Apparatus for performing biopsies and the like

Claim 1

An apparatus for performing light beam guided penetrations of a patient's body, comprising: a) a vertically extending post; b) a rail projecting from said post in a first horizontally extending direction; c) a support structure slidably mounted on said rail for movement therealong in said first horizontal direction, a first rotatable mount coupled to said support structure, a second rotatable mount, means for coupling said first rotatable mount to said second rotable mount so as to prevent translational motion therebetween, said first and second rotatable mounts oriented so as to provide rotation within first and second perpendicularly oriented planes, respectively, said first plane being substantially vertically oriented; and d) a light source coupled to said second rotatable mount for projecting a beam of light onto said patient.

Claim 2

An apparatus for performing light beam guided penetrations of a patient's body, comprising: a) a vertically extending post; b) a rail projecting from said post in a first horizontally extending direction; c) a support structure slidably mounted on said rail for movement therealong in said first horizontal direction, a first rotatable mount coupled to said support structure, a second rotatable mount, means for coupling said first rotatable mount to said second rotable mount so as to prevent translational motion therebetween, said first and second rotatable mounts oriented so as to provide rotation within first and second perpendicularly oriented planes, respectively, said first plane being substantially vertically oriented; and d) a light source coupled to said second rotatable mount for projecting a beam of light onto said patient.

Claim 16

An apparatus for directing a light beam toward a patient's body, comprising: a) an approximately horizontally extending rail; b) a first bracket having a base plate and an approximately vertically extending support plate; c) means for slidably mounting said base plate of said first bracket onto said rail; d) first rotatable mounting means attached to said support plate of said first bracket; e) a second bracket having an approximately vertically extending base plate and a support plate, said base plate of said second bracket attached to said first rotatable mounting means; f) second rotatable mounting means attached to said support plate of said second bracket, whereby said first and second rotatable mounting means are capable of translation only as a unit; and g) means for generating a beam of light, and means for attaching said light beam generating means to said second rotatable mounting means.

Claim 17

An apparatus for directing a light beam toward a patient's body, comprising: a) an approximately horizontally extending rail; b) a first bracket having a base plate and an approximately vertically extending support plate; c) means for slidably mounting said base plate of said first bracket onto said rail; d) first rotatable mounting means attached to said support plate of said first bracket; e) a second bracket having an approximately vertically extending base plate and a support plate, said base plate of said second bracket attached to said first rotatable mounting means; f) second rotatable mounting means attached to said support plate of said second bracket, whereby said first and second rotatable mounting means are capable of translation only as a unit; and g) means for generating a beam of light, and means for attaching said light beam generating means to said second rotatable mounting means.

Claim 19

An apparatus for generating a beam of light for use in guiding the entry of a probe into a patient's body with reference to an orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system in which the z-direction is approximately vertical and the x- and y-directions are approximately horizontal so that the x-z and y-z planes extend substantially vertically, comprising: a) means for generating a beam of light; b) a rail having means for being oriented so as to extend over said patient's body in a first horizontal direction; c) a support structure slidably suspended from said rail for movement in said first horizontal direction; and d) means for directing said beam of light in a direction that forms a compound angle with respect to said z-direction, said compound angle forming first and second acute angles with respect to said z-direction in y-z and x-z planes, respectively, said light beam directing means mounted on said support structure and comprising (i) first rotating means for rotating said light beam generating means in said y-z vertical plane so as to form said first acute angle with respect to said z-direction in said y-z plane, and (ii) second rotating means for rotating said light beam generating means in said x-z vertical plane so as to form said second acute angle with respect to said z-direction in said x-z plane; e) a mounting block secured to said second rotating means, said light beam generating means being attached to said mounting block; and f) means for indicating the orientation of said light beam generating means with respect to said z-direction, said orientation indicating means attached to said mounting block.

Claim 20

An apparatus for generating a beam of light for use in guiding the entry of a probe into a patient's body with reference to an orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system in which the z-direction is approximately vertical and the x- and y-directions are approximately horizontal so that the x-z and y-z planes extend substantially vertically, comprising: a) means for generating a beam of light; b) a rail having means for being oriented so as to extend over said patient's body in a first horizontal direction; c) a support structure slidably suspended from said rail for movement in said first horizontal direction; and d) means for directing said beam of light in a direction that forms a compound angle with respect to said z-direction, said compound angle forming first and second acute angles with respect to said z-direction in y-z and x-z planes, respectively, said light beam directing means mounted on said support structure and comprising (i) first rotating means for rotating said light beam generating means in said y-z vertical plane so as to form said first acute angle with respect to said z-direction in said y-z plane, and (ii) second rotating means for rotating said light beam generating means in said x-z vertical plane so as to form said second acute angle with respect to said z-direction in said x-z plane; e) a mounting block secured to said second rotating means, said light beam generating means being attached to said mounting block; and f) means for indicating the orientation of said light beam generating means with respect to said z-direction, said orientation indicating means attached to said mounting block.