Ultrasonic scanner for breast cancer examination
First Claim
1. Apparatus for ultrasonic breast examination of a patient positioned in an upright manner comprising:
- (a) an enclosure having a hole, said hole of appropriate size to fit a breast inserted horizontally therein;
(b) flexible means for storing fluid, said fluid-storage means being in communication with said enclosure;
(c) means for evacuating the upper portions of said enclosure, wherein said evacuation means is of sufficient suction to draw fluid to a level near the top of said enclosure when a breast is inserted into said hole; and
(d) ultrasonic scanning means for directing ultrasonic wave energy towards various locations in the breast.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasonic examination for carcinoma of the breast is accomplished rapidly and reliably by the method and apparatus disclosed herein. The apparatus is comprised of a compartment in which water is drawn upward, by suction, over the breast being examined, and in which an ultrasonic transducer revolves around the breast to obtain complete 360° scans. The patient can be seated in a comfortable position during the examination, and the total time required for examination in an asymptomatic case is estimated to be less than five minutes. The suction holds the breast in place, and there is no need for a membrane to cover the breast, thus improving the accuracy of the test. Various cross-sectional images of the breast may be generated by a conventional two-dimensional B-mode scanning technique.
97 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for ultrasonic breast examination of a patient positioned in an upright manner comprising:
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(a) an enclosure having a hole, said hole of appropriate size to fit a breast inserted horizontally therein; (b) flexible means for storing fluid, said fluid-storage means being in communication with said enclosure; (c) means for evacuating the upper portions of said enclosure, wherein said evacuation means is of sufficient suction to draw fluid to a level near the top of said enclosure when a breast is inserted into said hole; and (d) ultrasonic scanning means for directing ultrasonic wave energy towards various locations in the breast. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Ultrasonic scanning apparatus for breast examination of a patient positioned in an upright manner, comprising:
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(a) a water bath compartment having a hole of appropriate size to accommodate a breast; (b) a collapsible bag compartment, comprising a collapsible, water-tight bag, said bag opening into said water bath compartment, and wherein said collapsible bag compartment has at least one opening in the vicinity of the closed end of said bag; (c) evacuation pump means for applying suction to the upper portion of said water bath compartment, of sufficient force to pull water out of said bag and into the upper regions of said water bath compartment, and around said breast when said breast is inserted into said hole; and (d) an ultrasonic transducer mounted on a rotatable and slidable member, wherein said transducer may be positioned at various locations around said breast and within the water in said water bath compartment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of ultrasonic breast examination, comprising the steps of:
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(a) partially filling a compartment with water; (b) inserting a breast into a hole in said compartment; (c) applying suction from the top of said compartment of sufficient force to draw water over said breast and towards the top of said compartment; (d) directing ultrasonic wave energy towards the various points on said breast; and (e) detecting the ultrasonic waves reflected from said breast. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. Ultrasonic patient examining apparatus, comprising:
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(a) an fluid bath compartment having a hole through a sidewall thereof, said hole being capable of receiving a portion of said patient'"'"'s body for positioning said body portion within said fluid bath compartment while said patient is positioned in an upright manner; (b) ultrasonic scanning means for directing ultrasonic wave energy towards said positioned body portion within said fluid bath compartment; and (c) means for filling said fluid bath compartment with ultrasonic transmission fluid and for contributing to a fluid seal at said compartment hole, said filling means being capable of surrounding said positioned body portion and said ultrasonic scanning means with said fluid, said positioned body portion and said ultrasonic scanning means each being thereby in direct contact with said fluid. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification