Patent ID: 7545907
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A mammography method of imaging a breast by obtaining projection data of the breast from a plurality of view angles with respect to the breast, the method comprising acts of: determining a dose budget safe for breast imaging, the dose budget defining a maximum amount of radiation allowable to be absorbed by the breast during imaging; providing radiation, at each of the plurality of view angles, to an exposure area in which the breast is positioned; controlling a radiation energy of the radiation provided at each of the plurality of view angles such that the respective radiation energy is varied depending on a thickness of the breast at each of the respective plurality of view angles such that a sum of radiation absorbed by the breast over all of the plurality of view angles does not exceed the dose budget; detecting at least some of the radiation passing through the object at each of the plurality of view angles to obtain the projection data; and reconstructing the projection data to form at least one image of the breast.