Abstract: A method for correcting at least one image of an object obtained with a mammography system is provided. The method comprises: acquiring a pre-exposure image of an object to determine the acquisition conditions for main images, the pre-exposure image comprising regions corresponding to the projection of radio-opaque elements, wherein a mask comprising radio-opaque elements is in an acquisition position; acquiring the main images resulting from the passing through the object of X-rays at higher doses than the dose used for acquisition of the pre-exposure image, wherein the mask comprising radio-opaque elements is in a retracted position; extracting regions from the pre-exposure image which correspond to the projection of radio-opaque elements; and determining the contribution of X-ray scatter at every point of the at least one image of the object, on the basis of the regions extracted from the pre-exposure image.

Abstract: A device for assisting with the handling of an instrument or tool, the device comprising a jointed mechanical structure on a support, wherein an instrument or tool may be attached, motor drives configured to actuate the jointed mechanical structure, according to a number of degrees of freedom of less than that which the structure provides to the instrument or tool, and an automatic control, wherein the automatic control drives the motor drives in order to facilitate the meeting of a constraint on position and/or velocity parameters of the instrument or tool, which constraint the motor drives by themselves, independently of handling by an operator, cannot entirely meet.

Abstract: A method for correcting at least one image of an object obtained with a mammography system is provided. The method comprises: acquiring a pre-exposure image of an object to determine the acquisition conditions for main images, the pre-exposure image comprising regions corresponding to the projection of radio-opaque elements, wherein a mask comprising radio-opaque elements is in an acquisition position; acquiring the main images resulting from the passing through the object of X-rays at higher doses than the dose used for acquisition of the pre-exposure image, wherein the mask comprising radio-opaque elements is in a retracted position; extracting regions from the pre-exposure image which correspond to the projection of radio-opaque elements; and determining the contribution of X-ray scatter at every point of the at least one image of the object, on the basis of the regions extracted from the pre-exposure image.

Abstract: In a method for the 3D viewing of tomosynthesis images in mammography, an algorithm is proposed for the viewing of radiology signs in series of 3D data. When the digital volume is being viewed by a practitioner, the disclosed algorithm is used to provide a dynamic indication of the position of the radiology signs on the 3D image by means of markers. The use of dynamic viewing draws the practitioner's attention to the zones of clinical interest. The disclosed algorithm thus highlights all the radiology signs in the 3D image of the breast.

Abstract: A medical imaging device capable of determining the number of projections in which at least one point located above or at the level of the object support surface is present.

Abstract: In a method for the processing of radiological images for the detection of opacities in a radiography image, an algorithm is proposed for detecting opacities according to their contrasts. To determine a contrast that is not over-estimated in each element, an algorithm is proposed for computing the background intensity by means of a sliding-window filtering. This type of sliding-window filtering computes the set of mean values of grey levels about an immediate environment of a region of elements whose size depends on the size of the opacity to be detected. The algorithm considers a background intensity of the region of elements to be the lowest mean value grey levels among the set of mean values of grey levels.

Abstract: A mammography system including a compression device, comprising two compression members to compress a breast, a sensor to sense the pressure exerted by the breast on one of the members and/or a device to determine the distance between the two members, an X-ray image acquisition system, means to adjust an initial position of the members. The system further comprises means to monitor variations in pressure and/or variations in thickness relative to their initial value, for an estimation of the risk of breast movement. The system further comprises means to present the user with information signaling breast movement, in relation to the estimation.

Abstract: In a method for the obtaining a tomosynthesis image for a more selective detection of radiology signs, a dose distribution strategy is proposed. The strategy is defined as a function of a substantially uniform depth-of-focus for a variety of sizes and classes of radiology signs. This strategy is coupled with a digital filtering aimed at ensuring optimum propagation of the signal-to-noise ratio beyond the frequency spectrum. This digital filtering is done by means of a class of adaptive filters required to control the propagation of the noise during the reconstruction. The filter to be applied to each projection of the X-ray tube (4) depends on the dose assigned to this projection.

Abstract: An x-ray device comprises means for the production of at least one standard projection image of the object in which presumed suspect zones corresponding to radiological signs are represented by markers. The device comprises means for the production of a digital volume of markers in which 3D markers are created in order to represent presumed suspect zones of the object. It also comprises means of re-projection of the 3D markers in the standard projection image in order to confirm the presence of the markers or eliminate or add the markers of the projection image is necessary.

Abstract: A mammography system including a compression device, comprising two compression members to compress a breast, a sensor to sense the pressure exerted by the breast on one of the members and/or a device to determine the distance between the two members, an X-ray image acquisition system, means to adjust an initial position of the members. The system further comprises means to monitor variations in pressure and/or variations in thickness relative to their initial value, for an estimation of the risk of breast movement. The system further comprises means to present the user with information signalling breast movement, in relation to the estimation.

Abstract: A technique and system are provided for compression of tomosynthesis imaging data. In an embodiment of the present technique, tomosynthesis imaging data may be compressed by processing a stack of tomosynthesis images such that differences between some or all of the images or estimates of the images are encoded. In another embodiment of the present technique, tomosynthesis imaging data may be compressed by differentially compressing two or more regions within the one or more tomosynthesis imaging datasets. In addition, there is provided tangible, machine readable media, with code executable to perform the acts of obtaining one or more tomosynthesis imaging datasets and compressing the one or more tomosynthesis imaging datasets using one or more compression algorithms.

Abstract: In a method for the 3D viewing of tomosynthesis images in mammography, an algorithm is proposed for the viewing of radiology signs in series of 3D data. When the digital volume is being viewed by a practitioner, the disclosed algorithm is used to provide a dynamic indication of the position of the radiology signs on the 3D image by means of markers. The use of dynamic viewing draws the practitioner's attention to the zones of clinical interest. The disclosed algorithm thus highlights all the radiology signs in the 3D image of the breast.

Abstract: In a method for the obtaining a tomosynthesis image for a more selective detection of radiology signs, a dose distribution strategy is proposed. The strategy is defined as a function of a substantially uniform depth-of-focus for a variety of sizes and classes of radiology signs. This strategy is coupled with a digital filtering aimed at ensuring optimum propagation of the signal-to-noise ratio beyond the frequency spectrum. This digital filtering is done by means of a class of adaptive filters required to control the propagation of the noise during the reconstruction. The filter to be applied to each projection of the X-ray tube (4) depends on the dose assigned to this projection.

Abstract: In a method for the processing of radiological images for the detection of opacities in a radiography image, an algorithm is proposed for detecting opacities according to their contrasts. To determine a contrast that is not over-estimated in each element, an algorithm is proposed for computing the background intensity by means of a sliding-window filtering. This type of sliding-window filtering computes the set of mean values of grey levels about an immediate environment of a region of elements whose size depends on the size of the opacity to be detected. The algorithm considers a background intensity of the region of elements to be the lowest mean value grey levels among the set of mean values of grey levels.