Compression paddle for use in breast imaging
The present disclosure relates to the manufacture and use of a non-rigid breast compression paddle, such as a compression paddle having a mesh material forming the primary interface with patient tissue. In certain implementations, an automatic feedback driven approach may be used in conjunction with such a compression paddle for compressing breast tissue.
1. A breast compression mechanism, comprising:
a breast compression paddle, comprising:
a frame defining an open region, wherein the frame comprises a patient contacting region that has a curvature corresponding to one or both of breast tissue curvature near a chest wall or an ultrasound probe head curvature;
a mesh material affixed to the frame over the open region, wherein the mesh material is deformable relative to the frame and is sonolucent; and
one or more sensors positioned on the frame or mesh material and configured to generate compression measurements when the breast compression paddle is in use;
a mounting assembly comprising a motor controller configured to move the breast compression paddle to achieve a threshold breast compression in response to the compression measurements generated by the one or more sensors during operation.
2. The breast compression paddle of claim 1 , wherein the mesh material is at a uniform tension in two perpendicular directions over the open region of the frame.
3. The breast compression paddle of claim 1 , wherein the mesh material is at different tensions at over different portion of the open region of the frame.
4. The breast compression paddle of claim 1 , wherein the mesh material is not at a uniform tension over the open region of the frame.
5. The breast compression paddle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more force measurement devices configured to read a force or a force over a unit area acting upon the mesh material.
6. The breast compression paddle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a conductive wire woven through the mesh material.
7. The breast compression paddle of claim 1 , further comprising one or more radio-opaque elements woven into or formed in the mesh material.
8. The breast compression paddle of claim 1 , further comprising a sliding engagement formed in the frame.
9. The breast compression paddle of claim 1 , wherein all or part of the mesh material and frame are disposable.
10. A breast compression mechanism, comprising:
a breast compression paddle, comprising:
a frame defining an open region, wherein the frame comprises a patient contacting region that has a curvature corresponding to one or both of breast tissue curvature near a chest wall or an ultrasound probe head curvature;
a mesh material affixed to the frame over the open region, wherein the mesh material is sonolucent; and
a conductive wire woven through the mesh material; and
a mounting assembly comprising a motor controller configured to move the breast compression paddle to achieve a threshold breast compression in response to one or both of resistance or inductance measurements generated by the conductive wire during operation.
11. The breast compression paddle of claim 10 , wherein the mesh material is at a uniform tension in two perpendicular directions over the open region of the frame.
12. The breast compression paddle of claim 10 , wherein the mesh material is at different tensions at over different portion of the open region of the frame.
13. The breast compression paddle of claim 10 , wherein the mesh material is not at a uniform tension over the open region of the frame.
14. The breast compression paddle of claim 10 , further comprising one or more force measurement devices configured to read a force or a force over a unit area acting upon the mesh material during operation.
15. The breast compression paddle of claim 10 , further comprising one or more radio-opaque elements woven into or formed in the mesh material.
16. A breast compression mechanism, comprising:
a breast compression paddle, comprising:
a frame defining an open region, wherein the frame comprises a patient contacting region that has a curvature corresponding to one or both of breast tissue curvature near a chest wall or an ultrasound probe head curvature;
a mesh material affixed to the frame over the open region, wherein the mesh material is sonolucent; and
one or more strain or force sensors positioned on the frame or mesh material and configured to generate force measurements when the breast compression paddle is in use; and
a mounting assembly comprising a motor controller configured to move the breast compression paddle to achieve a threshold breast compression in response to the force measurements generated by the one or more strain or force sensors during operation.
17. The breast compression paddle of claim 16 , wherein the mesh material is at a uniform tension in two perpendicular directions over the open region of the frame.
18. The breast compression paddle of claim 16 , wherein the mesh material is at different tensions at over different portion of the open region of the frame.
19. The breast compression paddle of claim 16 , wherein the mesh material is not at a uniform tension over the open region of the frame.
20. The breast compression paddle of claim 16 , wherein the force measurements comprise a force or a force over a unit area acting upon the mesh material during operation.
21. The breast compression paddle of claim 16 , further comprising a conductive wire woven through the mesh material.
22. The breast compression mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the compression measurements comprise strain or force measured at the breast compression paddle.
23. The breast compression mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the compression measurements comprise resistance or impedance measurements in a conductive component of the breast compression paddle.