METHOD FOR PRODUCING A STEREOTACTIC IMAGE IN A MAMMOGRAPHY DEVICE

• US 20100104166A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hall, Michael, Johansson, Katrin, Hansroul, Marc, Savard, Serge, Mertelmeier, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/593,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20100104166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/022 Stereoscopic imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography

Abstract

In a method for producing a stereotactic image of a patient fixed in a mammography device for a biopsy, a computerized control and evaluation unit waits for a start signal to be given by an operator, and after receipt of the start signal, automatically implements the following steps. An x-ray apparatus of the mammography device is positioned in a first predetermined imaging position, and a first image of the patient is acquired with the x-ray apparatus in this position. The x-ray apparatus is then pivoted into a second imaging position, different from the first, and a second image of the patient is acquired at the second position. The first and second images are acquired to form a stereotactic image of the patient.

Claims

1. Method to generate a stereotactic image of a patient fixed in a mammography apparatus for a biopsy to be conducted on the patient, comprising the following steps implemented by a control and evaluation unit:

a) waiting for a start signal to be manually transmitted to the evaluation and control unit by an operator;

b) after receiving the start signal, automatically implementing of the steps;

c1) positioning of an x-ray device of the mammography apparatus in a first, predeterminable acquisition position;

c2) acquiring a first image of the patient with the x-ray device;

c3) panning the x-ray device to a second predeterminable acquisition position different from the first acquisition position;

c4) acquisition of acquiring a second image of the patient with the x-ray device; and

c5) combining and presenting the first image and the second image as a stereotactic image.

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising, before step c1),

automatically moving the x-ray device into a predeterminable overview position;

automatically acquiring an overview exposure of the patient with the x-ray device and presenting the overview image at a display for viewing by the operator;

waiting for a continuation signal from the operator

automatically proceeding with step c1) after receiving the continuation signal.

3. Method according to claim 1 comprising executing at least the steps c1) through c4) as a multiple image sequence unique to the mammography apparatus.

4. Method according to claim 1, comprising repeating steps c3) and c4) for acquisition of a predeterminable number of additional images respectively from different predeterminable acquisition positions.

6. Method according to claim 1 comprising, with a protective device, automatically protecting the patient from collisions caused by the movement of the x-ray device.

7. Method according to claim 1, comprising reconstructing a slice exposure the images in a tomosynthesis algorithm.

5. Method according to panning without interruption the x-ray device to acquire an image in steps c2) and/or c4).