X-ray scatter reducing device for use with 2D mammography and tomosynthesis
Systems and methods for reducing X-ray scatter during breast imaging, and more specifically during tomosynthesis imaging. In one embodiment, an anti-scatter grid having a plurality of septa may be configured to be positioned relative to an X-ray imaging device such that each septum of the plurality of septa extends along a direction substantially parallel to a coronal plane of a subject during imaging of the subject using the X-ray imaging device. The X-ray imaging device may be operable in a tomosynthesis mode for imaging of a breast of the subject and may include the anti-scatter grid disposed between a breast platform and the X-ray detector. The anti-scatter grid may be configured to move in a direction substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject during tomosynthesis imaging.
1. An imaging system comprising:
an immobilization structure configured to immobilize a breast of a patient;
an x-ray source movable along a path relative to the breast of the patient and configured to emit a plurality of x-ray exposures during movement of the x-ray source;
an x-ray detector; and
an anti-scatter grid disposed between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, the anti-scatter grid including a plurality of septa oriented substantially parallel to a coronal plane of the patient,
wherein the x-ray detector and the anti-scatter grid are rotatable around a fixed axis within the imaging system so as to maintain orientation with the x-ray source, and
wherein the anti-scatter grid is movable relative to at least one of the x-ray source and the x-ray detector during emission of the plurality of x-ray exposures from the x-ray source.
2. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the anti-scatter grid is coupled to at least one of a motion of the x-ray source and the x-ray detector.
3. The imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is translatable relative to the at least one of the x-ray source and the x-ray detector during emission of the plurality of x-ray exposures from the x-ray source.
4. The imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is movable in a direction substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the patient.
5. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the immobilization structure includes a compression paddle and a support platform.
6. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging system includes a tomosynthesis mode.
7. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein septa closest to a chest wall of the patient are parallel to the coronal plane and septa farthest from the chest wall are off-angle relative to the coronal plane.
8. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein septa farthest from a chest wall of the patient are parallel to the coronal plane and septa closest to the chest wall are off-angle relative to the coronal plane.
9. A multi-modal imaging system comprising:
an immobilization structure configured to immobilize a breast of a patient, the immobilization structure including a support platform;
an x-ray source operable in at least a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode;
an x-ray detector disposed on a side of the support platform that is opposite of the x-ray source; and
a retractable anti-scatter grid disposed between the x-ray detector and the support platform,
wherein in the first imaging mode, the x-ray source is configured to emit a plurality of first x-ray exposures during movement of the x-ray source while the anti-scatter grid is disposed between the x-ray detector and the support platform, and
wherein in the second imaging mode, the x-ray source is configured to emit at least one second x-ray exposure while the anti-scatter grid is retracted from between the x-ray detector and the support platform.
10. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is movable relative to the breast of the patient in the first imaging mode.
11. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 10 , wherein the x-ray detector is rotatable relative to the support platform during the first imaging mode.
12. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is rotatable with the x-ray detector during the first imaging mode.
13. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is movable in a direction substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the patient during the first imaging mode.
14. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the anti-scatter grid includes a plurality of septa in an orientation substantially parallel to a coronal plate plane of the patient.
15. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the anti-scatter grid includes a plurality of septa focused relative to the x-ray source.
16. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the anti-scatter grid is coupled to the x-ray detector with regards to movement in the first imaging mode.
17. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the x-ray detector is tiltable.
18. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the first imaging mode is tomosynthesis.
19. The multi-modal imaging system of claim 18 , wherein the second imaging mode is mammography.
20. A method of reducing x-ray scatter in a multi-modal imaging system, the method comprising:
immobilizing a breast of a patient relative to a support platform;
positioning an anti-scatter grid in a field of view of an x-ray source and between an x-ray detector and the x-ray source;
while the anti-scatter grid is positioned in the field of view of the x-ray source, imaging the breast of the patient in a first imaging mode, the first imaging mode including moving the x-ray source and emitting a plurality of x-ray exposures;
retracting the anti-scatter grid from the field of view of the x-ray source; and
while the anti-scatter grid is retracted from the field of view of the x-ray source, imaging the breast of the patient in a second imaging mode, the second imaging mode different than the first imaging mode.