Ultrasonic imaging apparatus, mammography apparatus, and control program

Abstract

To achieve acoustic matching with the breast while securing rigidity of a contact surface of an imaging table with which the breast is brought into contact.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus 2 includes an imaging table 10 into which a transducer 15A for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an imaging surface 10A and capturing an ultrasonic image of the breast and a transducer moving unit 9A for moving the transducer 15A in a direction along the imaging surface 10A are incorporated beforehand. The imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10 is composed of a plurality of laminated carbon fiber sheets 10A-N with different acoustic impedance values. At least one of the plurality of carbon fiber sheets 10A-N has higher rigidity to the contact of the breast than that of the other laminated carbon fiber sheets 10A-N.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device and an information processing program. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasound imaging devices are known that capture ultrasound images of a breast by scanning a transducer that outputs ultrasound waves along the breast of a subject.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a medical imaging device that uses a transducer array placed on an imaging table to capture an ultrasound image of a breast placed on the transducer array from the contact surface where the breast is in contact with the transducer array, and also captures a radiological image of the breast. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-173291 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When a radiographic image of a breast compressed by a compression plate is taken using a medical imaging device such as that described in Patent Document 1, if the transducer array is placed on the imaging table, the image of the transducer array will be reflected in the radiographic image. Therefore, medical imaging devices sometimes have a movement mechanism that moves the transducer array away from the imaging table.

[0006] However, when the transducer array is retracted by the movement mechanism, the state of compression of the breast changes because the transducer array that was in close contact with the breast is no longer present.

[0007] In order to suppress such changes in the compression state of the breast due to movement of the transducer array, it is possible to incorporate the transducer array into the imaging table rather than placing it on top of the imaging table, but incorporating the transducer into the imaging table requires adjustment of the acoustic impedance between the transducer, imaging table, and breast. Furthermore, because the breast is pressed against the imaging table by the compression paddle, the surface of the imaging table that comes into contact with the breast needs to be rigid.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an ultrasound imaging device, a mammography device, and a control program that can acoustically match with the breast while ensuring the rigidity of the contact surface of the imaging table with which the breast comes into contact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An ultrasound imaging device according to a first aspect of the disclosed technology includes an imaging table that has pre-installed therein a first transducer that transmits ultrasound waves toward the contact surface with which the breast comes into contact and captures an ultrasound image of the breast, and a movement mechanism that moves the first transducer in a direction along the contact surface with the breast, and the contact surface of the imaging table is formed from a plurality of stacked carbon fiber sheets each having a different acoustic impedance, and at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber sheets has higher rigidity against contact with the breast than the other stacked carbon fiber sheets.

[0010] An ultrasound imaging device of a second aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device of the first aspect, wherein the first transducer has a shape that extends longer in the direction of the chest wall surface along the chest wall of the subject than in the front-to-back direction along the direction intersecting the chest wall of the subject, and the moving mechanism moves the first transducer in the front-to-back direction.

[0011] An ultrasound imaging device of a third aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is the ultrasound imaging device of the second aspect, wherein the movement mechanism further moves the first transducer in the direction of the chest wall surface.

[0012] An ultrasound imaging device of a fourth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device of the first aspect, wherein the first transducer has a shape that extends longer in the front-to-back direction along a direction intersecting the subject's chest wall than in the chest wall surface direction along the chest wall of the subject, and the moving mechanism moves the first transducer in the chest wall surface direction.

[0013] An ultrasonic imaging device of a fifth aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is the ultrasonic imaging device of the fourth aspect, wherein the movement mechanism further moves the first transducer in the front-rear direction.

[0014] An ultrasound imaging device of a sixth aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device of the first aspect, in which the contact surface of the imaging table is made of laminated carbon fiber sheets so that the acoustic impedance decreases from the carbon fiber sheet that contacts the first transducer toward the carbon fiber sheet that contacts the breast.

[0015] An ultrasound imaging device of a seventh aspect according to the technology of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device of the sixth aspect, in which the fiber direction of at least one carbon fiber sheet among a plurality of stacked carbon fiber sheets is arranged along the chest wall surface direction along the chest wall of the subject.

[0016] An ultrasound imaging device of an eighth aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device of the seventh aspect, in which the fiber directions of the carbon fiber sheet that contacts the first transducer and the carbon fiber sheet that contacts the breast are arranged so as to follow the direction of the chest wall surface.

[0017] An ultrasound imaging device of a ninth aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device according to the first aspect, further comprising a second transducer that compresses the breast and captures an ultrasound image of the breast from the compression surface of the compression plate that presses the breast against the contact surface of the imaging table, and a control unit that captures an ultrasound image of the breast using the first transducer and the second transducer.

[0018] An ultrasound imaging device of a tenth aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device of the ninth aspect, in which the control unit switches the imaging mode of the ultrasound image of the breast by controlling the imaging range of the first transducer and the second transducer.

[0019] An ultrasound imaging device of an eleventh aspect relating to the technology of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device of the tenth aspect, in which the control unit sets a boundary surface between the contact surface of the imaging table and the compression surface of the compression plate, the boundary surface being a predetermined distance away from the contact surface of the imaging table, and controls the imaging range so that the first transducer and the second transducer image the same range of the breast, and controls the control to generate an ultrasound image of the same breast by combining an ultrasound image from the contact surface of the imaging table to the boundary surface taken by the first transducer and an ultrasound image from the compression surface of the compression plate to the boundary surface.

[0020] An ultrasound imaging device of a twelfth aspect according to the technique of the present disclosure is an ultrasound imaging device of the tenth aspect, in which the control unit controls the imaging range so that the first transducer and the second transducer each image a different range.

[0021] A mammography apparatus according to a thirteenth aspect of the technique of the present disclosure includes the ultrasound imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects.

[0022] A 14th aspect of the mammography device according to the technology of the present disclosure is a mammography device according to the 13th aspect, which uses a grid as a moving mechanism that is provided between the contact surface of the imaging table and the radiation detector and reduces the amount of scattered radiation incident on the radiation detector, which is generated when radiation irradiated from the radiation source is scattered by the breast, compared to before installation.

[0023] A 15th aspect of the mammography apparatus according to the technology of the present disclosure is a mammography apparatus according to the 14th aspect, in which the imaging table further includes a detachment device that attaches a first transducer to the grid when the grid moves to a predetermined position, and detaches the first transducer from the grid when the grid with the attached first transducer returns to its position.

[0024] A control program of a 16th aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a program for causing a computer to execute a process for controlling the movement mechanism so that the first transducer moves in a direction along the contact surface with the breast on the imaging table, and so that the first transducer takes an ultrasound image of the breast from the contact surface of the breast on the imaging table, for an ultrasound imaging device that has a built-in first transducer that transmits ultrasound toward the contact surface with the breast and takes an ultrasound image of the breast, and a movement mechanism that moves the first transducer, wherein the contact surface of the imaging table is made up of a plurality of stacked carbon fiber sheets each having a different acoustic impedance, and at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber sheets has a higher rigidity against contact with the breast than the other stacked carbon fiber sheets. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve acoustic matching with the breast while ensuring the rigidity of the contact surface of the imaging table that comes into contact with the breast. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a medical imaging system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of an ultrasound imaging apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image storage system. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of an ultrasonic imaging device according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the side. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the imaging surface viewed from an upper position opposite to the imaging surface. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing other examples of mounting the transducer on the moving stage. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section of an imaging surface. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the fiber direction of a carbon fiber sheet. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of imaging processing executed by the ultrasound imaging device. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of an ultrasonic imaging device according to a modified example of the first embodiment, as viewed from the side. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of control of the imaging range of the transducer. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the flow of imaging processing executed by the ultrasound imaging device. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image captured in high-definition mode. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another example of control of the imaging range of the transducer. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image captured in high-speed mode. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medical imaging system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of a mammography apparatus and a console. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the external appearance of a mammography device as viewed from the side. [Figure 19] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the operation of the attachment / detachment device. [Figure 20] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of imaging processing executed by a mammography apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components and processes are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. The dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0028] First Embodiment 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medical imaging system 1 according to the first embodiment. The medical imaging system 1 includes an ultrasonic imaging device 2 and an image storage system 3.

[0029] The ultrasound imaging device 2 is a device that is used by a medical professional such as a medical technician or a doctor to capture an ultrasound image of a subject's breast as an object.

[0030] The image storage system 3 is a system that stores ultrasound images captured by the ultrasound imaging device 2. The image storage system 3 extracts an ultrasound image from the stored ultrasound images in response to a request from the ultrasound imaging device 2 or a console 6 (see FIG. 16) described below, and transmits the extracted ultrasound image to the device that issued the request. A specific example of the image storage system 3 is a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems).

[0031] First, a description will be given of an example of the functional configuration of the ultrasonic imaging device 2. FIG.

[0032] 2, the ultrasound imaging device 2 includes a control unit 20, a transducer driving unit 22, a transducer 15A, a memory unit 24, an I / F (Interface) unit 25, an output unit 26, an operation unit 27, a compression paddle driving unit 28, a compression paddle 47, and a compression force detection sensor 51. The control unit 20, the transducer driving unit 22, the memory unit 24, the I / F unit 25, the output unit 26, the operation unit 27, the compression paddle driving unit 28, and the compression force detection sensor 51 are connected via a bus 29 so as to be able to exchange various information with one another.

[0033] The control unit 20 controls the operation of the ultrasonic imaging device 2 based on instructions from a medical professional. The control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20A, which is an example of a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 20B, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20C. The ROM 20B stores in advance various programs including a control program 21 that the CPU 20A reads to control the imaging of ultrasonic images, and various parameters that the CPU 20A references when controlling the operation of the ultrasonic imaging device 2. The RAM 20C is used as a temporary work area for the CPU 20A.

[0034] Transducer 15A outputs ultrasonic waves to the subject, i.e., the breast, and also acquires reflected waves of the ultrasonic waves reflected by the breast, converts the state of the acquired reflected waves into reflected wave data, and outputs the data to control unit 20. Upon receiving the reflected wave data, control unit 20 generates an ultrasound image of the breast using the received reflected wave data. Transducer 15A is an example of a first transducer according to the present disclosure.

[0035] The transducer driving unit 22, in accordance with instructions from the control unit 20, controls the transducer moving unit 9A (see Figure 4), which will be described later, to move the transducer 15A in at least one of the directions toward the chest wall surface, i.e., along the chest wall, which is the surface formed by the chest of the subject, and the anterior-posterior direction, i.e., the direction intersecting with the chest wall of the subject.

[0036] Compression plate 47 is an instrument that compresses the breast by pressing compression surface 47A against the breast. Compression plate 47 is preferably transparent enough to allow the compression state of the breast to be visually confirmed.

[0037] Compression plate driver 28 moves compression plate 47 in a compression direction and a compression release direction under the control of control unit 20. The compression direction is the direction in which the breast of the subject is pressed against imaging table 10 (see FIG. 4 ), which will be described later, and the compression release direction is the direction in which the compression of the breast by compression plate 47 is released.

[0038] The compression force detection sensor 51 has a function of detecting the compression force on the breast by the compression paddle 47 that is moved by the drive of the compression paddle drive unit 28 .

[0039] In this way, the ultrasound imaging device 2 captures an ultrasound image of the breast in a state where it is compressed by the compression paddle 47. Note that, because an ultrasound image of the breast can be captured without compressing the breast, the ultrasound imaging device 2 does not necessarily need to include the compression paddle drive unit 28, the compression paddle 47, and the compression force detection sensor 51.

[0040] The storage unit 24 stores the captured ultrasound images and various other information, etc. The storage unit 24 is an example of a storage device that maintains stored information even if the power supplied to the storage unit 24 is cut off, and is, for example, a semiconductor memory such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), but a hard disk may also be used.

[0041] The I / F unit 25 communicates various information with an external device connected to a communication line (not shown) such as a LAN (Local Area Network) by wireless or wired communication. For example, the control unit 20 transmits a captured ultrasound image to the image storage system 3 via the I / F unit 25.

[0042] The output unit 26 outputs information processed by the control unit 20 to medical personnel, such as information regarding the imaging status of an ultrasound image, the captured ultrasound image, and an alarm. Outputting information means making the information recognizable by medical personnel. Therefore, for example, displaying information on a display (not shown), which is an example of a display device, printing information on a recording medium such as paper using an image forming device (not shown), and notifying information by voice using a speaker (not shown) are all examples of information output by the output unit 26. Note that transmitting information to an external device via the I / F unit 25 is also an example of information output.

[0043] The operation unit 27 is used by medical personnel to input instructions and various information related to ultrasound imaging, etc. There are no restrictions on the type of operation on the operation unit 27, and operations can be accepted using, for example, a switch, a touch panel, an electronic pen, a keyboard, voice, a mouse, etc.

[0044] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image storage system 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the image storage system 3 includes a control unit 30, a storage unit 34, and an I / F unit 35. The control unit 30, the storage unit 34, and the I / F unit 35 are connected via a bus 39 so as to be able to exchange various types of information with one another.

[0045] The control unit 30 controls the operation of the image saving system 3. The control unit 30 includes a CPU 30A, a ROM 30B, and a RAM 30C. The ROM 30B stores in advance various programs that the CPU 30A reads to control the saving of ultrasound images, and various parameters that the CPU 30A references when controlling the operation of the image saving system 3. The RAM 30C is used as a temporary work area for the CPU 30A.

[0046] The storage unit 34 stores ultrasound images in association with imaging orders, information about subjects, etc. In other words, the storage unit 34 functions as a database of ultrasound images.

[0047] The I / F unit 35 communicates various information with an external device connected to a communication line such as a LAN by wireless or wired communication. For example, the control unit 30 transmits a requested ultrasound image to the ultrasound imaging device 2 via the I / F unit 35.

[0048] Next, a description will be given of an example of capturing an ultrasound image of a breast using the ultrasound imaging device 2. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the ultrasound imaging device 2 according to the first embodiment when viewed from the side.

[0049] The ultrasonic imaging device 2 includes an arm 42, a base 44, and a shaft 45. The arm 42 is held by the base 44 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The shaft 45 connects the arm 42 to the base 44. The arm 42 is rotatable relative to the base 44, with the shaft 45 serving as the axis of rotation. A compression paddle drive unit 46 is provided on the arm 42.

[0050] An imaging table 10 is provided below the arm 42, and the subject places her breast on an imaging surface 10A provided on the upper surface of the imaging table 10. The imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10 that comes into contact with the breast is an example of the surface of the imaging table 10 according to the present disclosure that comes into contact with the breast.

[0051] A compression plate 47 is attached to the compression plate drive unit 46, and the compression plate drive unit 46 moves the compression plate 47 in a compression direction (downward in the example of FIG. 4) in accordance with instructions from the compression plate drive section 28, thereby pressing the breast placed on the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10 against the imaging surface 10A to compress it. The compression plate drive unit 46 also moves the compression plate 47, which is compressing the breast, in a compression release direction (upward in the example of FIG. 4) in accordance with instructions from the compression plate drive section 28, to release the compression of the breast by the compression plate 47.

[0052] Meanwhile, the imaging table 10 contains a built-in transducer 15A that transmits ultrasound waves toward the imaging surface 10A and captures an ultrasound image of the breast pressed against the imaging surface 10A by a compression paddle 47. A transducer cover 16 is attached to the surface of the transducer 15A that faces the imaging surface 10A. The transducer cover 16 functions as a lubricating member that reduces contact resistance between the back side of the imaging surface 10A and the transducer 15A, and also functions as an acoustic matching member that reduces the difference in acoustic impedance between different objects such as the imaging surface 10A and the transducer 15A.

[0053] The transducer 15A is attached to a moving stage 14A that is also pre-installed inside the imaging stage 10, and the transducer moving unit 9A moves the moving stage 14A in the front-to-back direction (the direction indicated by the arrow W1 in the example of FIG. 4) under the control of the control unit 20 via the transducer driving unit 22. Therefore, the transducer 15A attached to the moving stage 14A also moves in the front-to-back direction in accordance with the movement of the moving stage 14A. The moving stage 14A and the transducer moving unit 9A according to the present disclosure are an example of a moving mechanism that moves the transducer 15A inside the imaging stage 10.

[0054] Note that the object moved by the transducer moving unit 9A is not limited to a plate-shaped object such as the moving stage 14A. As long as the transducer 15A can be moved, the object may have any shape to which the transducer 15A can be attached, and may have other shapes such as a rod shape or a grid shape.

[0055] As the transducer 15A moves back and forth, the transmission position of the ultrasound also moves, so an ultrasound image of the entire breast placed on the imaging surface 10A can be obtained. Note that moving the transducer 15A in a direction along the imaging surface 10A using a movement mechanism is sometimes referred to as "scanning."

[0056] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a subject with her breast placed on the imaging surface 10A viewed from an upper position facing the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10. For ease of explanation, the transducer cover 16 and the compression plate 47 are not shown in FIG.

[0057] 5, transducer 15A has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is attached to movable stage 14A so that the longitudinal direction of transducer 15A is along the direction of the chest wall surface indicated by arrow W2. That is, transducer 15A is attached to movable stage 14A so that the length in the direction of the chest wall surface is longer than the length in the anterior-posterior direction indicated by arrow W1.

[0058] Preferably, transducer 15A is mounted at the end of carriage 14A closest to the subject so that transducer 15A can scan the entire breast coverage area in imaging plane 10A.

[0059] The transducer moving unit 9A may move the transducer 15A in the front-to-back direction and also in the direction of the chest wall surface.

[0060] Furthermore, the direction in which the transducer 15A is attached to the subject is not limited to the form shown in FIG. 5 in which the longitudinal direction of the transducer 15A is attached along the direction of the chest wall surface.

[0061] 6 is a diagram showing another example of how the transducer 15A is attached to the movable stage 14A. For ease of explanation, the transducer cover 16 and the compression plate 47 are not shown in FIG.

[0062] As shown in Figure 6, the transducer 15A may be attached to the movable stage 14A so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the anterior-posterior direction indicated by arrow W1. That is, the transducer 15A is attached to the movable stage 14A so that its length in the anterior-posterior direction is longer than its length in the chest wall direction indicated by arrow W2. The transducer moving unit 9A then moves the movable stage 14A in the chest wall direction. Accordingly, the transducer 15A attached to the movable stage 14A also moves in the chest wall direction in accordance with the movement of the movable stage 14A, thereby obtaining an ultrasound image of the entire breast placed on the imaging plane 10A.

[0063] The transducer moving unit 9A may move the transducer 15A in the front-to-back direction while moving it in the direction of the chest wall surface.

[0064] In the following description, it is assumed that the transducer 15A is attached to the moving stage 14A so that the longitudinal direction of the transducer 15A is aligned with the direction of the chest wall surface, as shown in FIG.

[0065] Next, we will explain the structure of imaging surface 10A of imaging table 10. When taking an ultrasound image, the breast is pressed against imaging surface 10A by compression plate 47, so imaging surface 10A needs to be rigid enough not to bend even when the breast is pressed against it. Therefore, for imaging surface 10A, a carbon fiber sheet is used, which has a specific gravity about 1 / 5 that of iron and a tensile strength about 10 times that of steel, and is used as a reinforcing material for various structures.

[0066] However, because each type of carbon fiber sheet exhibits its own unique acoustic impedance, when using a single-layer carbon fiber sheet, it is only possible to select a carbon fiber sheet with an acoustic impedance close to either the acoustic impedance of the breast or the transducer 15A, which have different acoustic impedances. In other words, it is difficult to construct an imaging surface 10A with a good balance between rigidity and acoustic matching performance using a single-layer carbon fiber sheet.

[0067] Therefore, the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10 in the present disclosure is made up of a plurality of laminated carbon fiber sheets each having a different acoustic impedance.

[0068] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example cross section of imaging surface 10A. Imaging surface 10A shown in Fig. 7 is made up of four layers of carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 stacked in the vertical direction (in the Z-axis direction in the example of Fig. 7). Of carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 making up imaging surface 10A, carbon fiber sheet 10A-1 comes into contact with transducer 15A (more specifically, comes into contact with transducer cover 16 of transducer 15A), and carbon fiber sheet 10A-4 comes into contact with the breast.

[0069] The four layers of carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 have different acoustic impedances, and carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 are layered so that the acoustic impedance decreases from carbon fiber sheet 10A-1 to carbon fiber sheet 10A-4. That is, carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 are layered so that the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-2 is lower than the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-1, the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-3 is lower than the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-2, and the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-4 is lower than the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-3.

[0070] The reason for laminating the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 in this manner is that the acoustic impedance of the human body is lower than that of the transducer 15A. For example, the acoustic impedance of the transducer 15A is in the range of 20 MRayls to 38 MRayls, whereas the acoustic impedance of the human body is around 1.5 MRayls. 1 MRayls is 1 kg / m 2 s], so 1 [MRayls] is 1 × 10 6 [kg / m 2 s]. Note that "nearby" refers to the range that can be considered as the displayed value, for example, a range with a width of ±α% from the displayed value. The value of α is set depending on the situation.

[0071] The closer the acoustic impedances between different objects, the less reflected ultrasound waves are generated at the boundary between the objects, resulting in a clearer ultrasound image. Therefore, it is preferable to make the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-1, which contacts transducer 15A, closer to the acoustic impedance of transducer 15A, and to make the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-4, which contacts the breast, closer to the acoustic impedance of the human body. Therefore, carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 are stacked so that the acoustic impedance decreases from carbon fiber sheet 10A-1 toward carbon fiber sheet 10A-4. In other words, the acoustic impedance is made to approach the acoustic impedance of the human body from transducer 15A toward the human body.

[0072] Specifically, it is preferable that the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-1 be approximately 20 MRayls, the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-2 be 5 MRayls to 15 MRayls, the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-3 be 1.5 MRayls to 5 MRayls, and the acoustic impedance of carbon fiber sheet 10A-4 be approximately 1.5 MRayls. The acoustic impedances can be measured, for example, using an acoustic impedance measuring device.

[0073] It is preferable that the acoustic impedance of at least the carbon fiber sheet 10A-1 in contact with the transducer 15A on the imaging surface 10A be within the range of possible acoustic impedances for the transducer 15A. This is because, unless the type of transducer 15A used is changed, the acoustic impedance of the transducer 15A will not change during imaging, whereas the acoustic impedance of the breast varies from person to person. Therefore, the carbon fiber sheet 10A-1 in contact with the transducer 15A is easier to acoustically match with the transducer 15A than the carbon fiber sheet 10A-4.

[0074] When carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 are formed by weaving carbon fibers aligned in one direction, they are more likely to bend when a load is applied along the fiber direction than when a load is applied along a direction intersecting the fiber direction.

[0075] For example, when considering a situation in which the breast is pressed against the carbon fiber sheet 10A-4 by the compression plate 47, the breast is pressed against the edge of the imaging surface 10A in the anterior-posterior direction and also against the center of the imaging surface 10A in the direction of the chest wall surface, so that a load is more likely to be applied in the direction of the chest wall surface than in the anterior-posterior direction.

[0076] Therefore, by arranging carbon fiber sheet 10A-N (N is an integer from 1 to 4) among carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 so that the fiber direction of at least one carbon fiber sheet 10A-N is along the direction of the chest wall surface of the subject, it is possible to reduce deflection in the direction of the chest wall surface compared to when carbon fiber sheet 10A-N is arranged so that the fiber direction is along the anterior-posterior direction of the subject, and it is possible to ensure the rigidity of imaging surface 10A.

[0077] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the fiber direction of each of the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4. In FIG. 8, the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 constituting the imaging surface 10A are virtually shifted laterally without changing their orientation, and the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 are viewed from above facing the respective sheet surfaces. The direction of the arrows in the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 indicates the fiber direction of the carbon fibers in each sheet. In the example of FIG. 8, the X-axis direction represents the direction of the chest wall surface, and the Y-axis direction represents the anterior-posterior direction. That is, in the example of FIG. 8, the subject stands facing the long sides of the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 and places her breast on the imaging surface 10A from the long side of the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4.

[0078] In the example of carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 shown in Figure 8, the fiber direction of carbon fiber sheet 10A-1 and carbon fiber sheet 10A-4, which form the outermost layer of imaging surface 10A, is arranged along the chest wall surface direction, and the fiber direction of carbon fiber sheet 10A-2 and carbon fiber sheet 10A-3, which form the inner layer of imaging surface 10A, is arranged along the front-to-back direction.

[0079] The fiber direction of the carbon fibers in the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 8. It is sufficient that the fiber direction of at least one carbon fiber sheet 10A-N among the multiple stacked carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 is arranged along the chest wall surface direction. Therefore, for example, in the example shown in Fig. 8, it is sufficient that the fiber direction of either the carbon fiber sheet 10A-1 or the carbon fiber sheet 10A-4 is arranged along the chest wall surface direction.

[0080] Alternatively, the carbon fiber sheets 10A-2 and 10A-3 constituting the inner layer of the imaging surface 10A may be arranged so that the fiber direction is along the chest wall surface direction, and the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 and 10A-4 constituting the outermost layer of the imaging surface 10A may be arranged so that the fiber direction is along the front-to-back direction.

[0081] In this way, by arranging the fiber direction of at least one carbon fiber sheet 10A-N among the multiple stacked carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 along the chest wall surface direction, it is possible to reduce the deflection of the imaging surface 10A in the chest wall surface direction compared to when the fiber directions of all carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 are arranged along the front-to-back direction, thereby ensuring the rigidity of the imaging surface 10A.

[0082] Although the fiber direction of all carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 may be aligned along the chest wall surface direction, as shown in Fig. 8, by configuring imaging surface 10A so that at least one carbon fiber sheet 10A-N whose fiber direction is aligned with the chest wall surface direction and at least one carbon fiber sheet 10A-N whose fiber direction is aligned with the anterior-posterior direction are arranged, it is possible to reduce both deflection of imaging surface 10A along the chest wall surface direction and along the anterior-posterior direction, thereby ensuring the rigidity of imaging surface 10A. Therefore, imaging surface 10A may be configured with carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 to 10A-4 whose fiber directions are alternately changed so that the fiber directions of adjacent carbon fiber sheets 10A-N are different.

[0083] Furthermore, since the outermost layer of the imaging surface 10A, which comes into contact with the breast and transducer 15A, is more likely to be subjected to load in the direction of the chest wall surface than the inner layer of the imaging surface 10A, it is preferable to arrange the carbon fiber sheets 10A-1 and 10A-4 that constitute the outermost layer of the imaging surface 10A so that their fiber direction is along the direction of the chest wall surface, as shown in Figure 8.

[0084] Naturally, the number of layers of the carbon fiber sheets 10A-N that make up the imaging surface 10A is not limited to four. If the number of layers of the carbon fiber sheets 10A-N that make up the imaging surface 10A is two or more, the imaging surface 10A can be acoustically matched to the breast while ensuring rigidity that can withstand the load generated by compression of the breast by the compression paddle 47.

[0085] Next, the operation of the ultrasonic imaging device 2 shown in FIG. 4, which uses the transducer 15A to capture an ultrasonic image of a breast placed on the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10, will be described.

[0086] 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of imaging processing executed by the ultrasound imaging device 2 when an instruction to start imaging an ultrasound image of the breast is received by a medical professional operating the operation unit 27. The CPU 20A of the ultrasound imaging device 2 reads the control program 21 from the ROM 20B and executes the imaging processing. The subject has already placed the breast, which is the subject, on the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10.

[0087] First, in step S10, the control unit 20 controls the compression plate drive unit 46 via the compression plate drive unit 28, moves the compression plate 47 in the compression direction, and compresses the breast with the compression plate 47, pressing it against the imaging plane 10A.

[0088] In step S20, the control unit 20 controls the transducer 15A to output ultrasonic waves from the transducer 15A, and starts capturing an ultrasonic image of the breast.

[0089] In step S30, the control unit 20 controls the transducer moving unit 9A via the transducer driving unit 22 to move the transducer 15A, thereby enabling the control unit 20 to capture continuous ultrasound images of the entire breast.

[0090] In step S40, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the imaging of the planned range of ultrasound images has been completed. If the imaging has not yet been completed, the process proceeds to step S30, and the process of moving the transducer 15A to the specified position is repeatedly executed.

[0091] On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S40 that the capturing of the ultrasound image has been completed, the process proceeds to step S50.

[0092] In step S50, the control unit 20 controls the transducer 15A to stop the output of the ultrasonic waves.

[0093] In step S60, the control unit 20 controls the compression paddle drive unit 46 via the compression paddle drive unit 28 to move the compression paddle 47 in the compression release direction, thereby releasing the compression of the breast by the compression paddle 47. This completes the imaging process shown in Fig. 9.

[0094] As described above, according to the ultrasound imaging device 2 of the first embodiment, the imaging table 10 incorporates the transducer 15A, which is movable in at least one of the forward-backward direction and the chest wall surface direction, and therefore an ultrasound image of a breast in contact with the imaging surface 10A can be captured from the imaging surface 10A without placing an auxiliary table such as an enlarged imaging table (not shown) on the imaging surface 10A. Furthermore, since the imaging surface 10A is formed from a plurality of laminated carbon fiber sheets 10A-N each having a different acoustic impedance, and the fiber direction of at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber sheets 10A-N is arranged along the chest wall surface direction, the imaging surface 10A can acoustically match with the breast while ensuring rigidity sufficient to withstand the load generated by compression of the breast by the compression paddle 47, compared to when the imaging surface 10A is formed from a single layer.

[0095] <Modification of the first embodiment> In the first embodiment, an ultrasound image of a breast in contact with imaging surface 10A is captured from the imaging surface 10A side by transducer 15A built into imaging table 10. In this modification, an ultrasound imaging device 2A that captures ultrasound images of a breast from multiple planes will be described.

[0096] An example of the functional configuration of the ultrasonic imaging device 2A is the same as the example of the functional configuration of the ultrasonic imaging device 2 shown in FIG.

[0097] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of an ultrasonic imaging device 2A according to this modification when viewed from the side. The ultrasonic imaging device 2A shown in Fig. 10 differs from the ultrasonic imaging device 2 shown in Fig. 4 in that a transducer 15B, a moving stage 14B, and a transducer moving unit 9B are added, and the other configurations are the same as those of the ultrasonic imaging device 2.

[0098] The output surface of transducer 15B that outputs ultrasound is provided in a position facing compression surface 47A of compression paddle 47, and, for example, comes into contact with compression surface 47A, and an ultrasound image of the breast that is in contact with compression surface 47A is taken from the compression surface 47A side. An acoustic matching material such as gel is applied to the ultrasound output surface of transducer 15B.

[0099] The transducer 15B is attached to the moving stage 14B, and the transducer moving unit 9B moves the moving stage 14B in the front-to-back direction (the direction indicated by the arrow W1 in the example of FIG. 10 ) under the control of the control unit 20 via the transducer driving unit 22. Therefore, the transducer 15B attached to the moving stage 14B also moves in the front-to-back direction in accordance with the movement of the moving stage 14B. Note that the transducer moving unit 9B may also move the transducer 15B in the direction of the chest wall surface while moving it in the front-to-back direction. The transducer 15B is an example of a second transducer according to the present disclosure. Like the moving stage 14A, the moving stage 14B may have any shape as long as it is an object to which the transducer 15B can be attached.

[0100] The control unit 20 controls the imaging start timing of each of the transducers 15A and 15B, and also individually controls the movement range of each of the transducers 15A and 15B (i.e., the breast imaging range) via the transducer drive unit 22. Note that the ultrasonic imaging device 2A does not necessarily have to be equipped with the moving stage 14B and the transducer moving unit 9B, which are an example of a movement mechanism for the transducer 15B. If the ultrasonic imaging device 2A is not equipped with the moving stage 14B and the transducer moving unit 9B, the transducer 15B may be moved manually by a medical professional. In this modification, an example will be described in which the control unit 20 individually controls the imaging start timing of each of the transducers 15A and 15B and the breast imaging range.

[0101] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of control of the imaging ranges of the transducers 15A and 15B, and is a diagram extracting the configuration between the transducers 15A and 15B from the ultrasonic imaging device 2A in Fig. 10. For ease of explanation, the transducer cover 16 is not shown in Fig. 11.

[0102] 11, the control unit 20 controls the imaging range so that the transducers 15A and 15B each image the same predetermined range (for example, a range including the entire breast) from different directions, specifically from opposing directions. That is, when the compression surface 47A of the compression plate 47 is viewed from an upper position opposite to the compression surface 47A, the control unit 20 controls the movement of the movable stages 14A and 14B so that the transducers 15A and 15B both move in the same range where the breast is present.

[0103] When the breasts are imaged using transducers 15A and 15B, the control unit 20 sets a boundary surface 11 between the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10 and the compression surface 47A of the compression plate 47, for example, at a predetermined distance from the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10. Then, the control unit 20 performs control to combine an ultrasound image taken by transducer 15A from the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10 to the boundary surface 11 with an ultrasound image taken by transducer 15B from the compression surface 47A of the compression plate 47 to the boundary surface 11 to generate a single ultrasound image of the same breast.

[0104] Next, the operation of the ultrasonic imaging device 2A shown in FIG. 10, which uses the transducers 15A and 15B to capture an ultrasonic image of a breast placed on the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10, will be described.

[0105] 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of imaging processing executed by the ultrasound imaging device 2A when an instruction to start imaging an ultrasound image of the breast is received by a medical professional operating the operation unit 27. The CPU 20A of the ultrasound imaging device 2A reads the control program 21 from the ROM 20B and executes the imaging processing. The subject has already placed the breast, which is the subject, on the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10.

[0106] The flowchart of the shooting process shown in FIG. 12 differs from the flowchart of the shooting process according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in that steps S20, S30, S40, and S50 are replaced with steps S20A, S30A, S40A, and S50A, respectively, and step S70 is newly added.

[0107] Therefore, hereinafter, the photographing process in this modified example will be described, focusing on the processes in steps S20A to S50A and step S70.

[0108] When the breast is compressed by the compression paddle 47 through the process of step S10, step S20A is executed.

[0109] In step S20A, the control unit 20 controls the transducers 15A and 15B to output ultrasonic waves from the transducers 15A and 15B, and starts capturing an ultrasonic image of the breast.

[0110] In step S30A, the control unit 20 controls the transducer moving units 9A and 9B via the transducer driving unit 22, and controls the movement range of the transducers 15A and 15B so that the transducers 15A and 15B each capture ultrasound images of the same predetermined range of the breast (for example, a range including the entire breast).

[0111] It is not necessary for transducers 15A and 15B to capture images of the same location on the breast at the same time. For example, after capturing an ultrasound image of the breast using transducer 15A, control unit 20 may move transducer 15B within the same range as the imaging range of the breast captured by transducer 15A, and then capture an ultrasound image of the breast using transducer 15B.

[0112] In step S40A, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the transducers 15A and 15B have completed capturing ultrasound images of the entire predetermined area. If the capturing is not yet complete, the process proceeds to step S30A, where the control unit 20 repeatedly executes the process of moving the transducers 15A and 15B to the specified positions. This allows the control unit 20 to capture successive ultrasound images of the breast in the same predetermined area using each of the transducers 15A and 15B.

[0113] On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S40A that the capturing of ultrasonic images by the transducers 15A and 15B has been completed, the process proceeds to step S50A.

[0114] In step S50A, the control unit 20 controls the transducers 15A and 15B to stop the output of ultrasonic waves from the transducers 15A and 15B.

[0115] After the compression of the breast is released by the processing of step S60, in step S70, the control unit 20 combines the ultrasound image taken by the transducer 15A from the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10 to the boundary surface 11 with the ultrasound image taken by the transducer 15B from the compression surface 47A of the compression plate 47 to the boundary surface 11 to generate a single ultrasound image of the same breast. The position of the boundary surface 11 is set by a medical professional and may be stored in the memory unit 24 in advance.

[0116] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image after synthesis. For convenience of explanation, Fig. 13 shows boundary surface 11, but it goes without saying that boundary surface 11 is not shown in an actual ultrasound image. This completes the imaging process shown in Fig. 12.

[0117] In ultrasound images, the image quality tends to decrease the further an object is from the ultrasound output plane. Therefore, for example, if an ultrasound image of a breast is captured using only transducer 15A, the image quality will decrease at locations of the breast that are vertically farther from imaging plane 10A, i.e., closer to compression plane 47A. Conversely, if an ultrasound image of a breast is captured using only transducer 15B, the image quality will decrease at locations of the breast that are vertically farther from compression plane 47A, i.e., closer to imaging plane 10A.

[0118] However, in ultrasound imaging device 2A according to this modification, transducers 15A and 15B capture ultrasound images of the breast from imaging surface 10A of imaging table 10 and compression surface 47A of compression paddle 47, respectively. The ultrasound image of the region beyond boundary surface 11 as seen from transducer 15A has lower image quality than the ultrasound image of the region up to boundary surface 11, but because the ultrasound image of the region beyond boundary surface 11 is replaced with the ultrasound image captured by transducer 15B, the image quality of the ultrasound image of the region beyond boundary surface 11 becomes equivalent to the image quality of the ultrasound image of the region up to boundary surface 11. Therefore, ultrasound images with higher accuracy and contrast can be obtained than when ultrasound images of the breast are captured using only transducers 15A and 15B.

[0119] An imaging mode in which the transducers 15A and 15B capture images of the same predetermined range from different directions and combine the respective ultrasonic images is called a "high definition mode."

[0120] In the above, the same predetermined area of ​​the breast was imaged by transducers 15A and 15B, respectively. However, the control unit 20 of the ultrasonic imaging device 2A can switch the imaging mode of the ultrasonic image of the breast by controlling the imaging range of transducers 15A and 15B.

[0121] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of control of the imaging ranges of the transducers 15A and 15B to realize an imaging mode different from the high-definition mode, and is a diagram extracting the configuration between the transducers 15A and 15B from the ultrasonic imaging device 2A in Fig. 10. For ease of explanation, the transducer cover 16 is not shown in Fig. 14.

[0122] 14, the control unit 20 controls the imaging range so that the transducers 15A and 15B each image a different predetermined range of the breast from a different direction. That is, when the compression surface 47A of the compression plate 47 is viewed from an upper position opposite the compression surface 47A, the control unit 20 controls the movement of the movable stages 14A and 14B so that the movement ranges of the transducers 15A and 15B do not overlap.

[0123] 14, of the range divided by boundary plane 11 perpendicular to imaging plane 10A and compression plane 47A, region D1 close to the chest wall is imaged by transducer 15B, and region D2 close to the nipple is imaged by transducer 15A. Alternatively, region D1 close to the chest wall may be imaged by transducer 15A, and region D2 close to the nipple may be imaged by transducer 15B.

[0124] In the example of Figure 14, in step S30A of the imaging process shown in Figure 12, the control unit 20 controls the transducer moving units 9A and 9B via the transducer driving unit 22, and controls the movement ranges of the transducers 15A and 15B so that the transducers 15A and 15B capture ultrasound images of different predetermined ranges of the breasts assigned to them, respectively.

[0125] It is not necessary for transducers 15A and 15B to capture ultrasound images at the same time. For example, control unit 20 may capture an ultrasound image of the breast using transducer 15A, and then capture an ultrasound image of the breast using transducer 15B.

[0126] In the judgment process of step S40A shown in FIG. 12, if it is determined that the transducers 15A and 15B have completed capturing ultrasound images of the entire area of ​​the breast that they are responsible for, the process proceeds to step S70 after executing steps S50A and S60.

[0127] In step S70, the control unit 20 combines the ultrasound image of the breast taken using transducer 15A and the ultrasound image of the breast taken using transducer 15B so that the division boundaries defined by boundary surface 11 of the ultrasound image of the breast are adjacent to each other, thereby generating a single ultrasound image of the same breast.

[0128] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image after synthesis. The ultrasound image of region D1 is an ultrasound image captured by, for example, transducer 15B, and the ultrasound image of region D2 is an ultrasound image captured by, for example, transducer 15A. For convenience of explanation, Fig. 15 shows boundary surface 11, but it goes without saying that boundary surface 11 is not shown in an actual ultrasound image.

[0129] If boundary surface 11 is set so that the shape and area of ​​region D1 in contact with compression surface 47A are the same as the shape and area of ​​region D2 in contact with imaging surface 10A, the movement ranges of transducers 15A and 15B will be the same. Therefore, if ultrasonic image capture by transducers 15A and 15B is started simultaneously, the time required to capture ultrasonic images of regions D1 and D2 can be reduced to half the time required to capture an image of the breast in high-resolution mode.

[0130] For the above reasons, the photographing mode shown in FIG. 11 is called the high-definition mode, whereas the photographing mode shown in FIG. 14 is called the "high-speed mode."

[0131] In high-speed mode, ultrasound images of the breast of the same range can be captured in half the time it takes to capture images using high-definition mode, but when focusing on a specific point in the imaging range, the ultrasound image at that point from compression surface 47A to imaging surface 10A is captured by either transducer 15A or 15B. Therefore, because high-speed mode includes ultrasound images of points farther away than high-definition mode, ultrasound images captured in high-speed mode may have lower image quality than ultrasound images captured in high-definition mode.

[0132] Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, a medical imaging system 1A in which a radiation image imaging system 4 is added to the medical imaging system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

[0133] 16 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medical imaging system 1A according to the second embodiment. The medical imaging system 1A includes an ultrasound imaging device 2 or an ultrasound imaging device 2A, a radiation image imaging system 4, and an image storage system 3A that is an extension of the image storage system 3 shown in FIG. 1. The radiation image imaging system 4 further includes a mammography device 5 and a console 6.

[0134] The mammography device 5 is a device that irradiates radiation R (e.g., X-rays: see FIG. 18) onto the breast of a subject compressed by a compression paddle 47 to capture a radiological image of the breast. The mammography device 5 is realized in a common housing with the ultrasonic imaging device 2 shown in FIG. 4 or the ultrasonic imaging device 2A shown in FIG. 10. In other words, the mammography device 5 also has the functions of the ultrasonic imaging device 2 or the ultrasonic imaging device 2A described in the first embodiment.

[0135] The console 6 is an operation table for operating the mammography apparatus 5, and is connected to, for example, the mammography apparatus 5 and the image storage system 3A.

[0136] The image storage system 3A is a system that stores ultrasound images captured by the ultrasound imaging device 2 or the ultrasound imaging device 2A, and radiation images captured by the mammography device 5. The image storage system 3A extracts ultrasound images and radiation images from the stored ultrasound images and radiation images in response to a request from the console 6 and transmits them to the console 6.

[0137] The console 6 receives instructions from medical personnel and notifies the control unit 20 of imaging orders and various information acquired from a RIS (Radiology Information System) 7 via a communication line such as a LAN.

[0138] 17 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the mammography apparatus 5 and console 6. Since the mammography apparatus 5 also has the functions of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 2 or ultrasound imaging apparatus 2A, it is equipped with an attachment / detachment device 17, a radiation source 41R, and a radiation detector 52 in addition to the configuration of the ultrasound imaging apparatus 2 or 2A shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the control program 21, transducer driver 22, and memory 24 in FIG. 2 are replaced with a control program 21A, a grid driver 18, and a memory 24A, respectively.

[0139] The radiation source 41R irradiates the breast with radiation R in accordance with the control of the control unit 20 that has received instructions from the console 6.

[0140] The radiation detector 52 detects radiation R that has passed through the breast, which is the subject.

[0141] The storage unit 24A stores the captured ultrasound images and radiological images, as well as various other information.

[0142] The attachment / detachment device 17 is a device for attaching and detaching the transducer 15A to the grid 13 (see FIG. 18). The grid 13 and the attachment / detachment device 17 will be described in detail later.

[0143] The grid driving section 18 controls a grid moving unit 19 (see FIG. 18) disposed inside the imaging table 10 in accordance with instructions from the control section 20, and moves the grid 13 toward the chest wall surface and / or in the anterior-posterior direction.

[0144] The compression paddle 47 in the mammography device 5 is made of a material that is highly transparent to radiation R. Furthermore, it is preferable that the compression paddle 47 be made of a material that easily transmits ultrasound. Resins such as polymethylpentene, polycarbonate, acrylic, and polyethylene terephthalate can be used as the material for the compression paddle 47. Polymethylpentene, in particular, is suitable for the compression paddle 47 because it has low rigidity, excellent stretchability, and flexibility, and has suitable values ​​for acoustic impedance, which affects the reflectivity of ultrasound, and attenuation coefficient, which affects the attenuation of ultrasound. The material that makes up the compression paddle 47 is not limited to the above examples. For example, the material that makes up the compression paddle 47 may be a film-like material.

[0145] The control program 21A is a program that is read by the CPU 20A to perform control relating to the capturing of ultrasonic images and control relating to the capturing of radiographic images.

[0146] On the other hand, the console 6 is configured by a server computer, for example. As shown in Fig. 17, the console 6 includes a control unit 60, an output unit 61, an operation unit 62, a storage unit 63, and an I / F unit 64. The control unit 60, the output unit 61, the operation unit 62, the storage unit 63, and the I / F unit 64 are connected via a bus 69 so as to be able to exchange various information with each other.

[0147] The control unit 60 controls the overall operation of the console 6. The control unit 60 includes a CPU 60A, a ROM 60B, and a RAM 60C. The ROM 60B stores various programs to be executed by the CPU 60A in advance. The RAM 60C is used as a temporary work area for the CPU 60A.

[0148] The output unit 61 outputs the information processed by the control unit 60 to a medical professional.

[0149] The operation unit 62 is used by medical personnel to input instructions and various information relating to radiographic imaging, etc., including instructions to irradiate radiation R. Therefore, the operation unit 62 includes at least an irradiation instruction button that the medical personnel presses when issuing an instruction to irradiate radiation R. There are no restrictions on the type of operation on the operation unit 62, and operations can be accepted using, for example, a switch, a touch panel, a touch pen, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.

[0150] The storage unit 63 stores radiographic images captured by the mammography device 5 and various other information. The storage unit 63 is an example of a storage device that maintains stored information even if the power supplied to the storage unit 63 is cut off, and is configured using, for example, a semiconductor memory such as an SSD, but a hard disk may also be used.

[0151] The I / F unit 64 communicates various types of information via wireless or wired communication with the mammography apparatus 5, RIS 7, and image storage system 3A, which are connected to a communication line such as a LAN. For example, the console 6 receives radiographic images captured by the mammography apparatus 5 via the I / F unit 64, and transmits the received radiographic images to the image storage system 3A via the I / F unit 64 to store the radiographic images in the image storage system 3A.

[0152] 18 is a diagram showing an example of the external appearance of mammography device 5 as seen from the side. In mammography device 5, ultrasound images and radiological images of the breast are taken with the subject placing their breast on imaging surface 10A of imaging table 10. Mammography device 5 can take images of the subject's breast not only when the subject is standing (standing position) but also when the subject is sitting in a chair (including a wheelchair) or the like (seated position).

[0153] In the following, we will explain the device configuration of a mammography device 5 based on the ultrasound imaging device 2 shown in Figure 4, but the mammography device 5 may also be configured based on the ultrasound imaging device 2A shown in Figure 10.

[0154] The mammography device 5 shown in Fig. 18 has a radiation source 41R, a radiation detector 52, and an attachment / detachment device 17 added to the device configuration of the ultrasound imaging device 2 shown in Fig. 4. Also, a grid 13 is used as the movable stage 14A of the ultrasound imaging device 2 shown in Fig. 4.

[0155] The radiation source 41R is provided at a position on the arm 42 facing the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10.

[0156] The radiation detector 52 is disposed inside the imaging table 10 behind the transducer 15A when viewed from the radiation source 41R toward the imaging surface 10A, and detects the radiation R that has passed through the breast.

[0157] Furthermore, a grid 13 is placed in the space inside the imaging table 10. Scattered rays may be generated when radiation R passes through the breast. If the scattered rays enter the radiation detector 52, areas that should not be exposed to light may be exposed, resulting in a deterioration in the quality of the radiographic image. The grid 13 acts as a filter that reduces the amount of scattered rays that enter the radiation detector 52 compared to before the grid 13 was installed, before the scattered rays enter the radiation detector 52. Therefore, the grid 13 is placed between the imaging surface 10A on which the breast is placed and the radiation detector 52, for example, so as to cover the radiation detector 52.

[0158] However, when capturing a radiological image using tomosynthesis, radiation R other than scattered radiation that should normally pass through may be blocked by the grid 13, so the grid 13 must be moved out of the radiation detection range of the radiation detector 52. For this reason, the mammography device 5 is provided with a grid moving unit 19 inside the imaging table 10, which has a movement mechanism that moves the grid 13 in at least one of the direction toward the chest wall surface and the front-to-back direction.

[0159] As already explained, when an ultrasound image of the breast is taken using the ultrasound imaging device 2, for example, the transducer 15A is moved using the moving stage 14A, but because radiation R is not irradiated during ultrasound imaging, the grid 13 is not required. Therefore, if the transducer 15A is attached to the grid 13, the grid 13 can be used as the moving stage 14A that moves the position of the transducer 15A, eliminating the need to provide a separate transducer moving unit 9A in the mammography device 5. In other words, in the mammography device 5, the grid 13 and the grid moving unit 19 are used as a moving mechanism that moves the transducer 15A in at least one of the direction toward the chest wall surface and the anterior-posterior direction.

[0160] In this case, if transducer 15A is attached in a fixed state to grid 13, transducer 15A will be reflected in the radiographic image when capturing a radiographic image of the breast. Therefore, mammography device 5 is provided with attachment / detachment device 17 for attaching / detaching transducer 15A to / from grid 13.

[0161] Fig. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the detachment device 17. As shown in Fig. 19, in the mammography device 5, the transducer 15A is not attached to the grid 13 during radiographic imaging.

[0162] When capturing of the radiation image is completed, the grid moving unit 19 moves the grid 13, for example, in the front-to-rear direction (the direction indicated by the arrow W1 in the example of FIG. 19), to move the grid 13 away from the subject.

[0163] When the grid 13 moves to a predetermined position (detachment position) for detaching the transducer 15A, the detachment device 17 attaches the transducer 15A to the grid 13 so that the longitudinal direction of the transducer 15A is aligned with the direction of the chest wall surface (the direction represented by arrow W2 in the example of Figure 19).

[0164] Thereafter, the grid moving unit 19 moves the grid 13 back and forth so that the transducer 15A approaches the subject, and an ultrasonic image of the breast is taken while the transducer 15A is scanning.

[0165] When the ultrasonic image capturing is completed, the grid moving unit 19 moves the grid 13, for example, in the forward and backward directions, to move the grid 13 away from the subject. When the grid 13 returns to the detachment position of the transducer 15A, the detachment device 17 detaches the transducer 15A from the grid 13.

[0166] There are no restrictions on the method of attaching and detaching the transducer 15A in the attachment / detachment device 17, and any known attachment / detachment method can be used.

[0167] Next, the operation of the mammography device 5 for capturing ultrasound images and radiation images of the breast will be described in detail.

[0168] 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of imaging processing executed by the mammography device 5 when a medical professional operates the console 6 to receive an instruction to start imaging ultrasound images and radiographic images of the breast. The CPU 20A of the mammography device 5 reads the control program 21A from the ROM 20B and executes the imaging processing. As shown in FIG. 18, the subject places the breast, which is the subject, on the imaging surface 10A of the imaging table 10. Furthermore, the transducer 15A is not attached to the grid 13.

[0169] First, in step S100, the control unit 20 controls the compression paddle drive unit 46 via the compression paddle drive unit 28, moves the compression paddle 47 in the compression direction, and compresses the breast with the compression paddle 47, pressing it against the imaging plane 10A.

[0170] In step S110, the control unit 20 controls the grid moving unit 19 via the grid driving unit 18 to move the grid 13 in the front-to-rear direction so that the grid 13 covers the radiation detector 52. Then, the control unit 20 controls the radiation source 41R to start irradiating with radiation R, and a radiographic image of the breast compressed by the compression paddle 47 is taken. In this case, since slits made of the lead foil and intermediate material that form the grid 13 may appear in the radiographic image, it is preferable that the control unit 20 controls the grid moving unit 19 to take a radiographic image of the breast while swinging the grid 13 toward the chest wall surface.

[0171] After the radiographic image of the breast has been captured, in step S120, the control unit 20 controls the grid moving unit 19 via the grid driving unit 18 to move the grid 13 until the end of the grid 13 closest to the subject reaches the detachment position.

[0172] In step S130, the control unit 20 controls the attachment / detachment device 17 to attach the retracted transducer 15A to the grid 13.

[0173] In step S140, the control unit 20 controls the transducer 15A to output ultrasonic waves from the transducer 15A, and starts capturing an ultrasonic image of the breast.

[0174] In step S150, the control unit 20 controls the grid moving unit 19 via the grid driving unit 18 to move the transducer 15A in the front-to-back direction, thereby enabling the control unit 20 to capture continuous ultrasound images of the entire breast.

[0175] In step S160, the control unit 20 determines whether or not capturing of ultrasound images of the planned range has been completed. If capturing of images has not yet been completed, the process proceeds to step S150, and the process of moving the transducer 15A to the specified position is repeatedly executed.

[0176] On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S160 that the capturing of the ultrasound image has been completed, the process proceeds to step S170.

[0177] In step S170, the control unit 20 controls the transducer 15A to stop the output of the ultrasonic waves.

[0178] In step S180, the control unit 20 controls the compression paddle drive unit 46 via the compression paddle drive unit 28 to move the compression paddle 47 in the compression release direction, thereby releasing the compression of the breast by the compression paddle 47. This completes the imaging process shown in Fig. 20.

[0179] In this way, the mammography device 5 uses the grid 13 as a movable stage 14A for the transducer 15A. When taking a radiographic image of the breast, the mammography device 5 detaches the transducer 15A from the grid 13 using the detachment device 17 and moves the transducer 15A out of the radiation detection range of the radiation detector 52. When taking an ultrasound image of the breast, the mammography device 5 attaches the retracted transducer 15A to the grid 13 using the detachment device 17. Therefore, even if the transducer 15A is built into the imaging table 10 to take an ultrasound image of the breast from the imaging surface 10A, the transducer 15A can be prevented from appearing in the radiographic image.

[0180] The mounting direction of transducer 15A on grid 13 and the movement direction of grid 13 are merely examples. As shown in FIG. 6, transducer 15A may be mounted on grid 13, which replaces movable stage 14A, so that the longitudinal direction of transducer 15A is aligned with the front-to-back direction (the direction indicated by arrow W1 in the example of FIG. 6), and grid 13 may be moved toward the chest wall surface (the direction indicated by arrow W2 in the example of FIG. 6).

[0181] While one embodiment of the medical imaging systems 1 and 1A has been described above, the disclosed embodiment of the medical imaging systems 1 and 1A is merely an example, and the medical imaging systems 1 and 1A are not limited to the scope of the embodiments. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the embodiments without departing from the gist of the present disclosure, and such modifications and improvements are also included in the technical scope of the disclosure.

[0182] For example, the internal processing order in the flowcharts of the imaging processes shown in FIGS. 9, 12, and 20 may be changed without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0183] In the above embodiments, the image capture processes are implemented by software. However, the image capture processes shown in the flowcharts may be implemented by hardware. In this case, the image capture processes can be implemented faster than when they are implemented by software.

[0184] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU 20A) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0185] Furthermore, the operations of the processors in the above embodiments may not only be performed by a single processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processors is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0186] In the above embodiments, the control programs 21 and 21A are stored in the ROM 20B. However, the storage location of the control programs 21 and 21A is not limited to the ROM 20B. The control programs 21 and 21A may also be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

[0187] For example, the control programs 21 and 21A may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), or a Blu-ray disc. The control programs 21 and 21A may also be provided in a form recorded on a portable semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. ROM 20B, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a Blu-ray disc, a USB, and a memory card are examples of non-transitory storage media.

[0188] Furthermore, the control unit 20 may download the control programs 21 and 21A from an external device connected to a communication line via the I / F unit 25, and store the downloaded control programs 21 and 21A in the ROM 20B of the control unit 20.

[0189] The following additional notes are further disclosed regarding the above embodiment.

[0190] (Appendix 1) a first transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves toward a contact surface that comes into contact with the breast and captures an ultrasound image of the breast; a moving mechanism that moves the first transducer in a direction along a contact surface with the breast; A built-in imaging stand Equipped with The contact surface of the imaging table is made up of a plurality of laminated carbon fiber sheets each having a different acoustic impedance, and at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber sheets has higher rigidity against contact with the breast than the other laminated carbon fiber sheets. Ultrasound imaging device.

[0191] (Appendix 2) the first transducer has a shape that extends longer in a direction along the chest wall of the subject than in a front-to-back direction along a direction intersecting the chest wall of the subject; The movement mechanism moves the first transducer in the front-to-rear direction. 2. An ultrasound imaging device as described in Appendix 1.

[0192] (Appendix 3) The moving mechanism further moves the first transducer toward the chest wall surface. 3. An ultrasound imaging device according to claim 2.

[0193] (Appendix 4) the first transducer has a shape that extends longer in a front-to-back direction along a direction intersecting the chest wall of the subject than in a chest wall surface direction along the chest wall of the subject, The moving mechanism moves the first transducer toward the chest wall surface. 2. An ultrasound imaging device as described in Appendix 1.

[0194] (Appendix 5) The movement mechanism further moves the first transducer in the front-to-rear direction. 5. An ultrasound imaging device according to claim 4.

[0195] (Appendix 6) The contact surface of the imaging table is made of laminated carbon fiber sheets such that the acoustic impedance decreases from the carbon fiber sheet that contacts the first transducer toward the carbon fiber sheet that contacts the breast. An ultrasonic imaging device according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 5.

[0196] (Appendix 7) Among the plurality of stacked carbon fiber sheets, at least one carbon fiber sheet is arranged so that its fiber direction is aligned with the chest wall surface direction along the chest wall of the subject. 7. An ultrasound imaging device according to claim 6.

[0197] (Appendix 8) The carbon fiber sheet that comes into contact with the first transducer and the carbon fiber sheet that comes into contact with the breast are arranged so that their fiber directions are aligned with the chest wall surface direction. 8. An ultrasound imaging device according to claim 7.

[0198] (Appendix 9) a second transducer that compresses the breast and captures an ultrasound image of the breast from the compression surface of a compression plate that brings the breast into close contact with the contact surface of the imaging table; a control unit that uses the first transducer and the second transducer to capture an ultrasound image of the breast; Further equipped with An ultrasonic imaging device according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 8.

[0199] (Appendix 10) The control unit switches an imaging mode for an ultrasound image of the breast by controlling imaging ranges of the first transducer and the second transducer. 10. An ultrasound imaging device according to claim 9.

[0200] (Appendix 11) The control unit sets a boundary surface between the contact surface of the imaging table and the compression surface of the compression plate, the boundary surface being a predetermined distance from the contact surface of the imaging table, and then controls the imaging range so that the first transducer and the second transducer image the same range of the breast, and performs control to generate an ultrasound image of the same breast by combining an ultrasound image from the contact surface of the imaging table to the boundary surface, which is imaged by the first transducer, and an ultrasound image from the compression surface of the compression plate to the boundary surface, which is imaged by the second transducer. 11. An ultrasound imaging device according to claim 10.

[0201] (Appendix 12) The control unit controls the imaging range so that the first transducer and the second transducer image different ranges. 11. An ultrasound imaging device according to claim 10.

[0202] (Appendix 13) An ultrasound imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. Mammography machine.

[0203] (Appendix 14) The moving mechanism uses a grid that is provided between the contact surface of the imaging table and the radiation detector, and that reduces the amount of scattered radiation that is generated when radiation irradiated from the radiation source is scattered by the breast and that enters the radiation detector, compared to before the grid was installed. 14. The mammography apparatus of claim 13.

[0204] (Appendix 15) The imaging table further includes a detachment device that attaches the first transducer to the grid when the grid has moved to a predetermined position, and detaches the first transducer from the grid when the grid to which the first transducer has been attached has returned to the predetermined position. 15. The mammography apparatus of claim 14.

[0205] (Appendix 16) For an ultrasound imaging device including an imaging table having built-in a first transducer that transmits ultrasound waves toward a contact surface that comes into contact with a breast and takes an ultrasound image of the breast, and a movement mechanism that moves the first transducer, the contact surface of the imaging table being made of a plurality of laminated carbon fiber sheets each having a different acoustic impedance, and at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber sheets having a higher rigidity against contact with the breast than the other laminated carbon fiber sheets, the method controls the movement mechanism so that the first transducer moves in a direction along the contact surface of the imaging table with the breast, and controls the first transducer to take an ultrasound image of the breast from the contact surface of the breast on the imaging table. Control program. [Explanation of symbols]

[0206] 1. 1A Medical Imaging System 2. 2A Ultrasound imaging device 3. 3A Image Storage System 4 Radiation imaging system 5. Mammography equipment 6 Console 9A, 9B Transducer moving unit 10. Photo stand 10A Shooting surface 10A-1~10A-4 Carbon Fiber Sheets 11 Boundary 13 Grid 14A, 14B Mobile platform 15A, 15B transducers 16 Transducer cover 17 Detachable device 18 Grid drive unit 19 Grid Mobile Unit 20 (Ultrasound imaging device) control unit 21, 21A control program 22 Transducer drive unit 24, 24A (Ultrasound imaging device) memory unit 25 (Ultrasound imaging device) I / F section 26 (ultrasound imaging device) output unit 27 (Ultrasound imaging device) control unit 28 Compression plate drive unit 29 (Ultrasound Imaging Device) Bus 30 (Image storage system) control unit 34 Storage section (of image storage system) 35 (Image storage system) I / F section 39 (Image Storage System) Bus 41R radiation source 42 Arm section 44 Foundation 45 Shaft 46 Compression plate drive unit 47 Compression Plate 47A Compression Surface 51 Pressure force detection sensor 52 Radiation detector 60 (Console) Control 61 (Console) Output 62 (Console) Controls 63 (Console) Storage 64 (Console) I / F section 69 (Console) Bus D1, D2 area R Radiation W1, W2 arrows

Claims

1. a first transducer that transmits ultrasonic waves toward a contact surface that comes into contact with the breast and captures an ultrasonic image of the breast; a moving mechanism that moves the first transducer in a direction along a contact surface with the breast; A built-in imaging stand Equipped with The contact surface of the imaging table is made up of a plurality of laminated carbon fiber sheets each having a different acoustic impedance, and at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber sheets has higher rigidity against contact with the breast than the other laminated carbon fiber sheets. Ultrasound imaging device.

2. the first transducer has a shape that extends longer in a direction along the chest wall of the subject than in a front-to-back direction along a direction intersecting the chest wall of the subject; The moving mechanism moves the first transducer in the front-to-rear direction. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 1 .

3. The moving mechanism further moves the first transducer toward the chest wall surface. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 2 .

4. the first transducer has a shape that extends longer in a front-to-back direction along a direction intersecting the chest wall of the subject than in a chest wall surface direction along the chest wall of the subject, The moving mechanism moves the first transducer toward the chest wall surface. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 1 .

5. The movement mechanism further moves the first transducer in the front-rear direction.

5. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The contact surface of the imaging table is made of laminated carbon fiber sheets such that the acoustic impedance decreases from the carbon fiber sheet that contacts the first transducer toward the carbon fiber sheet that contacts the breast. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 1 .

7. Among the plurality of stacked carbon fiber sheets, at least one carbon fiber sheet is arranged so that the fiber direction is aligned with the chest wall surface direction along the chest wall of the subject.

7. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 6.

8. The carbon fiber sheet that comes into contact with the first transducer and the carbon fiber sheet that comes into contact with the breast are arranged so that their fiber directions are aligned with the chest wall surface direction.

8. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 7.

9. a second transducer that compresses the breast and captures an ultrasound image of the breast from the compression surface of a compression plate that brings the breast into close contact with the contact surface of the imaging table; a control unit that uses the first transducer and the second transducer to capture an ultrasound image of the breast; Further equipped with The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 1 .

10. The control unit switches an imaging mode for an ultrasound image of the breast by controlling imaging ranges of the first transducer and the second transducer. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 9 .

11. The control unit sets a boundary surface between the contact surface of the imaging table and the compression surface of the compression plate, the boundary surface being a predetermined distance away from the contact surface of the imaging table, and then controls the imaging range so that the first transducer and the second transducer image the same range of the breast, and performs control to generate an ultrasound image of the same breast by combining an ultrasound image from the contact surface of the imaging table to the boundary surface, which is imaged by the first transducer, and an ultrasound image from the compression surface of the compression plate to the boundary surface, which is imaged by the second transducer. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 10.

12. The control unit controls the imaging range so that the first transducer and the second transducer image different ranges. The ultrasonic imaging device according to claim 10.

13. An ultrasound imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. Mammography machine.

14. The moving mechanism uses a grid that is provided between the contact surface of the imaging table and the radiation detector, and that reduces the amount of scattered radiation that is generated when radiation irradiated from the radiation source is scattered by the breast and that enters the radiation detector, compared to before the grid was installed.

14. The mammography apparatus according to claim 13.

15. The imaging table further includes a detachment device that attaches the first transducer to the grid when the grid has moved to a predetermined position, and detaches the first transducer from the grid when the grid to which the first transducer has been attached has returned to the predetermined position.

15. The mammography device according to claim 14.

16. For an ultrasound imaging device including an imaging table having built-in a first transducer that transmits ultrasound waves toward a contact surface that comes into contact with a breast and takes an ultrasound image of the breast, and a movement mechanism that moves the first transducer, the contact surface of the imaging table being made of a plurality of laminated carbon fiber sheets each having a different acoustic impedance, and at least one of the plurality of carbon fiber sheets having a higher rigidity against contact with the breast than the other laminated carbon fiber sheets, the method controls the movement mechanism so that the first transducer moves in a direction along the contact surface of the imaging table with the breast, and controls the first transducer to take an ultrasound image of the breast from the contact surface of the breast on the imaging table. Control program.

Images