Dedicated apparatus and method emission mammography
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for examining a body part comprising the steps of:
- immobilizing the body part in a preferred position such that the body part is compressed; and
obtaining stereotactic physiological images of the body part.
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Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus for examining a body part. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for immobilizing and compressing the body part. The apparatus also comprises a mechanism for providing an internal anatomical image of the body part and a mechanism for detecting single gamma-rays emitted by a radiotracer infiltrated into the body part. The detecting mechanism is disposed in an adjacent relationship with the mechanism for providing an internal anatomic image so that the body part remains in the same position during and between anatomic and radiotracer imaging. In one embodiment, the detecting mechanism includes a detector module disposed on one side of the immobilizing mechanism. The detector module preferably has at least one array of gamma ray sensitive material in communication with a position detector. In another embodiment, the detecting mechanism includes a pair of detector modules disposed one on each side of the immobilizing mechanism. The present invention is also an apparatus for examining a body part which comprises a mechanism for immobilizing and compressing the body part and a mechanism for providing a stereotactic internal anatomical image of the body part. The apparatus also comprises a mechanism for providing a stereotactic physiological image of the body part in an adjacent relationship with the mechanism for providing an internal anatomic image such that the body part remains in the same position during and between stereotactic anatomic and radiotracer imaging.
70 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for examining a body part comprising the steps of:
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immobilizing the body part in a preferred position such that the body part is compressed; and
obtaining stereotactic physiological images of the body part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for examining a body part comprising:
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a body part compressor;
an anatomical imager; and
a radiotracer imager including a gamma-ray detector for detecting single gamma-rays emitted by a radiotracer infiltrated into the body part in an adjacent relationship with the internal anatomic imager such that the body part remains immobilized during and between anatomic imaging and radiotracer imaging. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 28)
using the apparatus as described in claim 8 to compress and to obtain an image of a body part or portion thereof that has been removed from the body.
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15. An apparatus for examining a body part comprising:
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a body part compressor;
a stereotactic internal anatomical imager; and
a stereotactic physiological imager in an adjacent relationship with the internal anatomical imager such that the body part remains immobilized during and between anatomic imaging and physiological imaging. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for examining a body part comprising:
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a body part compressor; and
a stereotactic physiological imager. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for examining a body part having a tumor defined by margins comprising the steps of:
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immobilizing and compressing the body part;
obtaining an internal anatomical image of the body part;
obtaining stereotactic physiological images of the body part; and
using the anatomical and physiological images to locate and delineate the margins of the tumor in the body part. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of obtaining anatomical and physiological images of the body part during removal of the tumor from the body part to confirm the absence of tumor in the body part after the removal of the tumor.
Specification