Curved Breast Compression Paddles for Uniform Mammography Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast compression paddles in mammography and tomosynthesis cause discomfort due to non-uniform compression, leading to image distortions and reduced patient comfort, and fail to ensure consistent breast tissue coverage during imaging.
Innovation Solution
The use of a breast compression paddle with a non-planar, curved surface and a flexible material that contours to the breast, combined with image processing techniques to generate a correction map for uniform compression and image correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid planar compression paddle is used to compress the breast, then the breast can be immobilized and tissue spread out for imaging, but the compression is non-uniform causing patient discomfort and image distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The compression paddle surface is changed from planar to curved/non-planar to match the natural contour of the breast. This curvature allows the paddle to conform to the breast shape, distributing compression forces more uniformly across the breast tissue while maintaining effective immobilization and tissue spreading for imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The paddle surface geometry is modified from a flat plane to a curved surface with varying radii of curvature. This parameter change in surface topology enables the paddle to adapt to different breast shapes and sizes, providing uniform compression across the entire breast surface while preventing the harmful non-uniform compression and associated discomfort.
2Quantity of substance
If compression force is increased to ensure complete tissue coverage in the image field, then more breast tissue can be imaged, but patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression paddle is designed with varying local properties across its surface, with different curvature radii in different regions. This allows the paddle to apply appropriately distributed compression forces - sufficient to bring all breast tissue into the imaging field while maintaining patient comfort through uniform force distribution across the breast surface.
3Manufacturing precision
If a curved compression paddle is used to improve uniformity, then image quality improves, but image processing complexity increases due to attenuation variations
Solution Approach 1:
A correction map is pre-calculated and stored, representing the attenuation characteristics of the curved paddle at different locations and angles. During image acquisition, this pre-computed correction map is applied to compensate for the non-uniform attenuation introduced by the curved paddle geometry, simplifying the real-time processing while maintaining image quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves patient comfort and image quality by ensuring consistent breast compression and uniform attenuation correction, reducing distortions and enhancing tissue visibility.
Implementation Method 1
The breast is placed on a breast support platform and the paddle is then compressed onto the breast to immobilize the breast and spread out the breast tissues
Implementation Method 2
a radiation source; at least one compression paddle having a non-planar compression surface, wherein the at least one compression paddle is configured to compress the breast during imaging of the breast; a detector configured to detect radiation emitted from the radiation source after passing through the at least one compression paddle and the breast
Implementation Method 3
correcting the image data based on the correction map to generate a corrected image data; modifying the correction map for a projection angle and a paddle shift; modifying the correction map based on a magnification
Data Source
AI summary
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.