The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 26, 1995
Donald W Kormos, Parma, OH (US);
David W Piraino, Shaker Heights, OH (US);
Picker International, Inc., Highland Heights, OH (US);
Abstract
An exoskeleton material (12), such as a thermoplastic mesh, is heat softened. The heat softened material is stretched over and conformed to a soft tissue region of the patient, such as a patient's breast. The material is allowed or caused to set or harden and is affixed (14) to a patient support (10) such that the soft tissue is firmly constrained. Magnetic resonance visible markers (18) are affixed to the exoskeleton material adjacent the soft tissue. The patient is examined with a magnetic resonance imaging device (20) to generate a three-dimensional image representation (28) for display on a monitor (32). Using the markers, a wand (40) with emitters (42) receivers (44), and a coordinate system relationship processor (48) determines, a relation or transform between a coordinate system of the patient and a coordinate system of the image is determined and displayed on the monitor. A trajectory for a biopsy, resection, or the like, is planned using a guide (50). Emitters (52) on the guide are activated to generate a corresponding human-readable trajectory display through the image displayed on the monitor. After repositioning the guide as necessary, an appropriate trajectory and depth through the patient is selected from the human-readable display. An appropriate medical instrument (64) is inserted along the guide to perform the biopsy, resection, or other medical procedure.