METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONE BEAM BREAST CT AND ULTRASOUND HYBRID IMAGING

1 . A hybrid imaging system comprising:

a structural member;

a CBBCT x-ray subsystem coupled to and supported by said structural member;

an ultrasound subsystem coupled to and supported by said structural member;

a processor, said processor signalingly coupled to said CBBCT x-ray subsystem and to said ultrasound subsystem, said processor being adapted to receive signals from said CBBCT x-ray system and said ultrasound subsystem respectively and to produce an x-ray-ultrasound hybrid CBBCT image;

wherein said CBBCT x-ray subsystem includes a rotating gantry, said rotating gantry being supported by said structural member through a bearing; and

wherein said ultrasound subsystem includes a rotary apparatus, said rotary apparatus being supported by said structural member for rotation independent of said gantry.

2 . A hybrid imaging system as defined in claim 1 wherein said ultrasound subsystem is supported by said rotating gantry.

3 . A hybrid imaging system comprising:

a structural member;

a CBBCT x-ray subsystem coupled to and supported by said structural member; an ultrasound subsystem coupled to and supported by said structural member; a processor, said processor signalingly coupled to said CBBCT x-ray subsystem and to said ultrasound subsystem, said processor being adapted to receive signals from said CBBCT x-ray system and said ultrasound subsystem respectively and to produce an x-ray-ultrasound hybrid CBBCT image;

wherein said ultrasound subsystem comprises:

a rotary apparatus;

a base portion, said base portion being mounted on and supported by said rotary apparatus;

a translation portion; and

an ultrasound transducer assembly.

4 . A hybrid imaging system as defined in claim 3 wherein said ultrasound subsystem is supported by said rotating gantry.

5 . A hybrid imaging system as defined in claim 5 wherein said base portion includes a first circumferential actuator, a second radial actuator, and a third vertical actuator.

6 . A hybrid imaging system as defined in claim 5 wherein said first ultrasound assembly includes an ultrasound transducer.

7 . A hybrid imaging system as defined in claim 5 wherein said first ultrasound assembly includes a feedback sensor.

8 . A hybrid imaging system as defined in claim 5 wherein said first ultrasound assembly includes a lubricant port.

9 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system comprising:

operatively positioning a patient breast in relation to said integrated breast imaging system;

imaging said patient breast with an x-ray CBBCT subsystem of said breast imaging system while maintaining said patient breast substantially immobile with respect to said integrated breast imaging system;

imaging said patient breast with an ultrasound subsystem of said breast imaging system while maintaining said patient breast substantially immobile with respect to said integrated breast imaging system; and

maintaining said patient breast substantially immobile with respect to said integrated breast imaging system during an entire time duration between said x-ray CBBCT imaging and said ultrasound CBBCT imaging.

10 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system as defined in claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving x-ray CBBCT imaging data from said x-ray CBBCT subsystem at an image processing system;

receiving ultrasound imaging data from said ultrasound subsystem at said image processing system; and

producing a hybrid image data set with said image processing system, said hybrid image data set comprising image data hybridized from said x-ray CBBCT imaging data and said ultrasound imaging data.

11 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system as defined in claim 9 , wherein said ultrasound subsystem comprises a reflective ultrasound system.

12 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system as defined in claim 9 , wherein said ultrasound subsystem comprises a transmission ultrasound system.

13 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system as defined in claim 9 , wherein said ultrasound subsystem comprises an ultrasound computed tomography system.

14 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system as defined in claim 9 , wherein said ultrasound subsystem comprises an automated ultrasound system.

15 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system as defined in claim 14 , wherein said automated ultrasound system comprises a pivotal apparatus, a support column and an ultrasound transducer portion.

16 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system as defined in claim 14 , further comprising moving an ultrasound transducer portion of said ultrasound imaging subsystem through a circumferential spiral-helical motion across a surface region of said breast.

17 . A method of producing a hybrid breast image with an integrated breast imaging system as defined in claim 14 , further comprising moving an ultrasound transducer portion of said ultrasound imaging subsystem through a radial/longitudinal motion across a surface region of said breast.