Smart Bra Expandable Components Close Optical Air Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast imaging modalities face limitations such as exposure to ionizing radiation, discomfort, low accuracy for younger individuals and those with dense breast tissue, and difficulty in accurately measuring tissue changes over time, particularly with air gaps between optical sensors and the breast surface in stationary devices and handheld devices.
Innovation Solution
A smart bra with adjustable expandable components that move light emitters and receivers closer to the breast surface, minimizing air gaps and improving scanning accuracy by selectively expanding to conform to the breast contour, thereby enhancing the accuracy of optical scanning for breast tissue analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If stationary optical imaging devices are used, then comprehensive breast imaging is achieved, but air gaps between optical sensors and breast surface reduce scanning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The bra cup incorporates expandable components that can dynamically adjust the distance between optical components and the breast surface. These components transition from a compressed state during normal wear to an expanded state during imaging, moving optical components closer to eliminate air gaps and improve scanning accuracy without requiring a completely different device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance parameter between optical components and the breast surface is changed by expanding or compressing the expandable components. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize optical coupling conditions for imaging while maintaining comfort and versatility for everyday wear, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If handheld optical imaging devices are used, then portability is improved, but difficulty in accurately measuring absolute tissue locations and tracking changes over time occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The smart bra combines the functionality of a regular bra with optical imaging capabilities, creating a universal device that serves both everyday wear and medical imaging purposes. The expandable components enable the same device to maintain consistent anatomical references for longitudinal tracking while remaining portable and easy to operate without specialized facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The bra structure itself provides the reference framework for measurement through its anatomical fit and expandable components that maintain consistent positioning. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external positioning equipment or complex alignment procedures, enabling accurate longitudinal tracking with a portable device.
3Reliability
If x-ray mammography is used, then breast imaging capability is achieved, but exposure to ionizing radiation and discomfort occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the x-ray imaging mechanism with an optical imaging system using light sources and optical sensors. This substitution eliminates ionizing radiation exposure while maintaining breast imaging capability through optical properties of tissue, resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging modality parameter is changed from ionizing radiation (x-ray) to non-ionizing optical wavelengths. This parameter change allows the system to achieve breast imaging capability without exposing the patient to harmful radiation, while the expandable components ensure optimal optical coupling for reliable detection.
4Measurement precision
If uniform compression is applied to close air gaps, then optical scanning accuracy is improved, but discomfort and tightness in non-air-gap areas occur
Solution Approach 1:
The bra cup is segmented into multiple independent expandable components rather than a single uniform compression system. Each expandable component can be independently activated to close air gaps at specific locations, applying localized pressure only where needed. This segmentation allows the system to improve optical scanning accuracy without causing discomfort in areas that do not require compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable components provide localized quality adjustment by targeting specific areas with air gaps. Instead of uniform compression across the entire bra cup, the system applies expansion force only to the segments where optical components are positioned away from the breast surface, maintaining comfort in other areas while improving scanning accuracy locally.
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 smart bra reduces errors in optical scanning by closing air gaps between optical components and the breast surface, providing more accurate and comfortable breast tissue analysis with less exposure to harmful radiation, enabling easier periodic longitudinal tracking of tissue changes.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical component on the interior surface of the cup, wherein the first optical component comprises a light emitter which transmits light into the person's breast and/or a light receiver which receives light which has been transmitted through the person's breast
Implementation Method 2
Spectroscopic analysis of the light received can help to detect the presence, composition, shape, size, and/or location of abnormal tissue
Implementation Method 3
The expandable components selectively move light emitters and/or receivers closer to the surface of a breast where needed to close air gaps on a cup
Data Source
AI summary
This invention is a smart bra for optical scanning of breast tissue which has light emitters which transmit light into breast tissue, light receivers which receive the light after it has been transmitted through the breast tissue, and expandable components which selectively move light emitters and/or receivers closer to the surface of a breast where there are air gaps.