in accordance with the foregoing summary of the invention , the following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention , and is presently considered to be the best mode of the invention as applied . the device of the present invention may be made of any combination of appropriate materials such as sterile , biocompatible materials ( e . g ., plastic , wire , tubes , catheters , diaphragms , etc .). as described in more detail below , the device of the present invention has two main components : 1 . the first component is a lower plane portion defining a lower plane . the lower plane portion preferably comprises at least one pair of angled members of an image - conspicuous material , each of the angled members defining an angle , preferably of about 53 degrees . 2 . the second component is an upper plane portion defining a plane orthogonal to and above the lower plane portion . the upper plane portion preferably has three major components : ( b ) the second component is a pair of image - inconspicuous plates . the first and second plates are preferably adapted to slide back and forth in the framing structure along the lower plane portion . each plate preferably has a pair of substantially parallel imager - conspicuous members . the separation between each pair may be different so as to aid in pair identification . alternatively , one pair may be of a different height and width than another pair for purposes of distinction . the pairs are preferably aligned on the first and second plates such that the intersection of one of the members on the first plate with one of the members on the second plate forms and angle ( preferably approximately 53 degrees , δ = 26 . 5 degrees ). there is preferably a slot between each pair through which at least a portion of a medical instrument may be passed . ( c ) the third preferred component is an alignment structure made of an image inconspicuous material . the alignment structure should be of a size and shape that allows it to be held in place at the intersection of the two aforementioned slots , and be able to slide on the slots as the intersection of those slots moves . the alignment structure preferably contains an opening adapted to allow passage of at least a portion of a medical instrument . fig1 shows a perspective view of a preferred stereotactic device of the present invention . the stereotactic device 17 is shown comprising a lower plane portion 18 and framing structure 19 defining an orthogonal upper plane portion . the framing structure houses the first and second plates , 20 and 21 respectively . the lower plane portion is substantially planar , and may be made out of any appropriate substantially rigid image inconspicuous material , such as plastic . the lower plane portion preferably contains at least one pair of image conspicuous angled members 22 , each angled member defining an angle of approximately 53 degrees . the lower plane portion also preferably comprises a rotation point 23 that may be attached to any appropriate structure , such as an operating table or other patient - supportive structure . the first plate 20 in the framing structure 19 is shown comprising a first pair of image conspicuous members 24 . the second plate 21 is shown with a similar second pair of image conspicuous members 25 . the slots between these two pairs creates an aperture 26 at their intersection . this intersection preferably allows passage of at least part of a medical device . fig1 shows the parts of a disassembled stereotactic device of the present invention . a preferred embodiment includes a planar compression plate 19 a that is used to keep the first plate 20 and second plate 21 from contacting the target surface . the planar compression plate may be perforable , have openings , or be capable of sliding such that a probe passed through the open passage of the two plates is not blocked by the compression plate . fig1 shows a stereotactic device 17 of the present invention along with an optional hand control 27 that may be used to remotely move the first and second plates independent of one another . fig1 shows the framing structure 19 containing the first plate 20 , second plate 21 , and planar compression member 19 a . an alignment structure 28 is shown at the intersection of the slots between the pairs of image conspicuous members . the alignment structure 28 is shown comprising an opening 29 through which at least a portion of a medical instrument may be passed . fig1 shows a medical probe 30 inserted into and held by the opening 29 in the alignment structure 28 . fig1 shows a magnetic resonance surface coil 31 that may be used with a breast biopsy system of the present invention . the magnetic resonance surface coil is shown comprising a lower base portion 32 , an upper supportive portion 33 , and four supportive members 34 supporting the upper supportive portion 33 above the base portion 34 . the upper supportive structure is shown having a semi - flexible material on its surface , such that it might conform to the torso of a patient being supported by the structure . the supportive members 34 are preferably of a length such that at least a portion of a stereotactic device of the present invention may be passed between the upper and lower portions of the magnetic resonance surface coil . the lower base portion may have an attachment device through which an attachment point of a stereotactic device may be attached . fig1 shows a perspective view of a magnetic resonance surface coil of the present invention . first circular openings 35 are shown in the upper supportive portion 33 , where each opening may be of an appropriate size and shape to allow passage of at least a portion of a breast of a female patient laying face - down on the supportive structure . similar second circular openings 36 are shown in the lower base portion 32 to allow for passage of at least a portion of a breast passed through the above first circular opening 35 . once a breast of a patient is passed through and suspended from the upper supportive portion , a stereotactic device of the present invention may then be placed or rotated near to or in contact with the breast . once the stereotactic device is in place , a flexible supportive member such as a pillow may be used on the side of the breast opposite the stereotactic device to support and help shape the breast for biopsy . in order to operate the device of the present invention , the following steps preferably may be followed : 1 . the device is placed in contact with the magnetic resonance surface coil . 2 . a pillow or other supportive member is placed on the coil . 3 . the torso of a patient is placed on the upper supportive structure of the positioning structure , the breasts of the patient are allowed to suspend from the upper supportive structure through the appropriate circular openings , and the pillow is used to support the appropriate breast to be biopsied . 4 . the operable area of the breast of the patient is prepared for sterile handling and treatment using an appropriate surgical preparation procedure . 5 . a stereotactic device of the present invention is brought into contact with the appropriate breast of the patient . 6 . the breast is imaged using an appropriate imaging device and the desired target is found . 7 . the relationship of an image plane and the imaging device base pattern on the image is measured . 8 . if the base pattern is not parallel to the image plane then it is rotated based on the rotation correction scale using the remote control handle . 9 . another image is acquired and viewed on a computer screen to confirm the base pattern is parallel . 10 . if parallel , then a vector towards the target and parallel to the base is drawn on the computer screen . 11 . the distance that the sliding patterns of the stereotactic device need to be moved and their direction is measured from the midpoint between each sliding pattern pair to the chosen target vector line . 12 . the plates of the stereotactic device are then moved to correct dimensions and directions to confirm that the needle is pointing at the target , preferably by remote control . 13 . the needle is then confirmed to be in the correct vector position outside the patient on a next image , and the distance from the patterns to the target is measured . 14 . the needle may then be pushed the measured distance to the target using local anesthetic . 15 . the needle position in the target may then be confirmed by imaging . 16 . the procedure is completed , such as through removing tissue for biopsy . fig1 shows the assembled device components . there are preferably five main components : a bottom rotation support plate ( not shown ), a base rotating “ w ” base pattern 37 , a flat plate breast compressor 38 , two sliding oblique “ x ” pattern pairs and needle support system 39 , and remote control cables 40 , along with several optional breast compression sponges ( not shown ). in a preferred embodiment , a base plate fits into the spaces between the column supports of the surface coil . there is a small rod protruding from the bottom rotation support plate that acts as an axis point that the remaining device rotates around as a unit so that it can be precisely aligned with the axial section plane . a remote - control cable is fixed to the bottom support plate and the rotating “ w ” base pattern . the rotating base of the device preferably has a dual - angle pattern ( chakeres pattern “ w ”) that is below the breast . the pattern may be constructed of small tubes filled with image - conspicuous ky jelly or other image - conspicuous material as a sterile contrast agent . these tubes may be visible on both t 1 and t 2 - weighted images . this pattern may be used to align the device with the axial plain . there is preferably a vertical clear diaphragm compression plate that pushes the breast towards the center of the coil . a soft plastic sponge may be placed on the medial side of the breast that conforms to the breast &# 39 ; s shape and size to help maintain its position comfortably while compressed . this compression plate preferably slides horizontally over the “ w ” pattern . the needle may be held at the intersection point of two crossing diagonals forming an “ x ” shaped pattern . each diagonal pattern may be made of two image conspicuous tubes with a space between for the needle . the diagonals are preferably adjacent to each other and slide past each other just outside of the compression plate . these diagonals of the “ sliding x ” may be constructed of two tubes each filled with image - conspicuous material . at the intersection of the “ x ” there is preferably a needle support system that holds the needle precisely parallel to the base and parallel to the image plane . the combination of the base plate “ w ” and the sliding “ x ” patterns may control the needle path so that its vector is parallel to a flat base surface of the pattern and parallel to a perpendicular line crossing the base patterns . both may be aligned at the same dimension on the pattern . this relationship allows for millimeter accuracy of the needle placement . hand manipulated cable remote controls with mm scales may allow 1 - mm accuracy of the sliding “ x ” pattern needle support system without moving the table or patient , dramatically decreasing exam time . the sliding “ x ” preferably defines the location of the needle in relationship to the image plane to a degree that is equivalent to the image resolution accuracy of the scanner , despite the fact that the needle itself cannot be seen . fig1 shows a preferred remote - control handle . each sliding diagonal plate preferably has its own calibrated - control remote cable that is clearly labeled on the handle . with this design and in this case , every 10 mm of movement of the handle can change the vertical position of the “ x ” plates by 5 mm . fig1 shows a preferred stereotactic device 41 looking from superior to inferior ( top down ). the needle 42 here is held perpendicular to the compression plate 43 and “ parallel ” to the base “ w ” pattern 44 . the correct alignment of the “ w ” pattern to the image plane insures the accuracy of the needle placement . fig2 shows a view of the device 45 parallel to a table . the needle 46 is held perpendicular to the compression plate 47 , and parallel to the base “ w ” pattern 48 . this ensures the accurate positioning of the needle despite the fact that the needle is not visible on mr unless it is in the patient . fig2 is a side view of the device showing how any point within the breast compression plate region can be targeted using the two opposite diagonal sloping patterns 49 . the lateral or horizontal translation of the patterns may be converted into adjustments in both the x and y dimensions . the only dimension that the operator may need to be concerned with here is the vertical dimension , which is parallel to the axial image plane 50 ( dotted line ). the distance ( in mms ) from the midpoint between the two limbs of one sloping diagonal pattern to the target may be measured on the image and then actuated with the remote - control handle . in this example the target is a circle . the distance from the inner pattern to the target 51 is shown and the distance from the outer pattern to the target 52 is shown . fig2 shows the position of the patterns after these remote - controlled adjustments . this figure demonstrates that the needle at the center of the “ x ” is preferably centered on the chosen target location 53 after only one remote - control adjustment . if the alignment is not ideal , minor adjustments can be made after each image . a breast phantom , which may contain multiple small targets of varying sizes imitating masses , may be placed on the surface coil in a position that mimickss imaging a patient in an axial position ( with the breast being compressed from the lateral side by the compression - stereotactic plate ). this allows breast compression without interference to precise needle placement . the compression plate may be covered in clear plastic that can be perforated by the needle . utilizing the device , a series of tests was completed to demonstrate the three - dimensional spatial accuracy , versatility and speed of needle placement into small targets . the needle and vector support were positioned accurately to within 2 - 3 mm of the chosen target by remote - control within a few minutes . following positioning of the needle adjacent the target , the whole device was moved out of the scanner to advance the needle the final measured distance to the target site . final confirmation images were acquired to verify the accurate placement of the probe . the device was placed in the breast coil on the mr table and an axial localizing image series was obtained , first shown in fig2 . a general electric 1 . 5 tesla horizon system was used for all of the imaging . fast spin - echo tr 400 , te 15 images were acquired . the fov was 24 cm , and the matrix was 256 by 256 pixels . the slice thickness was 2 mm and they were contiguous . four images were usually acquired with one acquisition . the initial image time was 56 seconds . all mm distance measurements were made directly from the scanner console using a mouse and standard hardware . the first step required alignment of the base “ w ” pattern to the axial section plane . the complete device assembly ( surface coil , phantom and device ) was placed on the mr table and aligned using the mr light localizer so that it was visually parallel to the axial plane . a series of images were acquired to confirm parallel orientation . measurements were made of the distances between the two limbs of the base “ w ” pattern . if the measured distances were not identical ( which would indicate that the device was not parallel to the image plane ), then the device was rotated about a fixed axis point the calibrated “ degrees ” equal to the difference in the distance between the two limbs of each base pattern . this was done using the remote - control cable and calibrated handle . another image was acquired to confirm that the device and pattern were parallel to the image plane . the second step was to identify the target and align the needle . a target was chosen in the breast phantom . the targets were seen as low signal structures within the phantom that varied in size and location . fig2 shows an axial image through the breast phantom target 54 and device . the breast compression plate is not visible , but the phantom is compressed from the right in the figure . note that the distances between the base “ w ” pattern “ v ” s 48 are identical , confirming that the “ w ” pattern is parallel to the image plane . this relationship also defines the needle vector , which will be parallel to this plane . the dotted arrow 55 defines the ideal vector direction to the target . the distances from the midpoints of the inner 56 and outer 57 sliding diagonal “ x ” patterns are shown as vertical arrows . these distances may be actuated using the remote - control handle . the third step was to align the sliding “ x ” patterns with the target . fig2 shows a follow - up image , again identifying the location of the sliding “ x ” patterns and the needle . in this case the inner “ x ” pattern 58 is not precisely centered on the target vector 59 and it will be adjusted a few mms superiorly to match the target vector . again , note that the needle is not visible , but its location is precisely defined to the mm by the location of the sliding patterns . the fourth step was to place the needle into the target . fig2 shows the needle 60 being advanced the measured number of mms into the target 61 using local anesthetic and an image is obtained to confirm its position . a biopsy or interventional procedure was then completed . note that the desired vector 62 ( dotted arrow ) and the actual needle 60 position ( black image defect ) are very close after only a single pass along the vector defined by the patterns . the device is preferably designed so that the sliding “ x ” and the breast compression plate can be removed , leaving only the needle in the patient if the operator desires device removal from his operational field . using this mri - compatible device for placement of a needle within a target , we placed a probe in a breast phantom target with a confirmed accuracy of a few millimeters in three dimensions within a few minutes of first identifying the target on the initial scan . remote - control capability saved valuable time in setting up the procedure . while the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments , it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment , but on the contrary , is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims , which are incorporated herein by reference . 1 . orel s , schnall m , powell m , et al , staging of suspected breast cancer : effect of mr imaging and mr - guided biopsy , radiology 1995 ; 196 : 115 - 122 2 . stelling c , breast cancer staging with contrast material - enhanced mr imaging : should it change patient treatment ?, radiology 1995 ; 196 : 16 - 18 3 . mumtaz h , hall - craggs m , wotherspoon a , laser therapy of breast cancer : mr imaging and histopathologic correlation , radiology 1996 ; 200 : 651 - 658 4 . orel s , schnall m , newman r , mr imaging - guided localization and biopsy of breast lesions : initial experience . radiology 1994 ; 193 : 97 - 102
the present invention includes stereotactic vectors using no electronic calculations and imaging , diagnostic and treatment techniques . the invention also includes machines or instruments using those aspects of the invention . the present invention also includes methods and processes using the devices of the present invention . the methods and devices of the present invention may be used in stereotactic - guided percutaneous breast biopsies , an alternative to open , surgical breast biopsy .