Abstract: A patient-supporting table for performing prone stereotactic mammographic biopsy procedures having a platform with an aperture positioned so as to divide the platform into two supporting portions is disclosed. Each of the supporting portions of the platform are sufficient to support at least a patient's torso and legs. The supporting portions of the platform enable a patient's breast to be pendulantly presented in two different orientations with respect to the aperture which further enables 360.degree. access to a pendulantly presented breast by stereotactic mammography and biopsy apparatus which have rotation ranges substantially less than 360.degree. but more than 180.degree. relative to the aperture.

Abstract: An elongated prone patient-supporting examining table for X-ray mammography is centrally supported at variable heights by a rear pedestal. The table is provided with a central breast-receiving aperture through which the patient's pendulant breast is exposed to a horizontal beam of X-rays from a tubehead source mounted on an arm angularly movable through an arc of some 210.degree. centered on the patient's breast. The patient's feet may be positioned at either end of the elongated table on an extensible footrest, permitting X-ray projection through more than 360.degree. around the patient's body. Diagnosis of suspect lesions and fine needle biopsy are both facilitated by stereotactic examination. Digital imaging using a CCD camera and image enhancement software provides magnification, contrast enhancement, window and level manipulation and high resolution images, with low exposure levels, short exposure times, and greatly reduced imaging times.

Abstract: An identification labeling unit for applying identifying data to a sheet of X-ray film enclosed in a film cassette has data input means and a cassette insertion slot extending into the interior of its housing; a data display device, such as a vacuum fluorescent data display screen, defines an object plane inside the housing, and an optical system delivers an image of the data display screen focussed at an image plane within the cavity slot. When the X-ray film-enclosing cassette is fully inserted into the insertion slot, with a corner window hatchcover on the cassette being automatically opened by the cassette's insertion into the cavity slot, the corner of the X-ray film receives the focussed labeling data image from the optical system.

Abstract: An elongated prone patient-supporting examining table for X-ray mammography is centrally supported at variable heights by a rear pedestal. The table is provided with a central breast-receiving aperture through which the patient's pendulant breast is exposed to a horizontal beam of X-rays from a tubehead source mounted on an arm angularly movable through an arc of some 210.degree. centered on the patient's breast. The patient's feet may be positioned at either end of the elongated table on an extensible footrest, permitting X-ray projection through more than 360.degree. around the patient's body. Diagnosis of suspect lesions and fine needle biopsy are both facilitated by stereotactic examination. Digital imaging using a CCD camera and image enhancement software provides magnification, contrast enhancement, window and level manipulation and high resolution images, with low exposure levels, short exposure times, and greatly reduced imaging times.

Abstract: A digital imaging charge coupled device or CCD camera has a hollow camera body defining a sealable interior focal plane chamber enclosing a CCD array positioned to receive light focused thereon through a light-transparent window. The interior chamber also encloses a molecular sieve moisture adsorber of crystalline alumino-silicate material, and the chamber is evacuated, filled with inert nitrogen gas under slightly elevated pressure and then sealed, minimizing the partial pressures of water vapor or outgassing gases and reducing or eliminating their efforts on the CCD array.