Transillumination diagnostic system

• US 4,286,602 A
• Filed: 06/20/1979
• Issued: 09/01/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Guy
• Original Assignee: Robert Guy
• Inventors: Guy, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): HOWELL, KYLE
• Application Number:
  US06/050,329
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 128/664, 128/665, 128/666, 128/23, 128/22, 354/126
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence

Abstract

A transillumination system for carrying out breast examination to determine the existence of a carcinoma and other pathological conditions. The system includes a portable light-beam projector in the form of a gun which houses a low-voltage, high wattage lamp whose reflector is sealed to the end of the gun barrel to project a light beam therethrough, the gun grip having a trigger-finger switch for the lamp. The gun operates in conjunction with a camera assembly formed by a tripod-mounted bracket having a camera secured to one end, the camera being trained on a guide fixture attached to the other end. The fixture is adapted to engage the rib cage of the patient just above the breast and to present the breast to the camera lens at a fixed location. The shutter mechanism of the camera is coupled to a remote actuator operable by one hand or foot of the operator. Thus an operator who holds the gun in his hand is able without assistance to orient the light beam relative to the patient'"'"'s breast and to activate the trigger finger switch to transilluminate and observe the internal structure of interest, the operator also being in a position to take a well-focused picture of the transilluminated breast without having to observe the image through the range finder of the camera.

Claims

1. A transillumination examination system operable by a single operator for observing a selected portion of the human anatomy, such as the breast, without imparting excessive heat thereto, and for taking pictures of internal regions therein of medical interest, said system comprising:

(A) a light-beam projecting gun having a barrel extending axially from a hollow body section and a grip extending laterally therefrom which is adapted to be held in one hand of the operator, said barrel having a front end and a rear end;

(B) a reflector-type incandescent lamp housed in said body section, the rim of the reflector being sealed to the rear end of the barrel to project light rays through the barrel into the anatomical portion to be transilluminated, the front end of the barrel being covered by a diffuser plate to provide a light beam whose intensity is substantially uniform throughout its cross section, the plate also preventing the flow of convection currents from the barrel which would otherwise tend to heat the anatomical portion, said grip being provided with a trigger-finger switch to activate said lamp;

(C) a power-supply connected to said lamp through said switch and including a timer to energize said lamp upon operation of said switch for a predetermined time interval whose duration is sufficient to carry out an examination procedure but not long enough to overheat the anatomical portion being transilluminated; and

(D) a camera assembly constituted by a bracket having at one end thereof a guide fixture adapted to engage the anatomical portion to be examined, and having at the other end thereof a camera whose lens is trained on said guide fixture and is focused on said anatomical portion, said camera having a shutter mechanism which is remotely operated by an actuator whereby the operator who grips the gun in one hand and operates said switch to produce the light beam for transilluminating said anatomical portion, can observe the transilluminated image created at the fixture and take a focused picture thereof by operating the actuator with his other hand or foot.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said anatomical portion is a breast and said guide fixture is a transparent plate whose edge engages the rib cage of the patient above the breast, the breast being pressed against the underside of the plate by the barrel of the gun.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lamp is a low-voltage, high-wattage lamp, and said power supply is operated from a standard high-voltage a-c line and includes a step-down transformer to provide a voltage of the appropriate level to the lamp.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said lamp is a quartz-halogen lamp.

5. A system as set forth in claim 3, further including an examination room light source and relay means associated with said timer to cut off said light source when said gun is activated.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said camera is adapted to take color photographs, and further including an optical filter in advance of said lens to enhance the response of the camera film to a transilluminated image whose light is predominantly non-actinic in nature.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1, further including an apertured mask received over the front end of the barrel and secured thereto to restrict the cross section of the beam.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bracket is mounted on the swivel head of a tripod whereby the assembly is adjustable in angle and height with respect to the anatomical portion under examination, and said actuator is installed on a hand grip attached to said bracket.