Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Bernd Kümmerlen

Sven Kohle

Thomas E Tynes

Hartmut Jürgens

Jessica Brandt

Jens Breitenborn

The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for positioning a biopsy needle relative to lesion tissue. A desired imaging modality can be used to image the human or animal tissue to locate lesion tissue. Such an image can be referred to as a diagnostic image. In a specific embodiment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be utilized to locate one or more lesions in a human breast. An interventional instrument, such as a means for effecting a biopsy of the lesion tissue can then be positioned proximate the lesion tissue based of the location information about the location of the lesion tissue obtained from the diagnostic image. The desired imaging modality can then be used to confirm the accuracy of the position of the means for effecting a biopsy with respect to the lesion. In a specific embodiment, MRI can be utilized to confirm the accuracy of the position of a biopsy needle. In alternative embodiments, other imaging modalities, such as computer tomography (CT), can be used and/or tissue in other parts of the human or animal body can be imaged.

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Bremen, Germany

Bernd Kümmerlen