US3556081A - Breast holder for mammograph - Google Patents

Breast holder for mammograph Download PDF

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US3556081A
US3556081A US730344A US3556081DA US3556081A US 3556081 A US3556081 A US 3556081A US 730344 A US730344 A US 730344A US 3556081D A US3556081D A US 3556081DA US 3556081 A US3556081 A US 3556081A
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breast
plate
opening
female
membrane
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US730344A
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Henry S Jones
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Holotron Corp
BNY Mellon NA
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Holotron Corp
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Assigned to MELLON BANK, N.A. A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION reassignment MELLON BANK, N.A. A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: ABN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, ABN SECURITIES SYSTEMS, INC., AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, EIDETIC IMAGES, INC., HORSHAM HOLDING COMPANY, INC., INTERNATIONAL BANKNOTE COMPANY, INC., OLD DOMINION FOILS COMPANY, INC.
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Assigned to HORSHAM HOLDING COMPANY, INC., INTERNATIONAL BANKNOTE COMPANY, INC., OLD DOMINION FOILS COMPANY, INC., AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, ABN SECURITIES SYSTEMS, INC., ABN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, EIDETIC IMAGES, INC. reassignment HORSHAM HOLDING COMPANY, INC. SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE DATE: MAY 1, 1986 Assignors: MELLON BANK, N.A.
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/40—Positioning of patients, e.g. means for holding or immobilising parts of the patient's body
    • A61B8/406—Positioning of patients, e.g. means for holding or immobilising parts of the patient's body using means for diagnosing suspended breasts
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/04—Analysing solids
    • G01N29/06—Visualisation of the interior, e.g. acoustic microscopy
    • G01N29/0654—Imaging
    • G01N29/0663—Imaging by acoustic holography
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/08—Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings
    • A61B8/0825—Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H3/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves for obtaining holograms; Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from them
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H5/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using particles or using waves other than those covered by groups G03H1/00 or G03H3/00 for obtaining holograms; Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from them
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/18—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound
    • G10K11/26—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
    • G10K11/30—Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S128/00—Surgery
    • Y10S128/915—Ultrasound mammography

Definitions

  • Howell Attorney-Woodcock, Washburn, Kurtz & MacKiewicz ABSTRACT An apparatus for holding a female breast immobilized extended away from the chest cavity and flattened to allow examination by passing radiation through the breast. Two flexible sheets transparent to radiation are drawn together on the breast under examination by an apparatus which provides for controlling the angle between the two sheets.
  • PATENTED JAN 9 I97! SFEU 1 OF 2 PATENIED JAN 1 9 12m SHEET 2 BF 2 BREAST HOLDER FOR MAMMOGRAPH BACKGROUND OF THE INV ENTION
  • This invention is related to female breast examination and more specifically to apparatus for holding a breast during radiation examination thereof.
  • the breast should be immobilized so that it is not moved during such a radiation examination. Furthermore, the breast should be held away from the woman's chest cavity, a requirement especially important in ultrasonic mammograph equipment. Also, the breast should be flattened somewhat.
  • the breast be so held without severe discomfort to the woman patient. Also, the breast holder should not substantially attenuate the radiation passing through the breast or otherwise interfere with the examination. Furthermore. a breast holder must be effective for a large variety of breast sizes.
  • an apparatus which includes two flexible sheets transparent to the examining radiation with means to draw the sheets together from either side of a breast under examination and further having means to control the angle between the sheets as they are so drawn together so that the breast may be first compressed near the chest cavity and then placed under substantially even compression.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates ultrasonic mammograph equipment in which the apparatus of the present invention may be utilized
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a patient supporting surface for the ultrasonic mammograph equipment of FIG. I which may be used in conjunction with the breast holding apparatus of this invention
  • FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the breast holding apparatus of this invention.
  • a female breast is best imaged by submersing it in an ultrasonic transmitting liquid medium of high efliciency.
  • This medium should be compatible with the female breast so that no more than a small proportion of energy will be reflected as the ultrasound passes from the liquid medium to the breast and through to the liquid medium again. It has been found that water is quite satisfactory and, of course. available in large quantities and is further comfortable for the patient. To avoid having to submerse more of the patient in the water than the breast under examination. it has been found preferable to position the woman in a horizontal position and extend the breast under examination down through a top surface of the water and pass the ultrasonic energy beam substantially parallel to and immediately below the water surface through the breast.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates this preferred technique.
  • a tank 200 contains an ultrasonic transmitting water 202 and a woman 204 is held in a prone position over the tank by a supporting surface 206.
  • a breast 207 under examination is suspended into the water 202 through an opening in the supporting surface 206.
  • a quartz transducer 208 held in place by a housing 210 is a preferred source ofa substantially plane wave ultrasonic beam 212 which is propagated through the water 202 to the breast 207.
  • the ultrasonic wavefront passing through the breast is imaged by an ultrasonic lens 213 onto an ultrasonic detector such as the area detector 214 which is shown to be of a type such as a Pohlman cell.
  • a light source 216 illuminates the observers side of the area detector 214, thereby displaying in the optical domain a representation of the ultrasonic wavefront which has passed out of the breast 207.
  • a primary consideration in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is to allow room for the transducer housing 210 above a surface 218 of water filled container 200 which then permits the ultrasonic energy beam 212 to be propagated very close to the surface 218 and thus image a large portion of the breast 207 without having to immerse any more of the woman in the water.
  • the supporting surface 206 has been sloped from both directions to the breast opening.
  • a preferred range of frequencies of the ultrasonic energy beam 212 has been found to be between I and I0 Megahertz (MI-12.). Below I MHz., resolution has been found to be inferior, and above 10 MI-Iz., has been found to be preferred for breast examination.
  • the transducer 208 is preferably an X-cut quartz crystal with a 1 MHz. fundamental frequency which is operated at 3 MHz. by a power supply at that frequency, according to well-known techniques.
  • the power supply equipment could be housed within the examination equipment next to the tank 200 in an area 230 of FIG. 1.
  • the technique of ultrasonic imaging as described with respect to FIG. 1 provides for real time examination of a breast. This has the advantage that the breast may be properly positioned and flattened and other parts of the apparatus adjusted, such as the ultrasonic lens 213, in order to give a good image that is of value for medical diagnostic work.
  • a preferred female patient support surface and the breast holder of this invention are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • a patient support surface 300 of FIG. 2 has a depressed surface area 302 for allowing the patients chest cavity of her body to be placed close to the liquid medium below and her breast placed in the liquid through an opening 306.
  • a further depression 304 in the depressed surface 302 is designed for the patients right shoulder so that she may lie slightly on her right side and thereby cause her rib cage to contact the edges of the opening 306 for most of the breasts perimeter. This firm contact is necessary to prevent the breast from slipping up and out of the holder below.
  • another surface depression 308 is provided for the female patients left shoulder to facilitate placing her left breast as far through the opening 306 as is possible without slipping out of the holder.
  • a boxlike frame 310 has as one end thereof a U-shaped support plate 312 which holds a thin membrane 314 in tension.
  • the membrane 314 is preferably a polymeric film such as polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene, and should be substantially transparent to the ultrasonic wavelength used.
  • a second U-shaped support plate 316 holds a similar membrane 318 in a stressed condition. The support plate 316 is placed within the frame 310 to form a breast cavity between the membranes 314 and 318.
  • the support plate 316 further has cylindrical guide members 320 and 322 attached to the opposite sides thereof.
  • These cylindrical members are mounted within guideslots 324 and 326 of opposite generally parallel sides of the frame 310 in a manner so that the support plate 316 may be rotated about the axial center line common to the cylindrical members 320 and 322 and further to be slideable along the two guide slots 324 and 326.
  • the guide slots 324 and 326 are generally perpendicular to the support plate 312.
  • the support plate 316 is resiliently held away from the support plate 312 by a spring 327 connected between the cylindrical member 320 and the underside of the support surface 300, and a second spring (not shown) between the cylindrical member 322 and the support surface 300.
  • a control knob 332 which is operably connected through a control gear box 335 with the upper side of the U- shaped plate 316 by means of ropes 328 and 330.
  • motion front the turning of a control knob 334 is communicated to the bottom edge of the U-shaped plate 316 by ropes 331 and 333 through the control gear box 335.
  • Several pulleys are shown over which these four ropes move between the support plate 316 and the gear control box 335.
  • the membranes 314 and 318 have beads 315 and 319, respectively, along their open edges for contacting and conforming to the varied curves of the chest wall. These beaded edges are held taut to increase the initial pinch effect which prevents the breast from creeping up and out of the holder.
  • Apparatus for holding a breast of a female in a flattened position away from her body comprising:
  • a frame including at least two opposite generally parallel sides supported in a fixed spatial relationship with each other;
  • first U-shaped plate held between the sides of said frame and generally perpendicular thereto, said first plate oriented to open upward and having a flexible membrane held in tension thereby, said membrane being substantially transparent to compressional wave radiation in at least the ultrasonic range;
  • a second U-shaped plate having outwardly extending guide members on op osite sides thereof, said uide members mounted in san guide slots to hold sat second plate rotatably and slidably between said frame sides, said second plate oriented to open upward and having a flexi ble membrane held in tension thereby, said membrane being substantially transparent to compressional wave radiation in at least the ultrasonic range;
  • Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for drawing said second plate toward the first plate includes a first means operably connected to the second plate on one side of the axis joining its guide members and a second means independent of said first means operably connected to the second plate on an opposite side of the axisjoining its guide members.
  • a female patient supporting table for compressional wave' energy diagnostic examination of a female breast comprising:
  • an open top tank adapted to contain a compressional wave energy transmitting liquid
  • a rigid generally horizontal patient supporting member positioned over said tank and having a patient supporting surface on an upper side with an underneath side acting as a cover to said tank;
  • an opening through said supporting member adapted to accommodate a breast of a female patient lying on said table surface, said opening being surrounded by an area of said supporting surface that slopes gently toward the opening thereby to depress said opening somewhat into said tank;
  • each depression shaped to accommodate a shoulder of the patient, whereby a female patient lying partially on her side may engage one of said shoulder depressions to completely insert a breast into said tank through said opening;
  • means for drawing at least one of said membranes relative to the patient supporting member toward the other membrane including means for tilting at least one of said sheets relative to the patient supporting member as they are drawn together.
  • each of said flexible membranes is held stretched across a rigid U-shaped frame opening upward.
  • a breast is not transparent to the u ltrasonic energy.

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a female breast immobilized extended away from the chest cavity and flattened to allow examination by passing radiation through the breast. Two flexible sheets transparent to radiation are drawn together on the breast under examination by an apparatus which provides for controlling the angle between the two sheets.

Description

United mares Patent QR 3955690551 v.
[72] Inventor Henry S. Jones New Canaan, Conn.
[21] Appl, No. 730,344
[22] Filed May 20, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Holotron Corporation Wilmington, Del. a corporation of Delaware [54] BREAST HOLDER FOR MAMMOGRAPH 6Claims,3Drawing Figs. g 521 U.S.Cl.1...1 .i.,:.l.,, 128/2, 73/67.5: 128/241250/50 51 lnt.Cl A6lb6/04 [50] FieldofSearch 128/2,
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,237,623 3/1966 Gordon 128/24 3,480,002 1 H1969 Flaherty et a1 128/2 2,111,903 3/1938 Rona 250/50 2,532,507 12/1950 Meunier 128/24.05UX
2,826,702 3/1958 Campbell et a1 250/5OX 3,165,630 1/1965 Bielatetal 250/50X 3,293,430 12/1966 Wustner 250/50X 3,302,021 1/1967 Hardy .1 250/50 7 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,164,093 5/1958 France 250/50 OTHER REFERENCES ELECTRONlCS, Mar, 1955, p.174. (copy in GR. 335 128/2405) JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMER, Vol. 23, No. 2, Mar. 1951, pp. 160 167, (copy in GR 335,128/2405) Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerKyle L. Howell Attorney-Woodcock, Washburn, Kurtz & MacKiewicz ABSTRACT: An apparatus for holding a female breast immobilized extended away from the chest cavity and flattened to allow examination by passing radiation through the breast. Two flexible sheets transparent to radiation are drawn together on the breast under examination by an apparatus which provides for controlling the angle between the two sheets.
PATENTED JAN] 9 I97! SFEU 1 OF 2 PATENIED JAN 1 9 12m SHEET 2 BF 2 BREAST HOLDER FOR MAMMOGRAPH BACKGROUND OF THE INV ENTION This invention is related to female breast examination and more specifically to apparatus for holding a breast during radiation examination thereof.
During radiation examination of a breast for an internal abnormal growth such as cancerous tissue, some means is required for holding the breast immobilized while radiation is applied. Mammograph equipment which utilizes compressional wave energy in the ultrasonic range as the radiation passes through the breast under examination is fully described in the copending application by Byron B. Brenden entitled Improved Ultrasonic Imaging Technique and Mammograph Equipment," Ser. No. 736,260 filed May 20, 1968, commonly assigned with the present application.
For best results, the breast should be immobilized so that it is not moved during such a radiation examination. Furthermore, the breast should be held away from the woman's chest cavity, a requirement especially important in ultrasonic mammograph equipment. Also, the breast should be flattened somewhat.
It is desirable that the breast be so held without severe discomfort to the woman patient. Also, the breast holder should not substantially attenuate the radiation passing through the breast or otherwise interfere with the examination. Furthermore. a breast holder must be effective for a large variety of breast sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These desirable characteristics and objects of this invention are accomplished by an apparatus which includes two flexible sheets transparent to the examining radiation with means to draw the sheets together from either side of a breast under examination and further having means to control the angle between the sheets as they are so drawn together so that the breast may be first compressed near the chest cavity and then placed under substantially even compression.
Although the scope of this invention is defined in the appended claims, the following detailed description taken in light of the accompanying drawings is intended to aid an understanding of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates ultrasonic mammograph equipment in which the apparatus of the present invention may be utilized;
FIG. 2 illustrates a patient supporting surface for the ultrasonic mammograph equipment of FIG. I which may be used in conjunction with the breast holding apparatus of this invention; and
FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the breast holding apparatus of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There are several techniques for imaging the internal structure of a breast for medical diagnosis of abnormal growths therein, such as cancerous tissues. Passing X-rays through the breast give information of the density variations within the breast. Pulse-echo ultrasonic techniques will detect substantial variations in internal structure. The ultrasonic method of Byron B. Brenden as disclosed in the aforementioned copending application teaches passing a beam of ultrasonic energy through the breast to image density and molecular binding variations therein with greater detail than before. This method is disclosed with reference to FIG. 1 as one example of a use for the breast holder of this invention.
Since ultrasound is heavily attenuated in a gas such as air and is further heavily reflected when passing from air to a solid object, a female breast is best imaged by submersing it in an ultrasonic transmitting liquid medium of high efliciency. This medium should be compatible with the female breast so that no more than a small proportion of energy will be reflected as the ultrasound passes from the liquid medium to the breast and through to the liquid medium again. It has been found that water is quite satisfactory and, of course. available in large quantities and is further comfortable for the patient. To avoid having to submerse more of the patient in the water than the breast under examination. it has been found preferable to position the woman in a horizontal position and extend the breast under examination down through a top surface of the water and pass the ultrasonic energy beam substantially parallel to and immediately below the water surface through the breast.
FIG. 1 illustrates this preferred technique. A tank 200 contains an ultrasonic transmitting water 202 and a woman 204 is held in a prone position over the tank by a supporting surface 206. A breast 207 under examination is suspended into the water 202 through an opening in the supporting surface 206. A quartz transducer 208 held in place by a housing 210 is a preferred source ofa substantially plane wave ultrasonic beam 212 which is propagated through the water 202 to the breast 207. The ultrasonic wavefront passing through the breast is imaged by an ultrasonic lens 213 onto an ultrasonic detector such as the area detector 214 which is shown to be of a type such as a Pohlman cell. A light source 216 illuminates the observers side of the area detector 214, thereby displaying in the optical domain a representation of the ultrasonic wavefront which has passed out of the breast 207.
A primary consideration in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is to allow room for the transducer housing 210 above a surface 218 of water filled container 200 which then permits the ultrasonic energy beam 212 to be propagated very close to the surface 218 and thus image a large portion of the breast 207 without having to immerse any more of the woman in the water. To allow as much of the breast 207 as possible to be placed into the liquid 202, the supporting surface 206 has been sloped from both directions to the breast opening.
A preferred range of frequencies of the ultrasonic energy beam 212 has been found to be between I and I0 Megahertz (MI-12.). Below I MHz., resolution has been found to be inferior, and above 10 MI-Iz., has been found to be preferred for breast examination. The transducer 208 is preferably an X-cut quartz crystal with a 1 MHz. fundamental frequency which is operated at 3 MHz. by a power supply at that frequency, according to well-known techniques. The power supply equipment could be housed within the examination equipment next to the tank 200 in an area 230 of FIG. 1.
The technique of ultrasonic imaging as described with respect to FIG. 1 provides for real time examination of a breast. This has the advantage that the breast may be properly positioned and flattened and other parts of the apparatus adjusted, such as the ultrasonic lens 213, in order to give a good image that is of value for medical diagnostic work.
A preferred female patient support surface and the breast holder of this invention are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A patient support surface 300 of FIG. 2 has a depressed surface area 302 for allowing the patients chest cavity of her body to be placed close to the liquid medium below and her breast placed in the liquid through an opening 306. A further depression 304 in the depressed surface 302 is designed for the patients right shoulder so that she may lie slightly on her right side and thereby cause her rib cage to contact the edges of the opening 306 for most of the breasts perimeter. This firm contact is necessary to prevent the breast from slipping up and out of the holder below. In a similar manner, another surface depression 308 is provided for the female patients left shoulder to facilitate placing her left breast as far through the opening 306 as is possible without slipping out of the holder.
Surrounding the opening 306 on the underneath of the support surface 300 is a preferred embodiment of the breast holder of this invention which can' be seen in detail by reference to FIG. 3. A boxlike frame 310 has as one end thereof a U-shaped support plate 312 which holds a thin membrane 314 in tension. The membrane 314 is preferably a polymeric film such as polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene, and should be substantially transparent to the ultrasonic wavelength used. A second U-shaped support plate 316 holds a similar membrane 318 in a stressed condition. The support plate 316 is placed within the frame 310 to form a breast cavity between the membranes 314 and 318. The support plate 316 further has cylindrical guide members 320 and 322 attached to the opposite sides thereof. These cylindrical members are mounted within guideslots 324 and 326 of opposite generally parallel sides of the frame 310 in a manner so that the support plate 316 may be rotated about the axial center line common to the cylindrical members 320 and 322 and further to be slideable along the two guide slots 324 and 326. The guide slots 324 and 326 are generally perpendicular to the support plate 312.
The support plate 316 is resiliently held away from the support plate 312 by a spring 327 connected between the cylindrical member 320 and the underside of the support surface 300, and a second spring (not shown) between the cylindrical member 322 and the support surface 300. When a breast is positioned between the membranes 314 and 318, the support plate 316 is drawn toward the support plate 312, thereby placing the breast under compression. This movement is made by operating a control knob 332 which is operably connected through a control gear box 335 with the upper side of the U- shaped plate 316 by means of ropes 328 and 330. Similarly, motion front the turning of a control knob 334 is communicated to the bottom edge of the U-shaped plate 316 by ropes 331 and 333 through the control gear box 335. Several pulleys are shown over which these four ropes move between the support plate 316 and the gear control box 335.
To operate the breast holder, movement is applied to the ropes 328 and 330 initially to pull the top edge of the membrane 318 against the breast, thereby to hold the breast away from the chest cavity and without slipping out of the holder when the rest of the breast is placed under compression. Motion is then applied to the ropes 331 and 333 to pull the bottom portion of the membrane 318 against the breast to hold it at approximately uniform .thickness over the area through which ultrasound is projected.
The membranes 314 and 318 have beads 315 and 319, respectively, along their open edges for contacting and conforming to the varied curves of the chest wall. These beaded edges are held taut to increase the initial pinch effect which prevents the breast from creeping up and out of the holder.
When the breast is so immobilized, ultrasonic energy is passed through the breast and its two surrounding membranes 314 and 318 without passing through the rib cage and is then imaged onto an area detector as hereinabove described. When the examination is complete, the support plate 316 is released from compression. This may be accomplished by some mechanism within the control gear box 335 to release tension on the ropes.
It shall be understood that the invention described herein is not limited to the specific arrangements shown and that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.
lclaim:
1. Apparatus for holding a breast of a female in a flattened position away from her body, comprising:
a frame including at least two opposite generally parallel sides supported in a fixed spatial relationship with each other;
a first U-shaped plate held between the sides of said frame and generally perpendicular thereto, said first plate oriented to open upward and having a flexible membrane held in tension thereby, said membrane being substantially transparent to compressional wave radiation in at least the ultrasonic range;
a guide slot in each of said opposing frame members generally perpendicular to said first plate, said slots being substantially parallel with each other;
a second U-shaped plate having outwardly extending guide members on op osite sides thereof, said uide members mounted in san guide slots to hold sat second plate rotatably and slidably between said frame sides, said second plate oriented to open upward and having a flexi ble membrane held in tension thereby, said membrane being substantially transparent to compressional wave radiation in at least the ultrasonic range; and
means for drawing said second U-shaped plate relative to said frame sides toward said first U-shaped plate in a manner that said second U-shaped plate may be rotated about an axis joining its guide members while being moved toward the first U-shaped plate.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexible membranes are made ofa polymeric film material.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for drawing said second plate toward the first plate includes a first means operably connected to the second plate on one side of the axis joining its guide members and a second means independent of said first means operably connected to the second plate on an opposite side of the axisjoining its guide members.
4. A female patient supporting table for compressional wave' energy diagnostic examination of a female breast, comprising:
an open top tank adapted to contain a compressional wave energy transmitting liquid;
a rigid generally horizontal patient supporting member positioned over said tank and having a patient supporting surface on an upper side with an underneath side acting as a cover to said tank;
an opening through said supporting member adapted to accommodate a breast of a female patient lying on said table surface, said opening being surrounded by an area of said supporting surface that slopes gently toward the opening thereby to depress said opening somewhat into said tank;
a pair of surface depressions in the sloping area of the supporting surface on either side of said opening, each depression shaped to accommodate a shoulder of the patient, whereby a female patient lying partially on her side may engage one of said shoulder depressions to completely insert a breast into said tank through said opening;
a pair of flexible membranes in tension held by the underneath side of said patient supporting membrane and positioned within said tank on opposite sides of said opening, said membranes being substantially transparent to compressional wave radiation in at least the ultrasonic range and shaped to accommodate the female breast in compression therebetween; and
means for drawing at least one of said membranes relative to the patient supporting member toward the other membrane, including means for tilting at least one of said sheets relative to the patient supporting member as they are drawn together.
5. The female patient supporting table according to claim 4 wherein each of said flexible membranes is held stretched across a rigid U-shaped frame opening upward.
6. The female patient supporting table according to claim 5 wherein said flexible membranes are made of a polymeric film material.
mg? UNITED STA'IES PAT ENT OFFICE CER'IIFICA'LE OF CORRECTIOIJ Patent No. 3 6 w" ,lanuary. l34 l9ll Invcntor(s) Henry S Jones It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:
Column 2, line 40, after 10 MHz, a line was omitted which 18 the following:
a breast is not transparent to the u ltrasonic energy.
An operating frequency of 3 MHz.--
Claim 4 line 49, change the word "membrane" to --member-.
Signed and sealed this 1 8th day of May 1 971 SEAL) Atte st:
EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Atte st ing Officer" Commissioner of Patents

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for holding a breast of a female in a flattened position away from her body, comprising: a frame including at least two opposite generally parallel sides supported in a fixed spatial relationship with each other; a first U-shaped plate held between the sides of said frame and generally perpendicular thereto, said first plate oriented to open upward and having a flexible membrane held in tension thereby, said membrane being substantially transparent to compressional wave radiation in at least the ultrasonic range; a guide slot in each of said opposing frame members generally perpendicular to said first plate, said slots being substantially parallel with each other; a second U-shaped plate having outwardly extending guide members on opposite sides thereof, said guide members mounted in said guide slots to hold said second plate rotatably and slidably between said frame sides, said second plate oriented to open upward and having a flexible membrane held in tension thereby, said membrane being substantially transparent to compressional wave radiation in at least the ultrasonic range; and means for drawing said second U-shaped plate relative to said frame sides toward said first U-shaped plate in a manner that said second U-shaped plate may be rotated about an axis joining its guide members while being moved toward the first U-shaped plate.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexible membranes are made of a polymeric film material.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for drawing said second plate toward the first plate includes a first means operably connected to the second plate on one side of the axis joining its guide members and a second means independent of said first means operably connected to the second plate on an opposite side of the axis joining its guide members.
4. A female patient supporting table for compressional wave energy diagnostic examination of a female breast, comprising: an open top tank adapted to contain a compressional wave energy transmitting liquid; a rigid generally horizontal patient supporting member positioned over said tank and having a patient supporting surface on an upper side with an underneath side acting as a cover to said tank; an opening through said supporting member adapted to accommodate a breast of a female patient lying on said table surface, said opening being surrounded by an area of said supporting surface that slopes gently toward the opening thereby to depress said opening somewhat into said tank; a pair of surface depressions in the sloping area of the supporting surface on either side of said opening, each depression shaped to accommodate a shoulder of the patient, whereby a female patient lying partially on her side may engage one of said shoulder depressions to completely insert a breast into said tank through said opening; a pair of flexible membranes in tension held by the underneath side of said patient supporting membrane and positioned within said tank on opposite sides of said opening, said membranes being substantially transparent to compressional wave radiation in at least the ultrasonic range and shaped to accommodate the female breast in compression therebetween; and means for drawing at least one of said membranes relative to the patient supporting member toward the other membrane, including means for Tilting at least one of said sheets relative to the patient supporting member as they are drawn together.
5. The female patient supporting table according to claim 4 wherein each of said flexible membranes is held stretched across a rigid U-shaped frame opening upward.
6. The female patient supporting table according to claim 5 wherein said flexible membranes are made of a polymeric film material.
US730344A 1968-05-20 1968-05-20 Breast holder for mammograph Expired - Lifetime US3556081A (en)

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Cited By (37)

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US4051380A (en) * 1976-03-31 1977-09-27 Lasky Harold J Apparatus and method for supporting and positioning the body to facilitate radiographic mammography procedures
US4212306A (en) * 1978-05-18 1980-07-15 Khalid Mahmud Breast examination device and method
EP0032129A1 (en) * 1980-01-07 1981-07-15 Technicare Corporation Ultrasound mammary scanning apparatus
WO1983002053A1 (en) * 1981-12-14 1983-06-23 Kossoff, George Apparatus for ultrasonic examination of deformable objects
EP0176353A2 (en) * 1984-09-26 1986-04-02 Southwest Research Institute Instrumentation for invivo NMR measurements in the human breast to screen for cancer
US4618973A (en) * 1985-11-01 1986-10-21 Lasky Harold J Mammographic X-ray apparatus
WO1993011706A1 (en) * 1991-11-27 1993-06-24 Pellegrino Anthony J Stereotactic mammography and needle biopsy table with ccd imaging system
US5305365A (en) * 1992-11-24 1994-04-19 Bennett X-Ray Technologies Mammography system with rearwardly tilting mammograph
US5506877A (en) * 1994-11-23 1996-04-09 The General Hospital Corporation Mammography breast compression device and method
US5564438A (en) * 1993-08-09 1996-10-15 Merchant; Thomas E. Method and apparatus for prone position radiation therapy of the breast
US5595177A (en) * 1994-06-03 1997-01-21 Harbor-Ucla Research And Education Institute, Inc. Scintigraphy guided stereotaxic localizations apparatus for breast carcinomas
US5706327A (en) * 1996-02-09 1998-01-06 Trex Medical Corporation Method and apparatus for mammographic compression
US5803913A (en) * 1994-06-03 1998-09-08 Khalkhali; Iraj Nuclear medicine stereotaxic localization apparatus for breast carcinomas and method
US5820552A (en) * 1996-07-12 1998-10-13 United States Surgical Corporation Sonography and biopsy apparatus
US5833627A (en) * 1995-04-13 1998-11-10 United States Surgical Corporation Image-guided biopsy apparatus and methods of use
US5938613A (en) * 1993-10-29 1999-08-17 United States Surgical Corporation Methods and apparatus for performing sonomammography and enhanced X-ray imaging
US5983123A (en) * 1993-10-29 1999-11-09 United States Surgical Corporation Methods and apparatus for performing ultrasound and enhanced X-ray imaging
US6027457A (en) * 1998-06-18 2000-02-22 United States Surgical Corporation Apparatus and method for securing tissue during ultrasound examination and biopsy
US6418188B1 (en) 2001-06-14 2002-07-09 Juanita L. Broadnax Radiation breast cup and method
US20030007598A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2003-01-09 U-Systems, Inc. Breast cancer screening with adjunctive ultrasound mammography
US20030158481A1 (en) * 2000-10-11 2003-08-21 Rainer Stotzka Ultrasonic tomograph
US20030212327A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2003-11-13 U-Systems Inc. Adjunctive ultrasound processing and display for breast cancer screening
US20040068170A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2004-04-08 U-Systems Inc.(Vii) Breast cancer screening with ultrasound image overlays
US20040082856A1 (en) * 2002-07-16 2004-04-29 Alfred E. Mann Institute For Biomedical Engineering, University Of Southern California Support bra for ultrasonic breast scanner
US20040216234A1 (en) * 2003-04-29 2004-11-04 Wake Robert H. Ergonometric tabletop for a laser imaging apparatus
US20040249283A1 (en) * 2001-05-09 2004-12-09 Edward Kantorovich Method and apparatus for breast imaging utilizing ultrasound
US20050131292A1 (en) * 2002-05-16 2005-06-16 Charite, Universitaetsklinikum Medizinische Fakultaet Der Humboldt-Universitaet Zu Berlin Method and device for the automatic detection of motory disturbances in a test person
US20050171430A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2005-08-04 Wei Zhang Processing and displaying breast ultrasound information
US20060084868A1 (en) * 2003-01-17 2006-04-20 Hee-Boong Park Apparatus for ultrasonic examination of deformable object
US20060115041A1 (en) * 2004-11-26 2006-06-01 Aurelie Roncaglioni Equipment for mammography
US20070092059A1 (en) * 2005-10-25 2007-04-26 Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard Breast immobilization device and method of imaging the breast
US20090080602A1 (en) * 2006-08-03 2009-03-26 Kenneth Brooks Dedicated breast radiation imaging/therapy system
US7940966B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2011-05-10 U-Systems, Inc. Full-field breast image data processing and archiving
US20120136235A1 (en) * 2010-11-29 2012-05-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus
USD884899S1 (en) * 2017-10-04 2020-05-19 Hitachi, Ltd. Medical breast examination device
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Cited By (67)

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US4051380A (en) * 1976-03-31 1977-09-27 Lasky Harold J Apparatus and method for supporting and positioning the body to facilitate radiographic mammography procedures
US4212306A (en) * 1978-05-18 1980-07-15 Khalid Mahmud Breast examination device and method
EP0032129A1 (en) * 1980-01-07 1981-07-15 Technicare Corporation Ultrasound mammary scanning apparatus
EP0032129B1 (en) * 1980-01-07 1983-07-27 Technicare Corporation Ultrasound mammary scanning apparatus
WO1983002053A1 (en) * 1981-12-14 1983-06-23 Kossoff, George Apparatus for ultrasonic examination of deformable objects
EP0176353A2 (en) * 1984-09-26 1986-04-02 Southwest Research Institute Instrumentation for invivo NMR measurements in the human breast to screen for cancer
US4608991A (en) * 1984-09-26 1986-09-02 Southwest Research Institute Method for in-vivo NMR measurements in the human breast to screen for small breast cancer in an otherwise healthy breast
EP0176353A3 (en) * 1984-09-26 1988-11-30 Southwest Research Institute Instrumentation for invivo nmr measurements in the human breast to screen for cancer
US4618973A (en) * 1985-11-01 1986-10-21 Lasky Harold J Mammographic X-ray apparatus
US5289520A (en) * 1991-11-27 1994-02-22 Lorad Corporation Stereotactic mammography imaging system with prone position examination table and CCD camera
GB2277664A (en) * 1991-11-27 1994-11-02 Anthony Joseph Pellegrino Stereotactic mammography and needle biopsy table with ccd imaging system
US5426685A (en) * 1991-11-27 1995-06-20 Thermotrex Corporation Stereotactic mammography system imaging
WO1993011706A1 (en) * 1991-11-27 1993-06-24 Pellegrino Anthony J Stereotactic mammography and needle biopsy table with ccd imaging system
GB2277664B (en) * 1991-11-27 1996-09-25 Anthony Joseph Pellegrino Stereotactic mammography and needle biopsy table with ccd imaging system
US5609152A (en) * 1991-11-27 1997-03-11 Thermotrex Corporation Prone position stereotactic mammography needle biopsy apparatus and method for using the same
US5305365A (en) * 1992-11-24 1994-04-19 Bennett X-Ray Technologies Mammography system with rearwardly tilting mammograph
US5564438A (en) * 1993-08-09 1996-10-15 Merchant; Thomas E. Method and apparatus for prone position radiation therapy of the breast
US5938613A (en) * 1993-10-29 1999-08-17 United States Surgical Corporation Methods and apparatus for performing sonomammography and enhanced X-ray imaging
US5983123A (en) * 1993-10-29 1999-11-09 United States Surgical Corporation Methods and apparatus for performing ultrasound and enhanced X-ray imaging
US5595177A (en) * 1994-06-03 1997-01-21 Harbor-Ucla Research And Education Institute, Inc. Scintigraphy guided stereotaxic localizations apparatus for breast carcinomas
US5803913A (en) * 1994-06-03 1998-09-08 Khalkhali; Iraj Nuclear medicine stereotaxic localization apparatus for breast carcinomas and method
US5506877A (en) * 1994-11-23 1996-04-09 The General Hospital Corporation Mammography breast compression device and method
US5833627A (en) * 1995-04-13 1998-11-10 United States Surgical Corporation Image-guided biopsy apparatus and methods of use
US5706327A (en) * 1996-02-09 1998-01-06 Trex Medical Corporation Method and apparatus for mammographic compression
US5820552A (en) * 1996-07-12 1998-10-13 United States Surgical Corporation Sonography and biopsy apparatus
US6027457A (en) * 1998-06-18 2000-02-22 United States Surgical Corporation Apparatus and method for securing tissue during ultrasound examination and biopsy
US20030158481A1 (en) * 2000-10-11 2003-08-21 Rainer Stotzka Ultrasonic tomograph
US6786868B2 (en) * 2000-10-11 2004-09-07 Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh Ultrasonic tomograph
US20090312640A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2009-12-17 U-Systems, Inc. Adjunctive ultrasound processing and display for breast cancer screening
US7556602B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2009-07-07 U-Systems, Inc. Breast cancer screening with adjunctive ultrasound mammography
US20040068170A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2004-04-08 U-Systems Inc.(Vii) Breast cancer screening with ultrasound image overlays
US20100040274A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2010-02-18 U-Systems, Inc. Processing and displaying breast ultrasound information
US20030007598A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2003-01-09 U-Systems, Inc. Breast cancer screening with adjunctive ultrasound mammography
US9861342B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2018-01-09 U-Systems, Inc. Adjunctive ultrasound processing and display for breast cancer screening
US7615008B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2009-11-10 U-Systems, Inc. Processing and displaying breast ultrasound information
US7597663B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2009-10-06 U-Systems, Inc. Adjunctive ultrasound processing and display for breast cancer screening
US20050171430A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2005-08-04 Wei Zhang Processing and displaying breast ultrasound information
US8184882B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2012-05-22 U-Systems, Inc Full-field breast image data processing and archiving
US8162833B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2012-04-24 U-Systems, Inc. Thick-slice ultrasound images derived from ultrasonic scans of a chestwardly-compressed breast of a supine patient
US7103205B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2006-09-05 U-Systems, Inc. Breast cancer screening with ultrasound image overlays
US20030212327A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2003-11-13 U-Systems Inc. Adjunctive ultrasound processing and display for breast cancer screening
US7940966B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2011-05-10 U-Systems, Inc. Full-field breast image data processing and archiving
US20110098566A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2011-04-28 U-Systems, Inc. Thick-slice ultrasound images derived from ultrasonic scans of a chestwardly-compressed breast of a supine patient
US7828732B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2010-11-09 U-Systems, Inc. Breast cancer screening with adjunctive ultrasound mammography
US7828733B2 (en) 2000-11-24 2010-11-09 U-Systems Inc. Coronal and axial thick-slice ultrasound images derived from ultrasonic scans of a chestwardly-compressed breast
US20090240150A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2009-09-24 U-Systems, Inc. Breast cancer screening with adjunctive ultrasound mammography
US20040249283A1 (en) * 2001-05-09 2004-12-09 Edward Kantorovich Method and apparatus for breast imaging utilizing ultrasound
US6418188B1 (en) 2001-06-14 2002-07-09 Juanita L. Broadnax Radiation breast cup and method
US20050131292A1 (en) * 2002-05-16 2005-06-16 Charite, Universitaetsklinikum Medizinische Fakultaet Der Humboldt-Universitaet Zu Berlin Method and device for the automatic detection of motory disturbances in a test person
US20040082856A1 (en) * 2002-07-16 2004-04-29 Alfred E. Mann Institute For Biomedical Engineering, University Of Southern California Support bra for ultrasonic breast scanner
US7963918B2 (en) * 2003-01-17 2011-06-21 Hee-Boong Park Apparatus for ultrasonic examination of deformable object
US20060084868A1 (en) * 2003-01-17 2006-04-20 Hee-Boong Park Apparatus for ultrasonic examination of deformable object
US20040216234A1 (en) * 2003-04-29 2004-11-04 Wake Robert H. Ergonometric tabletop for a laser imaging apparatus
US20060115041A1 (en) * 2004-11-26 2006-06-01 Aurelie Roncaglioni Equipment for mammography
US7327825B2 (en) * 2004-11-26 2008-02-05 General Electric Company Equipment for mammography
US7742796B2 (en) 2005-10-25 2010-06-22 General Electric Company Breast immobilization device and method of imaging the breast
US20070092059A1 (en) * 2005-10-25 2007-04-26 Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard Breast immobilization device and method of imaging the breast
US8964936B2 (en) 2006-08-03 2015-02-24 Hologic, Inc. Dedicated breast radiation imaging/therapy system
US20090080602A1 (en) * 2006-08-03 2009-03-26 Kenneth Brooks Dedicated breast radiation imaging/therapy system
US20090080594A1 (en) * 2006-08-03 2009-03-26 Kenneth Brooks Dedicated breast radiation imaging/therapy system
US7957508B2 (en) 2006-08-03 2011-06-07 Hologic, Inc. Dedicated breast radiation imaging/therapy system
US20110237927A1 (en) * 2007-08-03 2011-09-29 Hologic, Inc. Dedicated breast radiation imaging/therapy system
US8254521B2 (en) 2007-08-03 2012-08-28 Hologic, Inc. Dedicated breast radiation imaging/therapy system
US20120136235A1 (en) * 2010-11-29 2012-05-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus
USD884899S1 (en) * 2017-10-04 2020-05-19 Hitachi, Ltd. Medical breast examination device
US11684323B2 (en) * 2018-05-25 2023-06-27 Hologic, Inc. Membrane-based breast compression systems
WO2022094357A1 (en) * 2020-10-30 2022-05-05 Hardenbergh Patricia H Breast immobilization device

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