X-ray scatter reducing device for use with 2D mammography and tomosynthesis

• US 9,901,315 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Farbizio, Thomas, Defreitas, Kenneth F., Shaw, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Artman, Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US14/777,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20160022230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/027 characterised by the use of a particular data acquisition trajectory, e.g. helical or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0414 with compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing X-ray scatter during breast imaging, and more specifically during tomosynthesis imaging. In one embodiment, an anti-scatter grid having a plurality of septa may be configured to be positioned relative to an X-ray imaging device such that each septum of the plurality of septa extends along a direction substantially parallel to a coronal plane of a subject during imaging of the subject using the X-ray imaging device. The X-ray imaging device may be operable in a tomosynthesis mode for imaging of a breast of the subject and may include the anti-scatter grid disposed between a breast platform and the X-ray detector. The anti-scatter grid may be configured to move in a direction substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject during tomosynthesis imaging.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reducing X-ray scatter, the apparatus comprising:

a motor; and

an anti-scatter grid coupled to the motor, the anti-scatter grid having a plurality of septa, and the anti-scatter grid being configured to be positioned relative to an X-ray imaging device such that each septum of the plurality of septa extends along a direction substantially parallel to a coronal plane of a subject during imaging of the subject using the X-ray imaging device,

wherein the motor is configured to retract the anti-scatter grid out of the field of view in a first mode of the X-ray imaging device and the motor is configured to move the anti-scatter grid relative to a detector in the field of view in a second mode of the X-ray imaging device,

wherein the detector is configured to rotate during imaging in the second mode, and wherein the anti-scatter grid is configured to move in a corresponding rotational direction with the detector during imaging in the second mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the X-ray imaging device is a tomosynthesis imaging device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the X-ray imaging device is configured to operate in a 2D mammography mode and a 3D tomosynthesis mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anti-scatter grid is further configured to move along a first direction substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject during imaging of the subject using the X-ray imaging device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the anti-scatter grid is further configured to move along a second direction substantially parallel to the coronal plane of the subject during imaging of the subject using the X-ray imaging device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anti-scatter grid is further configured to move along a trajectory and at a velocity effective to reduce a Moire pattern in a resulting image during imaging of the subject using the X-ray imaging device operating in a tomosynthesis mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the anti-scatter grid is further configured to move along the trajectory during each exposure of a plurality of tomosynthesis exposures.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the anti-scatter grid has a density of at least 70 septa per cm to confine a distance of motion required to reduce the Moire pattern.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor is a first motor and the apparatus further comprising:

a second motor coupled to the anti-scatter grid and configured to move the anti-scatter grid during imaging of a breast of the subject using the X-ray imaging device operating in a tomosynthesis mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second motor is further configured to move the anti-scatter grid along a first direction substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject during imaging of the breast using the X-ray imaging device operating in the tomosynthesis mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second motor is further configured to move the anti-scatter grid with a velocity profile that is one of a trapezoidal profile and a sinusoidal profile.

12. An apparatus configured to operate in a tomosynthesis mode for imaging of a breast of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a motor;

an X-ray source configured to move for imaging in the tomosynthesis mode;

an X-ray detector configured to move in a reciprocal direction relative to a motion of the X-ray source during imaging in the tomosynthesis mode;

a platform configured to position the breast between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector; and

an anti-scatter grid disposed between the platform and the X-ray detector, the anti-scatter grid having a plurality of septa, each septum of the plurality of septa having a length extending along a direction substantially parallel to a coronal plane of the subject, wherein the anti-scatter grid is configured to move in a corresponding rotational direction with the detector during imaging in the tomosynthesis mode, and

wherein the motor is configured to retract the anti-scatter grid out of the field of view in a first mode of the apparatus and the motor is configured to move the anti-scatter grid relative to the X-ray detector in the field of view in a second mode of the apparatus, the second mode being the tomosynthesis mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the anti-scatter grid is configured to move along a first direction substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject during imaging in the tomosynthesis mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the anti-scatter grid is further configured to move along a second direction substantially parallel to the coronal plane of the subject during imaging in the tomosynthesis mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the anti-scatter grid is further configured to move along a trajectory and at a velocity effective to reduce a Moire pattern in a resulting image during imaging in the tomosynthesis mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the anti-scatter grid is further configured to move along the trajectory during each exposure of a plurality of tomosynthesis exposures.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the motor is further configured to move the anti-scatter grid with a velocity profile that is one of a trapezoidal profile and a sinusoidal profile.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of septa are arranged in a parallel configuration.