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US 12,714,377 B2Granted
Membrane-based breast compression systems
AssigneeHologic, Inc.
InventorsShawn St. Pierre, Alan Rego, Richard Gladwin Edwards, Joseph Vartolone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bracket body releasably secures a compression element to the compression arm of a breast imaging system. A pair of parallel lateral arms extends from a rigid frame which extends from the bracket. A span connects the ends of the lateral arms opposite the bracket and a flexible membrane extends from the span towards the bracket body.
Claims22
A compression element for a breast imaging system, the compression element comprising:
- a base configured to couple to the breast imaging system;
- a pair of arms attached to the base, wherein each arm of the pair of arms comprises a flexure sensor;
- and
- at least one flexible membrane spanning the pair of arms.
1 more element
A breast imaging system comprising:
- a gantry;
- a tube head including an x-ray source coupled to the gantry;
- and
- a compression system coupled to the gantry, the compression system comprises:
- a support platform;
- an x-ray receptor disposed within the support platform;
- and
- a compression element movable relative to the support platform, the compression element comprising:
- a base;
- a pair of arms attached to the base, wherein each arm of the pair of arms comprises a flexure sensor;
- and
- at least one flexible membrane spanning the pair of arms.
9 more elements
A method of immobilizing a breast with a breast imaging system;
- positioning the breast on a support platform;
- moving a compression element towards the breast positioned on the support platform, wherein the compression element includes a pair of arms attached to a base and at least one flexible membrane spanning the pair of arms;
- at least partially compressing the breast between the at least one flexible membrane and the support platform;
- and
- detecting flexure, via a flexure sensor, of each arm of the pair of arms during breast compression.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.