Diaphanography method and apparatus

Claim 2

Diaphanography apparatus for examining a human breast comprising: (a) first means for compressing the breast to be examined into a configuration having a pair of flat sides that are disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another, (b) a light source operative to direct a beam of collimated light along a linear input path into incidence with one of said flat sides, (c) light collecting means comprising a light sensitive detector operative to generate electrical output signals in response to light that is incident on said detector, (d) said light sensitive detector being positioned to detect light which emerges from the other of said flat sides along an output path which is colinear with said input path, (e) said light collecting means including light scatter-rejection means for preventing light that emerges from the other of said flat sides along paths other than said output path or with angular deviation greater than an angular deviation of the beam of collimated light from impinging on said light sensitive detector, (f) means for effecting relative movement between said first means and said beam of light, and (g) means responsive to the signals that are generated by said light sensitive detector for producing a visible image.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light scatter rejection means comprises a light collimator.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said light sensitive detector is of elongated configuration, said relative motion being effected in a direction transverse to the direction of elongation of said detector.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the light scatter rejection means includes mirror means disposed between said other of said flat sides and said light collecting means for reflecting said emerging light toward said light sensitive detector, and light blocking means including an aperture through which said emerging light passes, said aperture being located between said mirror means and said light sensitive detector.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said light source comprises a laser.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said mirror means comprises a parabolic mirror.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a laser.

Claim 9

Diaphanography apparatus for examining a human breast comprising first means for compressing the breast to be examined into a configuration having a pair of flat sides that are disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another, a light source operative to direct a beam of collimated light along a linear input path into incidence with one of said flat sides, light collecting means comprising a light sensitive detector operative to generate electrical output signals in response to light that is incident on said detector, said light sensitive detector being positioned to detect light which emerges from the other of said flat sides along an output path which is colinear with said input path, said light collecting means including light scatter-rejection means for preventing about 99.5% of said beam of collimated light which emerges from the other of said flat sides along paths other than said colinear path or with angular divergence greater than angular divergence of said beam of collimated light from impinging on said light sensitive detector, means for effecting relative movement between said first means and said beam of light, and means responsive to the signals that are generated by said light sensitive detector for producing a visible image.

Claim 10

Diaphanography apparatus for examining a human breast comprising first means for compressing the breast to be examined into a configuration having a pair of flat sides that are disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to one another, a light source operative to direct a beam of collimated light along a linear input path into incidence with one of said flat sides, light collecting means comprising a light sensitive detector operative to generate electrical output signals in response to light that is incident on said detector, said light sensitive detector being positioned to detect light which emerges from the other of said flat sides along an output path which is colinear with said input path, said light collecting means including light scatter-rejection means for preventing about 99.5% of said beam of collimated light which emerges from the other of said flat sides along paths other than said colinear path or with angular divergence greater than angular divergence of said beam of collimated light from impinging on said light sensitive detector, means for effecting relative movement between said first means and said beam of light, and means responsive to the signals that are generated by said light sensitive detector for producing a visible image.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said light scatter rejection means comprises a light collimator.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said light sensitive detector is of elongated configuration, said relative motion being effected in a direction transverse to the direction of elongation of said detector.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the light scatter rejection means includes mirror means disposed between said other of said flat sides and said light collecting means for reflecting said emerging light toward said light sensitive detector and light blocking means including an aperture through which said emerging light passes, said aperture being located between said mirror means and said light sensitive detector.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said mirror means comprises a parabolic mirror.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said light source comprises a laser.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said light source comprises a laser.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15 wherein said radiation detector is a sheet of film.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15 wherein said radiation detector is operative to generate electrical signals, and where said method further includes utilizing said electrical signals to produce a visual image.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17 wherein said step of producing a visual image comprises storing digital data representative of predetermined parameter values of said electrical signals, and effecting electronic reconstruction of said stored digital data to generate a visual image.

Claim 22

The method of claim 15 wherein said collecting step comprises placing a post-collimator adjacent the other side of said compressed breast, the post-collimator being operative to permit the passage therethrough of only that light which emerges from a predetermined restricted area of the other side of said compressed breast with an angular spread which is no greater than the angular spread of the collimated beam of light.

Claim 23

The method of claim 19 wherein said predetermined restricted area is substantially a point.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19 wherein said predetermined restricted area is a line.

Claim 25

The method of claim 15 wherein said step of directing a collimated beam of light includes providing a laser light source.

Claim 28

The method of claim 23 wherein said radiation detector is a sheet of film.

Claim 29

The method of claim 23 wherein said radiation detector is operative to generate electrical signals, and the method further includes using said electrical signals to produce a visual image.

Claim 30

The method of claim 25 wherein said step of producing a visual image comprises storing digital data representative of predetermined parameter values of said electrical signals, and effecting electronic reconstruction of said stored digital data to generate a visual image.

Claim 31

The method of claim 23 wherein said collecting step is operative to collect only that light which emerges from the other side of said compressed breast at a point that is directly opposite the point on which said input beam is incident.

Claim 32

The method of claim 23 wherein said collecting step comprises placing a post-collimator adjacent the other side of said compressed breast, the post-collimator being operative to permit the passage therethrough of only that light which emerges from a predetermined restricted area of the other side of said compressed breast with an angular spread which is no greater than the angular spread of the collimated beam of light.

Claim 33

The method of claim 28 wherein said predetermined restricted area is substantially a point.

Claim 34

The method of claim 28 wherein said predetermined restricted area is a line.

Claim 35

The method of claim 23 wherein said step of directing a collimated beam of light includes providing a laser light source.