Self-palpation device for examination of breast
AssigneeArtann Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsArmen P. Sarvazyan, Vladimir Egorov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and device in accordance with the present invention enable detecting changes in mechanical and structural properties of the breast tissue that are indicative of breast cancer development. In one embodiment of the invention, an array of force sensors based on PVDF piezopolymer film, data acquisition circuit, and a microprocessor are mounted in a hand held pad. Detection of nodules is achieved by pressing the sensing pad onto the breast, oscillating it over regions under investigation, and analyzing spectral and phase characteristics of the signal from the sensors in the array. The device is able to objectively detect presence of suspicious lesions in the breast and provide a warning signal.
Claims14
A method of detecting changes in mechanical and structural properties of the breast tissue that are indicative of breast cancer development, said method comprising the steps of:
- causing an oscillatory deformation of the breast tissue portion by a force sensor array pressed against that tissue portion;
- detecting an oscillatory signal from the sensors of the force sensor array;
- repeating said oscillatory deformation over a plurality of breast tissue portions;
- detecting an oscillatory signal from the sensors of the force sensor array;
- analyzing the signals from sensors in the array;
- evaluating type and degree of mechanical heterogeneity of the examined breast;
- evaluating deviation of the type and degree of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast from the normal range of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast;
- and
- producing a warning signal if said deviation of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast
- exceeds a predetermined threshold.
A system for detecting changes in mechanical and structural properties of the breast tissue that are indicative of breast cancer development, said system comprising:
- means for causing an oscillatory deformation of the breast tissue portion by a force sensor array pressed against that tissue portion;
- means for detecting oscillatory signal from the sensors of the force sensor array;
- means for repeating said oscillatory deformation over plurality of breast tissue portions;
- means for detecting oscillatory signal from the sensors of the force sensor array;
- means for analyzing the signals from sensors in the array;
- means for evaluating type and degree of mechanical heterogeneity of the examined breast;
- means for evaluating deviation of the type and degree of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast from the normal range of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast;
- and
- means for producing a warning signal if said deviation of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast exceeds a predetermined threshold.
A hand held device for detecting changes in mechanical and structural properties of the breast tissue that are indicative of breast cancer development comprising:
- an array of piezopolymer based force sensors formed of a piezopolymer film activated by flexural and extensional modes of deformation of the piezopolymer film as said array is pressed against the breast tissue;
- data acquisition means for receiving signals from said array;
- means for analyzing said data to determine type and degree of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast;
- means for evaluating deviation of the type and degree of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast from the normal range of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast;
- and
- means for producing an alarm signal if said deviation of mechanical heterogeneity of the breast exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.