Apparatus and method for obtaining x-ray tomosynthesis data for mammography
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRalph Allen Hewes, Mehmet Yavuz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for obtaining x-ray tomosynthesis data desirable for mammography. The apparatus operates in conjunction with gravity to quickly and smoothly move an x-ray source through a plurality of positions relative to a stationary digital detector and a patient's breast to obtain a plurality x-ray images of the patient's breast which can then be processed for examination by a physician or radiologist. In one embodiment, an actuator such as a hydraulic system is operably connectable to the radiation source to controllably allow the radiation source to move under the influence of gravity from an elevated position to a lower position relative to the digital detector.
Claims24
An apparatus for obtaining tomosynthesis data of an object, the apparatus comprising:
- a radiation source;
- a radiation detector;
- an actuator operably connectable to said radiation source, said actuator operable to controllably allow said radiation source to move under the influence of gravity from a first position to a second position relative to said radiation detector;
- and
- wherein said radiation source is disposed to emit radiation at a plurality of radiating positions intermediate between said first position and said second position such that said radiation is emitted towards the object to be imaged and said radiation detector.
An apparatus for obtaining tomosynthesis data of an object, the apparatus comprising:
- a radiation source;
- a radiation detector;
- a support;
- an arm having a first end portion attached to said radiation source and a second end portion pivotally attached to said support so that said radiation source is movable along an arc;
- an actuating system operably connectable to said arm to controllably allow said radiation source to move under the influence of gravity from at least one elevated position to at least one lower position relative to said radiation detector;
- and
- wherein said radiation source is disposed to emit radiation at a plurality of radiating positions intermediate between said first position and said second position such that said radiation is emitted towards the object to be imaged and said radiation detector.
A method for obtaining tomosynthesis data of an object, the method comprising:
- positioning a radiation source in an elevated position with the object disposed between the radiation source and a radiation detector;
- irradiating the object with radiation at a plurality of radiating positions as the radiation source is allowed to move under the influence of gravity from an elevated position to a lower position;
- and
- detecting radiation passing through the object at the plurality of radiating positions with the radiation detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.