Copper Filter for Contrast-Enhanced Breast Tomosynthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast imaging technologies, such as mammography and tomosynthesis, face challenges in differentiating cancerous tissue from benign abnormalities due to insufficient contrast and tissue overlap, especially when using two-dimensional projections and x-ray energies that are not optimally suited for highlighting contrast agents like iodine.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of contrast-enhanced tomosynthesis with a copper filter, which positions the filter between the x-ray source and the patient's breast to proportionally filter x-ray energies above the k-edge of the contrast agent, enhancing the visibility of the contrast agent while minimizing the illumination of other breast tissues, thereby improving image clarity without requiring software-based subtraction techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional x-ray imaging is used, then breast tissue can be visualized, but contrast between cancerous and benign tissue is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A copper filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the x-ray source and the breast tissue. This filter selectively absorbs lower energy x-ray photons while allowing higher energy photons to pass through, thereby enhancing the contrast of iodine-based contrast agents in the breast tissue without requiring complex software processing or dual-energy imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The x-ray beam energy spectrum is modified by introducing a copper filter that changes the energy distribution of photons. The filter preferentially attenuates lower energy photons (below the iodine K-edge at 33.2 keV) while allowing higher energy photons to pass, thereby optimizing the beam for contrast enhancement with minimal additional system complexity
2Measurement precision
If software-based dual-energy imaging is used, then image contrast is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing complex, expensive software-based dual-energy processing systems, the invention uses a simple, inexpensive copper filter that provides contrast enhancement through physical means. The filter is a passive, static component that requires no power, processing, or complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex software-based image processing system with a simple physical filter. Instead of using computational algorithms to separate and subtract images taken at different energies, a copper filter physically modifies the x-ray beam spectrum before it interacts with the tissue, providing contrast enhancement through straightforward physics rather than complex computation
3Illumination intensity
If x-ray energies below the k-edge of contrast agent are used, then soft tissue is well-illuminated, but contrast agent visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention turns the normally harmful effect of low-energy photon absorption into a beneficial filtering mechanism. By placing a copper filter in the beam path, low-energy photons that would otherwise contribute to soft tissue illumination are selectively removed, allowing the higher energy photons to dominate and provide optimal contrast enhancement of the iodine-based contrast agent
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
This approach produces tomosynthesis images with improved contrast and reduced soft tissue artifacts, allowing for better differentiation of cancerous and benign tissues, comparable to software-based dual-energy imaging methods, without the need for advanced software or processing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the filter proportionally filters a subset of energies of the x-ray dose, wherein the x-ray dose includes at least one x-ray energy greater than 40 keV
Implementation Method 2
the contrast agent has an absorption of the x-ray dose that is greater for higher energies
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for tomosynthesis with an x-ray filter are disclosed. The present technology provides performing breast tomosynthesis in the presence of an x-ray filter. For example, an x-ray filter may be placed between an x-ray source and breast tissue. The filter may proportionally filter out a subset of the energies emitted by the x-ray source. A filter may include characteristics to filter x-ray energies based on a k-edge of a contrast agent introduced into the breast, such that the breast tissue has relatively greater exposure to x-ray energies above the k-edge of the contrast agent to illuminate the contrast agent without substantial illumination of other breast tissue. Thus, tomosynthesis images similar to those obtained using subtraction may be acquired without software-based contrast enhancing techniques.