Dose management system for mammographic tomosynthesis

A method for acquiring a plurality of images of a breast using a tomosynthesis imaging system, said method comprising:

• estimating a compression force to be applied to a breast wherein the force would be substantially equal to a force necessary to acquire an image if using a mammographic imaging system;
• applying a compression force greater than 0 decaNewtons and less than approximately 22 decaNewtons to the breast using the tomosynthesis imaging system, wherein the compression force applied is less than the estimated compression force;
• determining a thickness of the breast based on the compression force applied using the tomosynthesis imaging system;
• adjusting at least one of a geometry parameter to acquire a first view at a first angle and a second view at a second angle, a radiation source anode, a radiation source filter, a radiation source voltage, a radiation source current, a radiation exposure time, a thickness of a reconstructed volume, a detector gain, and a quantity of reconstructed slices, based on the determined thickness;
• scanning the breast to generate a three-dimensional dataset;
• and
• generating at least one three-dimensional image of the compressed breast using the three-dimensional dataset.

A method for operating a tomosynthesis imaging system, said method comprising:

• providing an object of interest;
• estimating a first compression force to apply to the object of interest using a known mammography system, wherein an operator applies the first compression force to the object of interest until a patient experiences discomfort;
• applying a second compression force, less than the first compression force, to the object of interest;
• adjusting the second compression force such that a mammographic compressed breast thickness is increased by 0.5 cm for breasts having a compressed breast thickness of 2-4 cm, is increased by 0.75 cm for breasts having a compressed breast thickness between 4-6 cm, is increased by 1.0 cm for breasts having a compressed breast thickness between 6-8 cm, and is increased by 1.25 cm for breasts having a compressed breast thickness greater than 8 cm;
• and
• using the adjusted mammographic compressed thickness to perform a tomosynthesis scan.

A tomosynthesis imaging system for acquiring a plurality of images of a breast, said tomosynthesis imaging system comprising;

• a detector array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns;
• at least one radiation source;
• a compression force indicator;
• a compressed breast thickness indicator;
• and
• a computer coupled to said detector array and said radiation source and configured to:
• compress the breast, using the tomosynthesis imaging system, until a patient experiences discomfort;
• reduce the compression force applied to the breast such that a mammographic compressed breast thickness is increased by at least approximately 0.5 cm;
• determine a thickness of the breast based on the reduced compression force;
• adjust at least one parameter of an image acquisition process based on the determined thickness of the breast;
• scan the breast such that a plurality of two-dimensional images of the breast are generated;
• and
• generate at least one three-dimensional image of the breast using the plurality of two-dimensional images of the breast.

A tomosynthesis imaging system for acquiring a plurality of images of a breast, said tomosynthesis imaging system comprising;

• a detector array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns;
• at least one radiation source;
• a compression force indicator;
• a compressed breast thickness indicator;
• and
• a computer coupled to said detector array and said radiation source and configured to:
• compress the breast, using the tomosynthesis imaging system, until a patient experiences discomfort;
• reduce the compression force applied to the breast such that a mammographic compressed breast thickness is increased by at least approximately 0.5 cm;
• determine a thickness of the breast based on the reduced compression force;
• adjust at least one of a geometry parameter to acquire a first view at a first angle and a second view at a second angle, a radiation source anode, a radiation source filter, a radiation source voltage, a radiation source current, a radiation exposure time, a thickness of a reconstructed volume, and a quantity of reconstructed slices based on the determined thickness of the breast;
• scan the breast such that a plurality of two-dimensional images of the breast are generated;
• and
• generate at least one three-dimensional image of the breast using the plurality of two-dimensional images.

A computer readable medium encoded with a program executable by a computer for controlling an imaging system, the imaging system including a radiation source and a digital detector, said program configured to instruct the computer to:

• estimate a compression force to be applied to a breast wherein the force would be substantially equal to a force necessary to acquire an image if using a mammographic imaging system;
• apply a compression force greater than 0 decaNewtons and less than approximately 22 decaNewtons to an object of interest wherein the compression force applied is less than the estimated compression force;
• determine a thickness of the object of interest;
• adjust at least one parameter of an image acquisition process based on the determined thickness;
• scan the breast such that a plurality of two-dimensional images of the breast are generated;
• and
• generate at least one three-dimensional image of the breast using the plurality of two-dimensional images.

A computer readable medium encoded with a program executable by a computer for calibration of a tomosynthesis imaging system, the imaging system including a radiation source and a digital detector, said program configured to instruct the computer to:

• estimate a compression force to be applied to a breast wherein the force would be substantially equal to a force necessary to acquire an image if using a mammographic imaging system;
• apply a compression force greater than 0 decaNewtons and less than approximately 22 decaNewtons to the breast using the tomosynthesis imaging system, wherein the compression force applied is less than the estimated compression force;
• determine a thickness of the breast based on the compression force applied using the tomosynthesis imaging system;
• and
• adjust at least one of a geometry parameter to acquire a first view at a first angle and a second view at a second angle, a radiation source anode, a radiation source filter, a radiation source voltage, a radiation source current, a radiation exposure time, a thickness of a reconstructed volume, and a quantity of reconstructed slices based on the determined thickness of the breast
• scan the breast to generate a three-dimensional dataset;
• and
• generate at least one three-dimensional image of the compressed breast using the three-dimensional dataset.