Fischer Imaging Corporation

Photometrics, Ltd.

Emre Toker

Bernard W Siczek

Morgan W Nields

Hans Roehrig

Tim B Hunter

A stereo radiolocalization and targeting system ( ) includes a table assembly ( ) for supporting a patient ( ), a stereo radiolocalization subsystem ( ), a medical instrument support subsystem ( ), and an ultrasound imaging subsystem ( ). The stereo radiolocalization subsystem ( ) provides three-dimensional localization information for an area of interest within the patient's body such as a sentinel node. The medical instrument support subsystem ( ) allows for targeting of a medical instrument ( ) to the area of interest for treatment, extraction or other procedures. The imaging subsystem ( ) provides real-time imaging for use in penetration path selection and monitoring medical instrument insertion. Flexible positioning support mechanisms ( and ) provide substantial positioning flexibility for various elements of the system ( ).

Medical instrument guidance using stereo radiolocation

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

A medical imaging system (10) which is readily adaptable to suit specific imaging conditions is disclosed. The system comprises an imaging signal source (12) for transmitting a first imaging signal (13) through a patient's body, a signal detector unit (26) for receiving the first signal (13) and transmitting a second signal (22), and a digital camera for processing the second signal (22) so as to-produce an image of an area of interest within the patient's body. The signal detector unit (36) includes a number of signal detector elements (30) each having different performance characteristics. The system (10) further includes a controller (32) for selecting a signal detector element (30) relative to particular imaging conditions.

Digital imaging apparatus

A system for locating a region of varying density in biological tissue such as a breast includes a controlled x-ray source for directing x-rays through the breast, a phosphor screen positioned to receive x-rays exiting from the tissue and producing light in response thereto, a cooled, slow scan CCD camera, a variable magnification optical system positioned to receive light emitted by the phosphor screen and directing it to the cooled, slow scan CCD camera, a high resolution monitor, and a control system receiving signals from the cooled, slow scan CCD camera and digitizing the signals to produce digital data representative of the densities of various locations of the tissue. The control system includes a processor operated to determine a signal-to-noise ratio of light received by the cooled, slow scan CCD camera from the variable magnification optical system and to control the intensity of x-rays in response to the signal-to-noise ratio to determine locations of the object at which the corresponding densities exceed a certain level. The addresses of such locations are stored. The variable magnification optical system is controlled to focus and enlarge 'digitally marked' locations of the object so images thereof substantially fill a screen of the monitor. In one described embodiment, the system is used in conjunction with a radiopaque needle localization process to rapidly and precisely identify locations of high density breast tissue which are likely tumor and/or microcalcification sites.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Emre Toker