Patent ID: 7496398

Claim:
A method comprising: immobilizing a patient's breast using a selected immobilization assembly; imaging the immobilized breast with penetrating radiation to obtain at least one two-dimensional penetrating radiation image of the breast; displaying the at least one penetrating radiation image of the breast and deriving therefrom first spatial information regarding a region of interest in the breast; positioning an ultrasound image display screen in close proximity to the immobilized breast by moving the screen using an articulating supporting structure; carrying out ultrasound imaging of the immobilized breast to obtain ultrasound images of the breast substantially in real time and deriving therefrom second spatial information regarding the region of interest; displaying said ultrasound images on said ultrasound display screen substantially in real time and in spatial correlation; and using said displayed ultrasound images and said first and second information regarding the region of interest to guide an insertion of a medical instrument in the immobilized breast including by operatively interconnecting a processor with at least the immobilization assembly and the medical instrument, wherein said processor controls the relative positions thereof to position the medical instrument relative to said region of interest.