X-ray examination apparatus

Claim 1

X-ray examination apparatus for the female breast comprising an X-ray source and a breast support plate onto which an X-ray film cassette can be mounted, wherein a compression plate is mounted parallel to the breast support plate between the X-ray source and the breast support plate which compression plate is adjustable relative to the breast support plate for the purpose of adjusting its distance from the breast support plate, wherein the improvement comprises the compression plate (8) having an open section (12) of such a size that a substantial portion of the breast is left exposed, and a marking (13,14) being arranged at the margin of the open section, reproducible on an X-ray film, for the purpose of locating a specified point in the open section, said open section comprising an opening completely through the compression plate and having dimensions in the plane of said compression plate which are substantially greater than the depth of said opening, such dimensions being such as to accommodate the application of a biopsy needle through said opening at any of a series of locations over a substantial area of said opening as identified by said marking, whereby the opening need not be precisely aligned during the application of the compression plate for the fixation of the region of the breast under examination, and whereby subsequent to such fixation, the markings reproduced on the film will serve to identify the particular point over the area of said opening at which the biopsy needle is to be applied, the region above and below said opening being entirely unobstructed to provide for the application of a biopsy needle directly to the tissue framed by the opening without any interposed material.