Patent ID: 8210899

Claim:
A method of forming a support structure for immobilizing a patient in a prone position for delivery of radiation to at least one breast of the patient in a reproducible manner, the method comprising: positioning a support brassiere on the patient, the support brassiere comprising a semi-rigid cup that is sized to engage a breast of the patient and a strap that is configured to fasten the semi-rigid cup to the patient; positioning the patient, who is wearing the support brassiere, in a prone position generally within a full-body support structure so that the semi-rigid cup of the support brassiere is suspended above and proximate to, but not in contact with, an upward-facing surface of the full-body support structure; with the patient positioned generally within the full-body support structure, introducing a non-caustic malleable substance into the full-body support structure generally under the patient and under and around the cup so that the substance substantially occupies a space between the upward-facing surface of the full-body support structure and the semi-rigid cup; and hardening the non-caustic malleable substance while it substantially occupies the space under the patient and under and around the cup so that the non-caustic malleable substance becomes a substantially rigid breast immobilization device comprising: a top surface having a generally concave contour therein corresponding with an impression of the semi-rigid cup; and a bottom surface configured to engage with the up-ward facing surface of the full-body support structure; the substantially rigid breast immobilization device thereby configured to generally conform to and be supported by the full-body support structure, the substantially rigid breast immobilization device, in turn, configured to support and immobilize the semi-rigid cup, which in turn is configured to support and immobilize the at least one breast of the patient.