Folding mammography table and method of use

• US 6,419,390 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LPM Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Marianette Landis-Lowell
• Inventors: Landis-Lowell, Marianette
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/816,437
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 378/37, 378/208, 378/209, 560/1, 600/407
• US Class Current: 378/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0414 with compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography

Abstract

A folding mammography table having a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base. The upper base is attached to a lower base by a means for adjusting the height of the upper base over the lower base. In use, the folding mammography table is sized to accommodate a mammography patient. Then the folding mammography table is folded down into the folded configuration, wherein the folding thorax support is disposed substantially horizontal. The mammography patient is then positioned on the folding mammography table, with one breast pendulously extending through a breast orifice in the folding thorax support. Gravity causes the breast to extend downwards, and X-rays are then taken of the breast. In folding mammography table embodiments incorporating two breast orifices, a breast orifice cover is used to block the breast orifice associated with a breast whose X-ray is not being taken, in order to prevent the non-X-rayed breast from interfering with the photography of the breast which is being X-rayed.

Claims

1. A folding mammography table comprising a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base, and a lower base attached to said upper base by a means for adjusting a height of said upper base over said lower base, means for varying an angle between said folding thorax support and said upper base, and at least one breast orifice in said folding thorax support.

2. The folding mammography table of claim 1 wherein said means for varying an angle between said folding thorax support and said upper base comprises a crank and at least one gear.

3. The folding mammography table of claim 2 wherein an angular position of said folding thorax support may be fixed relative to said upper base by means of a pin extending through a crank pin bore in said crank, and into an upper base pin bore in said upper base.

4. The folding mammography table of claim 1 wherein said means for varying an angle between said folding thorax support and said upper base comprises a motor and at least one gear.

5. The folding mammography table of claim 1 wherein said means for varying an angle between said folding thorax support and said upper base comprises an actuator attached at one end to said upper base, and at an opposite end to said folding thorax support.

6. The folding mammography table of claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting a height of said upper base over said lower base comprises an upper base jack engaged at one extreme with said lower base, and at an opposite extreme with said upper base.

7. The folding mammography table of claim 6 further comprising at least one guide attached at one end to said lower base, and at an opposite end to said upper base.

8. The folding mammography table of claim 7 wherein each said guide comprises a guide piston disposed within a guide cylinder, said guide cylinder being sized to slidably admit said guide piston.

9. The folding mammography table of claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting a height of said upper base over said lower base comprises a rack and pinion.

10. The folding mammography table of claim 9 further comprising a pinion crank attached to said pinion.

11. The folding mammography table of claim 9 further comprising a motor attached to said pinion.

12. The folding mammography table of claim 11 further comprising at least one guide attached at one end to said lower base, and at an opposite end to said upper base.

13. The folding mammography table of claim 12 wherein each said guide comprises a guide piston disposed within a guide cylinder, said guide cylinder being sized to slidably admit said guide piston.

14. The folding mammography table of claim 1 wherein said folding thorax support comprises at least one hand hold.

15. The folding mammography table of claim 14 further comprising means of adjusting a position of said hand hold on said folding thorax support.

16. The folding mammography table of claim 15 wherein said means of adjusting a position of said hand hold on said folding thorax support comprises a plurality of hand hold bores disposed along said folding thorax support, each said hand hold bore being sized to slidably admit an extreme of said hand hold.

17. The folding mammography table of claim 16 wherein each said hand hold further comprises a hand hold key, and wherein each said hand hold bore further comprises a hand hold bore keyway sized to admit one said hand hold key, wherein insertion of an extreme of one said hand hold into a hand hold bore simultaneously inserts one said hand hold key into a corresponding one said hand hold bore keyway, whereby said hand hold is angularly immobilized relative to said folding thorax support.

18. The folding mammography table of claim 1 wherein said upper base comprises an upper base land, whereby rotational motion of said folding thorax support is stopped at a pre-determined optimal folded position.

19. The folding mammography table of claim 18 wherein said upper base land is parallel plus or minus 5 degrees to horizontal, whereby said upper base land stops said rotational motion of said folding thorax support in a position which is parallel plus or minus 5 degrees to horizontal.

20. The folding mammography table of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting a vertical position of a mammography patient relative to said folding thorax support.

21. The folding mammography table of claim 20 wherein said means for adjusting a vertical position of a mammography patient relative to said folding thorax support comprises a ramp disposed on said lower base, an extreme of said ramp adjacent said upper base being vertically adjustable by means of a ramp jack.

22. The folding mammography table of claim 20 wherein said means for adjusting a vertical position of a mammography patient relative to said folding thorax support comprises at least one block disposed on said lower base.

23. A folding mammography table comprising a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base, and a lower base attached to said upper base by a means for adjusting a height of said upper base over said lower base, means for varying an angle between said folding thorax support and said upper base, and two breast orifices in said folding thorax support.

24. The folding mammography table of claim 23 further comprising at least one hand hold removably attached to said folding thorax support, and means for adjusting a position of said hand hold along said folding thorax support.

25. The folding mammography table of claim 24 further comprising means of adjusting a vertical position of a mammography patient relative to said folding thorax.

26. The folding mammography table of claim 23 wherein said upper base further comprises an upper base land, whereby rotational motion of said folding thorax support is stopped at a position which is substantially horizontal.

27. A method of use for a folding mammography table, said folding mammography table comprising a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base, and a lower base attached to said upper base by a means for adjusting a height of said upper base over said lower base, means for varying an angle between said folding thorax support and said upper base, and at least one breast orifice in said folding thorax support, said method comprising the steps of:

A. Positioning said folding mammography table in an unfolded position;

B. Positioning a mammography patient on said lower base, facing said folding thorax support;

C. Adjusting a height of said folding thorax support over said lower base such that at least one said patient'"'"'s breast protrudes through one said breast orifice;

D. Removing said patient from said folding mammography table;

E. Folding said folding mammography table into a folded position, such that said folding thorax support is substantially horizontal;

F. Positioning said patient face down on said folding thorax support, with a breast to be X-rayed hanging pendulously through one said breast orifice; and

G. Taking X-rays of said breast hanging pendulously through said breast orifice.

28. The method of use for said folding mammography table of claim 27 wherein said folding mammography table comprises at least one hand hold, and wherein said method comprises the further step of adjusting a height of at least one hand hold above said lower base such that said patient may grasp said hand hold while standing on said lower base.

29. The method of use for said folding mammography table of claim 27 wherein said folding mammography table further comprises means for adjusting a vertical position of a mammography patient relative to said folding thorax support, and wherein said method comprises the further step of setting a vertical position of a mammography patient relative to said folding thorax support.

30. A method of use for a folding mammography table, said folding mammography table comprising a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base, and a lower base attached to said upper base by a means for adjusting a height of said upper base over said lower base, means for varying an angle between said folding thorax support and said upper base, a first and second breast orifice in said folding thorax support, and a breast orifice cover sized to cover one said breast orifice, said method comprising the steps of:

A. Positioning said folding mammography table in an unfolded position;

B. Positioning a mammography patient on said lower base, facing said folding thorax support;

C. Adjusting a height of said folding thorax support over said lower base such that at least one said patient'"'"'s breast protrudes through one said breast orifice;

D. Removing said patient from said folding mammography table;

E. Folding said folding mammography table into a folded position, such that said folding thorax support is substantially horizontal;

F. Placing a breast orifice cover over said first breast orifice corresponding to a first patient breast, which is not to be X-rayed, whereby said first patient breast will not obstruct X-rays taken of a second patient breast;

G. Positioning said patient face down on said folding thorax support, with said second patient breast hanging pendulously through said second breast orifice, which is not blocked by said breast orifice cover;

H. Taking X-rays of said second patient breast hanging pendulously through said second breast orifice;

I. Removing said mammography patient from said folding mammography table;

J. Moving said breast orifice cover from said first breast orifice to said second breast orifice;

K. Positioning said patient face down on said folding thorax support, with said first patient breast hanging pendulously through said first said breast orifice, which is not blocked by said breast orifice cover; and

L. Taking X-rays of said first patient breast which is hanging pendulously through said first breast orifice.