WO2006045805A1

WO2006045805A1 - Compression plate, particularly for a mammography unit

Info

Publication number: WO2006045805A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/055546
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Ramsauer
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2004-10-29
Filing date: 2005-10-25
Publication date: 2006-05-04
Also published as: DE102004052614B3

Abstract

The inventive compression plate (1) makes it possible to accommodate compression troughs (14, 15 or 16) with different base area dimensions due to the variability of the width (3) of a receiving opening (2), which is formed by frame parts of a retaining frame (1). According to an advantageous embodiment, the frame parts, e.g. provided in the form of retaining arms (4, 5), can be displaced relative to one another and can be positively connected to the compression trough (14 or 15 or 16). In order to press the frame parts against the compression trough (14 or 15 or 16), spring elements, e.g. in the form of draw springs (9, 10), are provided. The complexity of carrying out a mammography examination is reduced by using a retaining frame (1) for different compression troughs (14 or 15 or 16) instead of the otherwise customary multitude of compression plates provided in the form of a unit comprised of retaining frames and a compression trough.

Description

description

Compression plate, in particular for a mammography device

The invention relates to a compression plate according to the preamble of claim 1; Such a compression ^¬ plate is known for example from the Siemens brochure "Accessories around Mammography", order number A91100-M1270-A924-1-4A00, or from the published patent application DE 103 46 966 Al.

A mammography device is an X-ray system for examining a breast of a patient or a patient, in particular for the preventive examination for breast cancer. Before beginning a radiograph is seen forth in the rule that is placed under investigation breast on one for Mammo ^¬ graphiegerät belonging stage and compressed by a compression plate.

Various types of compression plates are known, which as a rule consist of a shell-like compression trough permeable to X-rays and a fork-like holding frame with a receiving opening for receiving the compression trough and which are each held interchangeably as a unit on the mammographic device. Depending on the field of application and breast size, different compression plates are provided which differ, inter alia, from compression troughs with different basic surface dimensions and edge heights. Therefore, the user of the mammography device usually has to stockpile several different types of compression plates.

In analog mammography, two stage sizes are commonly used to record x-ray films measuring 18cm x 24cm or 24cm x 30cm. When creating a mammographic impression, therefore, a compression plate with a compression recess is used, which in its base surface dimensions is the ßen of each used X-ray film corresponds.

In digital mammography, the breast can be displayed in layers using tomosynthesis. For these examination methods, the chest is irradiated with X-radiation at different angles of incidence, typically from -25 ° to + 25 ° with respect to the vertical. These different angles of incidence require a further compression plate with a particularly wide compression recess so that the holding frame of the compression plate can not be imaged on the detector.

The present invention is based on the object to reduce the burden of performing a mammogram.

This object is achieved on the basis of a compression plate ge according to the preamble of claim 1 by the characterizing features nenden; advantageous embodiments of the invention are each the subject of the dependent claims.

The variability of the receiving opening according to the invention allows the use of a single universal holding frame for different compression troughs. In view of the fact that, as a rule, different types of compression plates had previously to be stored by the user, this results in a reduction of the material, compared with the conventional compression plates, which can only be exchanged as a unit consisting of holding frame and compression recess. Storage and Bedien¬ effort.

The separability of the compression recess and holding frame further simplifies the care effort, in particular the cleaning, since in the separated state many points, especially in the area of the contact points between the compression recess and the holding frame, are better accessible.

Another advantage of the invention is that by the examination load and by the practice in many cases Occurring use of unsuitable detergents frequently loaded compression recess sepa¬ rat wear and therefore for the user with low cost is interchangeable.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the width of the receiving opening is advantageously variable by changing the relative position of corresponding frame parts of the holding frame, which are constructed in a structurally simple manner as holding arms; The frame parts are expediently displaceable relative to each other for changing the re¬ lative position.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the mutually adjustable in their relative position frame parts by spring elements, in particular in the form of tension springs or compression springs, pressed against the compression recess.

A handling of the compression plate with very little effort is made possible by a configuration that provides for Einhandbedienbarkeit corresponding means for Bewegungsungskopp¬ development of the frame parts.

For a particularly secure fixation of the compression recess, a positive connection with the holding frame is provided.

The invention as well as further advantageous embodiments of the invention according to features of the subclaims are explained in more detail below with reference to schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments in the drawing, without this restricting the invention to these exemplary embodiments; show in it:

1 shows a plan view of a holding frame with the variation of its receiving opening by means of a Zugfe¬ the sliding support arms;

2 shows a top view of a compression plate with the

Holding frame according to FIG. 1, whose receiving opening is for Holder of a compression ^tray is adapted to small base ^¬ surface ^dimensions and low edge height;

3 shows a top view of a compression plate with the

Holding frame according to FIG 1, the receiving opening is adapted to hold a compression recess with large base ^¬ surface ^dimensions and low edge height;

4 shows a top view of a holding frame according to FIG. 1, with holding arms which can be displaced to vary its receiving opening by means of a compression spring; 5 shows a plan view of a holding frame according to FIG 4, but with a mechanism for movement coupling of Halte¬ arms in the sense of a one-hand operation;

6 shows a plan view of a holding frame according to FIG 1, but with means for locking the retaining arms in defined positions.

7 shows a detail enlargement from FIG. 2 in section VII-VII for illustrating a form-locking connection of the compression recess to the holding frame;

FIG 8, the compression plate FIG 2, wherein the holding arms to a Befestigungsmit ^¬ tel are set low in height in side view according relatively;

9 shows a side view of a compression plate according to FIG 8, wherein the holding arms are set high in height relative to the fastening means.

FIG. 1 shows a fork-like holding frame 1 of a compression plate with a receiving opening 2 for holding a compression trough. The receiving opening 2 according to the invention for adaptation to compression troughs with different base dimensions in their width 3 can be varied. This width 3 is determined by frame parts, in particular in the form of two holding arms 4 and 5, whose relative position for variation of the width 3 is variable.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, in order to change the width 3 of the receiving opening 2, it is particularly easy to displace the left-hand holding arm 4 in the one with a sliding possibility Movement arrow 6 marked direction or a Verschiebungs¬ possibility of the right holding arm 5 in the direction indicated by a movement arrow 7 Direction provided. For guiding the displaceable holding arms 4, 5, a central guide part 8 shown in partial section is provided in this example. This solution represents a particularly simple, compact and secure guidance of sliding support arms.

FIG. 2 shows a ready-to-use compression plate, consisting of the holding frame 1 shown in FIG. 1 and a compression trough 14 with small base dimensions and low edge height placed in the receiving opening of the holding frame. The low edge height of the compression recess 14 is not apparent in this plan view; However, it is recognizable by the side view of this compression plate shown in FIG. 8, in particular in comparison with the compression plate with high edge height in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows another ready-to-use compression plate with a compression recess 15 which is larger in its basic surface dimensions and for holding it the holding frame 1 already known from FIGS. 1 and 2 with a corresponding enlargement of the receiving opening by movement of the holding arms against the pulling direction the tension springs 9, 10 is usable. Instead of the compression recess 15 with a small edge height of the support frame is also provided for receiving a compression recess with high edge height, which would not differ from Figure 3 due to the top view selected here the drawing representation.

To press the retaining arms 4 and 5 in an advantageous manner in the direction representative of FIGS. 1-3 in FIG. 2 with the pressure arrows 12 and 13, respectively, to the compression recess 14, in one embodiment spring elements are provided , in this embodiment in the form of tension springs 9, 10, provided.

FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a holding frame, which differs from the holding frame shown in FIG. 1 in that, instead of tension springs 9, 10, compression springs 19, 20 are equally advantageous for pressing holding arms 17, 18 against a compression recess are vorgese¬ hen.

FIG. 5 shows a holding frame as in FIG. 4, but with a right tension spring 24, the tensile force of which is lower than the pressure force of the left compression spring 23, instead of the right compression spring 20 of the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 4 and additionally with a wire rope 25, which is over a guide roller 26 is guided and two holding arms 21, 22 connects. These changes with respect to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 are provided for a movement coupling of the two holding arms 21, 22 in such a way that the respectively remaining holding arm 21 or 22 synchronously moves into the respective one by the displacement of one of the two holding arms 21, 22 moves the opposite direction, the resulting forces of the two Federele¬ elements 23, 24 continue to press the two support arms 21, 22 to a recordable in the holding frame compression recess. The two coupled movement possibilities are indicated in Figure 5 by the arrows 28, 29 and 30, 31. Through this

Motion coupling makes it possible to vary the receiving opening with a one-handed operation, in order to easily make a change of compression troughs can.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a holding frame as in FIG. 1, in which latching cams 35, 36 fastened to a guide part 34 and latching recesses 37, 38 formed on the holding arms 32, 33 for locking the holding arms to predetermined displacement positions are provided in an advantageous manner. hen are. The latching is made possible by the latching cams 35, 36, in particular by means of the springs 39, when the displacement positions are reached by the retaining arms and 40 force applied to the locking cams 35, 36, reach into the latching recesses 37, 38. This locking expediently allows such varying a defined by the holding arms 32, 33 receiving opening 41 in its width 42, that this width in the predetermined displacement positions the

Base dimensions of the accommodatable by the support frame Compression troughs corresponds.

By a suitable shaping of the latching cams 35, 36 and the latching recesses 37, 38, such as e.g. The illustrated, mutually corresponding round shape of the locking cams 35, 36 and the latching recesses 37, 38, on the one hand achieved that the Rastno¬ bridges 35, 36 by their positive engagement in the Rast¬ troughs 37, 38, the retaining arms 32, 33rd securely fix at the proposed sliding positions, and on the other hand that the holding arms 32, 33 can be released from the outside by the respective fixed by snapping fixed displacement position.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 2 in FIG

Intersection VII-VII. When securing the compression trough 14 on the holding frame, the right-hand holding arm 5 of the tension spring design presses in the direction 46 against the compression trough 14, wherein as an advantageous example of a positive mutual connection, a cam 43 provided on the holding arm engages in a corresponding bore 44 in the bore Side wall of the compression recess 14 engages. In addition, an upper projection 45 is provided on the right-hand holding arm, which counteracts the force which arises during the examination in the direction 47 due to the abutment of the upper edge of the compression trough 14. Other compression wells, such as the compression recess 15 shown in FIG. 3 with a large base area size can be fixed in a corresponding manner in a form-fitting manner in the holding frame.

The number of cams per holding arm 4 or 5 or the number of corresponding bores in the side walls of the compression trough can vary depending on the design. Of course, in a reversal of this example, cams may also be provided on the compression recess, which engage in corresponding bores in the retaining arms. In addition to the positive connection of the compression troughs with the

Holding arms 4, 5 of the holding frame can also be a positive connection with other parts of the holding frame 1, e.g. be provided with the central guide part 8.

The fastening means 11 shown inter alia in FIGS. 1-3 and in FIGS. 8 and 9 serves to receive the holding frame 1 on a mammography apparatus. Such fastening means are, e.g. from the aforementioned Siemens brochure "Accessories around Mammography", in order to be able to determine the compression thickness, ie the distance between the lower side of the compression recess and an object table attached to the mammography device, with means available on the mammography device, the use of compression plates with identical overall height is expedient, wherein the total height 48, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, defined by the distance of the underside of the compression recess 14 and 16 to the upper end of the fastening means 11. The compression thickness is below for the determination of a suitable exposure time in an x-ray exposure performed with the mammography device.

FIG. 8 shows the ready-to-use compression plate with the compression depression 14 of FIG. 2, which is low in its edge height, in a side view. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding arms 4, 5, of which only the left holding arm 4 is shown in FIG. 8 due to perspective concealment, can be adjusted together in their height measured relative to the fixing means 11. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, this height adjustment is made possible by the fact that the guide part 8 of the holding frame, together with the two holding arms 4, 5, is vertically displaceable relative to the fastening means 11, as the comparison with Figure 9 illustrates.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a ready-to-use compression plate consisting of the same holding frame as in the compression plate shown in FIG. 8 and a compression recess with a high edge height. In this compression plate, the guide part 8 is set to a height greater than the fastening means 11 in comparison with FIG.

The possibility of adjusting the height of the retaining arms of Halte¬ frame is provided, regardless of edge height of the recorded in the holding frame compression trough, the same total height 48 of the compression plate formed by receiving the compression recess in the holding frame can reach NEN. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the height difference of the guide part with respect to the fastening means 11 therefore corresponds precisely to the height difference of the two compression cavities 14 and 16. This height adjustability avoids the use of several holding frames adapted to compression cavities with different edge heights that in addition to the variability of the receiving opening in your width of effort for performing a mammogram is further reduced.

The essential idea of the invention can be summarized as follows: The compression plate (1) according to the invention makes it possible to accommodate compression cavities (14, 14) by the variability of the width (3) of a receiving opening (2) formed by frame parts of a holding frame (1). 15 or 16) with different footprint dimensions. According to an advantageous embodiment, the frame parts, eg in the form of holding arms (4, 5), are displaceable relative to one another and can be positively connected to the compression recess (14 or 15 or 16), whereby the frame parts are pressed against the pressure the compression onsulde (14 or 15 or 16) spring elements, for example in the form of tension springs (9, 10) are provided. By using ei¬ nes holding frame (1) for different compression troughs (14 or 15 or 16) instead of the usual variety of than Unit consisting of holding frame and compression cavity running compression plates, the effort to perform a mammogram is reduced.

Claims

claims

1. Compression plate, in particular for a mammography device, with a compression recess (14 or 15 or 16) and a fork-like holding frame (1) with a receiving opening (2) for receiving the compression recess (14 or 15 or 16 ), characterized in that the Aufnahmeöff ^¬ tion (2) in their width (3) according to Kompressionsmul ^¬ the (14 or 15 or 16) is variable, each with different base surface dimensions.

2. compression plate according to claim 1, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that the holding frame (1) at least two the width

(3) contains frame parts defining the receiving opening (2), said frame parts being variable in their position relative to each other for varying the width (3) of the receiving opening (2).

3. compression plate according to claim 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that the frame parts for changing the relative position are mutually displaceable.

4. Compression plate according to claim 2 and / or 3, characterized in that the frame parts in the form of each ^¬ respective compression recess (14 or 15 or 16) receiving the holding arms (4, 5) are formed.

5. Compression plate according to at least one of claims 2- 4, characterized in that the holding frame (1) Mit¬ tel for pressing the frame parts to the respective compression trough (14 or 15 or 16).

6. compression plate according to claim 5, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that are provided as means for pressing the frame parts spring ^¬ elements, in particular compression springs (9, 10) or tension springs (19, 20).

7. compression plate according to at least one of claims 2- 6, characterized in that the holding frame means for movement coupling of the frame parts in the sense of a one-hand operability with a recording of the respective Kom ^¬ pressionsmulde (14 or 15 or 16).

8. compression plate according to claim 7, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that as means for movement coupling of the Rahmen¬ parts in the form of holding arms (21, 22) via a Um¬ guide roller (26) guided and connected to these holding arms (21, 22) , bending-elastic connecting means (25), in particular in the form of a wire rope (25) or a Fa ^¬ dens, is provided, wherein the holding arms (21, 22) by the movement coupling in opposite directions of movement (28, 29 or 30, 31) are movable.

9. compression plate according to at least one of claims 2- 8, characterized in that the holding frame (1) with ^¬ tel for positive engagement of the frame parts on predetermined, different widths (42) of the Aufnahmeöff¬ opening (41) corresponding positions.

10. Compression plate according to claim 9, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that as means for locking the frame parts in the form of holding arms (32, 33) formations, in particular locking recesses (37, 38), on the retaining arms (32, 33) and sen Shaped projections corresponding to, in particular in the form of resiliently mounted locking cams (35, 36) on a guide part (34) are provided.

11. Compression plate according to at least one of claims 1- 10, characterized in that the holding frame (1) is positively connected to the respective compression recess (14 or 15 or 16) connectable.

12. compression plate according to claim 11 characterized marked, that on the holding frame (1) or on the support arms

(4, 5) projections, in particular cams (28), are provided which in corresponding formations (29), in particular ^¬ dere holes (29), to the respective compression recess (14 or 15 or 16) are receivable.

13. Compression plate according to at least one of claims 2- 12, characterized in that the frame parts in adaptation to compression troughs (14 or 15 or 16) with different edge height together in height adjustable relative to a fastening means (11) are.

14. Mammography device with a compression plate according to at least one of the preceding claims 1-13.