Method and apparatus for tissue imaging
AssigneePlanmed Oy
InventorsArto Virta, Jan Fröjdman, Timo Sulin-Saaristo, Jorma Jänkävaara
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Abstract
The object of the invention is a method and apparatuses used in tissue imaging, in particular for positioning the tissue to be imaged in the imaging area. For example, in mammography the tissue has generally been, among other things, compressed with compression plates and/or even physically pulled into the imaging area. In accordance with the invention, a tissue stretching solution is presented, whereby a tissue stretching means, which comprises a layer of flexible material that is translucent to the energy form, containing image information, used in imaging, is simply, quickly and effortlessly feedable and attachable to the tissue stretching device.
Claims45
An apparatus for imaging tissues, in particular an apparatus for imaging breast tissue and tissue of the breast area, which apparatus comprises:
- a body part (11),
- a source of energy (13) used in the tissue (20) imaging and a receiver (14) for an energy form, said receiver containing image information of the tissue to be imaged, received from the source of energy (13),
- a control system of the imaging apparatus (1) and
- a positioning apparatus (50) for the tissue to be imaged (20), which positioning apparatus (50) includes
- a contact or compression device (11, 15, 16) which includes one of
- a contact surface approaching the tissue to be imaged (20),
- a contact or compression surface (22, 23),
- a continuous contact or compression surface encircling the tissue to be imaged (20), and
- a stretching device (30) for the tissue to be imaged, which includes
- stretching means (21) including a layer of flexible material that is translucent to the energy form used in the imaging,
- a traction or transportation means of the stretching means,
- means (37) for receiving the stretching means (21), and
- means for engaging the stretching means (21) to the traction or transportation means of the stretching device (30), wherein means (37) for receiving the stretching means (21) have been arranged to receive one of a rectangular, elongated sheet like and band like stretching means (21) from a direction of one end side, or from a corresponding direction in view of the shape of the stretching means (21).
A method in tissue imaging, in particular, imaging the tissues of the breast and the breast area, comprising the steps of:
- directing an energy emanating from an energy source of an energy form used in the imaging, which energy source is part of an imaging apparatus, to an object to be imaged and further onto a receiver of the form of energy,
- containing the image information,
- positioning a tissue to be imaged in an imaging area with the help of a contact or compression surface of a positioning apparatus belonging to the imaging apparatus,
- placing the tissue being imaged into contact with a surface of a stretching means used in a stretching device belonging to the imaging apparatus, to form a contact surface between the tissue being imaged and the stretching device, when the tissue to be imaged is stretched by using the stretching means, which stretching means comprises a layer of flexible material that is translucent to the energy form, containing the image information, used in the imaging, wherein the stretching means has at least one of a rectangular, elongated sheet like, and band like shape, and
- placing the stretching means in contact with the receiving means belonging to the stretching device, at one end side of the stretching means, or from a corresponding direction in view of the shape of the stretching means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.