Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and related methods for scanning a breast are described, the apparatus comprising a frame defining an orifice shaped to allow the breast to be received therein, a compressive member secured to the frame across the orifice that compresses the received breast toward the patient's chest wall, and a transducer positioned in acoustic communication with the compressive member for imaging the breast therethrough. The frame holds a reservoir of acoustically conductive fluid that maintains the transducer in acoustic communication with the compressive member. In different preferred embodiments having different advantages, the compressive member comprises a flexible elastic membrane, a flexible inelastic membrane, or a rigid sonolucent plastic preformed into the shape of a chestwardly-compressed breast. Where the transducer comprises one or more linear array probes, various probe orientations and trajectories are described for generating a three-dimensional volumetric representation of the breast having reduced nipple shadow effects.

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First Claim