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:
Feb. 22, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Ascher Shmulewitz, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Peter A Crosby, Bellevue, WA (US);
Assignee:
United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61B / ; A61B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
600562 ; 600437 ; 600461 ;
Abstract
An ultrasound imaging and biopsy system is provided in which an upper compression member of the system includes a thin, flexible, sterile and disposable membrane that compresses the tissue and permits a biopsy instrument to be readily inserted therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, a table is provided that houses an ultrasound scanning system beneath a sonolucent window forming a lower compression surface. Methods of using the system to perform real-time image-guided biopsy of tissue disposed on the window are also provided.