Tomosynthesis Apparatus Single-Position Breast Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for examining the female breast using mammography and tomosynthesis are cumbersome for patients as they require separate procedures, each involving breast positioning and compression, and do not effectively utilize results from one method to improve the other.
Innovation Solution
A combined method and apparatus that uses a radioscopy test to determine radiation doses for both mammography and tomosynthesis, allowing for a single positioning and compression of the breast, with calculated radiation doses to optimize image quality and reduce radiation exposure, and incorporates scatter radiation suppression and geometric adjustments for improved image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mammography and tomosynthesis are performed as separate procedures, then each method can be optimized independently, but patient discomfort and procedure time increase due to repeated positioning and compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines mammography and tomosynthesis into a single integrated examination procedure. The breast is positioned and compressed only once, and both imaging modalities are performed during this single setup. The x-ray source performs both the mammographic exposure and the tomosynthesis scanning sequence without requiring repositioning or re-compression of the breast, thereby reducing procedure time while maintaining image quality for both methods
2Reliability
If mammography and tomosynthesis are performed as separate procedures, then each method can be optimized independently, but the overall examination process becomes more complex and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges mammography and tomosynthesis into a single patient-friendly workflow. The breast compression is applied once and maintained throughout both imaging sequences. The system automatically switches between mammographic imaging mode and tomosynthesis scanning mode without requiring the patient to adjust their position or the compression force, making the examination more comfortable and easier to tolerate
3Reliability
If separate mammography and tomosynthesis procedures are used, then results from one method cannot improve the other, but performing both separately increases radiation exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a preliminary radioscopy test shot at a low predetermined radiation dose before the main imaging sequences. This preliminary exposure provides information about the breast tissue composition and density, which is then used to calculate and optimize the radiation doses for both the mammography and tomosynthesis sequences. This preliminary action enables dose optimization that reduces overall radiation exposure while maintaining sufficient image quality for both methods
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the preliminary radioscopy test to dynamically adjust and optimize the radiation doses for mammography and tomosynthesis. The determined intensity from the test shot feeds into the dose calculation algorithm, which then sets the first radiation dose for mammography and the total radiation dose for tomosynthesis based on the actual breast composition, thereby optimizing image quality while minimizing radiation exposure
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 reduces patient discomfort and procedure time by allowing both mammography and tomosynthesis to be performed with a single breast positioning, while optimizing image quality and reducing radiation exposure through calculated radiation doses and scatter suppression.
Implementation Method 1
an x-ray source of the tomosynthesis apparatus generates x-rays with a predetermined radiation dose
Implementation Method 2
incorporates scatter radiation suppression and geometric adjustments for improved image quality
Data Source
AI summary
A method to show a predetermined volume segment of an examination subject by means of a tomosynthesis apparatus, and a correspondingly designed tomosynthesis apparatus, operate as follows. A radioscopy test is implemented in which x-rays with a defined radiation dose are generated by an x-ray source, the x-rays traversing the predetermined volume segment and strike a detector, and an intensity of the x-rays striking the detector is determined. A first radiation dose of x-rays is calculated to create a two-dimensional exposure depending on the determined radiation dose and the intensity. A second radiation doses of x-rays is calculated to implement a tomosynthesis depending on the determined radiation dose and the intensity. A tomosynthesis of the predetermined volume segment is implemented with x-rays that traverse the predetermined volume segment and strike the detector, the x-rays being generated by an x-ray source with the second radiation doses.