Patent ID: 7556602
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of ultrasound examination of a patient's breast, comprising: compressing the patient's breast along a compression direction by exerting a compressive force; acquiring image data representing a plurality of thin-slice ultrasound images by scanning the patient's breast in an automated scanning process in a scanning direction with an ultrasound transducer that is long in a direction transverse to the scanning direction, wherein: computer-processing the image data representing said thin-slice images into image data representing a plurality of thick-slice images that are fewer in number than said thin slices, wherein: displaying a plurality of said thick-slice images on a computerized display to thereby present for viewing medical information regarding the patient's breast in fewer displayed images than if said thin-slice images were displayed, and where each displayed image contains more information than a single thin-slice image.