Breast examination device and method

Claim 2

Apparatus for the examination of the female breast for tumors or the like, comprising a pair of spaced plates transparent to visible light; means for supporting the plates relative to each other and permitting the plates to be moved toward and away from one another to enable the breast to be captured and gently compressed and flattened between the plates; and a source of visible light positionable exteriorly of the plates for producing a narrow beam of light directable through the plates and flattened breast, said source being movable with respect to the plates generally normal to the direction of said beam to enable sequential illumination of substantially the entire breast captured between the plates.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source includes means for varying the diameter of the narrow beam of light.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for varying the wavelength of the light beam.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the visible light is substantially monochromatic.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting the plates relative to each other includes means maintaining confronting surfaces of the plates parallel.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 including means gently urging the plates apart.

Claim 8

Apparatus for the examination of the female breast for tumors or the like, comprising a pair of spaced plates transparent to visible light, means for supporting the plates relative to each other and permitting the plates to be moved toward and away from one another to enable the breast to be captured and gently compressed and flattened between the plates, and a source of visible light positionable exteriorly of the plates for producing a narrow beam of light directable through the plates and flattened breast, said source being movable with respect to the plates generally normal to the direction of the beam to enable illumination of substantially the entire breast between the plates, at least one of said plates including visible, spaced, parallel scribe lines thereacross, the spacing between adjacent lines being substantially the same as the diameter of the light beam.

Claim 9

Apparatus for the examination of the female breast for tumors or the like, comprising a pair of spaced plates transparent to visible light, means for supporting the plates relative to each other and permitting the plates to be moved toward and away from one another to enable the breast to be captured and gently compressed and flattened between the plates, and a source of visible light positionable exteriorly of the plates for producing a narrow beam of light directable through the plates and flattened breast, said source being movable with respect to the plates generally normal to the direction of the beam to enable illumination of substantially the entire breast between the plates, at least one of said plates including visible, spaced, parallel scribe lines thereacross, the spacing between adjacent lines being substantially the same as the diameter of the light beam.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 including means for varying the diameter of the light beam.

Claim 11

Apparatus for the examination of the female breast for tumors or the like, comprising a pair of spaced plates transparent to visible light, means for supporting the plates relative to each other and permitting the plates to be moved toward and away from one another to enable the breast to be captured and gently compressed and flattened between the plates, a source of visible light positionable exteriorly of the plates for producing a narrow beam of light directable through the plates and flattened breast, and screening means positionable to screen the examiner's eyes from the light beam at edges of the flattened breast.

Claim 12

Apparatus for the examination of the female breast for tumors or the like, comprising a pair of spaced plates transparent to visible light, means for supporting the plates relative to each other and permitting the plates to be moved toward and away from one another to enable the breast to be captured and gently compressed and flattened between the plates, a source of visible light positionable exteriorly of the plates for producing a narrow beam of light directable through the plates and flattened breast, and screening means positionable to screen the examiner's eyes from the light beam at edges of the flattened breast.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source includes a manually supportable barrel open at its upper end, a source of light within the barrel, and means carried by the barrel for varying the cross-sectional area of the light beam emitted by the light source.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 including means for varying the wavelength of the emitted light.

Claim 15

Apparatus for the examination of the female breast for tumors or the like, comprising a. a pair of spaced, generally parallel plates transparent to light, the plates having aligned edges gently concaved to fit snugly against the human chest wall in the vicinity of the breasts; b. means supporting the plates relative to each other and permitting at least one of the plates to move toward and away from the other plate to enable the breast to be captured and gently compressed and flattened between the plates; c. light absorbing means positionable against exposed edges of the compressed, flattened breast received between the plates and capable of substantially preventing the escape of light from the breast edges; d. a source of visible light positionable exteriorly of the plates for producing a beam of light directable through the plates and breast and generally normal to the plane of the plates, the light source including means permitting the diameter of the beam of light to be manually adjusted.

Claim 16

Apparatus for the examination of the female breast for tumors or the like, comprising a. a pair of spaced, generally parallel plates transparent to light, the plates having aligned edges gently concaved to fit snugly against the human chest wall in the vicinity of the breasts; b. means supporting the plates relative to each other and permitting at least one of the plates to move toward and away from the other plate to enable the breast to be captured and gently compressed and flattened between the plates; c. light absorbing means positionable against exposed edges of the compressed, flattened breast received between the plates and capable of substantially preventing the escape of light from the breast edges; d. a source of visible light positionable exteriorly of the plates for producing a beam of light directable through the plates and breast and generally normal to the plane of the plates, the light source including means permitting the diameter of the beam of light to be manually adjusted.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the plates includes visible indicia thereon defining a path for the beam of light to follow, the pathway being configured to cause illumination of substantially the entire breast section when the light beam is caused to follow the pathway from one end thereof to the other.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 including means permitting at least one of the plates to tilt upwardly about an axis generally parallel to the concavely curved edge of the plate.

Claim 21

The method of claim 15 including the step of varying the diameter of the light beam as the beam is viewed through the plates and breast.