Multi-modality image acquisition
AssigneeAnalogic Corporation
InventorDaniel Abenaim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The techniques described herein provide a means for generating an x-ray image and ultrasound image depicting parallel planes of an object under examination and may be used in conjunctions with x-ray or ultrasound techniques known to those in the field (e.g., x-ray tomosynthesis, computed tomography ultrasound imaging, etc.). In one example, one or more x-ray images are spatially coincident to one or more ultrasound images and the images may be combined through spatial registration. It finds particular application to mammography examinations but may be used in other fields that use information from multiple modalities.
Claims26
A scanner comprising:
- an x-ray source configured to emit x-rays into an examination region of the scanner;
- a detector configured to detect x-rays emitted into the examination region that have traversed an object under examination situated therein, the detected x-rays used to generate an x-ray image depicting a first plane of the object;
- and
- an ultrasound imaging apparatus configured to generate an ultrasound image of a second plane of the object that is substantially parallel to the first plane.
A method of acquiring data from two scanning modalities regarding an object under examination, the method comprising:
- acquiring data related to an x-ray image and data related to an ultrasound image of the object under examination such that a resulting ultrasound image depicts a plane of the object that is substantially parallel with a plane of the object depicted in a resulting x-ray image.
A method of acquiring data for spatial registration, comprising:
- detecting x-rays that traverse an object under examination;
- generating an x-ray image of a plane of the object based upon the detected x-rays;
- emitting waves into the object, the waves interacting with the object in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x-ray image;
- and
- detecting waves that interact with the object in the plane that is substantially parallel to the plane depicted in the x-ray image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.