Systems and methods for the orientation of soft tissue such as breast
tissue for enhanced accuracy of imaging and/or procedures such as a
biopsy or excision are disclosed. The system for orientating and
maintaining the orientation of soft tissue generally includes a frame
defining an opening, the frame being configured to orient and immobilize
an area of soft tissue positioned on one side of the opening, an
attachment mechanism to secure the frame to an attachment region defined
by the area of soft tissue or by a skin surface overlying the area of
soft tissue, to facilitate orienting and immobilizing the area of soft
tissue, and an imaging device to image the area of soft tissue. The
opening may allow a probe of the imaging device or imaging energy
transmitted by the imaging device to be movable therein for image
scanning of the soft tissue. The probe, e.g., an ultrasound transducer
can be rotated within the frame such that the probe scans at least either
of two perpendicular directions within the frame. The frame may be
adjustable in at least one dimension in order to adjust the size of the
frame opening so as to facilitate the scanning and positioning of the
probe within the frame opening. The frame may be attached and secured to
the soft tissue with vacuum, adhesive, and/or clips or hooks. The soft
tissue may be stretched into a desire orientation prior to attachment of
the frame. An anchored lift member may be connected to the frame so as to
slightly lift the frame and thus position and immobilize the soft tissue
to which the frame is attached. Lifting of the soft tissue improves and
enhances a tissue separation process using a tissue separation device. A
connector may connect the imaging device to the tissue separation device
to maintain a portion of the tissue separation device within the image
plane of the probe to further improve and enhance the tissue separation
process.