Fischer Imaging Corporation

Other

Lunar Corporation

Bernard W Siczek

Aldona A Siczek

Michael A DePourbaix

Menachem Assa

Richard B Mazess

James G Deluhery

Roman W Siczek

Emre Toker

Mike M Tesic

Larry Fenske

Michael Assa

A motorized biopsy needle positioner employed in a mammographic needle biopsy system receives coordinate information representative of an identified point of interest within a patient's captive breast under examination and automatically positions a biopsy needle in accordance with that coordinate information to permit insertion of the biopsy needle to the identified point of interest. An offset mode of operation of the motorized biopsy needle positioner automatically positions the biopsy needle in accordance with coordinate information representative of an offset point within the patient's breast that is offset from the previously identified point of interest to permit insertion of the biopsy needle to that offset point. A manual mode of operation of the motorized biopsy needle positioner permits the user to actuate directional keys of a user control unit to position the biopsy needle in one or more directions, as specified by the actuated directional keys.

Mammographic biopsy apparatus

Positioning function mammographic biopsy function system with offset

Motorized mammographic biopsy apparatus

The disclosed system (10) employs an MRI device to identify the location of an area of interest within a patient's breast (28) and guide a medical instrument (26) for insertion to the identified location. The patient (30) is positioned on a table top (18) having an opening (52) through which the patient's breast (28) pendulantly projects. The pendulant breast (28) is immobilized by a basket (36). The table top (18) and patient (30) are then introduced into magnetic field generator (12) and MRI signals are received by receiver (14). The location of an area of interest within the patient's breast (28) is determined based on the received signals. A guidance assembly (24) can then be used to aim the medical instrument (26) towards the location of interest via a penetration path selected so as to avoid the receiver (14) and basket (36).

Magnetic resonance imaging device useful for guiding a medical instrument

An apparatus is disclosed for imaging a patient's breast (18) by scanning an imaging signal (58) and a receiver (30) across the patient's breast (18) and then constructing a time-delay integration composite image based on the scan. The receiver (30) includes an array of radiation sensitive detector elements (132). Read out of the array (132) is synchronized with the scanning motion of the receiver (30) based on output from position encoder (104) such that synchronization is maintained despite scan drive variances. A novel assembly (106) is also disclosed for allowing selection of an appropriate radiation filter based on particular imaging conditions.

Digital scan mammography apparatus

This invention relates to a bi-plane X-ray imaging medical system having two radiation axis with a common isocenter for simultaneous viewing of a targeted object in two planes for three dimensional orientation, these two radiation axes can be rotated about the isocenter, thus rotating these two planes individually or simultaneously and varying the angle between them for most advantageous imaging. And further, varying the angle allows for larger opening for access to the patient during a surgery or for loading/unloading the patient.

Bi-plane imaging device

Medical imaging machine

An apparatus (10) for use in performing medical procedures on a breast of a patient is disclosed. The apparatus (10) includes a frame assembly (12) for supporting the patient having an opening (22) therein through which the patient's breasts are permitted to protrude, an imaging system (18) for identifying any suspicious lesions within the patient's breasts, and a biopsy assembly (20) for use in performing a biopsy on the patient's breasts. The frame assembly (12) is tiltable from a vertical position to a non-vertical position to facilitate mammography and the mammographic biopsy procedure. In addition, the imaging system (18) and biopsy assembly (20) are moveable across the patient's chest from one breast to the other. The imaging system (18) is also rotatable and tiltable relative to the patient's breasts to obtain oblique views of the breasts.

Mammographic screening and biopsy apparatus

This invention relates to an orbital aiming device for aiming a puncturing instrument to a targeted object for use with a fluoro X-ray apparatus isocentric in at least one direction. The orbital aiming device in order to offer most advantages is isocentric about two rotational axes which point of intersection defines its isocenter and is disposed in relation to the fluoro X-ray apparatus so that its isocenter coincides with the isocenter of the X-ray apparatus. The device comprises an arm for supporting the puncturing instrument so that it aims to the isocenter, which arm is orbitaly moveable on arcuate rails for pivoting the puncturing instrument about the isocenter around one of the two rotational axes the arcuate rails are supported by a supporting means in a rotational relationship for pivoting the puncturing instrument about the isocenter around the second rotational axis. A patient lies on a moveable table top, which table top is moves so that a targeted object within the patient's body overlies the isocenter of the fluoro X-ray apparatus as determined by viewing two images. The puncturing instrument always aiming to the targeted object can be pivoted about the isocenter for selecting the most desirable path of penetration without a need for re-aiming same to reach the target.

Orbital aiming device

An overhead X-ray apparatus for imaging in the bi-plane configuration which apparatus has the radiation isocenter vertically displaceable. A C-arm (or a like) for supporting an X-ray tube and image receptor is mounted on a carriage assembly in a rotatable arrangement about a vertical axes. The carriage assembly comprises a support frame and a slideable support mounted on overhead rails coupled by a scissor mechanism. A distance between the support frame and the slideable support and, hence the vertical position of the radiation isocenter can be varied by action of chains or timing belts connecting the support frame with the anchoring member which moves along the slideable support while actuated by an actuator.

Overhead X-ray apparatus for imaging in bi-plane configuration

A precision mammographic needle biopsy system in which a patient having a suspected non-palpable lesion of the breast lies on a table having a breast aperture therein through which the patient's breast pendulantly protrudes includes a compression paddle for selectively compressing the breast against an X-ray film holder to firmly hold the breast in a suitable projection; a radially pivoting X-ray arm arranged to direct an X-ray beam in horizontal alignment with the patient's breast onto an X-ray film; a radially pivoting X-ray film holder arm supporting both the X-ray film holder and a puncture instrument holding a biopsy needle having adjustable azimuth angle, elevation angle, and insertion depth parameters; and a computer-digitizer console including a cursor and having a light box digitizer view area for viewing and digitizing a point of interest depicted in two stereoscopic X-ray images of the patient's breast, a computer for analyzing the relative positions of the point of interest depicted on the two stereoscopic X-ray images with reference to a pair of reference marks projected onto each of the images and for determinig the location in 3-dimensional space of the point of interest specified by the azimuth angle, elevation angle, and insertion depth parameters of the biopsy needle, and a visual display for displaying these parameters to the operator.

Precision mammographic needle biopsy system

A mobile X-ray apparatus for use in X-ray in diagnostic examinations comprising a base on wheels having an arm structure mounted thereon for supporting an X-ray tube, wherein this arm structure comprises a first structure of telescopic construction utilizing a pulley principle for an extended vertical travel of the X-ray tube and yet compactness, and further including a constant spring mechanism for allowing manual positioning, a second structure moveably mounted on the first structure for both horizontal and vertical displacement of the X-ray tube which structure includes a parallelogram and a horizontal telescopic member, a steering assist mechanism including motors providing power to each wheel of one pair of the wheels and being independently energized so that a power differential can be created as desired to assist in turning the apparatus. This disclosure further includes a brake mechanism for effective control of positioning of any moveable structure of an X-ray apparatus.

Mobile X-ray apparatus

A C-arm diagnostic equipment is disclosed, which equipment provided counterbalanced variable distance between an image source and an image receptor; an increased range of orbital rotation of the C-arm accomplished by a novel arc-in-the arc structure, which structure is counterbalanced for effective control of the orbital rotation; a suspension means with a counterbalanced means for the C-arm to be used as a ceiling suspended C-arm diagnostic equipment, which suspension means are moveably mounted on ceiling rails laterally displaced from, and not extending over, a patient positioned on an examination table and are linearly displaceable along these rails in a direction generally parallel to the lengthwise axis of the examination table.

C-arm diagnostic equipment

A bi-directional dual-slide support mechanism providing support and extended travel for X-ray system components, such as an image intensifier, includes a primary slide driven bi-directionally over a primary range of travel by a motorized rack and pinion arrangement and a secondary slide in telescoping relationship with the primary slide driven bi-directionally in concert with the primary slide by stationary belts coupled over roller members positioned at opposite ends of the primary slide, the belts being secured to a fixed frame member and to the secondary slide.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Bernard W Siczek