Patent ID: 6987831

Claim:
A device for producing an image of a breast of a patient, the device comprising: a gantry frame; at least one motor for moving the gantry frame to form a data acquisition geometry in which image data are taken; a source of a beam of radiation attached to the gantry frame to move with the gantry frame; a two-dimensional (2D) digital detector attached to the gantry frame to move with the gantry frame, the 2D digital detector being disposed in a path of the beam of radiation; and a table on which the patient rests while the image data are taken, the table supporting the patient such that the breast is disposed between the source of cone-beam radiation and the 2D digital detector, the table having a hole through which the breast extends and being configured such that an entirety of the breast extending through the hole is in the path of the beam of radiation; wherein the at least one motor moves the gantry frame so that the 2D digital detector takes a volume scan of the breast; and wherein the table has a second hole to permit an arm of the patient to drop through the second hole while the volume scan is taken.