US4090084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mammography compression apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-02-24
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Granted: 1978-05-16
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Expires: 1997-02-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a mammography apparatus and more particularly to the means for compressing a pressure plate of the apparatus against the breast. The mounting of the pressure plate is such that the pressure can be applied uniformly throughout the breast area. To enable such uniform pressure to be obtained, the pressure plate is connected at its opposite ends to slide means which slide on tracks mounted on the cone of the X-ray machine. For the determination of the thickness of the compressed breast tissue between the pressure plate and the film upon which the breast rests, a measuring rod is secured to the tracks and a pointer is attached to the means which move on the tracks.
Inventors
- 👤 Heywood Y. Epstein
- 👤 Carmine Famiglietti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/50; A61B6/502
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
Mammography apparatus comprising: A. a hollow metallic member for passage therethrough of X-rays from an X-ray source, said hollow member having a generally conical shape and a substantially flat side, said flat side containing an aperture in the lower part thereof to permit positioning of a woman's breast within said hollow member; B. first selectable pressure plate means comprising a vertical portion shielded against X-rays and a horizontal portion transparent to X-rays, said first pressure plate means being movably mounted on said hollow member with said vertical portion being movable vertically externally of said hollow member along said flat wall of said hollow member, said horizontal portion being movable vertically within the confines of said hollow member for application of pressure to said breast positioned within said hollow member, the chest of the woman facing the vertical portion of said first pressure plate while the mammogram is being taken and pressure is being applied against the breast; C. means for movably mounting said first pressure plate means on said hollow member comprising: track means on the external surface of the sides of said hollow member, movable means on said tracks, means for attaching said first pressure plate means to said movable means, and means for fixedly holding said movable means on said track means; D. cassette means containing film upon which said hollow member rests and upon which said breast is to be placed; said arrangement of cassette means and hollow member providing a long fixed target-film distance between said X-ray source and said film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
Mammography apparatus comprising: A. a hollow metallic member for passage therethrough of X-rays from an X-ray source, said hollow member having a generally conical shape and a substantially flat side, said flat side containing an aperture in the lower part thereof to permit positioning of a woman's breast within said hollow member; B. first selectable pressure plate means comprising a vertical portion shielded against X-rays and a horizontal portion transparent to X-rays, said first pressure plate means being movably mounted on said hollow member with said vertical portion being movable vertically externally of said hollow member along said flat wall of said hollow member, said horizontal portion being movable vertically within the confines of said hollow member for application of pressure to said breast positioned within said hollow member, the chest of the woman facing the vertical portion of said first pressure plate while the mammogram is being taken and pressure is being applied against the breast; C. means for movably mounting said first pressure plate means on said hollow member comprising: track means on the external surface of the sides of said hollow member, movable means on said tracks, means for attaching said first pressure plate means to said movable means, and means for fixedly holding said movable means on said track means; D. cassette means containing film upon which said hollow member rests and upon which said breast is to be placed; said arrangement of cassette means and hollow member providing a long fixed target-film distance between said X-ray source and said film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein measuring rod means is positioned adjacent a track member and pointer means is secured to said movable means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a second selectable pressure plate means is used in place of said first selectable pressure plate means, said second selectable pressure plate means having a vertical portion shielded against X-rays, a horizontal portion, and an inclined portion between said vertical and horizontal portions, said horizontal and inclined portions being transparent to X-rays, said inclined portion allowing the rib cages of the woman to fall within the X-ray beam when a lateral view mammogram is being taken.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
257 words
Mammography apparatus comprising: A. a hollow metallic member for passage therethrough of X-rays from an X-ray source, said hollow member being of generally conical shape and having a substantially flat side which has an aperture in the lower part of said flat side to permit positioning of the breast within said hollow member; B. first selectable pressure plate means having a vertical portion shielded against X-rays and a horizontal portion transparent to X-rays, said pressure plate means being movably mounted on said hollow member with said vertical portion movable vertically externally of said hollow member along the flat wall of said hollow member, and the horizontal portion movable vertically within the confines of the hollow member for application of pressure to the breast of a woman positioned within the hollow member, the chest of the woman facing the vertical portion of said pressure plate when pressure is being applied against the breast and the mammogram is to be taken, said pressure plate means having attachment means at its sides for attachment to means for moving it; C. means mounted at the sides of said hollow member for attachment to the sides of the pressure plate means and for vertically moving said pressure plate means, and means for securing said movable member in a fixed position, and D. cassette means containing film upon which said hollow member rests, and upon which said breast is to be placed, said arrangement of cassette means and hollow member providing a long fixed target-film distance between said X-ray source and said film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
257 words
Mammography apparatus comprising: A. a hollow metallic member for passage therethrough of X-rays from an X-ray source, said hollow member being of generally conical shape and having a substantially flat side which has an aperture in the lower part of said flat side to permit positioning of the breast within said hollow member; B. first selectable pressure plate means having a vertical portion shielded against X-rays and a horizontal portion transparent to X-rays, said pressure plate means being movably mounted on said hollow member with said vertical portion movable vertically externally of said hollow member along the flat wall of said hollow member, and the horizontal portion movable vertically within the confines of the hollow member for application of pressure to the breast of a woman positioned within the hollow member, the chest of the woman facing the vertical portion of said pressure plate when pressure is being applied against the breast and the mammogram is to be taken, said pressure plate means having attachment means at its sides for attachment to means for moving it; C. means mounted at the sides of said hollow member for attachment to the sides of the pressure plate means and for vertically moving said pressure plate means, and means for securing said movable member in a fixed position, and D. cassette means containing film upon which said hollow member rests, and upon which said breast is to be placed, said arrangement of cassette means and hollow member providing a long fixed target-film distance between said X-ray source and said film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a second selectable pressure plate means is used in place of said first selectable pressure plate means, said second selectable pressure plate means having a vertical portion shielded against X-rays, a horizontal portion, and an inclined portion between the vertical and horizontal portions, said horizontal and inclined portions being transparent to X-rays, the inclined portion allowing the rib cages of said woman to fall within the X-ray beam when a lateral view mammogram is being taken.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-15 | 1981-11-14 | 1982-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-15 | 1985-11-14 | 1986-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-15 | 1989-11-14 | 1990-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |