Apparatus and method for detection of tumors in tissue
US4291708A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 1978 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/4312
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.