Mammography Apparatus Specimen Tray for High Quality Biopsy Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stereotactic breast biopsy procedures are laborious, time-consuming, and uncomfortable due to the need for physical compression and prolonged immobilization, with specimen radiographs often producing poor-quality images when using regular mammography machines, necessitating expensive dedicated x-ray units.
Innovation Solution
A mammography apparatus with a specimen tray that can be attached to a mobile carriage, allowing for adjustment of x-ray exposure parameters such as focal spot, field size, anode material, filtration, voltage, and current-time product to optimize imaging of biopsy samples, enabling high-quality image capture on existing mammography machines without the need for dedicated biopsy cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated x-ray unit is used for specimen radiography, then image quality is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mammography machine is designed to perform both standard mammography imaging and specimen radiography functions using the same x-ray source, compression carriage, and digital detector system. The compression carriage can be rapidly reconfigured between breast compression and specimen imaging modes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated x-ray units while maintaining image quality through optimized exposure parameters for each application.
2Device complexity
If a regular mammography machine is used for specimen radiography, then device cost is reduced, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts x-ray exposure parameters including voltage (kVp), current-time product (mAs), and focal spot selection based on the detected presence of a specimen tray. These parameter modifications optimize the imaging characteristics for small specimen objects, enhancing contrast and detail visibility without requiring expensive dedicated equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
A detector system monitors whether a specimen tray is present in the imaging position and provides feedback to the control system. This triggers automatic reconfiguration of the x-ray exposure parameters and compression settings, ensuring optimal image quality for specimen radiography while using the same mammography machine hardware.
3Stability of the object's composition
If compression is applied to the breast during biopsy, then immobilization is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compression carriage is designed with rapid exchange capability, allowing the compression paddle to be quickly removed and replaced with a specimen tray between imaging steps. This dynamic reconfiguration minimizes the duration of breast compression, reducing patient discomfort while maintaining adequate immobilization during the brief periods when imaging is required.
4Measurement precision
If procedure time is extended for optimal imaging, then image quality is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures optimized exposure parameters for specimen radiography and automatically applies them when a specimen tray is detected. This eliminates the need for manual parameter adjustment and prolonged setup time, allowing high-quality specimen images to be acquired rapidly without extending the overall biopsy procedure duration.
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
Enables high-quality imaging of biopsy samples efficiently and safely using regular mammographic equipment, reducing procedure time and costs by optimizing x-ray exposure parameters for biopsy specimens, thus improving image clarity and patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an x-ray source having an x-ray tube with one or more focal spots
Implementation Method 2
a digital image receptor associated with the x-ray source and configured to generate an x-ray image from objects positioned between the x-ray source and the digital image receptor
Implementation Method 3
one or more parameters of the x-ray exposure in reaction to the detection of the presence of the specimen tray... x-ray tube voltage, and a current time product (mAs) applied to the x-ray source
Data Source
AI summary
A mammography apparatus including an x-ray source having an x-ray tube with one or more focal spots, a controller for controlling one or more parameters of the x-ray exposure, a digital image receptor configured to generate an x-ray image from objects positioned between the x-ray source and the digital image receptor, a specimen tray configured to receive samples from a biopsy, a positioning arm for positioning the specimen tray between the x-ray source and the digital image receptor, and a detector configured to detect the presence of the specimen tray when it is positioned. The controller is configured to adjust, select or configure one or more parameters of the x-ray exposure in reaction to the detection of the presence of the specimen tray in such a way that the one or more parameters are adapted to the specific needs of imaging biopsy specimens.