An auxiliary device attachable to a mammography machine having an X-ray source and an X-ray receptor having a receptor area. The auxiliary device includes a housing having a length, width, and thickness, wherein the length and width of the housing are adapted to a length and width of the receptor area. The auxiliary device further includes one or more attachments for attaching the auxiliary device to the mammography machine, and a detector inside the housing. The detector includes a slab of semiconductor material, an electrode on a first side of the slab, and a pixelated electrode detector on the second side of the slab, and a read-out circuit bonded to the pixelated electrode detector, and the read-out circuit being configured for spectral photon counting with two or more energy bins. Methods for medical imaging are also provided.

A breast compression paddle has two sidewalk, 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 pre-imaging control unit of a mammography apparatus selects one pre-imaging focus from plural focuses of a radiation source according to selection conditions which are preset in order to prevent the concentration of load on one of the focuses. Pre-imaging for setting the irradiation conditions of radiation in tomosynthesis imaging is performed using the selected pre-imaging focus. For example, the selection conditions indicate that the pre-imaging focus is changed in each pre-imaging operation and the focus of a radiation tube adjacent to the radiation tube whose focus has been used in the previous pre-imaging is selected as the pre-imaging focus.

A compression paddle with a plurality of markers is advanced towards a patient's breast which has been positioned on a support platform for an imaging procedure. An initial position of the compression paddle is detected relative to the support platform when a portion of the breast is contacted. An initial marker is identified which is associated with a feature of the breast when the compression paddle is in the initial position. A compression target marker is based at least in part on the initial position and the initial marker.

Various methods and systems are provided for breast positioning assistance during mammography and image guided interventional procedures. In one example, a sensor detection system is utilized to evaluate one or more of a patient position, a breast position, and breast anatomy to determine if the patient and breast are adjusted to desired positions preferred for a desired view and imaging procedure prior to acquiring x-ray images, with real-time feedback provided to guide the user to position the breast and/or the patient based on the evaluation. The evaluation is performed by an artificial intelligence (AI) model stored on the x-ray mammography system that is trained using sensor data obtained from imaging procedures performed using the x-ray mammography system and fashioned into training datasets by a training module located on the x-ray mammography system. The datasets are supplied to the AI model without any transmission of the datasets exteriorly of the mammography system.

While performing a tomosynthesis procedure, the breast of a patient is compressed between two compression elements to create an imaging condition. Foam is secured to the rigid substrate of a one of the compression elements. The patient's chest wall is aligned with the leading edge surface of the foam. The inner side of the breast is disposed proximate the lateral edge surface of the foam and the outer side of the breast is disposed proximate the outer lateral edge surface of the foam. A mid-plane is disposed between the inner and outer lateral edge surfaces of the foam. An interface connects a leading edge surface of the foam and compressive surfaces. A portion of the leading edge surface which is aligned with the mid-plane is incompletely compressed.

A control device including: a control unit that, in a case in which continuous imaging that irradiates a breast of a subject with radiation emitted from a radiation source to capture a radiographic image in a compressed state in which the breast is compressed against an imaging table by a compression member and then captures an ultrasound image of the breast in the compressed state is performed, performs control to locate the radiation source at a non-facing position where the radiation source and the imaging table do not face each other.

A system for imaging a breast includes a gantry and a tube head rotatably coupled thereto. An x-ray source is disposed within the tube head. A support arm is movably coupled to the gantry and includes a breast support platform. An x-ray detector is disposed within the breast support platform and a compression arm is movably coupled to the support arm. An opaque breast compression paddle is coupled to the compression arm. The breast support platform and the opaque compression paddle at least partially define a compression volume for compressing a breast and a camera is arranged to capture images of the compression volume. An image display is at least partially disposed on the system and is configured to display the images of the compression volume captured by the camera.

A compression arm device for compressing a breast in an imaging system with a compression paddle. The compression arm device includes a drive for moving the compression paddle towards the breast such that the drive provides a variable resistance during a contact of the compression paddle with the breast.

The housing for a breast imaging system contains an x-ray source and is configured to rotate relative to the breast. The housing for an x-ray receptor has a breast support platform and extends from an arm assembly which rotates independently from the x-ray source housing. A compression arm assembly connected to the arm assembly moves between a first linear position proximate the x-ray receptor housing and a second linear position distal the x-ray receptor housing. A pair of extension arms are pivotably connected to a strut which removably secures a compression paddle to the compression arm assembly substrate. The extension arms move between a first pivoted position substantially aligned with the strut and a second pivoted position disposed at an angle to the strut.