Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Jon Erik Fredenberg

Klaus Erhard

Thomas Koehler

Ewald Roessl

Hanns-Ingo Maack

Björn Cederström

Henning Per Johan Berglund

Karl Erik Lenason Berggren

Mats Vilhelm Lundqvist

The present invention relates to an apparatus for characterization of a feature in a body part. It is describe to provide () tomosynthesis medical data comprising a plurality of images of the body part, wherein the plurality of images comprise image data associated with a plurality of rays of radiation that have passed through the body part, wherein the image data comprises spectral data associated with at least two photon energy levels of the plurality of rays of radiation, wherein the medical data comprises data of the feature. A delineated boundary of the feature is determined (). At least one material composition of the body part inside the delineated boundary is determined () comprising a function of the spectral data inside the delineated boundary. The feature is characterised () as a function of the at least one material composition inside the delineated boundary of the feature. Data representative of the feature is output ().

Tomosynthesis apparatus and method for characterizing a lesion in a breast

The invention proposes to combine spectral image data with non-spectral image data in order to overcome limitations of the different data taking methods. Results from the methods are preferably combined as functions of spatial frequency so that spectral image data provide high accuracy at low frequencies, whereas the non-spectral image data helps reducing the noise at high frequencies. The invention enables a range of applications in different fields of X-ray imaging such as improved tissue contrast and tissue characterization.

Precision and resolution of quantitative imaging by combining spectral and non-spectral material decomposition

The present invention relates to X-ray imaging technology as well as image post-processing. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for computer aided detection of structures in X-ray images as well as an X-ray system. A computer aided detection algorithm visibly determines tissue structures in X-ray image information and subsequently matches the shape of a determined tissue structure with a library of known tissue structures for characterizing the type of determined tissue structure. The determination of a tissue structure and thus the characterization of the type of the tissue structure may be enhanced when employing also spectral information, in particular energy information of the acquired X-ray image. Accordingly, a method () for computer aided detection of structures and X-ray images is provided, comprising the steps of obtaining () spectral X-ray image information of an object, wherein the spectral X-ray image information constitutes at least one X-ray image, detecting () a tissue structure of interest in the X-ray image by employing a computer aided detection algorithm, wherein detecting a tissue structure of interest in the X-ray image comprises the computer aided detection algorithm being adapted to evaluate the X-ray image for tissue structure shape and compare the tissue structure shape with a plurality of pre-determined tissue structure shapes and wherein the computer aided detection algorithm is adapted to evaluate spectral information of the X-ray image for detecting the tissue structure of interest.

Method and X-ray system for computer aided detection of structures in X-ray images

A method for generating an energy-resolved X-ray image is proposed, usable e.g. for mammography or CT applications. First, a preferably low-dose X-ray beam () is directed through a region of interest of an object () such as a female breast and initial X-ray intensity values are acquired. Based on these initial X-ray intensity values, energy threshold values of for example a photon-counting energy-resolving X-ray detector () are specifically adapted to local properties and features of the object (). With such adapted energy threshold values, energy-resolved main X-ray intensity values are acquired for finally generating the energy-resolved X-ray image. The principle of such specific adapting of energy threshold values in energy-resolved X-ray image acquisition may be advantageously implemented in scanning X-ray systems wherein first detector elements () of a scanned X-ray detector () are used to acquire the initial X-ray intensity values in order to then set the energy threshold values for subsequent detector elements () with which main X-ray intensity values are acquired.

Growing community of inventors

Vallentuna, Sweden

Jon Erik Fredenberg