Adjustable mounting base for mammographic spot compression and magnification platform

Claim 1

A spot compression and magnification device positionable on the cover of at least two different size cassette holders selectively disposed on the breast supporting platform of mammographic apparatus for aiding in the spot compression of the breast of a female patient to provide x-ray images of localized portions of the breast, each of said covers being spaced above said platform and defining a tunnel therebetween, said device comprising a base having a polygonical cross section configuration including an upper platform and an open bottom defined between upstanding peripheral planar skirts, an aperture formed in said upper platform, an upstanding pedestal extending from said platform superposed about said aperture, said pedestal having an upstanding peripheral wall and a flat top surface adapted for receiving the lower portion of said breast, adjustable clamping means for adjustably attaching said device to the cover of either of said at least two cassette holders, means including biasing means for connecting said clamping means to said base and for permitting said clamping means to be extended manually from said base and resiliently urged toward said base, said clamping means including first and second sets of tongues disposed below the plane of said open bottom and projecting in a direction toward the interior of said base, each tongue of said sets of tongues having an upper surface and at least said first set of tongues having a lower surface spaced from the upper surface of a corresponding tongue of said second set, said first set of tongues being disposed closer to said base than said second set for entering into said tunnel and for engaging the upper surface of the respective tongue of said first set with a lower surface of the cover of a smaller of said holders when said base is positioned on the cover of said smaller holder, and said second set of tongues being disposed for entering into said tunnel and engaging the upper surface of the respective tongue of said second set with the lower surface of the cover of a larger of said holders when the lower surface of said first tongues is disposed on the cover of said larger holder.