Mammography System And Method Employing Offset Compression Paddles, Automatic Collimation, And Retractable Anti-scatter Grid

• US 20100150306A1
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: FARBIZIO, Thomas A., HITZKE, Georgia, DEFREITAS, Kenneth F., JANER, Roman, PELLEGRINO, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0414 with compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/06 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1069 Target adjustment, e.g. moving the patient support

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.

Claims

1. A method of imaging a patient'"'"'s breast with x-rays comprising:

providing a flat panel digital x-ray receptor having a proximal edge, and an x-ray source selectively emitting an x-ray beam toward the receptor;

positioning a patient'"'"'s breast between the source and receptor, off-center relative to said proximal edge, for imaging with said beam;

compressing the breast toward the receptor with a compression paddle that is mounted off-center relative to said proximal edge, in accordance with the off-center position of the breast; and

imaging the breast with x-rays emitted from the source and received by the digital receptor while the breast is compressed with said paddle.

2-30. -30. (canceled)