IP Library Granted Patent US 11,452,486
Granted Patent B2
US 11,452,486 · App. 16/434,064 · Granted Sep 27, 2022

Breast biopsy and needle localization using tomosynthesis systems

Inventors: Kenneth Defreitas (Patterson, NY); John Laviola (Orange, CT); Loren Thomas Niklason (Hillsborough, NC); Tao Wu (Brookfield, CT); Joseph L. Mark (Indianapolis, IN); Michael E. Miller (Trafalgar, IN); Jay A. Stein (Boston, MA); Andrew P. Smith (Lexington, MA)
Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
A61B6/025A61B6/0435A61B6/463A61B6/466A61B6/467A61B6/469A61B6/502A61B10/0233A61B10/0275A61B90/11A61B90/17A61B6/12A61B2090/376
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,452,486
App. No.
16/434,064
Granted
Sep 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, devices, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for performing mammography, such as utilizing tomosynthesis in combination with breast biopsy.

Claims (42)

1. A method for performing a wire localization procedure for a patient's breast, said method comprising:

performing a tomosynthesis scan of the patient's breast using a source of an imaging x-ray beam that moves through a multiplicity of imaging positions along a source trajectory, and obtaining image data from the tomosynthesis scan and deriving therefrom tomosynthesis reconstructed images representing respective slices of the breast;

displaying at least some of the tomosynthesis reconstructed images of the patient's breast;

receiving an indication on at least one of the tomosynthesis reconstructed images of an area of interest within the patient's breast, and determining therefrom three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;

positioning a localization wire with a needle in the patient's breast based on the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;

emitting a verification x-ray beam from the source at a plurality of verification x-ray positions each disposed at an orientation relative to the needle and the patient's breast so as to verify the position of the localization wire relative to the area of interest; and

reducing image artifacts due to the presence of the needle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of verification imaging positions are disposed along a verification imaging trajectory.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the verification imaging trajectory is disposed asymmetrically to the needle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein emitting the verification x-ray beam from the source at the plurality of verification imaging positions comprises emitting a first x-ray beam on a first side of the needle and emitting a second x-ray beam on a second side of the needle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the needle is positioned in a pre-extended position prior to emission of the verification x-ray beam.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the needle is positioned in an extended position prior to the emission of the verification x-ray beam.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a dose of the verification x-ray beam is different than a dose of the imaging x-ray beam.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a dose of the verification x-ray beam is the same as a dose of the imaging x-ray beam.

9. A system for performing a wire localization procedure for a patient's breast, the system comprising:

a biopsy needle positioning system comprising at least one motor and a motor controller coupled to the at least one motor;

a processor operatively coupled to the biopsy needle positioning system;

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a set of operations comprising:

performing a tomosynthesis scan of the patient's breast using a source of an imaging x-ray beam that moves through a multiplicity of imaging positions along a source trajectory, and obtaining image data from the tomosynthesis scan and deriving therefrom tomosynthesis reconstructed images representing respective slices of the breast;

displaying at least some of the tomosynthesis reconstructed images of the patient's breast;

receiving an indication on at least one of the tomosynthesis reconstructed images of an area of interest within the patient's breast, and determining therefrom three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;

receiving, at the motor controller, the three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;

positioning, with the biopsy needle positioning system, a localization wire with a needle in the patient's breast based on the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;

emitting a verification x-ray beam from the source at a plurality of verification x-ray positions each disposed at an orientation relative to the needle and the patient's breast so as to verify the position of the localization wire relative to the area of interest; and

reducing image artifacts due to the presence of the needle.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of verification imaging positions are disposed along a verification imaging trajectory.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the verification imaging trajectory is disposed asymmetrically to the needle.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein emitting the verification x-ray beam from the source at the plurality of verification imaging positions comprises emitting a first x-ray beam on a first side of the needle and emitting a second x-ray beam on a second side of the needle.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the needle is positioned in a pre-extended position prior to emission of the verification x-ray beam.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the needle is positioned in an extended position prior to the emission of the verification x-ray beam.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein a dose of the verification x-ray beam is different than a dose of the imaging x-ray beam.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein a dose of the verification x-ray beam is the same as a dose of the imaging x-ray beam.

17. A method for performing a localization procedure for a patient's breast, the method comprising:

performing a tomosynthesis scan of the patient's breast using a source of an imaging x-ray beam that moves through a multiplicity of imaging positions along a source trajectory, and obtaining image data from the tomosynthesis scan and deriving therefrom tomosynthesis reconstructed images representing respective slices of the breast;

displaying at least some of the tomosynthesis reconstructed images of the patient's breast;

receiving an indication on at least one of the tomosynthesis reconstructed images of an area of interest within the patient's breast, and determining therefrom three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;

positioning an insertable artificial element in the patient's breast based on the determined three-dimensional coordinates of the area of interest;

emitting a verification x-ray beam from the source at a plurality of verification x-ray positions each disposed at an orientation relative to the patient's breast so as to verify the position of the artificial insertable element relative to the area of interest; and

reducing image artifacts due to the presence of the artificial insertable element.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of verification imaging positions are disposed along a verification imaging trajectory.

19. The method of claim 18 , the verification imaging trajectory is disposed asymmetrically to the artificial insertable element.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein emitting the verification x-ray beam from the source at the plurality of verification imaging positions comprises emitting a first x-ray beam on a first side of the artificial insertable element and emitting a second x-ray beam on a second side of the artificial insertable element.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: BIOTHERANOSTICS, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; CYTYC CORPORATION; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; GYNESONICS, INC.; BOLDER SURGICAL, LLC; FAXITRON BIOPTICS, LLC; HEALTH BEACONS, INC.; HOLOGIC, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075462/0440 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2022
From: DEFREITAS, KENNETH F.; SHAW, IAN; LAVIOLA, JOHN; NIKLASON, LOREN THOMAS; WU, TAO; MARK, JOSEPH L.; MILLER, MICHAEL E.; STEIN, JAY A.; SMITH, ANDREW P.
To: HOLOGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 059826/0662 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2019
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; CYNOSURE, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; FAXITRON BIOPTICS, LLC; FOCAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 050719/0701 →