US4599738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal mammography compression system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-04-17
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Granted: 1986-07-08
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Expires: 2004-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A mammography compression system provides for both non-magnification compression examination as well as magnification compression examination through a large plurality of positions whereby the patient may remain seated upright or standing. The system permits utilization of a radiologist's present in place X-ray equipment and readily mounts for juxtaposition with the existing in place x-ray system.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick Panetta
- 👤 Jack Wennet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/04; A61B6/0407; A61B6/0414; A61B6/50; A61B6/502; A61B90/00; A61B90/10; A61B90/14; A61B90/17; G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A mammography compression system for a patient comprising; breast examination support means having opposed upper and lower compression plate mounts and compression plates disposed in said mounts, for compressing the breasts of a patient therebetween; said breast examination support means further comprising an X-ray plate mount for mounting an X-ray plate in a plurality of positions relative to said upper compression plate; mounting means connected to said breast support means at an end of the mounting means; attachment means connected to another end of said mounting means for attachment to a fixed support; said mounting means comprising means for retractably and extendably moving said breast support means relative to said fixed support, and means for rotatably moving said breast examination support means; and said compression and X-ray plate mounts being formed so that said X-ray plate is mountable in said lower compression plate mount, whereby said breast examination support means is movable to several examination positions while the patient remains substantially upright, and with the use of said compression plates and said X-ray plate, there is a magnification X-ray and with the upper compression plate and said X-ray plate in the lower compression plate position, there is a non-magnification compression X-ray.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A mammography compression system for a patient comprising; breast examination support means having opposed upper and lower compression plate mounts and compression plates disposed in said mounts, for compressing the breasts of a patient therebetween; said breast examination support means further comprising an X-ray plate mount for mounting an X-ray plate in a plurality of positions relative to said upper compression plate; mounting means connected to said breast support means at an end of the mounting means; attachment means connected to another end of said mounting means for attachment to a fixed support; said mounting means comprising means for retractably and extendably moving said breast support means relative to said fixed support, and means for rotatably moving said breast examination support means; and said compression and X-ray plate mounts being formed so that said X-ray plate is mountable in said lower compression plate mount, whereby said breast examination support means is movable to several examination positions while the patient remains substantially upright, and with the use of said compression plates and said X-ray plate, there is a magnification X-ray and with the upper compression plate and said X-ray plate in the lower compression plate position, there is a non-magnification compression X-ray.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mammography compression system of claim 1, said upper compression plate mount further comprising means to vertically move said mount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mammography compression system of claim 1, each said plate mount being formed with pairs of spaced, parallel outwardly extending fingers, and wherein the outward ends of the fingers of said upper mount being upwardly bent and the outward ends of said lower mount being downwardly bent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mammography compression system of claim 1, said X-ray plate mount being formed so as to be detachable from said compression plate mounts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mammography compression system of claim 1, said X-ray plate mount being an elongated member being formed with a plurality of spaced slots forming said plurality of X-ray plate mount positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mammography compression system of claim 1, said mounting means and attachment means being formed so as to provide reciprocal vertical movement to said breast support means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mammography compression system of claim 6, said movements of said breast support means transversing a spatial volume at least equal to that of about a quadrant of a cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mammography compression system of claim 1, said compression plates being transparent plastic plates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mammography compression system of claim 8, each said compression plate being no greater than about 0.040 inch in thickness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The mammography compression system of claim 9, said plates being a polycarbonate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mammography compression system of claim 1, said means to rotatably move said breast support means comprising a vertical member and means to pivotally mount said breast support means about one axis perpendicular to said vertical member and about a second axis parallel to said vertical member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mammography compression system of claim 11, said vertical member extending upwardly beyond the breast support means and being formed so as to be gripped by the user during examination.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mammography compression system of claim 11, said means to retractably and extendably move said breast support means comprising a plurality of arm linkages, and pivot means interconnecting said linkages.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The mammography compression system of claim 13, said attachment means comprising means to mount the system to a vertical wall and further comprising means to reciprocally vertically move said linkages and in turn said vertical member and breast support means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mammography compression system of claim 14, further comprising means to stop the vertical movement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3824397A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-07 | 1990-01-06 | 1990-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-07 | 1994-01-06 | 1994-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-07 | 1998-01-06 | 1998-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |