IP Library Granted Patent US 12,029,602
Granted Patent B2
US 12,029,602 · App. 17/745,189 · Granted Jul 9, 2024

System and method for navigating x-ray guided breast biopsy

Inventors: Andrew P. Smith (Lexington, MA); Julian Marshall (Los Altos, CA)
Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
A61B6/502A61B6/025A61B6/0414A61B6/463A61B6/481A61B6/482A61B6/5235A61B6/465A61B10/0041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,029,602
App. No.
17/745,189
Granted
Jul 9, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of performing a procedure on a breast of a patient includes compressing the breast of the patient with a paddle of an imaging system and performing an initial imaging procedure on the breast of the patient. The initial imaging procedure includes imaging the breast with an x-ray source at a first energy to obtain a first image and a second energy to obtain a second image. A composite image is generated from the first image and the second image and displayed. A region of interest on the composite image is targeted and a biopsy is performed.

Claims (35)

1. A method performing a procedure on a breast of a patient, the method comprising:

injecting a contrast agent into the patient;

immobilizing, between an x-ray source and an x-ray detector of an imaging system, the breast of the patient;

performing a first 2D imaging procedure on the breast of the patient, the first 2D imaging procedure being dual energy imaging and a scout imaging procedure;

generating at least one first image visualizing the contrast agent from the first 2D imaging procedure;

performing a second 2D imaging procedure on the breast of the patient, the second 2D imaging procedure being dual energy imaging and a stereo pair procedure, and the second 2D imaging procedure being different than the first 2D imaging procedure;

generating at least one second image visualizing the contrast agent from the second 2D imaging procedure, wherein the at least one of second image includes a pair of second images;

identifying a region of interest in the at least one first image and a first of the pair of second images, wherein the region of interest corresponds to a difference between the at least one first image and the first of the pair of second images, wherein the region of interest is not visible in a second of the pair of second images; and

targeting the region of interest using the at least one first image and the first of the pair of second images.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing a biopsy on the breast of the patient via the targeted region of interest.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stereo pair is acquired at +/−15 degrees.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first image includes a single energy image and a dual energy subtraction image, and the at least one second image includes a single energy image and a dual energy subtraction image.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying at least one of the at least one first image and the at least one second image on the imaging system.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising displaying crosshairs in the at least one of the at least one first image and the at least one second image on the imaging system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein targeting the region of interest includes determining coordinates of the region of interest.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first 2D imaging procedure and the second 2D imaging procedure are performed under the same immobilization procedure of the breast of the patient.

9. An imaging system for imaging a breast of a patient, the system comprising:

an x-ray source configured to selectively move relative to the breast of the patient;

an x-ray detector; and

a compression system disposed between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector,

wherein the imaging system is configured to:

immobilize the breast of the patient via the compression system, the breast of the patient having a contrast agent;

perform, with the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, a first 2D imaging procedure on the breast of the patient, the first 2D imaging procedure being dual energy imaging and a scout imaging procedure;

generate at least one first image visualizing the contrast agent from the first 2D imaging procedure;

perform, with the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, a second 2D imaging procedure on the breast of the patient, the second 2D imaging procedure being dual energy imaging and a stereo pair procedure, and the second 2D imaging procedure being different than the first 2D imaging procedure;

generate at least one second image visualizing the contrast agent from the second 2D imaging procedure, wherein the at least one of second image includes a pair of second images;

identify a region of interest in the at least one first image and a first of the pair of second images, wherein the region of interest corresponds to a difference between the at least one first image and the first of the pair of second images, wherein the region of interest is not visible in a second of the pair of second images; and

target the region of interest using the at least one first image and the first of the pair of second images.

10. The imaging system of claim 9 , further comprising a biopsy unit for performing a biopsy on the breast of the patient via the targeted region of interest.

11. The imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the stereo pair is acquired at +/−15 degrees.

12. The imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one first image includes a single energy image and a dual energy subtraction image, and the at least one second image includes a single energy image and a dual energy subtraction image.

13. The imaging system of claim 9 , further comprising a display for displaying at least one of the at least one first image and the at least one second image on the imaging system.

14. The imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the display further displays crosshairs in the at least one of the at least one first image and the at least one second image on the imaging system.

15. The imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit determines coordinates of the region of interest during targeting the region of interest.

16. The imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the first 2D imaging procedure and the second 2D imaging procedure are performed under the same immobilization procedure of the breast of the patient.

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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2022
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; FAXITRON BIOPTICS, LLC; BIOTHERANOSTICS, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061639/0513 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2022
From: SMITH, ANDREW P.; MARSHALL, JULIAN
To: HOLOGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 059919/0016 →