Breast Compression For Digital Mammography, Tomosynthesis And Other Modalities
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A breast x-ray imaging method and system that is particularly suited for tomosynthesis imaging but also is useful for conventional mammography. A fluid containing pillow or bag is placed between the breast and a paddle that compresses the breast against a breast platform covering an imaging device, to enhance patient comfort and provide other benefits. Alternatives include a flexible sheet compressing the breast, and a compressible foam, preferably contoured to accommodate a patient'"'"'s breast.
105 Citations
44 Claims
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1-25. -25. (canceled)
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26. An X-ray breast imaging method comprising:
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compressing a patient'"'"'s breast against a container having fluid therein and being non-flat before compression; said compressing redistributing at least some of the fluid in said container and deforming the container; taking one or more x-ray imaging exposures using x-rays that traverse the compressed breast and the deformed container before reaching an imaging plane. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An x-ray breast imaging system comprising:
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a container having a fluid contained therein and being non-flat before compression; a breast compressing structure selectively compressing a patient'"'"'s breast against the container; said compressing redistributing at least some of the fluid in said container and deforming the container; a gantry on which the breast compressing structure is mounted; an x-ray source emitting imaging x-rays and an x-ray receptor receiving said x-rays after passage thereof through the patient'"'"'s breast and said container to form an image of the patient'"'"'s breast. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. An X-ray breast imaging method comprising:
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providing a generally flat breast platform, sheet material supports that are out of contact with a patient'"'"'s breast, and sheet material extending between said supports and over the breast; compressing the breast between said sheet material and the breast platform while maintaining said supports out of contact with the breast; wherein said sheet material is sufficiently transparent to visible light to permit visualization of the breast through the sheet material; and imaging the compressed breast with x-rays traversing the sheet material and the breast before impinging on an x-ray imaging receptor. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification