IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,616,433
Granted Patent B2
US 12,616,433 · App. 18/695,506 · Granted May 5, 2026

Mammography system having a protective unit

Inventors: Marcus Radicke (Veitsbronn, DE); Jutta Speitel (Erlangen, DE); Stephanie Goettler (Neumarkt, DE); Ralf Nanke (Neunkirchen am Brand, DE); Lukas Eller (Forchheim, DE); Tom Weidner (Erlangen, DE); Juliane Muench (Moehrendorf, DE); Andreas Limmer (Fuerth, DE)
Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHINERS AG
A61B6/502A61B6/0414A61B6/102A61B6/107A61B6/547
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,616,433
App. No.
18/695,506
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a mammography system having a stand unit for locating the mammography system on the floor; an L-shaped source unit, the L-shaped source unit including an arm connected to an X-ray detector in a rotatably mounted manner on a front face of the stand unit, and another arm of the L-shaped source unit protrudes substantially perpendicularly, an X-ray source being located at an end of the source unit remote from the stand unit; and a substantially U-shaped protective unit.

Claims (23)

1 . A mammography system comprising:

a stand unit for locating the mammography system on a floor;

an L-shaped source unit, the L-shaped source unit including an arm connected to an X-ray detector in a rotatably mounted manner on a front face of the stand unit, and another arm of the L-shaped source unit protrudes substantially perpendicularly, an X-ray source being located at an end of the source unit remote from the stand unit; and

a substantially U-shaped protective unit, the substantially U-spaced protective unit including a first arm attached to the stand unit in a rotatably mounted manner such that the protective unit is rotatable independently of the source unit, the substantially U-shaped protective unit including a second arm extending along a top face of the source unit in a first operating state, and the substantially U-shaped protective unit including a third arm having, at the end of the protective unit remote from the stand unit, a protective shield for supporting a head of a patient.

2 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective unit is configured to be substantially form-fitting along a rear face of the stand unit and along the source unit in a first operating state.

3 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective unit is stationary in an acquisition state.

4 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective shield is adjustable to suit an object under examination.

5 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective unit comprises sensors for collision protection.

6 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective shield pivots away automatically in the event that an applied force exceeds a threshold value.

7 . The mammography system of claim 5 , wherein a signal connection is configured to transmit a collision risk from the protective unit to a controller of the mammography system.

8 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective unit comprises a lighting unit.

9 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective unit comprises at least one of a display unit or input unit.

10 . The mammography system claim 9 , further comprising:

a presence sensor configured to distinguish between an object under examination and a user.

11 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective unit comprises a cleaning unit.

12 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein a position sensor of the protective unit is connected to a controller of the mammography system.

13 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective shield has a convex curvature toward an object under examination.

14 . The mammography system of claim 13 , wherein the shape of the protective shield conforms to the head of the patient.

15 . The mammography system of claim 1 , wherein the protective shield comprises at least one of a temperature sensor or a heart rate sensor.

16 . The mammography system of claim 2 , wherein the protective unit comprises a cleaning unit.

17 . The mammography system of claim 16 , wherein a position sensor of the protective unit is connected to a controller of the mammography system.

18 . The mammography system of claim 17 , wherein the protective shield has a convex curvature toward an object under examination.

19 . The mammography system of claim 18 , wherein the shape of the protective shield conforms to the head of the patient.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2025
From: RADICKE, MARCUS; SPEITEL, JUTTA; GÖTTLER, STEPHANIE; NANKE, RALF; ELLER, LUKAS; WEIDNER, TOM; MÜNCH, JULIANE; LIMMER, ANDREAS
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 072678/0518 →
Priority Claims (2)
EP 21200287 · Sep 30, 2021 · regional
EP 22197199 · Sep 22, 2022 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240407746A1 · Dec 12, 2024
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