Digital imaging apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for imaging an area of interest within a patient's breast, comprising: compressing means for compressing said patient's breast; transmitting means for transmitting a first imaging signal through said area of interest within said patient's compressed breast; signal detector means positioned in opposing relation to said transmitting means with said patient's compressed breast positioned therebetween, for receiving said first imaging signal and transmitting a second signal responsive thereto, said signal detector means including a plurality of signal detector elements each having selected signal detector performance characteristics; receiving means for receiving said second imaging signal and producing an image of said area of interest within said patient's compressed breast based upon said received second imaging signal; positioning means for allowing said first imaging signal to be selectively received by one of said plurality of signal detector elements; and user selection means, operatively associated with said positioning means, for allowing a user to select one of said plurality of signal detector elements for receiving said first imaging signal relative to particular imaging conditions.

Claim 2

An apparatus for imaging an area of interest within a patient's breast, comprising: compressing means for compressing said patient's breast; transmitting means for transmitting a first imaging signal through said area of interest within said patient's compressed breast; signal detector means positioned in opposing relation to said transmitting means with said patient's compressed breast positioned therebetween, for receiving said first imaging signal and transmitting a second signal responsive thereto, said signal detector means including a plurality of signal detector elements each having selected signal detector performance characteristics; receiving means for receiving said second imaging signal and producing an image of said area of interest within said patient's compressed breast based upon said received second imaging signal; positioning means for allowing said first imaging signal to be selectively received by one of said plurality of signal detector elements; and user selection means, operatively associated with said positioning means, for allowing a user to select one of said plurality of signal detector elements for receiving said first imaging signal relative to particular imaging conditions.

Claim 10

An apparatus for imaging an object of interest, comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a first imaging signal through said object of interest; support means, positionable in opposing relation to said transmitter with said object of interest positioned therebetween, for supporting at least first and second signal detector elements, said first and second signal detector elements adapted for receiving said first imaging signal transmitted through said object of interest and for transmitting a second imaging signal responsive to said received first imaging signal, wherein said first signal detector element has performance characteristics different than that of said second signal detector element; a receiver for receiving said second imaging signal and for producing an image of said object of interest based upon said received second imaging signal; and selection means for allowing said first imaging signal to be selectively received by either said first signal detector element or said second signal detector element.

Claim 11

An apparatus for imaging an object of interest, comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a first imaging signal through said object of interest; support means, positionable in opposing relation to said transmitter with said object of interest positioned therebetween, for supporting at least first and second signal detector elements, said first and second signal detector elements adapted for receiving said first imaging signal transmitted through said object of interest and for transmitting a second imaging signal responsive to said received first imaging signal, wherein said first signal detector element has performance characteristics different than that of said second signal detector element; a receiver for receiving said second imaging signal and for producing an image of said object of interest based upon said received second imaging signal; and selection means for allowing said first imaging signal to be selectively received by either said first signal detector element or said second signal detector element.

Claim 16

An apparatus for imaging an area of interest within a patient's breast, comprising: a moveable member for compressingly engaging said patient's breast; an x-ray source for transmitting x-rays through said patient's compressed breast; support means for supporting first and second phosphorescent screens adapted for receiving said x-rays and emitting light responsive thereto, wherein said first phosphorescent screen has greater limiting resolution than said second phosphorescent screen; positioning means for use in moving said support means between a first position wherein said first phosphorescent screen receives said x-rays and a second position wherein said second phosphorescent screen receives said x-rays.

Claim 17

An apparatus for imaging an area of interest within a patient's breast, comprising: a moveable member for compressingly engaging said patient's breast; an x-ray source for transmitting x-rays through said patient's compressed breast; support means for supporting first and second phosphorescent screens adapted for receiving said x-rays and emitting light responsive thereto, wherein said first phosphorescent screen has greater limiting resolution than said second phosphorescent screen; positioning means for use in moving said support means between a first position wherein said first phosphorescent screen receives said x-rays and a second position wherein said second phosphorescent screen receives said x-rays.