Medical optical imaging scanner using multiple wavelength simultaneous data acquisition for breast imaging
AssigneeImaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc.
InventorsRobert H. Wake, Richard J. Grable
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scanner for a medical optical imaging device, comprises an illumination source positioned to direct emitted light into a breast positioned below a support surface; first and second groups of photodetectors positioned in an arc around the breast to simultaneously detect light emerging from the breast; and optical filters disposed in front of the first group of photodetectors to restrict the wavelength of light reaching the first group of photodetectors.
Claims24
A scanner for a medical optical imaging device, comprising:
- a) an illumination source positioned to direct emitted light into a breast positioned below a support surface;
- b) first and second groups of photodetectors positioned in an arc around the breast to simultaneously detect light emerging from the breast;
- and
- c) optical filters disposed in front of said first group of photodetectors to restrict the wavelength of light reaching said first group of photodetectors.
A detector array, comprising:
- a) first and second groups of detectors positioned in an arc around the breast to simultaneously detect light emerging from the breast;
- and
- b) optical filters operably associated with said first group of detectors to restrict the wavelength of light reaching said first group of detectors to the wavelength of radiation emitted by a contrast agent within the tissue after being activated by a laser beam.
An apparatus for imaging a breast, comprising:
- a) a scanning chamber for receiving therein the breast to be scanned;
- b) a laser beam disposed within said scanning chamber for impinging on the breast, said laser beam being adapted to orbit around the breast;
- c) first and second groups of detectors positioned in an arc around the breast to simultaneously detect light emerging from the breast to generate first and second projection data, respectively;
- d) optical filters operably associated with said first group of detectors to restrict the wavelength of light reaching said first group of detectors to the wavelength of radiation emitted by a contrast agent introduced into the breast after being activated by said beam;
- and
- e) a computer to reconstruct an image of the breast from projection data derived from subtracting first and second baseline projection data prior to introduction of the contrast agent into the breast from respective first and second projection data obtained after introduction of the contrast agent.
A method for collecting data for use in image reconstruction of a breast being scanned, comprising:
- a) providing a beam of laser;
- b) providing a contrast agent within the breast;
- c) orbiting the laser beam around the breast clockwise to obtain a first set of projection data;
- d) orbiting the laser beam around the breast counterclockwise to obtain a second set of projection data;
- e) providing first and second groups of detectors positioned in an arc around the breast to detect light emerging from the breast to generate the first and second sets of projection data, respectively;
- f) restricting the first group of detectors to the wavelength of radiation emitted by a contrast agent within the tissue after being activated by said laser beam;
- and
- g) subtracting first and second baseline projection data obtained prior to introduction of the contrast agent into the breast from respective first and second projection data obtained after the contrast agent has been introduced to obtain respective differential projection data to be used in image reconstruction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.