Support bra for ultrasonic breast scanner
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A receptacle for supporting a breast during ultrasonic scanning comprising:
- a contoured cup made of material that is substantially transparent to acoustical energy and having an open end into which the breast may be inserted and a narrowed end configured to receive the nipple of the breast; and
spaced-apart elongated members, each made of material that is not substantially transparent to acoustical energy and each being mechanically coupled to the cup.
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Abstract
A receptacle for supporting a breast during ultrasonic scanning. The receptacle may include a contoured cup made of material that is substantially transparent to acoustical energy and have an open end into which the breast may be inserted and a narrowed end to receive a nipple of the breast. The receptacle may include spaced-apart elongated members, each made of material that is not substantially transparent to acoustical energy and each being mechanically coupled to the open end and to the narrow end of the cup. A fluid pump, impedance matching and a contoured tabletop are also disclosed.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A receptacle for supporting a breast during ultrasonic scanning comprising:
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a contoured cup made of material that is substantially transparent to acoustical energy and having an open end into which the breast may be inserted and a narrowed end configured to receive the nipple of the breast; and
spaced-apart elongated members, each made of material that is not substantially transparent to acoustical energy and each being mechanically coupled to the cup. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 2. The receptacle of claim 2 wherein at least some of the elongated members are substantially straight.
- 16. A receptacle for supporting a breast during ultrasonic scanning comprising a contoured cup configured to snuggly fit over the breast without stretching significantly and being made of a material that does not leak fluid and is substantially transparent to acoustical energy.
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21. A receptacle for insertion through an opening in an ultrasonic scanner and for supporting a breast during scanning comprising:
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a contoured cup made of material that is substantially transparent to acoustical energy and having an open end into which the breast may be inserted and a narrowed end configured to receive the nipple of the breast; and
an annular ring mechanically coupled to the open end of the cup and configured to releasably engage the opening in the ultrasonic scanner. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An ultrasonic scanner for scanning a breast comprising:
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a rotatable mechanism configured to rotate around the breast;
at least one ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the rotatable mechanism; and
a pump configured to cause fluid to flow across the surface of the breast or the surface of a contoured cup in which the breast is inserted as the rotatable mechanism rotates from approximately the portion of the breast or cup that is closest to the chest to approximately the nipple of the breast or portion of the cup that surrounds it. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An ultrasonic scanner for scanning a breast comprising:
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a rotatable chamber configured to rotate around the breast;
at least one ultrasonic transducer mechanically coupled to the rotatable mechanism and having an acoustic impedance;
fluid within the rotatable chamber having an acoustic impedance substantially the same as the ultrasonic transducer;
a contoured cup configured to contain the breast and having an acoustic impedance substantially the same as the ultrasonic transducer; and
gel on the inside of the cup having an acoustic impedance substantially the same as the ultrasonic transducer.
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28. An ultrasonic scanner having a tabletop, an opening in the tabletop configured to accommodate a breast, and a contoured surface surrounding the opening configured to substantially match the curvature of portions of the chest of a patient.
Specification