Apparatus and method for improved tissue imaging

An imaging device comprising:

• a compression plate and a support plate defining a compression/imaging space therebetween;
• at least one layer of radiolucent material dimensioned and constructed such that said at least one layer can pass between surfaces of either or both of said compression plate and said support plate and a tissue inserted within said compression/imaging space, said material having sufficient tensile strength that said at least one layer can slide without tearing against said surfaces when tension is exerted on said layer, and
• at least one puller capable of exerting tension on said at least one layer so as to slide said at least one layer against said surfaces such that said tissue moves relative to said surfaces so as to effect at least one of (a) pulling the tissue into the imaging device without substantially moving other portions of a patient's body to which the tissue is attached, and (b) shearing of the tissue.

A method of moving a tissue relative to at least one surface of a tissue imaging device comprising the steps of:

• positioning at least one layer of radiolucent material between at least one surface of said tissue and said at least one surface of said tissue imaging device, said radiolucent material being capable of movement relative to said at least one surface of said tissue imaging device;
• moving said at least one layer of radiolucent material relative to said at least one surface of said tissue imaging device such that at least a portion of said tissue also moves relative to said at least one surface of said tissue imaging device in the direction of motion of said at least one layer of radiolucent material so as to effect at least one of (a) pulling the tissue into the imaging device without substantially moving other portions of a patient's body to which the tissue is attached, and (b) shearing of the tissue.

An imaging detection system comprising:

• a detector apparatus in operational engagement with at least one layer of radiolucent material, said at least one layer being dimensioned and constructed such that said layer can pass between tissue and a surface of said detector apparatus, said material having sufficient tensile strength that said layer can slide without tearing against said surface of said detector apparatus when tension is exerted on said layer, said sliding resulting in movement of at least a portion of said tissue relative to said surfaces of said detector apparatus, so as to effect at least one of (a) pulling the tissue into the imaging device without substantially moving other portions of a patient's body to which the tissue is attached, and (b) shearing of the tissue.

A method of shearing tissue disposed between a compression plate and a support plate of a tissue imaging device comprising laterally translating either or both of said compression plate and said support plate relative to each other.

A method of shearing tissue disposed between a compression plate and a support plate of a tissue imaging device comprising twisting either or both of said compression plate and said support plate relative to each other.

A compression element for a tissue imaging device comprising a compression plate in operational engagement with at least one layer of radiolucent material, said at least one layer being dimensioned and constructed such that said at least one layer can pass between tissue and a surface of said compression plate, said material having sufficient tensile strength that said layer can slide without tearing against said surface of said compression plate when tension is exerted on said layer, said sliding resulting in movement of said tissue relative to said surface of said compression plate.

A layer of radiolucent material dimensioned and constructed such that said layer can pass between tissue disposed within a tissue imaging device and a surface of said tissue imaging device, said material having sufficient tensile strength that said layer can slide without tearing against said surface of said tissue imaging device when tension is exerted on said layer, said sliding resulting in movement of at least a portion of said tissue relative to said surface of said tissue imaging device so as to effect at least one of (a) pulling the tissue into the imaging device without substantially moving other portions of a patient's body to which the tissue is attached, and (b) shearing of the tissue.

A mammography imaging device comprising:

• a compression plate and a support plate defining a compression/imaging space therebetween;
• at least one layer of radiolucent material dimensioned and constructed such that said at least one layer can pass between surfaces of either or both of said compression plate and said support plate and a breast inserted within said compression/imaging space, said material having sufficient tensile strength that said at least one layer can slide without tearing against said surfaces when tension is exerted on said layer, and
• at least one puller capable of exerting tension on said at least one layer so as to slide said at least one layer against said surfaces such that said breast moves relative to said surfaces so as to effect at least one of (a) pulling of the breast into the imaging device without substantially moving other portions of a patient's body to which the tissue is attached, and (b) shearing of the breast.