Contrast-Enhanced X-Ray Specimen Imaging With Dual-Energy Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional specimen imaging systems fail to confirm that tissue specimens removed during contrast-enhanced x-ray imaging, particularly for breast biopsies, include the intended area of interest due to the contrast agent being translucent in low energy images.
Innovation Solution
Capture high and low energy images of the specimen and subtract them to generate a subtracted image where the contrast agent is visible, confirming the specimen was removed from the intended area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If contrast-enhanced x-ray imaging is used to locate lesions in the breast, then the ability to visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity is improved, but the ability to confirm specimen removal using traditional low energy imaging is worsened because the contrast agent becomes translucent
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging process is segmented into two distinct energy phases: a pre-biopsy contrast-enhanced imaging phase to locate the lesion, and a post-biopsy confirmation phase using dual energy subtraction imaging. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized for its specific purpose without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the x-ray energy parameter from low energy (where contrast agent is translucent) to dual energy subtraction mode (where contrast agent becomes visible again). By capturing images at two different energy levels and subtracting them, the contrast agent's visibility is restored in the subtracted image, enabling accurate specimen confirmation.
2Productivity
If traditional low energy imaging is used to capture specimen images, then the imaging process is simple and quick, but the contrast agent becomes translucent making it impossible to confirm the specimen was removed from the intended area
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary dual energy subtraction imaging of the specimen immediately after removal, before the contrast agent dissipates. This preliminary action captures the contrast agent's location while it is still present in the specimen, enabling confirmation that the intended area was removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system switches from traditional single low energy mode to dual energy subtraction mode for specimen imaging. This parameter change restores the contrast agent's visibility by exploiting its different attenuation characteristics at high and low energies, allowing accurate specimen verification.
3Measurement precision
If dual energy subtraction imaging is performed on the specimen, then the contrast agent becomes visible in the subtracted image for accurate confirmation, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The breast imaging system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both pre-biopsy contrast-enhanced imaging and post-biopsy dual energy subtraction specimen confirmation using the same hardware platform. This universality avoids the need for separate specialized equipment, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing system acts as an intermediary that automatically performs the dual energy subtraction calculation and generates the subtracted image. This intermediary processing step handles the computational complexity, keeping the physical imaging hardware relatively simple while achieving the desired measurement precision.
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
Effectively confirms the presence of the contrast agent in the specimen, ensuring the tissue specimen was obtained from the correct area for biopsy by generating a subtracted image where the contrast agent is visible.
Implementation Method 1
capturing a high energy image of the specimen, capturing a low energy image of the specimen, subtracting the low energy image from the high energy image to generate a subtracted image of the specimen
Data Source
AI summary
For a biopsy guided by contrast-enhanced x-ray imaging, a breast imaging system may image a patient's breast subsequent to injection of contrast agent to locate a site for biopsy and/or position a biopsy device relative to the site. Once a tissue specimen is removed from the site for diagnostic evaluation, a confirmation that the specimen was removed from an intended area of interest for biopsy is performed using the systems and methods described herein. For example, the breast imaging system and/or a separate specimen imaging system may capture high and low energy images of the specimen, subtract the low energy image from the high energy image to generate a subtracted image of the specimen, and determine, based on the subtracted image, that the contrast agent is present within the specimen to confirm the site from which the specimen was removed is the intended site for biopsy.