X-ray imaging with x-ray markers that provide adjunct information but preserve image quality
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- concurrently x-ray imaging a breast compression paddle comprising at least one paddle marker and a patient'"'"'s breast compressed between the compression paddle and an x-ray imaging receptor;
obtaining an x-ray image in which the at least one paddle marker and the breast are imaged, wherein an image of at least a part of the at least one paddle marker is superimposed on an image of the breast in the x-ray image, and wherein the at least one paddle marker is invisible within an outline of the breast in the x-ray image;
identifying at least one region of interest in the x-ray image that corresponds to at least a portion of the at least one paddle marker;
processing the at least one region of interest so as to derive geometric information regarding the at least one paddle marker image in the x-ray image; and
processing the geometric information to derive information regarding the compression paddle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for estimating a geometric thickness of a breast in mammography/tomosynthesis or in other x-ray procedures, by imaging markers that are in the path of x-rays passing through the imaged object. The markings can be selected to be visible or to be invisible when the composite markings/breast image is viewed in clinical settings. If desired, the contribution of the markers to the image can be removed through further processing. The resulting information can be used determining the geometric thickness of the body being x-rayed and thus setting imaging parameters that are thickness-related, and for other purposes. The method and apparatus also have application in other types of x-ray imaging.
77 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
concurrently x-ray imaging a breast compression paddle comprising at least one paddle marker and a patient'"'"'s breast compressed between the compression paddle and an x-ray imaging receptor; obtaining an x-ray image in which the at least one paddle marker and the breast are imaged, wherein an image of at least a part of the at least one paddle marker is superimposed on an image of the breast in the x-ray image, and wherein the at least one paddle marker is invisible within an outline of the breast in the x-ray image; identifying at least one region of interest in the x-ray image that corresponds to at least a portion of the at least one paddle marker; processing the at least one region of interest so as to derive geometric information regarding the at least one paddle marker image in the x-ray image; and processing the geometric information to derive information regarding the compression paddle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method comprising:
-
performing a first x-ray imaging acquisition concurrently on a breast compression paddle comprising at least one paddle marker and a patient'"'"'s breast compressed between the compression paddle and an x-ray imaging receptor, wherein the first x-ray imaging acquisition is performed with a first x-ray dose; obtaining an x-ray image in which the at least one paddle marker and the breast are imaged, wherein an image of at least a part of the at least one paddle marker is superimposed on an image of the breast in the x-ray image, and wherein the at least one paddle marker is invisible within an outline of the breast in the x-ray image; identifying at least one region of interest in the x-ray image that corresponds to at least a portion of the at least one paddle marker; processing the at least one region of interest so as to derive geometric information regarding the compressed breast image in the x-ray image; and processing the geometric information to derive compressed breast information. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification