X-ray machine for breast examination in a standing position
AssigneeMir Medical Imaging Research Holding GmbH
InventorsWilli Kalender, Harry Schilling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An X-ray machine for imaging a female breast has a support with an attached continuously rotatable gantry. An X-ray tube with an oppositely located X-ray detector is mounted on the gantry. A locating means for accommodating a breast is disposed coaxially with a rotation axis of the gantry. The gantry is adapted to be moved relative to the locating means by an advancing means. In order to achieve a high throughput of patients, a locating means having an opening for accommodating a breast is provided relative to both sides of the gantry. The X-ray machine may be incorporated between two separating walls which have cut-out portions for the locating means.
Claims18
An X-ray machine for imaging a breast of a female patient, comprising:
- a gantry that is rotatable about an approximately horizontal rotation axis, wherein the X-ray machine is configured to set the gantry into continuous rotational motion for imaging the breast;
- an X-ray-tube mounted on the gantry;
- an X-ray detector mounted on the gantry substantially opposite the X-ray tube;
- a locating means for locating the breast in a measurement field of the X-ray machine, wherein the locating means comprises a first locating means disposed on a first side of the gantry, and wherein the X-ray machine further comprises a second locating means disposed on a second side of the gantry opposite to the first side and the first locating means so that breasts of different patients can be inserted on each side of the gantry;
- and
- an advancing means for linear displacement of the gantry relative to the locating means and along a direction of the rotation axis of the gantry, with the linear displacement being effected in dependence upon the rotational motion.
An X-ray machine for imaging a breast of a female patient, comprising:
- a gantry that is rotatable about a substantially horizontal rotation axis;
- an X-ray tube mounted on the gantry;
- an X-ray detector mounted on the gantry opposite the X-ray tube;
- a breast receiving area disposed in a measurement field of the X-ray machine and in substantial alignment with the substantially horizontal rotation axis;
- a second breast receiving area disposed on a second side of the gantry opposite to the first side such that breasts of different patients can be inserted on each side of the gantry;
- and,
- wherein the X-ray machine is configured to:
- set the gantry into continuous rotational motion for imaging the breast;
- and
- linearly displace, in dependence upon the rotational motion, the gantry relative to the breast receiving area along a direction of the rotation axis of the gantry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.