Multi-mode tomosynthesis/mammography gain calibration and image correction using gain map information from selected projection angles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A breast tomosynthesis method comprising:
- acquiring tomosynthesis projection x-ray images T(p,n) of a phantom, where the index p designates a respective one of a first multiplicity of P first projection angles of an x-ray beam relative to the phantom, p=1, 2, 3, . . . , P, the index n designates the number of projection images taken at a given one of the first projection angles, and n≧
2;
generating enhanced gain maps EG(p′
), where the index p′
designates a respective one of a second multiplicity of P′
second projection angles of an x-ray beam relative to a patient'"'"'s breast and p′
=1, 2, 3, . . . , P′
, in a computer-implemented process combining parameters derived from said images T(p,n);
acquiring tomosynthesis x-ray images T′
(p′
) of a patient'"'"'s breast at said second projection angles;
gain-correcting the tomosynthesis x-ray images T′
(p′
) of the patient'"'"'s breast using the enhanced gain maps EG(p′
) in a computer-implemented process to thereby produce gain-corrected breast images; and
further computer-processing said gain-corrected breast images and displaying breast images resulting from said further computer-processing.
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Abstract
A multi-mode tomosynthesis/mammography system and method in which a mammography gain map is used to gain correct mammographic images of a patient'"'"'s breast but enhanced gain maps for respective projection angled are used to correct tomosynthesis images acquired with the same system.
210 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A breast tomosynthesis method comprising:
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acquiring tomosynthesis projection x-ray images T(p,n) of a phantom, where the index p designates a respective one of a first multiplicity of P first projection angles of an x-ray beam relative to the phantom, p=1, 2, 3, . . . , P, the index n designates the number of projection images taken at a given one of the first projection angles, and n≧
2;generating enhanced gain maps EG(p′
), where the index p′
designates a respective one of a second multiplicity of P′
second projection angles of an x-ray beam relative to a patient'"'"'s breast and p′
=1, 2, 3, . . . , P′
, in a computer-implemented process combining parameters derived from said images T(p,n);acquiring tomosynthesis x-ray images T′
(p′
) of a patient'"'"'s breast at said second projection angles;gain-correcting the tomosynthesis x-ray images T′
(p′
) of the patient'"'"'s breast using the enhanced gain maps EG(p′
) in a computer-implemented process to thereby produce gain-corrected breast images; andfurther computer-processing said gain-corrected breast images and displaying breast images resulting from said further computer-processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A breast tomosynthesis method comprising:
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acquiring tomosynthesis projection x-ray images of a phantom at each of a multiplicity of first projection angles of an x-ray beam relative to the phantom; generating respective first gain maps for said first projection angles wherein said first gain maps are related to differences between expected and actual characteristics of pixel values in said projection x-ray images of the phantom; acquiring tomosynthesis x-ray images of a patient'"'"'s breast for each of a multiplicity of second projection angles, wherein the second projection angles differ in number or in angle values from said first projection angles; deriving respective enhanced gain maps for said second projection angles by computer-processing parameters derived from said first gain maps; gain-correcting said tomosynthesis x-ray images of the patient'"'"'s breast using said enhanced gain maps; and further computer-processing said gain-corrected breast images and displaying breast images resulting from said further computer-processing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of operating a multi-mode tomosynthesis/mammography system comprising:
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operating the system in a mammography mode and acquiring a mammographic image of a phantom using x-ray parameters for mammography and generating a mammography gain map from said mammographic image; operating the system in a tomosynthesis mode and acquiring tomosynthesis projection x-ray images of the same or different phantom, where at least one phantom projection image is acquired for each of a multiplicity of different first projection angles relative to the phantom; generating initial tomosynthesis gain maps for said first projection angles using said tomosynthesis projection images of the phantom; forming at least one enhanced tomosynthesis gain map by combining at least some of the initial tomosynthesis gain maps; selectively operating the system in one of the mammography mode to acquire x-ray mammogram images of a patient'"'"'s breast and the tomosynthesis mode to acquire tomosynthesis x-ray images of a patient'"'"'s breast at a multiplicity of second projection angles; automatically selecting the mammography gain map and gain-correcting the mammogram images therewith when acquiring breast images in the mammography mode and selecting the at least one enhanced tomosynthesis gain map and gain-correcting therewith the tomosynthesis breast images when operating in the tomosynthesis mode; and selectively displaying the resulting gain-corrected mammogram images and/or tomosynthesis images. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A breast tomosynthesis system comprising:
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an image acquisition unit comprising an x-ray source and an x-ray image receptor, said unit acquiring projection x-ray images of an object at selected projection angles; an initial gain map generator configured to receive x-ray projection images taken with said image acquisition unit of a phantom at a multiplicity of first projection angles, said initial gain map generator being further configured to process the projection images of the phantom received thereby and generate therefrom an initial gain map for each of said first projection angles; an enhanced gain map generator configured to receive said initial gain maps, said enhanced map generator being further configured to process the initial gain maps received thereby and generate therefrom at least one enhanced gain map; and an image generator configured to receive said enhanced gain maps and tomosynthesis x-ray images of a patient'"'"'s breast taken with said image acquisition unit at a multiplicity of second projection angles, said image generator being further configured to gain-correct said breast images with said at least one enhanced gain map. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification