Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080198966 | Method and Arrangement Relating to X-Ray Imaging - Three-dimensional imaging of a breast tissue is achieved by acquiring a series of X-ray projection images from various angles. A three-dimensional image constructed from the projection images by a computer provides information to the operator to select a coordinate point within the breast from which to obtain a biopsy sample. Acquisition of projection images and construction of three-dimensional images is continued during the insertion of the needle into the breast, during positioning the needle towards the coordinate point, during the sampling and after the sampling. The advantages of utilizing tomosynthesis for breast tissue imaging over stereo imaging include better image quality, easier coordinate measurements within a tissue, ease of use of the equipment by the medical personnel, and fewer image artifact problems. | 08-21-2008 |
20080226024 | Method And Arrangement For Automatic Exposure Control - The invention relates to an automatic exposure control of an imaging implemented by electromagnetic radiation, in particular to priorizing and selecting several automatic exposure signals in connection with mammography imaging, to be used in such a way that areas having darkened too little would not be left into the image to be formed, at least not in the area of the breast tissue. A selection process of the signals makes up an essential part of the invention, in which signals are selected for the basis of control of imaging parameters according to signal values, and possibly also according to the physical location of the signal sources, on the grounds of the selection criteria according to the invention. | 09-18-2008 |
20080240345 | MAMMOGRAPHY SYSTEMS AND METHODS, INCLUDING METHODS UTILIZING BREAST SOUND COMPARISION - Provided are systems using compression devices for a mammography unit, and methods of using the same, for example, in conjunction with imaging of a patient's breast. The instant mammography units can comprise at least one x-ray transparent inflatable chamber for containing a fluid. When fluid is introduced into the chamber, at least one surface of the chamber expands, breast motion is limited, and the breast and its vasculature are compressed. Fluid may also be released from the chamber, and as the chamber deflates, blood flow to the breast is restored, producing Korotkoff sounds that may be detected by a sound detection device. Sound data may be obtained with respect to both of a patient's breasts, and the sound data from a patient's first breast may be compared with the data obtained from the contralateral breast. The detected sounds, the comparison data, or both may be used to assist a radiologist in identifying regions of interest on a mammogram, and additionally or alternatively may be used to a enhance a computer-assisted detection (CAD) process by contributing additional data parameters. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240346 | RADIATION IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING RADIATION IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - A mammographic system as a radiation image capturing apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting a radiation, AEC sensors for detecting the radiation emitted from the radiation source and acquiring radiation image information for exposure control, a mammary gland position identifier for selecting at least one of the AEC sensors for outputting given radiation dose information based on the radiation dose information acquired by the AEC sensors thereby to identify a mammary gland position as a region of interest of a subject, a weighting coefficient allocator for multiplying output signals from the AEC sensors before the mammary gland position is identified by the mammary gland position identifier, by respective weighting coefficients depending on the installed positions of the AEC sensors, and a radiation source controller for controlling the radiation dose applied from the radiation source to the identified mammary gland position. | 10-02-2008 |
20080247508 | Bucky warmer with holder - A device used to warm a mammography machine comprises a warmer and a holder for the warmer. The holder includes an enclosed heating element and non-insulating filler material adjacent the heating element. The heating element is precisely regulated to ensure that the sensitive imaging elements are not damaged by an overtemperature condition, while at the same time permitting a rapid heating of the warmer for high cycle use. The warmer warms surfaces of the mammography machine that contacts human skin. | 10-09-2008 |
20080253512 | MEDICAL DEVICE WITH RADIATION-HEATED SUBJECT-CONTACTING COMPONENT - A medical device has a compression plate for compression of a subject and/or a subject table for placement of a subject, and at least one radiation source that emits electromagnetic radiation. The compression plate and/or the subject table can be heated by the electromagnetic radiation radiated by the at least one radiation source. | 10-16-2008 |
20080273658 | Machine for accurately calibrating a mammographic X-ray machine and process for operating, calibrating and analyzing same - A machine and procedures for accurately calibrating a mammographic X-ray machine to give accurate, absolute readings of breast tissue density. A sensor to automatically measure the distance apart of the breast retaining plates to a high accuracy, an accurately calibrated sensor to measure the voltage applied to the X-ray tube, an accurately calibrated sensor to measure the current flow to the X-ray tube, A computer interfaced scanning analogue to digital converter to accurately read and store the readings of the spacing sensor and the voltage and current sensors, A digital computer to control and read the scanning analogue to digtal converter, read the radiation detector array used to record the image, to insert the calibration plates to do the calibrations and analyze the data and a program to compute the radiation for optimizing the radiation exposure for a given patient. | 11-06-2008 |
20080304621 | Display System For the Evaluation of Mammographies - The invention relates to a display system that is particularly suited for a comparative evaluation of mammographies (L, R) of a patient which are displayed as mirror images in two display areas ( | 12-11-2008 |
20080317202 | System and Method for Imaging and Treatment of Tumorous Tissue in Breasts Using Computed Tomography and Radiotherapy - The present invention provides a system | 12-25-2008 |
20090003519 | Integrated Multi-Mode Mammography/Tomosynthesis X-Ray System And Method - 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. | 01-01-2009 |
20090003520 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - A mammography apparatus includes a rotatably supported arm, an X-ray tube to generate X-rays, which is held on one end of the arm, an imaging stage which is held on the other end of the arm, an X-ray detector which detects the X-rays having passed through patient's breast and is contained in the imaging stage, and an armrest which has an armrest main body portion having a convexly curved surface, and a continuous base portion to fix the armrest main body on the arm. | 01-01-2009 |
20090010384 | FULL FIELD MAMMOGRAPHY WITH TISSUE EXPOSURE CONTROL, TOMOSYNTHESIS, AND DYNAMIC FIELD OF VIEW PROCESSING - 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. | 01-08-2009 |
20090022272 | MULTI-DENSITY SKIN MARKER - A multi-density skin marker for medical imaging exams is provided. The skin marker contains a multi-density imaging body. In one embodiment, a multi-density skin marker includes a marker substrate and a multi-density imaging body supported by the marker substrate. The multi-density imaging body comprises a first portion having a first radiographic density and a second portion having a second radiographic density. The two radiographic densities differ, such that a radiographic image of the multi-density skin marker comprises a plurality of shades. | 01-22-2009 |
20090022273 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CAPTURING RADIATION IMAGE - An irradiation dose calculator calculates a pre-exposure-mode-required irradiation dose using the thickness of a breast which measured by a thickness measuring unit, as a parameter, and the irradiation time of a pre-exposure mode is controlled to apply a radiation to the breast in the pre-exposure mode. According to the dose of the radiation detected by a dose detecting sensor in the pre-exposure mode, the irradiation dose calculator calculates a main-exposure-mode-required irradiation dose, and the irradiation time of a main exposure mode is controlled to apply the radiation to the breast in the main exposure mode, thereby capturing a radiation image of the breast. | 01-22-2009 |
20090041183 | RADIATION IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - A grid comprises an alternate assembly of radiation-permeable members and radiation-impermeable members which extend substantially parallel to the chest wall of a subject. When a radiation emitted from a radiation source is applied through a breast of the subject and the grid to a radiation detector, a radiation image of the breast is captured. While the radiation is being applied to the breast, the grid reciprocates in directions perpendicular to the direction in which the radiation-impermeable members extend. | 02-12-2009 |
20090080604 | COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY BREAST IMAGING AND BIOPSY SYSTEM - A prone CT breast x-ray imaging system is described that can image a full breast to create a conventional 2D digital image in very high resolution (e.g. <=25 micron pixels). The system is capable of imaging the entire breast in 3D based on multiple projection views from a 1D or 2D detector. Data can be acquired and reconstructed with a limited number of views from limited angles or with conventional cone beam CT algorithms. The resulting 3D image enables the detection and diagnosis of fine micro calcifications and small masses as may be distributed throughout the breast, thus allowing radiologists to make an improved determination of malignancy as opposed to conventional 2D digital mammography. In addition, the injection of intravenous contrast in conjunction with or without pre and post contrast subtraction imaging provides a radiologist with morphologic information on the existing tumor burden in the breast. This capability may obviate the need for an independent contrast MRI exam of the breast which is increasingly performed for local staging and determination of tumor extent in a patient with a known cancer. Integrated biopsy capability permits convenient and rapid biopsy of any area suspicious for malignancy. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080605 | RADIATION IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image capturing base that contains a radiation detector includes a housing having a slit serving as an air inlet port formed in the front end side of the housing, which is to be located adjacent to the chest wall of a subject, and a slit serving as an air outlet port formed in the rear end side of the housing adjacent to a pivot shaft. A fan forces air to flow into the housing through the slit, along a detection surface of the radiation detector in a direction from the front end side toward the rear end side, and out of the housing through the slit. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080606 | RADIATION IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - A radiation image capturing apparatus includes a housing for housing a radiation detector. The housing has a wall inclined with respect to a detection surface of the radiation detector, and the wall defines a space inclined with respect to the detection surface. The space allows heat transfer medium such as air of relatively high temperatures (higher than that of outside air, for example) to rise along a slope defined by the space. If the region around the detection surface is heated to high temperatures, airflow is generated within the space, forcing the relatively high-temperature heat transfer medium away from the vicinity of the radiation detector, thereby allowing the whole radiation detector to be cooled in a uniform manner. | 03-26-2009 |
20090086890 | RADIATION IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - A radiation image capturing apparatus includes a conductive gel member disposed between a radiation detector and an integrated circuit provided in vicinity of the radiation detector and electrically connected thereto. The conductive gel member blocks the electromagnetic noise generated by the integrated circuit and thereby prevents the electromagnetic noise from propagating to the radiation detector. As a result, the electrical signals generated by the radiation detector are prevented from being affected by the electromagnetic noise and high-quality radiation images can be acquired. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086891 | BREAST IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND ITS PROGRAM - The mammary-gland content rate of each of mammograms is calculated. The mammograms are sorted in a certain order based on the mammary-gland content rate of each of the mammograms. Further, the mammograms are displayed according to the order, in which the mammograms have been sorted. | 04-02-2009 |
20090135996 | MAMMOGRAPHY DEVICES - The invention relates to a mammography device comprising at least one X-ray source, a C-arm which supports said source, as well as a console which integrates an X-ray detector, characterised in that the C-arm and the console are movable relative to one another. The device is also characterised in that the C-arm and the console are mechanically decoupled from one another, the C-arm and/or the console being movable relative to one another, between an exposure-taking position wherein the C-arm is in the immediate vicinity of the console, and a position wherein the C-arm and the console are separated from one another and wherein access to said C-arm and/or to said console is facilitated. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135997 | Breast Compression For Digital Mammography, Tomosynthesis And Other Modalities - A breast x-ray imaging method and system that is particularly suited for tomosynthesis imaging but also is useful for conventional mammography. A fluid containing pillow or bag is placed between the breast and a paddle that compresses the breast against a breast platform covering an imaging device, to enhance patient comfort and provide other benefits. Alternatives include a flexible sheet compressing the breast, and a compressible foam, preferably contoured to accommodate a patient's breast. | 05-28-2009 |
20090141859 | Image Handling and Display in X-Ray Mammography and Tomosynthesis - 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 | 06-04-2009 |
20090175408 | COMPRESSION PADDLE AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME IN VARIOUS MEDICAL PROCEDURES - A compression paddle includes a frame defining a hollow cavity. The cavity has two opposed ends. A plurality of filaments is attached to at least one of the two opposed ends of the cavity such that the plurality of filaments extends across the cavity in a predetermined manner. | 07-09-2009 |
20090190715 | USER CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A MEDICAL SYSTEM - An operating device with an operating piece, which may be positioned near the floor, includes at least one operating element for controlling a medical instrument. Operation of the medical instrument is possible by actuation of the at least one operating element by foot, such that the operator has hands free to use for further manipulation. A flexible positioning of the operating piece in a defined movement range is possible by arrangement of the operating device such as to be pivotable and/or extendable/retractable relative to the medical instrument which is good for operational manipulation. The operational device may be used during operation of a mammography device. | 07-30-2009 |
20090196394 | COMPRESSION PAD AND MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH A PAD - Compression pad for a mammography apparatus comprising a compression plate made of a material transparent to X-rays, and a support by which said pad is configured to be mounted onto a mammography apparatus. The support has an arch shape configured to go over the edge of a compression plate, and said compression plate and said support comprise complementary mechanical means capable of enabling manual locking/unlocking of the support on said plate, in particular for cleaning said plate and said support. | 08-06-2009 |
20090207969 | TOMOSYNTHETIC IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD AND APPARATUS - To generate a tomosynthetic 3D x-ray image composed of a number of slice images, a tomosynthetic 3D intermediate image composed of a number of slice images is reconstructed from 2D projection images that have not been noise-filtered. The microcalcium regions contained in these slice images are segmented, and one or more subject slice images relevant to these microcalcium voxels are determined for each microcalcium region. The microcalcium voxels belonging to the segmented microcalcium region in this subject slice image or in these subject slice images are projected forwards in the 2D projection images, and the microcalcium pixels associated with these microcalcium voxels are marked in the 2D projection images. Noise-filtered 2D projection images are subsequently generated by subjecting the microcalcium pixels of the 2D projection images to no noise filtering or a noise filtering that leads to a noise reduction reduced relative to the remaining image regions. The tomosynthetic 3D x-ray image is then calculated from the 2D projection images that have been noise-filtered in this manner. | 08-20-2009 |
20090213986 | COMPRESSION DEVICE FOR A MAMMOGRAPHY X-RAY APPARATUS - A compression device for a mammography x-ray apparatus comprises the breast in a manner that is as comfortable as possible for the patient. For this purpose, a compression device has a frame that two-dimensionally stretches an elastic membrane and is designed so that the breast of a patient that is to be compressed by the compression device is compressed solely by the elastic membrane. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213987 | System and Method for Low Dose Tomosynthesis - A breast imaging system leverages the combined strengths of two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging to provide a breast cancer screening with improved sensitivity, specificity and patient dosing. A tomosynthesis system supports the acquisition of three-dimensional images at a dosage lower than that used to acquire a two-dimensional image. The low-dose three-dimensional image may be used for mass detection, while the two-dimensional image may be used for calcification detection. Obtaining tomosynthesis data at low dose provides a number of advantages in addition to mass detection including the reduction in scan time and wear and tear on the x-ray tube. Such an arrangement provides a breast cancer screening system with high sensitivity and specificity and reduced patient dosing. | 08-27-2009 |
20090238332 | Breast x-ray machine - This Breast X-ray Mammogram Machine was design for both women and men. Today we have just as much men with breast cancer as women. Therefore, with this new breast x-ray mammogram machine. You will be able to detect any abnormalities in both the breast and the chest area. This breast x-ray mammogram machine is a large rectangular x-ray mammogram machine. This machine would measure up to seven feet in height. However, this breast x-ray mammogram machine would have a horizontal metal base; a set of plastic/metal wheels, film holder for the x-ray film and x-ray components for a copper anode. A tungsten target and a cathode inside a glass housing with a lead casting. Included in the breast x-ray mammogram machine would be an AC motor. | 09-24-2009 |
20090238333 | TRANS-RAMAN FOR BREAST CANCER - Non invasive in-vivo measurement of composition of a tissue within a part of a human or animal subject is carried out by detecting a Raman spectral characteristic in light scattered through the part using a transmission, rather than a backscattering geometry. The technique is applied to the detection of calcifications in human breast tissues. | 09-24-2009 |
20090245460 | Mammography System And Method Employing Offset Compression Paddles, Automatic Collimation, And Retractable Anti-scatter Grid - A mammographic imaging system is optimized for use with a single fixed size flat panel digital image receptor. It accommodates compression devices (paddles) of varying sizes, and positions them properly in the field of view of the image receptor. When a compression paddle with size smaller than the field of view of the image receptor is used, the compression paddle can be shifted laterally in the direction parallel to the chest wall, so as to facilitate different views of different size breasts, and permit the image receptor to image as much of the desired tissue as possible. An automatic x-ray collimator restricts the x-ray illumination of the breast in accordance with compression paddle size and location in the field of view. An anti-scatter grid, mounted inside the image receptor enclosure, just below the top cover of the enclosure, can be retracted out of the field of view of the image receptor for use in magnification imaging. | 10-01-2009 |
20090262887 | MAMMOGRAPHY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ITS OPERATION - A mammography system including a compression device, comprising two compression members to compress a breast, a sensor to sense the pressure exerted by the breast on one of the members and/or a device to determine the distance between the two members, an X-ray image acquisition system, means to adjust an initial position of the members. The system further comprises means to monitor variations in pressure and/or variations in thickness relative to their initial value, for an estimation of the risk of breast movement. The system further comprises means to present the user with information signalling breast movement, in relation to the estimation. | 10-22-2009 |
20090268864 | BREAST IMAGE GENERATING METHOD - A breast image generating method correlates radiographing order information for instructing to radiograph each of left and right breasts of a subject in an oblique direction with identification information indicating a relationship between data of a breast image and the radiographing order information so as to be stored in a storing device. A breast is radiographed based on the radiographing order information to generate data of a breast image, radiographing order information corresponding to the generated data of a breast image is identified based on the identification information, and a stamp image is superposed at a prescribed position on the breast image taken through radiographing conducted in the oblique direction to make a composite image in accordance with whether a breast region indicated by the identified radiographing order information is left or right, so as to display the composite image on a displaying device. | 10-29-2009 |
20090268865 | X-ray imaging with X-ray markers that provide adjunct information but preserve image quality - A method and an apparatus for estimating a geometric thickness of a breast in mammography/tomosynthesis or in other x-ray procedures, by imaging markers that are in the path of x-rays passing through the imaged object. The markings can be selected to be visible or to be invisible when the composite markings/breast image is viewed in clinical settings. If desired, the contribution of the markers to the image can be removed through further processing. The resulting information can be used determining the geometric thickness of the body being x-rayed and thus setting imaging parameters that are thickness-related, and for other purposes. The method and apparatus also have application in other types of x-ray imaging. | 10-29-2009 |
20090268866 | MAMMOGRAPHY METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH IMAGE DATA OBTAINED AT DIFFERENT DEGREES OF BREAST COMPRESSION - In a method and apparatus to generate a mammographic image, the apparatus has a radiation source, a digital radiation detector, and support plate and a compression plate between which the breast is compressed during image acquisition. A first image data set depicting the breast is acquired, with a first degree of compression of the breast. A second degree of compression of the breast is set and a second image data set depicting the breast is acquired. The first and second image data sets are linked for the generation of the diagnostic image. | 10-29-2009 |
20090290679 | Medical imaging apparatus - The time for obtaining ultrasonic images can be reduced by using a two-dimensional transducer array and good radiation images can be obtained even when radiation imaging is performed with the fixed array. The medical imaging apparatus includes a radiation generating unit for generation radiation, a radiation detecting unit for detecting radiation, an ultrasonic transducer array provided between the radiation generating unit and the radiation detecting unit and including two-dimensionally arranged ultrasonic transducers, a radiation image data generating unit for generating radiation image data based on a detection result of the radiation detecting unit, and an image processing unit for performing image processing on the radiation image data generated based on a detection result of radiation transmitted through an object to be inspected and the ultrasonic transducer array, thereby removing an image of the ultrasonic transducer array from a radiation image represented by the radiation image data. | 11-26-2009 |
20090296881 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS - In a method and an apparatus for medical imaging, the radiation source is aligned relative to a detector plate, and the alignment is controlled so that the high-energy being emitted the radiation source always strikes the detector plate with a symmetrical distribution relative to a central ray of the radiation source. | 12-03-2009 |
20090296882 | Image Handling And Display In X-Ray Mammography And Tomosynthess - 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 | 12-03-2009 |
20090304146 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPLIANCE - To permit a compact and structurally simple design of a mammography appliance, an irradiation unit is secured on a C-arm, which lies in a swivel plane that is perpendicular to a horizontal axis. In this way, only slight mechanical leverages act on the support arm. At the same time, the C-arm design creates a free space, which is used in particular also for the arrangement of a display and/or control panel and for the arrangement of a biopsy unit. | 12-10-2009 |
20090304147 | X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY/TOMOSYNTHESIS OF PATIENT'S BREAST - A breast x-ray system and method using tomosynthesis imaging in which the x-ray source generally moves away from the patient's head. The system may include an operation mode in which it additionally takes mammogram image data. | 12-10-2009 |
20090310741 | Method And Apparatus For Radiographic Imaging - A radiographic X-ray apparatus is equipped with multiple devices for the acquisition of anatomical data, in particular cameras. These devices are used to facilitate and automate the imaging process, providing: before exposure the automated identification of the specific anatomical features of the patient and the optimized presetting of the exposure technique factors and projection geometry, tailored on the actual anatomy of the patient; during exposure the optimized X-ray dose modulation, either automatically or selected by the operator, in order to correctly expose the various regions of interest, and accordingly impart reduced dose to other body parts, according to the actual anatomy of the patient and imaging requirements; after exposure the possibility to complement the radiographic image with additional information about the internal and external anatomy, providing valuable tools for the medical analysis and diagnosis. | 12-17-2009 |
20090323892 | Breast Tomosynthesis System With Shifting Face Shield - Breast imaging using any one of a mammography system, a tomosynthesis system, or a fused system that selectively takes either or both of mammography images and tomosynthesis images, further uses a patient shield that moves closer to and further away from the patient's chest and head, between (1) an access position that facilitates the technologist's access to adjust the patient's breast while the breast is being compressed and (b) a protective position in which the shield helps protect the patient from collision with moving components and from x-ray exposure of tissue other than the tissue that is to be imaged. | 12-31-2009 |
20090323893 | MAMMOGRAPHY SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD - A mammography system has an x-ray source, a detector and a compression plate arranged in the beam path between the source and the detector. The x-ray source, the detector and the compression plate are mounted on a vertical column such that they respectively pivot around separate pivot axes. The three pivot axes are spaced apart from one another and oriented substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to a surface normal of the detector. The x-ray source and the compression plate are held on the vertical column such that they can be displaced in a plane oriented approximately vertical to their pivot axes. The mammography system is operable to obtain two sets of tomosynthesis data respectively with different tube-to-detector distances. | 12-31-2009 |
20100014634 | Support structure for mammography - The invention relates to a support structure | 01-21-2010 |
20100014635 | METHOD AND MEDICAL SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING A MEDICAL MEASURE IMPLEMENTED BY THE MEDICAL SYSTEM - In a method and a medical installation for assisting in a medical measure implemented by a medical device, a lighting element generates light that uniformly illuminates the medical device or its environment, the illumination being designed to reduce stress on the part of a patient undergoing the medical measure. | 01-21-2010 |
20100027739 | Phase-Contrast X-Ray Imaging - Phase-contrast imaging is performed by directing radiation from a plurality of pinhole sources through a a phase object to be imaged, wherein the phase object includes a first composition that produces a phase shift in the radiation relative to radiation passing through a second composition in the phase object and detecting a phase-contrast image of the radiation after it passes through the phase object. The phase-contrast image is then decoded to generate an image of the phase object in which the first composition is distinguished from the second composition. | 02-04-2010 |
20100046698 | DEVICE FOR CUSHIONING OF COMPRESSION SURFACES - According to the present invention, improved methods and apparatus are provided for providing cushioning and other ergonomic surfaces on devices requiring the patient or tissue to be compressed, such as radiography machines, fluoroscopy units, mammography units and the like. In particular a radiolucent pad element is provided for releasable attachment to at least one surface of a compression device to be used under x-ray, for example, during mammography. The pad element of the present invention can be disposable or constructed to be reusable and in some cases may be applied directly to the patient's breast. Furthermore, a cushioned paddle is provided wherein the compression paddle and the cushion can be separately or integrally formed. | 02-25-2010 |
20100054400 | MULTI-MODE TOMOSYNTHESIS/MAMMOGRAPHY GAIN CALIBRATION AND IMAGE CORRECTION USING GAIN MAP INFORMATION FROM SELECTED PROJECTION ANGLES - 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. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054401 | Method And Device For Quality Management In Mammography Apparatus - The present invention relates to a device and method for quality management ( | 03-04-2010 |
20100054402 | METHOD FOR POSITIONING THE BREAST FOR A BIOPSY IN A MAMMOGRAPHY DEVICE, AND MAMMOGRAPHY DEVICE TO IMPLEMENT THE METHOD - In a method and a mammography device, a virtual mask is created from an x-ray image of the breast for positioning the breast for a biopsy. The mask reproduces the image region covered by the breast tissue. A region targeted for the biopsy, and located within the breast tissue, is marked in the mask. The breast is then positioned for the biopsy in the mammography device between a support plate and a compression plate, the compression plate being provided with a recess for introducing the biopsy instrument therethrough. The mask and the compression plate are superimposed to cause the marked region to be located within this recess. The breast is then moved until the position and the contour thereof substantially coincide with the position and contour of the mask. | 03-04-2010 |
20100074399 | High resolution PET breast imager with improved detection efficiency - A highly efficient PET breast imager for detecting lesions in the entire breast including those located close to the patient's chest wall. The breast imager includes a ring of imaging modules surrounding the imaged breast. Each imaging module includes a slant imaging light guide inserted between a gamma radiation sensor and a photodetector. The slant light guide permits the gamma radiation sensors to be placed in close proximity to the skin of the chest wall thereby extending the sensitive region of the imager to the base of the breast. Several types of photodetectors are proposed for use in the detector modules, with compact silicon photomultipliers as the preferred choice, due to its high compactness. The geometry of the detector heads and the arrangement of the detector ring significantly reduce dead regions thereby improving detection efficiency for lesions located close to the chest wall. | 03-25-2010 |
20100074400 | RADIATION IMAGING AND THERAPY APPARATUS FOR BREAST - A breast radiation imaging and therapy apparatus for performing radiation imaging of a breast and having a therapy function of applying radiation to an affected part in the breast. The apparatus includes: (i) a table formed with an opening for allowing a breast of an examinee to pass through; (ii) an imaging unit including a first radiation generating unit for applying an imaging radiation beam and a radiation detecting unit for detecting the radiation beam to output detection signals; (iii) a therapy unit including a second radiation generating unit for applying a therapeutic radiation beam, the second radiation generating unit being movable in a tangential direction of a rotational track around a rotational axis and movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the table; and (iv) at least one rotational driving device for rotating the imaging unit and the therapy unit around the rotational axis. | 03-25-2010 |
20100080343 | X-Ray Machine for Breast Examination in a Standing Position - An X-ray machine for imaging a female breast has a support with an attached continuously rotatable gantry. An X-ray tube with an oppositely located X-ray detector is mounted on the gantry. A locating means for accommodating a breast is disposed coaxially with a rotation axis of the gantry. The gantry is adapted to be moved relative to the locating means by an advancing means. In order to achieve a high throughput of patients, a locating means having an opening for accommodating a breast is provided relative to both sides of the gantry. The X-ray machine may be incorporated between two separating walls which have cut-out portions for the locating means. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080344 | X-Ray Machine for Breast Examination Having a Gantry Incorporated in a Patient Table - An X-ray machine for imaging a breast of a female patient comprises a gantry with an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector, and a horizontally disposed patient table with a cut-out portion for accommodating a breast of the patient. The gantry is rigidly mechanically suspended from the patient table. The gantry is adapted to rotate about an approximately vertical rotational axis in continuous rotational movement for imaging the breast. The gantry is also adapted to be moved in a vertical direction during said the rotational movement. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080345 | Breast Locating Means for a Diagnostic Instrument for Examining a Female Breast - A device is provided herein for locating a breast of a female patient. In one embodiment, the locating device is adapted to be inserted into an opening within a patient table. The locating device is further adapted with different sizes and shapes, and thus, can be adapted to various breast shapes. In one embodiment, the device is provided with an RFID transponder for identifying the particular locating device being used. The RFID transponder enables data about the locating device to be automatically recorded along with the image data. This enables the shape of the locating device to be taken into account when evaluating an image. Furthermore, the RFID transponder ensures that a locating device of the same shape is used for subsequent exposures of a patient's breast, so that the exposures remain comparable. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080346 | Breast Locating Means with Sample Container for an Instrument for Examining a Female Breast - An X-ray machine, which in one embodiment is based on a spiral CT scanner, is used for examining a breast of a female patient. The X-ray machine has a gantry, which is adapted for rotation about a rotational axis, and simultaneously, for movement in a direction parallel to the rotational axis. A cylindrical imaging region is scanned along a spiraling path provided by the gantry. The patient is positioned so that a breast to be examined projects into the imaging region. A sample receptacle located in the imaging region is adapted to accommodate a tissue sample and/or a reference material. A range of movement of the gantry is dimensioned, so that the breast and/or the contents of the sample receptacle can be imaged with the gantry. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080347 | Method for Defining an Individual Coordination System for a Breast of a Female Patient - A method is provided for determining a position of an object within a breast of a female patient in a simple manner from a three-dimensional exposure taken of the breast. A simplified model is made of an internal structure of a breast having glandular bodies leading via lactiferous ducts to an outlet at a nipple. A particularly advantageous model is a tree-type structure in which branches correspond to lactiferous ducts and leaves correspond to glandular bodies. Furthermore, a determination is made of whether the object has contact with an element of the tree-type structure. Alternatively, a distance to an element of the tree-type structure is established. By correlating tree-type structures derived from various exposures taken on the same breast, the location of the object can be unequivocally established. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080348 | X-Ray Machine for Breast Examination Having a Beam Configuration for High Resolution Images - An X-ray machine for imaging a breast of a female patient includes a patient table for accommodating the patient, an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector. In one embodiment, the X-ray machine may be designed as a spiral CT scanner having a rotatable gantry on which the X-ray tube and detector are mounted. The X-ray detector is inclined with respect to the X-ray tube, so that a central ray of a beam of rays emitted from the X-ray tube is perpendicularly incident on an active face of the detector. In one embodiment, the detector may be designed with a curvature, which reduces image artifacts by reducing path length differences between the central ray and the outer rays of the beam. This configuration provides particularly space saving X-ray machines, which at the same time, are of particularly high resolution. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080349 | Modular System for Diagnosis and Surgical Operation on a Breast - An X-ray machine for examining a breast of a female patient has a CT scanner attached to a patient's table. An instrument holder that is adapted to be moved to be located underneath a gantry of the CT scanner is provided with a positioning unit for positioning an instrument for examining or operating close to the breast. An exact position of the instrument holder relative to the gantry or the breast to be examined can be determined with a measuring system. Thereby, it is possible to position an examining or surgical intervention instrument extremely precisely. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080350 | Method and Device for Thermal Breast Tumor Treatment with 3D Monitoring Function - An X-ray machine for monitoring thermal treatment of human tissue produces a reference exposure of the tissue to be treated prior to commencement of the treatment. Thermal treatment is performed subsequently. Check exposures are made with the X-ray machine during the treatment or also during treatment intervals. The check exposures are performed as partial volume exposures at a lower radiation load than the reference exposures. From a comparison of check exposures with the reference exposures, conclusions can be drawn concerning changes of tissue temperature and also tissue properties. | 04-01-2010 |
20100104063 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTO POSITIONING COMPRESSION MECHANISM IN A MAMMOGRAPHY SYSTEM - A method and system for auto positioning a compression mechanism in a mammography imaging system is disclosed herewith. The method comprises: automatically elevating the compression mechanism upon detection of a breast biopsy device. The breast biopsy device can be detected upon connecting the same to the mammography system or can be detected upon noticing the same on the vicinity of the mammography system. The compression mechanism includes: breast compressor, breast holding paddles and paddle holders. | 04-29-2010 |
20100111249 | MAMMOGRAPHY TOMOSYNTHESIS APPARATUS WITH A COMPRESSION PLATE HAVING A RECESS THEREIN - A tomosynthesis apparatus for mammography has an x-ray source for emission of x-ray beams from different directions directed toward a detector, and a compression plate and a support plate arranged in the beam path between the x-ray source and the detector. A breast to be examined is positioned and compressed between the compression plate and the support plate. The compression plate exhibits a concave recess open in the direction of the support plate on the side of the compression plate facing toward the support plate. | 05-06-2010 |
20100111250 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - A mammography apparatus includes a detector that detects X-rays transmitted through a breast, and an optically transparent or semitransparent pressing panel for pressing the breast. The apparatus further includes a near infrared ray source that provided between the X-ray source and the pressing panel and arranged in a two-dimensional shape in alignment with the pressing panel, and that is movable between a first position in close contact with the pressing panel and a second position outside an X-ray image capture region. Near infrared image capture is carried out using the near infrared ray source by causing the near infrared ray source to be in the first position, and the near infrared ray source is caused to retract to the second position when carrying out X-ray image capture using the X-ray source. | 05-06-2010 |
20100128843 | Device for Locating a Female Breast for Diagnostic Imaging and Intervention - A device for fixing or locating a breast of a female patient in a medical diagnostic examination instrument comprises an elastic annular-shaped fixing means and also a net fastened thereto which tightly encircle a base of a breast close to a chest wall. A force exerted exerted on the elastic annular-shaped fixing means is applied in a direction away from the patient in order to compress the breast and raise the breast from the chest wall. An X-ray machine including such a device is also provided. | 05-27-2010 |
20100150306 | Mammography System And Method Employing Offset Compression Paddles, Automatic Collimation, And Retractable Anti-scatter Grid - A mammographic imaging system is optimized for use with a single fixed size flat panel digital image receptor. It accommodates compression devices (paddles) of varying sizes, and positions them properly in the field of view of the image receptor. When a compression paddle with size smaller than the field of view of the image receptor is used, the compression paddle can be shifted laterally in the direction parallel to the chest wall, so as to facilitate different views of different size breasts, and permit the image receptor to image as much of the desired tissue as possible. An automatic x-ray collimator restricts the x-ray illumination of the breast in accordance with compression paddle size and location in the field of view. An anti-scatter grid, mounted inside the image receptor enclosure, just below the top cover of the enclosure, can be retracted out of the field of view of the image receptor for use in magnification imaging. | 06-17-2010 |
20100183119 | DIAGNOSTIC UNIT HAVING A PROTECTIVE DEVICE - A radiography diagnostic apparatus has a radiation source that emits an x-ray beam, and a protection that is mounted to prevent unwanted body portions of a patient, or operating personnel, from interacting with the x-ray beam. | 07-22-2010 |
20100226475 | MAMMOGRAPHY/TOMOSYNTHESIS SYSTEMS AND METHODS AUTOMATICALLY DERIVING BREAST CHARACTERISTICS FROM BREAST X-RAY IMAGES AND AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING IMAGE PROCESSING PARAMETERS ACCORDINGLY - Methods and systems that automatically identify breast characteristics such as x-ray density and breast texture from initial x-ray images of the breast and automatically adjust process parameter setting of image processing algorithms that operate on the initial images to derive processing images suitable for display or further processing. | 09-09-2010 |
20100246760 | COMBINING X-RAY AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING FOR ENHANCED MAMMOGRAPHY - A mammography system includes a patient support with a breast opening. Beneath the patient support, an x-ray source transmits x-rays through a breast of a patient extending through the opening. An opposing x-ray detector receives the x-rays to obtain an x-ray image of the breast. The x-ray source and x-ray detector rotate around the opening while maintaining a fixed relation relative to one another, and a container is filled with a fluid and positioned proximate to and aligned with the opening to receive the breast. An ultrasound transmitter transmits sound waves through the breast when positioned within the fluid. An opposing ultrasound receiver receives the sound waves to obtain an ultrasound image of the breast. In a preferred embodiment, the mammography system positions the ultrasound transmitter and/or ultrasound receiver at a first position when obtaining the x-ray image of the breast and a second position when obtaining the ultrasound image of the breast. In other preferred embodiments, mammography methods correspond thereto. | 09-30-2010 |
20100254510 | APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING BREAST CANCER BY NESTED FILTERS COATED MULTILAYER - Provided is a breast cancer diagnosing apparatus using an X-ray, in which the breast cancer diagnosing apparatus selects and uses energy within a specific band width through an energy band pass filter. In the breast cancer diagnosing apparatus, a multilayer filter unit having one or more layers of a basic filter having a multilayer structure is inserted between an X-ray generator and a breast fixing unit having a paddle fixing the breast so as to allow a predetermined band of an X-ray spectrum generated from the X-ray generator to pass therethrough and be emitted to the breast. According to the present invention, the X-ray dosage of the patient by energy within a low energy band (8-15 keV) can be reduced 5 times as compared with that by the conventional apparatus. | 10-07-2010 |
20100260316 | Integrated Breast X-Ray and Molecular Imaging System - An integrated tomosynthesis/molecular breast imaging device having improved sensitivity includes tomosynthesis imaging components and molecular breast imaging components. The imaging components may be used individually or in combination to provide a system with improved sensitivity and specificity. Molecular imaging components may be smoothly advanced or withdrawn depending upon the desired imaging mode. The system supports both PET and SPECT imaging and enables SPECT collimation to be modified in accordance with image capture requirements. | 10-14-2010 |
20100272231 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROTATABLY MOUNTED FIXTURE FOR AT LEAST TWO X-RAY RECEIVERS - A mammography unit having a mounting arm, on which a mounting for at least two X-ray receivers is rotatably disposed in such a way that one X-ray receiver at a time is positioned in an examination position inside an intended X-radiation field, while other X-ray receivers each remain in a reserve position outside the X-radiation field, is provided. The at least one reserve position is disposed on a side located in the X-radiation direction, relative to the mounting arm. In the case of two X-ray receivers, the X-ray receivers each form a lateral angle of between 45° and 90° with the axis of rotation of the mounting. By using a releasable connection of the mounting to the mammography unit, high modularity is provided. | 10-28-2010 |
20100290585 | MAMMOGRAPHY METHOD AND MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - In a mammography method and a mammography apparatus to generate x-ray images of a breast, a support unit is positioned between the breasts. In the support unit two x-ray detectors are arranged with acquisition surfaces that are flat and parallel to one another. The acquisition surfaces face away from one another and respectively toward one of the breasts. At least one x-ray image of each breast is acquired while both breasts are simultaneously pressed against the support unit. | 11-18-2010 |
20100316186 | Arrangement and Method in Digital Mammography Imaging - The invention relates to an arrangement and method in digital mammography imaging especially for use for imaging of small breasts. In the invention, a so-called full-field sensor and an upper compression plate substantially equal in width with this sensor are used. According to the invention, the beam is limited to a width narrower than the width of the sensor and the compression plate and directed for oblique imaging non-centrally relative to the center of said sensor and the upper compression plate, while the automatic exposure system of the imaging apparatus is caused to adapt itself for imaging in accordance with this imaging position non-central relative to the sensor and the upper compression plate. | 12-16-2010 |
20100322379 | DETECTOR UNIT FOR MAMMOGRAPHY, AND A NUCLEAR MEDICINE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS FOR MAMMOGRAPHY HAVING THE SAME - A detector unit for mammography of this invention includes a gamma-ray detector having a configuration with a cutout formed in part of a closed curve, a hollow portion thereof providing a field of view. The gamma-ray detector can easily be placed in a position where a breast and breast peripheries of a patient enter the field of view at the same time, by fitting sites of the patient not to be examined, such as a top of an arm and a shoulder, in the cutout. This allows breast tissues present in the breast and breast peripheries to be diagnosed at the same time. | 12-23-2010 |
20100329418 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING NUCLEAR MAMMOGRAPHY IMAGING - A system and method for performing molecular imaging of an anatomy of interest is provided. The molecular imaging system includes a gantry, a first gamma camera coupled to the gantry, and a second gamma camera coupled to the gantry, the first and second cameras are positionable in an L-mode imaging configuration, the first and second gamma cameras are configured to immobilize an anatomy of interest therebetween in the L-mode configuration. The molecular imaging system is also configured to operate in an H-mode imaging configuration wherein the first and second gamma cameras are configured to immobilize an anatomy of interest therebetween in the H-mode configuration. | 12-30-2010 |
20100329419 | GAMMA CAMERA FOR PERFORMING NUCLEAR MAMMOGRAPHY IMAGING - A gamma camera for use in a molecular imaging system includes a housing, a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) camera disposed within the housing, and at least one retractable wall coupled to the housing and adapted to secure an anatomy of interest in a field-of-view of the gamma camera. The gamma camera also includes a chamfered edge to enable the gamma camera to contact a second gamma camera when the gamma camera is positioned in an L-mode imaging configuration. | 12-30-2010 |
20110007868 | SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR BREAST IRRADIATION - A support system for breast irradiation including a turntable for supporting and rotating a patient about a generally vertical rotational axis, a body-leaning support for supporting the patient leaning thereupon throughout rotation of the patient about the vertical rotational axis, and a radiation shield arranged for shielding non-breast anatomy of the patient from stray radiation, wherein the body-leaning support and the radiation shield are separated from each other by a gap in which breasts of the patient are placeable for irradiation by a horizontal radiation beam. | 01-13-2011 |
20110091010 | MAMMOGRAM TENDER MACHINE - An apparatus and method of examining the breast of a woman who has difficulty in standing or raising her arms by providing an X-ray machine having x-ray emitting and receiving members that are rotatable about a vertical axis and movable up and down along the vertical axis. A cup member having an interior configured to receive one of the woman's breast is placed over a breast and suction from a source of suction is applied to the interior of the cup member to expand the breast to fill the cup. The X-ray emitting and receiving members of the X-ray machine are then oriented relative to the cup member to perform an examination of the breast inside the cup member while the woman is either in a sitting or standing position. | 04-21-2011 |
20110091011 | MULTI-MODALITY VOLUMETRIC DATA ACQUISITION AND IMAGING - One or more systems and/or techniques are described for generating volumetric data from both radiographic and ultrasound examinations of an object, where the radiographic volumetric data and the ultrasound volumetric data are representative of a substantially same volumetric space of the object. This allows, for example, corresponding portions of the volumetric data and/or images resulting therefrom (e.g., indicative of a tumor) to be identified for comparison via the different modalities. Moreover, in one embodiment, a compression paddle of a mammography examination apparatus is configured to selectively receive an ultrasound component. | 04-21-2011 |
20110122992 | X-RAY SOURCE AND X-RAY SYSTEM - An x-ray source has multiple electron sources spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction that is defined as being parallel to the rotation axis of a rotating anode which is common to all of the electron sources. Each electron source emits electrons that strike the anode at respective strike points that are spatially separated from each other along the longitudinal direction, to produce respective emission centers, from which x-rays are emitted, each emission center being associated with respective ones of the x-ray sources. | 05-26-2011 |
20110129062 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MAMMOGRAPHY - A compression unit of a mammography apparatus includes an arrangement to tension at least one compression band in a first fixing unit and second fixing unit arranged on both sides of a subject table. | 06-02-2011 |
20110158383 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY POSITIONING A MAMMOGRAPHY IMAGING SYSTEM - A method and system for automatically adjusting the gantry position to the breast height level of a patient. The automated height adjustment system for mammography imaging systems having a movable gantry associated with a fixed vertical support, comprises a tracking unit for tracking a patient's breast height level during patient's initial mammography procedure; and memory for storing the tracked breast height level along with the patient identification information. The system further comprises a processor configured to access the breast height level using the patient identification information during subsequent mammography procedures for the patient; and a drive mechanism capable of automatically adjusting the height of the gantry based on the accessed breast height level. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158384 | GAMMA RADIATION IMAGING APPARATUS - A gamma radiation imaging apparatus, in particular a gamma radiation breast imaging apparatus, comprising an object positioning device ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110206181 | DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY SCANNING SYSTEM - An apparatus for use in imaging an area of interest within a patient's body, including a stationary frame; a rotating assembly mounted on the stationary frame, the rotating assembly including an axle assembly having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, an X-ray source having a focal spot that coincides with the horizontal axis of rotation; a collimator from which a fan-shaped X-ray beam exits towards a detector assembly, and a rotating frame mechanically coupled to the detector assembly and pivoting about the horizontal axis of rotation. The detector assembly includes a linear X-ray detector for detecting radiation of the fan-shaped X-ray beam after the beam passes through the area of interest, and is mechanically coupled to a motor that enables arcuate movement of the detector assembly in a transverse direction. The motor is mechanically coupled to the rotating assembly to enable rotational movement of the rotating assembly. | 08-25-2011 |
20110216880 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOLECULAR BREAST IMAGING - A system and method for a molecular breast imaging (MBI) are provided. One MBI system includes at least one cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector having a plurality of pixels and a registered parallel hole collimator coupled to a face of the CZT detector. The registered parallel hole collimator includes a plurality of collimator holes, wherein the plurality of collimator holes are aligned with the plurality of pixels, and the spatial dimensions of the plurality of holes are configured based on characteristics of the CZT detector and the registered parallel hole collimator. | 09-08-2011 |
20110222652 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - A mammography apparatus includes a detector that detects X-rays transmitted through a breast, and an optically transparent or semitransparent pressing panel for pressing the breast. The apparatus further includes a near infrared ray source that provided between the X-ray source and the pressing panel and arranged in a two-dimensional shape in alignment with the pressing panel, and that is movable between a first position in close contact with the pressing panel and a second position outside an X-ray image capture region. Near infrared image capture is carried out using the near infrared ray source by causing the near infrared ray source to be in the first position, and the near infrared ray source is caused to retract to the second position when carrying out X-ray image capture using the X-ray source. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222653 | 3D Mammography - The present invention relates to 3D mammography, in which individual images of a breast are taken at different projection angles and a 3D image subsequently synthesized from this image information. According to the invention, a breast to be imaged is arranged locked in a locking means ( | 09-15-2011 |
20110235776 | Radiographic imaging apparatus and radiographic imaging system - A radiographic imaging apparatus is provided with a generation unit, a radiation source, a moving unit, and an imaging control unit. The generation unit captures radiographic images based on beams of radiation that have been transmitted through an imaging target site and with which an imaging surface has been individually irradiated and generates sets of image information representing the captured radiographic images. The moving unit moves the radiation source such that irradiation with the beams of radiation is possible from different directions including a front direction. The imaging control unit controls the moving unit such that, in a case where the radiographic imaging apparatus performs stereo imaging, the imaging surface is irradiated with the beams of radiation from the front direction and from a direction of a predetermined angle. | 09-29-2011 |
20110261927 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TOMOSYNTHESIS PROJECTION IMAGING FOR DETECTION OF RADIOLOGICAL SIGNS - A method of image processing in a radiological apparatus includes reconstructing a 3D image of a body from a set of radiography projection images, locating structures presumed to be representative of 3D radiological signs within the 3D image, determining a set of 2D candidate particles corresponding to projections of the presumed 3D radiological signs, assigning, through a fuzzy logic description, to the 2D candidate particles a degree of membership in 2D membership classes of a set of membership classes, each membership class being relative to a type of radiological sign, considering a 2D fuzzy particle being formed by the set of the 2D candidate particles and by their respective degrees of membership in a class, making an aggregate of the 2D fuzzy particles to obtain 3D fuzzy particles in a digital volume, and determining a degree of confidence for each 3D radiological sign from the 3D fuzzy particles. | 10-27-2011 |
20110305313 | FIDUCIAL SYSTEMS FOR MAMMOGRAPHY - A system is described for breast imaging that includes spatially registering sequential mammographic images of the same breast. The system includes a first compression member configured to contact a first side of a breast, a second compression member configured to contact a second side of a breast that is substantially opposite the first side. The system further includes a first image sensor, coupled to the first compression member and configured to detect a position of a first fiducial marker located at the first side of the breast, and a second image sensor, coupled to the second compression member and configured to detect a position of a second fiducial marker located at the second side of the breast. | 12-15-2011 |
20110311024 | INTERFACE DEVICE, IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RIM-IMAGING - The invention relates to imaging systems in which during imaging of an object a matching medium is used to match the object to its surroundings. An interface device is used for phase contrast rim-imaging of the object, which comprises a compartment in which a deformable matching material is contained which can be pushed to the side when the object to be imaged is compressed. Thus, a lateral field of view for X-ray phase contrast mammography may be increased. | 12-22-2011 |
20120008739 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS WITH X-RAY SOURCES ARRANGED AT DIFFERENT DISTANCES FROM THE CHEST - A mammography apparatus has at least one x-ray source to emit x-ray radiation and an x-ray detector with a number of pixels. The mammography apparatus is designed so that the x-ray radiation is emitted into the breast tissue of a patient at a number of positions, and the x-ray radiation is detected by the x-ray detector after it has passed through the breast tissue. The positions have different distances from the shoulder-to-shoulder axis of the patient. | 01-12-2012 |
20120014504 | Apparatus and method for imaging breast - An apparatus and method for imaging a breast are provided. The apparatus includes an X-ray emission unit that emits an X-ray of a first energy spectrum and an X-ray of a second energy spectrum from above a first region of a breast and emits an X-ray of a third energy spectrum from above a second region of the breast different from the first region of the breast; an X-ray detection unit that generates a plurality of image frames related to the breast by detecting the X-rays emitted and passed through the breast; and an image generation unit that generates image data related to the breast by combining the plurality of image frames. | 01-19-2012 |
20120014505 | RADIATION IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, RADIATION IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND RADIATION IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An information obtaining means obtains imaging information related to states during imaging and positioning information related to positioning of breasts during imaging regarding a plurality of mammograms, which are targets of comparison. An image processing means administers image processes onto the plurality of mammograms based on predetermined image processing conditions. A judging means judges whether image processes are to be administered onto the plurality of mammograms according to the same image processing conditions, based on the imaging information and the positioning information. | 01-19-2012 |
20120020455 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR A MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - The maximum possible vertices for a trajectory are determined with a device for mammography and an associated method, so that the subject to be exposed can be completely imaged on the detector in x-ray acquisitions. | 01-26-2012 |
20120020456 | MAMMOGRAPHY SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING OFFSET COMPRESSION PADDLES AUTOMATIC COLLIMATION AND RETRACTABLE ANTI-SCATTER GRID - A mammographic imaging system is optimized for use with a single fixed size flat panel digital image receptor. It accommodates compression devices (paddles) of varying sizes, and positions them properly in the field of view of the image receptor. When a compression paddle with size smaller than the field of view of the image receptor is used, the compression paddle can be shifted laterally in the direction parallel to the chest wall, so as to facilitate different views of different size breasts, and permit the image receptor to image as much of the desired tissue as possible. An automatic x-ray collimator restricts the x-ray illumination of the breast in accordance with compression paddle size and location in the field of view. An anti-scatter grid, mounted inside the image receptor enclosure, just below the top cover of the enclosure, can be retracted out of the field of view of the image receptor for use in magnification imaging. | 01-26-2012 |
20120027168 | RADIOLOGICAL IMAGE RADIOGRAPHING AND DISPLAYING METHOD AND RADIOLOGICAL IMAGE RADIOGRAPHING AND DISPLAYING APPARATUS - It is possible to always display a stereoscopic image obtained by observing a subject from the front side even when the position of the subject is shifted. A radiological image radiographing and displaying method includes irradiating a subject with radiation emitted from two focal positions in two different radiographing directions, detecting a radiological image in each radiographing direction resulting from the irradiation with the radiation by the use of a radiological image detector, displaying a stereoscopic image using the two detected radiological images, acquiring position information of the subject in an extending direction of a straight line connecting two points obtained by projecting the two focal positions onto the radiological image detector, and changing the two radiographing directions based on the acquired position information. | 02-02-2012 |
20120033786 | MAMMOGRAPHY PAD - A mammography pad for use with a mammography unit for providing comfort to a patient during a mammography examination. The mammography pad includes a flexible substrate configured to overlie a bucky plate, a compressible material and a fastening means. The mammography pad is capable of covering a top and front surface of the compression plate, while the fastening means removably attaches a portion of the mammography pad to the mammography unit. Further, a method for administering a mammography examination with the mammography pad is disclosed by providing a mammography pad, securing the pad to the mammography unit, placing a patient's breast on the mammography pad, and compressing the patient's breast against the mammography pad. | 02-09-2012 |
20120057672 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGING BREAST - An apparatus and method for imaging a breast is provided. The apparatus for imaging a breast includes a first X-ray emission unit configured to emit an X-ray of a first dose to a breast, a second X-ray emission unit configured to emit one or more X-rays of a second dose to the breast, the first dose being greater than the second dose, an X-ray detection unit configured to detect the X-ray of the first dose or the one or more X-rays of the second dose to thereby generate one or more image frames regarding the breast, and an image generation unit configured to generate image data regarding the breast based on the generated one or more image frames. | 03-08-2012 |
20120063566 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DYNAMICALLY MODIFYING ACQUISITION PARAMETER DURING IMAGE ACQUISITION - Systems and methods for automatically and dynamically modifying an image acquisition parameter for use in tomosynthesis breast imaging. A selected image acquisition parameter is modified in response to a measured characteristic of an imaged object such as a breast, and thus tailored to provide the highest quality image for the particular object. For example, image quality in a breast tomosynthesis system can be improved by dynamically varying motion and other acquisition parameters of the tomosynthesis system in response to physical characteristics of the breast to be imaged (determined during image acquisition), such as the breast thickness, density or composition. Dynamically varying acquisition or processing methods helps to customize the system for each particular patient, thereby improving image quality and identification and assessment of potential pathologies and abnormalities, and lower radiation dose, and thus a reduced the risk of long-term adverse health effects due to lifetime accumulated radiation dose. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063567 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING POSSIBLE ERROR IN PATIENT POSITION - Systems and methods for automatically and dynamically modifying an image acquisition parameter for use in tomosynthesis breast imaging. A selected image acquisition parameter is modified in response to a measured characteristic of an imaged object such as a breast, and thus tailored to provide the highest quality image for the particular object. For example, image quality in a breast tomosynthesis system can be improved by dynamically varying motion and other acquisition parameters of the tomosynthesis system in response to physical characteristics of the breast to be imaged (determined during image acquisition), such as the breast thickness, density or composition. Dynamically varying acquisition or processing methods helps to customize the system for each particular patient, thereby improving image quality and identification and assessment of potential pathologies and abnormalities, and lower radiation dose, and thus a reduced the risk of long-term adverse health effects due to lifetime accumulated radiation dose. | 03-15-2012 |
20120069959 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - A mammography apparatus has a bed unit on which, during a screening, the patient lies ventrally on a recumbent surface of the bed unit. The recumbent surface has a configuration allowing variable individual parts of the bed unit to be positioned so that the bed position of the patient is optimized and the components of the x-ray unit that are arranged below the bed unit can be positioned and aligned relative to one another such that the base of the breast to be x-rayed is also imaged. | 03-22-2012 |
20120093285 | X-ray imaging with X-ray markers that provide adjunct information but preserve image quality - A method and an apparatus for estimating a geometric thickness of a breast in mammography/tomosynthesis or in other x-ray procedures, by imaging markers that are in the path of x-rays passing through the imaged object. The markings can be selected to be visible or to be invisible when the composite markings/breast image is viewed in clinical settings. If desired, the contribution of the markers to the image can be removed through further processing. The resulting information can be used determining the geometric thickness of the body being x-rayed and thus setting imaging parameters that are thickness-related, and for other purposes. The method and apparatus also have application in other types of x-ray imaging. | 04-19-2012 |
20120106697 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AND CORRECTING SCATTERING IN MAMMOGRAPHY - A method for correcting at least one image of an object obtained with a mammography system is provided. The method comprises: acquiring a pre-exposure image of an object to determine the acquisition conditions for main images, the pre-exposure image comprising regions corresponding to the projection of radio-opaque elements, wherein a mask comprising radio-opaque elements is in an acquisition position; acquiring the main images resulting from the passing through the object of X-rays at higher doses than the dose used for acquisition of the pre-exposure image, wherein the mask comprising radio-opaque elements is in a retracted position; extracting regions from the pre-exposure image which correspond to the projection of radio-opaque elements; and determining the contribution of X-ray scatter at every point of the at least one image of the object, on the basis of the regions extracted from the pre-exposure image. | 05-03-2012 |
20120106698 | MULTI-LAYER FLAT PANEL X-RAY DETECTOR - There is provided a multi-layer flat panel detector comprising a first conversion layer, a second conversion layer, at least one printed circuit board for receiving signals generated by the first or second direct conversion layers, and a processor for processing the signals to produce an image being generated. | 05-03-2012 |
20120114096 | DEVICE FOR CUSHIONING OF COMPRESSION SURFACES - According to the present invention, improved methods and apparatus are provided for providing cushioning and other ergonomic surfaces on devices requiring the patient or tissue to be compressed, such as radiography machines, fluoroscopy units, mammography units and the like. In particular a radiolucent pad element is provided for releasable attachment to at least one surface of a compression device to be used under x-ray, for example, during mammography. The pad element of the present invention can be disposable or constructed to be reusable and in some cases may be applied directly to the patient's breast. Furthermore, a cushioned paddle is provided wherein the compression paddle and the cushion can be separately or integrally formed. | 05-10-2012 |
20120121064 | PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING PATIENT RADIOLOGICAL IMAGES - A medical imaging process using an imaging system is provided. The process includes: acquiring a first plurality of 2D projection images of the object via x-ray emission along a plurality of orientations selected with respect to the object's craniocaudal direction, one of the orientations being the object's craniocaudal direction; obtaining a reconstructed 3D volume of the object along the craniocaudal direction from the first plurality of 2D projection images acquired; obtaining a reconstructed 2D craniocaudal image; acquiring a second plurality of 2D projection images of the object via x-ray emission along a plurality of orientations selected with respect to the object's mediolateral-oblique direction, one of the orientations being the object's mediolateral-oblique direction; obtaining a reconstructed 3D volume of the object along the mediolateral-oblique direction from the second plurality of 2D projection images acquired; and obtaining a reconstructed 2D mediolateral-oblique image. | 05-17-2012 |
20120134465 | COMPACT MAMMOGRAPH AND ASSOCIATED MAMMOGRAPHY PROCESS - A mammograph is provided. The mammograph includes a source of X-rays; a detector of X-rays, the source being configured to emit at least one beam of X-rays to the detector; and an optic control device configured to control the direction of X-rays emitted by the source such that the X-rays emitted. by the source are substantially parallel to one another, | 05-31-2012 |
20120134466 | GALACTOGRAPHY PROCESS AND MAMMOGRAPH - A galactography process in a mammograph for characterizing galactophorous ducts of a breast of a patient in which a contrast product has been previously injected is provided. The process comprises: emitting X-rays to the breast of a patient; acquiring at least one first mammographic image with X-rays having a first energy; acquiring at least one second mammographic image with X-rays having a second energy; and processing the at least one first image and the at least one second image to produce an image of the concentration of the contrast product in the breast, wherein the first energy is different than the second energy. | 05-31-2012 |
20120148016 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOLECULAR BREAST IMAGING - A system and method for a molecular breast imaging (MBI) are provided. One MBI system includes at least one cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector having a plurality of pixels and a registered parallel hole collimator coupled to a face of the CZT detector. The registered parallel hole collimator includes a plurality of collimator holes, wherein the plurality of collimator holes are aligned with the plurality of pixels, and the spatial dimensions of the plurality of holes are configured based on characteristics of the CZT detector and the registered parallel hole collimator. | 06-14-2012 |
20120163533 | RADIATION IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A radiation imaging apparatus that captures radiographic images includes a radioactive ray generating unit configured to irradiate a subject with a plurality of radioactive rays generated by a plurality of electron sources. A radioactive ray detection unit captures a plurality of first radiographic images based on detection of the plurality of radioactive rays that have passed through the subject at different irradiation angles. Area specification unit specifies an object area using the plurality of first radiographic images captured by the radioactive ray detection unit, and a determination unit determines an electron source to be driven from the plurality of electron sources based on the object area specified by the area specification unit, such that a second radiographic image is captured based on the radioactive rays generated by the electron source determined by the determination unit. | 06-28-2012 |
20120170711 | PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR DEPLOYING AN ANTI-SCATTERING GRID - A process for deploying an anti-scattering grid in a mammograph is provided. The mammograph comprises a radiation source configured to emit radiation for taking mammographic images of a patient, a radiation detector comprising a network of sensors arranged periodically with a first pitch, and an anti-scattering grid arranged between the source and the detector, the anti-scattering grid comprising absorption laminates of radiations arranged parallel to each other and distributed periodically with a second pitch. The process comprises: displacing the anti-scattering grid relative to the detector or displacing the detector relative to the anti-scattering grid during emission of radiation; and adapting the second pitch to the first pitch, wherein displacement is perpendicular to the direction of the laminates of the anti-scattering grid, the laminates being arranged parallel to a side of the anti-scattering grid positioned against the patient. | 07-05-2012 |
20120170712 | METHOD FOR ASSISTED POSITIONING OF AN ORGAN ON A PLATFORM OF A MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - A method for assisted positioning of an organ is provided. An acquisition system comprises a platform underneath which a detector is placed for the acquisition of radiographic medical images, during which a radiation source is moved over different successive positions with respect to the detector, wherein at least one medical image is acquired at each position of the radiation source. The method comprises illuminating the platform with a light source of the acquisition system to assist the positioning of the organ on the platform; and determining, with a drive unit of the acquisition system, a positioning limit on the platform based on the distance separating the platform and a compression paddle used to compress the organ and based on the position of the light source relative to the detector, wherein the positioning limit on the platform is a limit beyond which the organ must not lie. | 07-05-2012 |
20120219109 | APPARATUS FOR TOMOSYNTHESIS AND MAMMOGRAPHY - An apparatus for performing-tomosynthesis and mammography includes an X-ray detector for receiving and detecting X-rays in a first, detection plane; a plurality of X-ray sources are positioned in a second plane substantially at a right angle to the first plane and which can be individually activated for emitting a corresponding X-ray beam towards the first, detection plane, at least a first part of the sources movable relative to the detector and including a first source mobile in a first direction of movement parallel with the first, detection plane for emitting X-rays from a plurality of operating positions along said first direction of movement; a region for positioning the breast; a processing and control unit, for controlling the X-ray sources and receiving a signal relating to the detected X-rays passed through the breast to derive radiographic image representative of the internal structure of the breast. | 08-30-2012 |
20120219110 | APPARATUS FOR MAMMOGRAPHY AND/OR TOMOSYNTHESIS WITH DEVICE FOR REMOVING DIFFUSE RADIATION - An apparatus for tomosynthesis and/or mammography includes: an X-ray detector, for receiving and detecting X-rays in a first, detection plane; an X-ray source, which can be activated individually and is positioned to emit a corresponding X-ray beam towards the first, detection plane; a processing and control unit, for activating the X-ray source and receiving a signal relating to X rays which passed through the breast and were detected by the detector to derive a radiographic image representative of the internal structure of the breast; a grille for removing diffuse radiation, interposed between the source and the detector to receive X-rays which passed through the breast. The grille including plates positioned opposite the chest of the patient when the breast is positioned in a positioning region, and which are angled to converge towards the same region proximal to the X-ray source. | 08-30-2012 |
20120219111 | INTEGRATED MULTI-MODE MAMMOGRAPHY/TOMOSYNTHESIS X-RAY SYSTEM AND METHOD - 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. | 08-30-2012 |
20120219112 | OPPOSED VIEW AND DUAL HEAD DETECTOR APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND BIOPSY WITH IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - The invention relates generally to biopsy needle guidance which employs an x-ray/gamma image spatial co-registration methodology. A gamma camera is configured to mount on a biopsy needle gun platform to obtain a gamma image. More particular, the spatially co-registered x-ray and physiological images may be employed for needle guidance during biopsy. Moreover, functional images may be obtained from a gamma camera at various angles relative to a target site. Further, the invention also generally relates to a breast lesion localization method using opposed gamma camera images or dual opposed images. This dual head methodology may be used to compare the lesion signal in two opposed detector images and to calculate the Z coordinate (distance from one or both of the detectors) of the lesion. | 08-30-2012 |
20120263273 | System and Method for Low Dose Tomosynthesis - A breast imaging system leverages the combined strengths of two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging to provide a breast cancer screening with improved sensitivity, specificity and patient dosing. A tomosynthesis system supports the acquisition of three-dimensional images at a dosage lower than that used to acquire a two-dimensional image. The low-dose three-dimensional image may be used for mass detection, while the two-dimensional image may be used for calcification detection. Obtaining tomosynthesis data at low dose provides a number of advantages in addition to mass detection including the reduction in scan time and wear and tear on the x-ray tube. Such an arrangement provides a breast cancer screening system with high sensitivity and specificity and reduced patient dosing. | 10-18-2012 |
20120288056 | RADIATION IMAGING SYSTEM - An X-ray imaging system is provided with an X-ray source ( | 11-15-2012 |
20120288057 | DEDICATED BREAST RADIATION IMAGING/THERAPY SYSTEM - System, apparatus and methods specialized for breast and related tissue radiation therapy and imaging of a prone patient but also usable for supine patient if desired or needed. A special treatment radiation source such as a LINAC unit generates radiation of types and energy ranges specifically matched to breast tissue. Any one or more of several imaging technologies may be used to localize the tissue to be irradiated and to generate information for therapy planning, adjustment, and verification. | 11-15-2012 |
20120328074 | METHOD FOR IMAGING AN ORGAN AND MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - A method for imaging an organ with a medical imaging system comprising a radiation source, a detector facing the radiation source, an organ support and a compression paddle, wherein the compression paddle is smaller than the detector, the method comprising offsetting the compression paddle to a position towards a side edge of the detector, moving the radiation source along a trajectory, wherein the trajectory is above the compression paddle and dependent upon the position of the compression paddle, and acquiring images of the organ at several positions along the trajectory. | 12-27-2012 |
20130016807 | MAMMOGRAPHY X-RAY DEVICEAANM Kallert; JacquelineAACI ErlangenAACO DEAAGP Kallert; Jacqueline Erlangen DEAANM Standar; RobertAACI PretzfeldAACO DEAAGP Standar; Robert Pretzfeld DE - A mammography x-ray device includes a compression apparatus with a compression plate that may be displaced along an axis. The compression apparatus has a drive device that may be actuated by an operating element to displace the compression plate. | 01-17-2013 |
20130028373 | Mammography-Apparatus - Mammography-apparatus for detecting malignant cells in a breast comprising an x-ray source and an x-ray detector that cooperates with the x-ray source for providing an x-ray image of said breast, and further comprising a paddle for flattening the breast by pressing it against said x-ray detector, wherein at least one sensor is applied for measuring a parameter that is used for determining the pressure at which the paddle compresses the breast, and wherein a control system is provided which controls the actuation of the paddle depending on the pressure that is applied to the breast, wherein there is a contact area measuring unit for measuring the contact area between the breast and the paddle. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028374 | IMAGE HANDLING AND DISPLAY IN X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY AND TOMOSYNTHESIS - 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 | 01-31-2013 |
20130034202 | OPPOSED VIEW AND DUAL HEAD DETECTOR APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND BIOPSY WITH IMAGE PROCESSING METHODS - The invention relates generally to biopsy needle guidance which employs an x-ray/gamma image spatial co-registration methodology. A gamma camera is configured to mount on a biopsy needle gun platform to obtain a gamma image. More particular, the spatially co-registered x-ray and physiological images may be employed for needle guidance during biopsy. Moreover, functional images may be obtained from a gamma camera at various angles relative to a target site. Further, the invention also generally relates to a breast lesion localization method using opposed gamma camera images or dual opposed images. This dual head methodology may be used to compare the lesion signal in two opposed detector images and to calculate the Z coordinate (distance from one or both of the detectors) of the lesion. | 02-07-2013 |
20130051520 | COMPRESSION PLATE FOR TOMOSYNTHESIS - A compression plate for tomosynthesis images using an X-ray apparatus designed to take the tomosynthesis images is provided. The compression plate includes an upper area. The width of the upper area is dimensioned such that, for all X-ray images taken during tomosynthesis of a female breast compressed by the compression plate, X-rays substantially penetrate the compression plate. The compression plate also includes a lower area. An average width of the lower area is smaller than an average width of the upper area. The lower area includes a surface of smaller width than the width of the upper area for the compression of the female breast. | 02-28-2013 |
20130070894 | SECTIONAL RADIOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR BREAST EXAMINATION - A sectional radiographic apparatus for breast examination includes a detector ring with radiation detectors arranged arcuately for receiving a breast of a patient, each of the radiation detectors including a scintillator for converting radiation into light, and a photodetector for detecting the light, a moving device for moving the detector ring along a direction of a central axis of the detector ring relative to the breast of the patient, and a movement control device for controlling the moving device. | 03-21-2013 |
20130101083 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DUAL-MODALITY ULTRASONIC AND NUCLEAR EMISSION MAMMOGRAPHY - A molecular breast imaging (“MBI”} configured for combined MBI and ultrasound imaging or MBI-guided biopsy is provided. In one configuration, the MBI portion of the system includes two opposed gamma ray detectors, while in another configuration only one gamma ray detector is provided. In two detector configurations, a compression plate is provided to make contact with and apply light compression to the subject under examination. One of the gamma ray detectors is configured to be moveable with respect to the other detector such that the gamma ray detector can be moved away from the examination region, thereby allowing access to the breast for an ultrasound imaging system or a breast biopsy device. | 04-25-2013 |
20130108016 | RADIOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR BREAST EXAMINATION | 05-02-2013 |
20130129038 | X-RAY PHASE-SHIFT CONTRAST IMAGING METHOD AND SYSTEM THEREOF - The X-ray phase-shift contrast imaging method and the system thereof are provided. The X-ray phase-shift contrast imaging method utilizes characteristic X-rays of high throughput irradiating at the target from different positions or with different focal positions so as to form different X-ray images. The X-ray images are compared to define the voxels and combined to obtain the 3-D X-ray image. By using X-ray phase-shift contrast for imaging the soft tissue, the level of the image contrast may be enhanced several orders of magnitude and the linear energy transfer of the high energy photon beam is greatly reduced. Hence, the radiation dose absorbed by the tissue may be greatly reduced. | 05-23-2013 |
20130129039 | X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY AND/OR BREAST TOMOSYNTHESIS USING A COMPRESSION PADDLE WITH AN INFLATABLE JACKET ENHANCING IMAGING AND IMPROVING PATIENT COMFORT - A system and method using an inflatable jacket over the compression paddle of a mammography and/or tomosynthesis system to enhance imaging and improve patient comfort in x-ray breast imaging. | 05-23-2013 |
20130156153 | DIGITAL DETECTOR AND RADIATION APPARATUS USING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are a digital detector in which a detection array which detects radiation and readout elements are provided in separate respective housings, and a radiation apparatus which uses the same. The digital detector includes a first housing which includes a detection array and at least one second housing which includes at least one readout element, and the at least one second housing is mounted on the first housing. | 06-20-2013 |
20130202082 | MULTI-X-RAY GENERATING APPARATUS AND X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS - A multi-X-ray generating apparatus which has a plurality of electron sources arranged two-dimensionally and targets arranged at positions opposite to the electron sources includes a multi-electron source which includes a plurality of electron sources and outputs electrons from driven electron sources by selectively driving a plurality of electron sources in accordance with supplied driving signals, and a target unit which includes a plurality of targets which generate X-rays in accordance with irradiation of electrons output from the multi-electron source and outputs X-rays with different radiation qualities in accordance with the generation locations of X-rays. The generation locations and radiation qualities of X-rays from the target unit are controlled by selectively driving the electron sources of the multi-electron source. | 08-08-2013 |
20130223590 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BIOPSY GUIDANCE - Systems and methods for biopsy guidance are provided. One system includes a gantry and a breast immobilization plate mounted to the gantry, wherein the breast immobilization plate is configured to be coupled with a biopsy unit. The biopsy unit includes at least one nuclear medicine imaging detector in an angled orientation with respect to the breast immobilization plate. The breast imaging system also includes a nuclear medicine imaging detector mounted to the gantry parallel to the breast immobilization plate, wherein the nuclear medicine imaging detector mounted to the gantry and the breast immobilizing plate are configured to immobilize a breast therebetween. | 08-29-2013 |
20130223591 | FULL FIELD MAMMOGRAPHY WITH TISSUE EXPOSURE CONTROL, TOMOSYNTHESIS, AND DYNAMIC FIELD OF VIEW PROCESSING - 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. | 08-29-2013 |
20130235973 | RADIOGRAPHIC PHASE-CONTRAST IMAGING APPARATUS - A radiographic phase-contrast imaging apparatus obtains a phase-contrast image using two gratings including the first grating and the second grating. The first and second gratings are adapted to form a moire pattern when a periodic pattern image formed by the first grating is superimposed on the second grating. Based on the moire pattern detected by the radiographic image detector, image signals of the fringe images, which correspond to pixel groups located at different positions with respect to a predetermined direction, are obtained by obtaining image signals of pixels of each pixel group, which includes pixels arranged at predetermined intervals in the predetermined direction, as the image signal of each fringe image, where the predetermined direction is a direction parallel to or intersecting a period direction of the moire pattern other than a direction orthogonal to the period direction. Then, a phase-contrast image is generated based on the obtained fringe images. | 09-12-2013 |
20130251103 | METHOD FOR BREAST SCREENING IN FUSED MAMMOGRAPHY - A method for use in medical imaging of a patient including, with the patient immobilized with respect to an imaging reference frame, acquiring first digital imaging information including a first region of interest using a first imaging modality; processing the first digital imaging information to identify a feature for analysis; and using a second imaging modality to acquire targeted second imaging information for a second region of interest, the second region of interest corresponding to a subset of the first region of interest, wherein the second region of interest includes the feature for analysis. An apparatus for use in medical imaging comprising structure for immobilizing a patient with respect to an imaging reference frame; a first imaging system for acquiring first digital imaging information including a first region of interest using a first imaging modality; a processor processing the first digital imaging information using a diagnostic tool to identify a feature of interest; and a second imaging system for acquiring second imaging information using a second imaging modality, the second imaging information corresponding to a second region of interest including the feature for analysis. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251104 | BREAST DENSITY ASSESSMENT - The present invention relates to mammography. To provide breast density assessment with improved accuracy in the results, a method ( | 09-26-2013 |
20130259193 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BREAST IMAGING - An apparatus for imaging a breast of a patient has a gantry with a radiation source and a sensor, the source and sensor rotatable in an arcuate orbit about a central axis and within a plane of revolution, wherein the arcuate orbit spans more than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees, and wherein the gantry has a gantry cover that is disposed to be in contact with at least the chest wall of the patient. The gantry cover has a central opening about the central axis for insertion of the breast that is to be imaged and a peripheral cutout portion that defines the end-points of the arcuate orbit and that provides a space for positioning a portion of the patient's anatomy. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259194 | HYBRID SLOT-SCANNING GRATING-BASED DIFFERENTIAL PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING - Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining a phase-contrast digital mammography system and methods for same that can include an x-ray source for radiographic imaging; a beam shaping assembly including a filter or a tunable monochromator, a collimator, a source grating, an x-ray grating interferometer including a phase grating, and an analyzer grating; and an x-ray detector; where the source grating, the phase grating, and the analyzer grating are aligned in such a way that the grating bars of these gratings are parallel to each other. | 10-03-2013 |
20130272493 | RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING DEVICE, RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING METHOD AND PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - A radiographic imaging device includes a compression plate, irradiation detection sections, and a correction section. The compression plate that compresses an imaging site of a subject between the compression plate and an imaging face of an imaging table, and that inclines with respect to the imaging face in accordance with the imaging site during the compression. The irradiation detection sections, each of which is provided at a different position on the imaging face and detects an irradiation amount of irradiated radiation. The correction section that corrects detection results from the plural irradiation detection sections using correction coefficients that are based on the thickness of the imaging site compressed by the compression plate and on the positions of the plural irradiation detection sections. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272494 | X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY WITH 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. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272495 | High Dynamic Range Mammography Using a Restricted Dynamic Range Full Field Digital Mammogram - Methods of imaging a breast comprising acquiring a sequence of image data sets having differing exposure parameters; and combining the image data sets into a mammography image having greater dynamic range than the dynamic range of any single component image data set. Disclosed methods may further comprise determining an exposure parameter of one or more component image data sets prior to acquiring the sequence of image data sets. The step of determining an exposure parameter of one or more component image data sets may comprise determining exposure duration or an exposure irradiation level. Also disclosed are mammography apparatus and systems to obtain images according to the disclosed methods. | 10-17-2013 |
20130301796 | PHOTOGRAPHING DEVICE INCLUDING A POWER TRANSMISSION BODY SELECTIVELY COUPLED TO A ROTATING ARM AND TO A SUPPORT - The present invention relates to a photographing device including a power transmission unit. The power transmission unit includes a frame unit which is connected to the second drive body, an adaptor unit which is connected to the frame unit and is selectively connected to the first drive body or the support body by external power, an actuating unit which operates the adaptor unit, and a power unit which transmits power to the actuating unit. According to the power transmission unit of the X-ray mammography device, since biopsy photography and tomography can be performed using only one power transmission unit, the weight and size of the rotating arm may be reduced, and the vibration and noise produced thereby may be reduced. Thanks to the simple operation mechanism of the power transmission unit, power loss may be reduced, and the durability of each component may be improved. | 11-14-2013 |
20130336444 | RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - In a case where a series of operations of an imaging sequence are continuously performed when an imaging switch is continuously in ON state, if the imaging switch is turned into OFF state only for a given period and the given period is not more than a predetermined threshold value, control is exerted such that part of the operations of the imaging sequence is continuously performed. | 12-19-2013 |
20140003574 | 3D Mammography | 01-02-2014 |
20140010344 | MEDICAL IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM - A medical image display system is shown. The medical image display system includes, a fringe scanning type capturing apparatus or a Fourier transformation type capturing apparatus; an image processing section; a display section; and a control section. The capturing apparatus includes, an X-ray source; a first grating and a second grating; a subject table; and an X-ray detector. The image processing section generates a plurality of reconstructed images for diagnosis based on an image signal of a subject captured with the capturing apparatus. The display section displays at least two of the plurality of reconstructed images. The control section detects an abnormal candidate on each of the plurality of reconstructed images and controls display order of the plurality of reconstructed images displayed on the display section based on a result of detecting. | 01-09-2014 |
20140016741 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR A DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - In this device and the associated method, a connection unit that can be attached to an arm bearing an x-ray source and an x-ray receiver is fashioned such that said connection unit compensates for a pivot movement of the arm so that a compression unit arranged at the connection unit remains stationary during a pivot movement. | 01-16-2014 |
20140016742 | COLLIMATOR ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD - The present invention relates to a method and an X-ray apparatus comprising an X-ray source, an x-ray detector, and at least a first collimator having a first active position and a second collimator having a second active position for forming a bundle of X-ray beams, wherein both of said active positions are located in a substantially straight path between said X-ray source and said detector, but at different distances from said X-ray source. The X-ray apparatus further comprises a selector arrangement for switching one of said first or second collimators in said first or second active position, whereby when one of said first or second collimators is in an active position the other collimator is in an inactive position. | 01-16-2014 |
20140029718 | FIDUCIAL SYSTEMS FOR MAMMOGRAPHY - A system is described for breast imaging that includes spatially registering sequential mammographic images of the same breast. The system includes a first compression member configured to contact a first side of a breast, a second compression member configured to contact a second side of a breast that is substantially opposite the first side. The system further includes a first image sensor, coupled to the first compression member and configured to detect a position of a first fiducial marker located at the first side of the breast, and a second image sensor, coupled to the second compression member and configured to detect a position of a second fiducial marker located at the second side of the breast. | 01-30-2014 |
20140037051 | Apparatus and Method for Diagnosing Lesions - Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for diagnosing lesions. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for diagnosing lesions capable of precisely diagnosing lesions such as breast cancer by digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). The present invention enables the improvement of lesion diagnosis accuracy and early diagnosis rates. | 02-06-2014 |
20140044230 | System and Method for Low Dose Tomosynthesis - A breast imaging system leverages the combined strengths of two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging to provide a breast cancer screening with improved sensitivity, specificity and patient dosing. A tomosynthesis system supports the acquisition of three-dimensional images at a dosage lower than that used to acquire a two-dimensional image. The low-dose three-dimensional image may be used for mass detection, while the two-dimensional image may be used for calcification detection. Obtaining tomosynthesis data at low dose provides a number of advantages in addition to mass detection including the reduction in scan time and wear and tear on the x-ray tube. Such an arrangement provides a breast cancer screening system with high sensitivity and specificity and reduced patient dosing. | 02-13-2014 |
20140044231 | Integrated Multi-Mode Mammography/Tomosynthesis X-Ray System and Method - 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. | 02-13-2014 |
20140064444 | X-RAY IMAGING DEVICE AND X-RAY IMAGE FORMING METHOD - The X-ray imaging device includes an X-ray generator to generate an X-ray and radiate the X-ray to an object, an X-ray detector to detect the X-ray passing through the object and acquire an image signal of the object, and a controller to analyze the image signal of the object, evaluate a characteristic of the object and generate at least one of a single energy X-ray image and a multiple energy X-ray image according to the evaluated characteristic. | 03-06-2014 |
20140072100 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING X-RAY MAMMOGRAM - An X-ray imaging method and apparatus are provided for forming an X-ray image having reduced noise and showing a clear boundary of a lesion region. The X-ray imaging method includes performing a first main shot which irradiates an object in a compressed state by using X-rays at least once to obtain a single two-dimensional image, performing a second main shot which irradiates the object by using X-rays at different positions to obtain a plurality of two-dimensional images, and forming a two-dimensional final image by removing a lesion region having a unclear boundary from each of the plurality of two-dimensional images and substituting a lesion region of the single two-dimensional image into an area which corresponds to the removed lesion region. | 03-13-2014 |
20140093033 | PRESS PLATE AND RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A press plate includes: a press section that is disposed to face towards an imaging face of an imaging table and is resiliently deformable; and a movable support point portion that is movable and supports the press section at the opposite side to the imaging face so that a reaction force occurring at the press section is adjusted according to a position of the movable support point portion to support the press section. The press plate may further include: a support section that is disposed separated from the press section on the opposite side to the imaging face and with at least one end portion coupled to one end portion of the press section, wherein the movable support point portion is movable between the press section and the support section so that a deformation amount of the press section is adjusted by such movement. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093034 | PRESS PLATE AND RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A press plate includes: a press section that is disposed to face towards an imaging face of an imaging table and is resiliently deformable; and a reaction force section that is capable of supporting the press section from the opposite side to the imaging face, that has a variable support force, and that adjusts the reaction force arising in the press section by changing the support force to the press section. The press plate may further includes a reaction force adjustment mechanism that changes the support force of the reaction force section. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093035 | GAMMA RADIATION BREAST IMAGING APPARATUS - A gamma radiation breast imaging apparatus, comprising an object positioning device, defining an imaging space and having as an intended insertion direction of the breast to be imaged, and a gamma camera positioned to image a volume in said imaging space. The gamma camera comprises a collimator with a first plurality of focused pinholes, the individual fields of view of the first pinholes defining a common central field of view having a geometrical centre. The apparatus also has a gamma sensitive detector to receive images from the collimator. The first pinholes are provided non-symmetrically with respect to a first plane through said geometrical centre that is perpendicular to the collimator and parallel to said intended insertion direction. Hereby, more angular information about the scanned volume can be obtained for the same detector size, in particular when combined with a similar opposite camera. | 04-03-2014 |
20140098935 | Mammography System and Method Employing Offset Compression Paddles, Automatic Collimation, and Retractable Anti-scatter Grid - A mammographic imaging system is optimized for use with a single fixed size flat panel digital image receptor. It accommodates compression devices (paddles) of varying sizes, and positions them properly in a field of view of the image receptor. When a compression paddle with size smaller than the field of view of the image receptor is used, the compression paddle can be shifted laterally in the direction parallel to the chest wall, so as to facilitate different views of different size breasts, and permit the image receptor to image as much of the desired tissue as possible. An automatic X-ray collimator restricts the X-ray illumination of the breast in accordance with the compression paddle size and location in the field of view. An anti-scatter grid, mounted inside the image receptor enclosure, just below the top cover of the enclosure, can be retracted out of the field of view of the image receptor for use in magnification imaging. | 04-10-2014 |
20140112434 | X-RAY GENERATION MODULE, X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS, AND X-RAY IMAGING METHOD - Disclosed is an X-ray imaging apparatus, which includes a plurality of X-ray generation modules configured to emit X-rays to a subject, the X-ray generation modules being configured to move independently of one another, an X-ray detector configured to detect a plurality of X-rays emitted from the plurality of X-ray generation modules and which have passed through the subject, and an image processor configured to acquire a plurality of X-ray images from the plurality of detected X-rays. | 04-24-2014 |
20140119504 | Radiography apparatus - A radiography apparatus for mammography comprises a supporting column or stand having a main direction of development, a ground supporting base to which the column is secured and a radiography assembly; the radiography assembly, secured in a sliding manner to said column and moving along the same between a first operational position and a second operational position, comprises an emitter of rays for radiography, a corresponding detector for acquisition of the image obtained by means of said rays and a system for positioning and maintaining in position a breast to be X-rayed, operationally active between said emitter and detector; the column moves with respect to the base between a first raised operational position and a second lowered operational position. | 05-01-2014 |
20140119505 | RADIATION TOMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - Provided is a preview image generating section configured to generate preview image during radiography for the purpose of providing a radiation tomography apparatus that allows suppression of unnecessary imaging time by displaying a condition of an image during the radiography in the process of diagnosis. An operator can recognize from the preview image how a subject appears in the image in a radiation tomography apparatus also during the radiography. This allows stopping the radiography before a diagnostic image having a suitable level of clearness for diagnosis is generated. As a result, a shorter imaging time is achieved, and burden to the subject can be suppressed. | 05-01-2014 |
20140177791 | PRESS PLATE AND RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A press plate that includes: a plate shaped press portion that is capable of resilient deformation; a first slit that is provided to a first wall portion of a support body with length direction along a first edge portion of the press portion, and that penetrates the first wall portion; second slits that are provided to a second wall portions of the support body with length direction along second edge portions of the press portion, and that penetrate the second wall portions; and a first corner portion slit that is provided straddling a corner portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion and penetrating the corner portion, that is connected to the first slit, and that is disposed at a separation to the second slit. | 06-26-2014 |
20140185747 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING EXAMINATION TIME IN MOLECULAR BREAST IMAGING - A nuclear medicine mammography system and method for conducting concurrent examinations of both breasts of a patient, thereby reducing examination time in molecular breast imaging. The system comprises first and second pairs of generally opposed articulatable gamma photon detectors, wherein each pair of detectors can be arranged to image a respective breast independently from the other pair of detectors. In one or more embodiments, each pair of detectors can be arranged in at least two imaging orientations, such as cranio-caudal and mediolateral-oblique. | 07-03-2014 |
20140198896 | ADAPTING A SCAN MOTION IN AN X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, the x-ray apparatus comprises an x-ray source adapted to emit an x-ray beam, a detector adapted to receive the x-ray beam of the x-ray source, wherein the x-ray source is adapted to be moved in relation to a first portion of the x-ray apparatus, wherein the detector is adapted to be moved in relation to a first portion of the x-ray apparatus, the x-ray apparatus further comprising a control unit for controlling the movement of the x-ray source and detector, wherein the x-ray source and the detector are adapted to rotate in relation to a first portion of the x-ray apparatus, wherein further the x-ray beam is directed essentially towards the detector during the movement of the x-ray source and the detector. | 07-17-2014 |
20140198897 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, X-RAY IMAGING METHOD AND MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray image acquisition unit, a control system and a display processing part. The X-ray image acquisition unit is configured to acquire X-ray image data of an object by using at least one imaging system. The control system is configured to control the imaging system to acquire frames of X-ray image data corresponding to mutually different not less than three directions by reciprocating the imaging system. The display processing part is configured to generate stereoscopically visible image data with lining up the frames of the X-ray image data in a display order different from an acquisition order of the frames of the X-ray image data. The display order is according to a moving direction of the imaging system. | 07-17-2014 |
20140294142 | X-RAY IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An X-ray imaging device and a method for controlling the same generates radiant heat to elevate a temperature of an area of the X-ray imaging device contacting the breast and thereby reduces patient's discomfort, and controls a temperature to maintain the temperature. | 10-02-2014 |
20140301529 | X-RAY IMAGING WITH X-RAY MARKERS THAT PROVIDE ADJUNCT INFORMATION BUT PRESERVE IMAGE QUALITY - A method and an apparatus for estimating a geometric thickness of a breast in mammography/tomosynthesis or in other x-ray procedures, by imaging markers that are in the path of x-rays passing through the imaged object. The markings can be selected to be visible or to be invisible when the composite markings/breast image is viewed in clinical settings. If desired, the contribution of the markers to the image can be removed through further processing. The resulting information can be used determining the geometric thickness of the body being x-rayed and thus setting imaging parameters that are thickness-related, and for other purposes. The method and apparatus also have application in other types of x-ray imaging. | 10-09-2014 |
20140307848 | DEVICE FOR CUSHIONING OF COMPRESSION SURFACES - According to the present invention, improved methods and apparatus are provided for providing cushioning and other ergonomic surfaces on devices requiring the patient or tissue to be compressed, such as radiography machines, fluoroscopy units, mammography units and the like. In particular a radiolucent pad element is provided for releasable attachment to at least one surface of a compression device to be used under x-ray, for example, during mammography. The pad element of the present invention can be disposable or constructed to be reusable and in some cases may be applied directly to the patient's breast. Furthermore, a cushioned paddle is provided wherein the compression paddle and the cushion can be separately or integrally formed. | 10-16-2014 |
20140328458 | INDIVIDUAL MONITORING OF COMPRESSION FOR MAMMOGRAPHIC EXAMINATIONS - The present invention relates to mammography. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and a corresponding system for individually monitoring a compression force in an apparatus for mammographic examination for personalized compression guidance. In order to provide a personalized guidance for the compression of the breast in a first step (S | 11-06-2014 |
20140334598 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An X-ray imaging apparatus may include a frame, an X-ray generation unit that radiates X-rays onto an object, an X-ray detection unit that detects the X-rays transmitted by the object, and a compression paddle that is combined with the frame so that the compression paddle is placed above the X-ray detection unit and compresses the object. A frame combining unit may form at least one surface of the compression paddle and may be combined with the frame. A plurality of protrusions may be provided at the frame combining unit so that a type of the compression paddle may be recognized, thereby preventing an error in recognizing the type of the compression paddle. Also, the compression paddle may be combined with the frame by using the protrusions to stably combine the compression paddle with the frame. | 11-13-2014 |
20140341336 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - An X-ray imaging apparatus and method for controlling the X-ray imaging apparatus are provided. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray source configured to generate and emit X-rays onto an object, an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays transmitted through the object and convert the X-rays into an electrical signal, a heating portion located at an upper portion of the X-ray detector configured to contact a lower part of the object, a heat transfer portion configured to transfer heat produced in the X-ray source to the heating portion, and a thermal insulation member located between the X-ray detector and the heating portion configured to block heat from being transferred to the X-ray detector. | 11-20-2014 |
20140341337 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DYNAMICALLY MODIFYING ACQUISITION PARAMETER DURING IMAGE ACQUISITION - Systems and methods for automatically and dynamically modifying an image acquisition parameter for use in tomosynthesis breast imaging. A selected image acquisition parameter is modified in response to a measured characteristic of an imaged object such as a breast, and thus tailored to provide the highest quality image for the particular object. For example, image quality in a breast tomosynthesis system can be improved by dynamically varying motion and other acquisition parameters of the tomosynthesis system in response to physical characteristics of the breast to be imaged (determined during image acquisition), such as the breast thickness, density or composition. Dynamically varying acquisition or processing methods helps to customize the system for each particular patient, thereby improving image quality and identification and assessment of potential pathologies and abnormalities, and lower radiation dose, and thus a reduced the risk of long-term adverse health effects due to lifetime accumulated radiation dose. | 11-20-2014 |
20140341338 | Mammography-Apparatus, Paddle and Method of Measuring a Contact Area Between a Breast and the Mammography-Apparatus - Mammography-apparatus for detecting malignant cells in a breast, comprising an x-ray source and an x-ray detector that cooperates with the x-ray source for providing an x-ray image of said breast, and further comprising a paddle for flattening the breast by pressing it against said x-ray detector, and comprising a contact area measuring device for measuring a contact area between the breast and the paddle, wherein the contact area measuring device is embodied with at least a first laminate of an electrically insulating material and an electrically low resistance material, which first laminate is provided on a side of the paddle facing the breast, and wherein the electrically low resistance material is sandwiched between the paddle and the insulating material. | 11-20-2014 |
20140348291 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - Provided is an X-ray imaging apparatus including an X-ray source to emit an X-ray onto a breast, a detector assembly configured to detect the X-ray transmitted through the breast, a compression paddle configured to compress the breast positioned on the detector assembly, a paddle manipulator configured to control the compression paddle according to a command, a degree-of-compression sensor configured to measure a degree of compression to which the breast is compressed by the compression paddle, and a pressure controller configured to supply a pressure corresponding to the measured degree of compression of the breast to the paddle manipulator. | 11-27-2014 |
20140376691 | MAMMOGRAPHY METHOD AND APPARATUS TO GENERATE AN X-RAY TOMOSYNTHESIS IMAGE OF A BREAST OF A PATIENT - In a mammography method and apparatus to generate a tomosynthetic x-ray image of a breast of a patient, two tomosynthesis scans are implemented in chronological succession with x-ray energies that differ from one another. In one of the two tomosynthesis scans a synthetic projection image is generated from at least two projection images acquired in this tomosynthesis scan, this synthetic projection image corresponding to a projection at a projection angle at which a projection image has been acquired in the other tomosynthesis scan. A difference image that is used to reconstruct the tomosynthesis x-ray image is generated from this synthetic projection image and the projection image acquired in the other tomosynthesis scan. Alternatively, in each tomosynthesis scan a respective synthetic projection image is generated from at least two respective projection images acquired in that tomosynthesis scan. Each synthetic projection image represents a projection at the same projection angle. A difference image that is used to reconstruct the tomosynthesis x-ray image is generated from these two synthetic projection images. | 12-25-2014 |
20150030122 | METHOD FOR DUAL-ENERGY MAMMOGRAPHY - The invention relates to a method for dual-energy mammography. To enable earlier recognition of the microcalcifications as precursors of an oncological tumor in the breast, the invention provides that a comparison pattern with known distributions for density, thickness and effective atomic number are disposed next to the breast; that based on the comparison pattern, the parameters of the relationship between the atomic number and the difference and ratio of the logarithms of the number of photons that flow through the breast without cooperation at two different radiation energies are determined; and that based on this relationship, the distribution of the atomic numbers in the breast are visually displayed. | 01-29-2015 |
20150030123 | SYSTEM FOR NON-INVASIVE CLASSIFICATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MICRO-CALCIFICATIONS IN HUMAN TISSUE - A non-invasive method distinguishes between two types of micro-calcification by x-ray imaging in mammography. Two major types of micro-calcifications are found and confirmed by histopathology and they are correlated to benign and malignant breast lesions. Distinguishing between them non-invasively will significantly improve early breast cancer diagnosis. This is based on the fact that these two types of micro-calcifications show opposite absorption and small-angle scattering signals in x-ray imaging. The imaging system, which can record these two signals of the breast tissue simultaneously for instance, an x-ray grating interferometer, can be used to uniquely determine the micro-calcification type. This is expected to be used in mammography to improve early breast cancer diagnosis, increase diagnosis accuracy and decrease the biopsy rate. | 01-29-2015 |
20150036796 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - In a mammography apparatus, a deflection of an x-ray source aligned on a radiation detector is predetermined depending on the size of a breast compressed in the compression unit and/or the density of the breast tissue. Given an increasing deflection on an arc-shaped trajectory of the x-ray source, the compression of the breast is reduced at least once so that the path of the x-rays through the breast stays within a predetermined path length, starting from a first compression in a first x-ray acquisition. | 02-05-2015 |
20150043711 | Mammography Apparatus and Method to Adjust or Tune the Mechanical Settings of Such a Mammography Apparatus - A method to adjust or tune mechanical settings of a mammography apparatus comprising an x-ray source, a paddle and a detector with a detector cover, wherein before executing an x-ray measurement a patient's breast is placed and compressed between the detector cover and the paddle, wherein prior to the x-ray measurement reaction forces between the mammography apparatus and the patient's breast are minimized. The invention relates further to a mammography apparatus comprising an x-ray source, a paddle and a detector with a detector cover, which apparatus is provided with at least one weighing means to measure the downwards forces exerted by (the part of) the apparatus above the weighing means towards the ground. | 02-12-2015 |
20150055746 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An X-ray imaging apparatus automatically distinguishes between right and left breasts during mammography. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes: an X-ray assembly configured to press a breast, irradiate X-rays onto the pressed breast, and detect X-rays transmitted through the breast; two handles respectively provided in both sides of the X-ray assembly so that a patient is able to grip the handles, each handle including a sensor for detecting the patient's grip; and a controller configured to determine a position of a handle including the sensor that has detected the patient's grip, and to determine that a breast subject to mammography is a breast corresponding to the determined position. | 02-26-2015 |
20150110242 | OPTICAL FIBER PROBE ARRANGEMENT FOR USE WITH X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY - An exemplary apparatus can be provided to determine information regarding a sample(s), which can include, for example an arrangement(s) composed of, at least partially, a particular material in a predetermined area thereof, and including a light facilitating device that can be configured to provide or receive a light radiation(s) to or from the sample(s). The particular material can have a characteristic which can facilitate a sufficient amount of X-ray radiation to pass therethrough so as to generate an X-ray image(s). An X-ray absorption of the material can be at most about 10 times that of a ¼″ acrylic plate. The light facilitating device can include a light transmitting configuration which can provide the light radiation(s) to the sample. | 04-23-2015 |
20150131778 | SPECIMEN RADIOGRAPHY WITH TOMOSYNTHESIS IN A CABINET - A method and system for producing tomosynthesis images of a breast specimen in a cabinet x-ray system. An X-ray source delivers X-rays through a specimen of excised tissue and forms an image at a digital X-ray detector. Multiple X-ray images are taken as the X-ray source moves relative to the stationary breast specimen. In the preferred embodiment, the X-ray source moves in a range from about 350° to and including about 10°. The source may travel substantially along a path that generally defines an arc, or linearly, while the detector remains stationary throughout and the source remains substantially equidistant from the specimen platform. The set of X-ray image data taken at the different points are combined to form a tomosynthesis image that can be viewed in different formats, alone or as an adjunct to conventional specimen radiography. | 05-14-2015 |
20150297150 | Mammography Apparatus and Method to Monitor and/or Adjust the Settings of Such a Mammography Apparatus - Method and apparatus for monitoring and/or adjusting the settings of a mammography apparatus comprising a mainframe, a subframe mounted in the mainframe, wherein the subframe supports an x-ray source, a paddle and a detector with a detector cover, including providing of a suspension for connecting the paddle with the subframe, wherein the suspension of the paddle is provided with force sensors for obtaining a measurement signal that is indicative of an amount of compression applied with the paddle to a breast. | 10-22-2015 |
20150297156 | LOW-DOSE X-RAY BACKSCATTER SYSTEM FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL MEDICAL IMAGING USING A CONVENTIONAL X-RAY TUBE - An x-ray source emits a cone beam to a rotating, x-ray-opaque disc with radial slots. The slots break the cone beam into fan beams that are emitted to an x-ray-opaque plate that produces a scanning x-ray pencil beam as each fan beam moves across a slit in the plate. A backscatter detector is adjacent to the plate. A collimator is adjacent. The pencil beam enters the object space through slits in the detector and collimator. The pencil beam moves rapidly in the y direction in the object space, producing backscatter x-rays from the object. The collimator only passes backscattered x-rays at a selected distance from the detector. Simultaneously, the assemblage of x-ray source, disc, plate, detector, and collimator moves slowly in the x and z directions. The backscattered x-rays passed by the collimator are processed to form planar images at various depths in the object space. | 10-22-2015 |
20150297163 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed herein are an X-ray imaging apparatus for providing information about accurate breast density, and a control method of the X-ray imaging apparatus. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes a reconstructing unit configured to reconstruct volumes relating to an object from an X-ray image of the object, a first reference image of the object generated based on the object being of only adipose tissue, and a second reference image of the object generated based on the object being of only fibroglandular tissue, and a density calculator configured to calculate a density of the object that is a ratio of fibroglandular tissue of the object with respect to entire tissue of the object using the reconstructed volumes of the object. | 10-22-2015 |
20150320368 | X-RAY PHOTOGRAPHY MACHINE - Disclosed herein is an X-ray photography machine ( | 11-12-2015 |
20150327822 | METHOD FOR ASSISTED POSITIONING OF AN ORGAN ON A PLATFORM OF A MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - A method for assisted positioning of an organ is provided. An acquisition system comprises a platform underneath which a detector is placed for the acquisition of radiographic medical images, during which a radiation source is moved over different successive positions with respect to the detector, wherein at least one medical image is acquired at each position of the radiation source. The method comprises illuminating the platform with a light source of the acquisition system to assist the positioning of the organ on the platform; and determining, with a drive unit of the acquisition system, a positioning limit on the platform based on the distance separating the platform and a compression paddle used to compress the organ and based on the position of the light source relative to the detector, wherein the positioning limit on the platform is a limit beyond which the organ must not lie. | 11-19-2015 |
20150327829 | RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD - Disclosed are a radiographic imaging device and a radiographic imaging method which appropriately set an irradiation condition of radiation according to the presence or absence of an implant in a breast. An implant information acquisition unit | 11-19-2015 |
20150342549 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - An X-ray imaging apparatus includes: an X-ray source configured to transmit X-rays; an X-ray detection assembly configured to detect the X-rays, and to convert the detected X-rays into an electrical signal; an image processor configured to generate an X-ray image based on the electrical signal; and a controller configured to process the X-ray image by changing shades of the X-ray image, and set a region of non-interest of the X-ray image based on the X-ray image and the processed X-ray image. | 12-03-2015 |
20160000386 | METHOD FOR IMAGING AN ORGAN AND MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - A method for imaging an organ with a medical imaging system comprising a radiation source, a detector facing the radiation source, an organ support and a compression paddle, wherein the compression paddle is smaller than the detector, the method comprising offsetting the compression paddle to a position towards a side edge of the detector, moving the radiation source along a trajectory, wherein the trajectory is above the compression paddle and dependent upon the position of the compression paddle, and acquiring images of the organ at several positions along the trajectory. | 01-07-2016 |
20160007943 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINED DUAL-ENERGY MAMMOGRAPHY AND TOMOSYNTHESIS IMAGING | 01-14-2016 |
20160012616 | MULTIMODE X-RAY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE OPERATION | 01-14-2016 |
20160029979 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOW X-RAY DOSE BREAST DENSITY EVALUATION - A system and method for measuring volumetric breast density using a low dose of radiation are provided. This low-dose image can be added to a standard mammographic screening protocol with less than a two percent increase in radiation dose imparted to the subject. This low-dose image can also be used as a single standalone test to determine breast density for younger women for the purposes of risk determination or screening regimen planning The breast density measurement is more accurate than measurements that can be obtained with existing systems and methods by making use of a compression assembly that maintains a parallel alignment between the compression paddle and breast support table. Additionally, the compression assembly maintains a uniform known thickness of the compressed breast. The system and method have the added benefit that they can be readily implemented on a conventional digital x-ray unit with low cost. | 02-04-2016 |
20160045178 | MAMMOGRAPHY DEVICE - Disclosed herein is a mammography device for X-ray photographing an object to be inspected. The mammography device includes: a generator irradiating an X-ray; a support part for an object to be inspected including a detector positioned to face the generator; and a pressing pad moving between the generator and the support part for an object to be inspected to press the object to be inspected, wherein at least one of the support part for an object to be inspected and the pressing pad is rotatably installed at one side of the mammography device, and in a pressing initial state of the object to be inspected, at least one of the support part for an object to be inspected and the pressing pad that is rotatably installed is configured so that a front end portion thereof toward a subject is elastically deflected to a position inclined toward the object to be inspected. | 02-18-2016 |
20160051213 | MAMMOGRAPHY DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING POSITION ALIGNMENT THEREOF - Disclosed herein is a mammography device for X-ray photographing an object to be inspected. The mammography device includes: a device body movable in a vertical axis direction and rotatable around a first horizontal axis; a generator fixed to one end portion of the device body; a support part for the object including a detector; a first moving unit moving the device body in the vertical axis direction; a rotating unit rotating the device body around the first horizontal axis; and a controller controlling the first moving unit and the rotating unit, wherein the controller performs a control so that the rotating unit rotates the device body and the first moving unit moves the device body together with the rotation of the device body in order to position a center of an upper surface of the support part for the object on the same horizontal surface. | 02-25-2016 |
20160051219 | EVALUATION METHOD FOR RADIOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND PHANTOM USED IN EVALUATION - An evaluation method for a radiographing apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging step of imaging a plurality of base phantoms, each of the base phantoms corresponding to a different imaging system and combined with a common evaluation region, and an evaluation step of performing evaluation among the different imaging systems based on an image in which the common evaluation region has been imaged in the imaging step. | 02-25-2016 |
20160073996 | RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - In a case where a series of operations of an imaging sequence are continuously performed when an imaging switch is continuously in ON state, if the imaging switch is turned into OFF state only for a given period and the given period is not more than a predetermined threshold value, control is exerted such that part of the operations of the imaging sequence is continuously performed. | 03-17-2016 |
20160081633 | X-RAY MAMMOGRAPHY AND/OR BREAST TOMOSYNTHESIS USING A COMPRESSION PADDLE - An x-ray breast imaging system comprising a compression paddle in which the compression paddle comprises a front wall and a bottom wall. The front wall is configured to be adjacent and face a chest wall of a patient during imaging and the bottom wall configured to be adjacent a length of a top of a compressed breast. The bottom wall extends away from the patient's chest wall, wherein the bottom wall comprises a first portion and a second portion such that the second portion is between the front wall and the first portion. The first portion is generally non- coplanar to the second portion, wherein the compression paddle is movable along a craniocaudal axis. The x-ray breast imaging system also comprises a non-rigid jacket releasably secured to the compression paddle, the non-rigid jacket positioned between the compression paddle and the patient. | 03-24-2016 |
20160081647 | High Dynamic Range Mammography Using a Restricted Dynamic Range FFDM - Methods of imaging a breast comprising acquiring a sequence of image data sets having differing exposure parameters; and combining the image data sets into a mammography image having greater dynamic range than the dynamic range of any single component image data set. Disclosed methods may further comprise determining an exposure parameter of one or more component image data sets prior to acquiring the sequence of image data sets. The step of determining an exposure parameter of one or more component image data sets may comprise determining exposure duration or an exposure irradiation level. Also disclosed are mammography apparatus and systems to obtain images according to the disclosed methods. | 03-24-2016 |
20160135771 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - Provided is a mammography apparatus that prevents a main body from falling due to damage to a coupling connecting a ball screw, to which the main body is connected, and a motor. The mammography apparatus includes: a main body having an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector; a ball screw to which the main body is connected so as to be movable up and down; a motor rotating the ball screw so as to allow the main body to move up and down; a coupling connecting a drive shaft of the motor and the ball screw; and a brake provided at one side of the coupling. When the coupling is ruptured, the brake prevents ruptured coupling portions from being separately rotated in order to prevent a fall of the main body. | 05-19-2016 |
20160135772 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - There is provided a mammography apparatus capable of delivering a greater load when a breast is released than a load delivered when the breast is compressed by a compression paddle. A mammography apparatus includes a main body having an X-ray generating unit and an X-ray detecting unit, wherein the main body includes a ball screw extending in a vertical direction, a gear unit configured to receive a driving force and be vertically movable along the ball screw, a compression paddle connected to the gear unit and configured to move down in a direction in which the ball screw extends to compress a subject, a handgrip configured to manipulate the compression paddle to be vertically movable, and a power transmission device configured to deliver a driving force delivered from the handgrip to the gear unit, and the power transmission device includes a torque limiter configured to deliver a restricted driving force to the gear unit and a one-way clutch configured to deliver a driving force only when the gear unit moves in one direction. | 05-19-2016 |
20160135773 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a first actuator in which an X-ray source unit is provided in a main body may be rotatable independently from a second actuator in which an X-ray detecting unit is provided. A mammography apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first actuator in which an X-ray generating unit is provided; a second actuator in which an X-ray detecting unit is provided; a rotary arm to which the first actuator and the second actuator are rotatably connected; a first drive source connected to the rotary arm and configured to deliver a driving force to the first actuator; and a second drive source connected to the rotary arm and configured to deliver a driving force to the second actuator, wherein the first actuator is rotatable due to the driving force delivered from the first drive source and the second actuator is rotatable due to the driving force delivered from the second drive source. | 05-19-2016 |
20160151032 | BREAST IMAGING SYSTEM GIVING FEEDBACK INFORMATION TO THE PATIENT AND METHOD USING THEREOF | 06-02-2016 |
20160157804 | ACCELERATED DATA CAPTURE IN AN X-RAY SYSTEM - Data of a predetermined volume portion of an object under examination is captured by an x-ray system that includes an x-ray source and a detector. The x-ray source is activated to generate x-rays that emerge from the x-ray source, radiate through the volume portion, and after radiating through, impinge on the detector. X-rays impinging on the detector are captured pixel by pixel, in order to capture the data of the predetermined volume portion. With the pixel-by-pixel capture, only a subset of all the pixels of the detector is evaluated. | 06-09-2016 |
20160166217 | COMPRESSION PADDLE FOR USE IN BREAST IMAGING | 06-16-2016 |
20160166222 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS | 06-16-2016 |
20160174922 | LOW-ENERGY X-RAY IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING IMAGE THEREOF | 06-23-2016 |
20160183889 | MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS, CONTROL DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD FOR MAMMOGRAPHY APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - A mammography apparatus includes: an imaging table housing a radiation detector that detects radiation that has passed through a breast of a subject; a first press member that presses the breast downward from above in a case in which radiation is being detected by the radiation detector; and a second press member that is provided facing the first press member and that presses the breast upward from below, wherein an end portion of the second press member at a chest wall side of the subject is supported by the imaging table. | 06-30-2016 |
20160183898 | A MAMMOGRAPHIC DEVICE - A mammographic device having a support arrangement for carrying a mammographic head movably mounted on the support arrangement. The mammographic head has a breast clamping assembly, wherein the mammographic head is movably mounted on the support arrangement so as to be movable in response to forces transmittable through the breast clamping assembly via a patient's clamped breast as a result of the patient's body movements. | 06-30-2016 |
20160183899 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING AN IMAGING PROCEDURE OF AN OBJECT OF INTEREST - A device and a related mammography method employing the device are described. The device comprises an x-ray source, an x-ray detector placed under a support plate for supporting an object and arranged to detect the x-rays coming from the x-ray source after they have passed through the object, and a positioning assembly with an arm having multiple degrees of freedom which is a collaborative robot for positioning the x-ray source with respect to the support plate. A method for performing an imaging procedure, which includes placing an object of interest on the support plate; moving the x-ray source relative to the object of interest along a non-planar trajectory to avoid collision with the object; and activating the x-ray source and the x-ray detector so as to detect the x-rays coming from the x-ray source after they have passed through the object, thus obtaining a set of x-ray images. | 06-30-2016 |
20190142355 | X-RAY IMAGING DEVICE AND X-RAY IMAGE FORMING METHOD | 05-16-2019 |