Breast support compression pillow
AssigneeDevicor Medical Products, Inc.
InventorBruce John Kevin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides an adjustable means for supporting the breast from beneath the nipple during a prone breast biopsy procedure. By increasing or decreasing the volume of air or fluid within the pillow, the clinician can apply a controlled amount of compression on the breast, thereby increasing or decreasing the compressed area of the breast. The invention is believed to have utility for all modalities of breast biopsy; however, it is believed to be especially useful for a prone MRI breast biopsy procedure.
Claims26
An apparatus for use with a biopsy localization fixture, the localization fixture comprising a grid plate and a medial plate, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- (a) a support member, wherein the support member is configured to be positionable between the grid plate and the medial plate, wherein the support member is further configured to abut a patient's breast to apply an upward force to the breast thereby spreading the breast laterally across the grid plate;
- and
- (b) an actuation device, wherein the actuation device is in communication with the support member.
A bolstering device, wherein the bolstering device is usable in conjunction with a breast biopsy localization fixture, wherein the localization fixture comprise two opposing plates configured for compression of a patient's breast therebetween, wherein the bolstering device is positionable between the two opposing plates, wherein the bolstering device comprises:
- (a) a flat or curved top surface;
- (b) a flat bottom surface;
- and
- (c) a plurality of ribs disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of ribs are configured to expand substantially unidirectionally to push the top surface upwardly thereby applying a force to a patient's breast, wherein the force applied by the top surface is oriented along a force axis, wherein the force axis is obliquely oriented relative to a compression axis defined the two opposing plates of the localization fixture.
An apparatus for use with a biopsy localization fixture, the localization fixture comprising a grid plate and a medial plate, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- (a) an expandable member, wherein the expandable member is configured to be disposed between the grid plate and the medial plate, wherein the expandable member is further configured to expand relative to the grid plate and the medial plate in a direction perpendicular to a localization axis;
- (b) a tube;
- and
- (c) a pressure source, wherein the pressure source is in communication with the expandable member via the tube, wherein the pressure source is configured to selectively supply fluid to the expandable member to selectively expand the expandable member in the direction perpendicular to the localization axis.
A method for positioning a breast of a patient in preparation for a biopsy procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) actuating a first assembly to bear against the breast in a first orthogonal direction and thereby deform the breast;
- and
- (2) actuating a second assembly to bear against the breast in a second orthogonal direction that is perpendicular to the first orthogonal direction to thereby further deform the breast.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.