FULL FIELD MAMMOGRAPHY WITH TISSUE EXPOSURE CONTROL, TOMOSYNTHESIS, AND DYNAMIC FIELD OF VIEW PROCESSING
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mammography system using a tissue exposure control relying on estimates of the thickness of the compressed and immobilized breast and of breast density to automatically derive one or more technic factors. The system further uses a tomosynthesis arrangement that maintains the focus of an anti-scatter grid on the x-ray source and also maintains the field of view of the x-ray receptor. Finally, the system finds an outline that forms a reduced field of view that still encompasses the breast in the image, and uses for further processing, transmission or archival storage the data within said reduced field of view.
45 Citations
25 Claims
-
1-5. -5. (canceled)
-
6. A system for performing a tomosynthesis scan, the system comprising:
-
an x-ray source configured to move in a first direction during the tomosynthesis scan; a receptor configured to obtain images during the tomosynthesis scan, wherein the receptor is configured to move in a second direction during the tomosynthesis scan; an anti-scatter grid configured to move during the tomosynthesis scan; and a breast compression paddle and a breast tray disposed between the x-ray source and the anti-scatter grid, wherein the breast compression paddle and the breast tray are configured to immobilize a breast during movement of the x-ray source, the receptor, and the anti-scatter grid. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 14, 15)
-
-
10. A tomosynthesis imaging system for imaging a breast, the tomosynthesis imaging system comprising:
-
an x-ray source configured for movement so as to emit an x-ray beam at each of a plurality of x-ray source positions, wherein the x-ray source comprises a tube comprising a focal spot; an anti-scatter grid configured to remain focused on the focal spot during movement of the x-ray source; a receptor configured to receive the emitted x-ray beams at each of the plurality of x-ray source positions; and a plurality of breast compression elements disposed between the x-ray source and the anti-scatter grid, wherein the plurality of breast compression elements are configured to immobilize a breast during movement of the x-ray source. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
11. A tomosynthesis imaging system for imaging a breast, the tomosynthesis imaging system comprising:
-
an x-ray source configured for movement so as to emit an x-ray beam at each of a plurality of x-ray source positions; a focused anti-scatter grid; a receptor configured to receive the emitted x-ray beams at each of the plurality of x-ray source positions; and a plurality of breast compression elements disposed between the x-ray source and the anti-scatter grid, wherein the plurality of breast compression elements are configured to immobilize a breast during movement of the x-ray source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification