Patent ID: 6102866
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: A61B,Y10S

Abstract:
A medical apparatus, comprising:patient support means for supporting a patient such that a body region of interest of said patient is disposed within a predetermined, three-dimensional frame of reference;biopsy means, supportably mounted in a predetermined relation and moveable relative to said patient support means, for advancing into said body region of interest positioned within said predetermined, three-dimensional frame of reference at a selected entry angle relative to said three-dimensional frame of reference; andultrasound imaging means, supportably mounted in a predetermined relation to said patient support means and positionable in direct contact with said body region of interest, for directing an ultrasound signal into said body region of interest to provide ultrasound image data corresponding with a depthwise profile of a plane passing through a portion of said body region of interest, said plane corresponding to a particular position of an ultrasound transceiver of said ultrasound imaging means, wherein said ultrasound imaging means is pivotably mounted relative to at least one axis passing through said ultrasound imaging means such that said plane of said body region of interest with which said ultrasound image data corresponds has a predetermined relation relative to said entry angle of said biopsy means.