Amulet Innovality combines state-of-the-art, Hexagonal Close Pattern image capture technology and intelligent image processing, optimising contrast and dose based on breast density
It’s interesting to know that Fujifilm’s Amulet Innovality has made a roaring success within a short span of time, both in India and Globally. So, what made the Fujifilm’s Amulet Innovality – the new leader in Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) segment? Let’s look at the key reasons for its phenomenal success.
Amulet Innovality, Fujifilm’s newest digital mammography system, combines state-of-the-art, Hexagonal Close Pattern (HCP) image capture technology and intelligent image processing, optimising contrast and dose based on breast density. This resulted in exceptional imaging, optimised contrast, low dose and fast acquisition time.
The motivation for Fujifilm’s Imaging Technology Center (R&D) team is to meet the challenges and requirements of radiologists, mammography technologists, administrators, and patients alike.
Unique and disruptive design of detector
The detector is the heart of any digital mammography system which has direct impact on the image quality obtained and on X-ray dose. It is very important to detect even a small sign of calcification during breast cancer screening. Two types of flat panel detectors (FPD) are used for mammography: a direct conversion-type detector and an indirect conversion-type detector. The resolution of the direct conversion-type detector is generally higher than that of the indirect conversion-type detector. Therefore, Fujifilm preferred direct conversion-type A-Se detector because of its high spatial resolution.
In the conventional detector design, the Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) incorporate the spaces between neighboring pixels for the laying of signal wires. Owing to these gaps, the electrical field intensity is naturally weak and thus reduces the collection efficiency of the signal charge generated from X-rays. And the design of square shaped pixels constituting the TFTs will further decrease the signal charge.
In order to overcome these detector inefficiencies, Fujifilm’s design team has introduced the unique disruptive technology of Hexagonal Close Pattern (HCP) structure into TFTs as Hexagonal pixels can be arranged to reduce the spaces that suppress the disturbances of electrical field intensity. Also, a hexagonal pixel is preferable to a square pixel because of its higher sampling efficiency, consistent connectivity and angular resolution. As a result of this radical new HCP design, Fujifilm is able to increase sensitivity by about 20 per cent compared with conventional TFTs that used square pixels. The detected data by the hexagonal pixels were converted into a 50 µm square image matrix by the imaging processing unit for a 50 micron image display. The HCP design also increased DQE and MTF and reduced the exposure dose while maintaining a high image quality.
Optimised X-ray dose and contrast for each breast type
In general, images taken with the Molybdenum (Mo) anode represent stronger contrast than with the Tungsten (W) anode, which allows physicians to ake diagnoses more easily. X-rays generated from the Mo anode have a low energy distribution; therefore, they are easily absorbed in the breast. That enables high-contrast imaging. However, with the Mo anode, the radiation dose is definitely larger than with the W anode.
Fujifilm addressed this challenge and developed a radiation quality-correcting technology, to create the same high quality of images with the low-radiation W anode as is possible with the Mo anode and the technology is known as Image-based Spectrum Conversion (ISC). In a nutshell, ISC technology optimises contrast in an image, offering the dose advantages of a tungsten target for all exposures and breast types.
The conventional AEC uses multiple sensors to detect X-rays that passes through the subject. It calculates the required dose, based on the sensor that received the smallest quantity of X-rays through the subject during pre-irradiation, that is, the sensor for the region where the glandular density is considered to be the highest. Fujifilm has developed i-AEC technology that detects the mammary gland region based on the morphological characteristics recognised within the images taken during pre-irradiation. iAEC has realised radiation dose control that optimises the quality of images of the mammary gland region, regardless of the state of the breast, such as being fatty, with the scattered mammary gland and having implants.
Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBS)
Tomosynthesis is a technology to generate a tomographic image from multiple images taken from different angles via reconstruction so that the information can be utilised in diagnosis. In addition to images at a high resolution, tomosynthesis required imaging at a lower radiation dose, as the examinees need to undergo mammography several times.
During the tomosynthesis process, the wider the imaging angle, the higher the depth resolution of the image obtained. In view of this, Fujifilm has incorporated two different tomosynthesis mammography modes, i.e., ST mode and HR mode.
ST mode achieves imaging as quickly as just four seconds by narrowing the imaging angle. Quick and low-radiation tomosynthesis mammography is possible in this mode.
HR mode provides high depth resolution by widening the imaging angle. That enables observation focusing on the region of interest.
Providing those two distinctive modes allows users to make purpose-specific selection.
Patient Comfort
Most of the cases, the patients are not comfortable during a mammo examination as the compression of the breast causes pain / discomfort.
Keeping the patient comfort as pivotal to its design, Fujifilm has developed a unique patented comfort paddle that allows pressure to be more evenly and gently distributed across the breast compared to conventional, flexible paddles. This design improves the patient comfort during mammogrammes significantly.
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