System and method for tissue biopsy using ultrasonic imaging

Abstract

A tissue biopsy device uses ultrasonic imaging to guide the biopsy needle. An ultrasonic imaging device comprises three acoustically coupled chambers with an ultrasound transducer in a first chamber, at least a portion of an ultrasound detector in the second chamber and the portion of patient anatomy to be imaged placed in the third chamber, which is intermediate the first and second chambers. The three chambers are filled with an acoustically transmissive liquid. One or more of the end walls dividing the first and third chambers and second and third chambers may be movable to form compression plates that are used to retain the patient anatomy in a fixed position during the imaging and biopsy process. When a structure, such as a lesion, has been located, the imaging may be used to determine the precise location of the lesion in three dimensions. The ultrasonically transmissive fluid is drained from the central third chamber with ultrasonic coupling occurring through the ultrasonically transmissive compression plates and the imaged patient anatomy. This permits real-time imaging of the patient anatomy during the biopsy process. The three-dimensional coordinates are used to provide a manual guide for insertion of the biopsy needle. Light bars may be projected onto the external anatomy of the patient to indicate the desired point of entry of the biopsy needle. The physician may use the real-time imaging to view both the lesion and the biopsy needle. In an alternative embodiment, a biopsy needle may be automatically positioned at the location of the lesion by a three-dimensional positioning system.

1 . A biopsy system to assist in guiding a biopsy device using an ultrasonic imaging apparatus for imaging a portion of patient anatomy, the system comprising: 
 a first chamber containing ultrasonically transmissive fluid with the portion of the patient anatomy positioned in the first chamber and the ultrasonic imaging apparatus being positioned in a location other than the first chamber;    a display to display the imaged portion of the anatomy to permit imaging of a structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy; and    an aperture in the first chamber to permit the draining of the ultrasonically transmissive fluid and to permit access to the structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus continues to generate an image during a biopsy procedure wherein the display displays the imaged portion of the anatomy and a biopsy device.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, the system further comprising a second chamber containing ultrasonically transmissive fluid with the ultrasonic transducer being positioned within the second chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic detector, the system further comprising a third chamber containing ultrasonically transmissive fluid with at least a portion of the ultrasonic detector being positioned within the third chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the display provides an image in a predetermined focal plane of the structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy, the system further comprising a visual indicator of the predetermined focal plane to indicate the predetermined focal plane with respect to an external portion of the patient anatomy.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the visual indicator comprises a light bar projected onto the external portion of the patient anatomy to indicate the predetermined focal plane with respect to the external portion of the patient anatomy.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tracking system to determine the coordinates of a location of the structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a lens system to focus on a predetermined focal plane wherein the display displays a two-dimensional image of the structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy and wherein the tracking system determines the coordinates in three-dimensional space using data related the predetermined focal plane in the display image to determine the coordinates in a two-dimensional plane and using data related to the predetermined focal plane to determine the coordinates in a third dimension.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a robotic member to automatically position a biopsy device at the coordinates of the location of a structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy.  
     
     
         10 . A method for guiding a biopsy device using an ultrasonic imaging apparatus for imaging a portion of patient anatomy, the method comprising: 
 positioning the portion of the patient anatomy to be imaged in a first chamber containing ultrasonically transmissive fluid with the ultrasonic imaging apparatus being positioned in a location other than the first chamber;    displaying the imaged portion of the anatomy to permit imaging of a structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy; and    opening an aperture in the first chamber to permit the draining of the ultrasonically transmissive fluid and thereby permit access to the structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein displaying the imaged portion of the anatomy continues during a biopsy procedure wherein the display displays the imaged portion of the anatomy and a biopsy device.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, the method further comprising positioning the ultrasonic transducer within a second chamber containing ultrasonically transmissive fluid.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic detector, the method further comprising positioning at least a portion of the ultrasonic detector within a third chamber containing ultrasonically transmissive fluid.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the display provides an image in a predetermined focal plane of the structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy, the method further comprising generating a visual indicator of the predetermined focal plane to indicate the predetermined focal plane with respect to an external portion of the patient anatomy.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the visual indicator comprises a light bar projected onto the external portion of the patient anatomy to indicate the predetermined focal plane with respect to the external portion of the patient anatomy.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining the coordinates of a location of the structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a lens system to focus on a predetermined focal plane wherein the display displays a two-dimensional image of the structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy and wherein determining the coordinates of the location of the structure comprises determining the coordinates in three-dimensional space using data related the predetermined focal plane in the display image to determine the coordinates in a two-dimensional plane and using data related to the predetermined focal plane to determine the coordinates in a third dimension.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising positioning a biopsy device at the coordinates of the location of a structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising automatically positioning a biopsy device at the coordinates of the location of a structure from which a sample will be taken for biopsy.