Mammography Paddle Speed Control for Even Breast Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mammography compression causes pain, which varies significantly among patients and is particularly pronounced in those with smaller breasts due to uneven pressure distribution.
Innovation Solution
A mammography apparatus equipped with a contact area measurement device and a speed controller that adjusts the paddle drive control system's target setpoint to gradually increase pressure from an initial to a target value, ensuring adequate contact area for even pressure distribution, reducing pain sensation across different breast sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compression force is increased to ensure adequate breast pressurization, then imaging quality is improved, but pain sensation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the compression force variable rather than constant. The paddle drive control system dynamically adjusts the compression force over time, starting from a lower initial value and gradually increasing to a target value. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve adequate imaging quality while minimizing pain sensation during the compression process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of compression force over time. By controlling the paddle movement speed and adjusting the target setpoint, the system transitions from a low initial compression force to a higher target compression force. This parameter change enables the system to balance imaging quality requirements with pain reduction, as the gradual increase in force allows patients to adapt to the compression.
2Productivity
If compression is applied quickly to reduce examination time, then productivity is improved, but pain sensation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics to control the compression process. The paddle drive control system dynamically adjusts the compression speed and force application rate. By controlling the rate at which compression force is applied, the system can minimize pain sensation while still completing the examination efficiently. The dynamic control allows for optimized timing that balances patient comfort with examination throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by first applying a lower initial compression force before gradually increasing to the target value. This preliminary phase allows the patient to acclimate to the compression, reducing the shock of sudden full compression and thereby minimizing pain sensation while still maintaining examination efficiency.
3Stress or pressure
If compression force is applied uniformly, then pressure distribution is improved, but pain sensation increases for small breasts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by measuring the contact area between the paddle and breast, and using this information to adjust the compression force. The contact area measurement device provides localized information about how the compression force is distributed, allowing the control system to optimize the force application for each patient's specific breast characteristics. This ensures adequate pressure distribution while reducing pain sensation, particularly for patients with smaller breasts who are more sensitive to compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from the contact area measurement device to control the compression process. The measured contact area information is fed back to the paddle drive control system, which adjusts the target setpoint and compression force accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that compression force is optimized based on actual contact conditions, improving pressure distribution while minimizing pain sensation for individual patients.
Data Source
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AI summary
Mammography apparatus (1) comprising an x-ray source (2), a movable paddle (3) and a detector (4), wherein the paddle (3) and the detector (4) are arranged to cooperate for pressurizing a breast (6) so as to prepare for x-ray imaging of the breast (6), wherein the paddle (3) connects to a paddle drive control system (7) that drives the paddle (3) towards the detector (4) with a selected speed, wherein the paddle drive control system (7) connects to a speed controller (10) which provides the paddle drive control system (7) a variating target setpoint that sets a rate at which the paddle drive control system (7) drives the paddle (3) towards the detector (4), wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a contact area measurement device (11) with which the contact area of the breast (6) with the paddle (3) and/or the detector (4) is measurable, and that the speed controller (10) is only operable for varying the target setpoint of the paddle drive control system (7) when the contact area measurement device (11) establishes that the said contact area surpasses a predefined first threshold value.