Inventors:
Kevin M. Kelly - Venice CA, US
Roger Royce - Venice CA, US
Richard J. Peterson - Redondo Beach CA, US
Luis E. Ponce - Huntington Park CA, US
Christopher M. Underbrink - Altadena CA, US
Matthew W. Smith - Tulsa OK, US
Donald C. Goss - Playa del Rey CA, US
Assignee:
Sonocine, Inc. - Venice CA
International Classification:
A61B008/14
Abstract:
A system for screening cellular tissue, in particular breast tissue. The system comprises an ultrasound probe that is capable of generating image data representing images of cellular tissue, one or more sensors to determine the probe's location, an image viewer, a pad, which is ultrasonically conductive and placed over the patient's nipple, and a fabric covering is placed over the breast tissue to be scanned. The pad has different ultrasonic characteristics than the cellular tissue to be scanned. The fabric covering includes an ultrasonic coupling agent and is used to hold the breast tissue in place. The fabric of the covering and the coupling agent transmit ultrasonic energy with minimal interference. The ultrasound probe is scanned over the tissue, and the one or more sensors are employed to determine the probe's location. The images representing the scanned tissue are displayed by a viewer which is capable of providing a rapid sequential display of the images.