Compact mammograph and associated mammography process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9364190-B2
Application number	US-201113300083-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2011
Priority date	Nov 26, 2010
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A mammograph is provided. The mammograph includes a source of X-rays; a detector of X-rays, the source being configured to emit at least one beam of X-rays to the detector; and an optic control device configured to control the direction of X-rays emitted by the source such that the X-rays emitted by the source are substantially parallel to one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mammograph comprising:
a source of X-rays comprising a plurality of emission focal points arranged in a straight line, the source emitting X-ray beams parallel to one another;
a detector of X-rays having a detection surface comprising a plurality of detection elements arranged in lines forming a bidimensional detection surface defining a plane, the source being configured to emit a plurality of X-ray beams to the detector;
the source being movable relative to the detection surface so as to scan each line of the detection elements of the detection surface; and
a distance between the emission focal points and the detection surface is regulated so that the source is positionable in a zone located under the head of a patient along an axis orthogonal to the detection surface.

2. The mammograph of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the source and the detection surface is between about 5 cm and about 30 cm.

3. The mammograph of claim 1 , wherein the source is configured to move so as to increase or reduce the distance between the source and the plane of the torso of a patient.

4. The mammograph of claim 1 , further comprising an optic control device configured to control the direction of the X-rays emitted from the source such that the plurality of X-ray beams are substantially parallel one to the other.

5. The mammograph of claim 1 , wherein the source and the detector can be shifted in rotation about the breast of the patient.

6. The mammograph of claim 1 , wherein the detector is configured to detect the energy or a range of energy of X-rays emitted by the source to acquire mammographic images at different emission energies of X-rays.

7. The mammograph of claim 4 wherein the optic control device comprises a plurality of optic devices located near the outlet of the source of the X-ray.

8. A mammograph comprising:
a source of X-rays comprising a plurality of emission focal points arranged in a bidimensional array defining a plane, the source emitting X-ray beams parallel to one another;
a detector of X-rays having a detection surface comprising a plurality of detection elements arranged in lines forming a bidimensional detection surface defining a plane, the source being configured to emit a plurality of X-ray beams to the detector;
the source being configured to move relative to the detection surface and emit X-rays from successive portions of the plurality of emission focal points so as to scan each line of the detection elements of the detection surface;
a distance between the emission focal points and the detection surface is regulated so that the source is positionable in a zone located under the head of a patient, the distance between the source and the detection surface is between about 5 cm and about 30 cm; and
the source and the detector can be shifted in rotation about the breast of the patient.

9. The mammograph of claim 8 , further comprising an optic control device configured to control the direction of the X-rays emitted from the source such that the plurality of X-ray beams are substantially parallel one to the other.

10. The mammograph of claim 8 , wherein the detector is configured to detect the energy or a range of energy of X-rays emitted by the source to acquire mammographic images at different emission energies of X-rays.

11. The mammograph of claim 9 wherein the optic control device comprises a plurality of optic devices located near the outlet of the source of the X-ray.

Assignees

• Lee Susanne Madeline
• Boudier Aurelie
• Muller Serge Louis Wilfrid
• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Lee Susanne Madeline
• Boudier Aurelie
• Muller Serge Louis Wilfrid

Classifications

• B82Y10/00

  Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic · CPC title

• A61B6/482 Primary

  involving multiple energy imaging · CPC title

• A61B6/502

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

• G21K2201/061

  characterised by a multilayer structure · CPC title

• A61B6/08

  Auxiliary means for directing the radiation beam to a particular spot, e.g. using light beams · CPC title