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:
Jun. 03, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 24, 1999
Kris A. Dines, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Elizabeth Kelly-Fry, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Ada Patricia Romilly, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Xdata Corporation, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Abstract
A system for generating a three-dimensional image of the compressed breast of a subject includes an x-ray mammography unit for generating x-ray mammography data, a mechanical scanner including an x-ray mammography compression paddle assembly , a control and motion system for driving the mechanical scanner and for sensing the control and motion system's position, an ultrasound probe for generating ultrasound image data in spatial registration with the x-ray mammography unit , and a computer for generating from the ultrasound image data and the x-ray mammography data the three-dimensional ultrasound image. A method of examining a breast of a subject includes contacting an anterior surface of the breast with a compression paddle, applying pressure to the anterior surface of the breast with the compression paddle to compress it to reduce the thickness of the breast tissue, passing an ultrasound beam having a frequency greater than 3 MHz, perferrably about 5 MHZ or more, through the paddle and the compressed breast tissue, receiving echoes from the compressed breast tissue through the compression paddle, and converting the echoes into breast examination data.