Method for imaging an organ and medical imaging system

Abstract

A method for imaging an organ with a medical imaging system comprising a radiation source, a detector facing the radiation source, an organ support and a compression paddle, wherein the compression paddle is smaller than the detector, the method comprising offsetting the compression paddle to a position towards a side edge of the detector, moving the radiation source along a trajectory, wherein the trajectory is above the compression paddle and dependent upon the position of the compression paddle, and acquiring images of the organ at several positions along the trajectory.

1 . A method for imaging an organ with a medical imaging system comprising a radiation source, a detector facing the radiation source, an organ support and a compression paddle, wherein the compression paddle is smaller than the detector, the method comprising:
 offsetting the compression paddle to a position towards a side edge of the detector;   moving the radiation source along a trajectory, wherein the trajectory is above the compression paddle and dependent upon the position of the compression paddle; and   acquiring images of the organ at several positions along the trajectory.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the trajectory comprises a first end position located directly above a first side edge of the compression paddle and a second end position located directly above a second side edge of the compression paddle, the method further comprising:
 moving the radiation source from the first end position to the second end position; and   acquiring a medical image at each of the first end position and the second end position.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an edge of the compression paddle lies directly above the side edge of the detector towards which the compression paddle is offset. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inputting a dimension of the compression paddle and/or a dimension of the offset of the compression paddle relative to the detector into the medical imaging system; and   automatically determining the trajectory in relation to the dimension of the compression paddle and/or the dimension of the offset of the compression paddle relative to the detector.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical imagining system further comprises a light source positioned in a center of a field covered by the radiation source, the method further comprising:
 positioning the organ on the organ support; and   marking a positioning limit on the organ support, wherein the organ lies within the positioning limit.   
     
     
         6 . A medical imaging system comprising:
 an acquisition module comprising:
 a radiation source configured to emit radiation towards an organ; 
 an organ support configured to support the organ; 
 a detector configured to capture the radiation from the radiation source that has passed through the organ; 
 a compression paddle configured to compress the organ against the organ support, wherein the compression paddle is smaller than the detector and is offset towards a side edge of the detector; and 
 a positioning arm configured to position the radiation source at successive acquisition positions along a trajectory, wherein the trajectory is above the compression paddle and is dependent upon the position of the compression paddle; and 
   a control unit configured to drive the positioning arm to center the trajectory on the compression paddle.   
     
     
         7 . The medical imaging system according to  claim 6 , wherein the control unit is configured to drive the positioning arm so that the trajectory starts directly above a side edge of the compression paddle and finishes directly above another side edge of the compression paddle. 
     
     
         8 . The medical imaging system according to  claim 6 , wherein a side edge of the compression paddle is on the same side of the side edge of the detector towards which the compression paddle is offset, and lies directly above this edge. 
     
     
         9 . The medical imaging system according to  claim 6 , wherein the control unit is further configured to retrieve data on the size of the compression paddle and/or on the offset of the compression paddle relative to the detector.