Mammography Compression Plate Layout for Vignetting Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mammography apparatuses suffer from vignetting issues due to the blocking of projection light by the side plates of the compression plate, which deteriorates the visibility of projected images.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed with an optical element closest to the compression plate positioned in front of the imaginary intersection between the inner wall surface of the side plate and a horizontal line crossing the projector, ensuring the light beam is parallel to the movement direction and the inner wall surface is parallel to the bottom plate, with light transmission suppression processing applied to regions projecting imaging conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compression plate has a box shape with side plates on all sides, then the breast compression and fixing function is improved, but the projection light is blocked by the side plate causing vignetting and deteriorating image visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the side plate on the stand side of the compression plate, extracting the harmful element that causes light blocking while retaining the necessary compression function from the bottom plate. This extraction eliminates the vignetting effect without compromising the breast compression capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression plate is designed with non-uniform structure: the bottom plate maintains compression functionality while the stand side side plate is removed. This creates local quality differences where light transmission is optimized on the stand side while compression function is preserved on the breast contact side.
2Ease of operation
If the projector is disposed on the stand side to project the image, then the image projection function is achieved, but the side plate blocks part of the effective luminous flux causing vignetting
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the stand side side plate, the patent extracts the structural element that was blocking the effective luminous flux from reaching the compression plate, thereby eliminating energy loss due to light blockage while maintaining the projector's operational function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the compression plate is made movable between imaging table and radiation source, then the imaging flexibility is improved, but the side plate structure complicates the movement mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The removal of the stand side side plate simplifies the compression plate structure, reducing the number of moving parts and structural elements that need to be coordinated during movement between imaging table and radiation source positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression plate is segmented into functional components: the bottom plate for compression and the modified side plate structure. This segmentation allows independent optimization of compression function and light transmission properties.
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 configuration effectively suppresses vignetting, ensuring clear visibility of projected information on the compression plate and imaging table, maintaining image quality during breast compression.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element closest to the compression plate on an optical path of light emitted from the projector and directed to the compression plate
Implementation Method 2
projects an image toward the compression plate and the imaging table through a plurality of optical elements
Implementation Method 3
a compression plate that is disposed to be movable between the imaging table and the radiation source... including a bottom plate that compresses the breast
Implementation Method 4
a radiation source that emits radiation toward the breast
Data Source
AI summary
A mammography apparatus includes an imaging table; a radiation source; a stand; the compression plate including a bottom plate that compresses the breast and side plates provided on at least two locations of a subject side and a stand side of the bottom plate; and a projector that projects an image toward the compression plate and the imaging table, in which in a case where an intersection between an imaginary plane formed by extending the inner wall surface toward the projector and an imaginary horizontal line crossing the projector in a horizontal direction is defined as an imaginary intersection, an optical element closest to the compression plate on an optical path directed from the projector to the compression plate is located on the subject side with respect to the imaginary intersection.