X-ray mammography and/or breast tomosynthesis using a compression paddle with an inflatable jacket enhancing imaging and improving patient comfort

Abstract

A system and method using an inflatable jacket over the compression paddle of a mammography and/or tomosynthesis system to enhance imaging and improve patient comfort in x-ray breast imaging.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of imaging a breast with x-rays comprising:
 supporting the breast on a breast platform and proximate an inflatable element;   compressing the breast with a compression paddle;   detecting an event associated with the compression of the breast;   based on the detection of the event, selectively adjusting a degree of inflation of the inflatable element against the breast;   imaging the compressed breast with x-ray; and   generating x-ray images of the breast.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the event comprises the compression paddle reaching a predetermined position. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the predetermined position is measured relative to at least one of the breast and the breast platform. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the event comprises reaching a specified pressure on the breast. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein adjusting the degree of inflation comprises increasing an internal pressure of the inflatable element. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising re-positioning the breast after the detection of the event. 
     
     
         34 . An x-ray breast imaging system comprising:
 a breast platform configured to support a patient's breast for imaging;   a compression paddle supported for movement toward the breast platform to compress the breast, the compression paddle having a front wall configured to be adjacent the patient's chest wall when the patient's breast is supported for imaging, and an underside configured to be adjacent the patient's breast when the patient's breast is supported for imaging; and   a paddle jacket removably secured to the compression paddle, said jacket comprising:
 an inflatable chamber disposed between the compression paddle and the patient's breast when the patient's breast is supported for imaging; and 
 a seam disposed (a) between the front wall and the patient's chest wall when the patient's breast is supported for imaging, and (b) between the underside and the patient's breast when the patient's breast is supported for imaging. 
   
     
     
         35 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 34 , wherein the seam extends at least partially along the underside such that the inflatable chamber is not disposed between the front wall and the patient's chest wall when the patient's breast is supported for imaging. 
     
     
         36 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 34 , wherein the paddle jacket comprises a top wall and a bottom wall that at least partially defines the inflatable chamber, wherein the top wall and the bottom wall are fused so as to form the seam. 
     
     
         37 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 36 , wherein the inflatable chamber is defined by the top wall, the bottom wall, and the seam. 
     
     
         38 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 34  wherein the paddle jacket further comprises a clipping member configured to releasably clip the seam to the front wall of the compression paddle. 
     
     
         39 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 34 , further comprising a fluid conduit in fluid flow communication with the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         40 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 39 , further comprising a fluid control unit releasably coupled with the fluid conduit to selectively supply fluid to the inflatable chamber through the fluid conduit and thereby selectively inflate the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         41 . An x-ray breast imaging system comprising:
 a breast platform configured to support a patient's breast for imaging;   a compression paddle supported for movement toward the breast platform to compress the breast;   a paddle jacket removably secured proximate the underside of the compression paddle, said jacket comprising a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber;   a first fluid conduit that is in fluid flow communication with the first inflatable chamber;   a second fluid conduit that is in fluid flow communication with the second inflatable chamber; and   a fluid control unit releasably coupled with the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit to selectively inflate the first inflatable chamber and the second inflatable chamber to different pressures.   
     
     
         42 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 41 , wherein the paddle jacket comprises a partition disposed between the first inflatable chamber and the second inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         43 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 41 , wherein the compression paddle comprises a front wall configured to be adjacent the patient's chest wall when the patient's breast is supported for imaging, and an underside configured to be adjacent the patient's breast when the patient's breast is supported for imaging. 
     
     
         44 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 43 , wherein the first inflatable chamber is disposed proximate the underside when the patient's breast is supported for imaging. 
     
     
         45 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 44 , wherein the second inflatable chamber is disposed proximate the underside when the patient's breast is supported for imaging. 
     
     
         46 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 43 , wherein the first inflatable chamber is disposed proximate a forward portion of the underside when the patient's breast is supported for imaging. 
     
     
         47 . The x-ray breast imaging system of  claim 46 , wherein the second inflatable chamber is disposed proximate a rearward portion of the compression paddle when the patient's breast is supported for imaging.