Patent ID: 11944458
Assignee: HOLOGIC, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 15:
16. A method of imaging a breast with an imaging system comprising an x-ray source and an x-ray detector, the method comprising:
receiving the breast on a sling coupled to a supporting element including at least one support arm extending from a front face of a support structure of the imaging system, wherein the sling is disposed above the x-ray detector on a distal end of the at least one support arm, and a proximal end of the at least one support arm is coupled to the front face;
pulling the breast away from a chest wall by moving the at least one support arm having the sling along an axis that is orthogonal to the front face and in a direction towards the front face of the support structure;
maintaining a curvature of a lower portion of the breast with the sling;
while maintaining the curvature, emitting x-ray energy from the x-ray source towards the breast; and
while maintaining the curvature, receiving the x-ray energy at the x-ray detector.