IMAGE HANDLING AND DISPLAY IN X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY AND TOMOSYNTHESIS

• US 20150160848A1
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: NIKLASON, Loren, SHAW, Ian, RUTH, Christopher, SMITH, Andrew P., STEIN, Jay A., GKANATSIOS, Nikolaos
• Granted Patent: US 9,851,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/464 involving a plurality of displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/006 Inverse problem, transformation from projection-space into object-space, e.g. transform methods, back-projection, algebraic methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10112 Digital tomosynthesis [DTS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20068 Projection on vertical or horizontal image axis
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30068 Mammography; Breast
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

A method and system for acquiring, processing, storing, and displaying x-ray mammograms Mp tomosynthesis images Tr representative of breast slices, and x-ray tomosynthesis projection images Tp taken at different angles to a breast, where the Tr images are reconstructed from Tp images

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An image display system comprising:

a display for displaying;

at least one image of a plurality of tomosynthesis images of a compressed breast; and

a bar for identifying information regarding a location within the compressed breast corresponding to the displayed image.

22. The image display system of claim 21, wherein the bar comprises a plurality of non-numeric indicators.

23. The image display system of claim 22, wherein the bar comprises a plurality of numeric indicators.

24. The image display system of claim 21, wherein the bar comprises a slice bar configured to be moved along the slider bar.

25. The image display system of claim 24, wherein a position of the slice bar on the slider bar corresponds to the height within the breast of the displayed image of the plurality of tomosynthesis images.

26. The image display system of claim 24, wherein

when the slice bar is positioned in a first position along the slider bar, the display displays a first image of the plurality of tomosynthesis images, wherein the first image has a first height within the breast;

and

when the slice bar is positioned in a second position adjacent to the first position along the slider bar, the display displays a second image of the plurality of tomosynthesis images, wherein the second image has a second height adjacent to the first height within the breast.

27. The image display system of claim 22, wherein the slice bar comprises a thickness that spans the plurality of non-numeric indicators, and wherein a plurality of tomosynthesis images are displayed.

28. The image display system of claim 21, wherein the tomosynthesis images comprise at least one of reconstructed images and projection images.

29. A method of displaying tomosynthesis images, the method comprising:

displaying a first image of a plurality of tomosynthesis images on a display;

displaying an information bar on the display; and

displaying a slice bar on the information bar, wherein a position of the slice bar on the information bar corresponds to a first location within the compressed breast of the first image.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving an input to display a second image of the plurality of tomosynthesis images;

displaying the second image; and

displaying the slice bar on the information bar in a second position corresponding to a second location within the compressed breast of the second image.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the input comprises a selection of a button located on the display.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the input comprises a signal sent from an input device.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the input comprises a selection of a position on the information bar.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of tomosynthesis images, wherein the slice bar comprises a thickness, wherein the thickness corresponds to a number of the displayed plurality of tomosynthesis images.

35. An image display system comprising:

a display for displaying;

a tomosynthesis image of a compressed breast; and

a graphic representing information regarding a location of the tomosynthesis image within the compressed breast.

36. The image display system of claim 35, wherein the location corresponds to a plane within the compressed breast.

37. The image display system of claim 36, wherein the plane is defined by a height and thickness within the compressed breast.

38. The image display system of claim 35, wherein the graphic comprises a scale comprises at least one of non-numeric and numeric indicia.

39. The image display system of claim 36, wherein the information comprises a slice bar disposed on the scale.

40. The image display system of claim 35, wherein the tomosynthesis image comprises at least one of reconstructed images and projection images.