Method and apparatus for sensing and processing biopotentials

• US 6,351,666 B1
• Filed: 02/24/1999
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biofield Corporation
• Original Assignee: Biofield Corporation
• Inventors: Davies, Richard J., Gadsby, Peter D., Iskac, Abe, Housworth, Craig M., Lei, Xingye, Stephens, John D., Cuzick, Jack A., Borgwardt, Vera
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/256,294
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547, 600/301, 600/393, 600/407, 600/382, 706/15, 706/38, 706/48, 128/920, 128/925, 128/922
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/2415 Measuring direct current [DC] or slowly varying biopotentials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/301 providing electrical separation, e.g. by using isolating transformers or optocouplers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/925 Neural network

Abstract

In accordance with the apparatus and method of the present invention, a biopotential lesion sensor is placed directly over a lesion in a symptomatic breast and a reference sensor is located away from the symptomatic breast. A plurality of electropotential test measurements are taken during a test period with the lesion sensor and averaged to obtain a primary test potential. This primary test potential can be weighted to compensate for one or more biologic variables such as patient age, time in the patient menstrual cycle, and the time of day during which the measurement is taken. To provide noise enhancement of the primary test potential average measurement, the symptomatic breast is divided into four equal quadrants with one quadrant containing the lesion. One, two or all three of the remaining three non-lesion quadrants is provided with at least one non-lesion test sensor, and during the test period a number of electropotential measurements equal to those taken by the sensor over the lesion are taken and averaged. The processor may then obtain the median value of the averages for the non-lesion quadrants or alternatively the mean value, and it will then subtract this median or mean value from the primary test potential to provide the differential value.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing and processing electropotentials from the symptomatic breast of a human female subject which includes a lesion containing quadrant and a plurality of non-lesion containing quadrants comprising:

at least one DC biopotential reference sensor for contacting the female subject at a reference location, and each at least one DC biopotential test sensors for contacting the symptomatic breast operating with a reference sensor during a test period to detect electropotentials and to provide output test potentials, one of said test sensors forming a lesion test sensor for contact with a skin surface of the symptomatic breast over the lesion in the lesion containing quadrant and another test sensor forming a first non-lesion test sensor for contact with a skin surface of the symptomatic breast in a first non-lesion quadrant, separate from said lesion quadrant,

a third of said test sensors forming a second non-lesion test sensor for contact with a skin surface of the symptomatic breast in a second non-lesion quadrant separate from said lesion and first non-lesion quadrants and a fourth of said test sensors forming a third non-lesion test sensor for contact with a skin surface of the symptomatic breast in a third non-lesion quadrant separate from said lesion and first and second non-lesion quadrants,

a signal processing section being connected to separately receive the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and lesion test sensor and said reference sensor and first, second and third non-lesion test sensors, said processing section including a processor for obtaining a first variable from said output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and lesion test sensor and a second variable by arithmetically combining all of said output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and said first, second and third non-lesion test sensors, the processor operating to subtract the second variable from the first variable to obtain a first differential value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor operates to compare said first differential value to a reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor obtains a median value from the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor with said first, second and third non-lesion test sensors as said second variable.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor operates during a test period to sample and receive a first plurality of output test potentials from said reference sensor and said lesion test sensor and to average said first plurality of output test potentials to obtain a first average value as said first variable, and to sample and receive a second plurality of output test potentials from said reference sensor and said first non-lesion test sensor, a third plurality of output test potentials from said reference sensor and said second non-lesion test sensor, and a fourth plurality of output test potentials from said reference sensor and said third non-lesion test sensor, said processor operating to obtain a second average value from said second plurality of output test potentials, a third average value from said third plurality of output test potentials and a fourth average value from said fourth plurality of output test potentials and to use said second, third and fourth average values to obtain said second variable.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said processor operates to sample and receive during a test period the same number of output test potentials from said reference sensor and lesion test sensor and said reference sensor and first, second and third non-lesion test sensors.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said processor operates to obtain a median value of said second, third and fourth average values as said second variable.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said processor operates to compare said first differential value to a reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of weighting factor values including a first arithmetic weighting factor value and a second arithmetic weighting factor value, said processor operating to retrieve and apply said first weighting factor value to said first average value and said second weighting factor value to said second variable before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first stored arithmetic weighting factor is greater than said second stored weighting factor value.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores menstrual cycle weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the period in the menstrual cycle of a human female subject and an input unit for inputting the period in the menstrual cycle of a human female subject under test, said processor operating in response to a menstrual cycle period input from said input unit to select a stored menstrual cycle weighting factor value and to apply said menstrual cycle weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores age weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the age of a human female subject and an input unit for inputting the age of a human female subject under test, said processor operating in response to an age input from said input unit to select a stored age weighting factor value and to apply said age weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores time of day weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the time of day during which a test period occurs, and an input unit for inputting the time of day when the test period is to occur, said processor operating in response to a time of day input from said input unit to select a stored time of day weighting factor value and to apply said time of day weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes at least four DC biopotential test sensors for contacting an asymptomatic breast of a human female subject and each operating with a reference sensor during a test period to detect electropotentials and provide output test potentials, the four DC biopotential test sensors for contacting the asymptomatic breast including a fifth test sensor for contact with the skin surface of the asymptomatic breast in a location corresponding to the location on the symptomatic breast of the lesion test sensor and a sixth, seventh and eighth test sensor for contact with the skin surface of the asymptomatic breast in locations corresponding to the location of on said symptomatic breast of said first, second and third non-lesion test sensors respectively, said signal processing section being connected to separately receive the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors, said processor operating to provide an asymptomatic breast value from the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors and to add said asymptomatic breast value to said first differential value to obtain a final value.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said processor operates to compare said final value to a reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said processor operates to compare the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors respectively to identify a highest and lowest output test potential and to subtract said lowest output test potential from said highest output test potential to obtain a second differential value as said asymptomatic breast value.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said processor operates to obtain a median value from the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors respectively as said asymptomatic breast value.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said processor operates to obtain a mean value from the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor with said first, second and third non-lesion test sensors as said second variable.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said processor operates to obtain a mean value from the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors respectively, as said asymptomatic breast value.

19. The apparatus of claim 5 which includes at least four DC biopotential test sensors for contacting an asymptomatic breast of a human female subject and each operating with a reference sensor during a test period to detect electropotentials and provide output test potentials, the four DC biopotential test sensors for contacting the asymptomatic breast including a fifth test sensor for contact with the skin surface of the asymptomatic breast in a location corresponding to the location on the symptomatic breast of the lesion test sensor and a sixth, seventh and eighth test sensor for contact with the skin surface of the asymptomatic breast in locations corresponding to the location on said symptomatic breast of said first, second and third non-lesion test sensors respectively, said signal processing section being connected to separately receive the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors, said processor operating during a test period to sample and receive a plurality of output test potentials from said reference sensor and each of said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors respectively and to average the plurality of output test potentials from said reference sensor and said fifth test sensor to obtain a fifth average value, from said reference sensor and said sixth test sensor to obtain a sixth average value, from said reference sensor and said seventh test sensor to obtain a seventh average value and from said reference sensor and said test sensor to obtain an eighth average value, said processor operating to provide an asymptomatic breast value from said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth average values and to add said asymptomatic breast value to said first differential value to obtain a final value.

20. The apparatus of clam 19 wherein said processor operates to sample and receive during a test period the same number of output test potentials from a reference test sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors respectively as said processor samples and receives from a reference sensor and said lesion test sensor, and first, second and third non-lesion test sensors respectively.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said processor operates to obtain a median value of said second, third and fourth average values as said second variable and operates to compare said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth average values to identify a highest and lowest average value therefrom, said processor farther operating to subtract said lowest average value from said highest average value to obtain a second differential value as said asymptomatic breast value.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores menstrual cycle weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the period in the menstrual cycle of a human female subject under test, and an input unit for inputting the period in the menstrual cycle of a human female subject to be tested, said processor operating in response to a menstrual cycle period input from said input unit to select a stored menstrual cycle weighting factor value and to apply said menstrual cycle weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores age weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the age of a human female subject under test, and an input unit for inputting the age of a human female subject, said processor operating in response to an age input from said input unit to select a stored age weighting factor value and to apply said age weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores time of day weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the time of day during which a test period occurs, and an input unit for inputting the time of day when the test period is to occur, said processor operating in response to a time of day input from said input unit to select a stored time of day weighting factor value and to apply said time of day weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit, for storing a plurality of weighting factor values including a first arithmetic weighting factor value, a second arithmetic weighting factor value, and a third arithmetic weighting factor value, said processor operating to retrieve and apply said first weighting factor value to said first average value and said second weighting factor value to said second variable before subtracting said second variable from said first variable, and to apply said third weighting factor value to said asymptomatic breast value before adding said asymptomatic breast value to said first differential value.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of weighting factor values including a first arithmetic weighting factor value and a second arithmetic weighting factor value, said processor operating to retrieve and apply said first weighting factor value to said first average value and said second weighting factor value to said second variable before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said storage unit stores a third weighting factor value, said processor operating to apply said third weighting factor value to said asymptomatic breast value before adding said asymptomatic breast value to said first differential value.

28. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said processor operates to obtain a first median value of said second, third and fourth average values as said second variable and a second median value of said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth average values as said asymptomatic breast value.

29. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said processor operates to obtain a first mean value of said second, third and fourth average values as said second variable and a second mean value of said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth average values as said asymptomatic breast value.

30. A noninvasive method for sensing and processing biopotentials from a lesion containing first quadrant of a symptomatic breast of a human female subject using a plurality of spaced biopotential sensors which includes arranging at least one reference sensor in contact with a skin surface of said subject, arranging a plurality of test sensors with at least a first of said test sensors in contact with a skin surface of the subject in said first quadrant over said lesion and a least a second test sensor in contact with a skin surface of said subject in a second quadrant of the symptomatic breast which is outside said first quadrant,

obtaining during a test period a first biopotential value using a reference sensor and said first test sensor to provide a first variable,

obtaining during a test period a second biopotential value using a reference sensor and said second test sensor to provide a second variable,

determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with at least one physiological factor present in the human female subject during said test period,

applying said arithmetic weighting factor to said first variable, and

subtracting said second variable from said first variable to provide a first differential value.

31. The method of claim 30 which includes comparing said first differential value to a predetermined reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

32. The method of claim 31 which includes positioning said second test sensor in a second quadrant positioned vertically relative to said first quadrant and using said second test sensor to obtain said second biopotential value.

33. The method of claim 31 which includes positioning said second test sensor in a second quadrant positioned horizontally relative to said first quadrant and using said second test sensor to obtain said second biopotential value.

34. The method of claim 30 which includes taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and first test sensor during a test period to obtain a first plurality of measurement values.

35. The method of claim 34 which includes applying a first non-physiological arithmetic weighting factor to said first average value and applying a second non-physiological arithmetic weighting factor to said second average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said first non-physiological weighting factor is greater than said second non-physiological weighting factor.

37. The method of claim 34 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the period in the menstrual cycle of the human female subject during which said test period occurs and applying said arithmetic weighting factor to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

38. The method of claim 34 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the age of the human female subject and applying said arithmetic weighting factor to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

39. The method of claim 34 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the time of day during which said test period occurs and applying said arithmetic weighting factor to said first average value.

40. The method of claim 30 which includes locating said reference sensor in spaced relationship to said symptomatic breast.

41. The method of claim 30 which includes locating said reference sensor at the sub-xyphoid area of the female subject.

42. The method of claim 30 which includes locating said reference sensor over the nipple of the symptomatic breast of the subject.

43. The method of claim 30 which includes applying estrogen to the skin surface of said symptomatic breast contacted by said first and second test sensors before obtaining said first and second biopotential values.

44. The method of claim 30 which includes applying pressure to the symptomatic breast with said first test sensor which is greater than the pressure applied to the symptomatic breast by the remaining test sensors.

45. A noninvasive method for sensing and processing biopotentials from a lesion containing first quadrant of a symptomatic breast of a human female subject using a plurality of spaced biopotential sensors which includes arranging at least one reference sensor in contact with a skin surface of said subject, arranging a plurality of test sensors with at least a first of said test sensors in contact with a skin surface of the subject over said lesion and at least a second test sensor in contact with a skin surface of said subject in a second quadrant of the symptomatic breast which is outside said first quadrant, at least a third test sensor in contact with a skin surface in a third quadrant of said quadrants of said symptomatic breast which is outside said first and second quadrants, and at least a fourth test sensor in contact with a skin surface in a fourth quadrant of the symptomatic breast which is outside said first, second and third quadrants,

obtaining during a test period a first biopotential value using a reference sensor and said first test sensor to provide a first variable,

using said reference sensor and second test sensor during the test period to obtain a second biopotential value,

using said reference sensor and third test sensor during the test period to obtain a third biopotential value,

using said reference sensor and fourth test sensor during the test period to obtain a fourth biopotential value,

obtaining a median value of the sum of said second, third and fourth biopotential values as a second variable, and

subtracting said second variable from said first variable to provide a first differential value.

46. The method of claim 45 which includes taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and said second test sensor during said test period to obtain a second plurality of measurement values,

taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and said third test sensor during said test period to obtain a third plurality of measurement values,

taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and said fourth test sensor during said test period to obtain a fourth plurality of measurement values,

averaging said second plurality of measurement values to obtain a second average value as said second biopotential value,

averaging said third plurality of measurement values to obtain a third average value as said third biopotential value, and

averaging said fourth plurality of measurement values to obtain a fourth average value as said fourth biopotential value.

47. The method of claim 46 which includes applying estrogen to the skin surface of said symptomatic breast contacted by said first, second, third and fourth test sensors before obtaining said first, second, third and fourth biopotential measurements.

48. The method of claim 46 which includes taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and first test sensor during a test period to obtain a first plurality of measurement values, and

averaging said first plurality of measurement values to obtain a first average value as said first variable.

49. The method of claim 48 which includes taking the same number of biopotential measurements with said first, second, third and fourth test sensors during a test period.

50. The method of claim 49 which includes comparing said first differential value to a predetermined reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

51. The method of claim 45 which includes placing at least a fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensor in contact with the skin surface of an asymptomatic breast in positions on the asymptomatic breast corresponding to the location of the first, second, third and fourth test sensors respectively on the symptomatic breast, using a reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors during a test period to obtain fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth biopotential values respectively, comparing the respective fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth biopotential values so obtained to identify a high and a low level biopotential value, obtaining a second differential value indicative of the difference between said high and low level biopotential values, and adding said second differential value to said first differential value to obtain a final differential value.

52. The method of claim 51 which includes comparing said final differential value to a predetermined reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

53. The method of claim 52 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the age of the human female subject and applying the arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

54. The method of claim 52 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the period in the menstrual cycle of the human female subject and applying the arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

55. The method of claim 52 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the time of day during which said test period occurs and applying said arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

56. The method of claim 52 which includes applying a first arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value and a second arithmetic weighting factor to said second biopotential value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable to provide said first differential value, and applying a third arithmetic weighting factor to said second differential value before adding said second differential value to said third differential value to obtain the final differential value.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein said first weighting factor is greater than said second weighting factor.

58. The method of claim 45 which includes placing at least a fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensor in contact with the skin surface of an asymptomatic breast in positions on the asymptomatic breast corresponding to the location of the first, second, third and fourth test sensors respectively on the symptomatic breast, using a reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors during a test period to obtain fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth biopotential values respectively, obtaining a second median value of said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth biopotential values, and adding said second median value to said first differential value to obtain a final differential value.

59. The method of claim 58 which includes comparing said final differential value to a predetermined reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

60. The method of claim 59 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the age of the human female subject and applying the arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

61. The method of claim 59 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the period in the menstrual cycle of the human female subject and applying the arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

62. The method of claim 59 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the time of day during which said test period occurs and applying said arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

63. A noninvasive method for sensing and processing biopotentials from a lesion containing first quadrant of a symptomatic breast of a human female subject using a plurality of spaced biopotential sensors which includes arranging at least one reference sensor in contact with a skin surface of said subject, arranging a plurality of test sensors with at least a first of said test sensors in contact with a skin surface of the subject over said lesion, at least a second test sensor in contact with a skin surface of said subject in a second quadrant of the symptomatic breast which is outside said first quadrant, at least a third test sensor in contact with a skin surface in a third quadrant of said quadrants of said symptomatic breast which is outside said first and second quadrants, and at least a fourth test sensor in contact with a skin surface in a fourth quadrant of the symptomatic breast which is outside said first, second and third quadrants,

obtaining during a test period a first biopotential value using a reference sensor and said first test sensor to provide a first variable,

using said reference sensor and second test sensor during the test period to obtain a second biopotential value,

using said reference sensor and third test sensor during the test period to obtain a third biopotential value,

using said reference sensor and fourth test sensor during the test period to obtain a fourth biopotential value,

obtaining a median value of the sum of said second, third and fourth biopotential values as a second variable, and

subtracting said second variable from said first variable to provide a first differential value.

64. The method of claim 63 which includes taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and said second test sensor during said test period to obtain a second plurality of measurement values,

taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and said third test sensor during said test period to obtain a third plurality of measurement values,

taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and said fourth test sensor during said test period to obtain a fourth plurality of measurement values,

averaging said second plurality of measurement values to obtain a second average value as said second biopotential value,

averaging said third plurality of measurement values to obtain a third average value as said third biopotential value, and

averaging said fourth plurality of measurement values to obtain a fourth average value as said fourth biopotential value.

65. The method of claim 64 which includes taking a plurality of biopotential measurements with said reference sensor and first test sensor during a test period to obtain a first plurality of measurement values, and

averaging said first plurality of measurement values to obtain a first average value as said first variable.

66. The method of claim 65 which includes taking the same number of biopotential measurements with said first, second, third and fourth test sensors during a test period.

67. The method of claim 66 which includes comparing said first differential value to a predetermined reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

68. The method of claim 63 which includes placing at least a fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensor in contact with the skin surface of an asymptomatic breast in positions on the asymptomatic breast corresponding to the location of the first, second, third and fourth sensors respectively on the symptomatic breast, using a reference sensor and said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth test sensors during a test period to obtain fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth biopotential values respectively, obtaining a second mean value from the sum of of said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth biopotential values, and adding said second mean value to said first differential value to obtain a final differential value.

69. The method of claim 68 which includes comparing said final differential value to a predetermined reference value to determine a relationship therebetween.

70. The method of claim 69 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the age of the human female subject and applying the arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

71. The method of claim 69 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the period in the menstrual cycle of the human female subject and applying the arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

72. The method of claim 69 which includes determining an arithmetic weighting factor in accordance with the time of day during which said test period occurs and applying said arithmetic weighting factor to said first biopotential value.

73. An apparatus for sensing and processing electropotentials from the symptomatic breast of a human female subject which includes a lesion containing quadrant and a plurality of non-lesion containing quadrants comprising:

at least one DC biopotential reference sensor for contacting the female subject at a reference location,

at least one DC biopotential test sensor for contacting the symptomatic breast and operating with a reference sensor during a test period to detect electropotentials and to provide output test potentials, one of said at least one test sensors forming a lesion test sensor for contact with a skin surface of the symptomatic breast over the lesion in the lesion containing quadrant,

a signal processing section connected to receive the output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and lesion test sensor, said signal processing section including a processor for obtaining a first variable from said output test potentials provided by said reference sensor and lesion test sensor, a storage unit which stores at least one group of physiological weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with physiological data indicative of at least one physiological factor present in the female subject, and an input unit for inputting physiological data relative to a human female subject under test to said processor, said processor operating in response to such physiological data to select a stored physiological weighting factor value determined by said physiological data and to apply said stored physiological weighting factor value to said variable.

74. The apparatus of claim 73 wherein said processor operates to sample and receive a first plurality of output test potentials from said reference sensor and lesion test sensor during a test period and to average said first plurality of output test potentials to obtain a first average value as said first variable.

75. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein said storage unit stores a plurality of different physiological weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with different physiological data indicative of a plurality of different physiological factors present in the female subject, said processor operating in response to each type of physiological data provided by said input unit to select a stored physiological weighting factor value determined by each type of physiological data from said input unit and to apply each such physiological weighting factor value to said first variable.

76. The apparatus of claim 74 which includes at least two DC biopotential test sensors for contacting the symptomatic breast and each operating with a reference sensor during a test period to detect electropotentials and to provide output test potentials, one of said test sensors forming a first non-lesion test sensor for contact with a skin surface of the symptomatic breast in a first non-lesion quadrant separate from said lesion quadrant, said processor operating to sample and receive a second plurality of output test potentials from said reference sensor and first non-lesion test sensor during said test period and to average said second plurality of output test potentials to obtain a second average value as a second variable, said processor operating to subtract said second variable from said first variable.

77. The apparatus of claim 76 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of weighting factor values including a first arithmetic weighting factor value and a second arithmetic weighting factor value, said processor operating to retrieve and apply said first weighting factor value to said first average value and said second weighting factor value to said second average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein said first stored arithmetic weighting factor value is greater than said second stored weighting factor value.

79. The apparatus of claim 76 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores menstrual cycle weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the period in the menstrual cycle of a human female subject and an input unit for inputting the period in the menstrual cycle of a human female subject under test, said processor operating in response to a menstrual cycle period input from said input unit to select a stored menstrual cycle weighting factor value and to apply said menstrual cycle weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

80. The apparatus of claim 76 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores age weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the age of a human female subject and an input unit for inputting the age of a human female subject under test, said processor operating in response to an age input from said input unit to select a stored age weighting factor value and to apply said age weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

81. The apparatus of claim 76 wherein said processing section includes a storage unit which stores time of day weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the time of day during which a test period occurs, and an input unit for inputting the time of day when the test period is to occur, said processor operating in response to a time of day input from said input unit to select a stored time of day weighting factor value and to apply said time of day weighting factor value to said first average value before subtracting said second variable from said first variable.

82. An apparatus for screening four quadrants of a first breast of a human female subject to identify a lesion containing quadrant and non-lesion containing quadrants by sensing and processing electropotentials therefrom comprising:

at least one DC biopotential reference sensor for contacting the female subject at a reference location,

at least one DC biopotential test sensor for contacting the first breast in each quadrant thereof, each test sensor operating with a reference sensor during a screening period to form a reference-test sensor combination to detect electropotentials and provide output screening potentials, and

a signal processing section connected to separately receive the output screening potentials provided by each said reference-test sensor combination during a screening period;

said signal processing section including a processor to separately receive the output screening potentials for each quadrant of the first breast and to obtain therefrom a quadrant signal value, said processor operating to compare said quadrant signal values to identify as a lesion quadrant any quadrant having a quadrant signal value which differs more than a predetermined amount from the signal values of the remaining quadrants, the remaining quadrants being identified by said processor as non-lesion quadrants.

83. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein said processor operates to sample and receive a plurality of output screening potentials from each of said reference-test sensor combinations during a screening period and to average the output screening potentials for each said reference-test sensor combination in each quadrant of the first breast to obtain a quadrant signal value for each quadrant of the first breast.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein said processor operates to average the quadrant signal values to obtain a breast average signal value and to compare each quadrant signal value to the breast average signal value to identify as a lesion quadrant any quadrant having a quadrant signal value which differs more than a predetermined amount from the breast average signal value.

85. An apparatus for sensing and processing electropotentials from four quadrants of a first breast and a nipple of said first breast for a human female subject comprising:

at least one DC biopotential reference sensor for contacting the female subject at a reference location,

a DC biopotential nipple sensor for contacting the nipple of said first breast and operating with said reference sensor during a test period to detect electropotentials and provide output nipple potentials,

at least one DC biopotential test sensor for contacting the first breast in each quadrant thereof, each test sensor operating with said reference sensor during a test period to provide at least one reference-test sensor combination for each breast quadrant, and to detect electropotentials and provide output test potentials, and

a signal processing section connected to separately receive the output nipple potentials and output test potentials, said processing section including a processor for obtaining a first variable from said output nipple potentials and operating to arithmetically combine all of said output test potentials and to obtain a second variable from the combination of all of said output test potentials, the processor operating to subtract the second variable from the first variable to obtain a first differential value.

86. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein said processor operates to sample and receive a first plurality of nipple output potentials during a test period and to average said plurality of nipple output potentials to obtain a first average value as said first variable, and to sample and receive a first plurality of output test potentials from at least one reference-test sensor combination in a first breast quadrant of the first breast, a second plurality of output test potentials from at least one reference-test sensor combination in a second breast quadrant of the first breast, a third plurality of output test potentials from at least one reference-test sensor combination in a third breast quadrant of the first breast and a fourth plurality of output test potentials from at least one reference-test sensor combination in a fourth quadrant of the first breast, said processor operating to obtain a first average value from said first plurality of output test potentials, a second average value from said second plurality of output test potentials, a third average value from said third plurality of output test potentials and a fourth average value from said fourth plurality of output test potentials and to use said first, second, third and fourth average values to obtain said second variable.

87. An apparatus for sensing and processing electropotentials from a test site on the skin of a human subject comprising

at least one DC biopotential reference sensor for contacting the subject at a reference location,

a plurality of DC biopotential test sensors for contacting the subject at spaced locations at the test site, each said test sensor operating with a reference sensor to form a reference-test sensor combination to detect electropotentials and to provide output test potentials during a test period,

at least one analog to digital converter connected to separately receive the output test potentials from each reference-test sensor combination during a test period and operating to convert said output test potentials from each reference-test sensor combination to digital test signals for said reference-test sensor combination, and

a signal processing section connected to separately receive the output test potentials from each reference-test sensor combination, said signal processing section including

a processor connected to separately receive the digital test signals for each said reference-test sensor combination from said analog to digital converter, and to obtain therefrom a separate digital test signal value for each said reference-test sensor combination, and

a storage unit which stores a plurality of physiological weighting factor values representative of a factor having a physiological effect on said human subject connected to said processor,

said processor operating at the end of a test period to combine said digital test signal values to identify at least one potential difference relationship therebetween, said processor operating to apply at least one physiological weighting factor value to said digital test signal values before arithmetically combining said digital test signal values.

88. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said processing section includes an input unit for inputting the age of a human subject under test to said processor, said storage unit storing age weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with age, said processor operating in response to an age input from said input unit to select a stored age weighting factor value and to apply said age weighting factor value to said digital test signal values.

89. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said input unit operates to input the time of day when the test period is to occur and said storage unit stores time of day weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the time of day during which a test period occurs,

said processor operating in response to a time of day input from said input unit to select a stored time of day weighting factor value and to apply said time of day weighting factor value to said digital test signal values.

90. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said human subject is a female subject, said processing unit including an input unit for inputting the period in the menstrual cycle of a human female subject under test, said storage unit storing menstrual cycle weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the period in the menstrual cycle of a human female subject,

said processor operating in response to a menstrual cycle period input from said input unit to select a stored menstrual cycle weighting factor value and to apply said menstrual cycle weighting factor value to said digital test signal values.

91. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein said input unit operates to input the time of day when the test period is to occur and said storage unit stores time of day weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the time of day during which a test period occurs, said processor operating in response to a time of day input from said input unit to select a stored time of day weighting factor value and to apply said time of day weighting factor value to said digital test signal values.

92. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein said input unit operates to input the age of a human subject under test to said processor, said storage unit storing age weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with age, said processor operating in response to an age input from said input until to select a stored age weighting factor value and to apply weighting factor value and to apply said age weighting factor value to said digital test signal values.

93. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein said input unit operates to input the time of day when the test period is to occur and said storage unit stores time of day weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the time of day during which a test period occurs,

said processor operating in response to a time of day input from said input unit to select a stored time of day weighting factor value and to apply said time of day weighting factor value to said digital test signal values.

94. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said processing unit includes an input unit for inputting the time of day when the test period is to occur, said storage unit storing time of day weighting factor values which vary in value in accordance with the time of day during which a test period occurs,

said processor operating in response to a time of day input from said input unit to select a stored time of day weighting factor value and to apply said time of day weighting factor value to said digital test signal values.

95. A method for approximating a gradient around a lesion on the symptomatic breast of a human female subject using a plurality of spaced biopotential sensors which include at least one reference sensor and at least five test sensors the method including positioning the reference sensor in contact with a skin surface of a subject,

positioning a first of the test sensors in contact with the skin surface of the subject over said lesion,

positioning the remaining second, third, fourth and fifth test sensors in spaced relationship in a circle around said first test sensor with said first sensor being positioned in the center of said circle,

obtaining during a test period a first biopotential value using the reference sensor and said first test sensor,

obtaining during the test period a second biopotential value using the reference sensor and the second test sensor, a third biopotential value using the reference sensor and the third test sensor, a fourth biopotential value using the reference sensor and the fourth test sensor and a fifth biopotential value using the reference sensor and the fifth test sensor and

subtracting from first biopotential value a value equal to one fourth the sum of the second, third, fourth and fifth biopotential values.