27 results about "Compression paddle" patented technology

An imaging system includes an x-ray tube head, a support arm, and a compression system coupled to the support arm. The compression system is independently rotatable relative to the x-ray tube head and includes a compression paddle, a support platform, and an x-ray receptor. The imaging system also includes a light assembly coupled to the support arm and disposed above the compression paddle. The light assembly is configured to direct one or more beams of light towards the support platform.

An imaging system includes an x-ray tube head, a support arm, and a compression system coupled to the support arm. The compression system is independently rotatable relative to the x-ray tube head and includes a compression paddle, a support platform, and an x-ray receptor. The imaging system also includes a light assembly coupled to the support arm and disposed above the compression paddle. The light assembly is configured to direct one or more beams of light towards the support platform.

A compression paddle with a plurality of markers is advanced towards a patient's breast which has been positioned on a support platform for an imaging procedure. An initial position of the compression paddle is detected relative to the support platform when a portion of the breast is contacted. An initial marker is identified which is associated with a feature of the breast when the compression paddle is in the initial position. A compression target marker is based at least in part on the initial position and the initial marker.

A breast phantom (200, 300) having a non-uniform thickness is provided to simulate a clinically actual change in the thickness of a compressed breast when in contact with a compression paddle (28) during a mammography imaging procedure. Due to the non-uniform thickness, the breast phantom (200, 300) enables the image quality of the mammography imaging device (10) in terms of the image correction process and / or algorithm employed by the mammography imaging device (10) to be tested in order to address non-uniformity in the thickness of the imaged breast. The breast phantom (200, 300) may be made from one or more portions (302, 304, 306, 308), wherein one or more of the portions (302, 304, 306, 308) have a non-uniform thickness.

The invention relates to an optical assembly and a method for mammography and tomosynthesis imaging systems. An imaging system includes an X-ray tube head, a support arm, and a compression system coupled to the support arm. The compression system is independently rotatable relative to the X-ray tube head and includes a compression paddle, a support platform, and an X-ray receiver. The imaging system also includes an illumination assembly coupled to the support arm and disposed above the compression paddle. The illumination assembly is configured to direct one or more light beams toward the support platform.

A compression arm device for compressing a breast in an imaging system with a compression paddle. The compression arm device includes a drive for moving the compression paddle towards the breast such that the drive provides a variable resistance during a contact of the compression paddle with the breast.

An adjustable, cleavage-enhancing undergarment system is described. In one embodiment, a compression paddle includes a first surface contoured to engage with at least a portion of a user's breast. The compression paddle may include a mechanical coupling configured to engage with an end of a force generating member. The compression paddle may include a locking mechanism configured to engage a rotational state wherein the compression paddle is configured to rotate about an axis that is substantially coaxial to the end of the force generating member, and engage a locked state wherein the compression paddle is mechanically locked at an angular position selectable by the user.

A system for imaging a breast includes a gantry and a tube head rotatably coupled thereto. An x-ray source is disposed within the tube head. A support arm is movably coupled to the gantry and includes a breast support platform. An x-ray detector is disposed within the breast support platform and a compression arm is movably coupled to the support arm. An opaque breast compression paddle is coupled to the compression arm. The breast support platform and the opaque compression paddle at least partially define a compression volume for compressing a breast and a camera is arranged to capture images of the compression volume. An image display is at least partially disposed on the system and is configured to display the images of the compression volume captured by the camera.

One or more example embodiments relates to a computer-implemented method for operating a mammography device, the method includes determining a reference surface value which describes an assumed contact surface between a compressed examination object and a movable compression paddle in a target compression setting, using the force value and the position value at at least one reference time instant; and compressing the examination object by actuating an actuator until a termination condition is fulfilled, wherein the termination condition describes the attainment of a predetermined setpoint pressure by the force value in relation to the reference surface value.

A breast phantom is provided that has a non-uniform thickness to mimic clinically realistic variations in compressed breast thicknesses when in contact with the compression paddle during a mammography imaging procedure. With the non-uniform thickness, the breast phantom enables a mammography imaging device to be tested for image quality with regard to image correction processes and / or algorithms employed by the mammography imaging device to address non-uniformity in the thickness of the imaged breast. The breast phantom can be made of one or more sections, with one or more of the sections having a non-uniform thickness.

According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, an imaging device or system, e.g., a mammography imaging system or device, includes a detector fixed on the device and a radiation source spaced from the detector. The device further includes a number of support structures moveably disposed on the device in positions between the detector and the radiation source. The support structures include attachment structures thereon that are each adapted to engage one or more components of the imaging device for use therewith, including but not limited to a compression paddle, a magstand and a positioned including a biopsy device thereon. The support structures can be engaged with any of the components in order to simplify the manner of attachment of the components to the device and to enable the components to readily be attached to the device in a variety of configurations.

An x-ray breast imaging system comprising a compression paddle in which the compression paddle comprises a front wall and a bottom wall. The front wall is configured to be adjacent and face a chest wall of a patient during imaging and the bottom wall configured to be adjacent a length of a top of a compressed breast. The bottom wall extends away from the patient's chest wall, wherein the bottom wall comprises a first portion and a second portion such that the second portion is between the front wall and the first portion. The first portion is generally non-coplanar to the second portion, wherein the compression paddle is movable along a craniocaudal axis. The x-ray breast imaging system also comprises a non-rigid jacket releasably secured to the compression paddle, the non-rigid jacket positioned between the compression paddle and the patient.

The invention is entitled "Visually Guided Biopsy System and Method for Mammography." The invention discloses a mammography system that includes a biopsy guidance system that employs a simplified mechanical arm support to enable previously unavailable locations to be used in conjunction with a visual guidance and control system for mounting a biopsy device directly to the mammography system, such as on a compression paddle. The visual system operates to determine the position of the biopsy device and biopsy needle tip, and control movement / operation of the biopsy guidance system, such as to a final end-of-device pose or pre-firing position of the biopsy device to perform a biopsy procedure. The visual system visually determines the position of the biopsy device relative to the region of interest being biopsied within the required tolerances of the biopsy procedure using one or more cameras without requiring precise position information to be provided by the biopsy guidance system to the mammography system.

A method for determining a performance characteristic of a breast compression paddle used in a breast imaging system includes receiving a force application signal, wherein the force application signal is associated with a compression force applied by the breast imaging system to a patient's breast using a breast compression paddle. The method applies the force application signal to an algorithm to obtain a reduction value. The reduction value is subtracted from a known paddle performance value of the breast compression paddle to obtain an updated paddle performance value for the breast compression paddle.

A system and method using an inflatable jacket over the compression paddle of a mammography and / or tomosynthesis system to enhance imaging and improve patient comfort in x-ray breast imaging.

A compression assembly is coupled to the gantry of an ultrasound breast imaging system. The compression assembly includes a pair of compression paddles mounted on a positioning track. Each compression paddle houses a transducer and has a compression material surface for patient contact. A motor moves the compression paddles along the positioning track to immobilize the breast for ultrasound imaging.

According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, an imaging device or system, e.g., a mammography imaging system or device, includes a breast holding pad disposed on one or both of a compression paddle and a compression surface on the imaging device. The breast holding pad is formed with a central layer, a first, securing adhesive layer on one side of the central layer and a second, biocompatible adhesive layer disposed on the opposite side of the central layer. The biocompatible adhesive operates to securely hold the breast during any imaging and / or biopsy procedure performed utilizing the imaging system. Further, with the use of one or both pads, the amount of compression force required to hold the breast in a stationary position between the compression paddle and the compression surface can be reduced, thereby decreasing the discomfort to the patient during the imaging and / or biopsy procedure performed.

A breast compression paddle includes a bracket, a rigid substrate, and a foam compressive element. The bracket removably secures the breast compression paddle to an imaging system. The rigid substrate is secured to the bracket and includes a first edge and a second edge disposed opposite the first edge. The foam compressive element is slidably secured to the rigid substrate.

An x-ray breast imaging system includes a compression paddle including an anterior wall and a bottom wall. The anterior wall is configured to be positioned proximate to and facing a chest wall of a patient during imaging, and the bottom wall is configured to be positioned adjacent to a length of a top of a compressed breast. The bottom wall extends away from the chest wall of the patient, wherein the bottom wall includes a first portion and a second portion such that the second portion is between the anterior wall and the first portion. The first portion and the second portion are generally non-coplanar, wherein the compression paddle is movable only along a cranial-caudal axis. The x-ray breast imaging system further includes a non-rigid cover releasably fastened to the compression paddle, the non-rigid cover positioned between the compression paddle and the patient.

A compression arm device for compressing a breast in an imaging system with a compression paddle. The compression arm device includes a drive for moving the compression paddle towards the breast such that the drive provides a variable resistance during a contact of the compression paddle with the breast.

A curved compression element, such as a breast compression paddle, and imaging systems and methods for use with curved compression elements. A system may include a radiation source, a detector, and a curved compression element. Operations are performed that include receiving image data from the detector; accessing a correction map for the at least one compression paddle; correcting the image data based on the correction map to generate a corrected image data; and generating an image of the breast based on the corrected image data. The breast compression element generally has no sharp edges, but rather has smooth edges and transitions between surfaces. The breast compression paddle also includes a flexible material that spans a portion of a curved bottom surface of the breast compression paddle to define a gap. The flexible material may be a thin-film material such as a shrink wrap.

An x-ray breast imaging system comprising a compression paddle in which the compression paddle comprises a front wall and a bottom wall. The front wall is configured to be adjacent and face a chest wall of a patient during imaging and the bottom wall configured to be adjacent a length of a top of a compressed breast. The bottom wall extends away from the patient's chest wall, wherein the bottom wall comprises a first portion and a second portion such that the second portion is between the front wall and the first portion. The first portion is generally non-coplanar to the second portion, wherein the compression paddle is movable along a craniocaudal axis. The x-ray breast imaging system also comprises a non-rigid jacket releasably secured to the compression paddle, the non-rigid jacket positioned between the compression paddle and the patient.

According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, an imaging device or system, e.g., a mammography imaging system or device, includes a detector fixed on the device and a radiation source spaced from the detector. The device further includes a support structure moveably disposed on the device in positions between the detector and the radiation source. The support structure includes an attachment structure thereon that is adapted to engage a component of the imaging device for use therewith, including but not limited to a compression paddle, a magstand and a positioned including a biopsy device thereon.

A system for collecting a biopsy of a lesion within a patient using examination images previously collected from an examination device. An x-ray detector detects energy after passing through the patient. A compression paddle compresses the patient. A processing system generates a biopsy image based on the energy detected by the x-ray detector, accesses the examination images previously collected, and analyzes, while the patient remains compressed, the biopsy image to determine a measured x-coordinate and a measured y-coordinate of the lesion along X and Y axes, respectively. The examination images are analyzed to determine a calculated z-coordinate of the lesion along the Z axis. The location of the lesion along the X, Y, and Z axes is determined based on the measured x-coordinate and measured y-coordinate from the biopsy image and the calculated z-coordinate from examination images. The biopsy may be performed while the patient remains compressed.

A breast compression paddle includes a bracket, a rigid substrate, and a foam compressive element. The bracket removably secures the breast compression paddle to an imaging system. The rigid substrate is secured to the bracket and includes a first edge and a second edge disposed opposite the first edge. The foam compressive element is slidably secured to the rigid substrate.

A curved compression element, such as a breast compression paddle, and imaging systems and methods for use with curved compression elements. A system may include a radiation source, a detector, and a curved compression element. Operations are performed that include receiving image data from the detector; accessing a correction map for the at least one compression paddle; correcting the image data based on the correction map to generate a corrected image data; and generating an image of the breast based on the corrected image data. The breast compression element generally has no sharp edges, but rather has smooth edges and transitions between surfaces. The breast compression paddle also includes a flexible material that spans a portion of a curved bottom surface of the breast compression paddle to define a gap. The flexible material may be a thin-film material such as a shrink wrap.