Apparatus for performing biopsies and the like

An apparatus for directing a light beam toward a patient's body, comprising:

• a) an approximately horizontally extending rail;
• b) a first bracket having a base plate and an approximately vertically extending support plate;
• c) means for slidably mounting said base plate of said first bracket onto said rail;
• d) first rotatable mounting means attached to said support plate of said first bracket;
• e) a second bracket having an approximately vertically extending base plate and a support plate, said base plate of said second bracket attached to said first rotatable mounting means;
• f) second rotatable mounting means attached to said support plate of said second bracket, whereby said first and second rotatable mounting means are capable of translation only as a unit;
• and
• g) means for generating a beam of light, and means for attaching said light beam generating means to said second rotatable mounting means.

An apparatus for generating a beam of light for use in guiding the entry of a probe into a patient's body with reference to an orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system in which the z-direction is approximately vertical and the x- and y-directions are approximately horizontal so that the x-z and y-z planes extend substantially vertically, comprising:

• a) means for generating a beam of light;
• b) a rail having means for being oriented so as to extend over said patient's body in a first horizontal direction;
• c) a support structure slidably suspended from said rail for movement in said first horizontal direction;
• and
• d) means for directing said beam of light in a direction that forms a compound angle with respect to said z-direction, said compound angle forming first and second acute angles with respect to said z-direction in y-z and x-z planes, respectively, said light beam directing means mounted on said support structure and comprising (i) first rotating means for rotating said light beam generating means in said y-z vertical plane so as to form said first acute angle with respect to said z-direction in said y-z plane, and (ii) second rotating means for rotating said light beam generating means in said x-z vertical plane so as to form said second acute angle with respect to said z-direction in said x-z plane;
• e) a mounting block secured to said second rotating means, said light beam generating means being attached to said mounting block;
• and
• f) means for indicating the orientation of said light beam generating means with respect to said z-direction, said orientation indicating means attached to said mounting block.