Ultrasonic cellular tissue screening system

• US 20060036173A1
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonocine, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonocine, Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Kevin M., Royce, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 7,556,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/085 for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/145 characterised by scanning multiple planes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/406 using means for diagnosing suspended breasts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4218 characterised by articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors

Abstract

Ultrasonic scanning and diagnostics for cellular tissue are disclosed. An ultrasonic probe is moved across cellular tissue at a rate that is synchronized with the image capture rate of the ultrasonic scanner, to achieve a contiguous and complete set of scan images of the tissue. The probe can be held in a single position as it is moved across the tissue, or it can be dynamically adjusted during the scan to provide optimal contact with the scanned tissue. The image data are captured and converted to a format that is easily stored and compatible with a viewer. The viewer allows playback of the scanned images in a manner that is optimized for screening for cancers and other anomalies. A location function allows the user to select a point of interest on an individual scan image, and choose another known reference point, and the function calculates and provides the distance from the reference point to the point of interest in three dimensions. The system can be used for virtually any tissue, but can also be optimized for breast cancer screening. A pad of different density may be placed over the nipple to provide a reference point that is visible in the scan images. The breast may be covered with a fabric that is constructed in such a manner to hold the breast in place and reduce ultrasonic scanning errors, as well as holding the pad in place. The location function described above will use the nipple pad as a reference point from which to measure any detected cancers or other anomalies.

Claims

1. A system for screening breast tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue;

a pad to cover the nipple of the breast tissue; and

a fabric covering adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the probe is adapted to generate a series of cross-sectional images of the breast tissue and the pad appears in the images to identify the nipple as a reference point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric covering is capable of absorbing an ultrasonic coupling agent.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric covering is pre-impregnated with the ultrasonic coupling agent.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric covering provides a pattern that can be used by an optical movement sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric covering includes a chain stitched seam.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric covering transmits ultrasonic energy with minimal interference.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad comprises a solid gel material.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad is ultrasonically conductive.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad has different ultrasonic characteristics than breast tissue.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad is lenticular-shaped.

12. A system for screening breast tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue to enable the probe to generate a series of cross-sectional images of the breast tissue;

a pad to cover the nipple of the breast tissue, the pad having different ultrasonic characteristics than breast tissue and appearing in the images to identify the nipple as a reference point; and

a fabric covering adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the pad comprises a solid gel material.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the pad is ultrasonically conductive.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the pad is lenticular-shaped.

16. A system for screening breast tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue to enable the probe to generate a series of cross-sectional images of the breast tissue;

a pad to cover the nipple of the breast tissue; and

a fabric covering adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue, wherein the fabric covering transmits ultrasonic energy with minimal interference.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the fabric covering is capable of absorbing an ultrasonic coupling agent.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the fabric covering is pre-impregnated with the ultrasonic coupling agent.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the fabric covering provides a pattern that can be used by an optical movement sensor.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the fabric covering includes a chain stitched seam.