A station for tomotactic-guided biopsy in prone includes a table with an aperture, and a tomosynthesis imaging system. A biopsy gun can be mounted on a stage arm assembly disposed below the table. The imaging system and stage arm assembly can be independently rotated and linearly repositioned in one or more dimensions, thereby allowing the tomotactic scan axis to be located relative to a breast being imaged.

A multimodal system for breast imaging includes an x-ray source, and an x-ray detector configured to detect x-rays from the x-ray source after passing through a breast. The system includes an x-ray detector translation system operatively connected to the x-ray detector so as to be able to translate the x-ray detector from a first displacement from the breast to a second displacement at least one of immediately adjacent to or in contact with the breast. The system includes an x-ray image processor configured to: receive a CT data set from the x-ray detector, the CT data set being detected by the x-ray detector at the first displacement; compute a CT image of the breast; receive a mammography data set from the x-ray detector, the mammography data set being detected by the x-ray detector at the second displacement; and compute a mammography image of the breast.

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 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 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.

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.

The present disclosure relates to an insert system for performing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The insert system can be reversibly installed to an existing system, such that PET functionality can be introduced into the existing system without the need to significantly modify the existing system. The present disclosure also relates to a multi-modality imaging system capable for conducting both PET imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The PET and MRI imaging can be performed simultaneously or sequentially, while the performance of neither imaging modality is compromised for the operation of the other imaging modality.

Described herein are systems and methods for performing plural-plane narrow-beam computed tomography.

A multimodal system for breast imaging includes an x-ray source, and an x-ray detector configured to detect x-rays from the x-ray source after passing through a breast. The system includes an x-ray detector translation system operatively connected to the x-ray detector so as to be able to translate the x-ray detector from a first displacement from the breast to a second displacement at least one of immediately adjacent to or in contact with the breast. The system includes an x-ray image processor configured to: receive a CT data set from the x-ray detector, the CT data set being detected by the x-ray detector at the first displacement; compute a CT image of the breast; receive a mammography data set from the x-ray detector, the mammography data set being detected by the x-ray detector at the second displacement; and compute a mammography image of the breast.

A medical apparatus includes a control unit including at least a first control module; a support device for a patient; a machine for allowing a diagnosis having an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, a supporting frame, supporting the source and detector, and a base frame supporting the supporting frame. The first control module is electrically coupled to the detector to receive a signal relating to the X-rays detected and processes the signal to derive an image. The support device includes a portion that can be inclined between non-operating and operating positions. The supporting frame can be inclined, with respect to the base frame, by rotation about an axis of inclination, between first and second operating positions to allow a diagnostic examination in the first or second operating positions. A coupling device between the support device and the base frame provides a removable coupling therebetween.