Microwave discrimination between malignant and benign breast tumors
US6421550B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/0507
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A non-invasive method to detect vascularization associated with one or more malignant tumors in living tissue of a living organism, where dielectric properties of the vascularization are different than dielectric properties of normal living tissue. In one embodiment, a non-ionizing input wave within a wide band frequency range is generated, and the input wave is applied to a field excitation antenna to illuminate a discrete volume within the living tissue of the living organism and to develop scattered power returns from the discrete volume. A receiving antenna then collects at least a portion of the scattered power returns. The scattered power returns are detected and then applied to a signal processor to develop a segregated signal, which is then processed in order to identify the vascularization associated with one or more malignant tumors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.