Apparatus and method for securing tissue during ultrasound examination and biopsy
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for securing biological tissue to an ultrasound scanning table having a compression surface, the ultrasound scanning table generating ultrasound images of the tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a membrane that is conformable and performable; and
a locking mechanism for engaging the thin, flexible, presterilized membrane to the compression surface to compress and immobilize the tissue between the membrane and the compression surface.
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Abstract
An ultrasound imaging and biopsy system is provided in which an upper compression member of the system includes a thin, flexible, sterile and disposable membrane that compresses the tissue and permits a biopsy instrument to be readily inserted therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, a table is provided that houses an ultrasound scanning system beneath a sonolucent window forming a lower compression surface. Methods of using the system to perform real-time image-guided biopsy of tissue disposed on the window are also provided.
186 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for securing biological tissue to an ultrasound scanning table having a compression surface, the ultrasound scanning table generating ultrasound images of the tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a membrane that is conformable and performable; and a locking mechanism for engaging the thin, flexible, presterilized membrane to the compression surface to compress and immobilize the tissue between the membrane and the compression surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. The apparatus for performing a biopsy of biological tissue guided by real-time ultrasound images, the apparatus comprising:
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a sonolucent compression surface against which the biological tissue is secured; a membrane that is conformable and performable; a locking mechanism for engaging the membrane to the compression surface to compress and immobilize the tissue between the membrane and the compression surface; an ultrasonic transducer disposed adjacent to, and acoustically coupled to, the compression surface; and
a work-station that controls activation of the ultrasonic transducer to generate and display ultrasound images of the biological tissue. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for securing biological tissue to a compression surface for ultrasound imaging and biopsy, the method comprising steps of:
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providing apparatus including an ultrasonic imaging table having a compression surface, a thin, flexible, presterilized membrane that is conformable and performable, and locking mechanism for engaging the membrane to the compression surface; disposing tissue on the compression surface; placing the membrane over the tissue; engaging the locking mechanism to pull the membrane taut to compress and immobilize the tissue between the membrane and the compression surface; and activating the ultrasonic imaging table to generate and display an ultrasound image of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification