A method and system for acquiring, processing, storing, and displaying x-ray mammograms Mp tomosynthesis images Tr representative of breast slices, and x-ray tomosynthesis projection images Tp taken at different angles to a breast, where the Tr images are reconstructed from Tp images

Image handling and display in X-ray mammography and tomosynthesis

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.

X-ray mammography with tomosynthesis

A mammography system using a tissue exposure control relying on estimates of the thickness of the compressed and immobilized breast and of breast density to automatically derive one or more technic factors. The system further uses a tomosynthesis arrangement that maintains the focus of an anti-scatter grid on the x-ray source and also maintains the field of view of the x-ray receptor. Finally, the system finds an outline that forms a reduced field of view that still encompasses the breast in the image, and uses for further processing, transmission or archival storage the data within said reduced field of view.

Full field mammography with tissue exposure control, tomosynthesis, and dynamic field of view processing

A method for brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity of a breast including, positioning a distal end of a brachytherapy device within the cavity, expanding an expandable surface portion located between proximal and distal ends of the device within the cavity, the source lumen tubes defining a curved configuration within the cavity; and positioning a source of radiation sequentially within one or more source lumens of the source lumen tubes according to a brachytherapy treatment plan. The device includes an inner tube, and a plurality of source lumen tubes located around the inner tube and including distal ends secured together with the inner tube at the distal end disposed within the body cavity, the source lumen tubes comprising proximal portions sufficiently long to extend outside the breast.

Expandable brachytherapy device

A 2D mammogram image is synthesized from at least one of tomosynthesis projection images and/or the tomosynthesis reconstructed image data. In a simplest form, the mammogram may be synthesized by selecting one of the tomosynthesis projection images for display as a synthesized mammogram. Other methods of synthesizing a mammogram include re-projecting and filtering projection data and/or reconstructed data. The synthesized mammogram is advantageously displayed together with at least a portion of the reconstructed data to aid in review of the reconstructed data. The present invention thus provides a familiar image which may be used to facilitate review of a tomosynthesis data set.

System and method for generating a 2D image from a tomosynthesis data set

The x-ray imaging system comprises an x-ray source for producing an x-ray beam and an x-ray detector. The x-ray detector comprises a solid state integrated circuit having a silicon substrate. The detector is constructed as a PiN diode with the voltage bias direction parallel to the direction of incident radiation. A tissue sample, such as a breast, is positioned between the x-ray source and x-ray detector. The x-ray detector directly receives the x-ray photons transmitted through the tissue and produces electrical signals. The detector signals are processed to provide a digital image of the tissue sample.

Low dose mammography system

A digital x-ray detector applying hybrid detector technology based on indium metal bump- bonding techniques was evaluated at x-ray energies of about 19.5 keV. Silicon of about 1 mm thickness forms the actual detector, converting x-rays directly into electrons (rather than generating light and converting light to photo-electrons). Time-delay-integration increases the sensitivity. Linearity, modulation transfer function, and noise power spectrum were evaluated. The results demonstrate that the system is useful as scanning x-ray detector for digital mammography and can meet and even exceed the performance of the conventional film/screen system.

Stephen D. Gaalema

Papers

Low dose mammography system

Application of hybrid detector technology for digital mammography