# US 11,998,371 B2 · Breast compression and imaging systems and methods

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- Number: US 11,998,371 B2
- Document ID: US11998371B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/195,176
- Filed: 2023-05-09
- Published: 2023-10-19
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-25
- Assignees: Hologic, Inc.
- Applicants: Hologic, Inc.
- Inventors: Shawn St. Pierre; Alan Rego; Richard Gladwin Edwards; Joseph Vartolone; Timothy Wells
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998371B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/0414: {with compression means}
- A61B 6/0435: {with means for imaging suspended breasts}
- A61B 6/0492: {using markers or indicia for aiding patient positioning}
- A61B 6/461: {Displaying means of special interest}
- A61B 6/502: {for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A compression paddle with a plurality of markers is advanced towards a patient's breast which has been positioned on a support platform for an imaging procedure. An initial position of the compression paddle is detected relative to the support platform when a portion of the breast is contacted. An initial marker is identified which is associated with a feature of the breast when the compression paddle is in the initial position. A compression target marker is based at least in part on the initial position and the initial marker.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of determining a condition of a breast for an imaging procedure, the method comprising:
compressing the breast between a movable compression paddle and a support platform;
monitoring a position of at least a portion of the compression paddle relative to the support platform;
emitting a signal towards a feature disposed on the compression paddle;
receiving a return signal from the feature in response to the emitted signal; and
determining a flexure of the compression paddle based at least in part on the return signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a dose to be delivered to the breast based at least in part on the position and the flexure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining if at least one of the position and the flexure meets a predetermined criteria; and
terminating the compression operation based on the predetermined criteria determination.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the emitted signal comprises at least one of a laser signal, an optical signal, and a time-of-flight signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the feature comprises a machine-readable feature.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the return signal comprises the emitted signal reflected by the feature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the feature is disposed on a substantially vertical portion of the compression paddle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the feature is disposed on a substantially horizontal portion of the compression paddle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises a rate of flexure of the compression paddle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises a position between the compression paddle and the support platform.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the signal emitted towards the feature is emitted from a sensor disposed on a tube head of a breast imaging system, wherein the compression paddle is disposed between the tube head and the support platform.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the signal emitted towards the feature is emitted from a sensor disposed on a compression system of a breast imaging system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein calculating the dose to be delivered to the breast is based at least in part on a calculated thickness of the breast.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the flexure of the compression paddle is further based at least in part on the monitored position of the portion of the compression paddle relative to the support platform.