obtained. Can be obtained.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fifth embodiment described below, description of the same parts as those in the first to fourth embodiments described above will be omitted, and parts different from those in the first to fourth embodiments described above will be described. Specifically, in the fifth embodiment, assuming that the subject can move his / her body by himself / herself, the air control device 117 controls the air supplied to at least the head air mat and the abdominal air mat. Thus, the breast 201 which is a part of the subject and is the subject of examination can be easily aligned. More specifically, the fifth embodiment can take the following forms.
The image capturing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment corresponds to the image capturing apparatuses 100-1 to 100-3 according to the first to third embodiments. The X-ray source 141 for irradiating the X-ray and the X-ray detection unit 145 for detecting the X-ray transmitted through the breast 201, and the X-ray source 141 and the X-ray detection unit 145 rotate around the breast 201. An image capturing apparatus that captures an image of a breast 201 by irradiating an X-ray from a source 141 and detecting an X-ray transmitted through the breast 201 by an X-ray detection unit 145, the X-ray source 141 and the X-ray detection unit 145 and a casing (111 in the first and third embodiments, 191 in the first embodiment) provided with an opening 115 for inserting the breast 201, and a mobile ceiling provided on the upper surface of the casing. Provided on the plate 121 and the movable top plate 121; An air mat (123 and 124 in the first and second embodiments, 311 to 312 and 321 to 324 in the third embodiment) for raising the examiner from the moving top plate 121 and the air mat are supplied to the air mat. It has an air control device 117 for controlling air.
In addition, the image capturing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment corresponds to the image capturing apparatus 100-4 according to the fourth embodiment, and irradiates the breast 201 of the subject with near-infrared laser light. A light source 410 for detecting the ultrasonic wave generated when the breast 201 is irradiated with near-infrared laser light, and an ultrasonic detector for irradiating the near-infrared laser light from the light source 410. 420 is an image capturing apparatus that captures an image of the breast 201 by detecting the ultrasound at 420, and includes a light source 410 and an ultrasound detection unit 420, and a housing (including an opening 115 into which the breast 201 is inserted). 401), a mobile top plate 121 provided on the upper surface of the casing, and an air mat (first and second embodiments) provided on the mobile top plate 121 for floating the subject from the mobile top plate 121. 123 in Beauty 124, and 311 to 312 and 321 to 324) in the third embodiment, and includes an air control unit 117 for controlling the air supplied to the air mat.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.
This program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program are included in the present invention.

  Note that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely examples of implementation in practicing the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. It is. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100-1 Image photographing device, 110 input part, 111 Mammography bed, 112 Subject mounting step, 113 Wheel with mammography bed fixing mechanism, 114 Built-in photographing mechanism housing, 115 Opening, 116 Air supply source, 117 Air control device, 118 Abdominal air mat air piping, 119 Head air mat air piping, 120 Moving top plate air piping, 121 Moving top plate, 126 Moving top plate air supply unit, 135 Head air mat air supply unit, 136 Abdominal air mat air supply section

Claims (11)

A radiation source for irradiating a subject's breast with radiation; and a detection unit for detecting radiation transmitted through the breast. The radiation while rotating the radiation source and the detection unit around the breast An image photographing apparatus for photographing an image of the breast by irradiating the radiation from a source and detecting the radiation transmitted through the breast by the detection unit,
A housing including the radiation source and the detection unit, and having an opening for inserting the breast;
A top plate provided on the upper surface of the housing;
An air mat provided on the top plate, for levitating the subject from the top plate;
And an air control device for controlling air supplied to the air mat. A light source that irradiates a subject's breast with a near-infrared laser beam; and a detection unit that detects an ultrasonic wave generated when the breast is irradiated with the near-infrared laser beam. An image capturing apparatus that captures an image of the breast by irradiating near infrared laser light and detecting the ultrasonic wave at the detection unit,
A housing including the light source and the detection unit, and having an opening for inserting the breast;
A top plate provided on the upper surface of the housing;
An air mat provided on the top plate, for levitating the subject from the top plate;
And an air control device for controlling air supplied to the air mat.   The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air control device further controls air blown from an air blowing hole provided in the top plate or the casing.   The air control device floats the top plate from the housing by setting the air from the air blowing hole to a positive pressure, and sets the top plate to a negative pressure by setting the air from the air blowing hole to a negative pressure. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the position is fixed by being in close contact with the housing.   The image photographing device according to claim 3, wherein the air blowing hole is provided on a lower surface of the top plate.   The image photographing device according to claim 3, wherein the air blowing hole is provided on an upper surface of the casing. The air mat is divided into a plurality of air chambers,
The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air control device independently controls air supplied to each of the plurality of air chambers.   The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a breast monitoring camera for confirming that the breast has reached a target position. The air mat is divided into a plurality of air chambers,
The air control device adjusts the position of the breast by independently controlling the air supplied to each air chamber in the plurality of air chambers according to information input by the examiner based on the image of the breast monitoring camera. The image photographing device according to claim 8. A radiation source for irradiating a subject's breast with radiation; and a detection unit for detecting radiation transmitted through the breast. The radiation while rotating the radiation source and the detection unit around the breast A control method of an image capturing apparatus that captures an image of the breast by irradiating the radiation from a source and detecting the radiation transmitted through the breast by the detection unit,
The imaging apparatus includes the radiation source and the detection unit, and includes a housing having an opening for inserting the breast, a top plate provided on an upper surface of the housing, and the top plate. An air mat for levitating the subject from the top plate;
A control method for an image photographing apparatus, characterized in that the air supplied to the air mat is controlled. A light source that irradiates a subject's breast with a near-infrared laser beam; and a detection unit that detects an ultrasonic wave generated when the breast is irradiated with the near-infrared laser beam. A control method of an image capturing apparatus that captures an image of the breast by irradiating near infrared laser light and detecting the ultrasonic wave at the detection unit,
The image capturing apparatus includes the light source and the detection unit, and includes a housing having an opening for inserting the breast, a top plate provided on an upper surface of the housing, the top plate, An air mat for levitating the subject from the top plate,
A control method for an image photographing apparatus, characterized in that the air supplied to the air mat is controlled.