Appeal 2007-1926
Application 10/062,234
ultrasound images of the targeted portion of the selected body
region. The x-ray and ultrasound image data are acquired in
spatial co-relation by utilizing x-ray imaging means and
ultrasound imaging means each supportably positioned in
known co-relation to the predetermined, three-dimensional
frame of reference. This arrangement allows the x-ray and
ultrasound image data to combinatively provide correlated,
three-dimensional image data corresponding with the body
region of interest. In turn, the spatially correlated information
allows for an enhanced medical diagnosis of a given location of
interest within the body region (e.g., potential lesion or
suspicious mass in a breast application) and enhanced biopsy
options in relation thereto.
(Nields, col. 3, ll. 9-33).
The x-ray source (“x-ray tube source”) is mounted on a support arm
(“22”) and can be jointly and selectively pivoted relative to the x-ray
detector (“x-ray receiver/imager”) for imaging the tissue from different
directions (Nields, col. 7, ll. 15-29 and 57-64).
Getzinger teaches “[a]pparatus and methods . . . for correlating
radiologic and ultrasonic images of biological tissue” (Getzinger, Abstract)
“to provide holographic views of a patient’s breast tissue” (Getzinger, col. 2,
ll. 41-44). Ultrasonic data “comprises a three-dimensional volume sampling
of the tissue being examined” (Getzinger, col. 3, ll. 55-57). X-ray beam data
is aligned with the three-dimensional ultrasonic data (Getzinger, col. 7, 1. 50
to col. 8, l. 22).
Niklason describes systems and methods for generating three-
dimensional (tomosynthetic) images of tissue using a movable x-ray source
(Niklason, Abstract; col. 2, ll. 50-58). The methods “are adaptable to current
mammography systems with minor modifications” (Niklason, col. 8, ll. 37-
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