Patent ID: 7342994

Claim:
A mammogram recording and read-out apparatus, comprising: i) a radiation image detector for operating such that: the radiation image detector forms electric charges when the radiation image detector is exposed to radiation carrying radiation image information of the breast of an object, the radiation image detector accumulates the thus formed electric charges and thereby records a radiation image of the breast of the object, and the radiation image detector outputs an electric signal in accordance with a quantity of the accumulated electric charges, ii) a detector support section for supporting the radiation image detector, and iii) a breast support section for supporting the breast of the object, the breast support section being located on the side of a surface of the radiation image detector, which surface is exposed to the radiation, wherein the radiation image detector has a rectangular shape, and a support state of the detector support section is capable of being changed over between a first support state, in which the radiation image detector is supported in an orientation such that a short side of the radiation image detector stands facing the chest wall of the object, and a second support state, in which the radiation image detector is supported in an orientation such that a long side of the radiation image detector stands facing the chest wall of the object.