Optical system for breast x-ray computed tomography

An x-ray system for at least one of breast examinations and procedures, comprising:

• a base component;
• a table configured to support a patient in a prone position and disposed proximate said base component with a space reserved therebetween, said table defining an opening that is positioned for a breast of said patient to extend downwards therethrough at least partially into an active spatial region;
• a rotatable x-ray assembly disposed in the space reserved between said base component and said table, said rotatable x-ray assembly comprising an x-ray source and an x-ray detector and being configured to rotate said x-ray source and said x-ray detector at least partially around said active spatial region about an axis of rotation;
• and
• an optical system comprising a first imaging optical detector arranged with an imaging plane that is optically conjugate with a radiation emission region of said x-ray source and a second imaging optical detector arranged in an optical path to said opening of said table,
• wherein said optical system further comprises an image processor configured to communicate with said first imaging optical detector and said second imaging optical detector to provide information of said breast of said patient when said breast is extended downwards through said opening defined by said table.

An optical system configured for an x-ray system, comprising:

• a first imaging optical detector configured to be arranged with an imaging plane that is optically conjugate with a radiation emission region of an x-ray source of said x-ray system;
• a second imaging optical detector configured to be arranged in an optical path to an opening defined by a table of said x-ray system, said table being configured to support a patient in a prone position, said opening being positioned for a breast of said patient to extend downwards therethrough at least partially into said radiation emission region;
• and
• an image processor configured to communicate with said first imaging optical detector and said second imaging optical detector to provide information of said breast of said patient when said breast is extended downwards through said opening defined by said table.

A method for performing at least one of breast examinations and procedures, comprising:

• providing an x-ray system comprising an optical system;
• acquiring optical data of a breast of a patient using said optical system of said x-ray system while said breast extends downwards through an opening defined by a table of said x-ray system, said table being configured to support said patient;
• determining information about said breast of said patient using said optical data;
• and
• controlling at least one parameter of said x-ray system during said at least one of breast examinations and procedures based on said determining information about said breast of said patient.