Integral gamma-ray camera and compression member
First Claim
1. An imaging apparatus for imaging an object, whereby the object is a human body part or a small animal, the imaging apparatus comprising:
- a gamma-ray camera disposed to press against the object;
a compression member disposed to press against the object and to compress the object between the gamma-ray camera and said compression member, wherein said compression member is a compression plate or a second gamma-ray camera;
and an attachment mechanism for attaching said gamma-ray camera to a mammography machine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for examining the breast for suspicious lesions. The apparatus includes a gamma-ray camera and an attachment mechanism for incorporating the gamma-ray camera as part of the breast compression fixture. The gamma-ray camera is both part of the breast compression fixture and a gamma-ray imaging system for providing an image of radiotracer distribution in the breast. The apparatus for incorporating the gamma-ray camera into the breast compression fixture assures minimum distance between the lesion in the compressed breast tissue and the gamma-ray camera. All unnecessary materials are removed from between the compressed breast and the gamma-ray camera. The apparatus also allows for positioning of the breast in different manners between the imaging sessions to obtain multiple projection views of the breast and to view the lesion with the least separation from the detector. The small camera when positioned directly against the breast allows for breast imaging without the remainder of the body in the background. The apparatus allows for the alignment of the breast and the gamma camera head in a fixed position during each imaging session. Typical views of the breast taken with the apparatus are similar to those used in mammographic projections. The attachment mechanism includes an electrical connector matching a mating connector on the mammography machine in order to enable the compression mechanism.
102 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An imaging apparatus for imaging an object, whereby the object is a human body part or a small animal, the imaging apparatus comprising:
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a gamma-ray camera disposed to press against the object;
a compression member disposed to press against the object and to compress the object between the gamma-ray camera and said compression member, wherein said compression member is a compression plate or a second gamma-ray camera;
and an attachment mechanism for attaching said gamma-ray camera to a mammography machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
said attachment mechanism attaches said imaging head to a cassette holder of said mammography machine.
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3. The imaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein:
said attachment mechanism is detachable from said cassette holder.
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4. The imaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein:
said attachment mechanism has a slide and rails for attaching to the cassette holder.
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5. The imaging apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:
an electrical connector matching a mating connector on the mammography machine in order to enable compression.
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6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
said attachment mechanism attaches said imaging head to a compression member of said mammography machine.
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7. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
said gamma-ray camera is used for acquisition of radio tracer images of a lesion in a breast.
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8. The imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
a pad is disposed on said imaging head for contact with said object.
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9. The imaging apparatus of claim 8, wherein:
said pad is a sheet of material between approximately 2 and approximately 5 millimeters thick.
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10. An imaging apparatus for imaging a breast, the imaging apparatus comprising:
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a gamma-ray camera disposed to press against said breast in order to acquire radio tracer images of a lesion in said breast and an attachment mechanism for attaching said gamma-ray camera to a mammography machine. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
a pad is disposed between said breast and said gamma-ray camera.
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12. The imaging apparatus of claim 11, wherein:
said gamma-ray camera has a surface disposed to support said breast against the force of gravity.
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13. The imaging apparatus of claim 11, wherein:
said attachment mechanism attaches said gamma-ray camera to a cassette holder of said mammography machine.
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14. The imaging apparatus of claim 13, wherein:
said attachment mechanism is detachable from said cassette holder.
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15. The imaging apparatus of claim 14, wherein:
said attachment mechanism has a slide and rails for attaching to the cassette holder.
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16. The imaging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:
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a first compression member disposed to directly press against said breast, wherein said breast is compressed between the first compression member and said gamma-ray camera, and wherein the first compression member includes a second gamma-ray camera.
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17. The imaging apparatus of claim 15 wherein the gamma-ray camera and the first compression member are used to exert forces of substantially equal magnitude in opposite direction against said breast as to compress said breast.
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19. The method for imaging a body part of claim 16, wherein:
said gamma-ray camera is used for acquisition of radio tracer images of a lesion in a breast.
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18. A method for imaging a body part, comprising the steps of:
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attaching a gamma-ray camera to a cassette holder of a mammography machine using an attachment mechanism;
compressing a body part between said gamma-ray camera and a compression member; and
obtaining multiple projection views of said body part by repositioning said body part between said gamma-ray camera and said compression member between imaging sessions corresponding to each of said views.
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Specification