To improve breast mammography imagery via use of a digital slot scanning imaging system that accommodates the changing thickness of the breast from the chest wall to the nipple by scanning the breast from the chest outward to the nipple or vice versa instead of the side-to-side methodology and using Automatic Exposure Control or AEC parameters optimized for the changing thickness and composition of the breast at each scan location and an improved breast compression device, wherein uniform breast compression mechanism includes a first breast plate and a second breast plate, wherein at least one of said first breast plate and said second breast plates includes an angle adjustment or tilt to account for the high variability in breast sizes and configurations while maintaining optimal immobilization with excellent patient comfort.

According to some aspects, an x-ray apparatus for imaging and/or radiation therapy is provided, the x-ray apparatus comprises an electron source capable of generating electrons, at least one first target arranged to receive electrons from the electron source, the at least one first target comprising material that, in response to being irradiated by the electrons, emits broad spectrum x-ray radiation, at least one second target arranged to receive at least some of the broad spectrum x-ray radiation, the at least one second target comprising material that, in response to irradiation by broad spectrum x-ray radiation from the first target, emits monochromatic x-ray radiation, and at least one detector positioned to detect at least some of the monochromatic x-ray radiation emitted from the at least one second target. According to some aspects, a relatively low cost, relatively small footprint x-ray apparatus for generating monochromatic x-ray radiation suitable for medical/clinical purposes and appropriate for use in existing medical facilities such as hospitals and/or small clinical settings is provided.

Some example embodiments provide an x-ray tube for a stereoscopic imaging having an evacuated x-ray tube housing; an electron emitter apparatus in the x-ray tube housing, the electron emitter apparatus including a first field effect emitter with a first emitter surface and a second field effect emitter with a second emitter surface, at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface being segmented such that a portion of the at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface can be set relative to the respective overall emitter surface by selectively switching emitter segments of the at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface; an anode unit in the x-ray tube housing, the anode unit configured to generate x-ray radiation for the stereoscopic imaging as a function of electrons striking two focal points; and a control unit.

According to one embodiment, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an imaging apparatus, processing circuitry and permission input circuitry. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging system performing X-ray imaging of an object, and a bed on which the object is placed. The processing circuitry accepts an instruction to cause the imaging apparatus to perform a operation, and notifies a content of the operation relating to the accepted instruction to a first user. The permission input circuitry accepts information indicating permission of the operation from the first user who has confirmed the content of the operation. The processing circuitry causes the imaging apparatus to perform the operation to more severely restrict the operation compared with after acceptance of information indicating permission of the operation by the permission input circuitry, until the acceptance of information indicating permission of the operation by the permission input circuitry.

A self-shielded and computer controlled system for performing non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery and precision radiotherapy using a linear accelerator mounted within a two degree-of-freedom radiation shield coupled to a three-degree of freedom patient table is provided. The radiation shield can include an axial shield rotatable about an axial axis and an oblique shield independently rotatable about an oblique axis, thereby providing improved range of trajectories of the therapeutic and diagnostic radiation beams. Such shields can be balanced about their respective axes of rotation and about a common support structure to facilitate ease of movement. Such systems can further include an imaging system to accurately deliver radiation to the treatment target and automatically make corrections needed to maintain the anatomical target at the system isocenter. Various subsystems to automate controlled and coordinated movement of the movable shield components and operation of the treatment related subsystems to optimize performance and ensure safety are also provided.

An X-ray diagnostic apparatus of an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires two medical images, a moving distance of a region of interest between the medical images corresponding to a distance derived from a parallax angle. The processing circuitry causes a display to display a stereoscopic image based on the medical images.

A method for vascular modeling is disclosed. The method, in some embodiments, comprises receiving a plurality of 2-D angiographic images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject, and processing the images to automatically detect 2-D features, for example, paths along vascular extents, which are projected into 3-D to determine homologous features among blood vessels. In some embodiments, projection and/or image registration is iteratively altered to improve feature position matching. Based on 3-D vascular extents and their registration to 2-D images, additional features such as vascular width are optionally determined and added to the model.

Compact x-ray devices, systems, and methods for capturing in tomosynthesis, two-dimensional radiography, fluoroscopy, and stereotactic imaging modes. In some embodiments, the compact x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source array including spatially distributed x-ray focal spots and a digital area x-ray detector. In some embodiments, the imaging system includes an electronic switching device configured to alternate the imaging mode of the system. In some embodiments, the imaging system includes a mechanical support configured to enable a position and orientation of the x-ray source array and the digital area x-ray detector to be adjusted such that both upper and lower extremities of a patient can be imaged using various imaging modes while a position of the plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots with respect to the digital area x-ray detector remains unchanged.

Abstract systems and methods of biopsy control include reconstructing a 3D volume from a plurality of tomosynthesis projection images and producing a plurality of synthetic stereo images from the plurality of tomosynthesis projection images. At least the synthetic stereo images are presented on a graphical display to a clinician to facilitate at least one input of a biopsy location for biopsy control.

Tracked mobile x-ray imaging equipment is used to produce single or stereo long calibrated views of the anatomy of a patient on the operating table. The system estimates the position and orientation of the anatomical planes, virtually places measurement grids over these reference planes, and transforms any radiographic views taking by the x-ray imaging system onto these calibrated planes. The system may apply information about the depth of the anatomy to remove parallax artifacts. This system enables displaying and evaluation of the entire radiographic length of the anatomical planes using a mobile x-ray equipment. It also provides a platform for overlaying the real time x-ray images taken during operation with radiographic images of the patient or schematic of the surgical plan developed before the surgery for quick evaluation of a surgical plan.