Breast Scanning System Inverse Scattering Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast cancer diagnosis methods, including mammography and ultrasound, suffer from high rates of false positives and negatives, leading to unnecessary biopsies and significant healthcare costs, as they struggle to accurately differentiate between benign and malignant tissue.
Innovation Solution
A breast scanning system utilizing ultrasound inverse scattering technology to produce 3-D images of the breast, combining transmission and reflection data to provide detailed, quantitative tissue properties, reducing operator dependence and improving diagnostic accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional mammography and ultrasound are used for breast cancer diagnosis, then screening coverage is achieved, but diagnostic accuracy deteriorates with high false positive and false negative rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple imaging modalities (mammography, ultrasound, and acoustic radiation force imaging) into a single integrated breast imaging system. This merging allows simultaneous acquisition of structural and functional data, improving diagnostic accuracy by providing complementary information that reduces false positives and negatives while maintaining reliable screening coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs acoustic radiation force to induce mechanical vibrations in breast tissue, changing the physical parameters being measured from static anatomical structures to dynamic mechanical responses. This parameter change enables differentiation of tissue stiffness and elasticity, providing additional diagnostic criteria that improve measurement precision and reliability
2Measurement precision
If traditional imaging methods are used, then diagnostic screening is performed, but tissue differentiation capability deteriorates leading to unnecessary biopsies
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures mechanical impedance and acoustic radiation force responses of breast tissue, changing from conventional structural imaging parameters to functional mechanical parameters. This enables precise differentiation between benign and malignant tissues based on their distinct mechanical properties, improving tissue differentiation accuracy and reducing harmful unnecessary biopsies
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback through acoustic radiation force imaging that shows mechanical response characteristics of breast tissue. This feedback mechanism allows clinicians to assess tissue stiffness and elasticity dynamically, improving confidence in tissue differentiation and reducing the need for invasive follow-up biopsies by providing sufficient diagnostic information non-invasively
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system generates more detailed and accurate 3-D images, reducing the need for invasive biopsies by effectively differentiating between normal and malignant tissue, thereby improving diagnostic confidence and reducing healthcare costs.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter array configured to transmit acoustic signals through the breast
Implementation Method 2
a receiver array positioned to receive acoustic signals from the transmitter array to obtain transmission attenuation data
Implementation Method 3
a reflection array disposed laterally between the transmitter array and the receiver array. The reflection array can be configured to transmit acoustic signals through the breast and receive reflected acoustic signals from the breast
Implementation Method 4
A breast scanning system utilizing ultrasound inverse scattering technology to produce 3-D images of the breast, combining transmission and reflection data
Data Source
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AI summary
A breast scanning system (10) configured to scan a breast of a patient includes a table (38) configured to receive the patient thereon. The table has an aperture (42) formed therein configured to receive the breast of the patient pendant therethrough and positionable over and into a bath (14) configured to contain a medium. A transmitter array (18) and a receiver array (20) are disposed in the bath to obtain transmission speed of sound or attenuation data. In addition, a reflection array (22) is disposed laterally between the transmitter array and the receiver array to transmit acoustic signals through the breast and receive reflected acoustic signals from the breast to obtain reflection data from the breast.