systemHologicMammographyfamily: affirm

Hologic Affirm Upright Biopsy

Family: Hologic Affirm · Modality: Mammography

Hologic's stereotactic / tomosynthesis-guided breast biopsy add-on that converts a Selenia Dimensions or 3Dimensions mammography unit into an upright biopsy station. Unlike the prone-table Affirm Prone system — which is a dedicated patient-on-stomach gantry — Affirm Upright keeps the patient seated at the standard mammo gantry and adds a needle-guidance attachment, paddle set, and software stack to the existing imaging chain. Most Selenia Dimensions / 3Dimensions deployments offering biopsy use this configuration; the prone table is a parallel category typically chosen by high-volume breast-imaging programs.

Distinctive technology

  • Add-on, not standalone. Affirm Upright requires a host Selenia Dimensions or 3Dimensions gantry — the upright system is the biopsy software + paddle set + needle-guide hardware, not a separate cabinet.
  • Tomosynthesis-guided biopsy — uses the host system's 3D tomosynthesis acquisition for lesion targeting in addition to traditional stereotactic-pair geometry. Reduces non-targeted biopsies for tomosynthesis-only-visible lesions.
  • Affirm Lateral Arm option — extends needle-approach geometry for lesions near the chest wall.
  • Biopsy-paddle library — compression paddles dedicated to lesion access.
  • Workflow integration — biopsy data flows through the same Selenia / 3Dimensions acquisition workstation; no separate console.

Variants in family

  • Affirm Upright (this card) — add-on for Selenia Dimensions / 3Dimensions.
  • Affirm Prone — dedicated prone biopsy table (separate gantry).

Clinical use

  • Stereotactic breast biopsy — the canonical use case.
  • Tomosynthesis-guided biopsy for lesions identified on 3D mammography but not on 2D — significant fraction of biopsies in tomo-screening programs.
  • Paired with screening / diagnostic mammography in the same room — reduces equipment footprint vs. dedicated prone table.

Refurb posture

  • Refurb supply tracks Selenia Dimensions / 3Dimensions turnover — the upright system follows its host gantry through refurb.
  • License-tier on the host dictates whether tomo-guided biopsy is enabled.
  • Paddle / lateral-arm inventory is a check-list item for refurb — paddles are consumable-class and often missing on used units.
  • Service-network depth is meaningful for Hologic mammography globally.

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