X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Specific application – Mammography
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-27
2003-08-26
Dunn, Drew A. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Specific application
Mammography
C378S197000, C378S022000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06611575
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to mammography, and more particularly, to a method and system for readily generating three-dimensional images based on tomosynthesis data derived from x-ray examination of a patient's breasts.
Mammography is a low-dose x-ray procedure that creates one or more images of a patient's breasts desirable for detection of early stages of cancer.
FIG. 1
illustrates one example of a prior art mammography machine
10
. Mammography machine
10
generally includes an x-ray tube
12
attached to an arm
14
, which arm
14
is pivotally attached to a support
16
, and a film plate or digital detector
18
attached to an arm
20
, which arm
20
is also pivotally attached to support
16
. X-ray tube
12
and arm
14
, and digital detector
18
and arm
20
, are counterbalanced so that x-ray tube
12
and digital detector
18
may be easily manually pivoted, upwardly and downwardly, and locked in position at different angular orientations.
A typical mammography procedure takes approximately thirty minutes. The procedure generally includes obtaining two images of each of the patient's breasts, one from above and one from the side. For example, separate images are obtained of each of the patient's breasts with x-ray tube
12
and digital detector
18
disposed in a vertically orientated arrangement along axis A (i.e., cranio-caudal) as shown in FIG.
1
. In addition, separate images are obtained of each of the patient's breasts with x-ray tube
12
and digital detector
18
oriented at an angle, e.g., along axis B
1
(i.e., medio-lateral oblique) for one of the patient's breasts, and along axis B
2
for the patient's other breast.
During the procedure, the patient's breast is compressed between a compression paddle
22
, e.g., a piece of radiographically transparent plastic, and digital detector cover
18
to flatten the breast, thereby decreasing the thickness and spreading the breast tissue, making the breast easier to be imaged. In obtaining the images, either from above or from the side, x-ray tube
12
is generally aligned perpendicular or normal to film plate or digital detector
18
. A physician or radiologist then reviews the images of the breast, i.e., mammograms, to identify any breast cancer.
While the above described procedure is one of the best methods of detecting early forms of breast cancer, it is still possible for the breast cancer to be missed by a physician or radiologist reviewing the mammograms. For example, breast cancer may be missed by being obscured by radiographically dense, fibroglandular breast tissue, which is superimposed on the structures of interest in the mammogram.
Tomosynthesis breast imaging, in which a plurality of images or projection radiographs are acquired as the x-ray source is moved in an arc relative to the stationary breast and a stationary digital detector, has been studied in an effort to improve early detection of breast cancer. By shifting, scaling, and adding the plurality of projection radiographs, it is possible to reconstruct any plane in the breast being imaged that is parallel to the detector, thereby “removing” superimposed tissue from the structures of interest.
Visualizing micro-calcifications and masses, cysts, and other diagnostically relevant structures of the breast in a series of two-dimensional (2D) planes acquired from tomosynthesis breast imaging provides important diagnostic information. However, the volume of data is generally large and contains a considerable range of data content. Thus, radiologists essentially attempt to conceptually reconstruct these planes into a 3D structure by viewing approximately, for example, 60-80 images (usually 10 images for each cm of compressed breast thickness and each typically has a 2304×1800 matrix size) which makes this task difficult and time-consuming.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and system to visualize the data in 3D (e.g. Volume Rendering) to readily generate three-dimensional images of a patient's breast in order to aid in diagnosis of abnormal breast structures.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A method and system are provided for generating at least one three-dimensional image of an object volume. The three-dimensional image is generated by applying a selected 3D visualization technique (Volume Rendering, Surface Rendering, or the combination of the two) on the tomosynthesis data. The tomosynthesis data of the object volume is obtained by applying a suitable reconstruction algorithm to a set of projection radiographs acquired by an imaging device for irradiating the volume with radiation at a plurality of radiating positions. The imaging device generates a plurality of spaced-apart planar images through the object volume by executing a suitable reconstruction algorithm. This reconstruction algorithm is based on the projection radiographs derived by detecting radiation at the plurality of radiating positions.
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patent: 00/68863 (2000-05-01), None
Patent Application RD-26,827, “Apparatus and Method For Obtaining X-Ray Tomosynthesis Data For Mammography”, Ralph Allen Hewes and Mehmet Yavuz, Ser. No. 09/409,889, filed Oct. 1, 1999.
Alyassin Abdalmajeid Musa
Claus Bernhard Erich Hermann
Eberhard Jeffrey Wayne
Dunn Drew A.
General Electric Company
Kiknadze Irakli
Patnode Patrick K.
Testa Jean K.
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