Patent ID: 7949091
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A fused tomosynthesis/mammogaphy method of imaging a patient's breast with x-rays selectively in a tomosynthesis mode or in a mammography mode, comprising: computer-processing information provided by compressing a patient's breast with a compression paddle to an imaging position between a dual energy x-ray source and a digital x-ray imaging receptor and pulsing the breast with dual energy x-rays from the source and detecting the x-rays received by the digital imaging receptor, thereby generating digital information describing both thickness of the breast and x-ray density of the breast; providing at least the breast thickness and x-ray density information of the breast to a tissue exposure calculator that automatically generates technic factors including kV and mAs for x-ray exposure of the breast; displaying the technic factors generated by the tissue exposure calculator for confirmation or modification by a user; and following said confirmation or modification by the user, taking more than one imaging x-ray exposure of the breast when selectively operating in said tomosynthesis mode and at least one x-ray exposure of the breast when operating in said mammography mode, by automatically using the technic factors confirmed or modified by the user.