# US 10,945,681 B2 · Control device for controlling tomosynthesis imaging, imaging apparatus, imaging system, control method, and program for causing computer to execute the control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,681 B2 - Document ID: US10945681B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/899,061 - Filed: 2014-06-18 - Published: 2016-05-12 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-18 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Nobu Miyazawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945681B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/025: {Tomosynthesis} - A61B 6/461: {Displaying means of special interest} - A61B 6/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display} - A61B 6/465: {adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus} - A61B 6/466: {adapted to display 3D data} - A61B 6/468: {allowing annotation or message recording} - A61B 6/50: specially adapted for specific body parts; specially adapted for specific clinical applications - A61B 6/5205: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data} - A61B 6/5223: {generating planar views from image data, e.g. extracting a coronal view from a 3D image} - A61B 6/5258: {involving detection or reduction of artifacts or noise} - A61B 6/54: {Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis} - G16H 40/63: for local operation - A61B 6/563: {involving image data transmission via a network} - G06T 12/10: Image preprocessing, e.g. calibration, positioning of sources or scatter correction - G16H 30/20: for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract In tomosynthesis imaging for obtaining a tomosynthesis image from a projected image group captured by irradiating an object with X-rays from a plurality of different angles by using an X-ray generation unit and an X-ray detection unit, in association with a process for setting data of a projected image group as a reject, data of a tomosynthesis image generated on the basis of the projected image group is set as a reject. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control device for controlling tomosynthesis imaging for obtaining a tomosynthesis image from a projected image group captured by irradiating an object with X-rays from a plurality of different angles by using an X-ray generation unit and an X-ray detection unit, the control device comprising: one or more processors which, by executing instructions, cause the control device to function as: a setting unit that sets at least one of projected images of the projected image group as a reject, wherein the setting unit sets the tomosynthesis image generated by reconstruction using the projected image group including the at least one of the projected images set as the reject, as a reject; a communication circuit that transmits at least either of a tomosynthesis image and the projected image group to an external device; an output control unit for limiting transmission of data set as a reject to the external device; and a display control unit that causes an indication indicating each of the tomosynthesis image and the projected image group to be displayed and further causes a mark indicating whether or not the corresponding at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject by the setting unit to be superimposed on the indication, wherein the display control unit causes an indication corresponding to the at least one of the projected images set as a reject by the setting unit to have superimposed thereon a mark indicating that the at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject, wherein the display control unit causes first imaging information for capturing a projected image group to be displayed in a first display area, and, in response to the projected image group corresponding to the first imaging information being captured, causes a thumbnail image indicating the projected image group to be displayed in the first display area, and in response to a tomosynthesis image based on the projected image group being generated, the display control unit causes a thumbnail image of the tomosynthesis image to be displayed in the first display area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit executes a reject setting to set at least one of the tomosynthesis image or the projected image group as a reject, and a re-imaging setting to set imaging information for executing re-imaging for the tomosynthesis image or the projected image group. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The control device according to claim 2, wherein the one or more processors which, by executing the instructions, further cause the control device to function as a control unit that performs control so that execution of the re-imaging setting is permitted for the projected image group and execution of the re-imaging setting is not permitted for the tomosynthesis image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors which, by executing the instructions, further cause the control device to function as: a selection unit that selects a process condition of a tomosynthesis image corresponding to the first imaging information; and an image processing unit that processes, in response to the selection, a tomosynthesis image corresponding to second imaging information different from the first imaging information in accordance with the selected process condition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors which, by executing the instructions, further cause the control device to function as a display control unit that causes a first button for setting the reject to be displayed together with an indication indicating each of the tomosynthesis image and the projected image group. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control device according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit causes a first button for setting a reject, and a second button for setting a reject and providing an instruction to perform re-imaging to be displayed together with an indication indicating each of the tomosynthesis image and the projected image group. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control device according to claim 6, wherein the one or more processors which, by executing the instructions, further cause the control device to function as a selection unit that selects at least one of the projected image group or the tomosynthesis image, wherein the display control unit enables pressing of the first and second buttons while the projected image group is being selected, and disables pressing of the second button while the tomosynthesis image is being selected. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The control device according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit makes the first and second buttons visible while the projected image group is being selected, and makes the second button invisible while the tomosynthesis image is being selected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The control device according to claim 6, wherein in response to the second button being pressed, the setting unit executes a reject setting to set at least one of the tomosynthesis image or the projected image group as a reject, and a re-imaging setting to set imaging information for executing re-imaging for the tomosynthesis image or the projected image group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors which, by executing the instructions, further cause the control device to function as a display control unit that causes at least either a warning or an indication asking whether or not to execute reconstruction of a new tomosynthesis image to be displayed in response to a specified number of tomosynthesis images or more being set as a reject for at least one tomosynthesis image corresponding to the first imaging information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit executes either of a first setting for setting a certain projected image included in the projected image group as a reject and a second setting for setting a certain slice image included in the tomosynthesis image as a reject. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The control device according to claim 11, wherein the one or more processors which, by executing the instructions, further cause the control device to function as a reconstruction unit that executes, in accordance with the first setting been executed, a reconstruction process based on projected images except for the certain projected image for which the first setting has been made. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control device according to claim 12, wherein the one or more processors which, by executing the instructions, further cause the control device to function as a display control unit that causes a display unit to display, in accordance with the first setting being performed, at least any one of a GUI for providing an instruction as to whether or not to execute a reconstruction process based on a projected image group in which the certain projected image has been set as a reject, a message which recommends execution of the reconstruction process, and a message indicating that a tomosynthesis image based on the projected image group in which the certain projected image has been set as a reject is present. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: the control device according to claim 1; and the X-ray detector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An X-ray imaging system comprising: the control device according to claim 1; the X-ray detector; the X-ray generation unit; and the display unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors which, by executing the instructions, further cause the control device to function as a limitation unit that, in accordance with the number of projected images designated as rejects or a projection angle corresponding to the projected images within the projected image group, limits reconstruction based on a projected image not designated as a reject within the projected image group. ### Claim 17 A control device for controlling tomosynthesis imaging for obtaining a tomosynthesis image from a projected image group captured by irradiating an object with X-rays from a plurality of different angles by using an X-ray generation unit and an X-ray detection unit, the control device comprising: one or more processors which, by executing instructions, causes the control device to function as: a selection unit that selects at least one of the projected image group or the tomosynthesis image; an instruction unit that executes at least any one of a first instruction for providing an instruction to set the selected tomosynthesis image or the projected image group as a reject, and a second instruction for providing an instruction to re-acquire the selected tomosynthesis image or the projected image group; a setting unit that, in a case where the selected tomosynthesis image or the projected image group indicates the projected image group, sets the projected image group as a reject in response to the first instruction having been given, and sets the projected image group and the tomosynthesis image based on the projected image group as rejects in response to the second instruction having been given; a communication circuit that transmits at least either a tomosynthesis image and the projected image group to an external device; an output control unit for limiting transmission of data set as a reject to the external device; and a display control unit that causes an indication indicating each of the tomosynthesis image and the projected image group to be displayed and further causes a mark indicating whether or not the corresponding at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject by the setting unit to be superimposed on the indication, wherein the display control unit causes an indication corresponding to the at least one of the projected images set as a reject by the setting unit to have superimposed thereon a mark indicating that the at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject, wherein the display control unit causes first imaging information for capturing a projected image group to be displayed in a first display area, and, in response to the projected image group corresponding to the first imaging information being captured, causes a thumbnail image indicating the projected image group to be displayed in the first display area, and in response to a tomosynthesis image based on the projected image group being generated, the display control unit causes a thumbnail image of the tomosynthesis image to be displayed in the first display area. ### Claim 18 A control method for controlling tomosynthesis imaging for obtaining a tomosynthesis image from a projected image group captured by irradiating an object with X-rays from a plurality of different angles by using an X-ray generation unit and an X-ray detection unit, the control method comprising: a setting step of setting at least one of projected images of the projected image group as a reject, wherein the setting step sets the tomosynthesis image generated by reconstruction using the projected image group including the at least one of the projected images set as the reject, as a reject, a step of limiting transmission of data set as a reject to an external device, and a display control step of causing an indication indicating each of the tomosynthesis image and the projected image group to be displayed and further causing a mark indicating whether or not the corresponding at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject by the setting step to be superimposed on the indication, wherein the display control step causes an indication corresponding to the at least one of the projected images set as a reject by the setting step to have superimposed thereon a mark indicating that the at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject, wherein the display control step causes first imaging information for capturing a projected image group to be displayed in a first display area, and, in response to the projected image group corresponding to the first imaging information being captured, causes a thumbnail image indicating the projected image group to be displayed in the first display area, and in response to a tomosynthesis image based on the projected image group being generated, the display control step causes a thumbnail image of the tomosynthesis image to be displayed in the first display area. ### Claim 19 A control method for controlling tomosynthesis imaging for obtaining a tomosynthesis image from a projected image group captured by irradiating an object with X-rays from a plurality of different angles by using an X-ray generation unit and an X-ray detection unit, the control method comprising: a step of selecting at least one of the projected image group or the tomosynthesis image; a step of providing at least any one of a first instruction for providing an instruction to set the selected tomosynthesis image or the projected image group as a reject, and a second instruction for providing an instruction to re-acquire the selected tomosynthesis image or the projected image group; a step of, in a case where the selected tomosynthesis image or the projected image group indicates the projected image group, setting the projected image group as a reject in response to the first instruction having been given, and setting the projected image group and the tomosynthesis image based on the projected image group as rejects in response to the second instruction having been given; a step of limiting transmission of data set as a reject to an external device; and a step of display control that causes an indication indicating each of the tomosynthesis image and the projected image group to be displayed and further causes a mark indicating whether or not the corresponding at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject by the step of setting to be superimposed on the indication, wherein the step of display control causes an indication corresponding to the at least one of the projected images set as a reject by the step of setting to have superimposed thereon a mark indicating that the at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject, wherein the step of display control causes first imaging information for capturing a projected image group to be displayed in a first display area, and, in response to the projected image group corresponding to the first imaging information being captured, causes a thumbnail image indicating the projected image group to be displayed in the first display area, and in response to a tomosynthesis image based on the projected image group being generated, the step of display control causes a thumbnail image of the tomosynthesis image to be displayed in the first display area. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for controlling tomosynthesis imaging for obtaining a tomosynthesis image from a projected image group captured by irradiating an object with X-rays from a plurality of different angles by using an X-ray generation unit and an X-ray detection unit, the control method comprising: a setting step of setting at least one of projected images of the projected image group as a reject; a limiting step of limiting transmission of data set as a reject to an external device, wherein the setting step sets the tomosynthesis image generated by reconstruction using the projected image group including at least one of the projected images set as the reject; and a display control step that causes an indication indicating each of the tomosynthesis image and the projected image group to be displayed and further causes a mark indicating whether or not the corresponding at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject by the setting step to be superimposed on the indication, wherein the display control step causes an indication corresponding to the at least one of the projected images set as a reject by the setting step to have superimposed thereon a mark indicating that the at least one of the projected images has been set as a reject, wherein the display control step causes first imaging information for capturing a projected image group to be displayed in a first display area, and, in response to the projected image group corresponding to the first imaging information being captured, causes a thumbnail image indicating the projected image group to be displayed in the first display area, and in response to a tomosynthesis image based on the projected image group being generated, the display control step causes a thumbnail image of the tomosynthesis image to be displayed in the first display area.