Mammography apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method for imaging in a mammography comprising:
- compressing a patient'"'"'s breast between a means for compression and a means for receiving an image receiver, the means for receiving an image having an edge;
taking one or more images;
moving the means for compression parallel to a direction of propagation of the radiation;
maintaining the means for compression in a position in the direction of propagation of the radiation, in a compression position; and
moving the means for compression, in the compression position, in a projection in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the radiation and parallel to the edge; and
defining a maximum deflection of the means for compression in the at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the radiation and parallel to the edge beyond which the patient would experience a threshold discomfort.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mammography apparatus and method having an X-ray tube, an image receiver, the image receiver having one edge in contact with a patient, a compression paddle between the tube and the receiver, able to be moved up and down parallel to a direction of propagation of the X-rays, means for keeping the compression paddle in position in the radiation propagation direction, the compression paddle, in its compression position, being movable in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of X-ray propagation and parallel to the contact edge of the image receiver. This allows a patient'"'"'s breast to be rolled and presented to the image receiver in different positions thereby reducing ambiguities in possible detection of a lesion due to layers of tissue overlapping when images are taken.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for imaging in a mammography comprising:
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compressing a patient'"'"'s breast between a means for compression and a means for receiving an image receiver, the means for receiving an image having an edge;
taking one or more images;
moving the means for compression parallel to a direction of propagation of the radiation;
maintaining the means for compression in a position in the direction of propagation of the radiation, in a compression position; and
moving the means for compression, in the compression position, in a projection in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the radiation and parallel to the edge; and
defining a maximum deflection of the means for compression in the at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the radiation and parallel to the edge beyond which the patient would experience a threshold discomfort. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 26)
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7. A method for imaging in a mammography comprising the steps of:
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compressing a patient'"'"'s breast between a compression paddle and an image receiver, the image receiver having an edge;
taking one or more images;
rolling the compression paddle parallel to the edge of the image receiver in contact with the patient; and
defining a maximum deflection of the compression paddle in the rolling direction beyond which the patient would experience a threshold discomfort. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 27)
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14. A mammography apparatus comprising
means for emission of radiation; -
means for providing an image from the means for emission of radiation;
means for providing an edge on the means for providing an image;
means for compression between the means for emission of radiation and the means for providing an image;
means for moving the means for compression parallel to a direction of propagation of the radiation;
means for maintaining the means for compression in a position in the direction of propagation of the radiation, in a compression position; and
the means for compression, in the compression position, being movable in a projection in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the radiation and parallel to the edge; and
means for limiting the motion of the means for compression in the at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the radiation and parallel to the edge so as not to exceed a defined maximum deflection which the patient would experience a threshold discomfort. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification