The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 26, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 01, 1999
Farid Souluer, San Diego, CA (US);
UltraTouch Corporation, Exton, PA (US);
Abstract
A computer controlled apparatus for detecting breast tumors by mechanically palpating a breast in a full scan manner to detect small lumps or anomalies. The patient is positioned on a fully adjustable bed and oriented relative to the apparatus. A detection head mounted for movement in three dimensions is positioned above the bed. A palpation finger is brought into pressure contact with a sequence of small areas across the entire breast, palpating each area to measure tissue density. Concurrent with the palpation scan, a scan of breast color and temperature is conducted. A locator head positions the detector for the scan in a manner that assures repeatability during each of a series of periodic examinations. This system detects very small lumps and allows easy, accurate monitoring of suspicious areas over an extended time period. Several different embodiments of the detection head and location head are described.