Diagnostic tomographic laser imaging apparatus
US6662042B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 22, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/0073
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A laser imaging apparatus comprises a platform for supporting a female patient in frontdown, prone position, including an opening permitting a breast of the patient to be vertically pendant below the surface of the platform; scanning mechanism disposed below the platform to scan the breast without breast compression. The scanning mechanism includes a source of coherent near infrared light pulses operably directed to the breast; photodetectors operably disposed to detect the light pulses after passing through the breast; circuit for deriving voltages proportional to the intensity of the received pulses; and computer programmed for storing and displaying images of tissue in the breast derived from the voltages.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.