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US 7,850,613 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for three dimensional ultrasound breast imaging
AssigneeOrison, Inc.
InventorMark L. Stribling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for ultrasonic mammography includes: an array of ultrasonic transducers and signal processing means for converting the output of the transducer array into three dimensional renderings of anatomical features; and, an applicator device having a first side conformable to the contour of the transducer array and a second side configured to accept the breast, the applicator device further containing a quantity of fluid sufficient to surround and stabilize the breast during examination without substantially altering the breast from its natural shape.
Claims49
An apparatus for ultrasonic mammography examination, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a transducer unit having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers configured as a transducer array, the transducer array having a contour;
- (b) a signal processor for converting an output produced by the of said transducer array during an ultrasonic mammography examination into a rendering of one or more anatomical features of a breast of a patient;
- (c) an applicator device in a form of a cup having a first side and a second side, the first side, opposite or diagonal to the second side, being configured with a closed end conformable to the contour of the transducer array and the second side being configured with an open end to accept a breast of a patient within said applicator device for an ultrasonic mammography examination;
- wherein said applicator device is configured to receive a quantity of fluid sufficient to surround and stabilize a breast when the breast is fitted through the open end of the second side and positioned within said applicator device for an ultrasonic mammography examination without substantially altering the stabilized breast positioned within said applicator device from its natural shape during an ultrasonic mammography examination;
- wherein the contour of the transducer array is disposed adjacent to the closed end of the first side of said applicator device during an ultrasonic mammography examination;
- wherein the transducer array is external to said applicator device;
- and
- wherein minimal or no movement occurs between said applicator device and the transducer array during an ultrasonic mammography examination of the stabilized breast positioned within said applicator device.
5 more elements
A method for ultrasonic mammography examination, said method comprising:
- (a) introducing a breast of a patient into an applicator device through a second portion of the applicator device to position the breast within the applicator device,
- wherein the applicator device is in a form of a cup and the second portion is configured with an open end to accept the breast within the applicator device for ultrasonic mammography examination,
- wherein the applicator device has a first portion located opposite or diagonal to the second portion,
- wherein the first portion is configured with a closed end and is positioned adjacent to a transducer array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers,
- wherein the transducer array has a contour and is in operable communication with a signal processor for converting an output produced by the ultrasonic transducers during the ultrasonic mammography examination into a rendering of one or more anatomical features of the breast positioned within the applicator device,
- wherein the transducer array is external to the applicator device, and
- wherein the closed end of the first portion is conformable to the contour of the transducer array, so that the contour of the transducer array is disposed adjacent to the closed end of the applicator device;
- (b) introducing a fluid into the applicator device to (i) provide a continuous path for ultrasonic signals produced by the ultrasonic transducers to travel into and out of the breast positioned within the applicator device during the ultrasonic mammography examination, (ii) substantially fill a remaining volume within the applicator device and (iii) stabilize the breast positioned within the applicator device during data acquisition without substantially deforming the breast positioned within the applicator device from its natural shape during the ultrasonic mammography examination;
- and
- (c) conducting the ultrasonic mammography examination on the stabilized breast positioned within the applicator device to acquire data of the stabilized breast positioned within the applicator device for rendering one or more anatomical features of the stabilized breast positioned within the applicator device.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.