X-ray mammography with tomosynthesis
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of imaging a patient'"'"'s breast with x-rays using a flat panel digital x-ray imager to obtain both two dimensional (2D) image data for a conventional mammogram data and three-dimensional (3D) image data for tomosynthesis images in a single breast compression, using an anti-scatter grid in obtaining some but not all the image data, comprising:
- immobilizing a patient'"'"'s breast between an x-ray source and a flat panel digital x-ray imager;
energizing the x-ray source to emit x-rays at each of a plurality of different angular positions of the source relative to the breast while the breast remains immobilized, and concurrently using the imager to derive x-ray projection image data for the respective positions;
wherein the image data for at least one of said positions, called hereafter a mammogram position, are taken at a view matching that of a conventional CC and/or MLO view used in conventional mammography, and the image data for a plurality of other positions, called hereafter tomosynthesis positions, are taken at other relative angles of the source and breast;
wherein the x-ray dose to the patient'"'"'s breast when taking said image data for each of said tomosynthesis positions is less than the x-ray dose when taking said image data for said mammogram position, and the x-ray dose for said mammogram position is similar to a dose used for a conventional mammogram;
using an anti-scatter grid between the patient'"'"'s breast an the imager for at least the mammogram position but not for at least some of the tomosynthesis positions; and
processing the image data taken for the mammogram position to form and display a mammogram and using the image data taken for said tomosynthesis positions to form and display tomosynthesis images of the breast.
10 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for producing tomosynthetic images of a patient'"'"'s breast. An x-ray source that delivers x-rays through a breast immobilized and compressed between a compression paddle and a breast platform and form an image at a digital x-ray receptor panel. Multiple x-ray images are taken as the x-ray source and the receptor move relative to the immobilized breast. In one preferred embodiment, the x-ray source travels from −15° to +15°. The source can travel in an arc around the breast while the receptor travels linearly while remaining parallel and at the same distance from the breast platform. The sets of x-ray image data taken at different angles are combined to form tomosynthetic images that can be viewed in different formats, alone or as an adjunct to conventional mammograms.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of imaging a patient'"'"'s breast with x-rays using a flat panel digital x-ray imager to obtain both two dimensional (2D) image data for a conventional mammogram data and three-dimensional (3D) image data for tomosynthesis images in a single breast compression, using an anti-scatter grid in obtaining some but not all the image data, comprising:
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immobilizing a patient'"'"'s breast between an x-ray source and a flat panel digital x-ray imager; energizing the x-ray source to emit x-rays at each of a plurality of different angular positions of the source relative to the breast while the breast remains immobilized, and concurrently using the imager to derive x-ray projection image data for the respective positions; wherein the image data for at least one of said positions, called hereafter a mammogram position, are taken at a view matching that of a conventional CC and/or MLO view used in conventional mammography, and the image data for a plurality of other positions, called hereafter tomosynthesis positions, are taken at other relative angles of the source and breast; wherein the x-ray dose to the patient'"'"'s breast when taking said image data for each of said tomosynthesis positions is less than the x-ray dose when taking said image data for said mammogram position, and the x-ray dose for said mammogram position is similar to a dose used for a conventional mammogram; using an anti-scatter grid between the patient'"'"'s breast an the imager for at least the mammogram position but not for at least some of the tomosynthesis positions; and processing the image data taken for the mammogram position to form and display a mammogram and using the image data taken for said tomosynthesis positions to form and display tomosynthesis images 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, 22)
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23. A combination mammogram/tomosynthesis system comprising:
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an x-ray source, a flat panel digital x-ray imager, and a breast support configured to immobilize a patient'"'"'s breast between the source and the imager; a source support configured to selectively move the source relative to the breast support between different angular positions of the source relative to the breast support; a control configured to selectively energize the source to emit x-rays through the breast support to the imager, while a patient'"'"'s breast remains immobilized in the breast support at each of said different angular positions; wherein at least one of said angular positions is a mammogram position that is the same or similar to a position for a conventional mammogram but others of said positions are tomosynthesis positions that are different from conventional mammogram positions; wherein said x-ray source is configured to apply an x-ray dose to the patient'"'"'s breast in each of said tomosynthesis positions that is less than the x-ray dose applied to the breast in said mammogram position, and the x-ray dose for said mammogram position is similar to a dose used for a conventional mammogram; an anti-scatter grid configured to be selectively movable in the path of said x-rays from the breast to the imager, said grid being in said path for the mammogram position but being out of said path for at least some of the tomosynthesis positions; and a processor configured to use an output of said imager for said mammogram and tomosynthesis positions of the source relative to the immobilized breast to form at least one mammogram image for display and tomosynthesis images of the breast for display. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification