Stereotactic X-ray mammograph with biopsy needle

摘要

A stereotactic X-ray mammograph incorporating a biopsy needle has a table with a central aperture 35 through which a prone patient's pendulant breast is exposed to a horizontal beam of X-rays from a source 28C. The source 28C is mounted at one end of C-arm 27 which pivots about an axis 29 and carries at its other end an image receptor 36, which may be a film or a phosphor screen/CCD camera. The breast is compressed between a movable paddle 38 and a fixed plate 53 which are carried on an independently pivoted arm 50. A needle biopsy guide 39 is mounted on an indexing carriage 45 on the arm 50 for motorized adjustment of the needle in three dimensions.