Method for representations of network-dependent features of the hemoglobin signal in living tissues for detection of breast cancer and other applications

Abstract

A non-invasive method of detecting anomalous tissue, such as cancerous or injured tissue, in a patient. At least two hemoglobin signal components of hemoglobin levels in at least one segment of tissue of the patient are non-invasively measured over time. Time varying changes of at least a first of the hemoglobin signal components are measured with respect to at least time varying changes of a second of the hemoglobin signal components. A co-varying coordinate system of the time varying changes is generated. Any anomalous tissue in the measured segment of tissue is detected from a signature of the measured segment of tissue in the co-varying coordinate system which differs from a signature of non-anomalous tissue in the co-varying coordinate system. Preferably, five hemoglobin signal components are measured: oxyHb, deoxyHb, total Hb (totalHb=oxyHb+deoxy Hb), Hb oxygen saturation (HbOSat=(oxyHb/totalHb)*100), and tissue-hemoglobin oxygen exchange HbOExc (deoxyHb−oxyHb).