Patent Description:
A radiography apparatus has been known which irradiates an object, such as the breast of a subject, with radiation emitted from a radiation source and detects the radiation transmitted through the object with a radiation detector to capture a radiographic image.

In addition, there is a technique that derives a mammary gland region of the breast from a radiographic image and displays the mammary gland region. For example, <CIT> discloses a technique which displays a mammary gland region detected from the previous radiographic image on a compression member that compresses the breast in the current imaging in order to perform positioning with the previous capture of a radiographic image in a mammography apparatus, thereby supporting positioning in the current imaging.

As such, in a case in which compression by the compression member is released, in general, the compressed state of the breast in the previous compression before the decompression is different from the compressed state of the breast in re-compression after the decompression. In some cases, the developed state of the mammary gland (mammary gland region) varies depending on the compressed state of the breast. Therefore, in the technique described in <CIT>, the displayed mammary gland region may be inappropriate. <CIT> discloses a radiography system in which an ultrasonic probe is directed to the region of interest as acquired by the acquisition unit. To this end, the acquisition unit comprises processing means to determine a path between the ultrasound probe and the region (position) of interest within the breast. <CIT> discloses a radiography system in which an image of a compressed breast is displayed and a user may indicate a region of interest by use of a mouse for example, before this region of interest is used to control a laser apparatus which sets a mark on the compression paddle based on the height of the compression paddle and a tilting position of the paddle.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a radiography system, a medical imaging system, a control method, and a non-transitory storage medium storing a control program that can appropriately display a mammary gland region of the breast in a compressed state on a compression member which compresses the breast.

In order to achieve the object, according to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a radiography system comprising the features of claim <NUM>.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the radiography system according to the first aspect, the object of interest may be a mammary gland of the breast and the region of the object of interest may be a mammary gland region of the breast.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, in the radiography system according to the first or second aspect, the acquisition unit may derive the region of the object of interest on the basis of the radiographic image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the radiography system according to any one of the first to third aspects may further comprise a correction unit that corrects a size of a display region of the object of interest. The display control unit may perform control to display the region of the object of interest in the display region corrected by the correction unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the radiography system according to the fourth aspect, the correction unit may correct the size of the display region of the object of interest on the basis of a distance between the radiation source and the radiation detector and a distance between the object of interest and the radiation detector.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the radiography system according to the fourth aspect, the correction unit may correct the size of the display region of the object of interest on the basis of a distance between the radiation source and the radiation detector and a thickness of the breast.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the radiography system according to the fourth aspect, the correction unit may correct the size of the display region of the object of interest on the basis of a distance between the radiation source and the radiation detector and a distance between the compression member and the radiation detector.

The radiography system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects further comprises a visible light source that emits visible light and a limitation unit that limits an irradiation region of the visible light under the control of the display control unit.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, mammography apparatus may further comprise a collimator that limits an irradiation field of radiation emitted from the radiation source and the limitation unit may limit the irradiation region of the visible light using the collimator.

In the radiography system display control unit performs control for the limitation unit such that the irradiation region is matched with the region of the object of interest on the basis of a position of the visible light source and an irradiation angle of the visible light.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the mammography apparatus may display an irradiation field of radiation emitted from the radiation source with visible light and the display control unit may perform control to display the region of the object of interest with visible light that is different from the visible light for displaying the irradiation field in any one of hue, brightness, or saturation.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, in a case in which there are a plurality of regions of the object of interest, the display control unit may perform control to sequentially display the plurality of regions of the object of interest.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the display control unit may further perform control to display the radiographic image captured by the mammography apparatus on the compression member.

In order to achieve the object, according to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a medical imaging system defined by claim <NUM>.

In order to achieve the object, according to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a control method performed by a computer, defined by claim <NUM>.

In order to achieve the object, according to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory storage medium defined by claim <NUM>.

A radiography system according to the present disclosure includes a processor. The processor acquires region information indicating a region of an object of interest in a breast on the basis of a radiographic image captured by a mammography apparatus that includes a radiation source, a radiation detector, and a compression member which compresses the breast disposed between the radiation source and the radiation detector and captures the radiographic image of the breast in a compressed state using the radiation detector and performs control to display the region of the object of interest on the compression member, which continues to compress the breast from the capture of the radiographic image, so as to be recognizable on the basis of the acquired region information.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately display a mammary gland region of the breast in a compressed state on a compression member that compresses the breast.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Each of the embodiments does not limit the invention. In each of the embodiments, for example, a case in which an object of interest of the present disclosure is the mammary gland will be described.

First, an example of the entire configuration of a medical imaging system according to this embodiment will be described. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment comprises a radiography system <NUM>, an ultrasonography apparatus <NUM>, and an image storage system <NUM>.

First, the configuration of the radiography system <NUM> will be described. The radiography system <NUM> includes a mammography apparatus <NUM> and a console <NUM>. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the mammography apparatus <NUM> and the console <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view illustrating an example of the outward appearance of the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment.

The mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment irradiates the breast of a subject as an object with radiation R (for example, X-rays) to capture a radiographic image of the breast. In addition, the mammography apparatus <NUM> may be an apparatus that captures the image of the breast of the subject not only in a state in which the subject stands up (standing state) but also in a state in which the subject sits on, for example, a chair (including a wheelchair) (sitting state).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment comprises a control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, an interface (I/F) unit <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, a radiation detector <NUM>, a compression plate driving unit <NUM>, a compression plate <NUM>, and a radiation emitting unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM>, the I/F unit <NUM>, the operation unit <NUM>, the radiation detector <NUM>, the compression plate driving unit <NUM>, and the radiation emitting unit <NUM> are connected to each other through a bus <NUM>, such as a system bus or a control bus, such that they can transmit and receive various kinds of information.

The control unit <NUM> according to this embodiment controls the overall operation of the mammography apparatus <NUM> under the control of the console <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 20A, a read only memory (ROM) 20B, and a random access memory (RAM) 20C. For example, various programs including an imaging processing program <NUM> which is executed by the CPU 20A and is for control related to the capture of a radiographic image are stored in the ROM 20B in advance. The RAM 20C temporarily stores various kinds of data.

The radiation detector <NUM> detects the radiation R transmitted through the breast which is the object. As illustrated in <FIG>, the radiation detector <NUM> is provided in an imaging table <NUM>. In the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, in a case in which imaging is performed, the breast of the subject is positioned on an imaging surface 40A of the imaging table <NUM> by a user such as a doctor or a radiology technician. For example, the imaging surface 40A with which the breast of the subject comes into contact is made of carbon in terms of the transmission and intensity of the radiation R.

The radiation detector <NUM> detects the radiation R transmitted through the breast of the subject and the imaging table <NUM>, generates a radiographic image on the basis of the detected radiation R, and outputs image data indicating the generated radiographic image. The type of the radiation detector <NUM> according to this embodiment is not particularly limited. For example, the radiation detector <NUM> may be an indirect-conversion-type radiation detector that converts the radiation R into light and converts the converted light into charge or a direct-conversion-type radiation detector that directly converts the radiation R into charge.

For example, the image data of the radiographic image captured by the radiation detector <NUM> and various other kinds of information are stored in the storage unit <NUM>. Examples of the storage unit <NUM> include a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD). The I/F unit <NUM> transmits and receives various kinds of information to and from the console <NUM> using wireless communication or wired communication. The image data of the radiographic image captured by the radiation detector <NUM> in the mammography apparatus <NUM> is transmitted to the console <NUM> through the I/F unit <NUM> by wireless communication or wired communication.

The operation unit <NUM> is provided as a plurality of switches in, for example, the imaging table <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM>. In addition, the operation unit <NUM> may be provided as a touch panel switch or may be provided as a foot switch that is operated by the user's feet.

The radiation emitting unit <NUM> comprises a visible light source 37V, a radiation source 37R, and a collimator <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the radiation emitting unit <NUM> is provided in an arm portion <NUM> together with the imaging table <NUM> and a compression unit <NUM>. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment comprises the arm portion <NUM>, a base <NUM>, and a shaft portion <NUM>. The arm portion <NUM> is supported by the base <NUM> so as to be movable in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). The shaft portion <NUM> connects the arm portion <NUM> to the base <NUM>. The arm portion <NUM> can be relatively rotated with respect to the base <NUM>, using the shaft portion <NUM> as a rotation axis.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the radiation emitting unit <NUM> further comprises a mirror <NUM> and a filter <NUM>. In a case in which a tube voltage is applied to the radiation source 37R, the radiation source 37R generates the radiation R and emits the generated radiation R to the imaging table <NUM>. The filter <NUM> is made of a material, such as molybdenum (Mo) or rhodium (Rh), and selectively transmits a desired wavelength component among a plurality of wavelength components included in the radiation R generated by the radiation source 37R.

In a case in which a voltage is applied to the visible light source 37V, the visible light source 37V is turned on, generates visible light V, and emits the generated visible light V. For example, in the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, the visible light source 37V is provided outside an irradiation field <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the radiation R.

The mirror <NUM> reflects the visible light V emitted from the visible light source 37V to the imaging surface 40A of the imaging table <NUM> and the irradiation field <NUM> which becomes a region irradiated with the radiation R is displayed by the reflected visible light V. In the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, a region of the mammary gland (which will be described in detail below; hereinafter, referred to as a "mammary gland region") of the breast compressed by the compression plate <NUM> is displayed on a surface of the compression plate <NUM> (a surface which does not come into contact with the breast) which is close to the radiation emitting unit <NUM> by the visible light V. In addition, the mirror <NUM> transmits the radiation R emitted from the radiation source 37R.

The collimator <NUM> limits the irradiation field <NUM> of the radiation R and the visible light V. As illustrated in <FIG>, the collimator <NUM> is provided between the mirror <NUM> and the imaging table <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration of the collimator <NUM> according to this embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, for example, the collimator <NUM> according to this embodiment includes four blades 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D. Each of the blades 38A to 38D is a plate member which has a rectangular shape in a plan view and is made of a material that shields the radiation R, such as lead or tungsten. In the collimator <NUM>, one side surface of the blade 38A faces one side surface of the blade 38B and one side surface of the blade 38C faces one side surface of the blade 38D. In addition, in the collimator <NUM>, an opening portion <NUM> having a rectangular shape in a plan view is formed by the side surfaces of the blades 38A to 38D which face each other.

In the collimator <NUM>, each of the blades 38A to 38D is moved by a driving unit (not illustrated), such as a motor. The blade 38A and the blade 38B can be moved in the y direction of <FIG> and the blade 38C and the blade 38D can be moved in the x direction of <FIG> which intersects the y direction. In the collimator <NUM> according to this embodiment, the movable range of each of the blades 38A to 38D is from a state in which the leading ends of the blades facing each other are in contact with each other, that is, the entire opening portion <NUM> is closed to a state in which the opening portion <NUM> is maintained in a rectangular shape in a plan view and has the maximum area. The size of the irradiation field <NUM> is a shape and size (area) corresponding to the shape and size (area) of the opening portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the compression plate <NUM> and the compression plate driving unit <NUM> are provided in the compression unit <NUM>. Each of the compression unit <NUM> and the arm portion <NUM> can be relatively rotated with respect to the base <NUM>, using the shaft portion <NUM> as a rotation axis. In this embodiment, gears (not illustrated) are provided in each of the shaft portion <NUM>, the arm portion <NUM>, and the compression unit <NUM>. Each gear is switched between an engaged state and a disengaged state to connect each of the arm portion <NUM> and the compression unit <NUM> to the shaft portion <NUM>. One or both of the arm portion <NUM> and the compression unit <NUM> connected to the shaft portion <NUM> are rotated integrally with the shaft portion <NUM>.

The compression plate <NUM> according to this embodiment is a plate-shaped compression member and is moved in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) by the compression plate driving unit <NUM> to compress the breast of the subject against the imaging table <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, for the movement direction of the compression plate <NUM>, the direction in which the breast is compressed, that is, the direction in which the compression plate <NUM> becomes closer to the imaging surface 40A is referred to as a "compression direction" and the direction in which the compression of the breast is released, that is, the direction in which the compression plate <NUM> becomes closer to the radiation emitting unit <NUM> is referred to as a "decompression direction".

It is preferable that the compression plate <NUM> is optically transparent in order to check positioning or a compressed state in the compression of the breast. In addition, the compression plate <NUM> is made of a material having high transmittance for the radiation R. It is desirable that the compression plate <NUM> is made of a material that facilitates the transmission of ultrasonic waves from an ultrasound probe <NUM> (see <FIG>, which will be described in detail below) of the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM>. Examples of the material forming the compression plate <NUM> include resins such as polymethylpentene, polycarbonate, acrylic, and polyethylene terephthalate. In particular, polymethylpentene is suitable as the material forming the compression plate <NUM> since it has low rigidity, high elasticity, and high flexibility and has suitable values for acoustic impedance that affects the reflectance of ultrasonic waves and an attenuation coefficient that affects the attenuation of ultrasonic waves. The member forming the compression plate <NUM> is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the member forming the compression plate <NUM> may be a film-like member.

The console <NUM> according to this embodiment has a function of controlling the mammography apparatus <NUM> using, for example, an imaging order and various kinds of information acquired from a radiology information system (RIS) <NUM> through a wireless communication local area network (LAN) and commands input by the user through an operation unit <NUM>.

For example, the console <NUM> according to this embodiment is a server computer. As illustrated in <FIG>, the console <NUM> comprises a control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, an I/F unit <NUM>, the operation unit <NUM>, and a display unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM>, the I/F unit <NUM>, operation unit <NUM>, and the display unit <NUM> are connected to each other through a bus <NUM>, such as a system bus or a control bus, such that they can transmit and receive various kinds of information. The console <NUM> according to this embodiment is an example of a control device according to the present disclosure.

The control unit <NUM> according to this embodiment controls the overall operation of the console <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> comprises a CPU 50A, a ROM 50B, and a RAM 50C. For example, various programs including a control processing program <NUM> (which will be described below) executed by the CPU 50A are stored in the ROM 50B in advance. The RAM 50C temporarily stores various kinds of data. The control processing program <NUM> according to this embodiment is an example of a control program according to the present disclosure.

For example, the image data of the radiographic image captured by the mammography apparatus <NUM> and various other kinds of information are stored in the storage unit <NUM>. An HDD or an SSD is given as an example of the storage unit <NUM>.

The operation unit <NUM> is used by the user to input, for example, commands which are related to the capture of a radiographic image and include a command to emit the radiation R or various kinds of information. Therefore, the operation unit <NUM> according to this embodiment includes at least an irradiation command button that is pressed by the user to input a command to emit the radiation R. The operation unit <NUM> is not particularly limited. Examples of the operation unit <NUM> include various switches, a touch panel, a touch pen, and a mouse. The display unit <NUM> displays various kinds of information. In addition, the operation unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> may be integrated into a touch panel display.

The I/F unit <NUM> transmits and receives various kinds of information to and from the mammography apparatus <NUM>, the RIS <NUM>, and the image storage system <NUM> using wireless communication or wired communication. In the radiography system <NUM> according to this embodiment, the console <NUM> receives the image data of the radiographic image captured by the mammography apparatus <NUM> from the mammography apparatus <NUM> through the I/F unit <NUM>, using wireless communication or wired communication.

<FIG> is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the radiography system <NUM> according to this embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the console <NUM> according to this embodiment comprises an acquisition unit <NUM> and a display control unit <NUM>. For example, in the console <NUM> according to this embodiment, the CPU 50A of the control unit <NUM> executes the control processing program <NUM> stored in the ROM 50B such that the control unit <NUM> functions as the acquisition unit <NUM> and the display control unit <NUM>.

The acquisition unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> acquires region information indicating the mammary gland region of the breast on the basis of the radiographic image captured by the radiation detector <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM>. For example, the acquisition unit <NUM> according to this embodiment derives the mammary gland region on the basis of the radiographic image input from the mammography apparatus <NUM> and outputs region information indicating the derived mammary gland region. A method for deriving the mammary gland region is not particularly limited. For example, the acquisition unit <NUM> according to this embodiment detects mammary gland tissue pixels corresponding to mammary gland tissues from the radiographic image and derives a region in which the number of detected mammary gland region pixels is equal to or greater than a predetermined value as the mammary gland region. In addition, a method for detecting the mammary gland tissue pixels is not particularly limited. For example, the technique disclosed in <CIT> can be applied. In a case in which the technique disclosed in <CIT> is applied, first, the radiographic image is divided into a breast image and a direct region. Then, a pectoral muscle region is extracted from the breast image. Then, the pectoral muscle region is removed from the breast image. Then, in the breast image from which the pectoral muscle region has been removed, a pixel in which the amount of transmission of the radiation R is equal to or less than a threshold value is detected as the mammary gland tissue region pixel.

The display control unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> performs a control process of displaying the mammary gland region on an upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> that continues to compress the breast from the capture of a radiographic image on the basis of the region information of the mammary gland region output from the acquisition unit <NUM> so as to be recognizable. In the radiography system <NUM> according to this embodiment, the collimator <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> limits the irradiation field <NUM> such that the irradiation field <NUM> of the visible light V emitted from the visible light source 37V is matched with the mammary gland region. Therefore, for example, the display control unit <NUM> according to this embodiment transmits information for commanding the turn-on of the visible light source 37V and information related to the irradiation field <NUM> to the mammography apparatus <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment comprises a limitation unit <NUM> and a visible light source control unit <NUM>. For example, in the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, the CPU 20A of the control unit <NUM> executes the imaging processing program <NUM> stored in the ROM 20B such that the control unit <NUM> functions as the limitation unit <NUM> and the visible light source control unit <NUM>.

The limitation unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> limits the opening portion <NUM> for the visible light V using the collimator <NUM> to limit the irradiation field <NUM>. Specifically, the information related to the irradiation field <NUM> is input from the display control unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> to the limitation unit <NUM>. The limitation unit <NUM> moves the collimator <NUM> on the basis of the information related to the irradiation field <NUM> to define the position and range of the irradiation field <NUM> of the visible light V, thereby limiting the range in which the radiation R is emitted.

The visible light source control unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> controls the turn-on and turn-off the visible light source 37V. Specifically, information for commanding the turn-on of the visible light source 37V is input from the display control unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> to the visible light source control unit <NUM>. The visible light source control unit <NUM> turns on the visible light source 37V on the basis of the input information.

Next, the configuration of the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM>. The ultrasonography apparatus <NUM> is used by the user to capture an ultrasound image of the breast of the subject as the object and is a so-called hand-held ultrasonography apparatus.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM> comprises a control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, an I/F unit <NUM>, the ultrasound probe <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, and a display unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM>, the I/F unit <NUM>, the ultrasound probe <NUM>, the operation unit <NUM>, and the display unit <NUM> are connected to each other through a bus <NUM>, such as a system bus or a control bus, such that they can transmit and receive various kinds of information.

The control unit <NUM> according to this embodiment controls the overall operation of the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> comprises a CPU 60A, a ROM 60B, and a RAM 60C. For example, various programs executed by the CPU 60A are stored in the ROM 60B in advance. The RAM 60C temporarily stores various kinds of data.

For example, the image data of the captured ultrasound image and various other kinds of information are stored in the storage unit <NUM>. A specific example of the storage unit <NUM> is an HDD or an SSD.

The ultrasound probe <NUM> is moved along the upper surface 34A (see <FIG>, a surface opposite to the surface that comes into contact with the breast of the subject) of the compression plate <NUM> by the user and scans the breast with ultrasonic waves to acquire an ultrasound image of the breast. Specifically, in a case in which ultrasonography is performed, the ultrasound probe <NUM> is moved by the user along the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> in a state in which an acoustic matching member (not illustrated), such as echo jelly, is applied onto the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM>.

The ultrasound probe <NUM> comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers (not illustrated) which are one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally arranged. Each of the ultrasound transducers transmits ultrasonic waves on the basis of an applied driving signal, receives ultrasound echoes, and outputs a received signal.

For example, each of the plurality of ultrasound transducers is a transducer configured by forming electrodes at both ends of a piezoelectric material (piezoelectric body), such as a piezoelectric ceramic typified by lead (Pb) zirconate titanate (PZT) or a polymeric piezoelectric element typified by polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). In a case in which a pulsed or continuous wave drive signal is transmitted to apply a voltage to the electrodes of the transducer, the piezoelectric body is expanded and contracted. Pulsed or continuous ultrasonic waves are generated from each transducer by the expansion and contraction and the ultrasonic waves are combined to form an ultrasound beam. Each transducer receives the propagated ultrasonic waves and is then expanded and contracted to generate an electric signal. The electric signal is output as an ultrasound received signal and is input to the main body (not illustrated) of the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM> through a cable (not illustrated).

The operation unit <NUM> is used by the user to input, for example, commands or various kinds of information related to the capture of an ultrasound image. The operation unit <NUM> is not particularly limited. Examples of the operation unit <NUM> include various switches, a touch panel, a touch pen, and a mouse. The display unit <NUM> displays, for example, various kinds of information or an ultrasound image corresponding to the received signal from the ultrasound probe <NUM>. In addition, the operation unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> may be integrated into a touch panel display.

The I/F unit <NUM> transmits and receives various kinds of information to and from the RIS <NUM> and the image storage system <NUM> using wireless communication or wired communication. The image data of the ultrasound image captured by the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM> is transmitted to the image storage system <NUM> through the I/F unit <NUM> by wireless communication or wired communication.

Next, the configuration of the image storage system <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image storage system <NUM>. The image storage system <NUM> stores the image data of the radiographic image captured by the radiography system <NUM> and the image data of the ultrasound image captured by the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM>. The image storage system <NUM> extracts an image corresponding to a request from, for example, the console <NUM>, the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM>, and other reading devices (not illustrated) from the stored radiographic images and ultrasound images and transmits the extracted image to the apparatus which is the request source. A specific example of the image storage system <NUM> is a picture archiving and communication system (PACS).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the image storage system <NUM> comprises a control unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, and an I/F unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM>, and the I/F unit <NUM> are connected to each other through a bus <NUM>, such as a system bus or a control bus, such that they can transmit and receive various kinds of information.

The control unit <NUM> according to this embodiment controls the overall operation of the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> comprises a CPU 70A, a ROM 70B, and a RAM 70C. For example, various programs executed by the CPU 70A are stored in the ROM 70B in advance. The RAM 70C temporarily stores various kinds of data.

The storage unit <NUM> is a so-called database that stores each of the image data of the radiographic image and the image data of the ultrasound image so as to be associated with, for example, an imaging order or information released to the subject.

The I/F unit <NUM> has a function of transmitting and receiving various kinds of information to and from the console <NUM> and the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM> using wireless communication or wired communication.

Next, the operation of the medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall flow of the imaging operation of the medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment which captures a radiographic image using the mammography apparatus <NUM> and captures an ultrasound image using the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall flow of the imaging operation of the medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment.

First, in Step S10, the breast is compressed by the compression plate <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM>. In a case in which the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment captures a radiographic image, first, the user positions the breast of the subject on the imaging surface 40A of the imaging table <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM>. In a case in which the positioning is completed, the user inputs a compression command with the operation unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> starts to move the compression plate <NUM> in the compression direction using the compression plate driving unit <NUM> in response to the compression command. In a case in which the breast is compressed by the compression plate <NUM>, the breast is fixed between the compression plate <NUM> and the imaging surface 40A of the imaging table <NUM> in a state in which the overlap between the mammary gland tissues is developed. In the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, while the compression command is issued, the compression plate <NUM> is continuously moved in the compression direction. In other words, in the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, in a case in which the user stops the compression command through the operation unit <NUM>, the movement of the compression plate <NUM> is stopped.

Then, in Step S12, the control unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> performs control such that the irradiation field <NUM> based on the imaging order is displayed by the visible light V reflected from the mirror <NUM> (which will be described in detail below). As such, in the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, before the radiation R is emitted from the radiation source 37R, the user checks the irradiation field <NUM> using the visible light V emitted from the visible light source 37V. In a case in which the irradiation field <NUM> is checked, before a radiographic image is captured, the visible light source 37V is turned off and the display of the irradiation field <NUM> ends.

Then, in Step S14, the control unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> captures a radiographic image of the breast on the basis of the imaging order. Specifically, in a case in which the user presses the irradiation command button included in the operation unit <NUM> of the console <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> directs the radiation source 37R to emit the radiation R to the breast compressed by the compression plate <NUM> under the control of the console <NUM>. Then, the radiation detector <NUM> generates a radiographic image on the basis of the radiation R transmitted through the breast. The image data of the captured radiographic image is transmitted to the console <NUM>.

Then, in Step S16, the control unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> derives the mammary gland region of the breast from the radiographic image acquired from the mammography apparatus <NUM> (which will be described in detail below). Region information indicating the derived mammary gland region is transmitted to the mammography apparatus <NUM>.

Then, in Step S18, the control unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> displays the mammary gland region indicated by the region information on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM>. Specifically, the limitation unit <NUM> moves the blades 38A to 38D of the collimator <NUM> on the basis of the region information to define the position and range of the irradiation field <NUM> and the visible light source control unit <NUM> turns on the visible light source 37V.

Then, in Step S20, the user operates the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM> to capture an ultrasound image of the breast. Specifically, the user applies an acoustic matching member (not illustrated), such as echo jelly, onto the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM>. In this embodiment, the ultrasound image of the breast may not include the entire breast and may include the mammary gland region. Therefore, in a case in which it is determined that the entire breast does not need to be included in the imaging range on the basis of, for example, the imaging order, the acoustic matching member may not cover the entire upper surface 34A and may cover an imaging range including at least the mammary gland region displayed on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM>.

The user operates the ultrasound probe <NUM> to scan the imaging range including at least the mammary gland region on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> which is covered by the acoustic matching member with ultrasonic waves, thereby capturing an ultrasound image. The captured ultrasound image is displayed on the display unit <NUM> of the ultrasonography apparatus <NUM>.

Then, in Step S22, the compression of the breast by the compression plate <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> is released. In the medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment, in a case in which the capture of the ultrasound image ends, the user inputs a decompression command through the operation unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> moves the compression plate <NUM> in the decompression direction using the compression plate driving unit <NUM> in response to the decompression command. The compression plate <NUM> is moved in the decompression direction to release the compression of the breast. In the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, while the decompression command is issued, the compression plate <NUM> is continuously moved in the decompression direction. In other words, in the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, in a case in which the user stops the decompression command through the operation unit <NUM>, the movement of the compression plate <NUM> is stopped. The invention is not limited to this embodiment. In a case in which the operation unit <NUM> includes a decompression button that can move the compression plate <NUM> to a predetermined decompression position at a stroke in response to one pressing operation of the user, the compression may be released by the decompression button.

As such, in the medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment, for the period from the start of the capture of a radiographic image to the end of the capture of an ultrasound image, the breast is continuously compressed by the compression plate <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM>.

Then, in Step S24, the control unit <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> ends the display of the mammary gland region. Then, the entire imaging ends. Specifically, the visible light source control unit <NUM> turns off the visible light source 37V in response to the decompression command to end the display of the mammary gland region.

Next, the flow of the imaging operation of the mammography apparatus <NUM> in the above-mentioned entire imaging will be described. For example, in a case in which the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment receives an imaging order including the capture of both a radiographic image and an ultrasound image and an imaging start command from the console <NUM>, the CPU 20A of the control unit <NUM> executes the imaging processing program <NUM> stored in the ROM 20B to perform the imaging process whose example is illustrated in <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the imaging process of the mammography apparatus <NUM> in the entire imaging.

First, in Step S100, the control unit <NUM> determines whether the user has input a compression command through the operation unit <NUM>. As described in Step S10 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging, in a case in which the breast is compressed, the user inputs the compression command through the operation unit <NUM>. In a case in which the compression command has not been input, the determination result in Step S100 is "No". On the other hand, in a case in which the compression command has been input, the determination result in Step S100 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to Step S102.

In Step S102, the control unit <NUM> starts to move the compression plate <NUM> in the compression direction using the compression plate driving unit <NUM> in response to the compression command such that the breast is compressed between the compression plate <NUM> and the imaging surface 40A of the imaging table <NUM> as described in Step S10 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging.

Then, in Step S104, the control unit <NUM> displays the irradiation field <NUM> as described in Step S12 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging. Specifically, the limitation unit <NUM> moves the blades 38A to 38D of the collimator <NUM> from an initial position on the basis of the imaging order to provide the opening portion <NUM> corresponding to the desired size of the irradiation field <NUM>. In addition, the visible light source control unit <NUM> turns on the visible light source 37V.

Then, in Step S106, the control unit <NUM> determines whether to end the display of the irradiation field <NUM>. The determination result in Step S106 is "No" until the user inputs a command to end the display of the irradiation field <NUM> through the operation unit <NUM>. On the other hand, in a case in which the display end command is input, the determination result in Step S106 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to Step S108.

In Step S108, the control unit <NUM> ends the display of the irradiation field <NUM> as described in Step S12 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging. Specifically, the visible light source control unit <NUM> turns off the visible light source 37V.

Then, in Step S110, the control unit <NUM> determines whether a command to emit the radiation R has been input. As described in Step S14 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging, in a case in which the radiation R is emitted, the user inputs an irradiation command through the operation unit <NUM> of the console <NUM>. In a case in which the irradiation command is input, an irradiation command signal for commanding the emission of the radiation R is transmitted from the console <NUM> to the mammography apparatus <NUM>. Then, the control unit <NUM> determines whether the irradiation command has been input on the basis of whether the irradiation command signal has been received from the console <NUM>. The determination result in Step S110 is "No" until the irradiation command signal is received. On the other hand, in a case in which the irradiation command signal is received, the determination result in Step S110 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to Step S112.

In Step S112, the control unit <NUM> captures a radiographic image as described in Step S14 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging. Specifically, the control unit <NUM> directs the radiation source 37R of the radiation emitting unit <NUM> to emit the radiation R to the breast which is the object. The radiation detector <NUM> generates a radiographic image on the basis of the radiation R transmitted through the breast. In a case in which the capture of the radiographic image ends, the process proceeds to Step S114.

In Step S114, the control unit <NUM> transmits the image data of the radiographic image generated by the radiation detector <NUM> to the console <NUM>.

Then, in Step S116, the control unit <NUM> determines whether a mammary gland region display command (which will be described in detail below) has been received. As described above, the console <NUM> derives region information indicating the mammary gland region of the breast from the radiographic image captured by the mammography apparatus <NUM> and outputs the mammary gland region display command to display the derived region information to the mammography apparatus <NUM>. Until the mammary gland region display command transmitted from the console <NUM> is received, the determination result in Step S116 is "No". On the other hand, in a case in which the mammary gland region display command is received, the determination result in Step S116 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to Step S118.

In Step S118, the control unit <NUM> displays the mammary gland region indicated by the region information on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> as described in Step S18 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging. Specifically, the limitation unit <NUM> moves the blades 38A to 38D of the collimator <NUM> to adjust the size of the opening portion <NUM> in response to the mammary gland region display command in order to display the mammary gland region using the irradiation field <NUM>. In addition, the visible light source control unit <NUM> turns on the visible light source 37V. <FIG> illustrates a state in which an example of a mammary gland region <NUM> displayed on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> by the visible light V is viewed from the radiation emitting unit <NUM>. A method for displaying the mammary gland region <NUM> may be different from a method for displaying the irradiation field <NUM> of the radiation R. For example, in a case in which the irradiation field <NUM> of the radiation R is displayed, the visible light source 37V may be always tuned on. In a case in which the mammary gland region <NUM> is displayed, the visible light source 37V may be blinked. Further, for example, the emission intensity of the visible light source 37V may be different between a case in which the irradiation field <NUM> of the radiation R is displayed and a case in which the mammary gland region <NUM> is displayed such that the intensity of the visible light V is different therebetween.

Then, in Step S120, the control unit <NUM> determines whether the user has input a decompression command through the operation unit <NUM>. As described in Step S22 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging, in a case in which the compression of the breast is released, the user inputs the decompression command through the operation unit <NUM>. In a case in which the decompression command has not been input, the determination result in Step S120 is "No". On the other hand, in a case in which the decompression command is input, the determination result in Step S120 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to Step S122.

In Step S122, the control unit <NUM> moves the compression plate <NUM> in the decompression direction using the compression plate driving unit <NUM> to release the compression of the breast by the compression plate <NUM> in response to the decompression command as described in Step S22 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging.

Then, in Step S124, the control unit <NUM> ends the display of the mammary gland region <NUM> in response to the decompression command as described in Step S24 (see <FIG>) of the flow of the entire imaging. Specifically, the visible light source control unit <NUM> turns off the visible light source 37V in response to the decompression command to end the display of the mammary gland region <NUM>. In this embodiment, the limitation unit <NUM> moves the blades 38A to 38D of the collimator <NUM> of the radiation emitting unit <NUM> to the initial position.

In the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, in a case in which the display of the mammary gland region <NUM> ends as described above, the imaging process ends.

Next, the flow of a control operation of the console <NUM> in the above-mentioned entire imaging will be described. For example, in a case in which the imaging order acquired from the RIS <NUM> includes the capture of both a radiographic image and an ultrasound image, the CPU 50A of the control unit <NUM> in the console <NUM> according to this embodiment executes the control processing program <NUM> stored in the ROM 50B to perform the control process whose example is illustrated in <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the control process of the console <NUM> in the entire imaging.

First, in Step S200, the control unit <NUM> transmits the imaging order and the imaging command to the mammography apparatus <NUM>.

Then, in Step S202, the control unit <NUM> determines whether a radiographic image has been acquired from the mammography apparatus <NUM>. The determination result in Step S202 is "No" until the console <NUM> receives the image data of the radiographic image transmitted from the mammography apparatus <NUM>. On the other hand, in a case in which the image data of the radiographic image is received from the console <NUM>, the determination result in Step S202 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to Step S204.

In Step S204, the control unit <NUM> displays the radiographic image indicated by the received image data on the display unit <NUM>.

Then, in Step S206, the acquisition unit <NUM> derives a mammary gland region from the radiographic image. As described above, the acquisition unit <NUM> detects mammary gland tissue pixels from a breast image of the radiographic image, derives a mammary gland region on the basis of the detected mammary gland tissue pixels, and outputs region information indicating the derived mammary gland region to the display control unit <NUM>.

Then, in Step S208, the display control unit <NUM> transmits a mammary gland region display command to the mammography apparatus <NUM>. The mammary gland region display command is a command for the mammography apparatus <NUM> to display the region information derived in Step S206. Specifically, the mammary gland region display command includes information for moving the blades 38A to 38D of the collimator <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> such that the opening portion <NUM> corresponds to the irradiation field <NUM> corresponding to the mammary gland region derived in Step S206. In addition, the mammary gland region display command includes a command to turn on the visible light source 37V of the mammography apparatus <NUM>.

In a case in which the display control unit <NUM> outputs the mammary gland region display command in this step, the mammary gland region is displayed on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> in Step S118 (see <FIG>) of the imaging process in the mammography apparatus <NUM> as described above.

Then, in Step S210, the control unit <NUM> determines whether to end the display of the radiographic image on the display unit <NUM>. The determination result in Step S210 is "No" until the user inputs a command to end the display of the radiographic image through the operation unit <NUM>. On the other hand, in a case in which the display end command is input, the determination result in Step S210 is "Yes" and the control process ends.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described in detail. Since the overall configuration (see <FIG>) of a medical imaging system <NUM> and the configuration of each of a console <NUM> and a mammography apparatus <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will not be repeated.

In this embodiment, since the functions of the console <NUM> are partially different from the functions of the console <NUM> according to the first embodiment, the different functions will be described. <FIG> is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a radiography system <NUM> according to this embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the console <NUM> according to this embodiment differs from the console <NUM> (see <FIG>) according to the first embodiment in that it comprises a correction unit <NUM>. For example, in the console <NUM> according to this embodiment, the CPU 50A of the control unit <NUM> executes the control processing program <NUM> stored in the ROM 50B such that the control unit <NUM> further functions as the correction unit <NUM>.

The correction unit <NUM> corrects the size of the mammary gland region acquired by the acquisition unit <NUM>, that is, the size of a display region in which the mammary gland is displayed. As illustrated in <FIG>, in some cases, since the radiation R emitted to the breast is obliquely incident, the sizes of a breast image 120W and a mammary gland image <NUM> in a radiographic image 120R obtained by the radiation detector <NUM> are different from the actual sizes of a breast W and a mammary gland G. In <FIG>, for convenience, it is assumed that the imaging surface 40A of the imaging table <NUM> and a surface (a surface irradiated with the radiation R) of the radiation detector <NUM> for detecting the radiation R are located at the same position.

It is preferable that the width of the mammary gland region <NUM> displayed on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> is equal to the actual width x of the mammary gland G. The correction unit <NUM> according to this embodiment corrects the width x1 of the mammary gland derived from the mammary gland image <NUM> in the radiographic image 120R to the actual width x of the mammary gland G.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the radiographic image 120R obtained by the radiation detector <NUM> includes the breast image 120W. In addition, the breast image 120W includes the mammary gland image <NUM>. In a case in which the distance from the radiation source 37R to the imaging surface 40A, that is, a so-called source-to-image distance (SID) is z1 and the height from the imaging surface 40A to the mammary gland G (for example, the center of gravity of the mammary gland G) is z2, the following Expressions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) are established: <MAT> and <MAT>.

Therefore, the correction unit <NUM> according to this embodiment corrects the size of the mammary gland region acquired by the acquisition unit <NUM> by deriving the width x of the mammary gland G as the side (width) of the mammary gland region <NUM>, using the above-mentioned Expressions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) and the following Expression (<NUM>) obtained for the width x of the mammary gland G: <MAT>.

In the operation of the medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment, since the control operation of the console <NUM> is partially different from the control operation (see <FIG>) of the console <NUM> according to the first embodiment, the control operation of the console <NUM> according to this embodiment will be described. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a control process of the console <NUM> according to this embodiment. The control process illustrated in <FIG> differs from the control process (see <FIG>) according to the first embodiment in that Step S207 is performed between Step S206 and Step S208.

In Step S207, as described above, the correction unit <NUM> corrects the size (width) of the mammary gland region <NUM> derived in Step S206 on the basis of the above-mentioned Expression (<NUM>). In the radiography system <NUM> according to this embodiment, the SID z1 is a value that has been obtained in advance. A method for obtaining the height z2 of the mammary gland G is not particularly limited. For example, the following method can be applied.

For example, in a case in which the capture of a radiographic image by the mammography apparatus <NUM> (see Step S112 of <FIG>) is so-called tomosynthesis imaging that captures a plurality of projection images by emitting the radiation R at different irradiation angles and reconstructs a tomographic image from the captured projection images, the height z2 of the mammary gland G may be derived on the basis of the height of the tomographic image including the mammary gland image <NUM>. For example, as a method simpler than the method using the tomographic image, a method may be used which derives the height z2 on the basis of the thickness of the breast W compressed by the compression plate <NUM> in the capture of the radiographic image 120R.

A method for obtaining the thickness of the breast W is not particularly limited. For example, the thickness z3 (see <FIG>) of the breast W compressed by the compression plate <NUM> may be measured to obtain the thickness of the breast W. For example, the height z3 of the compression plate <NUM>, that is, the distance between the compression plate <NUM> and the imaging surface 40A may be derived as the thickness z3 of the breast W on the basis of the amount of movement of the compression plate <NUM> from the initial position.

In some cases, the obtained thickness z3 of the breast W is almost equal to the height z2 of the mammary gland G (z3 ≈ z2). Therefore, for example, the thickness z3 of the breast W may be used as the height z2 of the mammary gland G. In a case in which the height z3 of the compression plate <NUM> (the distance between the compression plate <NUM> and the imaging surface 40A) is used as the thickness z3 of the breast W and the thickness z3 of the breast is relatively larger than the height z2 of the mammary gland G, the width x of the mammary gland G derived by the above-mentioned Expression (<NUM>) is smaller than the actual width x of the mammary gland G. In this case, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the thickness z3 of the breast by a predetermined coefficient equal to or less than <NUM> may be used as the height z2 of the mammary gland G.

Therefore, in the next Step S208, the display control unit <NUM> transmits a mammary gland region display command to display the mammary gland region <NUM> corrected in Step S207 to the mammography apparatus <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a case in which the mammary gland region <NUM> is displayed, the following Expressions (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) are established for the angle θn of the visible light V emitted from the visible light source 37V: <MAT> <MAT>.

In <FIG>, the distance from the position of the visible light source 37V, specifically, the reflection position of the mirror <NUM> to the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> is z4, the thickness of the compression plate <NUM> is z5, and the distance from the position of the visible light source 37V, specifically, the reflection position of the mirror <NUM> to the imaging surface 40A is z6.

The display control unit <NUM> according to this embodiment transmits, to the mammography apparatus <NUM>, a mammary gland region display command to move the blades 38A to 38D of the collimator <NUM> for forming the opening portion <NUM> corresponding to tanθn obtained by the above-mentioned Expression (<NUM>) or Expression (<NUM>).

Next, a third embodiment will be described in detail. Since the overall configuration (see <FIG>) of a medical imaging system <NUM> and the configuration of each of a console <NUM> and a mammography apparatus <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will not be repeated.

In this embodiment, since an imaging process of the mammography apparatus <NUM> is partially different from the imaging process (see <FIG>) of the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment, the imaging process of the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment will be described. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the imaging process of the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment. The imaging process illustrated in <FIG> differs from the imaging process (see <FIG>) according to the first embodiment in that Step S115 is performed between Step S114 and Step S116.

In the capture of an ultrasound image, in some cases, the radiation emitting unit <NUM> makes it difficult to perform operations with the ultrasound probe <NUM> or to visually recognize the mammary gland region <NUM>.

Therefore, in the imaging process of the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment, after the capture of a radiographic image ends, the control unit <NUM> moves the radiation emitting unit <NUM> to the position where the radiation emitting unit <NUM> does not hinder the capture of an ultrasound image in Step S115. An example of the position where the radiation emitting unit <NUM> does not hinder the capture of an ultrasound image is the position of the radiation emitting unit <NUM> in mediolateral oblique (MLO) imaging.

In a case in which the radiation emitting unit <NUM> is moved, the visible light source 37V is also moved. Therefore, in some cases, the position of the mammary gland region <NUM> on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> deviates from the position before the radiation emitting unit <NUM> is moved. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the display position of a mammary gland region 110mlo by a visible light source 37Vmlo at an MLO imaging position deviates from the display position of a mammary gland region 110cc by a visible light source 37Vcc at a craniocaudal (CC) imaging position. In this case, it is preferable that the display control unit <NUM> performs control to move the collimator <NUM>, specifically, the blades 38A to 38D such that the position of the mammary gland region 110mlo by the visible light source 37Vmlo is matched with the position of the mammary gland region 110cc by the visible light source 37Vcc as illustrated in <FIG>. The display control unit <NUM> can derive the amount of movement of the collimator <NUM> from the height z3 of the compression plate <NUM> and the inclination angle of the visible light source 37Vmlo.

In other words, it is preferable that the mammary gland region display command issued by the display control unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> according to this embodiment includes information for moving the collimator <NUM>, specifically, the collimator <NUM> (blades 38A to 38D) for displaying the mammary gland region 110cc according to the movement of the radiation emitting unit <NUM>.

As described above, the radiography system <NUM> according to each of the above-described embodiments comprises the mammography apparatus <NUM> and the console <NUM>. The mammography apparatus <NUM> includes the radiation source 37R, the radiation detector <NUM>, and the compression plate <NUM> that compresses the breast W disposed between the radiation source 37R and the radiation detector <NUM> and captures the radiographic image 120R of the breast W in the compressed state using the radiation detector <NUM>. The console <NUM> comprises the acquisition unit <NUM> that acquires region information indicating the region of the mammary gland G in the breast W on the basis of the radiographic image 120R captured by the mammography apparatus <NUM> and the display control unit <NUM> that performs control to display the mammary gland region <NUM> on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> which continues to compress the breast W from the capture of the radiographic image 120R on the basis of the region information acquired by the acquisition unit <NUM> such that the mammary gland region can be recognized.

In the above-mentioned configuration, in the radiography system <NUM> according to each of the above-described embodiments, after the mammography apparatus <NUM> captures the radiographic image 120R, the mammary gland region <NUM> is displayed in a state in which the breast W is continuously compressed. According to the radiography system <NUM> of each of the above-described embodiments, since the compression of the breast W is not released, it is possible to suppress a significant change in the developed state of the mammary gland tissues. Therefore, according to the radiography system <NUM> of each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to appropriately display the mammary gland region <NUM> of the compressed breast.

W on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> that compresses the breast W.

In the radiography system <NUM> according to each of the above-described embodiments, since the mammary gland region <NUM> is appropriately displayed, the user can appropriately set the imaging range (scanning range) of an ultrasound image. In the capture of an ultrasound image, it is possible to set a scanning range corresponding to the mammary gland region <NUM>. Therefore, the imaging range can be narrower than that in a case in which the image of the entire breast W is captured and it is possible to reduce the imaging time. In the radiography system <NUM> according to each of the above-described embodiments, since the imaging time can be reduced, it is possible to alleviate the pain of the subject caused by the compression of the breast W.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case in which there is one mammary gland region <NUM> has been described. However, there may be a plurality of mammary gland regions <NUM>. In a case in which there are a plurality of mammary gland regions <NUM> (three mammary gland regions <NUM> in <FIG>), mammary gland regions 110A, 110B, and 110C may be displayed on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> at the same time as illustrated in <FIG>. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the mammary gland region 110A, the mammary gland region 110B, and the mammary gland region 110C may be sequentially displayed one by one on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM>. In a case in which the plurality of mammary gland regions <NUM> (110A, 110B, and 110C) are sequentially displayed, it is preferable that the total number of mammary gland regions <NUM> is displayed on, for example, the display unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> since it is difficult for the user to recognize the total number of mammary gland regions <NUM>.

As such, in a case in which the plurality of mammary gland regions <NUM> are displayed at the same time, a plurality of visible light sources 37V may be provided or, for example, a liquid crystal filter having a plurality of opening portions may be provided instead of the collimator <NUM>.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the aspect in which the mammary gland region <NUM> is displayed by the visible light V emitted from the visible light source 37V used to display the irradiation field <NUM> has been described. However, as illustrated in <FIG>, the mammography apparatus <NUM> may be configured to comprise a light source <NUM> used only for displaying the mammary gland region <NUM>. In this case, it is preferable that at least one of hue, saturation, and brightness is different between visible light emitted from the light source <NUM> and the visible light V emitted from the visible light source 37V. In addition, instead of the configuration in which the light source <NUM> is provided in the mammography apparatus <NUM>, a filter (not illustrated) that changes the hue, saturation, and brightness of the visible light V may be provided in the mammography apparatus <NUM> and the display control unit <NUM> may control the filter in a case in which the irradiation field <NUM> is displayed and a case in which the mammary gland region <NUM> is displayed.

As in an example illustrated in <FIG>, a radiographic image 120R including a frame <NUM> indicating the mammary gland region may be displayed on the upper surface 34A of the compression plate <NUM> by the light source <NUM>.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the aspect in which, in a case in which the compression of the breast W by the compression plate <NUM> starts in the mammography apparatus <NUM>, the compression of the breast W is maintained without moving the compression plate <NUM> until the capture of an ultrasound image ends has been described. However, the compressed state of the breast W is not limited to this aspect. The breast W is compressed as described above to develop the overlap of the mammary gland tissues. Therefore, the mammography apparatus <NUM> according to this embodiment may continuously compress the breast W to such an extent that the overlap state of the mammary gland tissues, that is, the developed state of the mammary gland tissues is not changed, or the amount of change in the overlap state of the mammary gland tissues is within an allowable range even in a case in which it is changed, for example, the size of the mammary gland region <NUM> is not changed. Therefore, the mammography apparatus <NUM> may reduce the compression force against the breast W according to the developed state of the mammary gland tissues before an ultrasound image is captured after a radiographic image is captured.

As such, in the medical imaging system <NUM> according to this embodiment, the breast is continuously compressed by the compression plate <NUM> of the mammography apparatus <NUM> for the period from the start of the capture of a radiographic image to the end of the capture of an ultrasound image.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the aspect in which the acquisition unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> derives the mammary gland region <NUM> has been described. However, the acquisition unit <NUM> may acquire region information indicating the mammary gland region derived by, for example, another apparatus. In this case, for example, the mammary gland region <NUM> may be derived by the mammography apparatus <NUM> or an apparatus outside the radiography system <NUM>. In addition, the following configuration may be used: in a case in which the user designates the mammary gland region <NUM> in the radiographic image displayed on the display unit <NUM> of the console <NUM> with the operation unit <NUM>, the acquisition unit <NUM> acquires region information indicating the mammary gland region <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the aspect in which the mammary gland is the object of interest has been described. However, the object of interest is not limited to the mammary gland. For example, the object of interest may be an implant.

In each of the above-described embodiments, for example, the following various processors can be used as the hardware structure of processing units performing various processes such as the limitation unit <NUM>, the visible light source control unit <NUM>, the acquisition unit <NUM>, the correction unit <NUM>, and the display control unit <NUM>. The various processors include, for example, a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), that is a processor whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacture and a dedicated electric circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), that is a processor having a dedicated circuit configuration designed to perform a specific process, in addition to the CPU that is a general-purpose processor which executes software (program) to function as various processing units as described above.

One processing unit may be configured by one of the various processors or a combination of two or more processors of the same type or different types (for example, a combination of a plurality of FPGAs or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). In addition, a plurality of processing units may be configured by one processor.

A first example of the configuration in which a plurality of processing units are configured by one processor is an aspect in which one processor is configured by a combination of one or more CPUs and software and functions as a plurality of processing units. A representative example of this aspect is a client computer or a server computer. A second example of the configuration is an aspect in which a processor that implements the functions of the entire system including a plurality of processing units using one integrated circuit (IC) chip is used. A representative example of this aspect is a system-on-chip (SoC). As such, various processing units are configured by using one or more of the various processors as a hardware structure.

In addition, specifically, an electric circuit (circuitry) obtained by combining circuit elements, such as semiconductor elements, can be used as the hardware structure of the various processors.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the aspect in which the imaging processing program <NUM> is stored (installed) in the ROM 20B in advance and the control processing program <NUM> is stored (installed) in the ROM 50B in advance has been described. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Each of the imaging processing program <NUM> and the control processing program <NUM> may be recorded on a recording medium, such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk read only memory (DVD-ROM), or a universal serial bus (USB) memory, and then provided. In addition, each of the imaging processing program <NUM> and the control processing program <NUM> may be downloaded from an external apparatus through the network.

Claim 1:
A radiography system (<NUM>) comprising:
a mammography apparatus (<NUM>) that includes a radiation source (<NUM>), a radiation detector (<NUM>), a visible light source that emits visible light and a limitation unit that limits an irradiation region of the visible light, and a compression member (<NUM>) adapted to compress a breast disposed between the radiation source (<NUM>) and the radiation detector (<NUM>),
wherein the mammography apparatus is adapted to capture a radiographic image of the breast in a compressed state using the radiation detector (<NUM>);
a control device (<NUM>) including an acquisition unit (<NUM>) adapted to acquire region information indicating a region of an object of interest in the breast on the basis of said radiographic image captured by the mammography apparatus (<NUM>), characterized in that the control device further includes a display control unit (<NUM>) that performs control for the visible light source and for the limitation unit to limit an irradiation region of the visible light such that the irradiation region is matched with the region of the object of interest on the basis of a position of the visible light source and an irradiation angle of the visible light, to display the region of the object of interest on the compression member (<NUM>), so as to be recognizable on the basis of the region information,
wherein the mammography apparatus is adapted to continuously compress the breast from the capture of the radiographic image until the region of interest is displayed.