Patent ID: 7609806
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A system for imaging a patient's breast with x-rays comprising: a flat panel digital x-ray receptor having a proximal edge; an x-ray source selectively emitting a collimated x-ray beam toward the receptor, a breast platform for supporting a patient's breast for x-ray imaging: a compression paddle removably mounted for selective movement at least (a) along a direction of said proximal edge before compressing a patient's breast against the breast platform and (b) along a direction of said beam to thereafter compress the breast against the breast platform before imaging the breast with said x-ray beam and to release the breast after said imaging; wherein at least for selected breast x-ray protocols a patient's breast is positioned off-center relative to said proximal edge and said paddle also is positioned off-center relative the proximal edge, according to said off-center position of the breast, to compress the breast against the breast platform and toward the receptor for x-ray imaging; and an anti-scatter grid mounted between the breast platform and the x-ray receptor for selective movement relative to the x-ray receptor and the breast platform between a first position in which imaging x-rays reaching the receptor after passing through the breast also pass through the grid and a second position in which said imaging x-rays do not pass through the grid.