Flexible Compression Paddle for Uniform Breast Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast imaging techniques, such as x-ray mammography and tomosynthesis, often cause discomfort due to non-uniform compression forces, which can lead to inadequate tissue coverage and image quality issues, as the breast is compressed between rigid surfaces, resulting in uneven pressure distribution and potential tissue displacement.
Innovation Solution
The use of a compression paddle system with a non-rigid jacket, such as an inflatable or gel pad, that is movable and adaptable to the breast shape, providing a concave surface to distribute forces more evenly and maintain tissue within the imaging field, while allowing for adjustable pressure and reduced discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid compression paddle is used to compress the breast, then the breast can be immobilized and spread out for imaging, but the compression force becomes non-uniformly distributed causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid compression paddle with a flexible membrane that can conform to the breast surface. This flexible membrane distributes compression force more uniformly across the breast tissue while maintaining immobilization, thereby reducing patient discomfort caused by non-uniform pressure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the compression interface from rigid to flexible. By using a membrane that can deform and adapt to the breast contour, the system maintains the necessary compression force while distributing it more evenly, resolving the contradiction between effective compression and patient comfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If foam pads are placed above and/or below the breast to improve comfort, then pressure distribution is improved, but the breast becomes invisible through the paddle impairing technician positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a transparent flexible membrane instead of opaque foam pads. This membrane maintains the pressure distribution benefits of soft materials while allowing the technician to see the breast through it, enabling proper positioning and manipulation during compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent membrane acts as an intermediary between the compression paddle and the breast. It transmits compression force while allowing visual observation, serving both the mechanical function of pressure distribution and the optical function of visibility that opaque foam pads cannot provide simultaneously.
3Quantity of substance
If compression force is increased to ensure complete tissue coverage, then more breast tissue is imaged, but patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane enables more uniform distribution of compression force across the entire breast surface. This allows adequate tissue coverage to be achieved with lower overall compression force, as the pressure is evenly distributed rather than concentrated at specific points, thereby reducing patient discomfort while maintaining complete tissue imaging.
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
This solution enhances patient comfort by distributing compression forces more uniformly, reducing the need for excessive force, and improving image quality by ensuring more breast tissue is captured within the imaging field, thus minimizing discomfort and optimizing tissue coverage.
Implementation Method 1
A tilting paddle arrangement is available in various paddle sizes from Lorad of Danbury, CT, a division of the assignee hereof, Hologic, Inc. of Bedford, MA, under the trade name F.A.S.T. (of FAST). This tilting paddle provides more uniform compression across the breast
Implementation Method 2
the bottom wall has a central portion and two outer edge portions, wherein the central portion is a non-coplanar with the two outer edge portions
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a substantially rigid compression paddle (140) for use with an x-ray breast imaging system, the compression paddle comprising: a front wall (144) configured to be adjacent and face a chest wall of a patient during imaging; a rear wall (146) disposed opposite the front wall; a bottom wall (124) configured to extend away from the patient's chest wall and to be adjacent a length of a top of a compressed breast; side walls (142) opposing one another; wherein the compression paddle has generally rounded corners about the front wall to the bottom wall and generally rounded corners about the front wall to the side walls.