University of Massachusetts

Loral Fairchild Corporation

Andrew Karellas

Srinivasan Vedantham

Michel Sayag

Hong Liu

Sankararaman Suryanarayanan

The invention provides x-ray-based breast imaging systems and related methods that are, for example, applicable to contrast enhanced digital mammography and contrast enhanced digital breast tomosynthesis and allow fast, cost-effective and accurate x-ray imaging.

Apparatus and method for X-ray-based breast imaging

Apparatus and method for x-ray-based breast imaging

Systems and methods for providing radiographic, stereoscopic and tomographic images of an object of interest. Examples of objects of interest are body parts of living beings, such as the human breast and the human chest. The apparatus includes a high-fluence rate x-ray source and a plurality of satellite x-ray sources operating at lower fluence rate than the high-fluence rate source. A controller controls the operation and locations of the sources, and the operation of a detector. The method provides procedures in which the operation of the high-fluence source and the satellite sources are individually controlled as to location and orientation relative to the object of interest. In some operations, one satellite source may be operating while another satellite source may be repositioning. By proper control, a reduced x-ray dose and reduced operating time can be attained, thereby improving image quality, patient care, and patient experience.

Tomosynthesis imaging

A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. Applications include the imaging of radionuclide distributions within the human body or the use of a dual energy source to provide a dual photon bone densitometry apparatus that uses stationary or scanning acquisition techniques. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. A dual energy x-ray source that delivers two different energy levels provides quantitative information regarding the object being imaged using dual photon absorptiometry techniques. Dual scintillation screens can be used to simultaneously generate images of low-energy and high-energy x-ray patterns. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images.

System for quantitative radiographic imaging

A system for x-ray fluoroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charge coupled device (CCD) is used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen re-radiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by the CCD sensor. In a preferred embodiment the imager uses four 8&#xd7;8-cm three-side buttable CCDs coupled to a CsI:T1 scintillator by straight (non-tapering) fiberoptics and tiled to achieve a field of view (FOV) of 16&#xd7;16-cm at the image plane. Larger FOVs can be achieved by tiling more CCDs in a similar manner. The imaging system can be operated in a plurality of pixel pitch modes such as 78, 156 or 234-&#x3bc;m pixel pitch modes. The CCD sensor may also provide multi-resolution imaging. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Other preferred embodiments may include each image being directed on flat panel imagers made from but not limited to, amorphous silicon and/or amorphous selenium to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images used for diagnostic or therapeutic applications.

System and method for x-ray fluoroscopic imaging

A system for imaging of bodily tissue in which an x-ray source, an optical storage element, a light source and a detector array are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the storage element. The storage element reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto a CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of separate images.

A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images.

A CCD-scintillator x-ray image sensor (18) has a high sensitivity at room temperature and a low profile, enabling the use of the x-ray image sensor in most modern mammography x-ray machines. A cassette 10 that encloses the CCD-based x-ray image sensor has the approximate dimensions of 10.5.times.7.7.times.0.6 inches, and is thus form and fit compatible with conventional film-based cassettes. An electronic interface to the cassette requires but a single cable (24) and a standard connector (22) for connection to a CCD sensor electronics unit. The CCD sensor electronics unit interfaces to a computer, such as a conventional personal computer or workstation, having a relatively high resolution display and a provision for digitally recording high-resolution electronic images. The high sensitivity at ambient (room) temperature results from an x-ray scintillator screen (18c) that is coupled to the CCD image sensor (18a) via a bias cut fiber optic faceplate (18b). The CCD image sensor has very low dark current density, high responsivity to the green fluorescence of the screen, and multiple output ports for minimizing the time required for readout and for minimizing the noise bandwidth at the output.

Digital sensor cassette for mammography

Method and apparatus for generating a large-field, high-resolution digital image of an object by sequentially generating multiple optical scenes representative of different portions of the object, and then sequentially directing each optical scene onto an optical detector to generate multiple sub-images of the different portions of the object. Each scene is induced using a separate X-ray sub-beam, each of which is generated by spatially filtering a portion of an incident X-ray field with a spatial filter moving in concert with the scene-directing device. Once generated, the sub-images are combined to form the large-field, high-resolution image.

Digital imaging using a scanning mirror apparatus

An optical imaging system for generating a seamless image during, for example, X-ray imaging procedures. The imaging system features at least two optical detectors, each including an optically active region for generating separate light-induced images, and a fiber optic plate separated by a groove into first and second fiber-containing sections. Each of the first and second sections are connected to a separate optical detector so that, during operation, fibers contained in these sections function to deliver light exclusively to the optically active regions of the connected detectors, thereby allowing generation of separate light-induced images. These images can then be combined to form a seamless image.

Fiber optic plates for generating seamless images

A method for fabricating x-ray-detecting structured screens using laser-based micro-machining techniques results in devices having improved spatial resolution. In one case, each pixel of the screen contains an optically active scintillating material surrounded with a optically inactive material having a relatively lower refractive index; following absorption of light, each pixel channels x-ray-induced phosphorescence to a small region of a detector. Alternatively, the optically active material can be a photoconducting material, such as selenium, and the surrounding optically inactive material is chosen to have a relatively high resistivity.

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Auburn, MA, United States of America

Andrew Karellas