Thermotrex Corporation

Lorad, LLC

Richard F Schutz

Kenneth F DeFreitas

Anthony J Pellegrino

Milton Stoller

David D Camarra

Jeffrey R Storm

Anthony M Scandura

Daniel N Lyke

A patient-supporting table for performing prone stereotactic mammographic biopsy procedures having a platform with an aperture positioned so as to divide the platform into two supporting portions is disclosed. Each of the supporting portions of the platform are sufficient to support at least a patient's torso and legs. The supporting portions of the platform enable a patient's breast to be pendulantly presented in two different orientations with respect to the aperture which further enables 360.degree. access to a pendulantly presented breast by stereotactic mammography and biopsy apparatus which have rotation ranges substantially less than 360.degree. but more than 180.degree. relative to the aperture.

Prone position stereotactic mammography needle biopsy apparatus and

An improved mobile X-ray unit has a counterweighted articulating X-ray tube support arm that allows positioning of an attached X-ray tube virtually without the need for moving a supporting carriage. The improved mobile X-ray unit also allows the X-ray tube to be locked to the supporting carriage during travel and the articulating X-ray arm includes several electro-magnetically actuated disk brakes capable of locking the articulating X-ray arm in a predetermined position. In the event that the carriage movement is required, the carriage may be moved by application of force on a force sensing handle engaged with the carriage by two strain gage assemblies. The strain gage assemblies provide signals to a motor drive control circuits which in turn propel two driven wheels in the direction and proportional to the force applied to the handle relative to the carriage.

Mobile X-ray apparatus

An elongated prone patient-supporting examining table for X-ray mammography is centrally supported at variable heights by a rear pedestal. The table is provided with a central breast-receiving aperture through which the patient's pendulant breast is exposed to a horizontal beam of X-rays from a tubehead source mounted on an arm angularly movable through an arc of some 210.degree. centered on the patient's breast. The patient's feet may be positioned at either end of the elongated table on an extensible footrest, permitting X-ray projection through more than 360.degree. around the patient's body. Diagnosis of suspect lesions and fine needle biopsy are both facilitated by stereotactic examination. Digital imaging using a CCD camera and image enhancement software provides magnification, contrast enhancement, window and level manipulation and high resolution images, with low exposure levels, short exposure times, and greatly reduced imaging times.

Stereotactic mammography system imaging

Stereotactic mammography imaging system with prone position examination

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Brewster, NY, United States of America

Richard F Schutz