Method and apparatus for detecting very small breast anomalies

• US 20010031077A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultra Touch Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ultra Touch Corporation
• Inventors: Souluer, Farid
• Granted Patent: US 6,507,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0041 Detection of breast cancer mammography by transillumination A61B5/0091, by X-rays A61B6/502, by ultrasonic means A61B8/0825
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/444 Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors

Abstract

A computer controlled apparatus for detecting breast tumors by mechanically palpating a breast in a full scan manner to detect even very small lumps or other anomalies. The patient is positioned on a fully adjustable bed and oriented relative the apparatus. A detection head mounted for movement in three dimensions is positioned above the bed. A palpation finger is brought into pressure contact with a sequence of small areas across the entire breast, palpating each area to measure tissue density. Concurrent with the palpation scan, a scan of breast color and temperature is conducted. A locator head positions the detector for the scan in a manner that assures repeatability of the palpation scan during each of a series of periodic examinations. This system detects very small lumps and allows easy, accurate, monitoring of suspicious areas over an extended time period. Several different embodiments of the detection head and location head are described.

Claims

1. A detection head for use with an apparatus for detecting small breast anomalies, which comprises:

at least one housing,

an elongated rod means having a distal end extending from within said housing to outside said housing and a proximal end within said housing;

sleeve means surrounding a portion of said elongated rod and secured to said housing for guiding movement of said elongated rod means in an axial direction,

a holder means within said housing coaxial with said elongated rod means having a distal end slidable towards and away from said elongated rod means proximal end;

means for resiliently biasing said elongated rod means proximal end and said holder means distal end toward a predetermined spacing;

means for moving said holder means toward and away from said elongated rod means; and

means for measuring holder movement distances.

2. The detection head according to

claim 1

wherein said means for moving said holder comprises:

a motor having a rotatable output shaft;

mounting means for said motor movable relative to said housing;

moving means for moving said holder means toward and away from said elongated rod means in accordance with rotation of said output shaft;

and sensor means for counting output shaft rotation.

3. The detection head according to

claim 2

wherein said resilient means comprises a first permanent magnet mounted on said elongated rod means proximal end and a second permanent magnet mounted on said holder distal end to bias said holder means distal end and said elongated rod means proximal end toward said predetermined spacing.

4. The detection head according to

claim 2

wherein said resilient means comprises a spring connected between said elongated rod means proximal end and said holder distal end to bias said holder means distal end and said elongated rod means proximal end toward said predetermined spacing.

5. The detection head according to

claim 2

wherein said resilient means comprises a pressurizable gas compartment between said elongated rod means proximal end and said holder distal end for inflation with a predetermined quantity of gas to bias said holder means distal end and said elongated rod means proximal end toward said predetermined spacing.

6. The detection head according to

claim 2

wherein said gas compartment comprises a tubular sleeve having a closed first end and an open second end, said closed first end secured to said holder distal end and said second end sealingly slidably positioned over said elongated rod proximal end.

7. The detection head according to

claim 1

wherein said distal end of said elongated rod includes means for releasably securing a palpation tip thereto.

8. The detection head according to

claim 1

further including a palpation tip releasably secured to said distal end of said elongated rod, said palpation tip comprising a proximal base means for releasably securing said palpation tip to said distal end of said elongated rod, an core extending from said base to a distal end, a palpation endpiece secured to said core distal end and a tubular protective core isolator secured to said base and surrounding and spaced from at least a portion of said core.

9. The detection head according to

claim 8

further including means for sensing position of said palpation tip relative to said housing.

10. The detection head according to

claim 9

wherein said means for sensing position comprises two spaced optical decoder sensors secured to said housing, an encoder slide secured to said elongated rod and having areas of differing light transmission characteristics, said encoder slide movable between said decoder sensors across a line between said decoder sensors in accordance with movement of said rod so that said areas pass across said line.

11. The detection head according to

claim 10

wherein said areas of differing light transmission characteristics are selected from spaced light reflecting dots on a light transparent background and spaced transparent dots on an opaque background.

12. The detection head according to

claim 1

wherein a plurality of adjacent housings are provided, each having a said elongated rod operatively connected to a palpation tip movable with each said elongated rod, said palpation tips arranged in a parallel array.

13. A detection head for use with an apparatus for detecting small breast anomalies, which comprises:

a housing,

an elongated rod means having a distal end extending from within said housing to outside said housing and a proximal end within said housing;

sleeve means surrounding a portion of said housing and secured to said housing for guiding movement of said elongated rod means in an axial direction,

a holder means within said housing coaxial with said elongated rod means having a distal end slidable towards and away from said elongated rod means proximal end;

a permanent magnet mounted on said proximal end of said elongated rod;

said holder means comprising an electromagnet head mounted on said holder distal end, a shaft connected to said electromagnet head and an electromagnet coil surrounding said shaft; and

adjacent faces of said permanent magnet and said electromagnet head having the same magnetic pole.

14. The detection head according to

claim 13

wherein said means for moving said holder comprises:

a motor having a rotatable output shaft;

mounting means for said motor movable relative to said housing;

moving means for moving said holder means toward and away from said elongated rod means in accordance with rotation of said output shaft;

and sensor means for counting output shaft rotation.

15. The detection head according to

claim 13

wherein said distal end of said elongated rod includes means for releasably securing a palpation tip thereto.

16. The detection head according to

claim 13

further including a palpation tip releasably secured to said distal end of said elongated rod, said palpation tip comprising a proximal base means for releasably securing said palpation tip to said distal end of said elongated rod, an core extending from said base to a distal end, a palpation endpiece secured to said core distal end and a tubular protective core isolator secured to said base and surrounding and spaced from at least a portion of said core.

17. The detection head according to

claim 16

further including means for sensing position of said palpation tip relative to said housing.

18. The detection head according to

claim 17

wherein said meas for sensing position comprises two spaced optical decoder sensors secured to said housing, an encoder slide secured to said elongated rod and having areas of differing light transmission characteristics, said encoder slide movable between said decoder sensors across a line between said decoder sensors in accordance with movement of said rod so that said areas pass across said line.

19. The detection head according to

claim 17

wherein said areas of differing light transmission characteristics are selected from spaced light reflecting dots on a light transparent background and spaced transparent dots on an opaque background.

20. The detection head according to

claim 13

wherein a plurality of adjacent housings are provided, each having a said elongated rod operatively connected to a palpation tip movable with each said elongated rod, said palpation tips arranged in a parallel array.

21. A detection head for use with an apparatus for detecting small breast anomalies, which comprises:

at least one housing,

an elongated rod having a distal end extending from within said housing to outside said housing and a proximal end within said housing;

a first permanent magnet mounted on said elongated rod proximal end;

sleeve means surrounding a portion of said elongated rod and secured to said housing for guiding movement of said elongated rod in an axial direction,

a holder within said housing coaxial with said elongated rod and having a distal end adjacent to said elongated rod proximal end, said holder slidable towards and away from elongated rod;

a second permanent magnet mounted on said holder distal end;

said first and second permanent magnets having same poles juxtaposed;

means for moving said holder toward and away from said elongated rod; and

means for measuring holder movement distances.

22. The detection head according to

claim 21

wherein said distal end of said elongated rod includes means for releasably securing a palpation tip thereto.

23. The detection head according to

claim 22

further including a palpation tip releasably secured to said distal end of said elongated rod, said palpation tip comprising a proximal base means for releasably securing said palpation tip to said distal end of said elongated rod, an core extending from said base to a distal end, a palpation endpiece secured to said core distal end and a tubular protective core isolator secured to said base and surrounding and spaced from at least a portion of said core.

24. The detection head according to

claim 23

further including means for sensing position of said palpation tip relative to said housing.

25. The detection head according to

claim 24

wherein said meas for sensing position comprises two spaced optical decoder sensors secured to said housing, an encoder slide secured to said elongated rod and having areas of differing light transmission characteristics, said encoder slide movable between said decoder sensors across a line between said decoder sensors in accordance with movement of said rod so that said areas pass across said line.

26. The detection head according to

claim 25

wherein said areas of differing light transmission characteristics are selected from spaced light reflecting dots on a light transparent background and spaced transparent dots on an opaque background.

27. The detection head according to

claim 21

wherein a plurality of adjacent housings are provided, each having a said elongated rod operatively connected to a palpation tip movable with each said elongated rod, said palpation tips arranged in a parallel array.

28. The detection head according to

claim 21

wherein said means for moving said holder comprises:

a motor having a rotatable output shaft;

mounting means for said motor movable relative to said housing;

moving means for moving said holder means toward and away from said elongated rod means in accordance with rotation of said output shaft;

and sensor means for counting output shaft rotation.

29. A detection head for use with an apparatus for detecting small breast anomalies, which comprises:

at least one housing,

an elongated rod having a distal end extending from within said housing to outside said housing and a proximal end within said housing;

sleeve means surrounding a portion of said elongated rod and secured to said housing for guiding movement of said elongated rod means in an axial direction,

a holder within said housing coaxial with said elongated rod having a distal end slidable towards and away from said elongated rod proximal end;

a spring having a first end secured to said elongated rod proximal end and a second end secured to said holder distal end for biasing said elongated rod proximal end and said holder distal end towards a predetermined relative position;

means for moving said holder toward and away from said elongated rod; and

means for measuring holder movement distances.

30. The detection head according to

claim 29

wherein said means for moving said holder comprises:

a motor having a rotatable output shaft;

mounting means for said motor movable relative to said housing;

moving means for moving said holder means toward and away from said elongated rod means in accordance with rotation of said output shaft;

and sensor means for counting output shaft rotation.

31. The detection head according to

claim 29

wherein said distal end of said elongated rod includes means for releasably securing a palpation tip thereto.

32. The detection head according to

claim 31

further including a palpation tip releasably secured to said distal end of said elongated rod, said palpation tip comprising a proximal base means for releasably securing said palpation tip to said distal end of said elongated rod, an core extending from said base to a distal end, a palpation endpiece secured to said core distal end and a tubular protective core isolator secured to said base and surrounding and spaced from at least a portion of said core.

33. The detection head according to

claim 32

further including means for sensing position of said palpation tip relative to said housing.

34. The detection head according to

claim 33

wherein said meas for sensing position comprises two spaced optical decoder sensors secured to said housing, an encoder slide secured to said elongated rod and having areas of differing light transmission characteristics, said encoder slide movable between said decoder sensors across a line between said decoder sensors in accordance with movement of said rod so that said areas pass across said line.

35. The detection head according to

claim 34

wherein said areas of differing light transmission characteristics are selected from spaced light reflecting dots on a light transparent background and spaced transparent dots on an opaque background.

36. The detection head according to

claim 29

wherein a plurality of adjacent housings are provided, each having a said elongated rod operatively connected to a palpation tip movable with each said elongated rod, said palpation tips arranged in a parallel array.

37. A detection head for use with an apparatus for detecting small breast anomalies, which comprises:

at least one housing,

an elongated rod having a distal end extending from within said housing to outside said housing and a proximal end within said housing;

sleeve means surrounding a portion of said elongated rod and secured to said housing for guiding movement of said elongated rod means in an axial direction,

a holder means within said housing coaxial with said elongated rod means having a distal end slidable towards and away from said elongated rod means proximal end;

a resilient, expandable, container positioned between said elongated rod proximal end and said holder distal end;

a predetermined quantity of a gas in said container under predetermined pressure to resiliently press said elongated rod proximal end and said holder distal end part a predetermined distance;

means for moving said holder means toward and away from said elongated rod means; and

means for measuring holder movement distances.

38. The detection head according to

claim 37

wherein said means for moving said holder comprises:

a motor having a rotatable output shaft;

mounting means for said motor movable relative to said housing;

moving means for moving said holder means toward and away from said elongated rod means in accordance with rotation of said output shaft;

and sensor means for counting output shaft rotation.

39. The detection head according to

claim 37

wherein said distal end of said elongated rod includes means for releasably securing a palpation tip thereto.

40. The detection head according to

claim 37

further including a palpation tip releasably secured to said distal end of said elongated rod, said palpation tip comprising a proximal base means for releasably securing said palpation tip to said distal end of said elongated rod, an core extending from said base to a distal end, a palpation endpiece secured to said core distal end and a tubular protective core isolator secured to said base and surrounding and spaced from at least a portion of said core.

41. The detection head according to

claim 40

further including means for sensing position of said palpation tip relative to said housing.

42. The detection head according to

claim 41

wherein said meas for sensing position comprises two spaced optical decoder sensors secured to said housing, an encoder slide secured to said elongated rod and having areas of differing light transmission characteristics, said encoder slide movable between said decoder sensors across a line between said decoder sensors in accordance with movement of said rod so that said areas pass across said line.

43. The detection head according to

claim 42

wherein said areas of differing light transmission characteristics are selected from spaced light reflecting dots on a light transparent background and spaced transparent dots on an opaque background.

44. The detection head according to

claim 38

wherein a plurality of adjacent housings are provided, each having a said elongated rod operatively connected to a palpation tip movable with each said elongated rod, said palpation tips arranged in a parallel array.

45. A location head for use with an apparatus for detecting small breast anomalies, which comprises:

a first housing having an open end;

a second housing slidably moveable into and out of said open end;

means for moving said second housing into and out of said open end;

an automatic focussing optical system in said second housing for achieving optical focus at a surface spaced from said optical system;

said automatic focussing optical system comprising means for moving said optical system to achieve said optical focus and means for measuring movement of said optical system;

at least one laser diode unit for projecting a laser beam onto said surface to produce a light dot; and

means for adjusting said laser beam to an angle of about 90°

to said surface including means for sensing maximum reflected light intensity.

46. The location head according to

claim 45

wherein said means for moving said second housing comprises a motor secured in said first hosing, a lead screw rotatable by said motor, and a nut fixed to said second housing for receiving said lead screw and for moving along said lead screw to move said second housing.

47. The location head according to

claim 46

further including sensor means for counting revolutions of said lead screw whereby position of said second housing can be continuously monitored.

48. The location head according to

claim 46

further including limit switches for detecting movement of said second housing to predetermined maximum movement into and out of said first housing and preventing further such movement.

49. The location head according to

claim 45

wherein said means for adjusting said laser dot positions comprises means for mounting said laser diode unit for rotation about a predetermined axis, a rotatable lead screw engaging a gear sector said laser diode unit and means for rotating each lead screw, whereby rotation of each lead screw will rotate said engaged gear sector to move said laser dot position along said surface.

50. The location head according to

claim 49

wherein said means for rotation of each said lead screw comprises motor means for rotating said lead screw and means for counting revolutions of said lead screw whereby the position of the laser light dots and the angle between said laser light dots can be determined.