USE OF IMPEDANCE TECHNIQUES IN BREAST-MASS DETECTION

• US 20110054344A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David J. Mishelevich, Roman A. Slizynski
• Original Assignee: David J. Mishelevich, Roman A. Slizynski
• Inventors: Slizynski, Roman A., Mishelevich, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,037,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence

Abstract

A device is described for measuring electrical characteristics of biological tissues with plurality of electrodes and a processor controlling the stimulation and measurement in order to detect the presence of abnormal tissue masses in the breast and determine probability of tumors containing malignant cancer cells being present in a breast. The device has the capability of providing the location of the abnormality, at least to the quadrant. The method for measuring electrical characteristics includes placing electrodes and applying a voltage waveform in conjunction with a current detector. A mathematical analysis method is then applied to the collected data, which computes spectrum of frequencies and correlates magnitudes and phases with given algebraic conditions to determine mass presence and type.

Claims

1. A device for testing presence and tracking of benign or malignant breast masses, the device including

a. a signal generator with source electrodes attached, where breast joins with chest wall,

b. a receiving electrode attached to nipple of the same breast;

c. a processor or computer program which computes spectrum of frequencies and correlates magnitudes and phases with given algebraic conditions,

d. a processor or computer program which compares the signature results of healthy tissue and non-healthy tissue to extract the pattern to determine the presence and type of abnormality, and

e. indicates the results to the user.

3. The device of claim 1 where a wide spectral band is used from around 20 kHz to about 1 MHz with even and odd harmonics.

4. The device of claim 1 where a wide spectral band is used from around 1 MHz to about 100 MHz with even and odd harmonics.

5. The device of claim 1 where a wide spectral band is used from around 100 MHz to about 10 GHz with even and odd harmonics.

6. The device of claim 1 where the excitation wave form is selected from the group consisting of square wave, sine wave, and triangle wave.

7. The system of claim 1 where the receiving electrode is a wire inserted into one of the milk ducts.

8. The device in claim 1 in which the number source electrodes is selected from the group consisting of 4, 6, 8, 12,

9. The device in claim 1 in which the electrodes are incorporated into a brasserie.

10. The device in claim 1 where the presence of an abnormality is a non-visual feedback selected from the group consisting of auditory cue and vibratory cue.

11. The device in claim 1 where the presence of an abnormality is a simple visual cue such as an LED display, either binary or relative magnitude, including level of probability.

12. The device in claim 1 where the presence of an abnormality is an intermediate visual display presenting text or graphical results, including level of probability.

13. The device in claim 1 where the presence of an abnormality is a complex visual cue display presenting raw data and processed graphical information, including level of probability.

14. The device in claim 1 used in screen where if the result is positive, confirmation is sought by use of a technique selected from the group consisting of mammography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography, and ultrasound.

15. The device in claim 1 where a comparison is made between the healthy tissue in one breast to a potential lesion in the other breast in the same patient.

16. The device in claim 1 where adjustments are made in specificity and sensitivity.

17. The device in claim 1 where adjustments are made in parameters selected from the group consisting of true positives, false positives, true negatives, and false negatives.

19. The device in claim 1 where the target-tissue type is selected from the group consisting of lung, prostate, and other.

2. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

20. A method for detecting the presence of benign or malignant breast masses comprising

a. application of a source signal to the breast tissue;

b. receipt of the resultant return signal data;

c. analysis of the magnitude and phase response;

d. comparison of the magnitude and phase response to stored signatures; and

e. classification of the response as to whether normal breast tissue, a benign mass, or a malignant mass.

21. The method of claim 20 where a wide spectral band is used from around 20 kHz to about 1 MHz with even and odd harmonics.

22. The device of claim 20 where a wide spectral band is used from around 1 MHz to about 100 MHz with even and odd harmonics.

23. The method of claim 20 where a wide spectral band is used from around 100 MHz to about 10 GHz with even and odd harmonics.

24. The method of claim 20 where the excitation wave form is selected from the group consisting of square wave, sine wave, and triangle wave.

25. The system of claim 20 where the receiving electrode is a wire inserted into one of the milk ducts.

26. The method in claim 20 in which the number source electrodes is selected from the group consisting of 4, 6, 8, 12, 16.

27. The method in claim 20 in which the electrodes are incorporated into a brasserie.

28. The method in claim 20 where the presence of an abnormality is a non-visual feedback selected from the group consisting of auditory cue and vibratory cue.

29. The method in claim 20 where the presence of an abnormality is a simple visual cue such as an LED display, either binary or relative magnitude, including level of probability.

30. The method in claim 20 where the presence of an abnormality is an intermediate visual display presenting text or graphical results, including level of probability.

31. The method in claim 20 where the presence of an abnormality is a complex visual cue display presenting raw data and processed graphical information, including level of probability.

32. The method in claim 20 used in screen where if the result is positive, confirmation is sought by use of a technique selected from the group consisting of mammography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Positron Ems sion Tomography, and ultrasound.

33. The method in claim 20 where a comparison is made between the healthy tissue in one breast to a potential lesion in the other breast in the same patient.

34. The method in claim 20 where adjustments are made in specificity and sensitivity.

35. The method in claim 20 where adjustments are made in parameters selected from the group consisting of true positives, false positives, true negatives, and false negatives.

36. A method for tracking in which

a. A base measurement is done with the method of claim 20,

b. A therapeutic agent is instilled in one or a plurality of milk ducts, and

c. A follow-up measurement is done with the device of claim 20

where the progress of treatment is assessed.

37. The method in claim 20 where the target-tissue type is selected from the group consisting of lung, prostate, and other.