Biotrack, LLC

Assurance Medical, Inc.

Richard H Theriault

Michael A Cundari

Alan Irving West

David Raymond Widder

Brian D Noble

Zachary S Spigelman

Methods and apparatus for a medical imaging system are disclosed. The imaging system is particulary suited for surgical procedures performed with respect to a lesion in a breast, although application of the invention is not so limited. An image of a portion of a patient's anatomy can be displayed on a computer. A surgical instrument and a lesion within the patient's anatomy can be displayed, showing the relative positions of each. A portion of the patient's anatomy can be monitored using markers or sensors that report position relative to an external reference point. Movement of a lesion within soft tissue can be calculated and displayed in response to changes in position or shape of the soft tissue. Accordingly, position of a lesion within a breast can be tracked in response to changes in the shape of the breast as the patient is moved or the breast is manipulated during the procedure. The system can show multiple views, can appropriately magnify the view when the instrument is in a critical position and can provide other signals assisting a surgeon in performing a procedure. Sensors and instruments for use in the system are disclosed. The procedure can be recorded for playback.

Method of monitoring a location of an area of interest within a patient

A tissue examination device includes a plurality of sensors, each of which produces a signal in response to pressure imposed on the sensor in accordance with the properties of different types of underlying tissue structures as the sensor is pressed against the tissue. A plurality of processing tests are performed on the signals, and the different types of the underlying tissue structures are discriminated from each other based on the results of the tests.

Tissue examination

Growing community of inventors

Lincoln, MA, United States of America

Richard H Theriault