Mammography Imaging Stand Horizontal Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mammography systems face challenges in accurately compressing breasts of varying sizes, leading to unreliable compression forces and potential breakage of compression pads, as well as extended imaging times due to vertical arm frame adjustments when using large x-ray detectors.
Innovation Solution
A mammography system where the imaging stand moves horizontally in left and right directions, allowing for precise positioning without vertical arm frame movement, using a rotating shaft and pinion gear mechanism to adjust the x-ray detector's position, ensuring the force point aligns with the compression pad's center and optimizing the isocenter structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the compression pad moves horizontally to accommodate varying breast sizes, then the radiologist's imaging manipulation convenience is improved, but the compression force reliability deteriorates and the compression pad is prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the horizontal adjustment function into two independent parts: the compression pad remains stationary while the imaging stand moves horizontally. This segmentation allows the compression pad to maintain stable compression force on the breast while the imaging stand adjusts to different breast sizes and positions, resolving the contradiction between operational convenience and compression reliability.
2Area of stationary object
If a large x-ray detector is used to cover larger breast areas, then the imaging coverage is improved, but the imaging time increases due to vertical arm frame adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from vertical adjustment (arm frame movement) to horizontal adjustment (imaging stand movement) to achieve the required imaging coverage. By moving the imaging stand horizontally to the isocenter position, the system can accommodate large x-ray detectors and various breast sizes without requiring time-consuming vertical arm frame adjustments, thus reducing imaging time while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
3Ease of operation
If the arm frame moves vertically to position the imaging stand, then the imaging position adjustment is achieved, but the imaging time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the arm frame vertically to adjust the imaging stand position, the system inverts the approach by keeping the arm frame stationary and moving the imaging stand horizontally to the isocenter position. This inversion eliminates the time-consuming vertical movement while achieving the same positioning goal, thereby reducing imaging time without compromising position adjustment capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mammography system including a body, an x-ray generator for irradiating x-rays, a collimator for adjusting an irradiation range of the x-rays, an arm frame rotatable in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and a rotating shaft for connecting the arm frame and the body, wherein the arm frame includes a compression stand having a compressor moving in up and down directions and a compression pad detachably coupled to the lower end of the compressor to compress the subject, and an imaging stand facing the x-ray generator and having a detector disposed at the inside thereof to detect the x-rays transmitted to the subject, the imaging stand moving in left and right directions with respect to the arm frame.