JPH06285051A - X-ray photographing device for breast - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute the device so that appropriate photographing corresponding to a position of a lesion can be executed by providing a mechanism by which a supporting arm for supporting an X-ray photographing part and an X-ray tube device can turn against a supporting base so that at least the X-ray tube device and the X-ray photographing part turn in a plane containing them. CONSTITUTION:An arm 34 for supporting an X-ray photographing part 37 containing an X-ray tube device 35 and an image intensifier 39 and an X-ray telecamera 40 is attached so as to be freely turnable against an X-ray tube device ascending/descending part 32. Accordingly, the arms 34 becomes so that the X-ray tube device 35 and the X-ray photographing part 37 can turn in a plane containing them in the direction indicated with an arrow A. In such a way, in accordance with necessity, X-ray irradiation from the X-ray tube device can be executed not only from the upper position but also from every direction such as the lower direction, the right direction, the left direction, etc., against each breast, and X-ray photographing of the breast by the X-ray irradiation from those directions can be executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mammography apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mammography apparatus for exclusive use of the breast is constructed as follows.

That is, a U-shaped arm is attached to a support table containing a high-voltage device and the like. Each end of the arm is positioned vertically, and the center of the arm is fixed to the support base.

The upper end of the arm has an X-ray tube in which an X-ray tube is built.
It constitutes a X-ray tube device, and the lower end portion constitutes an X-ray photographing section on which a photographing film is arranged.

In the mammography apparatus constructed as described above, an X-ray image from an X-ray tube apparatus that penetrates the breast of the subject is placed on the X-ray imaging section. An X-ray image of the breast can be obtained by forming an image on a photographic film.

It should be noted that the arm has a mechanism that can move only vertically with respect to the support table so that the breast can be properly positioned on the X-ray imaging table regardless of the height of the subject. It was equipped.

Further, the X-ray photographing section is usually provided with a compression plate for pressing the breast toward the photographing film.

[0008]

However, in the mammography apparatus constructed as described above, the arm (support arm) is fixed to the support base so that it can move only in the vertical direction. The X-ray tube device and the X-ray imaging unit arranged at both ends were still positioned vertically above and below, respectively.

This means that X-ray imaging can always be performed only by X-ray irradiation from the upper part of the breast, and therefore it is difficult to perform appropriate imaging corresponding to the position of the affected part in the breast. Will be left.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the purpose thereof is to obtain a mammographic X-ray image capable of performing an appropriate image pickup corresponding to the position of the affected part. To provide a device.

[0011]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention basically relates to an X-ray tube device and an X-ray imaging section arranged to face the X-ray tube device. And this X
A support arm for supporting the X-ray imaging unit and the X-ray tube device;
In the mammography apparatus including a support table that supports the supporting arm, the breast is placed on the X-ray imaging unit and X-ray imaging is performed by X-ray irradiation from the X-ray tube device. Is equipped with a mechanism capable of rotating at least the X-ray tube device and the X-ray imaging unit in a plane including them with respect to the support base.

[0012]

In the thus constructed mammography apparatus, the support arm is rotatable with respect to the support so that the X-ray tube device and the X-ray imaging unit can rotate in a plane including them. It is equipped with a mechanism.

Therefore, if necessary, X-ray irradiation from the X-ray tube device can be performed on the breast not only from above but also from any direction such as downward, rightward, leftward. , X-ray imaging of the breast by X-ray irradiation from those directions becomes possible.

Therefore, it becomes possible to perform an appropriate photographing corresponding to the position of the affected part of the breast.

[0015]

1 is an external view showing the construction of an embodiment of a mammography apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, there is a support base 30. The support base 30 contains an X-ray high voltage device 31, an X-ray tube device elevating part 32, etc., and an X-ray exposure protection plate 33 is attached. There is.

A U-shaped arm 34 is fixed to the support base 30 and especially to the X-ray tube device elevating part 32.

One end of the arm 34 constitutes an X-ray tube device 35 having a built-in X-ray tube, and the other end constitutes an X-ray photographing section 37 having a photographing film 36 arranged thereon. .

A compression plate 38 is arranged above the X-ray imaging unit 37 so as to be supported by the arm 34, and the breast compressed by the compression plate 38 is placed between the compression plate 38 and the X-ray imaging unit 37. It is supposed to be placed.

The film body of the photographic film 36 is housed in a cassette holder, which is normally arranged at the stage of X-ray photography and not arranged at other stages. There is.

The X-ray tube device 35 and the X-ray imaging unit 37 thus supported by the arm 34 can be moved in the vertical direction by driving the X-ray tube device elevating / lowering unit 32, so that the height of the subject is high or low. Regardless, the breast is properly positioned on the X-ray imaging unit 37.

On the other hand, below the X-ray photographing section 37 on which the photographing film 36 is arranged, the image intensifier 3 is provided.
9 is arranged, and the photographing film 36 is an X-ray photographing section 37.
The X-ray from the X-ray tube device 35 is applied to the image intensifier 39 in a state where the image intensifier 39 is not arranged.

This image intensifier 39 is
The X-rays irradiated on the photographic film 36 are converted into light without the photographic film 36 being arranged. For example, the compression plate 3 on the image intensifier 39
The breast compressed by 8 is placed, and the X-ray tube device 35
When X-ray irradiation is performed from the above, a transparent optical image of the breast is obtained on the back surface thereof.

An X-ray television camera 40 is arranged below the image intensifier 39 so as to convert the optical image into an electric signal.

Further, an electric signal from the X-ray television camera 39 is input to a monitor television 41, and a transparent image of the breast is displayed on the monitor television 41.

In this embodiment, in particular, the arm 34 supporting the X-ray tube device 35 and the X-ray imaging section 37 (including the image intensifier 39 and the X-ray television camera 40) is moved up and down. It is rotatably attached to the portion 32. This rotation may be performed manually or automatically, so that the arm 34 is moved in the direction of arrow A in the figure.
The X-ray imaging device 37 and the X-ray tube device 35 can be rotated so that they can be rotated in a plane including them.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operating mechanism of the above-described mammography apparatus, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same elements.

In the figure, first, there is a high voltage generator 7, and by applying a high voltage by this high voltage generator 7, X-rays are emitted from the X-ray tube 25A.

The high voltage generator 7 is controlled by a control circuit, which is composed of a fluoroscopic condition control circuit 1 and a photographing condition control circuit 2. In both of the fluoroscopic condition control circuit 1 and the imaging condition control circuit 2, the tube voltage control signal 3, the tube current control signal 4, and the time control signal 5 are input, and one of the outputs is switched. It is adapted to be input to the high voltage generator 7 via the switch 6.

As a result, the mammography apparatus shown in the embodiment has a structure capable of both radiography and fluoroscopy.

Then, the arm 34 is connected to the X
The photographic film 36 and the compression plate 38 are rotatably attached to the wire tube device elevating part 32, and the photographic film 36 and the compression plate 38 are also attached to the attachment part. It is designed to rotate following.

In the mammography apparatus constructed as in the above-described embodiment, the arm 34 is rotated with respect to the support base 30 within a plane including the X-ray tube device 35 and the X-ray imaging unit 37. It is equipped with a mechanism that allows it to rotate.

Therefore, if necessary, X-ray irradiation from the X-ray tube device 35 can be performed on the breast not only from above, but also from any direction such as downward, rightward, and leftward. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform X-ray imaging or fluoroscopy of the breast by X-ray irradiation from those directions.

Therefore, it becomes possible to perform appropriate photographing or fluoroscopy corresponding to the position of the affected part of the breast.

Incidentally, the mammography apparatus according to the above-mentioned embodiment is described as being equipped with the image intensifier 39, the X-ray television camera 40, and the television monitor 41 in order to have a fluoroscopic function. However, needless to say, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and the above-mentioned devices may not be provided.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the mammography apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to perform appropriate imaging corresponding to the position of the affected part of the breast.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a mammography apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an operating mechanism of the mammography apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 support base 34 arm 35 X-ray tube device 37 X-ray imaging unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray tube device, an X-ray imaging unit arranged to face the X-ray tube device, a support arm for supporting the X-ray imaging unit and the X-ray tube device, and a support for the X-ray imaging unit. In a mammography apparatus that includes a support table that supports an arm, and mounts a breast on the X-ray imaging unit to perform X-ray imaging by X-ray irradiation from an X-ray tube device, the support arm supports A breast X, which is provided with a mechanism capable of rotating at least the X-ray tube device and the X-ray imaging unit in a plane including them with respect to the table.
X-ray equipment.