Mammography Display Switching for Rotating Arm Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mammography apparatuses with rotatable support portions for radiation sources and display units for ultrasound images, it can be difficult to maintain visibility of the display unit when the support portion is rotated.
Innovation Solution
The mammography apparatus includes a support portion that rotatably supports a radiation source at multiple imaging positions with different incidence angles, and multiple display units positioned differently to display ultrasound images. A processor switches the display of the ultrasound image between these display units based on the rotational position of the support portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the support portion is rotated to change imaging positions with different incidence angles, then the mammography apparatus can perform imaging from multiple directions, but the visibility of the display unit becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit is made rotatable along with the support portion, allowing its orientation to dynamically adjust according to the imaging position. This ensures the display remains visible to the operator regardless of the support portion's rotational position, resolving the contradiction between multi-directional imaging capability and display visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit is integrated with the rotatable support portion structure, combining the display function with the positioning mechanism. This merging ensures that when the support portion rotates to different imaging positions, the display unit rotates accordingly, maintaining visibility without requiring separate adjustment mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If a single display unit is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the visibility cannot be maintained when the support portion is rotated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple fixed display units, a single display unit is made dynamically rotatable. This allows one display unit to serve multiple positions, maintaining visibility across different imaging angles while avoiding the complexity of managing multiple separate display systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A first display unit that is provided at a position of an arm part in front of an examinee, and a second display unit that is provided at a side surface of the arm part are provided. Then, control of switching between the display units that display an ultrasound image is performed according to a rotational position of the arm part.