Method and apparatus for positioning the arm of a patient while on a table for a medical procedure on a breast

1. A table for positioning a patient for a medical procedure on a breast, the table comprising:

a supporting platform having at least a front end for supporting said patient's torso while said patient is in a prone position, and a cavity at said front end for allowing said breast and a surrounding axilla region to be pendantly suspended therethrough; and

an armrest for positioning and supporting a forearm such that a shoulder adjacent to said axilla region is at a desired height, wherein said armrest is lower than said platform, and wherein said platform has a lateral depression for allowing an arm and a shoulder adjacent to said breast to extend over said platform, rest on said armrest, and be lowered such that skin from said axilla region is relaxed and extends through said cavity.

2. A table as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said armrest comprises a structure for immobilizing said arm such that said arm is maintained in a fixed position.

3. A table as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said table is configured to provide said depression on each side of said cavity in a position where a right shoulder would be when a right breast is in the cavity and a left shoulder would be when a left breast is in the cavity.

4. A table as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said supporting platform further comprises a disc plate engaged into said front end and housing said cavity, said disc plate pivotable about an axis such that said lateral depression is provided on a left side of said table when a left breast is in said cavity and on a right side of said table when a right breast is in said cavity.

5. A table as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said disc plate further comprises a smaller disc plate housing said cavity, wherein said smaller disc plate is adjacent to said lateral depression and is provided on a left side of said table when a left breast is in said cavity and on a right side of said table when a right breast is in said cavity, and said smaller disc plate is moveable about a plurality of axes independently from said disc plate such that said cavity is adjustable in position and size.

6. A table as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said smaller disc plate is comprised of two compression members having linear movement relative to each other for adjusting said cavity in size, at least one of said compression members is removable to provide said lateral depression, and wherein said compression members have linear movement relative to said disc plate.

7. A table for positioning a patient for a medical procedure on a breast, the table comprising:

a supporting platform having at least a front end for supporting said patient's torso while said patient is in a prone position, and a cavity at said front end for allowing said breast and a surrounding axilla region to be pendantly suspended therethrough; and

an armrest for positioning and supporting a forearm such that a shoulder adjacent to said axilla region is at a desired height, wherein said armrest is lower than said platform, and wherein said armrest comprises material covering a surface of said armrest and having a friction coefficient such that said arm remains in a position in which it is placed.

8. A table for positioning a patient for a medical procedure on a breast, the table comprising:

a supporting platform, having at least a front end for supporting said patient's torso while said patient is in a prone position, and a cavity at said front end for allowing said breast and a surrounding axilla region to be pendantly suspended therethrough; and

an armrest for positioning and supporting a forearm such that a shoulder adjacent to said axilla region is at a desired height, wherein said armrest is lower than said platform, wherein said armrest is adjustable in height and position with respect to said supporting platform.

9. A table as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said armrest is fixed with respect to a base and said supporting platform is adjustable in height.

10. A table for positioning a patient for a medical procedure on a breast, the table comprising:

a supporting platform having at least a front end for supporting said patient's torso while said patient is in a prone position, and a cavity at said front end for allowing said breast and a surrounding axilla region to be pendantly suspended therethrough; and

an armrest for positioning and supporting a forearm such that a shoulder adjacent to said axilla region is at a desired height, wherein said armrest is lower than said platform;

wherein said cavity is substantially pear-shaped such that a larger portion is for the breast and a narrower portion is for the axilla region, and said cavity is positioned at an angle such that said narrower portion faces an outer side of said table.

11. A table as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said table is configured such that said pear-shaped cavity is displaced to provide said narrower portion on a left side of said table when a left breast is in said cavity and on a light side of said table when a right breast is in said cavity.

12. A table for positioning a patient for a medical procedure on a breast, the table comprising:

a supporting platform having at least a front end for supporting said patient's torso while said patient is in a prone position, and a cavity at said front end for allowing said breast and a surrounding axilla region to be pendantly suspended therethrough;

an armrest for positioning and supporting a forearm such that a shoulder adjacent to said axilla region is at a desired height, wherein said armrest is lower than said platform; and

a headrest adjacent to said front end for supporting a head of said patient while in said prone position, wherein said headrest is at a same height as said supporting platform.

13. A table as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said headrest is configured to be laterally displaceable with respect to said supporting platform.