Systems and methods for measuring thickness of foam compressive elements

Abstract

A method of imaging a breast of a patient with a breast imaging system includes supporting the breast on a breast support platform. A compressive force is applied to the breast with a breast immobilization element including a rigid substrate, a foam compressive element secured below the rigid substrate, and a force sensor. The foam compressive element is in contact with the breast during application of the compressive force. A force signal is detected at the force sensor based on the applied compressive force. A compressed thickness of the breast proximate the force sensor is determined based at least in part on the detected force signal at the force sensor. An automatic exposure control is set based at least in part on the determined thickness of the breast proximate the force sensor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.