US 12,268,534 B2
Compression arm devices and methods
Kenneth Defreitas, Patterson, NY (US); and Alan Rego, Woodbury, CT (US)
Assigned to Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA (US)
Filed by Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/402,915.
Application 18/402,915 is a continuation of application No. 17/732,834, filed on Apr. 29, 2022, granted, now 11,890,120.
Application 17/732,834 is a continuation of application No. 16/981,350, granted, now 11,350,891, issued on Jun. 7, 2022, previously published as PCT/US2019/033559, filed on May 22, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/676,522, filed on May 25, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0197269 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 6/00 (2024.01); A61B 6/04 (2006.01); A61B 6/50 (2024.01)
CPC A61B 6/0414 (2013.01) [A61B 6/502 (2013.01); A61B 6/0435 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An imaging system comprising:
a rotatable x-ray tube assembly; and
a rotatable arm assembly comprising:
an immobilization device and a receptor housing, the immobilization device and the receptor housing configured to immobilize a patient's breast therebetween; and
a drive assembly comprising:
a slide rail stage supporting the immobilization device and configured to move at least partially along the rotatable arm assembly;
a motor configured to drive movement of the slide rail stage via a driving torque so as to position the immobilization device relative to the receptor housing;
at least one knob having at least one encoder coupled in communication with the motor, wherein based on rotation of the at least one knob, the position of the immobilization device via the motor is controlled; and
a clutch coupled to the at least one knob, wherein the clutch is configured to provide variable torque resistance on the at least one knob that is different than the driving torque of the immobilization device during movement.