Tele-diaphanography apparatus

• US 4,600,011 A
• Filed: 11/01/1983
• Issued: 07/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag, The University Court of the University of Aberdeen
• Original Assignee: The University Court of the University of Aberdeen
• Inventors: Watmough, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US06/547,500
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 128/664, 128/665, 128/396, 128/6
• US Class Current: 600/475
• 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 tele-diaphanography apparatus suitable for transilluminating human or animal tissues, which apparatus comprises a first housing including a source of light of wavelength from 300 Nm to 2000 Nm; means for directing light from the first light source onto the tissues to be examined by transillumination, and a heat-absorbing filter located in the path of the light from the light source; a second housing including a source of light of wavelength from 300 Nm to 2000 Nm, and means for directing the light from the second light source onto the tissues to be examined; a light detector for detecting the light transmitted through the transilluminated tissue being examined; a visual display unit for displaying the image detected by the light detector; and recording means for recording the image detected by the light detector.

Claims

1. A tele-diaphanography apparatus suitable for transilluminating human or animal tissues, which apparatus comprises a first source of light of wavelength from 300 Nm to 2000 Nm, a first housing in which said first light source is mounted, a first light exit aperture in said first housing, a first means for directing onto the tissue to be examined transillumination light which is emitted by said first source of light through said first light exit aperture, a heat absorbing filter for absorbing infra-red radiation, said filter being located in the path of the light from said first light source to the tissues to be examined;

a second source of light of wavelength from 300 Nm to 2000 Nm, a second housing in which said second light source is mounted, a second light exit aperture in said second housing, a second means for directing onto the tissues to be examined light which is emitted by said second source of light through said second exit aperture;

power supply means for controlling the first and second light sources;

means for connecting said first and second light sources to said power supply means;

a light detector for detecting the light emitted from said second light source and transmitted through the transilluminated tissue being examined, said light detector adapted to be positioned in use on the opposite side of the tissue from said second source of light;

a visual display unit connected to said light detector for displaying an image detected by said light detector; and

recording means for recording the image detected by said light detector.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light detector comprises a television camera including means sensitive to red and infra-red light.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising connecting means including an alpha-numeric generator and associated keyboard, by which said recording means and said visual display unit are connected to said light detector, said connecting means enabling data relating to the image being viewed and recorded to be transferred to and displayed on said visual display unit.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pseudo-color generator connected to said light detector for generating according to a chosen color scale a pseudo-colored image from the image recorded by said light detector.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means for directing includes selectively different filters so as to produce various images from light of different spectral composition, and said apparatus further includes a computer means for storing the images made with said different filters, said computer means being adapted to produce a processed image by means of the addition, subtraction, ratio or other comparison of said images.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said filters are bandpass filters.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said filters are step filters.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recording means is a video-recorder.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second means for directing each include a respective means, including a lens and a variable diaphragm, for assisting in obtaining optimal resolution of the image to be recorded, the light from the respective said light source being directable through the respective said means for assisting.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second housings each include a respective fan for drawing air through the respective said housing thereby to cool the respective said housing.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second housings are each connected by a respective flexible conduit to a fan which draws air through the respective said conduit and the respective said housing thereby to cool the respective said housing.

12. A tele-diaphanography apparatus suitable for transilluminating human or animal tissues, which apparatus comprises a source of light of wavelength from 300 Nm to 2000 Nm;

a housing in which said light source is mounted;

a light exit aperture in said housing;

a first means, which is engageable with said housing, for directing onto the tissue to be examined transillumination light which is emitted by said light source through said light exit aperture;

a heat absorbing filter for absorbing infra-red radiation, said filter being mounted in said first means for directing so that when said first means for directing is engaged with said housing said filter is located in the path of the light from said light source to the tissues to be examined;

a second means, which is engageable with said housing, for directing onto the tissues to be examined transillumination light which is emitted by said light source through said light exit aperture, said first and second means for directing being selectively alternatively engageable with said housing so that light from said light source can be directed through either said first or said second means for directing as desired, power supply means for controlling said light source;

means for connecting said light source to said power supply means, a light detector for detecting the light which is emitted from said light source, directed through said second means for directing and transmitted through the transilluminated tissue adapted to be examined, said light detector being positioned in use on the opposite side of the tissue from said light source;

a visual display unit connected to said light detector for displaying an image detected by said light detector; and

recording means for recording the image detected by said light detector.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second means for directing includes selectively different filters so as to produce various images from light of different spectral composition, and said apparatus further includes a computer means for storing the images made with the different filters, said computer means being adapted to produce a processed image by means of the addition, subtraction, ratio or other comparison of said images.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said filters are bandpass filters.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said filters are step filters.

16. an apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first and second means for directing each include a respective means, including a lens and a variable diaphragm, for assisting in obtaining optimal resolution of the image to be recorded, the light from said light source beign directable through the respective said means for assisting.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said housing includes a fan for drawing air through said housing thereby to cool said housing.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said housing is connected by a flexible conduit to a fan which draws air through said conduit and said housing thereby to cool said housing.