MAMMOGRAPHY SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING OFFSET COMPRESSION PADDLES, AUTOMATIC COLLIMATIONS, AND RETRACTABLE ANTI-SCATTER GRID
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mammographic imaging system is optimized for use with a single fixed size flat panel digital image receptor. It accommodates compression devices (paddles) of varying sizes, and positions them properly in the field of view of the image receptor. When a compression paddle with size smaller than the field of view of the image receptor is used, the compression paddle can be shifted laterally in the direction parallel to the chest wall, so as to facilitate different views of different size breasts, and permit the image receptor to image as much of the desired tissue as possible. An automatic x-ray collimator restricts the x-ray illumination of the breast in accordance with compression paddle size and location in the field of view. An anti-scatter grid, mounted inside the image receptor enclosure, just below the top cover of the enclosure, can be retracted out of the field of view of the image receptor for use in magnification imaging.
78 Citations
15 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A mammography system comprising:
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a flat panel digital x-ray receptor having a proximal edge;
an x-ray source selectively emitting a collimated x-ray beam toward the receptor;
a compression paddle removably mounted for selective movement at least along a direction of said proximal edge and along a direction of said beam;
wherein at least for selected breast x-ray protocols a patient'"'"'s breast is positioned off-center relative to said proximal edge and said paddle also is positioned off-center relative the proximal edge, according to said off-center position of the breast, to compress the breast toward the receptor for x-ray imaging.
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15-30. -30. (canceled)
Specification