Abstract:
A folding mammography table having a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base. The upper base is attached to a lower base by a means for adjusting the height of the upper base over the lower base. In use, the folding mammography table is sized to accommodate a mammography patient. Then the folding mammography table is folded down into the folded configuration, wherein the folding thorax support is disposed substantially horizontal. The mammography patient is then positioned on the folding mammography table, with one breast pendulously extending through a breast orifice in the folding thorax support. Gravity causes the breast to extend downwards, and X-rays are then taken of the breast. In folding mammography table embodiments incorporating two breast orifices, a breast orifice cover is used to block the breast orifice associated with a breast whose X-ray is not being taken, in order to prevent the non-X-rayed breast from interfering with the photography of the breast which is being X-rayed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to radiographic equipment, and in particular to a folding mammography table and method of use. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Mammographies, or breast X-rays, are one of the most important tools in use today to detect and fight breast cancer. Each year millions of women undergo routine mammographies in order to screen for breast cancer. 
     Although the X-ray cameras used during mammographies use well-proven radiographic technology which is old and well-known in the art, special equipment must be used to position the breast being X-rayed. Generally two pictures are taken: one of a breast side view, and another of a breast top view. 
     3. Existing Designs 
     The equipment currently used to position a breast being X-rayed includes a pair of parallel plates which are spaced apart sufficiently to admit the breast to be X-rayed. The breast is inserted between the plates as far as possible, and the plates are then pressed together, vice-like. The pressure is considerable, and the procedure may be painful to the patient being X-rayed. The first X-ray is then taken. 
     Following taking the first X-ray, the plates are separated sufficiently to permit the breast to be rotated ninety degrees, and the procedure repeated for the second X-ray. Thus, current mammography equipment is not only painful, but insult is added to injury by performing the whole painful procedure twice! Thus, it would be desirable to provide mammography breast-positioning equipment which is not uncomfortable and painful to the patient. 
     In addition, the entire breast is not generally photographable using the currently available parallel plates positioning devices. It would be desirable to increase the percentage of breast X-rayed, in order to increase the diagnostic effectiveness of mammographies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a folding mammography table which avoids the patient discomfit and pain of the current parallel plates method. Design features allowing this object to be accomplished include a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base, and breast orifices in the folding thorax support. Advantages associated with the accomplishment of this object include reduced patient pain and discomfit, and the prospect of a greater percentage of patients voluntarily submitting to periodic painless mammographies. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding mammography table method of use which provides X-rays covering a greater percentage of the breast. Method steps allowing this object to be accomplished include adjusting a folding mammography table for the height and proportions of the patient, folding a folding thorax support into a horizontal position, placing a breast orifice cover over a breast orifice not being used, positioning a patient with her breast pendulously hanging through the remaining breast orifice, and X-raying the breast hanging pendulously through the breast orifice. Benefits associated with the accomplishment of this object include greater X-ray coverage of the breast, and hence better diagnostic capability, as well as reduced patient discomfit and pain. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a folding mammography table and method of use which is vertically adjustable for different height and proportioned patients. Design features enabling the accomplishment of this object include a means of adjusting the height of an upper base relative to a lower base. An advantage associated with the realization of this object is increased utility of the instant invention, in order to be able to accommodate a wide variety of patients. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding mammography table and method of use which provides an optional means of vertically positioning patients relative to a lower base. Design features allowing this object to be accomplished include a ramp and ramp jack, or in the alternative, at least one block which the patient can stand on. A benefit associated with the accomplishment of this object is increased utility of the instant invention, in order to be able to accommodate a wide variety of patients. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a folding mammography table and method of use which provides for angular adjustment between a folding thorax support and an upper base. Design features enabling the accomplishment of this object include a hinged attachment between the folding thorax support and the upper base, and a means of changing the angle between the folding thorax support and the upper base. An advantage associated with the realization of this object is the ability to position the folding thorax support substantially horizontal, in order to be able to administer more effective and less uncomfortable mammographies. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding mammography table and method of use which permits the folding thorax support to be quickly and easily adjusted to a pre-determined optimal angle relative to an upper base. Design features allowing this object to be accomplished include a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base, and an upper base land incorporated into the upper base. A benefit associated with the accomplishment of this object is the ability to quickly and easily position the folding thorax support into an optimum position for taking breast X-rays of a breast hanging pendulously through a breast orifice in the folding thorax support. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, together with the other objects, features, aspects and advantages thereof will be more clearly understood from the following in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     Five sheets of drawings are provided. Sheet one contains FIG.  1 . Sheet two contains FIG.  2 . Sheet three contains FIGS. 3 and 4. Sheet four contains FIG.  5 . Sheet five contains FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 1 is a rear quarter isometric view of a folding mammography table in the unfolded position. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear quarter isometric view of a folding mammography table in the folded position. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear quarter isometric view of the upper right corner of a folding thorax support. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear quarter isometric detail view of the hinged attachment between the folding thorax support and upper base. 
     FIG. 5 is a side partial cross-sectional view of a folding mammography table being sized to fit a patient, with the folding mammography table in the unfolded position. 
     FIG. 6 is a side partial cross-sectional view of a folding mammography table in the folded position with a patient on the folding mammography table, ready to have breast X-rays taken. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 we observe is a rear quarter isometric view of folding mammography table  2  with folding thorax support  4  in the unfolded position. Folding mammography table  2  comprises folding thorax support  4  attached to upper base  14  by hinges  12 . Upper base  14  is adjustably attached to lower base  28  by means of guides  24  and a means of varying the height of upper base  14  relative to lower base  28 . In addition, means is provided for varying the angle of folding thorax support  4  relative to upper base  14 . 
     In FIG. 1, two means are depicted for varying the angle of folding thorax support  4  relative to upper base  14 . The first means is crank  20  rotatably engaged with folding thorax support  4  by means of at least one gear  18 . The second means is motor  22  rotatably engaged with folding thorax support  4  by means of at least one gear  18 . Motor  22  is shown through a partial cut-away from upper base  14 . By means of either crank  20  or motor  22 , the angle of folding thorax support  4  relative to upper base  14  may be varied, from the unfolded position depicted in FIG. 1 to the fully folded position depicted in FIG. 2, as indicated by arrow  30  in FIG.  2 . Motor  22  may be electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, or any other appropriate source of rotary motion. 
     FIG. 5 depicts still another means of folding mammography table  2 : actuator  60 . Actuator  60  may be a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a linear electric motor, or other appropriate actuator. Actuator  60 , like the other means of varying the angle of folding thorax support  4  relative to upper base  14 , provides infinite adjustment of the angle of folding thorax support  4  relative to upper base  14 . 
     Means is also provided to quickly and easily set angularly immobilize folding thorax support  4  relative to upper base  14 . Referring now also to FIG. 4, a rear quarter isometric detail view of the hinged attachment between folding thorax support  4  and upper base  14 , one means of angularly immobilizing crank  20  relative to upper base  14  comprises upper base pin bore  52  and crank pin bore  50  sized to admit pin  48 . When crank  20  has been turned sufficiently to position folding thorax support  4  at the desired angle relative to upper base  14 , pin  48  is inserted through crank pin bore  50  and into upper base pin bore  52 , thus locking crank  20  in place, and so also locking the angle between folding thorax support  4  and upper base  14 . 
     Where a hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical actuator is used to vary the angle between folding thorax support  4  and upper base  14 , supply and interruption of hydraulic fluid, gaseous fluid and electricity serve to angularly immobilize folding thorax support  4  relative to upper base  14 . 
     Another means of quickly and easily fixing the angle between folding thorax support  4  and upper base  14  at a pre-determined optimal angle is upper base land  16 . It has been experimentally determined that the optimal angle for pendulous mammographies at which to place folding thorax support  4  relative to vertical is 90°, with a minimum angle of 85° being desirable. By manufacturing upper base land  16  at a 90°±5° angle relative to the vertical, upper base land  16  serves as an end of travel stop for folding thorax support  4 , and stops folding thorax support  4  at the optimal angle for mammographies, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. 
     Folding thorax support  4  comprises left breast orifice  6  and right breast orifice  7  sized and positioned to permit a corresponding patient breast to hang pendulously through them when folding mammography table  2  is in the folded position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 6. Breast orifice cover  32  blocks off the breast orifice not being used by the breast being X-rayed. For example, after folding mammography table  2  is sized for a given patient  54 , folding mammography table  2  is folded into the position indicated in FIG. 6, breast orifice cover  32  is placed over left breast orifice  6  as indicated by arrows  33  in FIG. 2, and patient  54  is positioned on folding mammography table  2  so that right patient breast  58  hangs pendulously through right breast orifice  7 . X-rays are then taken of right patient breast  58  as indicated by arrows  34 ,  36  and/or  38  in FIG.  2 . 
     Then patient  54  is removed from folding mammography table  2 , breast orifice cover  32  is placed over right breast orifice  7 , and patient  54  is positioned on folding mammography table  2  so that the left breast of patient  54  hangs pendulously through left breast orifice  6 . X-rays are then taken of the left breast of patient  54 . In this fashion, breast orifice cover  32  serves to keep the breast not being X-rayed out of the way while the other breast is being X-rayed. 
     Folding thorax support  4  additionally comprises hand holds  8  for the convenience of patient  54 , and to aid in the vertical adjustment of upper base  14 . In use, patient  54  grips hand holds  8  using patient hands  56 , as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. Referring now also to FIG. 3, a plurality of hand hold bores  10  sized to admit hand hold  8  are provided in folding thorax support  4 , in order to accommodate different height and proportioned patients  54 . Each hand hold  8  comprises a hand hold key  9 . Each hand hold bore  10  comprises a hand hold bore keyway  11  sized to admit hand hold key  9 . When a hand hold  8  is inserted into a hand hold bore  10 , so also is its corresponding hand hold key  9  inserted into the corresponding hand hold bore keyway  11 , thus angularly immobilizing hand hold  8  relative to folding thorax support  4 . 
     Folding mammography table  2  further comprises means to adjust the height of upper base  14  relative to lower base  28 , in order to accommodate different sized and proportioned patients  54 . Various means of adjusting the height of upper base  14  relative to lower base  28  are depicted in the different drawings. FIG. 1 shows upper base jack  26  between upper base  14  and lower base  28 . Upper base jack may be a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a mechanical jack, a linear electric motor, or any other appropriate actuator. 
     One or more guides  14  may aid in holding upper base  14  vertical relative to lower base  28 . FIG. 1 depicts one type of guide  24  which is effective, although any number of guide  24  configurations could be used. In FIG. 1, guide  24  comprises guide piston  27  reciprocating within guide cylinder  25 , as indicated by arrow  29 . Guide cylinder  25  is sized to slidably admit guide piston  27 . It is contemplated to be within the scope of the instant invention to use any suitable guide, including but not limited to different shaped guide cylinders  25  and guide pistons  27 , rings attached to upper base  14  sliding over guide piston  27 , etc. 
     FIG. 2 depicts an alternate means to adjust the height of upper base  14  relative to lower base  28 , in order to accommodate different sized and proportioned patients  54 . The height-adjustment means depicted in FIG. 2 is rack  40  engaged with pinion  42 . Pinion crank  44  is attached to pinion  42 . When pinion crank  44  is rotated, so also is pinion  42 , which causes rack  40  to move in reciprocal fashion relative to pinion  42 . Although FIG. 2 depicts rack  40  attached to upper base  14  and pinion  42  rotatably attached to lower base  28 , the reverse is contemplated to be within the scope of the instant invention: rack  40  could be attached to lower base  28 , and pinion  42  could be rotatably attached to upper base  14 . In addition, although FIG. 2 depicts pinion crank  44  attached to pinion  42  to provide rotary motion to pinion  42 , a motor (similar to motor  22  attached to gear  18 ) or other circular motion source could be used, and such variations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. 
     FIG. 5 is a side partial cross-sectional view of folding mammography table  2  being sized to fit patient  54 , with the folding mammography table  2  in the unfolded position. FIG. 6 is a side partial cross-sectional view of folding mammography table  2  in the folded position with patient  54  on folding mammography table  2 , ready to have breast X-rays taken. FIGS. 5 and 6 depict additional means of adjusting the vertical position of patient  54  relative to lower base  28 . FIG. 5 shows ramp  64  disposed on lower base  28 . Ramp jack  66  adjusts the height of an extreme of ramp  64  closest to folding mammography table  2 . Ramp jack  66  may be any suitable actuator, including but not limited to a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a mechanical jack, a linear electric motor, or any other appropriate actuator. 
     FIG. 6 depicts still another means of adjusting the vertical position of patient  54  relative to lower base  28 : block(s)  46 . One or more block  46  may be placed under patient  54  in order to position patient  54  at the correct height relative to lower base  28 . 
     The instant method of use for a folding mammography table comprises the following steps: 
     A. Positioning a folding mammography table in an unfolded position; 
     B. Positioning a mammography patient on a lower base, facing a folding thorax support; 
     C. Adjusting a height of an upper base over a lower base such that at least one said patient&#39;s breast protrudes through a breast orifice in said folding thorax support; 
     D. Adjusting a height of at least one hand hold above said lower base such that said patient may grasp said hand hold while standing on said lower base; 
     E. Removing said patient from said folding mammography table; 
     F. Folding said folding mammography table into a folded position, such that said folding thorax support is substantially horizontal; 
     G. Positioning said patient face down on said folding thorax support, with a breast to be X-rayed hanging pendulously through one said breast orifice; and 
     H. Taking X-rays of said breast hanging pendulously through said breast orifice. 
     The instant method of use for a folding mammography table may comprise the following additional steps: 
     A′. Adjusting a height of a ramp over said lower base in order to place a mammography patient at a correct vertical position relative to said folding thorax support; and 
     B′. Positioning said mammography patient on said ramp, facing a folding thorax support. 
     F′. Placing a breast orifice cover over a first said breast orifice corresponding to a breast which is not to be X-rayed, whereby said breast which is not to be X-rayed will not obstruct X-rays taken of said breast being X-rayed. 
     G′. Positioning said patient face down on said folding thorax support, with a breast to be X-rayed hanging pendulously through a second said breast orifice which is not blocked by said breast orifice cover. 
     I. Removing said mammography patient from said folding mammography table; 
     J. Moving said breast orifice cover from said first breast orifice to said second breast orifice; 
     K. Positioning said patient face down on said folding thorax support, with a breast to be X-rayed hanging pendulously through said first said breast orifice, which is not blocked by said breast orifice cover; and 
     L. Taking X-rays of said breast hanging pendulously through said first breast orifice. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the appending claims. 
     DRAWING ITEM INDEX 
       2  folding mammography table 
       4  folding thorax support 
       6  left breast orifice 
       7  right breast orifice 
       8  hand hold 
       9  hand hold key 
       10  hand hold bore 
       11  hand hold bore keyway 
       12  hinge 
       14  upper base 
       16  upper base land 
       18  gear 
       20  crank 
       22  motor 
       24  guide 
       25  guide cylinder 
       26  upper base jack 
       27  guide piston 
       28  lower base 
       29  arrow 
       30  arrow 
       32  breast orifice cover 
       33  arrow 
       34  arrow 
       36  arrow 
       38  arrow 
       40  rack 
       42  pinion 
       44  pinion crank 
       46  block 
       48  pin 
       50  crank pin bore 
       52  upper base pin bore 
       54  patient 
       56  patient hand 
       58  patient right breast 
       60  actuator 
       64  ramp 
       66  ramp jack