The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Medical Optical Imaging, Inc.

Michael Victor Klibanov

Iosif Semen Zeylikovich

Andrey Anatolyevich Kharisov

Thomas Ramsey Lucas

Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting an abnormality in a host medium, such as a tumor within a patient's breast. The host medium is initially illuminated at a plurality of different positions with light of at least two different wavelengths. Following the propagation of the signals through the host medium, the amplitude and phase of the signals are detected and, based upon the detected signals, a shadow image can be created in which the abnormality is depicted as a suspicious region. Once a suspicious region has been identified, at least that portion of the host medium that contains the suspicious region is again illuminated with frequency-swept modulated signals of at least two different wavelengths generated by the light source and modulated by a modulator, such as a network analyzer. Based upon the detected signals that have propagated through at least that portion of the host medium that includes the suspicious region, a P-criteria can be determined that is dependent upon the coefficient of absorptivity of the host medium and embedded abnormalities. Likewise, an S-criteria can be determined based upon concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin. Based upon at least these criteria which reflect physiological parameters of the host medium and embedded abnormalities as well as the possible comparison of the shadow images to an x-ray image of the host medium, the abnormality can be characterized. In addition, an apparatus is provided that facilitates the compression of a patient's breast in order to improve the resulting images.

Method and apparatus for detecting an abnormality within a host medium utilizing frequency-swept modulation diffusion tomography

The detection method and apparatus detects abnormalities having a first signal propagation property within a host medium having a second signal propagation property based upon signals which have been reflected, scattered and/or absorbed by the host medium and any abnormalities therein. The detection apparatus includes a signal source for introducing a signal into the host medium which varies with respect to a predetermined signal parameter, such as time, frequency or source location. The detection apparatus also includes a plurality of detectors disposed along some or all of the boundary of the host medium for detecting the signal following propagation through the host medium and any abnormalities within the host medium. The detection apparatus further includes a signal processor for constructing at least one partial differential equation to describe the propagation of a regularized signal through a medium having the same shape as the host medium. The signal processor eliminates at least one term which includes a perturbation function based, at least in part, upon the signal propagation properties of the abnormality. The signal processor can then determine the solution of the at least one partial differential equation and can, in turn, recover the perturbation function. As a result, the detection apparatus can detect abnormalities within the host medium in an accurate, efficient, fast and cost effective manner.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Michael Victor Klibanov