# US 2023/0053489 A1 · System and method for generating a 2d image using mammography and/or tomosynthesis image data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0053489 A1 - Document ID: US20230053489A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/869,235 - Filed: 2022-07-20 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-27 - Assignees: Hologic, Inc. - Applicants: Hologic, Inc. - Inventors: Kevin Kreeger; Andrew P. Smith; Ashwini Kshirsagar; Jun Ge; Xiangwei Zhang; Haili Chui; Christopher Ruth; Yiheng Zhang; Liyang Wei; Jay Stein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230053489A1 ## CPC - G09G 5/377: for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns (G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence) - A61B 6/025: {Tomosynthesis} - A61B 6/502: {for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography} - A61B 6/5205: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data} - A61B 6/5235: {combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT} - A61B 6/5241: {combining overlapping images of the same imaging modality, e.g. by stitching} - G06T 7/30: Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration - G06T 12/20: Inverse problem, i.e. transformations from projection space into object space - G06T 12/30: Image post-processing, e.g. metal artefact correction - G06T 2207/10081: Computed x-ray tomography [CT] - G06T 2207/20221: Image fusion; Image merging - G06T 2207/30068: Mammography; Breast - G06T 2211/436: Limited angle - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract The invention includes a method including the steps of obtaining a plurality of images, each of the images in the plurality having at least one corresponding region, generating a merged image, the merged image also having the corresponding region. The step of generating includes selecting an image source from the plurality of images to source image data for the corresponding region in the merged image by comparing attributes of the corresponding regions of the plurality of images to identify the image source having preferred attributes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for processing breast image data, the method comprising: obtaining a plurality of projection images Tp of a breast, each of the projection images Tp in the plurality having a corresponding region; identifying features within the respective corresponding region of each of the projection images Tp; assigning a weight to the respective corresponding region of each projection images Tp based on the identified features; generating a synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr of the breast, the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr also having the corresponding region, wherein the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr is generated by selecting a source image from the plurality of projection images Tp to source image data for the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr by comparing the assigned weights of the respective corresponding region of the plurality of projection images Tp; generating, from the projection images Tp, a synthesized 2D mammography image of an entire thickness of the breast, wherein the synthesized 2D mammography image of the entire thickness of the breast contains the corresponding region; displaying the synthesized 2D mammography image of the entire thickness of the breast; receiving, in the displayed synthesized 2D mammography image of the entire thickness of the breast, a selection of the corresponding region; and displaying the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr based on the selection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a map for the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr, wherein the map identifies the source image of the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identified features include at least one of speculated lesions, masses, and calcifications. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the source image for the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr is selected based on having a comparatively highest assigned weight for the corresponding region of all images of the plurality of projection images Tp. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr includes at least one pixel from the source image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr is statically pre-defined. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr varies in accordance with a varying threshold of the source image. ### Claim 8 A workstation for reviewing breast image data, the workstation comprising: a processor; a display operatively coupled with the processor; and an interface operatively coupled with the processor, wherein the respective processor and interface are configured to selectively cause the processor to: obtain a plurality of projection images Tp of a breast, each of the projection images Tp in the plurality having a corresponding region; identify features within the respective corresponding region of each of the projection images Tp; assign a weight to the respective corresponding region of each projection images Tp based on the identified features; generate a synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr of the breast, the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr also having the corresponding region, wherein the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr is generated by selecting a source image from the plurality of projection images Tp to source image data for the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr by comparing the assigned weights of the respective corresponding region of the plurality of projection images Tp; generate, from the projection images Tp, a synthesized 2D mammography image of an entire thickness of the breast, wherein the synthesized 2D mammography image of the entire thickness of the breast contains the corresponding region; display the synthesized 2D mammography image of the entire thickness of the breast; receive, in the displayed synthesized 2D mammography image of the entire thickness of the breast, a selection of the corresponding region; and display the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr based on the selection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the respective processor and interface are further configured to selectively cause the processor to generate a map for the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr, wherein the map identifies the source image of the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identified features include at least one of speculated lesions, masses, and calcifications. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the source image for the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr is selected based on having a comparatively highest assigned weight for the corresponding region of all images of the plurality of projection images Tp. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr includes at least one pixel from the source image. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr is statically pre-defined. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the corresponding region in the synthesized 2D reconstructed image slab Tr varies in accordance with a varying threshold of the source image.