# US 2019/0167145 A1 · A Medical Imaging System and Method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0167145 A1
- Document ID: US20190167145A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/321,306
- Filed: 2017-07-28
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-29
- Assignees: Micrima Limited
- Applicants: Micrima Limited
- Inventors: Peter Romilly Bannister; Dennis Smith; Kevin Leslie Thomas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167145A1

## CPC

- A61B 5/0507: using microwaves or terahertz waves
- A61B 5/7485: {Automatic selection of region of interest}
- A61B 10/0041: {Detection of breast cancer (mammography by transillumination A61B5/0091, by X-rays A61B6/502, by ultrasonic means A61B8/0825)}
- A61B 10/0233: {Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments}
- A61B 17/3403: {Needle locating or guiding means}
- A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 90/11: with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
- A61B 90/37: {Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation}
- A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
- A61B 2017/3411: {with a plurality of holes, e.g. holes in matrix arrangement}
- A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems}
- A61B 2034/2065: {Tracking using image or pattern recognition}
- A61B 2090/397: {electromagnetic other than visible, e.g. microwave}
- A61B 2562/0228: Microwave sensors
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A medical imaging system including a microwave antenna array having a transmitting antenna and a plurality of receiving antennae, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to transmit microwave signals so as to illuminate a body part of a patient and the receiving antennae are configured to receive the microwave signals following scattering within the body part; a processor configured to process the scattered microwave signals and generate an output indicative of the internal structure of the body part to identify a region of interest within the body part; and a biopsy device comprising a biopsy needle movable relative to the microwave antenna array; wherein the receiving antennae are further configured to receive microwave signals scattered or emitted by the biopsy needle and the processor is further configured to monitor a position of the biopsy needle and to guide the biopsy needle to the identified region of interest within the body part.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical imaging system, comprising:
a microwave antenna array including a transmitting antenna and a plurality of receiving antennae, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to transmit microwave signals so as to illuminate a body part of a patient and the receiving antennae are configured to receive the microwave signals following scattering within the body part;
a processor configured to process the scattered microwave signals and generate an output indicative of the internal structure of the body part to identify a region of interest within the body part; and
a biopsy device including a biopsy needle movable relative to the microwave antenna array;
wherein the receiving antennae are further configured to receive microwave signals scattered or emitted by the biopsy needle and the processor is further configured to monitor a position of the biopsy needle as it is guided to the identified region of interest within the body part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to guide the biopsy needle to the identified region of interest within the body part

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microwave antenna array is formed on a substrate, wherein the substrate includes one or more openings configured to receive the biopsy needle to provide access to the body part.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the openings are conical.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the openings are provided with sealing gaskets.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the openings include one or more slots.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to select one of the plurality of openings for introducing the biopsy needle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy device is mounted on an articulated arm configured to maneuver the biopsy device relative to the antenna array.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the articulated arm is a robotic arm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy needle is configured to emit microwave signals which are received by the receiving antennae.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the biopsy needle includes a coaxial feed line which transmits the microwave signals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy needle includes a microwave marker at its tip.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A medical imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor performs a first data acquisition and analysis operation when identifying the region of interest and performs a second data acquisition and analysis operation when guiding the biopsy needle, the second data acquisition and analysis operation being faster than the first data acquisition and analysis operation.

### Claim 14

A medical imaging method, comprising:
illuminating a body part of a patient with microwave signals emitted by a transmitting antenna of an microwave antenna array;
receiving the microwave signals following scattering within the body part at a plurality of receiving antennae of the microwave antenna array;
processing the scattered microwave signals to generate an output indicative of the internal structure of the body part;
identifying a region of interest within the body part from the output; and
guiding a biopsy needle to the identified region of interest within the body part by monitoring microwave signals scattered or emitted by the biopsy needle using the receiving antennae.

### Claim 15

(canceled)