Integrated multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis X-ray system and method

• US 10,194,875 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: DeFreitas, Kenneth, Farbizio, Thomas, Ren, Baorui, Ruth, Christopher, Shaw, Ian, Smith, Andrew P., Stein, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Midkiff, Anastasia
• Application Number:
  US15/411,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20170128028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/107 Protection against radiation, e.g. shielding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4452 the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30068 Mammography; Breast

Abstract

A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging which comprises a compression arm assembly for compressing and immobilizing a breast for x-ray imaging, an x-ray tube assembly, an x-ray image receptor, and a patient shield is provided. The system is configured for a plurality of imaging protocols and modes.

Claims

1. A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging comprising:

a compression arm assembly for compressing a patient'"'"'s breast for x-ray imaging;

an x-ray image receptor;

an x-ray tube assembly, wherein the compression arm assembly, the x-ray tube assembly, and the x-ray image receptor are configured for movement about an axis to accommodate a plurality of imaging modes, and wherein the x-ray tube assembly is configured to rotate relative to the compression arm for at least a tomosynthesis imaging mode of the plurality of imaging modes; and

a patient shield secured to the compression arm assembly and spaced apart from the x-ray tube assembly, wherein during the tomosynthesis imaging mode the x-ray tube assembly is configured to rotate relative to at least a portion of the patient shield.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient shield is configured to provide a mechanical interlock against patient contact with the rotating x-ray tube assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of imaging modes utilize a single breast compression.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of imaging modes comprise a mammography imaging mode and the tomosynthesis imaging mode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the x-ray tube assembly moves continuously for image acquisition when the x-ray tube assembly rotates relative to the compression arm for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an anti-scatter grid disposed adjacent to the x-ray image receptor for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the anti-scatter grid is retractable out of an imaging area for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the compression arm assembly comprises a breast compression paddle, wherein the breast compression paddle is configured to move laterally relative to the x-ray image receptor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the compression arm assembly comprises a receptor housing, wherein the x-ray image receptor is disposed within the receptor housing and is configured to rotatably rock about the axis therein.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the movement of the x-ray tube assembly and the x-ray image receptor are at different angles about the axis for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes.

11. A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging comprising:

a housing;

an arm assembly rotatably secured to the housing;

a receptor housing attached to the arm assembly;

a compression paddle movably attached to the arm assembly;

a patient shield attached to the arm assembly;

an x-ray image receptor rotatably supported by the housing and disposed within the receptor housing; and

an x-ray tube assembly having an x-ray source disposed at least partially therein, wherein the x-ray tube assembly is rotatably supported by the housing, wherein the arm assembly and the x-ray tube assembly are independently rotatable in relation to the housing, and wherein when the x-ray tube assembly rotates independently from the arm assembly,

the patient shield is spaced apart from the x-ray tube assembly such that the x-ray tube assembly rotates independently from at least a portion of the patient shield.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the patient shield is configured to provide a mechanical interlock against patient contact with the rotating x-ray source.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the x-ray tube assembly moves continuously for image acquisition when the x-ray tube assembly rotates relative to the arm assembly.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising an anti-scatter grid disposed between the compression paddle and the x-ray image receptor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the anti-scatter grid is retractable in relation to the x-ray image receptor.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the compression paddle is laterally moveable on the arm assembly.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the compression paddle is removable from the arm assembly.

18. The system of claim 11 further comprising a spacer disposed between the compression paddle and the x-ray image receptor.