Patent ID: 7299806

Claim:
An automated imaging system for scanning breast tissue during a medical imaging process, said system comprising: a compression paddle arranged to apply a compression load to breast tissue being scanned during said medical imaging process; and a probe interface assembly comprising: a platform including an inner frame for supporting an ultrasound probe in spaced apart relationship relative to the compression paddle, said platform adapted to contactively engage said compression paddle during said medical imaging process, said platform including a first resilient pivot connection at each side of a first set of mutually opposite sides of said inner frame to provide a tilt degree of freedom about a first axis, said platform further including a second resilient pivot connection at each side of a second set of mutually opposite sides of said inner frame to provide a tilt degree of freedom about a second axis positioned orthogonal relative to said first axis, said first and second connections allowing a face of said probe to remain parallel relative to the compression paddle notwithstanding of deformation of the compression paddle that may occur when said compression paddle applies the compression load to the tissue being scanned.