# US 10,863,952 B2 · Apparatus, system and method for controlling medical equipment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,952 B2 - Document ID: US10863952B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/014,752 - Filed: 2018-06-21 - Published: 2019-12-26 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-21 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Laurence Vancamberg; Jérôme Sutty; Razvan Iordache; Remy Klausz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863952B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/0414: {with compression means} - A61B 6/0435: {with means for imaging suspended breasts} - A61B 6/467: {characterised by special input means} - A61B 6/502: {for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography} - A61B 6/0478: {Chairs} - A61B 6/52: {Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis} - A61B 8/406: {using means for diagnosing suspended breasts} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An apparatus for controlling medical equipment is provided. The apparatus includes patient positioning equipment, and a control system coupled to the patient positioning equipment. The control system is configured to control a function of the medical equipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling medical equipment comprising: patient positioning equipment including at least a patient table; a mammography imaging system having a breast support area for compression of a breast of a patient with at least one compression paddle during an imaging procedure; a control device physically interconnected with the patient table of the patient positioning equipment and movable with the patient table, the control device being connected to the mammography imaging system only via a wire or wirelessly for controlling positioning of the at least one compression paddle; wherein the control device is configured to control both positioning of the patient table and positioning of the at least one compression paddle during the imaging procedure; and wherein the patient table and the mammography imaging system are mechanically separate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes switch controls connected to the patient positioning equipment via a support structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to control a function of the patient positioning equipment and/or an accessory device, in addition to a function of the mammography imaging system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the patient table is a Decubitus Breast Imaging (DBI) table. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to support wireless communication with at least one of the mammography imaging system, the patient positioning equipment, or an accessory device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is a user interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface is configured to control a function of the patient positioning equipment and/or an accessory device, in addition to a function of the mammography imaging system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface is configured to support wireless communication with at least one of the mammography imaging system, the patient positioning equipment or an accessory device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface is a touch screen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user interface is coupled to the patient positioning equipment via a flexible mount. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the control device includes a footswitch controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: an accessory device configured to perform at least one of photographic imaging, volumetric measuring, tissue rigidity assessment and/or temperature mapping; wherein the control device is configured to control the accessory device to perform a function of the accessory device. ### Claim 13 A system for controlling mammography equipment comprising: a mammography imaging system having a breast support area for compression of a breast of a patient with at least one compression paddle during an imaging procedure; a breast imaging table for supporting a patient during the imaging procedure, the breast imaging table having at least one wheel or caster for facilitating horizontal movement of the breast imaging table on a surface with respect to the mammography imaging system; and switch controls physically coupled to the breast imaging table and moveable therewith; wherein the switch controls are configured to control both positioning of the breast imaging table and positioning of the at least one compression paddle during the imaging procedure; wherein the breast imaging table is mechanically separate from, and moveable relative to, the mammography imaging system; and wherein the switch controls are connected to the mammography imaging system only via a wire or wirelessly for controlling positioning of the at least one compression paddle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the switch controls are configured to control a function of the breast imaging table and/or an accessory device, in addition to a function of the mammography imaging system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising: a user interface coupled to the breast imaging table, the user interface configured to control a function of the breast imaging table, a function of an accessory device, and/or a function of the mammography imaging system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein: the switch controls are connected to the breast imaging table via a flexible gooseneck mount. ### Claim 17 A method of controlling medical equipment comprising: physically interconnecting a controller to a patient positioning system having a patient table for supporting a patient; communicatively coupling the controller to the patient positioning system having a patient table for supporting a patient; communicatively coupling the controller to a mammography imaging system via only a wired or wireless connection, the mammography imaging system having a breast support area for compression of a breast of the patient with at least one compression paddle during an imaging procedure; and controlling at least one function of each of the patient table and the mammography imaging system using the controller; wherein the patient table and the mammography imaging system are mechanically separate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the controller includes switch controls. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the controller includes a user interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to control a function of the patient positioning system and/or an accessory device, in addition to a function of the mammography imaging system.