Methods, system and apparatus for digital imaging

• US 20030149364A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wirth, Reinhold F., Karr, Steve, Astley, Oliver, Eberhard, Jeffrey Wayne, Muller, Serge Louis Wilfrid, Kapur, Ajay, Thomenius, Kai E., Yamrom, Boris, Buckley, Donald Joseph Jr., Opsahl-Ong, Beale, Johnson, Roger Neal
• Application Number:
  US10/062,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149364A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/466 adapted to display 3D data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5238 for combining image data of patient, e.g. merging several images from different acquisition modes into one image for image registration algorithms G06T7/30

Abstract

A method for generating an image of an object of interest includes acquiring a first three-dimensional dataset of the object at a first position using an X-ray source and a detector, acquiring a second three-dimensional dataset of the object at the first position using an ultrasound probe, and combining the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset to generate a three-dimensional image of the object.

Claims

1. A method for generating an image of an object of interest, said method comprising:

acquiring a first three-dimensional dataset of the object at a first position using an X-ray source and a detector;

acquiring a second three-dimensional dataset of the object at the first position using an ultrasound probe; and

combining the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset to generate a three-dimensional image of the object.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

compressing an object of interest using a compression paddle;

positioning an ultrasound probe mover assembly adjacent the compression paddle such that the second three-dimensional dataset obtained with the ultrasound probe mover assembly is co-registered with the first three-dimensional dataset obtained through the compression paddle by mechanical design; and

coupling an ultrasound probe with the probe mover assembly such that the ultrasound probe emits an ultrasound output signal through the compression paddle and the object of interest.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising registrating the first three-dimensional data set and the second three-dimensional data set during acquisition.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein combining the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset comprises registering the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset on a point-by-point basis.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein acquiring a second three-dimensional dataset of the object at the first position using an ultrasound probe comprises using an ultrasound probe including at least one of an active matrix linear transducer and a phased array transducer comprising elevation focusing and beam steering capabilities.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein acquiring a second three-dimensional dataset of the object at the first position using an ultrasound probe comprises using an ultrasound probe including a two-dimensional array of capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducers.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein positioning an ultrasound probe mover assembly adjacent the compression paddle comprises positioning an ultrasound probe mover assembly including an automated two-dimensional ultrasound probe mover assembly.

8. A method for generating an image of an object of interest, said method comprising:

compressing an object of interest using a compression paddle;

acquiring a first three-dimensional dataset of the object at a first position using an X-ray source and a detector;

positioning an ultrasound probe mover assembly adjacent the compression paddle such that the second three-dimensional dataset obtained with the ultrasound probe mover assembly is co-registered with the first three-dimensional dataset obtained through the compression paddle by mechanical design;

coupling an ultrasound probe with the probe mover assembly such that the ultrasound probe emits an ultrasound output signal through the compression paddle and the object of interest;

acquiring a second three-dimensional dataset of the object at the first position using an ultrasound probe; and

combining the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset to generate a three-dimensional image of the object.

9. A method for generating an image of an object of interest, said method comprising:

compressing an object of interest using a compression paddle;

acquiring a two-dimensional dataset of the object, at a first position, using an X-ray source and a detector;

positioning an ultrasound probe mover assembly adjacent the compression paddle such that the second three-dimensional dataset obtained with the ultrasound probe mover assembly is co-registered with the first three-dimensional dataset obtained through the compression paddle by mechanical design;

operationally coupling an ultrasound probe with the probe mover assembly such that the ultrasound probe emits an ultrasound output signal through the compression paddle and the object of interest;

acquiring a three-dimensional dataset of the object, at the first position, using an ultrasound probe; and

combining the two-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset to generate a three-dimensional image of the object.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a compression paddle;

an ultrasound probe mover assembly mechanically aligned with said compression paddle; and

an ultrasound probe coupled with said probe mover assembly such that said ultrasound probe emits an ultrasound output signal through said compression paddle and said object of interest.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said paddle is coupled to a tomosynthesis imaging system.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said object of interest is a breast.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said ultrasound probe comprises at least one of an active matrix linear transducer and a phased array transducer.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least one of said active matrix linear transducer and said phased array transducer comprises elevation focusing and beam steering capabilities.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein a radiation source emits a radiation beam through said compression paddle and said object of interest to a detector assembly to generate a first three-dimensional dataset, said ultrasound probe emits an ultrasound output signal through said compression paddle and said object of interest to generate a second three-dimensional dataset.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein a computer combines said first three-dimensional dataset and said second three-dimensional dataset to generate a co-registered three-dimensional dataset representative of said object of interest.

17. A medical imaging system for generating an image of an object of interest, said medical imaging system comprising:

a detector array;

at least one radiation source;

a compression paddle;

an ultrasound probe mover assembly mechanically aligned with said compression paddle;

an ultrasound probe coupled with said probe mover assembly such that said ultrasound probe emits an ultrasound output signal through said compression paddle and said object of interest; and

a computer coupled to said detector array, said radiation source, and said ultrasound probe, and configured to;

acquire a first three-dimensional dataset of the object at a first position using said X-ray source and said detector;

acquire a second three-dimensional dataset of the object at the first position using said ultrasound probe; and

combine the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset to generate a three-dimensional image of the object.

18. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said computer further configured to physically co-register the first three-dimensional data set and the second three-dimensional data set during acquisition.

19. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 17 wherein to combine the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset to generate a three-dimensional image, said computer further configured to register the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset on a point by point basis.

20. A medical imaging system for generating an image of an object of interest, said medical imaging system comprising:

a detector array;

at least one radiation source;

a compression paddle;

an ultrasound probe mover assembly mechanically aligned with said compression paddle;

an ultrasound probe coupled with said probe mover assembly such that said ultrasound probe emits an ultrasound output signal through said compression paddle and said object of interest; and

a computer coupled to said detector array, said radiation source, and said ultrasound probe, and configured to;

acquire a first three-dimensional dataset of the object at a first position using said X-ray source and said detector;

acquire a second three-dimensional dataset of the object co-registered with the first three-dimensional dataset, at the first position, using said ultrasound probe;

register the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset on a point by point basis; and

combine the first three-dimensional dataset and the second three-dimensional dataset to generate a three-dimensional image of the object.

21. A compression paddle comprising a plurality of composite layers, wherein said layers are sonolucent and radiolucent.

22. A compression paddle in accordance with claim 21 wherein said layers comprise at least one of a polycarbonate, a polymethylpentene, and a polystyrene, and combinations thereof.

23. A compression paddle in accordance with claim 21 wherein said layers comprise an ultrasonic attenuation less than approximately 3 dB at a plurality of ultrasound probe frequencies less than approximately 12 megahertz.

24. A compression paddle in accordance with claim 23 wherein said layers configured to optically transmit greater than approximately 80% of incident radiation.