X-ray imaging with X-ray markers that provide adjunct information but preserve image quality
First Claim
1. A breast x-ray imaging method comprising:
- x-ray imaging a first pattern of markers on or in a compression paddle and a patient'"'"'s breast immobilized between the paddle and an x-ray imaging receptor to form a composite x-ray image in which both markers of the first pattern of markers and the breast are imaged;
computer-processing the x-ray image to derive geometric information regarding markers of the first pattern of markers imaged in said composite x-ray image;
computer-processing the geometric information to derive thickness information related to a thickness of the immobilized breast; and
using the thickness information for at least one of assessment of the imaged breast and further x-ray imaging of the breast.
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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.
166 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A breast x-ray imaging method comprising:
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x-ray imaging a first pattern of markers on or in a compression paddle and a patient'"'"'s breast immobilized between the paddle and an x-ray imaging receptor to form a composite x-ray image in which both markers of the first pattern of markers and the breast are imaged; computer-processing the x-ray image to derive geometric information regarding markers of the first pattern of markers imaged in said composite x-ray image; computer-processing the geometric information to derive thickness information related to a thickness of the immobilized breast; and using the thickness information for at least one of assessment of the imaged breast and further x-ray imaging of the breast. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A mammography/tomosynthesis apparatus comprising:
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a breast immobilizer comprising a breast platform and a compression paddle with a first pattern of markers, said paddle and platform being configured to move toward each other to position a patient'"'"'s breast between the paddle and platform and flatten and immobilize the breast; an x-ray source on one side of the immobilizer and an x-ray imaging receptor on the other side; a control selectively energizing the x-ray source to emit an x-ray beam that traverses the paddle, the immobilized breast and the breast platform and impinges on the x-ray receptor, said receptor being configured to provide in response image information describing a composite x-ray image containing information regarding markers of the first pattern of markers imaged in said composite x-ray image and regarding the immobilized breast imaged in said image; a processor coupled with the x-ray receptor to receive from the receptor the image information describing the composite x-ray image, said processor being configured to process the received image information to derive geometric information regarding markers of the first pattern of markers imaged therein and to process the geometric information to derive thickness information related to thickness of the immobilized breast; said processor further being configured to use the thickness information in at least one of (i) assessment of the breast imaged in the x-ray image and (ii) providing information related to parameters involved in controlling further x-ray imaging of the breast; and a display selectively showing a display related to said x-ray image information. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 56)
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- 25. An apparatus as in claim 25 in which said first pattern of markers comprises two or more first sub-patterns of markers that are at different locations relative to said compression paddle.
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48. A method comprising:
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x-ray imaging a first pattern of markers situated at a selected location relative to an object that is between an x-ray source and an imaging plane of an imaging x-ray receptor to thereby cause the receptor to form a composite x-ray image in which both markers of the first pattern of markers and the object are imaged; computer-processing the x-ray image to derive geometric information regarding markers of the first pattern of markers imaged in said x-ray image; and using the geometric information to improve at least one of (a) further imaging of the object and (b) assessment of an image of the object. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An x-ray apparatus comprising:
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an x-ray source, an x-ray receptor, and an object support between the source and the receptor; a control selectively energizing the source to emit an x-ray beam that passes through an object on said support and causes the receptor to provide an x-ray image of the object; a first pattern of markers situated at a selected location in the path of said beam thereby causing said image to contain contributions of said markers; a processor configured to process the x-ray image to derive geometric information regarding said contributions of said markers, said processor further being configured to use the geometric information to improve at least one of (a) further imaging of the object and (b) assessment of an image of the object. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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57. A computer program product stored in a tangible computer storage medium and comprising:
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program code to cause an x-ray imaging system to image a first pattern of markers situated at a selected location relative to an object that is between an x-ray source and an imaging plane of an imaging x-ray receptor to thereby cause the receptor to form a composite x-ray image in which both markers of the first pattern of markers and the object are imaged; program code to cause computer-processing of the x-ray image to derive geometric information regarding markers of the first pattern of markers imaged in said composite x-ray image; and computer code to cause utilization of said geometric information. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60)
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61. A method of x-ray imaging a patient'"'"'s breast comprising:
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immobilizing a patient'"'"'s breast between a compression paddle and a breast platform that are in turn between an x-ray source and an x-ray image receptor; determining a height of the compression paddle using a first encoder and providing digital information indicative of the determined height; determining tilt of the compression paddle using a second encoder and providing digital information indicative of the determined tilt; and using said digital information indicative of compression paddle height and tilt to improve at least one of x-ray imaging the patient'"'"'s breast and assessing images of the patient'"'"'s breast.
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Specification