# US 2019/0318512 A1 · Apparatus and method for visualizing digital breast tomosynthesis and other volumetric images > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0318512 A1 - Document ID: US20190318512A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/446,562 - Filed: 2019-06-19 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-28 - Assignees: Pme IP Pty Ltd - Applicants: Pme IP Pty Ltd - Inventors: MALTE WESTERHOFF; DETLEV STALLING - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318512A1 ## CPC - G06T 12/30: Image post-processing, e.g. metal artefact correction - G06T 7/0014: {using an image reference approach} - G06T 2207/10112: Digital tomosynthesis [DTS] - G06T 2207/30068: Mammography; Breast - G06T 2211/412: Dynamic - G06T 2211/436: Limited angle - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Digital Breast Tomosynthesis allows for the acquisition of volumetric mammography images. The present invention allows for novel ways of viewing such images to detect microcalcifications and obstructions. In an embodiment a method for displaying volumetric images comprises computing a projection image using a viewing direction, displaying the projection image and then varying the projection image by varying the viewing direction. The viewing direction can be varied based on a periodic continuous mathematical function. A graphics processing unit can be used to compute the projection image and bricking can be used to accelerate the computation of the projection images. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: (A) receiving at a server from a client computer, a plurality of measured 2-D projection images, the server comprising a server digital data processor with access to one or more graphics processing units, and the client computer comprising a client digital data processor with access to a graphics processing unit to display a viewport; (B) reconstructing a 3-D volumetric data set at the server from the plurality of measured 2-D projection images; (C) computing at the server a first 2-D projection image from the 3-D volumetric data set based on a first viewing direction generated by a first line drawn between a first position and an object; (D) computing at the server a second 2-D projection image from the 3-D volumetric data set based on a second viewing direction generated by a second line drawn between a second position and the object, where a first angle is subtended between the first line and the second line; (E) computing at the server a third 2-D projection image from the 3-D volumetric data set based on a third viewing direction generated by a third line drawn between a third position and the object, where a second angle is subtended between the first line and the third line, where the second angle is greater than the first angle; and (F) sending from the server to the client computer the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image to be displayed sequentially on the viewport. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the server has a first memory, where one or more of the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image are stored in the first memory. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, where the client computer has a second memory, where one or more of the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image are stored in the second memory. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where at least one of the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image enhances one or more features selected from the group consisting of: i) a microcalcification; ii) an obstruction; iii) a microcalcification using direct comparison; iv) an obstruction using direct comparison; v) identification of the first 2-D projection image; vi) identification of the second 2-D projection image; vii) identification of a microcalcification; viii) identification of an obstruction; ix) direct comparison with the first 2-D projection image; x) direct comparison with the second 2-D projection image; xi) direct comparison of a microcalcification; and xii) direct comparison of an obstruction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the plurality of measured 2-D projection images are Digital Breast Tomosynthesis images. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where two or more of the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image form a video. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where two or more of the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image display a dynamic comparison. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where two or more of the first viewing direction, the second viewing direction and the third viewing direction are selected according to a periodic continuous mathematical function. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where two or more of the first viewing direction, the second viewing direction and the third viewing direction are selected according to one period of a periodic continuous mathematical function. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: providing a server including a graphics processing unit, where the server: (A) receives a 3-D volumetric data set of a tissue of a selected patient reconstructed from a plurality of 2-D projection images; (B) computes a first 2-D projection image from the 3-D volumetric data set based on a first viewing direction; (C) computes a second 2-D projection image from the 3-D volumetric data set based on a second viewing direction, where the second viewing direction is not the first viewing direction; (D) computes a third 2-D projection image from the 3-D volumetric data set based on a third viewing direction, where the third viewing direction is neither the first viewing direction nor the second viewing direction; and (E) sends to a client computer two or more of the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image to be displayed on two or more virtual viewports. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, where the client computer includes a cache, where one or both the first 2-D projection image and the second 2-D projection image are stored in the cache. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the server sending a viewing instruction to the client computer to determine an order of displaying two or more of the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, at least one of the first 2-D projection image, the second 2-D projection image and the third 2-D projection image enhances one or more features selected from the group consisting of: i) a microcalcification; ii) an obstruction; iii) a microcalcification using direct comparison; iv) an obstruction using direct comparison; v) identification of the first 2-D projection image; vi) identification of the second 2-D projection image; vii) identification of a microcalcification; viii) identification of an obstruction; ix) direct comparison with the first 2-D projection image; x) direct comparison with the second 2-D projection image; xi) direct comparison of a microcalcification; and xii) direct comparison of an obstruction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, where the plurality of 2-D projection imgs are Digital Breast Tomosynthesis images. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, where two or more of the first viewing direction, the second viewing direction and the third viewing direction are selected according to a periodic continuous mathematical function. ### Claim 16 A method comprising: providing a server including a graphics processing unit, where the server: (A) receives a plurality of measured 2-D projection images; (B) reconstructs a 3-D volumetric data set of a tissue of a selected patient from the plurality of measured 2-D projection images; (B) computes a first 2-D projection image from the 3-D volumetric data set at a first viewing direction; (C) computes a second 2-D projection image from the 3-D volumetric data set based on a second viewing direction, where the second viewing direction is not the first viewing direction; and (D) sends to a client computer the first 2-D projection image and the second 2-D projection image, where the first 2-D projection image and the second 2-D projection image are adapted for display on two virtual viewports. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, where the client computer includes a cache, where one or both the first 2-D projection image and the second 2-D projection image are stored in the cache. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, a comparison of the first 2-D projection image and the second 2-D projection image enhances one or more features selected from the group consisting of: i) a microcalcification; ii) an obstruction; iii) a microcalcification using direct comparison; iv) an obstruction using direct comparison; v) identification of the first 2-D projection image; vi) identification of the second 2-D projection image; vii) identification of a microcalcification; viii) identification of an obstruction; ix) direct comparison with the first 2-D projection image; x) direct comparison with the second 2-D projection image; xi) direct comparison of a microcalcification; and xii) direct comparison of an obstruction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, where the tissue is a breast tissue. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, where the first viewing direction and the second viewing direction are selected according to a periodic continuous mathematical function.