Device recording a thermo-optical image of the female breast
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for recording a thermooptical image of a female breast on a thermooptical foil comprising:
- a casing having a non-opaque side, said non-opaque side being positioned to face a location for the breast when the thermooptical image is recorded;
a thermooptical foil for producing a thermooptical image of the breast having at least first and second surfaces and being positioned between said casing and the location for the breast, said first surface of said thermooptical foil facing said non-opaque side of said casing, said second surface of said thermooptical foil being positioned to contact the breast;
a transparent cooling apparatus which can contact and cool said thermooptical foil to a constant temperature for a presettable amount of time when said thermooptical foil is in contact with the breast; and
a camera mounted to record from within said casing the thermooptical image of the foil against the breast at the end of the presettable amount of time.
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Abstract
Apparatus for recording a thermooptical image of the female breast with a casing, a thermooptical foil, a cooling box, a thermostat, an illuminating system, a digital camera, a clamping device, a contact producing device, a timing system and a release mechanism for automatic release of the digital camera.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for recording a thermooptical image of a female breast on a thermooptical foil comprising:
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a casing having a non-opaque side, said non-opaque side being positioned to face a location for the breast when the thermooptical image is recorded; a thermooptical foil for producing a thermooptical image of the breast having at least first and second surfaces and being positioned between said casing and the location for the breast, said first surface of said thermooptical foil facing said non-opaque side of said casing, said second surface of said thermooptical foil being positioned to contact the breast; a transparent cooling apparatus which can contact and cool said thermooptical foil to a constant temperature for a presettable amount of time when said thermooptical foil is in contact with the breast; and
a camera mounted to record from within said casing the thermooptical image of the foil against the breast at the end of the presettable amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for recording a thermooptical image of a female breast comprising:
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a casing having at least one opaque side and a non-opaque side, said non-opaque side being positioned to face a location for the breast when the image is recorded; a thermooptical foil for producing a thermooptical image of the breast having at least first and second surfaces and being positioned on a frame located between said casing and the location for the breast, said first surface of said thermooptical foil facing said non-opaque side of said casing, said second surface of said thermooptical foil being positioned to contact the breast; a cooling box mounted adjacent said first surface of said thermooptical foil for cooling said thermooptical foil to a standard temperature at a time when said thermooptical foil contacts the breast; a timer for measuring a presettable amount of time that passes after said thermooptical foil begins to be cooled by said cooling box; an illuminating system for illuminating said thermooptical foil within said casing; and a digital camera positioned to record the thermooptical image of the breast on said thermooptical foil from within said casing after the presettable amount of time passes. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for recording a thermooptical image of a female breast comprising:
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a casing having at least one opaque side and a non-opaque side, said non-opaque side being positioned to face a location for the breast when the image is recorded; a thermooptical foil for producing a thermooptical image of the breast having at least first and second surfaces and being positioned on a frame located between said casing and the location for the breast, said first surface of said thermooptical foil facing said non-opaque side of said casing, said second surface of said thermooptical foil being positioned to contact the breast; said frame having a relaxed position, a substantially quadrangular shape, first, second, third and fourth corners, and being springingly connected to said casing with one steel pin in each said corner of said frame, each said steel pin extending from said frame to said casing and having a spring, each said spring having an unloaded condition and an unloaded length and being inverted over said pin, each said spring extending from said frame to said casing wherein said spring assumes said unloaded length; when assuming said unloaded condition, said unloaded length of said spring being sufficient to maintain a spatial clearance between said cooling box and said thermooptical foil, compression of said springs permits said frame to assume a nonrelaxed position and further permits contact between said thermooptical foil and said cooling box; a clamping device for clamping the breast against said thermooptical foil, said clamping device having a pad for pressing the breast against said thermooptical foil and a mounting support for providing support for said pad and for providing pressure for said pad against said breast; a cooling box mounted adjacent said first surface of said thermooptical foil for cooling said thermooptical foil to a standard temperature at a time when said thermooptical foil contacts the breast; a cooling medium circuit for providing a cooling medium to effect cooling of said cooling box, said cooling medium circuit having a cooling medium inlet for supplying said cooling medium to said cooling box, a cooling medium outlet for removing said cooing medium from said cooling box, and a thermostat for measuring the amount of cooling performed by said cooling medium circuit, said thermostat being responsive to the temperature of said cooling medium; a timer for measuring a presettable amount of time that passes after said thermooptical foil begins to be cooled by said cooling box; an illuminating system for illuminating said thermooptical foil within said casing; and a digital camera positioned to record the thermooptical image of the breast on said thermooptical foil from within said casing after the presettable amount of time passes; and an antireflection disk positioned between said thermooptical foil and said digital camera.
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28. An apparatus for recording a thermooptical image of a female breast comprising:
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a casing having at least one opaque side and a non-opaque side, said non-opaque side being positioned to face a location for the breast when the image is recorded, said casing being positioned on a multi-articulation arm mounted on an instrument trolley to permit variable positioning of said casing with respect to said instrument trolley; a thermooptical foil for producing a thermooptical image of the breast having at least first and second surfaces and being positioned on a frame located between said casing and the location for the breast, said first surface of said thermooptical foil facing said non-opaque side of said casing, said second surface of said thermooptical foil being positioned to contact the breast; said frame having a relaxed position, a substantially quadrangular shape, first, second, third and fourth corners, and being springingly connected to said casing with one steel pin in each said corner of said frame, each said steel pin extending from said frame to said casing and having a spring, each said spring having an unloaded condition and an unloaded length and being inverted over said pin, each said spring extending from said frame to said casing wherein said spring assumes said unloaded length when assuming said unloaded condition, said unloaded length of said spring being sufficient to maintain a spacial clearance between said cooling box and said thermooptical foil, compression of said springs permits said frame to assume a nonrelaxed position and further permits contact between said thermooptical foil and said cooling box; a clamping device for clamping the breast against said thermooptical foil, said clamping device having a pad for pressing the breast against said thermooptical foil and a mounting support for providing support for said pad and for providing pressure for said pad against said breast; a cooling box mounted adjacent said first surface of said thermooptical foil for cooling said thermooptical foil to a standard temperature at a time when said thermooptical foil contacts the breast; a cooling medium circuit for providing a cooling medium to effect cooling of said cooling box, said cooling medium circuit having a cooling medium inlet for supplying said cooling medium to said cooling box, a cooling medium outlet for removing said cooing medium from said cooling box, and a thermostat for measuring the amount of cooling performed by said cooling medium circuit, said thermostat being responsive to the temperature of said cooling medium; a timer for measuring a presettable amount of time that passes after said thermooptical foil begins to be cooled by said cooling box; an illuminating system for illuminating said thermooptical foil within said casing; and a digital camera positioned to record the thermooptical image of the breast on said thermooptical foil from within said casing after the presettable amount of time passes; an antireflection disk positioned between said thermooptical foil and said digital camera; a monitor screen connected to said digital camera for monitoring images recorded with said digital camera; and a computer for operating said apparatus and for processing information collected with said digital camera.
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29. A method of recording a thermooptical image of a female breast on a thermooptical foil comprising:
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positioning the thermooptical foil against a breast; cooling the thermooptical foil to a constant temperature for a presettable amount of time while the thermooptical foil is against the breast; and recording a thermooptical image of the foil against the breast at the end of the presettable amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification