Apparatus and method for detecting tumors

Patent 4515165 Issued on May 7, 1985. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 7, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Transillumination diagnostic system
Patent #: 4286602
Issued on: 09/01/1981
Inventor: Guy

Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of caries in teeth using visible luminescence Patent #: 4290433
Issued on: 09/22/1981
Inventor: Alfano

Inventor

Carroll, Robert

Assignee

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.

Application

No. 06/302443 filed on 09/15/1981

US Classes:

600/475, With comparison means (e.g., ratio of or comparison to a standard)250/341.1, With irradiation or heating of object or material250/358.1, With means to inspect passive solid objects600/477With comparison means (e.g., ratio of or comparison to a standard)

Examiners

Primary: Howell, Kyle L.
Assistant: Jaworski, Francis J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Norris; Lawrence G.

International Class

A61B 5/00 (20060101)

Abstract

A device and method for the detection of tumors in human and animal tissue using transmission or reflection of nonionizing radiation, in particular, visible light having a wavelength most advantageously in the range of 400 to about 700 nanometers, and infrared light having a wavelength in the range of 700 nanometers to about 4 microns (4000 nanometers). Measurement of the amount of absorption and scatter in regions of the tissue involved is in a scanning mode to produce a shadowgraph image using either single wavelength grey scale or preferably multispectral multiple wavelength false color imaging techniques. The apparatus and method also advantageously can be used in conjunction with computer image reconstruction similar to that employed in computerized axial tomography of the type used in X-ray diagnostic techniques. In one of its more advantageous aspects, the apparatus and method are used to differentiate between benign and malignant human breast tumors.