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

Abstract

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.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A system for performing a tomosynthesis scan, the system comprising:
 an x-ray source configured to move in a first direction during the tomosynthesis scan;   a receptor configured to obtain images during the tomosynthesis scan, wherein the receptor is configured to move in a second direction during the tomosynthesis scan;   an anti-scatter grid configured to move during the tomosynthesis scan; and   a breast compression paddle and a breast tray disposed between the x-ray source and the anti-scatter grid, wherein the breast compression paddle and the breast tray are configured to immobilize a breast during movement of the x-ray source, the receptor, and the anti-scatter grid.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is configured to move in conjunction with the receptor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is configured to move independent of the receptor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is configured to move in a third direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         10 . A tomosynthesis imaging system for imaging a breast, the tomosynthesis imaging system comprising:
 an x-ray source configured for movement so as to emit an x-ray beam at each of a plurality of x-ray source positions, wherein the x-ray source comprises a tube comprising a focal spot;   an anti-scatter grid configured to remain focused on the focal spot during movement of the x-ray source;   a receptor configured to receive the emitted x-ray beams at each of the plurality of x-ray source positions; and   a plurality of breast compression elements disposed between the x-ray source and the anti-scatter grid, wherein the plurality of breast compression elements are configured to immobilize a breast during movement of the x-ray source.   
     
     
         11 . A tomosynthesis imaging system for imaging a breast, the tomosynthesis imaging system comprising:
 an x-ray source configured for movement so as to emit an x-ray beam at each of a plurality of x-ray source positions;   a focused anti-scatter grid;   a receptor configured to receive the emitted x-ray beams at each of the plurality of x-ray source positions; and   a plurality of breast compression elements disposed between the x-ray source and the anti-scatter grid, wherein the plurality of breast compression elements are configured to immobilize a breast during movement of the x-ray source.   
     
     
         12 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the receptor is configured for movement. 
     
     
         13 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the focused anti-scatter grid is configured to move substantially in conjunction with at least one of the x-ray source and the receptor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is focused so as to allow passage of x-rays emanating from a focal spot of the x-ray source. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the anti-scatter grid further comprises a less-focused anti-scatter grid having a focus less than the focus of the focused anti-scatter grid. 
     
     
         16 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 10 , wherein both the receptor and the anti-scatter grid are configured for movement. 
     
     
         17 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the receptor is configured to move with the anti-scatter grid. 
     
     
         18 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is configured to move discrete from a movement of the receptor. 
     
     
         19 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 10 , wherein the anti-scatter grid comprises a plurality of anti-scatter grids, wherein each of the plurality of anti-scatter grids comprises a different focus. 
     
     
         20 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the plurality of anti-scatter grids is unfocused. 
     
     
         21 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of breast compression elements comprise a breast tray and a breast paddle, wherein the breast paddle is configured for movement towards and away from the x-ray source. 
     
     
         22 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second anti-scatter grid having a focus less than a focus of the focused anti-scatter grid. 
     
     
         23 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 11 , further comprising an unfocused anti-scatter grid. 
     
     
         24 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the focused anti-scatter grid is decoupled from a movement of the receptor. 
     
     
         25 . The tomosynthesis imaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of breast compression elements comprise a breast tray and a breast paddle, wherein the breast paddle is configured for movement towards and away from the x-ray source.