Mammography Compression Plate Dynamic Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mammography apparatuses cause pain during breast compression due to continuous increase in compression force, and existing techniques are insufficient in reducing pain even when the force is adjusted.
Innovation Solution
A mammography apparatus with a compression plate that moves between two pressure settings, a first higher compression pressure and a second lower pressure, controlled by a unit that measures and adjusts pressure to reduce subject discomfort during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the compression force is continuously increased to improve image quality, then the quality of radiographic image is improved, but the subject's pain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression plate performs periodic compression actions with multiple phases: first compression phase at first compression force, first relaxation phase with reduced force, second compression phase at second compression force, and second relaxation phase. This periodic compression-relaxation pattern allows image acquisition while periodically reducing pain, resolving the contradiction between continuous compression for image quality and pain reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression force is dynamically adjusted between different levels (first compression force and second compression force) rather than maintaining a constant high force. The control unit automatically modifies the compression state in real-time based on the imaging progress, allowing the system to adapt between image quality requirements and pain reduction needs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the compression force is adjusted according to breast thickness to prevent pain, then the subject's pain is prevented, but the pain persists when the compression force increase is stopped
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary compression at the first compression force to stabilize the breast tissue and reduce pain before the main imaging compression. This preliminary action prepares the tissue in advance, reducing the shock of subsequent compression and preventing pain persistence that occurs with sudden force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The first relaxation phase acts as a cushioning period between compression phases, allowing partial recovery of breast tissue and reducing accumulated pain. This beforehand cushioning prevents the pain persistence problem by periodically reducing stress on the compressed tissue during the imaging process.
3Device complexity
If a single compression force level is used to simplify the process, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to reduce pain throughout continuous compression is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the compression force parameter between two distinct levels (first compression force and second compression force) and between two relaxation phases. This parameter variation allows pain reduction during continuous compression without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms, maintaining relatively simple device architecture while effectively addressing continuous compression pain.
Data Source
AI summary
A mammography apparatus includes: a moving unit that moves a compression plate in a compression direction in which the breast is compressed and a decompression direction in which the breast is decompressed; a radiation source; a pressure sensor that is used to measure a compression pressure which is a compression force of the compression plate per unit area; and a control unit that controls the moving unit such that the compression plate is moved to a first position where the compression pressure measured by the pressure sensor is a first compression pressure in the compression direction and is moved to a second position where the compression pressure measured by the pressure sensor is a second compression pressure in the decompression direction and performs control such that radiation is emitted from the radiation source in a state in which the compression plate is located at the second position.