Digital X-ray camera for precision mammographic needle biopsy system

Claim 1

In a precision mammographic needle biopsy apparatus, including: an X-ray source; a biopsy needle and an actuator for moving the biopsy needle in response to operator input; a compression plate and a first transparent surface between which the breast is clamped during a biopsy procedure; means including a CCD array for receiving X-rays emitted by said source which have passed through said breast, the improvement wherein: said means for receiving X-rays comprises an X-ray camera having a housing which includes said first transparent surface, said camera housing having positioned therein: a sealed inner housing including a second transparent surface and having situated therein said CCD array, means for converting x-rays which have passed through said second transparent surface into light and guiding said light to said CCD array, and pre-amplification means for pre-amplifying an output of the CCD array; and an analog circuit board having thereon analog processing means for receiving pre-amplified signals from said pre-amplification means within the sealed inner housing and processing the pre-amplified signals for input to an analog-to-digital converter, the analog-to-digital converter being connected to a bus connector in said camera housing; a digital circuit board having thereon a clock signal generator for supplying timing signals to the analog processing circuitry and the analog-to-digital converter, and to the CCD array; and a power and control board having thereon means for conditioning and supplying power to the analog and digital circuit boards and means including a control processor for receiving and distributing control signals supplied by a remote signal processor, wherein said means for guiding said light to said CCD array consists of a plurality of optical fibers having ends which face the second transparent surface and ends adjacent the CCD array, said optical fibers having a scintillation material coated on the ends of the fibers which face said second transparent surface, and wherein said optical fiber are tapered such that a diameter of said fibers is less at the ends of said fibers which are adjacent the CCD array than at said coated ends.