Patent ID: 8326009

Claim:
A method for generating x-ray images in a mammographic procedure, comprising the steps of: holding a breast to be imaged in a fixed position in a mechanical retention device; irradiating the breast in the retention device with x-rays and generating first image information in a radiation detector from x-rays attenuated by the breast in the retention device that are detected by the radiation detector, and generating a first x-ray image of the breast in the retention device from said first image information; while the breast is still in said fixed position in said retention device, evaluating said first x-ray image to identify a condition for generating a second x-ray image of the breast; erasing said first image information from said radiation detector; and with the breast still in said fixed position in said retention device, again irradiating the breast with x-rays, according to the condition defined by evaluation of said first x-ray image, and generating second x-ray image information of the breast from x-rays attenuated by the breast in said fixed position that are detected by the radiation detector, and generating a second x-ray image of the breast in the retention device from said second image information.