Optical Compression Transients for Breast Cancer Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting breast cancer, such as mammograms and MRI, are invasive, resource-intensive, and prone to false alarms, and lack non-invasive techniques for early and accurate detection.
Innovation Solution
A method involving changing the compression state of breast tissue and measuring optical properties using near-infrared radiation to determine oxygen consumption and blood flow, allowing for the identification of tumors through time-dependent optical property measurements and tomographic imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MRI is used to detect breast cancer, then detection capability is improved, but resource consumption and false alarms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex MRI mechanical and electromagnetic systems with a simpler optical measurement system using near-infrared light. The system uses light sources and detectors to measure optical properties of breast tissue under compression, eliminating the need for expensive MRI equipment while achieving comparable cancer detection capability through measurement of blood flow and oxygen consumption changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from general tissue imaging (MRI) to specific physiological parameters (optical absorption, scattering, blood flow, oxygen consumption). By measuring these specific parameters under compression, the system achieves cancer detection with simpler equipment and reduced false alarms compared to conventional MRI
2Reliability
If MRI is used to detect breast cancer, then detection capability is improved, but patient discomfort and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the invasive MRI procedure with a non-invasive optical measurement system. The system uses gentle compression (less than 6 lbs) combined with near-infrared light measurement, eliminating the need for chemical contrast agents and reducing patient discomfort while maintaining cancer detection accuracy
3Measurement precision
If biopsy is performed to detect breast cancer, then detection accuracy is improved, but patient discomfort and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive biopsy procedures with non-invasive optical measurement. The system uses near-infrared light to measure blood flow and oxygen consumption in compressed breast tissue, providing cancer detection without the time-consuming and uncomfortable biopsy procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary screening using optical measurement under compression before any invasive procedures. By detecting changes in blood flow and oxygen consumption that indicate cancer, the system can identify suspicious cases that require further investigation, reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies and overall screening time
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
This approach enables non-invasive, accurate detection of breast cancer by quantifying oxygen consumption and blood flow, potentially reducing false alarms and improving early detection rates with less patient discomfort and resource usage.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining the first measurement includes illuminating the tissue with near-infrared radiation; detecting near-infrared radiation scattered from within the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A cancer screening method includes changing a compression state of selected tissue; and obtaining a signal indicative of a response of an optical property of the selected tissue in response to the change in the compression state.