System and method for low x-ray dose breast density evaluation
First Claim
1. A compression assembly for compressing a breast in use with a mammography system, comprising:
- a rigid plate; and
at least one spacer coupled to the rigid plate and sized such that the spacer maintains the rigid plate in a substantially parallel alignment at a fixed distance from a breast support plate of an x-ray mammography system, thereby providing a region for receiving and compressing a breast at a substantially uniform thickness;
wherein the rigid plate has a curved surface and the at least one spacer has a contact face that is curved so as to uniformly contact the curved surface of the rigid plate, thereby maintaining the rigid plate in a substantially parallel alignment at a fixed distance from a breast support plate of an x-ray mammography system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for measuring volumetric breast density using a low dose of radiation are provided. This low-dose image can be added to a standard mammographic screening protocol with less than a two percent increase in radiation dose imparted to the subject. This low-dose image can also be used as a single standalone test to determine breast density for younger women for the purposes of risk determination or screening regimen planning. The breast density measurement is more accurate than measurements that can be obtained with existing systems and methods by making use of a compression assembly that maintains a parallel alignment between the compression paddle and breast support table. Additionally, the compression assembly maintains a uniform known thickness of the compressed breast. The system and method have the added benefit that they can be readily implemented on a conventional digital x-ray unit with low cost.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A compression assembly for compressing a breast in use with a mammography system, comprising:
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a rigid plate; and at least one spacer coupled to the rigid plate and sized such that the spacer maintains the rigid plate in a substantially parallel alignment at a fixed distance from a breast support plate of an x-ray mammography system, thereby providing a region for receiving and compressing a breast at a substantially uniform thickness; wherein the rigid plate has a curved surface and the at least one spacer has a contact face that is curved so as to uniformly contact the curved surface of the rigid plate, thereby maintaining the rigid plate in a substantially parallel alignment at a fixed distance from a breast support plate of an x-ray mammography system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification