Self-administered breast ultrasonic imaging systems

A medical ultrasonic breast examination system for a patient, comprising:

• a patient positioning platform with a moveable ultrasonic transducer guidance device;
• said moveable ultrasonic transducer guidance device comprising a container with a transparent flexible side or bottom, at least one breast positioning image sensor configured to view a breast positioned against said transparent flexible side or bottom, a moveable ultrasonic transducer configured to move within said container, and a mechanism to automatically move said moveable ultrasonic transducer;
• said transparent flexible side or bottom capable of conforming to the shape of at least one breast of said patient when said transducer guidance device is positioned about said at least one breast of said patient;
• in which said container is filled with fluid, and the pressure of said fluid pressing against said transparent flexible side or bottom causes said transparent flexible side or bottom to tightly adhere to at least one breast of said patient when said transducer guidance device is positioned about said at least one breast of said patient;
• said moveable ultrasonic transducer guidance device being capable of moving from at least a first position away from said at least one breast of said patient to a second position proximate said at least one breast of said patient;
• at least one display device configured to display at least some of the images from said breast positioning image sensor;
• a processor and software configured to direct said mechanism to automatically move said moveable transducer in a scanning pattern intended to enable echo information obtained by said ultrasonic transducer to be assembled into at least one image representing the interior of said patient's breast;
• wherein said patient positioning platform, said moveable ultrasonic transducer guidance device;
• and said at least one display device are mechanically coupled together to form a single unit.

A method for automatically performing a medical ultrasonic breast exam of a patient, said method comprising;

• obtaining a patient positioning platform with at least one patient positioning image sensor and, a moveable ultrasonic transducer guidance device;
• said moveable ultrasonic transducer guidance device comprising a fluid filled container with a flexible side or bottom, a moveable ultrasonic transducer configured to move within said container, and a mechanism to automatically move said moveable ultrasonic transducer about at least one breast of said patient;
• positioning said moveable ultrasonic transducer guidance device that said flexible side or bottom conforms to the shape of said at least one breast of said patient, and the pressure of said fluid on said flexible side or bottom causes said flexible side or bottom to tightly adhere to said at least one breast of said patient;
• using a processor and software to direct said mechanism to automatically move said moveable ultrasonic transducer about said at least one breast of said patient, thereby obtaining ultrasonic image data;
• and assembling said ultrasonic image data into at least one image representing the interior of said patient's breast.