Breast Imaging System Correlating Functional and Morphological Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for mammography and tomosynthesis imaging struggle with simultaneous evaluation of functional and morphological X-ray image data, making it difficult for radiologists to locate and link regions of interest across different graphical representations.
Innovation Solution
A method and diagnostic station that acquire both two-dimensional functional and three-dimensional morphological X-ray image data from the breast, allowing for the definition and automatic positioning of a region of interest, enabling simultaneous graphical representation of both data sets, thereby facilitating quicker and more reliable diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate evaluation of tomosynthesis and CEDEM recordings is performed, then diagnostic information from each modality is preserved, but the radiologist cannot efficiently locate and evaluate the same region across both modalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines tomosynthesis and CEDEM recordings into a unified graphical representation where corresponding regions are spatially correlated. The system merges the structural information from tomosynthesis with the functional contrast information from CEDEM, allowing the radiologist to evaluate both modalities simultaneously in a single integrated display rather than switching between separate images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a region-of-interest marker as an intermediary element that links corresponding regions across both modalities. When the radiologist defines a region in one modality, the system automatically marks the corresponding region in the other modality, serving as a visual mediator that establishes spatial correlation without requiring the radiologist to manually locate the same region in both images.
2Measurement precision
If manual localization of region of interest in both modalities is performed, then accurate region matching is achieved, but diagnostic time and effort are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automatic localization of corresponding regions across modalities before the radiologist needs to evaluate them. By pre-establishing the spatial correlation and automatically marking regions, the system eliminates the need for manual localization, thereby reducing diagnostic time while maintaining precision through automated algorithms that accurately map regions between tomosynthesis and CEDEM data.
3Reliability
If only single-modality imaging is performed, then device complexity is reduced, but diagnostic accuracy for breast carcinoma is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal diagnostic platform that can handle and integrate multiple imaging modalities (tomosynthesis and CEDEM) within a single system. The diagnostic station is designed to process, correlate, and display both modalities simultaneously, providing multi-functional capability that enhances diagnostic accuracy while managing system complexity through integrated software and unified graphical representation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for simultaneous imaging of functional and morphological image data of a breast includes acquiring functional X-ray image data from the breast of a patient. In addition, morphological X-ray image data is acquired from the breast of the patient in the same breast position and with the same breast compression. A region of interest is defined on the basis of one of the two acquired data sets. A position of the region of interest is then determined in the other of the two acquired X-ray image data sets. The functional X-ray image data and the morphological X-ray image data are then each simultaneously graphically represented with the region of interest as a marked region. A diagnostic station, a non-transitory computer program product and a non-transitory computer-readable medium are also provided.