X-ray mammography with tomosynthesis

Abstract

A method and system for producing tomosynthetic images of a patient's breast. An x-ray source that delivers x-rays through a breast immobilized and compressed between a compression paddle and a breast platform and form an image at a digital x-ray receptor panel. Multiple x-ray images are taken as the x-ray source and the receptor move relative to the immobilized breast. In one preferred embodiment, the x-ray source travels from −15° to +15°. The source can travel in an arc around the breast while the receptor travels linearly while remaining parallel and at the same distance from the breast platform. The sets of x-ray image data taken at different angles are combined to form tomosynthetic images that can be viewed in different formats, alone or as an adjunct to conventional mammograms.

1 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A method comprising:
 providing an x-ray source that selectively moves relative to a patient's breast while the breast remains compressed, and a flat panel x-ray imager receiving x-rays from the source through the breast when the source is energized;   selectively placing the source in at least one mammogram position relative to the breast and in a plurality of tomosynthesis positions relative to the breast, and selectively energizing the source in said positions and extracting image data from the imager in response to x-rays from the source impinging thereon after passing through the breast;   processing the image data extracted from the imager to generate at least one mammogram image and a plurality of tomosynthesis images, wherein an x-ray dose to the breast at each of the plurality of tomosynthesis positions is substantially less than that for an x-ray dose to the breast at the at least one mammogram position;   selectively displaying at least one of the mammogram image and at least one of the plurality of tomosynthesis images generated by the processor;   based on the displayed at least one of the mammogram image and at least one of the plurality of tomosynthesis images, identifying an area of interest within the patient's breast; and   inserting a needle into the breast proximate the area of interest.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the needle comprises a biopsy needle. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the needle is hollow and configured to receive a fluid. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising removing at least a portion of the area of interest via the needle. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein identifying the area of interest includes designating the area of interest with coordinates. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising, based on the identified area of interest, further processing the image data to generate additional tomosynthesis images of the area of interest. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising displaying a reference marker on the displayed at least one of the mammogram image and at least one of the plurality of tomosynthesis images. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising receiving a signal identifying the area of interest. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein selectively displaying the at least one of the mammogram image and at least one of the plurality of tomosynthesis images generated by the processor includes displaying the at least one mammogram image and the plurality of tomosynthesis images concurrently. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein selectively displaying the at least one of the mammogram image and at least one of the plurality of tomosynthesis images generated the processor includes displaying a subset of the plurality of tomosynthesis images including the area of interest. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the subset of plurality of tomosynthesis images correspond to tomosynthesis slices, wherein the thickness of the slices are adjustable. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the tomosynthesis slices are planar slices through the breast. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the area of interest comprises a lesion. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein selectively displaying the at least one of the mammogram image and at least one of the plurality of tomosynthesis images generated by the processor occurs concurrently while inserting the needle into the breast proximate the area of interest. 
     
     
         71 . A method of performing a medical procedure with an imaging system comprising an x-ray source, a flat panel x-ray imager configured to receive x-rays from the source through a patient's breast when the source is energized, and a breast compression system, the method comprising:
 compressing the patient's breast, wherein the x-ray source is configured to selectively move relate to the patient's breast while the breast remains compressed;   selecting at least one of a mammogram image mode and a tomosynthesis image mode, wherein the selection causes the system to place the source in the at least one mammogram position relative to the breast and in a plurality of tomosynthesis positions relative to the breast, and wherein the selection further causes the system to energize the source in said positions and extract image data from the imager in response to x-rays from the source impinging thereon after passing through the patient's breast, wherein an x-ray dose to the breast at each of the plurality of tomosynthesis positions is substantially less than that for an x-ray dose to the breast at the at least one mammogram position;   performing a display selection on the imaging system, wherein the display selection causes the system to process the image data extracted from the imager to generate and selectively display at least one of a mammogram image and a plurality of tomosynthesis images;   based on the selectively displayed at least one of the mammogram image and at least one of the plurality of tomosynthesis images, identifying an area of interest within the patient's breast; and   inserting a needle into the breast proximate the area of interest.   
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the needle comprises a biopsy needle. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the needle is hollow and configured to receive a fluid. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising removing at least a portion of the area of interest via the needle.