Method and apparatus for optical imaging

• US 20040092826A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Softscan Healthcare Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Dorsky Worldwide Corp.
• Inventors: Pilon, Christian, Gagnon, Mario, Orban, Benoit, Marin, Peter, Corbeil, Luc
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0435 with means for imaging suspended breasts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/14 Fixators for body parts, e.g. skull clamps; Constructional details of fixators, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/17 for soft tissue, e.g. breast-holding devices

Abstract

An apparatus for optical imaging of a breast is described, the apparatus comprising: a supporting platform for positioning a patient in a face down prone position, the platform having a cavity for the breast to be pendantly suspended therethrough; a flexible fluid-filled receptacle below the cavity holding an optical matching fluid for the optical imaging, wherein the breast is immersed in the fluid during the optical imaging; a supporting mechanism surrounding a perimeter of the receptacle for supporting the receptacle within the cavity and preventing it from falling through the cavity when holding the optical matching fluid; and a source and detector coupling device for orienting source and detector ports with respect to the receptacle and for contacting the receptacle to obtain a desired geometry of the breast and the optical matching fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for optical imaging of a breast, the apparatus comprising:

a supporting platform for positioning a patient in a face down prone position, the platform having a cavity for said breast to be pendantly suspended therethrough;

a flexible fluid-filled receptacle below said cavity holding an optical matching fluid for said optical imaging, wherein the breast is immersed in said fluid during said optical imaging;

a supporting mechanism surrounding a perimeter of said receptacle for supporting said receptacle within said cavity and preventing it from falling through said cavity when holding said optical matching fluid; and

a source and detector coupling device for orienting source and detector ports with respect to said receptacle and for contacting said receptacle to obtain a desired geometry of said breast and said optical matching fluid.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said source and detector coupling device comprises a pair of plates that come into contact with said receptacle and form a parallelepiped with said receptacle, breast, and optical matching fluid.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plates are substantially flat and parallel.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said source and detector ports are on opposite plates.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plates can move upwards, downwards, and rotate about a substantially vertical axis.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible fluid-filled receptacle comprises a valve in a bottom wall for filling and emptying of said optical matching fluid.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting mechanism comprises a rigid rim and said supporting platform comprises an area surrounding said cavity for receiving said rigid rim.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rigid rim is formed in one piece and is inserted into a fold around said perimeter of said receptacle.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible fluid-filled receptacle is made of an elastomeric silicone.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said flexible fluid-filled receptacle comprises a first flared sealing flap projecting upwards from said perimeter and located above said supporting mechanism such that said flap is flattened between said patient and said supporting platform in order to seal said optical matching fluid in said receptacle.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said flexible fluid-filled receptacle comprises a second supple sealing flap projecting downwards from said perimeter and located below said supporting mechanism such that said flap is flattened between said breast and an inner wall of said receptacle in order to seal said optical matching fluid in said receptacle.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible fluid-filled receptacle is elongated in shape such that an axilla region adjacent to said breast is also submerged in said optical matching fluid.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said shape is a pear-shape such that said axilla region resides in a narrower portion of said receptacle and said breast resides in a larger portion of said receptacle.

14. A method for supporting a breast for optical imaging, the method comprising:

providing a supporting platform to position a patient in a face down position, the platform having a cavity for said breast to be pendantly suspended therethrough;

suspending a flexible fluid-filled receptacle through said cavity to hold an optical matching fluid for said optical imaging;

positioning said patient on said platform and immersing said breast in said optical matching fluid;

orienting source and detector ports with respect to said receptacle and contacting said receptacle to obtain a desired geometry of said breast and optical matching fluid for said optical imaging.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said orienting comprises providing said source and detector ports on an outer surface of a pair of parallel plates, said plates contacting said receptacle to obtain a parallelepiped geometry of said breast and optical matching fluid.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said orienting comprises providing said source and detector ports on opposite plates.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising one of filling and emptying said flexible receptacle via a valve provided on a bottom wall of said receptacle.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said filling and emptying comprises lowering and raising a fluid-filled bag connected to said receptacle via said valve such that liquid enters said receptacle when said bag is lowered and exits said receptacle when said bag is raised.

19. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said immersing comprises immersing an axilla region adjacent to said breast into said optical matching fluid such that breast tissue from said axilla region is also imaged.

20. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said suspending comprises providing a rigid rim around a perimeter of said receptacle and providing an area surrounding said cavity in said supporting platform for receiving said solid rim.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said immersing comprises sealing said optical matching fluid into said receptacle by providing a first sealing flap projecting upwards from said perimeter and located above said rim such that said flap is flattened between said patient and said supporting platform in order to seal said optical matching fluid in said receptacle.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said sealing further comprises providing a second sealing flap projecting downwards from said perimeter and located below said rim such that said flap is flattened between said breast and an inner wall of said receptacle in order to seal said optical matching fluid in said receptacle.

23. A receptacle for use in optical imaging of a breast wherein a patient is lying face down on a supporting platform having a cavity for said breast to be suspended therethrough, and the receptacle is filled with an optical matching fluid for immersing, the receptacle comprising:

a membrane defining an enclosed space with a substantially pear-shaped opening having a larger portion for receiving the breast and a narrower portion for receiving an axilla region adjacent to said breast.

24. A receptacle as claimed in claim 23, wherein said membrane is made from an elastomeric material.

25. A receptacle as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a first flared sealing flap projecting upwards from said opening around a perimeter such that said flap is flattened between said patient and said supporting platform in order to seal said optical matching fluid in said receptacle.

26. A receptacle as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a second supple sealing flap projecting downwards from said opening around said perimeter such that said flap is flattened between said breast and an inner wall of said receptacle in order to seal said optical matching fluid in said receptacle.

27. A receptacle as claimed in claim 23, wherein said receptacle comprises a fold around said perimeter and adjacent to said opening for receiving a hollow rigid rim used as a supporting mechanism to prevent said receptacle from falling through said cavity when holding said optical matching fluid.

28. A receptacle for use in optical imaging of a breast wherein a patient is lying face down on a supporting platform having a cavity for said breast to be suspended therethrough, and the receptacle is filled with an optical matching fluid for immersing, the receptacle comprising:

a membrane defining an enclosed space with an opening; and

a first flared sealing flap projecting upwards from said opening around a perimeter such that said flap is flattened between said patient and said supporting platform in order to seal said optical matching fluid in said receptacle.

29. A receptacle as claimed in claim 28, further comprising a second supple sealing flap projecting downwards from said opening around said perimeter such that said flap is flattened between said breast and an inner wall of said receptacle in order to seal said optical matching fluid in said receptacle.

30. A receptacle as claimed in claim 28, wherein said receptacle is made from an elastomeric material.

31. A receptacle as claimed in claim 28, wherein said receptacle comprises a fold around said perimeter and adjacent to said opening for receiving a hollow rigid rim used as a supporting mechanism to prevent said receptacle from falling through said cavity when holding said optical matching fluid.

32. A receptacle as claimed in claim 28, wherein said opening has a substantially pear-shaped configuration, such that a larger portion is for receiving said breast and a narrower portion is for receiving an axilla region adjacent to said breast