Methods and apparatus for generating depth information mammography images
First Claim
1. A method for generating a three dimensional image of an object of interest using an imaging system, the imaging system including an x-ray source for emitting a cone x-ray beam and at least one x-ray detector array, said method comprisingscanning an object of interest from a first projection angle;
- translating the x-ray source along a linear axis and tilting or rotating the at least one detector array relative to the linear axis;
scanning the object of interest from at least a second projection angle after said translating and said tilting or rotating;
collecting cone beam data for each said projection angle using the at least one detector array; and
generating cross-sectional images of the object of interest using the collected cone beam data.
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Abstract
The present invention, in one form, includes an imaging system having a moving x-ray source and a movable detector array to generate depth information mammography images. More specifically, the depth information images are generated by collecting projection data from a plurality of projection angles. In one embodiment, the projection angle is altered by alter the x-axis position of an x-ray source and a detector array so that the entire object of interest remains within the field of view of the imaging system. The depth information mammography images improve diagnosis and pathology location information.
66 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for generating a three dimensional image of an object of interest using an imaging system, the imaging system including an x-ray source for emitting a cone x-ray beam and at least one x-ray detector array, said method comprising
scanning an object of interest from a first projection angle; -
translating the x-ray source along a linear axis and tilting or rotating the at least one detector array relative to the linear axis;
scanning the object of interest from at least a second projection angle after said translating and said tilting or rotating;
collecting cone beam data for each said projection angle using the at least one detector array; and
generating cross-sectional images of the object of interest using the collected cone beam data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
collecting first cone beam data for a first breast with a first detector array; and
collecting second cone beam data for a second breast with a second detector array.
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12. A method for generating a three dimensional image of an object of interest using an imaging system, the imaging system including an x-ray source for emitting a cone x-ray beam and at least one x-ray detector array, said method comprising:
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scanning an object of interest from a first projection angle;
translating the x-ray source along a linear axis and tilting or rotating the at least one detector array relative to the linear axis;
scanning the object of interest from at least a second projection angle after said translating and said tilting or rotating;
collecting cone beam data for each said projection angle using the at least one detector array; and
generating cross-sectional images of the object of interest using the collected cone beam data;
wherein a projection angle of the x-ray beam with respect to the object of interest is altered between said scan from the first projection angle and said scan from at least a second projection angle, and wherein altering the projection angle of the x-ray beam comprises altering the position of the x-ray source and the at least one x-ray detector so that the object of interest remains within a field of view. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An imaging system for generating a three dimensional image of an object of interest, said imaging system comprising an x-ray source for emitting a cone x-ray beam and at least one x-ray detector array, said system configured to:
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scan an object of interest from a first projection angle;
translate said x-ray source along a linear axis and tilt or rotate said at least one detector array relative to the linear axis;
scan the object of interest from at least a second projection angle after the translation and said tilting or rotating;
collect cone beam data for each projection angle using said at least one detector array; and
generate cross-sectional images of the object of interest using said collected cone beam data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
collect first cone beam data for a first breast with said first detector array; and
collect second cone beam data for a second breast with said second detector array.
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26. An imaging system for generating a three dimensional image of an object of interest, said imaging system comprising an x-ray source for emitting a cone x-ray beam and at least one x-ray detector array, said system configured to:
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scan an object of interest from a first projection angle;
translate said x-ray source along a linear axis and tilt or rotate said at least one detector array relative to the linear axis;
scan the object of interest from at least a second projection angle after the translation and said tilting or rotating;
alter the projection angle of the x-ray beam with respect to the object of interest between the scan from the first projection angle and the scan from at least a second projection angle;
collect cone beam data for each projection angle using said at least one detector array;
generate cross-sectional images of the object of interest using said collected cone beam data;
wherein to alter the projection angle of the x-ray beam, said system configured to alter the position of said x-ray source and said at least one x-ray detector so that the object of interest remains within a field of view. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method for generating three dimensional images of two human breasts using an imaging system, the imaging system including an x-ray source for emitting a cone x-ray beam and two x-ray detector arrays, said method comprising:
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scanning two human breasts from a first projection angle;
translating the x-ray source along a linear axis and tilting or rotating the two detector arrays relative to the linear axis;
scanning the two human breasts from at least a second projection angle after said translating and said tilting or rotating;
collecting cone beam data for each said projection angle using the two detector arrays; and
generating cross-sectional images of the two human breasts using the collected cone beam data;
wherein collecting cone beam data for each projection angle using the two detector arrays comprises;
collecting first cone beam data for a first breast with a first detector array of said two detector arrays; and
collecting second cone beam data for a second breast with a second detector array of said two detector arrays;
and wherein generating cross-sectional images of the two human breasts using the collected cone beam data comprises performing a cone beam reconstruction of the data.
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30. An imaging system for generating three dimensional images of two human breasts, said imaging system comprising an x-ray source for emitting a cone x-ray beam and two x-ray detector arrays, said system configured to:
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scan two human breasts from a first projection angle;
translate said x-ray source along a linear axis and tilt or rotate said two detector arrays relative to the linear axis;
scan the two human breasts from at least a second projection angle after the translation and said tilting or rotating;
collect cone beam data for each projection angle using said two detector arrays; and
generate cross-sectional images of the two human breasts using said collected cone beam data;
wherein said two detector arrays comprise a first detector array and a second detector array, and wherein to collect cone beam data for each projection angle using said two detector arrays, said system is configured to;
collect first cone beam data for a first breast with said first detector array; and
collect second cone beam data for a second breast with said second detector array;
and wherein to generate cross-sectional images of the object of interest using the collected cone beam data, said system is configured to perform a cone beam reconstruction of the data.
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Specification