Interface device, imaging system and method for rim-imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9161733-B2
Application number	US-201013148323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2010
Priority date	Feb 12, 2009
Publication date	Oct 20, 2015
Grant date	Oct 20, 2015

Abstract

The invention relates to imaging systems in which during imaging of an object a matching medium is used to match the object to its surroundings. An interface device is used for phase contrast rim-imaging of the object, which comprises a compartment in which a deformable matching material is contained which can be pushed to the side when the object to be imaged is compressed. Thus, a lateral field of view for X-ray phase contrast mammography may be increased.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An interface device for phase contrast imaging of an object of interest, the interface device comprising: a compartment comprising a deformable material; wherein the deformable material has a first complex refractive index which corresponds to a second complex refractive index of the object of interest; wherein the compartment and the deformable material are adapted such that the deformable material is pushed away from a region in which a pressure is applied on the compartment when an image data acquisition is performed, wherein the interface device is adapted in form of a bra, wherein the compartment is formed by two layers of a sheet material designed for having the shape of a human breast when the bra is in a relaxed state.

2. The interface device of claim 1 , wherein, during image data acquisition, the deformable material is pushed towards side regions of the object of interest, such that a rim region of the object of interest is imageable effectively.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a PCI processor configured for performing said acquisition, and a pair of compression plates for the applying of said pressure.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a calculation and control unit that includes said processor.

5. The device of claim 3 , further comprising an X-ray source and an X-ray detector that are communicatively connected to said processor for said performing.

6. A mammographic imaging system, comprising: an interface device for phase contrast imaging of a human breast; a deformable material, and an imaging apparatus; wherein the interface device is adapted as a bra; wherein the deformable material has a first complex refractive index which corresponds to a second complex refractive index of the breast; wherein the interface device and said deformable material are adapted such that the deformable material is pushed away from a region of said bra in which a pressure is applied on the bra when an image data acquisition is performed; and wherein the imaging apparatus comprises: a radiation source for emitting a beam of radiation towards an object of interest; a radiation detector for detecting a phase of the radiation after it has passed the object of interest; a first compression plate and a second compression plate; wherein, during image data acquisition, the first and the second compression plates are adapted for applying said pressure.

7. The imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the detector comprises a Talbot interferometer for determining a phase information of the radiation after is has passed the object of interest.

8. The imaging system of claim 7 , also adapted for determining an absorption of the radiation due to the object of interest.

9. The imaging system of claim 8 , adapted for reconstruction of an image of the object of interest based on both the determined phase information and the determined absorption.

10. The system of claim 6 , the pushing away serving to push substantially all of said deformable material laterally, with respect to said breast, away from said region.

11. The system of claim 6 , the pushing away resulting in an increase of a lateral scan range and thus in an increased image of said breast.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the emitted radiation is x-ray radiation, said detecting using x-ray phase contrast mammography.

13. The system of claim 6 , said object of interest comprising said breast.

14. An interface device for phase contrast imaging (PCI) of a body part of a patient being examined, the interface device comprising:
a compartment comprising a deformable material having a first complex refractive index which corresponds to a second complex refractive index of said body part; and
wherein said device is configured for, when a PCI image data acquisition is to be performed, compressing, while said body part, of said patient being examined, inserted into said compartment is inside the compartment, said compartment in a particular direction to thereby push said deformable material away in, as a result of the deformability, a lateral direction that is both perpendicular to said particular direction and alongside said patient to thereby, for the compressed body part, extend laterally an effective PCI field of view for rim imaging of said body part.

15. The interface device of claim 14 , adapted for rim-imaging in x-ray phase contrast mammography; wherein said body part is a human breast.

16. The interface device of claim 14 , wherein the interface device is adapted in form of a bra.

17. The interface device of claim 1 , wherein the deformable material comprises a gel.

18. The interface device of claim 14 , wherein the first complex refractive index is similar to the second complex refractive index.

19. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a pair of compression plates for said compressing.

20. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a calculation and control unit, said unit including a PCI processor via which said device acquires said data.

21. The device of claim 14 , further comprising an X-ray source and an X-ray detector that are communicatively connected to said processor for the acquiring of said data.

22. The device of claim 14 , said deformable material comprising a gel.

23. The device of claim 22 , said body part being a breast, said device being configured for mammography using the acquired data.

24. The device of claim 14 , said body part being a breast, said device being configured for mammography using the acquired data.

25. The device of claim 14 , said compartment being formed by two layers of a sheet material.

Assignees

• Koehler Thomas
• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Koehler Thomas

Classifications

• A61B6/502

  for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography · CPC title

• A61B5/0091

  for mammography · CPC title

• A61B6/0414

  with compression means · CPC title

• A61B8/0825

  for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography · CPC title

• A61B6/484 Primary

  involving phase contrast X-ray imaging · CPC title