Methods and apparatus for performing ultrasound and enhanced X-ray imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for imaging biological tissue, comprising:
- a table having a radiolucent and sonolucent window on which biological tissue may be positioned;
an X-ray source movably disposed above the table that emits X-ray radiation;
an X-ray detector movably disposed beneath the window to receive X-ray radiation emitted by the X-ray source that passes through the biological tissue, wherein the X-ray detector is synchronously movable with the X-ray source relative to the window to facilitate generating X-ray data to form an X-ray image;
an ultrasonic transducer positioned adjacent the X-ray detector and acoustically coupled to the window, the ultrasonic transducer generating an ultrasound image of the biological tissue; and
a drive assembly for moving the ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path beneath the window while the biological tissue remains immobilized on the table, so that the ultrasonic transducer generates a plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue that are in registration with the X-ray image.
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Abstract
Apparatus is provided that combines radiography equipment with an ultrasonic transducer to generate ultrasonic images of the internal structure of biological tissue that are in registration with an X-ray image. The apparatus includes an examination table having a radiolucent and sonolucent window for imaging the biological tissue with an ultrasound and X-ray subsystems without moving the patient. In alternative embodiments, the ultrasound transducer may be an annular array transducer mounted on a moveable or a linear array of ultrasonic transducing elements. The X-ray images are preferably generated digitally using a line X-ray source and detector.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for imaging biological tissue, comprising:
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a table having a radiolucent and sonolucent window on which biological tissue may be positioned; an X-ray source movably disposed above the table that emits X-ray radiation; an X-ray detector movably disposed beneath the window to receive X-ray radiation emitted by the X-ray source that passes through the biological tissue, wherein the X-ray detector is synchronously movable with the X-ray source relative to the window to facilitate generating X-ray data to form an X-ray image; an ultrasonic transducer positioned adjacent the X-ray detector and acoustically coupled to the window, the ultrasonic transducer generating an ultrasound image of the biological tissue; and a drive assembly for moving the ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path beneath the window while the biological tissue remains immobilized on the table, so that the ultrasonic transducer generates a plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue that are in registration with the X-ray image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20)
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4. An apparatus for imaging biological tissue, comprising:
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a table having a radiolucent and sonolucent window on which biological tissue may be positioned; an X-ray source disposed above the table that emits X-ray radiation; an X-ray detector disposed beneath the window to receive X-ray radiation emitted by the X-ray source that passes through the biological tissue, the X-ray detector generating X-ray data to form an X-ray image; an ultrasonic transducer positioned adjacent the X-ray detector on a movable support and acoustically coupled to the window, wherein the moveable support undergoes relative motion with respect to the biological tissue to facilitate the ultrasonic transducer generating an ultrasound image of the biological tissue; and drive assembly for moving the ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path beneath the window while the biological tissue remains immobilized on the table, so that the ultrasonic transducer generates a plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue that are in registration with the X-ray image.
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11. Apparatus for imaging biological tissue, comprising:
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a table having a plurality of patient support sections and a scanning section; and an X-ray source disposed above the table that emits X-ray radiation; wherein the scanning section includes; a radiolucent and sonolucent window on which biological tissue may be positioned, the scanning section housing including; an X-ray detector movably disposed beneath the window to receive X-ray radiation emitted by the X-ray source that passes through the biological tissue, wherein the X-ray detector is synchronously with the X-ray source relative to the window to facilitate generating X-ray data to form an X-ray image; an ultrasonic transducer positioned adjacent the X-ray detector and acoustically coupled to the window, the ultrasonic transducer generating an ultrasound image of the biological tissue; and a drive assembly for moving the ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path beneath the window while the biological tissue remains immobilized on the table, so that the ultrasonic transducer generates a plurality of ultrasound images of he biological tissue that are in registration with the X-ray image. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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14. Apparatus for imaging biological tissue, comprising:
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a table having a plurality of patient support sections and a scanning section; and an X-ray source disposed above the table that emits X-ray radiation; wherein the scanning section includes; a radiolucent and sonolucent window on which biological tissue may be positioned, the scanning section housing including; an X-ray detector disposed beneath the window to receive X-ray radiation emitted by the X-ray source that passes through the biological tissue, the X-ray detector generating X-ray data to form an X-ray image; an ultrasonic transducer positioned adjacent the X-ray detector on a moveable support on a moveable support and acoustically coupled to the window, the ultrasonic transducer generating an ultrasound image of the biological tissue upon relative motion of the moveable support with respect to the biological tissue upon relative motion of the moveable support with respect to the biological tissue; and a drive assembly for moving the ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path beneath the window while the biological tissue remains immobilized on the table, so that the ultrasonic transducer generates a plurality of ultrasound images of he biological tissue that are in registration with the X-ray image.
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21. A method for imaging biological tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing a table having a radiolucent and sonolucent window on which biological tissue may be positioned; generating X-ray data to form an X-ray image by moving an X-ray detector synchronously with an X-ray source; and moving an ultrasonic transducer through a predetermined path beneath the window while the biological tissue remains immobilized on the table, so that the ultrasonic transducer generates a plurality of ultrasound images of the biological tissue that are in registration with the X-ray image.
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Specification