Ultrasonic cellular tissue screening system

• US 7,556,603 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonocine, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonocine, Inc.
• Inventors: Royce, Roger, Kelly, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laryea; Lawrence N
• Application Number:
  US11/214,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/439, 600/437, 450/37, 450/57, 450/4.6, 450/23, 450/80, 450 14- 16
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/085 for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/145 characterised by scanning multiple planes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/406 using means for diagnosing suspended breasts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4218 characterised by articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors

Abstract

A system for screening breast tissue is disclosed. The system comprises an ultrasound probe and a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue. A pad is employed to cover the nipple of the breast tissue, and a fabric covering is adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue.

Claims

1. A system for screening breast tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound probe, wherein the probe is adapted to generate a series of cross-sectional images of the breast tissue;

a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue;

a pad to cover the nipple of the breast tissue, wherein the pad appears in the series of cross-sectional images to identify the nipple as a reference point; and

a fabric covering adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric covering is capable of absorbing an ultrasonic coupling agent.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric covering includes a chain stitched seam.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric covering transmits ultrasonic energy with minimal interference.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad comprises a solid gel material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad is ultrasonically conductive.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad has different ultrasonic characteristics than breast tissue.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad is lenticular-shaped.

9. A system for screening breast tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue;

a pad to cover the nipple of the breast tissue; and

a fabric covering adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue, wherein the fabric covering is pre-impregnated with the ultrasonic coupling agent.

10. A system for screening breast tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue;

a pad to cover the nipple of the breast tissue; and

a fabric covering adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue, wherein the fabric covering provides a pattern that can be used by an optical movement sensor.

11. A system for screening breast tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue to enable the probe to generate a series of cross-sectional images of the breast tissue;

a pad to cover the nipple of the breast tissue, the pad having different ultrasonic characteristics than breast tissue and appearing in the images to identify the nipple as a reference point; and

a fabric covering adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pad comprises a solid gel material.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the pad is ultrasonically conductive.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the pad is lenticular-shaped.

15. A system for screening breast tissue, comprising:

an ultrasound probe;

a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue to enable the probe to generate a series of cross-sectional images of the breast tissue;

a pad to cover the nipple of the breast tissue; and

a fabric covering adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue, wherein the fabric covering is pre-impregnated with ultrasonic coupling agent and transmits ultrasonic energy with minimal interference.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the fabric covering is capable of absorbing an ultrasonic coupling agent.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the fabric covering provides a pattern that can be used by an optical movement sensor.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the fabric covering includes a chain stitched seam.