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US 10,753,836 B2Granted
Multi-axis specimen imaging device with embedded orientation markers
AssigneeFaxitron Bioptics, LLC
InventorsDonogh O'Driscoll, Ciaran Purdy, Kimberly A. Fitzpatrick, Marisa H. Borders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A specimen holding and positioning apparatus operable to substantially non-movably maintain a specimen (e.g., an excised tissue specimen) in a fixed or stable orientation with respect to the apparatus during imaging operations (e.g., x-ray imaging), transport (e.g., from a surgery room to a pathologist's laboratory), and the like for use in facilitating accurate detection and diagnosis of cancers and/or other abnormalities of the specimen.
Claims20
An apparatus for positionably retaining a tissue specimen for imaging, comprising:
- a first positioning member comprising a portion thereof that is at least partially elastically deformable, wherein the first positioning member includes a body and an opening defined by an outer surface of the body and extending partially into the body for receipt of the tissue specimen, wherein the elastically deformable portion of the first positioning member includes an inner surface of the body that delimits a bottom of the opening, wherein the first positioning member includes a first orientation marker embedded within the body of the first positioning member, and wherein the first orientation marker is less radiolucent than is the body of the first positioning member;
- a second positioning member comprising a portion thereof that is at least partially elastically deformable, wherein the second positioning member includes a body, wherein the elastically deformable portion of the second positioning member is a bottom surface of the body, wherein the second positioning member and the elastically deformable portion of the second positioning member are receivable in the opening defined by the outer surface of the first positioning member, wherein the first and second positioning members are fixably positionable to allow the portions of the first and second positioning members to retain a tissue specimen therebetween within a specimen support volume of the apparatus, wherein first and second orthogonal axes of the apparatus extend through the specimen support volume, and wherein a reference plane extends between the portions of the first and second positioning members when the first and second positioning members are fixably positioned relative to each other;
- a first volume extending about and along the first axis from a first external side of the apparatus to a second external side of the apparatus and encompassing the specimen support volume;
- and
- a second volume extending about and along the second axis from a third external side of the apparatus to a fourth external side of the apparatus and encompassing the specimen support volume, wherein the first and second volumes are free of any portion having a density greater than either a density of the portion of the first positioning member or a density of the portion of the second positioning member, and wherein the first orientation marker and the tissue specimen appear as respective spaced objects in an image generated by transmitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the apparatus.
2 more elements
A method of imaging a specimen, comprising:
- receiving a second retention member of a positioning apparatus within an opening defined by an outer surface of a first retention member of the positioning apparatus, the receiving including elastically deforming the first and second retention members to surround opposite portions of a specimen;
- securing the first and second retention members against movement relative to each other to retain the specimen therebetween, wherein a reference plane extends between the first and second retention members when the specimen is retained therebetween;
- generating, at a source of electromagnetic radiation, a beam of electromagnetic radiation;
- transmitting, while the specimen is retained between the first and second retention members, the beam along an imaging axis through the specimen and the first and second retention members;
- inhibiting transmission of a portion of the beam through a portion of the first retention member;
- receiving the beam at an imaging detector;
- and
- generating an image from the beam received at the imaging detector, wherein the generated image includes the tissue specimen and a first object representing the portion of the first retention member, and wherein the specimen is spaced from the first object in the generated image.
5 more elements
A method of imaging a specimen, comprising:
- elastically deforming first and second retention members to surround opposing portions of a specimen of one of a left or right breast;
- inserting the second retention member into an opening defined by an outer surface of the first retention member;
- securing the first and second retention members against movement relative to each other to retain the specimen of the one of the left or right breast therebetween within a specimen support volume of the apparatus, wherein a reference plane extends between the first and second retention members when the specimen of the one of the left or right breast is retained therebetween;
- and
- first transmitting an imaging signal through the positioning apparatus and the specimen of the one of the left or right breast along a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the reference plane to obtain a first image, wherein the first image includes the specimen of the one of the left or right breast and a first object that represents the other of the left or right breast, wherein the specimen and the first object are spaced in the first image, wherein the first image includes a second object that represents the one of the left or right breast, and wherein the second object is encompassed within the specimen in the first image.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.