Continuous Mammography X-Ray Image Acquisition Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mammography procedures are slow and laborious due to the need for multiple x-ray exposures with separate fixation and exposure parameters, resulting in prolonged examination times and increased radiation doses for patients.
Innovation Solution
A method where the breast is continuously fixed in a retention device during a mammographic procedure, allowing for a first x-ray image to be evaluated to determine conditions for a second exposure, enabling simultaneous acquisition of two matched x-ray images with optimized parameters and reduced dose, using digital x-ray detectors that retain charge information for additive exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple x-ray exposures are performed with separate fixation, then diagnostic quality is improved, but examination time and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple x-ray exposures into a single continuous procedure where the breast remains fixed in the retention device throughout all exposures. This merging of fixation events eliminates the time loss associated with repeated positioning while maintaining the diagnostic quality benefits of multiple exposures with different parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The breast fixation is maintained continuously throughout the entire mammography procedure, allowing multiple x-ray exposures to be performed without interruption. This continuous fixation eliminates the breaks and repositioning time between exposures, significantly reducing total examination time while preserving diagnostic image quality.
2Measurement precision
If multiple x-ray exposures are performed with separate fixation, then diagnostic quality is improved, but radiation dose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically evaluates the first x-ray image and uses this feedback to determine optimized parameters for subsequent exposures. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust exposure parameters based on actual image quality, reducing unnecessary radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic quality through intelligent parameter selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes between exposures (such as varying kV, mA, or detector settings) while maintaining continuous fixation. These parameter changes improve diagnostic quality by capturing different tissue contrasts and densities, while the continuous fixation ensures consistent geometry that reduces the need for additional compensatory exposures, thereby controlling radiation dose.
3Measurement precision
If breast is re-fixed between exposures, then exposure conditions can be optimized, but workflow efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple exposure procedures into a single continuous workflow where the breast remains fixed throughout. This combining of procedures eliminates the repetitive fixation steps between exposures, dramatically improving workflow efficiency while the system maintains optimized exposure conditions through automated parameter adjustment based on image evaluation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Significantly shortens examination time and reduces radiation dose by allowing for prompt, successive x-ray exposures with identical exposure conditions, enabling rapid acquisition of high-quality images with minimal patient discomfort and reduced time in the retention device.
Implementation Method 1
Digital x-ray detectors are available that do not erase, but rather retain, the charge or image information arising upon the incidence of x-ray radiation upon readout of a corresponding x-ray image
Data Source
AI summary
In a continuous mammography procedure, the breast of a subject is fixed in place in a retention device, and a first x-ray image is generated by irradiating the breast in the retention device. While the breast is still held in the retention device, the first x-ray image is evaluated to define a condition for generating a second x-ray image. The second x-ray image is then generated according to the defined condition, with the breast still in the same position in the retention device.