Retainer assisted by vacuum expansion system
OwnerDonna J. Castroinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cup-shaped member having a hollow interior in which at least a portion of a patient's breast is received. The retainer device further includes a suction port provided in communication with the interior of the cup member. The suction port is operable to be connected with a suction source for communicating suction pressure from the suction source into the interior of the cup member.
Claims24
A retainer operable with a suction source for retaining a portion of a patient's anatomy for at least one of an examination and engagement with a medical instrument, the retainer comprising:
- a cup member having an interior configured to receive at least a portion of a patient's anatomy therein;
- and
- a suction port provided in communication with the interior of the cup member and operable to be connected to the suction source for communicating suction pressure from the suction source into the interior of the cup member to expand the portion of a patient's anatomy received therein;
- wherein the cup member has at least one wall defining the cup member interior and a plurality of indicia lines provided on the wall with each of said indicia lines crossing at least one other of said indicia lines to define a plurality of discrete wall areas bordered by said indicia lines.
A retaining system for retaining a portion of a patient's anatomy for at least one of an examination and engagement with a medical instrument, the retaining system comprising:
- a suction source for providing suction pressure;
- a cup member having at least one cup wall defining a cup interior configured to receive the portion of the patient's anatomy, the cup wall having at least one aperture for allowing an instrument to pass to the interior of the cup member upon a portion of the patient's anatomy being received in the interior of the cup member;
- a suction port provided in communication with the interior of the cup member;
- conduit connecting the suction source with the suction port for communicating suction pressure provided by the suction source to the interior of the cup member;
- and
- a pressure regulator for regulating the suction pressure communicated to the interior of the cup member to a pressure suitable for expanding the portion of the patient's anatomy received in the interior of the cup member.
A method for retaining a portion of a patient's anatomy for at least one of examination and engagement with a medical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cup member having an interior;
- receiving a portion of a patient's anatomy in the interior of the cup member;
- applying suction pressure to the interior of the cup member to expand and stabilize the portion of the patient's anatomy received in the cup member;
- and
- forming an image of the portion of the patient's anatomy while the portion of the patient's anatomy is received within the cup member interior with at least one of an x-ray device, an MRI device, a PET scanner and an ultrasound device.
A retainer for retaining a portion of a patient's anatomy for at least one of an examination and engagement with a medical instrument, the retainer comprising:
- a cup member having an interior configured to receive at least a portion of a patient's anatomy therein;
- and
- a suction source provided in communication with the interior of the cup member to communicate suction pressure into the interior of the cup member to expand that portion of a patient's anatomy received therein;
- wherein the cup member has at least one wall defining the cup member interior, the at least one wall having at least one aperture for allowing an instrument to pass to the interior of the cup member upon a portion of a patient's anatomy being received in the interior of the cup member.
A method for retained a portion of a patient's anatomy for at least one of examination and engagement with a medical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cup member having a cup wall defining a cup interior, the cup wall having at least one aperture through which an instrument may pass to the cup interior;
- receiving a portion of a patient's anatomy in the cup interior;
- applying suction pressure to the interior of the cup member to expand and stabilize the portion of the patient's anatomy received in the cup member;
- and
- passing an instrument through the at least one aperture to contact the portion of the patient's anatomy received in the cup member.
A method for retained a portion of a patient's anatomy for at least one of examination and engagement with a medical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cup member having a cup wall defining a cup interior, the cup wall having a plurality of indicia lines, with each of said indicia lines crossing at least one other of said indicia lines to define a plurality of discrete wall areas bordered by said indicia lines;
- receiving a portion of a patient's anatomy in the cup interior;
- applying suction pressure to the interior of the cup member to expand and stabilize the portion of the patient's anatomy received in the cup member;
- and
- associating various areas of the portion of the patient's anatomy received in the cup member with various discrete wall areas defined by the indicia lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.