Granted Patent B2

US 12,390,181 · App. 18/914,218 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Inventors: Ruola Ning (Atlanta, GA); Shaohua Liu (Atlanta, GA)

Assignee: KONING CORPORATION

A61B6/502A61B6/032A61B6/035A61B6/0435A61B6/0478A61B6/0487A61B6/4085A61B8/0825G06T7/00G06T2207/30068

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) scan comprising:

providing a foundation element, said foundation element having a generally horizontal upper surface region;

providing a vertical plane gantry subsystem pivotally coupled to said foundation element, said vertical plane gantry subsystem having a patient step portion, said patient step portion having a patient step upper surface region, said patient step upper surface region being adapted to support a patient during imaging;

providing a pivotal adjustment subsystem mutually coupled between said foundation element and said vertical plane gantry subsystem;

disposing said imaging system in a first substantially vertical configuration with respect to said generally horizontal upper surface region of said foundation element;

adjusting said patient step portion for patient positioning;

introducing said patient to said patient step upper surface in a standing posture;

securing a safety feature to maintain patient positioning with respect to said vertical plane gantry subsystem;

positioning a patient breast within an imaging aperture of said vertical plane gantry subsystem;

activating said pivotal adjustment subsystem;

rotating said imaging system from said first substantially vertical configuration into a second substantially non-vertical configuration with respect to said generally horizontal upper surface region of said foundation element;

CBBCT scanning said patient breast with said vertical plane gantry subsystem;

rotating said imaging system from said second substantially non-vertical configuration to said first substantially vertical configuration;

releasing said safety feature; and

dismounting said patient from said patient step upper surface region of said patient step portion;

wherein said activating said pivotal adjustment subsystem further comprises the step of:

activating a pneumatic cylinder of said pivotal adjustment subsystem.

2. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) CBBCT scan as defined in claim 1

wherein said activating said pivotal adjustment subsystem further comprises the step of:

releasing a safety interlock of said pivotal adjustment subsystem.

3. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) scan as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

adjusting a position of a saddle portion of said vertical plane gantry subsystem.

4. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) scan as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

seating a patient on a saddle portion of said vertical plane gantry subsystem.

5. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) scan as defined in claim 1 wherein said vertical plane gantry subsystem includes a patient interface panel, said patient interface panel having a subpanel aperture therethrough; and further comprising the steps of:

installing a patient support subpanel at said subpanel aperture of said patient interface panel; and

disposing said patient breast through a breast aperture of said patient support subpanel.

6. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) scan as defined in claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a patient parameter value; and

selecting said patient support subpanel according to said patient parameter value.

7. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) scan as defined in claim 6 wherein said selecting said patient support subpanel according to said patient parameter value of said patient further comprises the step of:

selecting a patient support subpanel having a breast aperture diameter corresponding to a breast diameter value of said patient.

8. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) scan as defined in claim 6 wherein said selecting said patient support subpanel according to said patient parameter value of said patient further comprises the step of:

selecting a patient support subpanel having a breast aperture beneficially disposed to one side of a centerline of said patient interface panel.

9. A method of conducting a Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT) scan comprising:

providing a foundation element, said foundation element having a generally horizontal upper surface region;

providing a vertical plane gantry subsystem pivotally coupled to said foundation element said vertical plane gantry subsystem having a patient step portion, said patient step portion having a patient step upper surface region, said patient step upper surface region being adapted to support a patient during imaging;

disposing said imaging system in a first substantially vertical configuration with respect to said generally horizontal upper surface region of said foundation element;

adjusting said patient step portion for patient positioning;

introducing said patient to said patient step upper surface in a standing posture;

positioning a patient breast within an imaging aperture of said vertical plane gantry subsystem;

rotating said imaging system from said first substantially vertical configuration into a second substantially non-vertical configuration with respect to said generally horizontal upper surface region of said foundation element;

CBBCT scanning said patient breast with said vertical plane gantry subsystem;

rotating said imaging system from said second substantially non-vertical configuration to said first substantially vertical configuration;

dismounting said patient from said patient step upper surface region of said patient step portion.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (9)

References Cited (8)