Patent · US Expired

Magnetic resonance imaging device useful for guiding a medical instrument

US5569266A · kind A · utility

55Cited by
29References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 13, 1993
Grant dateOct 29, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 13, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2017/00902
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The disclosed system (10) employs an MRI device to identify the location of an area of interest within a patient's breast (28) and guide a medical instrument (26) for insertion to the identified location. The patient (30) is positioned on a table top (18) having an opening (52) through which the patient's breast (28) pendulantly projects. The pendulant breast (28) is immobilized by a basket (36). The table top (18) and patient (30) are then introduced into magnetic field generator (12) and MRI signals are received by receiver (14). The location of an area of interest within the patient's breast (28) is determined based on the received signals. A guidance assembly (24) can then be used to aim the medical instrument (26) towards the location of interest via a penetration path selected so as to avoid the receiver (14) and basket (36).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.