Systems and methods for visualizing below an opaque compression paddle
AssigneeHologic, Inc.
InventorJeffrey Harold Paige
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for imaging a breast includes a gantry and a tube head rotatably coupled thereto. An x-ray source is disposed within the tube head. A support arm is movably coupled to the gantry and includes a breast support platform. An x-ray detector is disposed within the breast support platform and a compression arm is movably coupled to the support arm. An opaque breast compression paddle is coupled to the compression arm. The breast support platform and the opaque compression paddle at least partially define a compression volume for compressing a breast and a camera is arranged to capture images of the compression volume. An image display is at least partially disposed on the system and is configured to display the images of the compression volume captured by the camera.
Claims23
A system for imaging a breast, the system comprising:
- a gantry;
- a tube head rotatably coupled to the gantry;
- an x-ray source disposed within the tube head;
- a support arm movably coupled to the gantry, wherein the support arm comprises to a breast support platform;
- an x-ray detector disposed within the breast support platform;
- a compression arm movably coupled to the support arm;
- an opaque breast compression paddle coupled to the compression arm, wherein the breast support platform and the opaque compression paddle at least partially define a compression volume for compressing a breast;
- at least one camera arranged so as to capture images of the compression volume;
- and
- an image display at least partially disposed on the system, wherein the image display is configured to display the images of the compression volume captured by the at least one camera.
A method of displaying an image of a breast in a breast compression system having a breast support platform and a breast compression paddle, the method comprising:
- supporting the breast on the beast support platform;
- imaging at least a portion of the supported breast with at least one camera disposed on the breast compression system;
- and
- displaying at least a portion of the image.
An upgrade system for a breast x-ray imaging system comprising a tube head, a compression assembly, and a compression paddle, the upgrade system comprising:
- a camera;
- a bracket for connecting the camera to the compression assembly;
- a display for displaying an image obtained by the camera;
- a securement element for connecting the display to the breast imaging system;
- and
- a transmission cable connectable to the camera.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.