Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Klaus Erhard

Michael Grass

Thomas Buelow

Hanns-Ingo Maack

Hanno Heyke Homann

Ewald Roessl

Frank Bergner

Harald Sepp Heese

Rafael Wiemker

Bernhard Johannes Brendel

Eberhard Sebastian Hansis

Heiner Daerr

Axel Thran

Andre Goossen

Artur Sossin

Jon Erik Fredenberg

Jonas Rikard Rehn

Thomas Koehler

Christoph Herrmann

Roger Steadman Booker

Dirk Schaefer

Christian Haase

Martin Bergtholdt

Claas Bontus

Hans Barschdorf

Nataly Wieberneit

Ruediger Grewer

Henning Per Johan Berglund

Mats Vilhelm Lundqvist

Andreas Loeprich

A spectral X-ray imaging system () includes an X-ray source () and an X-ray detector () that are mounted to a support structure (). The support structure () is configured to rotate the X-ray source () and the X-ray detector () around two or more orthogonal axes (A-A', B-B′). One or more processors () are configured to cause the system () to perform operations that include: generating a spectral image based on the spectral image data; and identifying, in the spectral image, a position of a first fiducial marker () comprising a first material, based on a first X-ray absorption k-edge energy value () of the first material.

X-ray position tracking

A radiation detector () adapted for detecting leakage currents is disclosed and comprises a direct conversion material () for converting incident radiation, at least one first electrode () and a plurality of second electrodes () connected to surfaces of the direct conversion material () for collecting each generated charges upon application of an electric field, at least one current measurement device (), and a plurality of signal processing chains (). Each signal processing chain comprises a readout unit () for discriminating between energy values with respect to the incident radiation, and a switching element () for sending signals on a first signal path () electrically connecting one of the plurality of second electrodes with the readout unit, or on a second signal path electrically connecting the one of the plurality of second electrodes with an input to one of the at least one current measurement devices. A plurality of switching elements is configured to send signals on the second signal path for measuring a leakage current received at a corresponding plurality of second electrodes of the detector in the absence of incident radiation.

Photon counting spectral CT

An Image processing system (IPS) and related method and imaging arrangement (IAR). The system (IPS) comprises an input interface (IN) for receiving i) a 3D input image volume (V) previously reconstructed from projection images (&#x3c0;) of an imaged object (BR) acquired along different projection directions and ii) a specification of an image structure in the input volume (V). A model former (MF) of the system (IPS) is configured to form, based on said specification, a 3D model (m) for said structure in the input 3D image volume. A volume adaptor (VA) of the system (IPS) is configured to adapt, based on said 3D model (m), the input image volume to so form a 3D output image volume (V').

Depth-enhanced tomosynthesis reconstruction

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 present invention relates to an apparatus for tomosynthesis image reconstruction. It is described to provide () a first projection image data set and a second projection image data set acquired after acquisition of the first projection image data set, wherein, the first projection image data set comprises first projection data, and the second projection image data set comprises second projection data, and wherein the first projection image data set is useable for the reconstruction of a tomosynthesis image of at least a region of interest of a body part and wherein the second projection image data set is useable for the reconstruction of a tomosynthesis image of at least the region of interest of the body part. A subset of the first projection data is selected (). An enhanced image of at least the region of interest of the body part is reconstructed () on the basis of the subset of the first projection data and second projection reconstruction data comprising at least a first subset of the second projection data. Information is output () relating to the enhanced image of at least the region of interest of the body part.

Apparatus for tomosynthesis image reconstruction

An image processing apparatus (IP) comprising an input port (IN) for receiving projection data through respective 3D locations in an imaging region, said projection date collected in a scan operation by an imaging apparatus (IM). An image segment generator (IGS) of said apparatus (IP) is configured to generate, based on said projection data, a first image segment for said 3D locations. A visualizer (VIZ) configured to effect displaying said first image segment on a display device before or whilst the image apparatus collects projection data for a different 3D location.

Computing and displaying a synthetic mammogram during scanning acquisition

A system and related method for retrieving, for a first image structure (S) in an initial image (IG), a corresponding image structure (S) in a second image (IG). The system accepts as input a location of the first structure (S) in the initial image (IG) along with an additional structure property such as spectral information to so reduce ambiguity.

Retrieval of corresponding structures in pairs of medical images

The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying medical image data of a body part. It is described to provide () medical data of a body part, and subsets of medical image data from the medical data are determined (). A plurality of measures of information content for the subsets of medical image data is determined (), wherein a measure of information content is associated with a subset of medical image data. A plurality of weighting factors for the subsets of medical image data is determined (), wherein a weighting factor is associated with a subset of medical image data and the weighting factor is determined as a function of the measure of information content for that subset of medical image data. Data representative of the subsets of medical image data is output () as a function of the plurality of weighting factors.

Apparatus for displaying medical image data of a body part

Medical images are acquired in a tomosynthesis process. Processed 3D volume data representing a target acquired from scanning may be viewed from a set of forward projection directions, in which one or more forward projections through the processed 3D volume data is oblique relative to a central acquisition direction of the scanning process. The first set of forward projections is then displayed as a set of synthetic mammograms. Therefore, a medical practitioner can more easily identify abnormalities within a target volume, because the relative displacement of abnormalities at different depths in the target volume will change at different rates dependent on the viewing angle as the viewing position is moved around the target.

Method and device for displaying medical images

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 and related apparatus (VS) for synthesizing a projection image (S), in particular for use in mammography. It is proposed to compute a weight function from one image volume (V) and is then used to implement a weighted forward projection through another image volume block to compute a synthesized projection image (S) across block (V).

Method for generation of synthetic mammograms from tomosynthesis data

The present invention relates to a medical imaging device for generating a breast parameter map in order to improve mammographic images. The medical imaging device comprises an image unit, a raster unit, a definition unit, a generating unit, and a provision unit. The image unit is configured to provide image data of a breast. The raster unit is configured to provide a predefined raster with several subportions, which is preferably predefined based on a predefined coordinate system relative to predefined body characteristics of a standard breast. The definition unit is configured to define several subvolumes in the breast according to the subportions of the raster, preferably by identification of body characteristics in the image data for adaption of the raster subportions to the image data. The generating unit is configured to generate a breast parameter per breast subvolume. The provision unit is configured to provide a breast parameter per breast subvolume in a breast parameter map, wherein each breast parameter is allocated to its breast subvolume.

Generating a breast parameter map

An X-ray system () for acquiring an image of an object has an X-ray detector (), which is segmented into a plurality of neighboring detector tiles. In particular, the image can be a two-dimensional projection image but also a three-dimensional volume of the object reconstructed from a tomosynthesis acquisition. An X-ray detector moving mechanism () is adapted for moving the X-ray detector () at least between a first X-ray detector position and a second X-ray detector position during operation of the X-ray system. An X-ray source (), a collimator () and the X-ray detector () of the X-ray system () are adapted for acquiring a plurality of partial X-ray images through the adjacent detector tiles while irradiating the object with X-ray beams from a plurality of tomographic angles &#x3b1;. The processing unit is adapted for generating a two-dimension image of the object and/or for reconstructing a three-dimensional volume of the object from the acquired partial images.

X-ray system, in particular a tomosynthesis system and a method for acquiring an image of an object

The present invention relates to mammography. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and a corresponding system for individually monitoring a compression force in an apparatus for mammographic examination for personalized compression guidance. In order to provide a personalized guidance for the compression of the breast in a first step (S, S, S) a breast contact area (A) between a breast under examination and a compression plate () or a support plate () is determined. In a next step (S) a compression force limit is determined based on the breast contact area (A). Then, in a further step (S, S, S) an output signal () representative of the relation between the breast contact area (A) and the compression force limit is provided to a user such that the user may decide whether to complete or to continue the application of compression force.

Individual monitoring of compression for mammographic examinations

A method and related apparatus (VS) for synthetic projection images, in particular synthetic 2D mammograms (S) formed from a 3D image volume T made up of slices (SL). It is proposed to compute a forward projection (FP) using a weighted average function that is implemented by a filter (FL). The filter function (FL) is configured such that that voxels in a slice with maximum sharpness are assigned highest weights thereby avoiding blurring by averaging with structurally less relevant slices.

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Hamburg, Germany

Klaus Erhard