Abstract: A method is for monitoring a tissue removal taking place via an X-ray imaging system. The method includes acquiring first X-ray projection scan data, influenced by a contrast medium, of the breast tissue situated in an image field of the X-ray imaging system. The contrast medium-influenced first X-ray projection scan data is generated with X-ray photons having a photon energy above an absorption edge of the contrast medium used. A first image data set is then reconstructed based upon the acquired X-ray projection scan data. Finally, based upon the reconstructed first image data set, the method includes determining a current position of the lesion, in relation to a reference coordinate system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques to expand the dynamic range of a detector and achieve smooth transition in images used for X-ray image processing. The image finally obtained can fully retain useful information.

Abstract: In an apparatus and associated method, by analyzing video images of compression of a breast of a patient in a compression unit, an actual contact-area of the tissue of the breast of the patient, which tissue is pushed onto a gauze of a compression element of the compression unit, is increased by changing a volume. As such, a pressure is increased, in at least one sub-chamber of a positioning unit integrated in the compression unit, such that the actual contact-area matches a first area, which is the maximum possible based on an outer contour of the breast.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a method for generating a tilted tomographic X-ray map. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a 3D image data set; determining, based on the 3D image data set, synthetic mammograms corresponding to different angles within the defined projection angle range; determining a point of interest in one of the synthetic mammograms; calculating coordinates of the point of interest in the one synthetic mammogram or the 3D image data set; determining a tilted image plane through the examination object, the tilted image plane including the point of interest and the rotation axis; generating the tilted tomographic X-ray image in the tilted image plane based on the provided 3D image data set; and displaying the tilted tomographic X-ray image.

Abstract: A method for generating a combined contrast medium and blood vessel representation of contrast-enhanced image data of breast tissue to be examined includes capturing first and second contrast-medium-influenced x-ray projection measurement data of the breast tissue with respective differing first and second x-ray energies. First and second image data sets are reconstructed based respectively on the first and second measurement data. A dual-energy image data set is ascertained based on the first and the second image data sets. A blood vessel image is ascertained based on at least one image data set. A blood vessel image is represented together with the dual-energy image data set in a combined contrast medium and blood vessel representation. An image data generating system is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques to expand the dynamic range of a detector and achieve smooth transition in images used for X-ray image processing. The image finally obtained can fully retain useful information.

Abstract: A first x-ray image is acquired at a predetermined position of a focal point and with a first orientation of an x-ray tube of an x-ray device. Subsequently, the x-ray tube is adjusted by rotating about a predetermined angle and by positioning, wherein the focal point is situated in the predetermined position prior to the adjustment and after the adjustment. After the adjustment, the x-ray tube is situated in a second orientation. Subsequently, a second x-ray image is acquired at the predetermined position and with the second orientation. A combined x-ray image from at least the first and second x-ray image is produced.

Abstract: A method is for monitoring a tissue removal taking place via an X-ray imaging system. The method includes acquiring first X-ray projection scan data, influenced by a contrast medium, of the breast tissue situated in an image field of the X-ray imaging system. The contrast medium-influenced first X-ray projection scan data is generated with X-ray photons having a photon energy above an absorption edge of the contrast medium used. A first image data set is then reconstructed based upon the acquired X-ray projection scan data. Finally, based upon the reconstructed first image data set, the method includes determining a current position of the lesion, in relation to a reference coordinate system.

Abstract: In an apparatus and associated method, by analyzing video images of compression of a breast of a patient in a compression unit, an actual contact-area of the tissue of the breast of the patient, which tissue is pushed onto a gauze of a compression element of the compression unit, is increased by changing a volume. As such, a pressure is increased, in at least one sub-chamber of a positioning unit integrated in the compression unit, such that the actual contact-area matches a first area, which is the maximum possible based on an outer contour of the breast.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying features in 3D image volumes includes dividing a 3D volume into a plurality of 2D slices and applying a pre-trained 2D multi-channel global convolutional network (MC-GCN) to the plurality of 2D slices until convergence. Following convergence of the 2D MC-GCN, a plurality of parameters are extracted from a first feature encoder network in the 2D MC-GCN. The plurality of parameters are transferred to a second feature encoder network in a 3D Anisotropic Hybrid Network (AH-Net). The 3D AH-Net is applied to the 3D volume to yield a probability map;. Then, using the probability map, one or more of (a) coordinates of the objects with non-maximum suppression or (b) a label map of objects of interest in the 3D volume are generated.

Abstract: A system and method includes acquisition of one or more images of each of a plurality of bodies, each of the images associated with an acquisition time, determination, for each body, of a future health status of the body, the future health status of the body being a health status of the body at a time after the acquisition time of the one or more images of the body, and training of an artificial neural network to output a predicted health status, the training based on the one or more images and determined future health status of each body.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a method for generating a tilted tomographic X-ray map. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a 3D image data set; determining, based on the 3D image data set, synthetic mammograms corresponding to different angles within the defined projection angle range; determining a point of interest in one of the synthetic mammograms; calculating coordinates of the point of interest in the one synthetic mammogram or the 3D image data set; determining a tilted image plane through the examination object, the tilted image plane including the point of interest and the rotation axis; generating the tilted tomographic X-ray image in the tilted image plane based on the provided 3D image data set; and displaying the tilted tomographic X-ray image.

Abstract: A method image scans a female breast in the context of projective digital mammography or tomosynthesis with prefiltered x-ray radiation. From a single scanning two spatially superimposing images are created on the basis of pixel-by-pixel or pixel-group-by-pixel-group different x-ray energy spectra. An x-ray mammography system contains a radiator-detector system having an x-ray tube with a filter for generating a prefiltered x-ray radiation having a first radiation spectrum and a radiation detector containing a multiplicity of partial areas which generate individual image pixels. The radiator-detector system is configured to the effect that the partial areas receive pixel-by-pixel or pixel-group-by-pixel-group different radiation spectra, such that the two images from different x-ray spectra are received with a single scanning of the female breast.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying features in 3D image volumes includes dividing a 3D volume into a plurality of 2D slices and applying a pre-trained 2D multi-channel global convolutional network (MC-GCN) to the plurality of 2D slices until convergence. Following convergence of the 2D MC-GCN, a plurality of parameters are extracted from a first feature encoder network in the 2D MC-GCN. The plurality of parameters are transferred to a second feature encoder network in a 3D Anisotropic Hybrid Network (AH-Net). The 3D AH-Net is applied to the 3D volume to yield a probability map;. Then, using the probability map, one or more of (a) coordinates of the objects with non-maximum suppression or (b) a label map of objects of interest in the 3D volume are generated.

Abstract: An X-ray device and a supplementary system are provided for interferometric X-ray imaging of a patient on the X-ray device in order to generate projective absorption recordings. An emitter-detector system includes a focus-forming X-ray tube and a digital flat-panel detector having a multiplicity of pixel-generating detector elements. A computer system has a program memory. A mobile grating attachment includes a first interferometric X-ray grating, a second interferometric X-ray grating disposed at a distance from the first X-ray grating in the radiation direction, and a displacement device for displacing the second X-ray grating in the plane of the second X-ray grating in steps over at least one detector element.

Abstract: A medical instrument is provided for use with a phase contrast imaging. The medical instrument includes at least one component, which has a strong small angle scattering of x-rays. Furthermore, a corresponding x-ray recording system with phase contrast imaging for recording an examination object may include such a medical instrument.

Abstract: In a method for producing 2-D recordings and 3-D recordings of a breast of a patient using an x-ray device that is operable in two recording modes and that has an x-ray radiation source and an x-ray radiation detector, the breast is placed between the x-ray radiation source and the x-ray radiation detector, and the 2-D recordings and the 3-D recordings are generated with the same breast placement. In order to keep the radiation exposure as low as possible in such a multi-mode x-ray device, all recordings are produced without the use of an anti-scatter grid, and a retroactive scattered radiation correction is implemented.

Abstract: A method for generating a combined contrast medium and blood vessel representation of contrast-enhanced image data of breast tissue to be examined includes capturing first and second contrast-medium-influenced x-ray projection measurement data of the breast tissue with respective differing first and second x-ray energies. First and second image data sets are reconstructed based respectively on the first and second measurement data. A dual-energy image data set is ascertained based on the first and the second image data sets. A blood vessel image is ascertained based on at least one image data set. A blood vessel image is represented together with the dual-energy image data set in a combined contrast medium and blood vessel representation. An image data generating system is also provided.

Abstract: A method image scans a female breast in the context of projective digital mammography or tomosynthesis with prefiltered x-ray radiation. From a single scanning two spatially superimposing images are created on the basis of pixel-by-pixel or pixel-group-by-pixel-group different x-ray energy spectra. An x-ray mammography system contains a radiator-detector system having an x-ray tube with a filter for generating a prefiltered x-ray radiation having a first radiation spectrum and a radiation detector containing a multiplicity of partial areas which generate individual image pixels. The radiator-detector system is configured to the effect that the partial areas receive pixel-by-pixel or pixel-group-by-pixel-group different radiation spectra, such that the two images from different x-ray spectra are received with a single scanning of the female breast.

Abstract: An X-ray device and a supplementary system are provided for interferometric X-ray imaging of a patient on the X-ray device in order to generate projective absorption recordings. An emitter-detector system includes a focus-forming X-ray tube and a digital flat-panel detector having a multiplicity of pixel-generating detector elements. A computer system has a program memory. A mobile grating attachment includes a first interferometric X-ray grating, a second interferometric X-ray grating disposed at a distance from the first X-ray grating in the radiation direction, and a displacement device for displacing the second X-ray grating in the plane of the second X-ray grating in steps over at least one detector element.