Patent ID: 6571116
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for imaging a breast, comprising:a) a scanning chamber for receiving therein the breast to be scanned; b) a laser beam disposed within said scanning chamber for impinging on the breast, said laser beam being adapted to orbit around the breast; c) first and second groups of detectors positioned in an arc around the breast to simultaneously detect light emerging from the breast to generate first and second projection data, respectively; d) optical filters operably associated with said first group of detectors to restrict the wavelength of light reaching said first group of detectors to the wavelength of radiation emitted by a contrast agent introduced into the breast after being activated by said beam; and e) a computer to reconstruct an image of the breast from projection data derived from subtracting first and second baseline projection data prior to introduction of the contrast agent into the breast from respective first and second projection data obtained after introduction of the contrast agent.