Abstract: A tissue biopsy device uses ultrasonic imaging to guide the biopsy needle. An ultrasonic imaging device comprises three acoustically coupled chambers with an ultrasound transducer in a first chamber, at least a portion of an ultrasound detector in the second chamber and the portion of patient anatomy to be imaged placed in the third chamber, which is intermediate the first and second chambers. The three chambers are filled with an acoustically transmissive liquid. One or more of the end walls dividing the first and third chambers and second and third chambers may be movable to form compression plates that are used to retain the patient anatomy in a fixed position during the imaging and biopsy process. When a structure, such as a lesion, has been located, the imaging may be used to determine the precise location of the lesion in three dimensions.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram or other ultrasonic imaging process that accurately forms phase and amplitude information of the hologram in a manner that renders the unit relatively insensitive to environment vibrations, and provides long maintenance free functioning lifetime. Specifically, there is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram detector component that forms an ultrasonic hologram on the surface of a detection deformable detector material, resulting from the deformation of the surface. The surface deformation is due to the reflection of an ultrasound (ultrasonic) energy profile of the combination of an “object wave” that passes through an object and that of a “reference wave” that is directed to the surface at an off axis angle from the “object wave”.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an acoustic holographic image having a plurality of pulses with different characteristic parameters from each other. More particularly, a sequence contains a plurality of pulses which have different characteristic parameters from each other. An image is created for each sequence and the effect of each pulse in creating the image is varied based on the variation of the characteristic parameter for each pulse. A selectively enhanced acoustic image is thereby obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an acoustic holographic image having a plurality of pulses with different characteristic parameters from each other. More particularly, a sequence contains a plurality of pulses which have different characteristic parameters from each other. An image is created for each sequence and the effect of each pulse in creating the image is varied based on the variation of the characteristic parameter for each pulse. A selectively enhanced acoustic image is thereby obtained.

Abstract: There is disclosed a series of process and apparatus modifications to ultrasonic holography imaging systems that each or together function to enhance image quality of ultrasonic holography images. Specifically, there is disclosed a process and apparatus for generating multiple exposure ultrasonic holography images generated from selected orientations, each of which insures multiple images, multiple intensities (amplitudes) and multiple frequencies from each orientation. The inventive process and apparatus for providing multiple view, multiple angle, and multiple frequency or intensity transmissive ultrasound imaging of the internal structures of an object provides an object sound intensity of equal or near equal intensity across the entire field of the object, such as a human breast.

Abstract: A tissue biopsy device uses ultrasonic imaging to guide the biopsy needle. An ultrasonic imaging device comprises three acoustically coupled chambers with an ultrasound transducer in a first chamber, at least a portion of an ultrasound detector in the second chamber and the portion of patient anatomy to be imaged placed in the third chamber, which is intermediate the first and second chambers. The three chambers are filled with an acoustically transmissive liquid. One or more of the end walls dividing the first and third chambers and second and third chambers may be movable to form compression plates that are used to retain the patient anatomy in a fixed position during the imaging and biopsy process. When a structure, such as a lesion, has been located, the imaging may be used to determine the precise location of the lesion in three dimensions.

Abstract: An imaging system and method provides for the automatic leveling of a hologram detector system. A detector system must be precisely oriented in a proper predetermined orientation. The present invention senses the orientation of a plate to which the detector system is mounted and adjusts driver motors to maintain the detector system at a desired predetermined orientation. In an exemplary embodiment, orientation sensors form a feedback loop to a servo controller to control the position of the motors and thus maintain the detector system at the predetermined orientation. In another aspect of the invention, the patient table may be repositioned with respect to the imaging system. The patient is positioned on a table and imaging performed. If an object of interest is detected, the patient table may be independently repositioned in three orthogonal directions such that the object of interest coincides with an axis of rotation of the patient table.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram or other ultrasonic imaging process that accurately forms phase and amplitude information of the hologram in a manner that renders the unit relatively insensitive to environment vibrations, and provides long maintenance free functioning lifetime. Specifically, there is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram detector component that forms an ultrasonic hologram on the surface of a detection deformable detector material, resulting from the deformation of the surface. The surface deformation is due to the reflection of an ultrasound (ultrasonic) energy profile of the combination of an “object wave” that passes through an object and that of a “reference wave” that is directed to the surface at an off axis angle from the “object wave”.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for non-invasively determining dimensions of a lesion within soft tissue, comprising: (a) ultrasonically imaging soft tissue in an apparatus having an acoustic transducer, an acoustic focussing system, a holographic imaging detector, and a means for visualizing the holographic image; (b) obtaining a holographic planar image of a lesion in a first plane having a thickness z and having a dimension across a wide area of the lesion of x and a length across the lesion of y wherein y is at an approximately 90 degree angle to x; (c) determining if the image of the lesion is contained in different planar images; (d) measuring the x and y dimensions of the lesion in the plane having the largest sum of x plus y dimensions; and (e) determining the 3-dimensional size with a means for z-axis measurement.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram or other ultrasonic imaging process that accurately forms phase and amplitude information of the hologram in a manner that renders the unit relatively insensitive to environment vibrations, and provides long maintenance free functioning lifetime. Specifically, there is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram detector component that forms an ultrasonic hologram on the surface of a detection fluid, resulting from the deformation of the surface. The surface deformation is due to the reflection of an ultrasound (ultrasonic) energy profile of the combination of an “object wave” that passes through an object and that of a “reference wave” that is directed to the surface at an off axis angle from the “object wave”.