Apparatus and method for breast imaging

An apparatus for imaging a breast of a patient, comprising:

• a gantry mounted on a base comprising a radiation source and a sensor, the source and sensor rotatable in an arcuate orbit about a central axis and within a plane of revolution that has an inclination angle, wherein the arcuate orbit spans more than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees, and wherein the gantry has a gantry cover that is disposed to be in contact with at least the chest wall of the patient and wherein the gantry cover is rotatable independently from gantry rotation and includes:
• (i) a central opening about the central axis for insertion of the breast that is to be imaged;
• and
• (ii) a peripheral cutout portion that defines the end-points of the arcuate orbit and that provides a space for positioning a portion of the patient's anatomy;
• wherein the gantry is pivotable on the base to adjust the inclination angle of the plane of revolution.

A method for imaging a breast of a patient, comprising:

• providing a covered gantry comprising a radiation source and a sensor, the source and sensor rotatable in an arcuate orbit about a central axis and within a plane of revolution, wherein the arcuate orbit spans more than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees, and wherein the gantry has a gantry cover that is disposed to be in contact with at least the chest wall of the patient and wherein the gantry cover includes:
• (i) a central opening about the central axis for insertion of the breast that is to be imaged;
• and
• (ii) a peripheral cutout portion that defines the end-points of the arcuate orbit and that provides a space for positioning a portion of the patient's anatomy;
• sensing rotation of the gantry cover to an angular position for positioning the patient;
• accepting instructions that identifies at least a first angle for a scan over a range of angles;
• obtaining a plurality of images of the patient over the range of angles;
• and
• recording and storing with the obtained image data for the patient at least one of the first angle, a second angle, and the sensed angular position of gantry rotation.