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.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of capturing wind energy using a cross-flow wind turbine in an efficient manner comprising the steps of:
generating a low pressure area on a leading face of a rotor blade by accelerating the flow of air across the surface of an airfoil stator that is positioned to form a predetermined gap between said rotor blade and said air foil stator during a power stroke of said rotor blade;
using a blocking stator to substantially block wind from impeding movement of said rotor blade during a return cycle of said rotor blade and directing said substantially blocked wind to a trailing face of said rotor during said power stroke of said rotor blade so as to create a pressure differential between said leading face and said rotor blade and said trailing face of said rotor blade during said power stroke that creates a force that rotates said rotor blade in an efficient manner.
2. A cross-flow wind turbine system that is capable of capturing wind energy with high efficiency over a wide range of wind speeds comprising:
a rotor having two semicircular shaped rotor blades;
an airfoil stator positioned to capture and accelerate wind across an airfoil surface of said airfoil stator and provide a gap having a predetermined size between said rotor blades and said airfoil surface so that a negative pressure area is formed on a leading face of said rotor blades as said rotor blades pass by said airfoil surface during a power stroke; and
a blocking stator positioned to substantially block wind from impeding upon a leading face of said rotor blades during a return cycle, that is opposite to said power stroke, and direct wind that is blocked by said blocking stator onto a trailing face of said rotor blades during said power stroke such that a pressure differential is created between said leading face of said rotor blades and said trailing face of said rotor blades during said power stroke that creates a force that rotates said rotor blade in an efficient manner.
3. A crossflow wind turbine that generates mechanical energy from wind comprising:
a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades that are symmetrically disposed around said rotor, said rotor blades disposed around said rotor so that a gap is formed between leading edges of said rotor blades and a rotor axis during at least a portion of the rotation of said rotor blades around said rotor axis;
a rotor space formed in a volume that is swept out by said rotor blades, said rotor space having a drive portion in which said rotor blades are driven by said wind and a return portion in which said rotor blades return to said drive portion;
a plurality of airfoils that direct wind into said drive portion and direct wind away from said return portion to cause said rotor to turn and generate said mechanical energy, said airfoils being placed non-symmetrically around said rotor to provide a substantially bidirectional crossflow turbine.
4. The crossflow turbine of claim 3 wherein said rotor axis has a non-circular cross-section.
5. The crossflow turbine of claim 4 wherein said rotor blades are disposed in said rotor so that said wind flows across said rotor blades in said drive portion, through said gap, and into said return portion of said rotor space.
6. The crossflow turbine of claim 3 wherein said rotor blades are disposed in said rotor so that said wind flows across said rotor blades in said drive portion, through said gap, and into said return portion of said rotor space.
7. The crossflow turbine of claim 3 wherein said rotor axis is vertical and said airfoils extend at least partially over a base so that said base and said airfoils capture wind along lower portions of said crossflow turbine and direct winds from said lower portion of said crossflow turbine.
8. A method of generating mechanical energy from wind comprising:
providing a crossflow wind turbine having airfoils and a rotor that sweeps out a rotor space, said rotor space having a drive portion and a return portion;
symmetrically placing a plurality of rotor blades in said rotor that form a gap between leading edges of said rotor blades and a rotor axis during at least a portion of the rotation of said rotor blades around said rotor axis;
placing said airfoils non-symmetrically around said rotor to provide a substantially bidirectional crossflow turbine by substantially directing said wind into said drive portion of said rotor space so that said wind drives said rotor blades in said drive portion, and by substantially blocking said wind from entering said return portion of said rotor space so that said rotor blades return to said drive portion to generate said mechanical energy.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of symmetrically placing a plurality of rotor blades in said rotor further comprises:
placing said plurality of rotor blades in said rotor so that said leading edges are spaced apart from said rotor axis during at least a portion of said rotation of said rotor blades around said rotor axis as a result of said rotor axis having a non-circular cross-section.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of placing said airfoils around said rotor further comprises:
placing at least one airfoil in a position to block said wind from entering said second portion whenever said wind flows substantially from at least one predetermined direction, and placing at least one other airfoil in a position to direct said wind into said first portion whenever said wind is flowing substantially from said at least one predetermined direction.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein:
providing a crossflow turbine comprises providing a vertical crossflow turbine; and,
placing said airfoils comprises placing said airfoils so that said airfoils at least partially extend over a base to form an airfoil so that said utility enclosure and said airfoils direct wind from lower portions of said crossflow turbine into said crossflow turbine.
12. The crossflow turbine of claim 8 wherein symmetrically placing said plurality of rotor blades in said rotor that form a gap during at least a portion of said rotation of said rotor blades around said rotor axis comprises symmetrically placing said plurality of rotor blades in said rotor to form said gap so that said wind flows across said rotor blades in said drive portion, through said gap, and into said return portion of said rotor space.