Offset Compression Paddle for Artifact-Free Breast Tomosynthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breast tomosynthesis methods using a compression paddle with a smaller frontal width for small breasts result in unwanted edge projections onto the detector, contaminating medical images and degrading reconstruction quality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves offsetting a smaller compression paddle towards the side edge of the detector and moving the radiation source along a trajectory above the paddle, ensuring that the paddle's edges are not projected onto the images, thus avoiding artefacts during 3D image reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a compression paddle with smaller frontal width is used for small breasts, then ease of positioning is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to edge projections onto the detector
Solution Approach 1:
The compression paddle is intentionally positioned asymmetrically relative to the detector, offset towards one side edge rather than being centered. This asymmetric positioning ensures that the paddle's edges do not project onto the active imaging area of the detector, eliminating artifact contamination while maintaining the benefit of using a smaller paddle for small breast positioning.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the compression paddle is centered on the detector, then symmetry is improved, but harmful projections onto images occur
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful edge projections are effectively extracted or removed from the imaging process by offsetting the compression paddle. The paddle is positioned such that its edges fall outside the active detector area, separating the compression function from the imaging function and eliminating the harmful projection effect.
3Area of stationary object
If radiation source trajectory is conventional (centered), then coverage is improved, but artefacts are generated from paddle edges
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source trajectory is adjusted to be asymmetric relative to the detector, aligned with the offset position of the compression paddle rather than being centered. This asymmetric trajectory ensures that the radiation beam consistently illuminates the breast tissue without capturing projections of the paddle edges, eliminating artifacts while maintaining adequate coverage.
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 allows for clear 3D image reconstruction of small breasts by preventing unwanted data from the compression paddle edges from entering the images, enhancing image quality and reducing artefacts.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source, a detector facing the radiation source
Implementation Method 2
acquiring images of the organ at several positions along the trajectory
Data Source
AI summary
A method for imaging an organ with a medical imaging system comprising a radiation source, a detector facing the radiation source, an organ support and a compression paddle, wherein the compression paddle is smaller than the detector, the method comprising offsetting the compression paddle to a position towards a side edge of the detector, moving the radiation source along a trajectory, wherein the trajectory is above the compression paddle and dependent upon the position of the compression paddle, and acquiring images of the organ at several positions along the trajectory.