Tactile breast imager and method for use
First Claim
1. A method for detecting and locating a lesion in soft tissue comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a tactile imager probe equipped with pressure sensing means, b. pressing said probe against a known starting reference point of said tissue until a predetermined level of minimum pressure is reached, c. recording positioning data of said probe relative to said starting reference point, d. moving said probe towards a desired area of interest and oscillating said probe thereabout while continuously applying said minimum pressure and recording said positioning data of said probe, e. simultaneously collecting a sequence of pressure patterns acquired by said probe corresponding to said positioning data, and f. analyzing said sequence of pressure patterns and said positional data to detect and locate said lesion relative to said starting reference point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device for breast examination adapted for easy home use including a tactile imager probe equipped with a pressure sensor array and a motion tracking system for simultaneously recording pressure and positioning data during the examination of a breast or any other soft tissue. The method includes a step of starting the examination from a known point or an anatomical mark such as a nipple or a sternum; moving the probe towards the area of interest and oscillating it thereabout while manually or automatically recording pressure and positioning data. Subsequent data analysis identifies the presence of a lesion, calculates its location relative to the probe, estimates the location of the probe relative to the anatomical landmark and finally calculates the location of the lesion relative to that anatomical landmark. The method allows repeating examinations over time with great accuracy as they all start from the same anatomical landmark. The probe includes provisions for easy hand grip or attaching to fingers of a patient, a cable connector or a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data out to a computer or another data analysis device, as well as manual data entry means allowing the patient herself to enter the positioning data.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting and locating a lesion in soft tissue comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a tactile imager probe equipped with pressure sensing means, b. pressing said probe against a known starting reference point of said tissue until a predetermined level of minimum pressure is reached, c. recording positioning data of said probe relative to said starting reference point, d. moving said probe towards a desired area of interest and oscillating said probe thereabout while continuously applying said minimum pressure and recording said positioning data of said probe, e. simultaneously collecting a sequence of pressure patterns acquired by said probe corresponding to said positioning data, and f. analyzing said sequence of pressure patterns and said positional data to detect and locate said lesion relative to said starting reference point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 9. A tactile imager probe comprising a housing, a pressure sensing means and a positioning means.
Specification