Methods and systems for identifying internal motion of a breast of a patient during an imaging procedure. The method may include compressing the breast of the patient in a mediolateral oblique (MLO) position. During compression of the breast, a first tomosynthesis MLO projection frame for a first angle with respect the breast is acquired and a second tomosynthesis MLO projection frame for a second angle with respect to the breast is acquired. Boundaries of the pectoral muscle are identified in the projection frames and boundary representations are generated. A difference between the first representation and the second representation is determined. A motion score is then generated based on at least the difference between the first representation and the second representation.

Systems and methods for breast x-ray tomosynthesis that enhance spatial resolution in the direction in which the breast is flattened for examination. In addition to x-ray data acquisition of 2D projection tomosynthesis images ETp1 over a shorter source trajectory similar to known breast tomosynthesis, supplemental 2D images ETp2 are taken over a longer source trajectory and the two sets of projection images are processed into breast slice images ETr that exhibit enhanced spatial resolution, including in the thickness direction of the breast. Additional features include breast CT of an upright patient's flattened breast, multi-mode tomosynthesis, and shielding the patient from moving equipment.

Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods for using gesture recognition to control medical hardware and software. In aspects, an activation signal may be received by an input processing system, such as a gesture recognition system, a voice recognition system, or a touch-based system. After receiving the activation signal, user input may be received by the input processing system. The user input may be processed to determine a current or applicable context. Based on the context, one or more actions corresponding to the user input may be identified. The input processing system may then cause the identified action(s) to be performed.

A method of processing a given region of interest (ROI) of an X-ray image of a person's breast to determine presence of a malignancy, the X-ray image having X-ray pixels that indicate intensity of X-rays that passed through the breast to generate the image, the method comprising: for each given X-ray pixel in the given ROI and each of a selection of J(r) X-ray pixels at respective pixel radii PR(r), 1≤r≤R, from the given x-ray pixel, determining a binary number that provides a measure X-ray intensity indicated by the selected X-ray pixel relative to X-ray intensity indicated by the given X-ray pixel; using the determined binary numbers for the selected X-ray pixels at each pixel radius PR(r) to determine a decimal number for the pixel radius PR(r); histogramming the frequency of occurrence of values of the determined decimal numbers as a function of pixel radius for the given X-ray pixels in the given ROI; determining a texture feature vector, for the given ROI having components that are equal to the frequencies of occurrence for a selection of M histogrammed values; and processing the histogrammed frequencies of occurrence for the M values to determine whether the given ROI is malignant.

A curved compression element, such as a breast compression paddle, and imaging systems and methods for use with curved compression elements. A system may include a radiation source, a detector, and a curved compression element. Operations are performed that include receiving image data from the detector; accessing a correction map for the at least one compression paddle; correcting the image data based on the correction map to generate a corrected image data; and generating an image of the breast based on the corrected image data. The breast compression element generally has no sharp edges, but rather has smooth edges and transitions between surfaces. The breast compression paddle also includes a flexible material that spans a portion of a curved bottom surface of the breast compression paddle to define a gap. The flexible material may be a thin-film material such as a shrink wrap.

The mammography apparatus includes an imaging stand that includes a recess that cuts out at least a part of a contact face that comes in contact with a chest wall of a subject, in which the recess has a shape in which between a first ridge portion where the contact face and an upper face are connected to each other, and a second ridge portion where the contact face and a lower face are connected to each other, at least a part of the second ridge portion is cut out, and the first ridge portion is not cut out.

A breast compression paddle has two sidewalls, each having an upper edge. Spanning the two side walls is a leading wall which also has an upper edge and is disposed distal from a bracket that is connected to a compression arm. Foam is secured to a substrate which is movably secured to the bracket and the rigid frame between a first position and a second position. In the first position, portions of the substrate and foam are disposed above the upper edges of all three walls. In the second position, the substrate and all of the foam is disposed below the upper edges of all three walls.

A method of imaging a breast compressed with a foam paddle includes emitting an x-ray energy from an x-ray source towards the breast and the foam paddle having a plurality of upper markers and a plurality of lower markers, wherein the plurality of lower markers are movable relative to the upper markers. The x-ray energy is detected at a detector disposed opposite the breast from the x-ray source. An image of the compressed breast is generated based on the detected x-ray energy. At least one of the plurality of upper markers and at least one of the plurality of lower markers is identified in the image. A thickness of the compressed breast at a plurality of thickness locations is determined, wherein each of the plurality of thickness locations corresponds to at least one of the plurality of lower markers.

A method of identifying a location of a region of interest within a breast utilizes compressed location coordinates for the region of interest recorded while the breast is under compression during an x-ray imaging procedure such as mammography or tomosynthesis. The compressed location coordinates are converted to uncompressed location coordinates using a mathematical tissue deformation model. The volume and density of the breast affects how the coordinates are translated for use with an ultrasound imaging system. A system including a computing system in communication with an ultrasound imaging system is utilized to perform the method. The resultant predicted location coordinates of the region of interest are used to guide a healthcare provider to potential lesions that are to be examined using ultrasound, where the potential lesions had been previously identified during a screening mammogram.

A cone beam CT scanner comprises a receiving section configured to receive a breast of the subject whilst in the supine position, a radiation imaging section comprising an x-ray tube and a detector which face each other and have the receiving section interposed therebetween, and a drive unit operable to move the receiving section to a position suitable for imaging the breast of the subject. A method for breast radiography is also disclosed.