Methods and apparatus for performing sonomammography
First Claim
1. In apparatus for obtaining radiological images of biological tissue by passing X-ray radiation through a biological tissue to form an image in a receptor, the apparatus comprising an X-ray source for emitting X-ray radiation, an upper compression surface and a lower compression surface adapted for immobilizing the biological tissue therebetween, and a receptor disposed beneath the lower compression surface, the X-ray source disposed above the upper compression surface so that X-ray radiation emitted from the source passes through the biological tissue and is received by the receptor, the improvement comprising:
- a compression plate that is radiolucent and sonolucent, the compression plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface forming the upper compression surface;
an ultrasonic transducer disposed above the compression plate;
drive means for moving the ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path across the upper surface of the compression plate while the biological tissue remains immobilized between the upper and lower compression surfaces, so that the ultrasonic transducer generates a plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue that are in geometric registration with the image formed in the receptor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided that combines mammography equipment with an ultrasonic transducer to generate ultrasonic images of the internal structure of breast tissue that are in geometric registration with a mammogram. The apparatus includes a radiolucent and sonolucent compression plate, and in alternative embodiments, a gantry driven ultrasound transducer or a phased array ultrasonic transducer. Methods are also provided for generating a mammogram and a plurality of corresponding ultrasound images without moving the breast between the mammogram exposure and the ultrasound imaging.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. In apparatus for obtaining radiological images of biological tissue by passing X-ray radiation through a biological tissue to form an image in a receptor, the apparatus comprising an X-ray source for emitting X-ray radiation, an upper compression surface and a lower compression surface adapted for immobilizing the biological tissue therebetween, and a receptor disposed beneath the lower compression surface, the X-ray source disposed above the upper compression surface so that X-ray radiation emitted from the source passes through the biological tissue and is received by the receptor, the improvement comprising:
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a compression plate that is radiolucent and sonolucent, the compression plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface forming the upper compression surface; an ultrasonic transducer disposed above the compression plate; drive means for moving the ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path across the upper surface of the compression plate while the biological tissue remains immobilized between the upper and lower compression surfaces, so that the ultrasonic transducer generates a plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue that are in geometric registration with the image formed in the receptor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In apparatus for obtaining radiological images of biological tissue by passing X-ray radiation through a biological tissue to form an image in a receptor, the apparatus comprising an X-ray source for emitting X-ray radiation, an upper compression surface and a lower compression surface adapted for immobilizing the biological tissue therebetween, and a receptor disposed beneath the lower compression surface, the X-ray source disposed above the upper compression surface so that X-ray radiation emitted from the source passes through the biological tissue and is received by the receptor, the improvement comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer disposed beneath the lower compression surface and acoustically coupled thereto for transmitting acoustic energy to the biological tissue, the ultrasonic transducer being radiolucent; control circuitry for activating the ultrasonic transducer to generate a plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue while the biological tissue remains immobilized between the upper and lower compression surfaces, the plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue being in geometric registration with the image formed in the receptor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for generating a plurality of ultrasound images of a biological tissue, the apparatus for use with an X-ray system that forms an image of the biological tissue in a receptor, so that when the apparatus is used with the X-ray system the plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue are in geometric registration with the image formed in the receptor, the apparatus comprising:
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a compression plate that is radiolucent and sonolucent, the compression plate having first and second surfaces, the first surface forming a compression surface against which the biological tissue is immobilized; an ultrasonic transducer disposed adjacent the second surface; drive means for moving the ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path across the second surface while the biological tissue remains immobilized against the compression surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for generating a plurality of ultrasound images of a biological tissue, the apparatus for use with an X-ray system that forms an image of the biological tissue in a receptor, so that when the apparatus is used with the X-ray system the plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue are in geometric registration with the image formed in the receptor, the apparatus comprising:
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a compression surface against which the biological tissue is immobilized, the compression surface being radiolucent; an ultrasonic transducer disposed adjacent to the compression surface and acoustically coupled thereto for transmitting acoustic energy to the biological tissue; control circuitry for activating the ultrasonic transducer to generate a plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue while the biological tissue remains immobilized against the compression surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification