Apparatus and method for detection of tumors in tissue
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting tumors in living human breast tissue comprising:
- means for determining the dielectric constants of a plurality of localized regions of living human breast tissue including a bridge means having means for automatically nulling said brigde means while in operation; and
means for measuring variations in said dielectric constants over a plurality of said regions and for indicating the possible presence of a tumor as a result of said measurement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting tumors in living human breast tissue includes instrumentalities for determining the dielectric constants of a plurality of localized regions of living human breast tissue. These instrumentalities include a bridge which is provided with a circuit for automatically nulling the bridge while in operation. Instrumentalities are provided for measuring variations in the dielectric constants over a plurality of the regions and for indicating the possible presence of a tumor as result of the measurement. The apparatus may be utilized in carrying out a method of detecting tumors which includes the steps of applying a plurality of probe elements to human breast tissue for sensing characteristics of localized regions thereof, applying an electrical signal to the probe elements for determining dielectric constants of localized regions of the tissue, sensing variations in the dielectric constants and determining the rate-of-change of dielectric constant at each of the localized regions.
205 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting tumors in living human breast tissue comprising:
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means for determining the dielectric constants of a plurality of localized regions of living human breast tissue including a bridge means having means for automatically nulling said brigde means while in operation; and means for measuring variations in said dielectric constants over a plurality of said regions and for indicating the possible presence of a tumor as a result of said measurement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for detecting tumors in living human breast tissue comprising:
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means for determining the dielectric constants of a plurality of localized regions of living human breast tissue; and means for indicating variations in said dielectric constants over a plurality of said regions, said variations indicating the possible presence of a tumor; and wherein said determining means comprises; probe means comprising a plurality of probe elements arranged for sensing different ones of said localized regions; switching means for selectably applying an electrical signal to said probe elements; a balancing bridge circuit coupled to said probe elements; and signal processing circuitry coupled to said balancing bridge for providing an output indication of dielectric constants of the localized regions of breast tissue associated with each of said probe elements. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for detecting tumors in living human breast tissue comprising:
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means for determining the variation of the dielectric constant of localized regions of living human breast tissue as a function of frequency of a signal applied thereto and including automatic balancing bridge means which do not require nulling for each measurement; and means for indicating differences in said variation over a plurality of said localized regions, said differences indicating the possible presence of a tumor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting tumors in living human breast tissue comprising the steps of:
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applying probe means comprising a plurality of probe elements to human breast tissue in vivo such that individual ones of said probe elements are arranged for sensing characteristics of individual localized regions of human breast tissue; selectably applying an electrical signal to said probe elements for determining the dielectric constants of said localized regions of living human breast tissue; and detecting a possible tumor by sensing variations in said dielectric constants over a plurality of said regions. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for detecting tumors in living human breast tissue comprising the steps of:
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applying probe means comprising a plurality of probe elements to human breast tissue in vivo such that individual ones of said probe elements are arranged for sensing characteristics of individual localized regions of human breast tissue; selectably applying an electric signal to said probe elements for determining the dielectric constants of said localized regions of living human breast tissue; sensing variations in said dielectric constants over a plurality of said regions to indicate the possible presence of a tumor; and determining the rate of change of dielectric constant with frequency at each of said localized regions.
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16. A method for detecting tumors in living human breast tissue comprising the steps of:
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applying probe means comprising a plurality of probe elements to human breast tissue in vivo such that individual ones of said probe elements are arranged for sensing characteristics of individual localized regions of human breast tissue; selectably applying an electrical signal to said probe elements for determining the dielectric constants of said localized regions of living human breast tissue; sensing variations in said dielectric constants over a plurality of said regions to indicate the possible presence of a tumor; and determining the rate of change of dielectric constant with log of frequency at each of said localized regions.
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Specification