Mammography Trajectory Vertex Calculation for Complete Breast Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mammography tomosynthesis systems face challenges in completely capturing breast tissue, especially in the border regions, due to limitations in detector size and x-ray head deflection, leading to reduced depth resolution and incomplete volume reconstruction.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine the vertices of the x-ray exposure trajectory using a 3D model of the subject, ensuring complete detection by the detector, with a straight line tangent to the subject's surface, allowing for optimized tomosynthesis volume creation and maximum depth resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the x-ray head is deflected at a large angle to improve depth resolution, then depth resolution is improved, but the reconstructable volume size is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the x-ray head deflection angle based on the individual breast geometry detected by the PMD sensor. Instead of using a fixed large angle that would miss border regions, the trajectory vertices are calculated adaptively for each patient's breast shape, allowing optimal depth resolution while ensuring complete coverage of the reconstructable volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the trajectory parameters (vertices) based on detected breast geometry. By calculating vertices that ensure the entire breast volume is captured while maintaining adequate depth resolution, the system optimizes both parameters simultaneously rather than treating them as fixed trade-offs.
2Volume of stationary object
If the x-ray head deflection angle is reduced to increase reconstructable volume size, then volume size is improved, but depth resolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic trajectory calculation based on real-time breast geometry detection. The PMD sensor captures the breast surface shape, and the system computes vertices that ensure complete volume coverage while maintaining sufficient deflection angles for adequate depth resolution in each specific region.
3Reliability
If manual determination of trajectory vertices is used to ensure complete subject coverage, then complete imaging is achieved, but time consumption and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic trajectory vertex determination through the PMD sensor-based 3D breast model creation. The computer automatically calculates the vertices based on detected breast geometry, eliminating the need for manual intervention while ensuring complete subject coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of breast geometry using the PMD sensor before tomosynthesis acquisition. This preliminary 3D modeling enables automatic trajectory calculation that ensures complete coverage without requiring manual adjustment during the procedure.
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
Enables complete reproduction of the subject's shape, maximizes depth resolution, and optimizes the tomosynthesis method in terms of quality and time, ensuring comprehensive imaging and reduced manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
For example, a PMD sensor is used to determine the 3D model.
Implementation Method 2
X-ray radiation from the x-ray source is then triggered at regular intervals, and the respective x-ray image is read out by the detector
Implementation Method 3
During the subsequent reconstruction—for example with the method of filtered back-projection—tissue structures in the breast are enhanced by suitable filtering, displacement and summation.
Data Source
AI summary
The maximum possible vertices for a trajectory are determined with a device for mammography and an associated method, so that the subject to be exposed can be completely imaged on the detector in x-ray acquisitions.