Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a mammography device including a main body, a gantry, an X-ray generator, an X-ray detector, a first rotating shaft, a supporting panel, and a pressing panel. The gantry is vertically movably connected to the main body. The X-ray generator is attached to one end of the gantry. The X-ray detector is attached to the other end of the gantry. The first rotating shaft is configured to rotate the gantry. The support panel is configured to support a patient&#39;s breast. The pressing panel is vertically movably disposed and connected to the main body. Such a pressing panel is configured to press the patient&#39;s breast on the support panel. The X-ray detector acquires 3-D images while rotating the gantry around the breast pressed by the pressing panel and the support panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage Patent Application of PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2011/004868 (filed on Jul. 1, 2011) under 35 U.S.C. §371, the teaching of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a mammography detector having multiple sensors and a mammography device capable of acquiring a 3D image, and more particularly, to a mammography detector provided with multiple sensors such as a high-definition sensor for detecting a very small lesion, a high-contrast sensor for detecting an accurate size of a lesion, and a mammography sensor, or a CT sensor for mammography and a mammography device which can rotate an X-ray generator and the mammography detector by 185 degrees or more relative to a measurement target breast and which can acquire a 3D image. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a mammography device is a radiography device used to diagnose a breast cancer in an early stage, and acquires a two-dimensional image for diagnosing abreast cancer by causing X-rays to pass through a breast of an examinee with a predetermined dose and detecting the dose of transmitted X-rays using an X-ray sensitive film. 
     In recent years, a mammography device employs a method of digitally acquiring a two-dimensional image using an image sensor instead of the X-ray sensitive film. Such a mammography device has a structure in which a breast pressing member is interposed between an X-ray generator and a digital X-ray detector so as to cause the breast pressing member to press a breast for radiography in a state where the breast is placed on the digital X-ray detector. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a conventional mammography device  100 . As illustrated in the drawing, the mammography device  100  includes a main body  110 , a gantry  120 , an X-ray generator  130 , a pressing panel  140 , and an X-ray detector  150 . 
     The main body  110  is formed of a rectangular housing and is provided with an input device for operating the mammography device  100  and a display device for displaying an image. The main body  110  supports the gantry  120 . 
     The gantry  120  is disposed on one side surface of the main body  110  so as to adjust the height thereof depending on the height of an examinee. 
     The X-ray generator  130  includes an X-ray source for emitting X-rays and is located at an upper end of the front surface of the gantry  120  so as to vertically irradiate the X-rays toward the X-ray detector  150  on which a patient&#39;s breast placed. 
     The pressing panel  140  is disposed between the X-ray generator  130  and the X-ray detector  150 . The pressing panel  140  is movable up and down along a guide groove formed in the vertical direction on the front surface of the gantry  120 . The pressing panel  140  provides a function of pressing a patient&#39;s breast against the top surface of the X-ray detector  150  disposed at the lower end of the front surface of the gantry  120 . 
     The X-ray detector  150  converts X-rays, which have been generated by the X-ray generator  130  and have passed through a breast, into electrical signals and makes an image. 
     In such a mammography device  100 , the X-ray detector  150  employs a high-contrast image sensor with a pixel size of 70 μm to 100 μm. However, such a high-contrast image sensor is advantageous for detecting an accurate size of a cancer, but has a limit in detecting a very small possible lesion. In general, since a very small possible lesion has a size of 50 μm or less, a high-definition sensor with a pixel size of 50 μm or less is required. However, the X-ray detector  150  in the conventional mammography device  100  employs only a high-contrast image sensor with a pixel size of 70 μm to 100 μm and thus has a problem in that a small possible lesion cannot be detected. 
     On the other hand, the above-mentioned conventional mammography device  100  can acquire only a two-dimensional (2D) image and thus has a trouble that a breast CT scanning device should be used to acquire a three-dimensional image which can enable ascertaining of an accurate position of a lesion. 
     In this way, when a breast CT scanning operation is carried out to acquire a three-dimensional image, a particular CT scanning device is used, which is very troublesome. In addition, since a three-dimensional image is captured in a state where a patient lies down and the breast is not pressed, there is a problem in that an accurate image cannot be acquired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Therefore, the present invention is made to solve the above-mentioned problems and an object thereof is to provide a mammography detector having multiple sensors which can improve use convenience of a mammography device by providing a mammography X-ray detector with a high-definition sensor for detecting a very small lesion and a high-contrast sensor for detecting an accurate lesion size. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mammography detector having multiple sensors which can improve utilization of a mammography device by providing a mammography X-ray detector with a mammography sensor for acquiring a two-dimensional image and a CT sensor for acquiring a three-dimensional image. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mammography device which can acquire a three-dimensional image by providing a mammography detector with a mammography sensor and a CT sensor and causing a gantry to rotate by 185 degrees or more in a state where a patient&#39;s breast is pressed. 
     The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, but other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the below description and will be understood more apparently from embodiments of the present invention. It will be understood that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by means described in the appended claims and combinations thereof. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mammography device including: a main body; a gantry that is connected to the main body so as to be vertically movable; an X-ray generator that is attached to one end of the gantry; an X-ray detector that is attached to the other end of the gantry opposing the X-ray generator; first rotating means that is disposed in the main body so as to rotate the gantry; and pressing means for pressing a patient&#39;s breast in a state where a patient stands up and including a support panel located on a rotation axis line of the first rotating means and a pressing panel disposed to be vertically movable and to press a breast on the support panel and connected to the main body in a state where the pressing panel is physically separated from the gantry, wherein the X-ray detector includes a CT sensor, and acquires a three-dimensional image while rotating the gantry by a predetermined angle or more in a state where the patient&#39;s breast is pressed by the pressing means. 
     It is preferable that the X-ray detector further includes: a mammography sensor that is disposed on a first surface; the CT sensor that is disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface; and a readout board that is disposed between the mammography sensor and the CT sensor. 
     It is also preferable that the X-ray detector further includes an X-ray shielding member that shields the readout board so as to prevent damage and interference of the readout board due to the X-rays generated by the X-ray generator. 
     It is also preferable that the X-ray detector further includes: a mammography sensor that is disposed on a first surface; the CT sensor that is disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface; a first readout board that is connected to the mammography sensor so as to communicate with the mammography sensor, to control the mammography sensor, and to read out an image signal; and a second readout board that is connected to the CT sensor so as to communicate with the CT sensor, to control the CT sensor, and to read out an image signal. 
     It is still preferable that the X-ray detector further includes X-ray shielding members that shield the first and second readout boards so as to prevent damage and interference of the first and second readout board due to the X-rays generated by the X-ray generator. 
     It is still preferable that the first rotating means causes the gantry to rotate by 185 degrees or more. 
     Preferably, the mammography device may further include: mode setting means for setting an operation mode of the mammography device; and second rotating means for causing a module of the X-ray detector to automatically rotate on the basis of the mode set by the mode setting means. 
     Preferably, the X-ray detector further includes display means that is formed on a top surface and/or a bottom surface so as to display a sensor type. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mammography detector including: a high-definition sensor that is disposed on a first surface so as to detect a small possible lesion; a high-contrast sensor that is disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface so as to detect an accurate size of a lesion; and a readout board that is disposed between the high-definition sensor and the high-contrast sensor. 
     It is preferable that the detector further includes an X-ray shielding member that shields the readout board so as to prevent damage and interference of the readout board due to the X-rays generated by the X-ray generator. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mammography detector including: a high-definition sensor that is disposed on a first surface so as to detect a small possible lesion; a high-contrast sensor that is disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface so as to detect an accurate size of a lesion; a first readout board that is connected to the high-definition sensor so as to communicate with the high-definition sensor, to control the high-definition sensor, and to read out an image signal; and a second readout board that is connected to the high-contrast sensor so as to communicate with the high-contrast sensor, to control the high-contrast sensor, and to read out an image signal. 
     It is also preferable that the detector further includes X-ray shielding members that shield the first and second readout boards so as to prevent damage and interference of the first and second readout board due to the X-rays generated by the X-ray generator. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to improve use convenience of a mammography device by providing a mammography X-ray detector with a high-definition sensor for detecting a very small lesion and a high-contrast sensor for detecting an accurate lesion size. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to acquire a three-dimensional image using the mammography device by providing a mammography X-ray detector with a mammography sensor for acquiring a two-dimensional image and a CT sensor for acquiring a three-dimensional image and causing a gantry to rotate by 185 degrees or more in a state where a patient&#39;s breast is pressed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a conventional mammography device. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a mammography device capable of acquiring a three-dimensional image according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional image capturing procedure according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a mammography detector having multiple sensors according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a mammography detector having multiple sensors according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a detailed appearance of the mammography detector having multiple sensors according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so as to cause those skilled in the art to easily understand the technical spirit of the present invention. When it is determined in the below description that specific description of known techniques associated with the present invention unnecessarily makes the gist of the present invention vague, detailed description thereof will not be described. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to represent identical or similar elements. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a mammography device capable of acquiring a three-dimensional image according to the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a mammography device  200  according to the present invention includes a main body  210 , a gantry  220 , an X-ray generator  230 , a pressing panel  240   a , a support panel  240   b , and an X-ray detector  250 . 
     The main body  210  is formed of a rectangular housing and includes an input device, in a predetermined part thereof, for operating the mammography device  200 , a display device showing a captured image, and a control module  280  for controlling drive of the gantry  220  and controlling the X-ray detector  250 . The main body  210  may have various shapes, and the input device, the display device, and the control module may also be installed at positions separated from the main body  210  as long as they are connected to the main body  210 . The main body  210  supports the gantry  220  so as to allow the gantry  220  to rotate. 
     The gantry  220  is fixed to one side surface of the main body  210 , is connected to the main body  210  so as to be rotatable with a rotating shaft  260  attached to be substantially perpendicular to the main body  210 , and is connected to the main body  210  so as to be movable in the vertical direction with a sliding member (not illustrated). Accordingly, the gantry  220  can rotate by a predetermined angle with the rotating shaft  260 , and the rotating shaft  260  is connected to the sliding member so as to move in the vertical direction relative to the main body  210 . Accordingly, the gantry  220  can move along the main body  210  and the height thereof can be appropriately adjusted depending on the position of an examinee. 
     The X-ray generator  230  includes an X-ray source, provides a function of generating X-rays, and is disposed at an upper end of the front surface of the gantry  220 . The lower end of the X-ray generator  230  may be provided with an X-ray shielding film slidably moving in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the height of the X-ray shielding film can be appropriately adjusted depending on a patient&#39;s eye height and thus the patient&#39;s eyes can be protected from X-rays. The X-ray generator  230  is provided with a collimator or the like and thus provides a function of limiting X-rays so as to emit the X-rays in the vertical direction to irradiate the X-ray detector  250  with the X-rays. 
     The pressing panel  240   a  is located between the X-ray generator  230  and the X-ray detector  250 , is connected to the main body  210  at a position in the back of the gantry  220  so as to move in the vertical direction, and provides a function of pressing a patient&#39;s breast against the support panel  240   b  located at the lower end of the front surface of the gantry  220  and connected coaxially with the rotating shaft  260 . 
     The support panel  240   b  is located at the lower end of the front surface of the gantry  220  and serves to support a patient&#39;s breast thereon. The pressing panel  240   a  presses a breast placed on the support panel  240   b  while moving downward. 
     Here, the pressing panel  240   a  and the support panel  240   b  should be configured to be located coaxially with the rotating shaft  260  after pressing the patient&#39;s breast and not to rotate with the rotation of the gantry  220 . In other words, the support panel  240   b  is connected to the rotating shaft  260  so as not to rotate even with the rotation of the gantry  220 . The support panel  240   b  is preferably located substantially coaxially with the rotating shaft  260 . The pressing panel  240   a  may be physically separated from the gantry  220  and is configured not to rotate with the rotation of the gantry  220 . That is, the corresponding part of the gantry  220  is provided with a space having a sufficient size so as to cause a connection shaft supporting the pressing panel  240   a  not to hinder the rotation of the gantry  220  when the gantry  220  rotates in a state where the pressing panel  240   a  presses the breast. The pressing panel  240   a  is connected to a support member  290  connected to the main body  210  so as to move in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the pressing panel  240   a  and the support panel  240   b  are formed of a material capable of transmitting X-rays. 
     The X-ray detector  250  provides a function of detecting X-rays generated from the X-ray generator  230  and transmitted through the patient&#39;s breast and making an image. The X-ray detector  250  is mounted on a platform connected to the gantry  220  and rotates with the rotation of the gantry  220  at a position corresponding to the X-ray generator  230 . 
     Here, the X-ray detector  250  selectively includes a mammography sensor and a CT sensor formed on a surface opposed to the mammography sensor. The CT sensor is an area type sensor in which unit pixels are two-dimensionally arranged. That is, the CT sensor has a shape in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix of plural rows and plural columns. The CT sensor rotates about a fixed rotating shaft  270  and receives X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator  230  and transmitted through the patient&#39;s breast to acquire an X-ray image of a region of interest of the breast. The CT sensor may be an area sensor having an image acquisition plane with a fixed size capable of acquiring a two-dimensional X-ray image of a region of interest at a time. The X-ray detector  250  may include a high-definition sensor for detecting a very small lesion and a high-contrast sensor for detecting an accurate size of a lesion. 
     The detailed configuration of the X-ray detector  250  will be described later in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an image capturing operation of a mammography device capable of acquiring a three-dimensional image according to the present invention. 
     In order to acquire a three-dimensional image, first, the operation mode of the mammography device  200  is set to a CT imaging mode. Accordingly, the CT sensor of the X-ray detector  250  is located in an upper part so as to receive X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator  230 . The CT sensor may be located in the upper part using a manual method and an automatic method. The manual method may be carried out by causing an operator of the mammography device  200  to operate the X-ray detector  250  so as to locate the CT sensor in the upper part. The automatic method may be carried out by causing the X-ray detector  250  to automatically rotate so as to locate the CT sensor in the upper part depending on the set mode using a sensing circuit for sensing a position of the CT sensor and a drive circuit for rotationally driving the X-ray detector  250 . The technique of automatically setting the X-ray detector  250  can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art using known techniques and specific description thereof will not be made in the following description. 
     After the X-ray detector  250  is operated so as to locate the CT sensor thereof in the upper part in this way, the gantry  220  moves vertically to locate the patient&#39;s breast on the support panel  240   b . In this state, the pressing panel  240   a  moves to press the breast placed on the support panel  240   b . Then, the breast is irradiated with X-rays from the X-ray generator  230  while rotating the gantry  220  by 185 degrees or more. Accordingly, the X-ray generator  230  and the X-ray detector  250  rotate at the corresponding positions and the X-ray detector  250  acquires an image of the breast in the directions of 185 degrees or more. 
     A three-dimensional image can be acquired using the two-dimensional image acquired in this way with rotation of 185 degrees or more. In the present invention, the gantry  220  may rotate by 360 degrees. However, a three-dimensional images can be constructed using even the two-dimensional images acquired with the rotation of 185 degrees or more. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a mammography x-ray detector  250  having multiple sensors according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The multiple sensors may include a high-definition sensor for detecting a very small lesion and a high-contrast sensor for detecting an accurate size of a lesion. The multiple sensors may include a general mammography sensor for acquiring a two-dimensional image and a CT sensor for acquiring a three-dimensional image. Here, the sensors are referred to as a first sensor and a second sensor, respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the mammography X-ray detector  250  roughly includes a first sensor  310  disposed on a first surface, a second sensor  320  disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface, and a readout board  330  disposed between the first sensor  310  and the second sensor  320  so as to read electrical signals formed by the first and second sensors  310  and  320  or to control the first and second sensors  310  and  320 . 
     The first sensor  310  may be high-contrast sensor or a mammography sensor and is disposed on the first surface of the X-ray detector  250 . The second sensor  320  may be a high-definition sensor or a CT sensor and is disposed on the second surface opposed to the first surface. Here, if adopting an indirect type, the first and second sensors  310  and  320  include a semiconductor image sensor array and a fluorescent panel and have modulated forms. Therefore, the X-ray detector  250  includes a housing, the first sensor  310  is fixed and combined to the first surface of the housing, and the second sensor  320  is fixed and combined to the second surface of the housing. 
     The readout board  330  is disposed in the housing of the X-ray detector  250  between the first sensor  310  and the second sensor  320 . The readout board  330  is coupled to the first and second sensors  310  and  320  so as to communicate therewith and performs a function of controlling the first and second sensors  310  and  320  and reading and transmitting image signals generated by the first and second sensors  310  and  320  to a computer for processing an image. 
     On the other hand, in order to prevent the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator  230  from damaging the readout board  330  or interfering with circuits in the readout board  330 , the readout board  330  is shielded with an X-ray shielding member  340 . 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second sensors  310  and  320  share a single readout board  330 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a mammography X-ray detector  250  having multiple sensors according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     In another example of the mammography X-ray detector according to the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first and second sensors  310  and  320  have readout boards  330   a  and  330   b , respectively, unlike  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the mammography X-ray detector  250  roughly includes a first sensor  310  disposed on a first surface, a second sensor  320  disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface, and a first readout board  330   a  configured to control the first sensor  310  and to read an image signal formed by the first sensor  310 , and a second readout board  330   b  configured to control the second sensor  320  and to read an image signal formed by the second sensor  320 . 
     The first sensor  310  may be a high-contrast sensor or a mammography sensor and is disposed on the first surface of the X-ray detector  250 . The second sensor  320  may be a high-definition sensor or a CT sensor and is disposed on the second surface opposed to the first surface. Here, if adopting an indirect type, the first and second sensors  310  and  320  include a semiconductor image sensor array and a fluorescent panel and have modulated forms. Therefore, the X-ray detector includes a housing, the first sensor  310  is fixed and combined to the first surface of the housing, and the second sensor  320  is fixed and combined to the second surface of the housing. 
     The first readout board  330   a  and the second readout board  330   b  are disposed in the housing of the X-ray detector  250  between the first sensor  310  and the second sensor  320 . The first readout board  330   a  is coupled to the first sensor  310  so as to communicate therewith and performs a function of controlling the first sensor  310  and reading and transmitting an image signal generated by the first sensor  310  to a computer for processing an image. The second readout board  330   b  is coupled to the second sensor  320  so as to communicate therewith and performs a function of controlling the second sensor  320  and reading and transmitting an image signal generated by the second sensor  320  to a computer for processing an image. 
     In order to prevent the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator  230  from damaging the first and second readout boards  330   a  and  330   b  or interfering with circuits in the readout boards  330   a  and  330   b , the first and second readout boards  330   a  and  330   b  are shielded with X-ray shielding members  340 , respectively. On the other hand, an insulating member  350  for electrically insulating the first and second readout boards  330   a  and  330   b  from each other may be disposed between the first and second readout boards  330   a  and  330   b.    
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a detailed appearance of the mammography detector  250  having multiple sensors according to the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the mammography detector  250  includes a support frame  360  that is fixed and coupled to the gantry  220  and that supports the mammography detector  250 . The support frame  360  is provided with a reception part  361  for receiving the mammography detector  250  and is provided with a connector insertion hole  362  into which a connector  311  for communicable connection with the readout board of the mammography detector  250 . 
     One end of the mammography detector  250  is provided with the connector  311  connected to a communication cable built in the gantry  220 . A display device  363  for displaying a sensor type or a switch capable of automatically recognizing a sensor type may be formed on the first surface and the second surface of the mammography detector  250 . 
     The present invention can be replaced, modified, and changed in various forms without departing from the technical thought of the present invention by those skilled in the art and is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments or the accompanying drawings. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to improve use convenience of a mammography device by providing a mammography X-ray detector with a high-definition sensor for detecting a very small lesion and a high-contrast sensor for detecting an accurate lesion size.