Integrated multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis x-ray system and method

• US 9,066,706 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: DeFreitas, Kenneth, Farbizio, Thomas, Ren, Baorui, Ruth, Christopher, Shaw, Ian, Smith, Andrew P., Stein, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Midkiff, Anastasia
• Application Number:
  US14/058,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20140044231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 378 21- 27, 378/37, 378/62, 378114-116, 378/210
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/107 Protection against radiation, e.g. shielding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4452 the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30068 Mammography; Breast

Abstract

A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging which comprises a compression arm assembly for compressing and immobilizing a breast for x-ray imaging, an x-ray tube assembly, and an x-ray image receptor is provided. The system is configured for a plurality of imaging protocols and modes.

Claims

1. A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging comprising:

a compression arm assembly for compressing and immobilizing a patient'"'"'s breast for x-ray imaging, the compression arm assembly comprising a breast compression paddle;

an x-ray tube assembly; and

an x-ray image receptor, wherein the compression arm assembly, the x-ray tube assembly, and the x-ray image receptor are configured for movement to accommodate a plurality of imaging modes, wherein the x-ray tube assembly is configured to rotate relative to the breast compression paddle about an axis for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes, and

wherein the breast compression paddle is configured to move laterally relative to the x-ray image receptor, and wherein at least two or more of the plurality of imaging modes utilize the same breast compression.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of imaging modes is a conventional mammography imaging mode in which the x-ray tube assembly and the x-ray image receptor are fixed relative to one another.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an anti-scatter grid disposed between the breast compression paddle and the x-ray image receptor for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the anti-scatter grid is retractable out of the imaging area for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein two of the plurality of imaging modes comprise a standard mammography imaging mode and a tomosynthesis imaging mode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the compression paddle is centered on the x-ray receptor for a CC view of a breast and moved to one lateral side of the x-ray receptor for an MLO view of the breast.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the compression paddle is removably coupled to the system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the compression paddle is configured to tilt such that the compression paddle is not parallel to the x-ray receptor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the compression paddle is lockable in a tilted position such that the compression is not parallel to the x-ray receptor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the x-ray tube assembly moves continuously for image acquisition when the x-ray tube assembly rotates relative to the breast compression paddle about the axis.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the x-ray tube assembly can stop for each image acquisition when the x-ray tube assembly rotates relative to the breast compression paddle about the axis.

12. A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging comprising:

a compression arm assembly for compressing and immobilizing a patient'"'"'s breast for x-ray imaging, the compression arm assembly comprising a breast compression paddle;

an x-ray tube assembly; and

an x-ray image receptor, wherein the compression arm assembly, the x-ray tube assembly, and the x-ray image receptor are configured for movement to accommodate a plurality of imaging modes, wherein the x-ray tube assembly is configured to rotate relative to the breast compression paddle about an axis for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes, and

wherein the breast compression paddle is configured to move laterally relative to the x-ray image receptor, and wherein the compression paddle is configured to tilt such that the compression paddle is not parallel to the x-ray receptor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the compression paddle is lockable in a tilted position such that the compression is not parallel to the x-ray receptor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of imaging modes is a conventional mammography imaging mode in which the x-ray tube assembly and the x-ray image receptor are fixed relative to one another.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising an anti-scatter grid disposed between the breast compression paddle and the x-ray image receptor for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the anti-scatter grid is retractable out of the imaging area for at least one of the plurality of imaging modes.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein at least two or more of the plurality of imaging modes utilize the same breast compression.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein two of the plurality of imaging modes comprise a standard mammography imaging mode and a tomosynthesis imaging mode.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the x-ray tube assembly can stop for each image acquisition when the x-ray tube assembly rotates relative to the breast compression paddle about the axis.