Mammograph provided with an improved needle carrier
First Claim
1. A mammograph comprising:
- means for holding a breast of a patient between an X-ray tube and a device for taking X-ray exposures;
means for taking stereographic exposures of the breast;
biopsy or surgical guidance means for acting on the breast at a determined location;
said biopsy or surgical guidance means including a needle carrier which is displaceable relative to the breast;
said needle carrier including a needle whose tip is displaceable along a selected length between a retracted position and an inserted position; and
stereotaxic means associated with the above three means to calculate the position of a determined location at which action is to be taken;
wherein the mammograph includes;
pointing means for enabling the needle carrier to be pointable towards an isocenter situated at the determined location;
said pointing means including a circular arc itself carried by a rotary shaft to provide two degrees of freedom in pointing the needle wherein the circular arc has a center of curvature which lies on the axis of the shaft carrying the circular arc.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
To enable a biopsy needle to be inserted into a breast under examination on a mammograph, a crank handle-shaped structure is provided which is vertically supported by a shaft and which carries a needle carrier on its handle portion, the vertical axis of rotation passing through a tumor whose position within the breast has been calculated. It is shown that the insertion distance of the needle can be predetermined and that under these conditions a variety of ways of reaching the tumor are made available by rotating the crank-handle shape about its axis. The insertion direction can be selected as a function of criteria applicable to the subsequent surgery and not solely as a function of the structure of the mammograph itself.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A mammograph comprising:
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means for holding a breast of a patient between an X-ray tube and a device for taking X-ray exposures; means for taking stereographic exposures of the breast; biopsy or surgical guidance means for acting on the breast at a determined location; said biopsy or surgical guidance means including a needle carrier which is displaceable relative to the breast; said needle carrier including a needle whose tip is displaceable along a selected length between a retracted position and an inserted position; and stereotaxic means associated with the above three means to calculate the position of a determined location at which action is to be taken; wherein the mammograph includes; pointing means for enabling the needle carrier to be pointable towards an isocenter situated at the determined location; said pointing means including a circular arc itself carried by a rotary shaft to provide two degrees of freedom in pointing the needle wherein the circular arc has a center of curvature which lies on the axis of the shaft carrying the circular arc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A mammograph comprising:
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a carrying plate and pad for compressing and holding a breast of a patient in a fixed position; stereography means for performing stereographic examination of the breast; stereotaxic measurement means for calculating in three dimensions a determined location within the breast where action is to be taken; a needle carrier displaceable in at least two directions; the needle carrier being fixed on a rotary shaft by means of a circular arc, whereby the circular arc has a center of curvature which lies on an axis of the rotary shaft for pointing the needle carrier towards an isocenter situated at the determined location; and a needle on the needle carrier extendable from a retracted position to the determined location. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A mammograph comprising:
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means for compressing and holding a breast of a patient in a fixed position; stereographic X-ray means for examining the breast; stereotaxic measurement means for calculating a determined location at which action is to be taken on the breast; a rotary shaft having an axis; a circular arc on the rotary shaft, whereby the circular arc has a center of curvature which lies on the axis of the rotary shaft; a needle carrier pointable along the circular arc towards an isocenter situated at the determined location; and a needle on the needle carrier extendable from a retracted position to the determined location. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification