Inflatable Mammography Paddle Jacket for Uniform Breast Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast imaging methods, such as mammography and tomosynthesis, cause discomfort due to non-uniform compression forces and inadequate visualization of breast tissue, leading to suboptimal imaging results.
Innovation Solution
The use of an inflatable compression paddle jacket with a transparent, inflatable chamber that distributes compression forces uniformly and allows for real-time adjustment, ensuring complete breast tissue coverage and improved patient comfort during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid compression paddle is used to compress the breast for imaging, then the breast is immobilized and tissue is spread out for x-ray imaging, but the compression force is non-uniformly distributed causing patient discomfort and inadequate tissue coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by using an inflatable jacket filled with gas or liquid that can be inflated to different pressures in different regions. This allows uniform distribution of compression force across the breast tissue while maintaining immobilization, resolving the contradiction between reliable imaging conditions and patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the compression medium from rigid solid to inflatable pneumatic structure. By adjusting the inflation pressure parameters in different zones of the jacket, the system achieves uniform compression force distribution, eliminating the non-uniform compression discomfort while maintaining effective breast immobilization for imaging.
2Reliability
If a rigid compression paddle is used to compress the breast, then the breast is immobilized during imaging, but the anterior portion of the breast may not receive sufficient compression force
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable jacket is divided into multiple zones or compartments that can be inflated to different pressure levels. This allows localized adjustment of compression force - higher pressure in anterior regions that need more compression and appropriate pressure in other areas, achieving uniform overall compression while maintaining reliable breast immobilization.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If foam pads are placed above and below the breast to improve comfort, then pressure is spread out more uniformly, but the pads are not transparent to visible light impairing technician's ability to position the breast
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable jacket made of transparent or translucent material provides both the comfort benefits of foam pads (uniform pressure distribution) and the visibility benefits of transparent materials. The pneumatic inflation mechanism allows adjustment of pressure while maintaining optical transparency, enabling technicians to visualize and position breast tissue during compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The jacket is constructed from flexible transparent or translucent material that allows visualization of breast tissue through the compression interface. This thin film structure provides uniform pressure distribution like foam pads while maintaining optical transparency, resolving the contradiction between comfort and visibility.
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
The inflatable paddle jacket provides enhanced patient comfort and improves imaging quality by ensuring uniform breast compression and complete tissue coverage, reducing discomfort and image artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
The jacket has a double thickness bottom that extends along the underside of the paddle when secured to the paddle and forms an inflatable chamber. A fluid conduit extends from the chamber to a device to inflate the chamber.
Data Source
AI summary
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.