Method and apparatus for mammographic compression

• US 5,706,327 A
• Filed: 02/09/1996
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trex Medical Corp. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Saunders, Debra S., Adamkowski, Mike, Bird, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, DON KITSUN
• Application Number:
  US08/599,597
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 378/37, 378/195, 378/208, 128/653.1, 128/660.01, 128/660.09, 128/660.1, 128/661.01, 128/915
• US Class Current: 378/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0414 with compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography

Abstract

A compression apparatus for use with conventional mammography apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a frame which may be attached to a conventional mammography device'"'"'s compression paddle carriage. The apparatus further comprises a compression surface having a chest wall end and a nipple end, pivotally attached to the frame at a pivot point located between the chest wall end and the nipple end. To provide adequate compressive forces at the chest wall end of the compression surface while allowing rotation about the pivot point, a spring is attached between the frame and the compression surface at the nipple end of the compression surface.

Claims

1. A method for compressing breast tissue for mammography, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mammography device comprising;

an imaging arm having an X-ray source end and an image receiving end,

an X-ray source attached to the imaging arm at the imaging end,

a breast supporting X-ray image receiver attached to the imaging arm at the image receiving end;

providing a rotatable compression paddle apparatus for a mammography device between the X-ray source and the breast supporting X-ray image receiver, the apparatus comprising;

a frame having a cross member,

a substantially planar compression surface having a nipple end and a chest wall end, the compression surface being pivotally attached to the frame at a pivot point between the chest wall end and the nipple end,

a lever having an opening, the lever being attached to the planar compression surface at the nipple end thereof,

a spring retaining member, having a spring retaining end, attached to the cross member of the frame and positioned through the opening in the lever, and

a spring positioned between the spring retaining end of the spring retaining member and the lever attached to the planar compression surface;

placing breast tissue on the breast supporting X-ray image receiver;

moving the compression paddle apparatus towards the breast supporting X-ray image receiver at least until contact between the chest wall end of the compression surface is made with the breast tissue and the compression paddle surface is rotated from a pre-chestwall contact resting position.

2. A method for compressing breast tissue for a mammography, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mammography device comprising;

an imaging arm having an X-ray source end and an image receiving end,

an X-ray source attached to the imaging arm at the imaging end,

a breast supporting X-ray image receiver attached to the imaging arm at the image receiving end;

providing a rotatable compression paddle apparatus for a mammography device between the X-ray source and the breast supporting X-ray image receiver, the apparatus comprising;

a frame, including a cross member having an opening therein,

a compression surface having a chest wall end and a nipple end, pivotally attached to the frame at a pivot point located between the chest wall end and the nipple end,

a lever attached to the compression surface at the nipple end thereof,

a spring retaining member, having a spring retaining end, attached to the lever and positioned through the opening in the cross member of the frame, and

a spring positioned between the spring retaining end of the spring retaining member and the cross member of the frame;

placing breast tissue on the breast supporting X-ray image receiver;

moving the compression paddle apparatus towards the breast supporting X-ray image receiver at least until contact between the chest wall end of the compression surface is made with the breast tissue and the compression paddle surface is rotated from a pre-chestwall contact resting position.

3. A compression paddle apparatus for a mammography device, the apparatus comprising:

a compression paddle supporting frame having a cross member;

a compression surface having a chest wall end and a nipple end, pivotally attached to the frame at a pivot point located between the chest wall end and the nipple end;

a lever attached to the compression surface at the nipple end thereof; and

a spring retaining member having a spring retaining end, wherein the spring retaining member is attached to the lever and positioned through the opening in the cross member of the frame; and

a spring positioned between the spring retaining end of the spring retaining member and the cross member of the frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the spring retaining member is hingably attached to the lever.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the spring is a coiled wire spring.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the spring is an elastomeric material.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pivot point is located at a midpoint between the chest wall end and the nipple end of the compression surface.

8. A compression paddle apparatus for a mammography device, the apparatus comprising:

a compression paddle supporting frame having a cross member;

a compression surface having a chest wall end and a nipple end, pivotally attached to the frame at a pivot point located between the chest wall end and the nipple end;

a lever, having an opening therein, attached to the compression surface at the nipple end thereof;

a spring retaining member having a spring retaining end, wherein the spring retaining member is attached to the cross member of the frame and positioned through the opening in the lever; and

a spring positioned between the spring retaining end of the spring retaining member and the lever attached to the compression surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spring retaining member is hingably attached to the cross member.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pivot point is located at a midpoint between the chest wall end and the nipple end of the compression surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spring is a coiled wire spring.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spring is an elastomeric material.