Patent ID: 6487434
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
A magnetic resonance tomograph (MRT) with a continuous channel for the insertion from one end thereof of a stretcher adapted to support a female patient laying on her stomach for the performance of a MR mammography, comprising: a manipulator for introducing into said channel from the opposite end thereof in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said channel, instruments for providing an image-supported diagnosis and for a therapeutic treatment of a breast of said patient, said manipulator being position-adjustable with respect to said breast in all three spatial directions about a point on the surface of said breast for proper angular positioning of the instruments, and including a support arm having a distal end with a housing for receiving different instruments, which can be exchangeably inserted from the other (proximal) end of said support arm for use in connection with different treatment steps, said manipulator comprising a bow-like frame with support skids disposed on opposite sides for supporting said frame on, and sliding it into, said channel on support rails with which said frame is lockable when properly positioned in said channel, said frame having an upper portion in the form of a horizontal bridge, a support carriage supported from said bridge so as to be movable along said bridge in the x-direction, operating means for moving said carriage along said bridge, pivot arms pivotally supported at one end on said support carriage and supporting at their other end said support arm within said housing, drive means for pivoting said pivot arms about a pivot axis whereby its other end with said housing including the instruments is movable in the y-direction in a plane extending transverse to the channel axis for properly positioning said housing with said instruments relative to said breast, said housing including a drive carriage operable from the proximate end of said manipulator for advancing said instruments from, or retracting then into, said housing, and a handling device for inserting said instruments into and removing them from, said housing and for moving said housing into a position for proper operation of said instruments.