X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY WITH TOMOSYNTHESIS
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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.
51 Citations
112 Claims
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1-78. -78. (canceled)
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79. A method of obtaining x-ray mammogram images, projection tomosynthesis x-ray images, and reconstructed tomosynthesis images x-ray images of a patient'"'"'s breast, comprising:
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providing an x-ray source, a flat panel digital x-ray imager, and a breast support and a compression paddle positioned between the source and the imager, said compression paddle configured for compressing the breast against the breast support, and a motion control configured for moving the source relative to a patient'"'"'s breast compressing the patient'"'"'s breast between the paddle and the breast support and selectively energizing the source to emit x-rays through the breast to the imager at selected angular positions of the source relative to the breast; controlling the imager to derive therefrom projection x-ray images of the compressed breast when the source is energized at each of said positions, wherein (i) at least one of the projection images is an x-ray mammogram image taken at a same or similar x-ray dose to the breast as a conventional mammogram and (ii) each of a multiplicity of the other projection images is a tomosynthesis projection image taken at an x-ray dose to the breast that is substantially less than that for a conventional mammogram; computer-processing the multiplicity of the tomosynthesis projection images into one or more reconstructed tomosynthesis images representing a volume of the patient'"'"'s breast and relating to one or more image planes that are selectively the same or different from that of the mammogram image; and selectively displaying said mammogram image and the reconstructed tomosynthesis images. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. A method of acquiring and displaying tomosynthesis x-ray projection images and reconstructed tomosynthesis images of a patient'"'"'s breast, comprising:
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providing an x-ray source, a flat panel x-ray imager, and a breast support positioned between the source and the imager; immobilizing the patient'"'"'s breast on the breast support; moving the x-ray source relative to the immobilized patient'"'"'s breast and selectively energizing the source to emit x-rays passing through the breast to the imager, and selectively causing the imager to output image data for positions at which the source is energized, thereby causing the imager to acquire projection tomosynthesis images; wherein the projection tomosynthesis images for each of a multiplicity of said positions is taken at an x-ray dose to the breast that is substantially less than that for a conventional mammogram image; computer-processing the projection tomosynthesis images to thereby obtain one or more reconstructed tomosynthesis images each representing a volume of the immobilized breast that has a selected thickness and is at a selected orientation relative to the breast support; and selectively displaying said projection tomosynthesis images and said one or more one or more reconstructed tomosynthesis images. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
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111. A method of selectively using the same x-ray equipment to take, process and display (i) a mammogram image and (ii) projection tomosynthesis images, comprising;
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providing an x-ray source that selectively moves relative to a patient'"'"'s breast while the breast remains compressed, and a flat panel x-ray imager receiving x-rays from the source through the breast when the source is energized; compressing the patient'"'"'s breast in a position between the source and the imager; selecting one of a mammogram operating mode in which the imager obtains a mammogram image while the source, breast and imager are in a fixed position with respect to each, and a tomosynthesis mode of operation in which the imager obtains plural projection tomosynthesis images of the breast taken from different positions of the source relative to the breast; selectively operating the equipment in one or both of the mammogram mode and the tomosynthesis mode to obtain, respectively, at least one mammogram image, or plural projection tomosynthesis images, or both at least on mammogram age and plural projection tomosynthesis images; computer-processing the obtained images to selectively form display images including one or more reconstructed tomosynthesis images representing a selected thickness of breast tissue that is at a selected orientation relative to the compressed breast; and selectively displaying the display images. - View Dependent Claims (112)
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Specification