Horizontally-displaceable foam breast compression paddle
AssigneeHologic, Inc.
InventorsKenneth DEFREITAS, Jay A. STEIN, Alan REGO, Christian DUNNE, Christine JANSSEN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breast compression paddle includes a bracket, a rigid substrate, and a foam compressive element. The bracket removably secures the breast compression paddle to an imaging system. The rigid substrate is secured to the bracket and includes a first edge and a second edge disposed opposite the first edge. The foam compressive element is slidably secured to the rigid substrate.
Claims32
A breast compression paddle comprising:
- a bracket for removably securing the breast compression paddle to an imaging system;
- a rigid substrate secured to the bracket, wherein the rigid substrate comprises a first edge and a second edge disposed opposite the first edge;
- and
- a foam compressive element slidably secured to the rigid substrate.
A breast imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray source;
- a breast support platform;
- a compression arm movably disposed between the x-ray source and the breast support platform;
- a rigid substrate;
- a rail system removably secured to at least one of the compression arm and the rigid substrate;
- and
- a foam compressive element secured to at least one of the rail system and the rigid substrate.
A method of positioning a breast of a patient for x-ray imaging, the method comprising:
- moving a rigid substrate towards the breast in a direction substantially orthogonal to a support platform supporting the breast;
- moving a foam compressive element in a direction substantially parallel to the support platform;
- and
- contacting the breast with the foam compressive element.
A breast imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray source;
- a breast support platform;
- a compression arm movably disposed between the x-ray source and the breast support platform;
- a compression paddle secured to the compression arm, wherein at least one of the breast support platform and the compression paddle define a compressive surface;
- and
- a foam compressive element secured to no more than about 30% of the compressive surface.
A breast imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray source;
- a breast support platform, wherein the breast support platform comprises a non-compressive edge;
- a compression arm movably disposed between the x-ray source and the breast support platform;
- a compression paddle secured to the compression arm;
- and
- a foam compressive element secured to the non-compressive edge.
A breast compression paddle comprising:
- a bracket for removably securing the breast compression paddle to an imaging system;
- a substrate receptacle movably secured to the bracket;
- a rigid substrate receivably secured to the substrate receptacle, wherein the rigid substrate comprises a first edge and a second edge disposed opposite the first edge;
- and
- a foam compressive element secured to the rigid substrate.
A compression paddle comprising:
- a rigid substrate;
- a foam compressive element secured to the substrate;
- and
- at least one magnet connected to the rigid substrate for magnetically engaging at least a portion of a breast imaging system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.