EP0176353A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instrumentation for invivo NMR measurements in the human breast to screen for cancer
Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
•
Filing: 1985-09-24
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2005-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for testing for cancer cells in the human breast is set forth. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a pendulant breast exposed to a magnetic field is tested by nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR). The magnetic field is varied to provide the requisite field intensity in selected segmented sections of the pendulant breast within the field. The field intensity is varied to thereby observe all of the breast extending toward the thorax cavity, obtaining test data from section after section aggregating test data from the entire breast within the pole pieces of the magnet and sufficiently therebeyond to obtain full interrogation. The NMR response focuses on hydrogen nuclei in the water in the breast region, determines the voltage proportional to the density of hydrogen nuclei and the binding of the water described by the relaxation times T, and T 2 for each binding level for water. The data so obtained in sequence is examined. Difference values from sequentially obtained signals are evaluated, yielding a plot of different signals as a function of breast length, thereby yielding abnormalities. Such abnormalities are shown in the difference signal from NMR interrogation as a result the concentration and relaxation time (T, and T 2 ) changes in tumors.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Rollwitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/28; G01R33/32; G01R33/34; G01R33/34046; G01R33/34053; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0825; A61B8/40; A61B8/406; G01R33/38; G01R33/383; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of conducting a non-invasive testing of the human breast comprising the steps of: (a) forming a magnetic field between the poles of a magnet wherein the magnetic field defines a sensitive volume between the poles and the sensitive volume has the requisite magnetic field intensity for NMR testing; (b) moving incrementally the sensitive volume from a beginning point toward an ending point to scan a breast between the pole pieces of the magnet and thereby move the sensitive volume through the entirety of the breast; (c) periodically interrogating by a transmitted pulse from a coil the breast located in the sensitive volume for NMR response; (d) wherein the magnetic field intensity in the sensitive volume and the pulse from the coil cause an NMR response from water in the body tissue making up the breast; and (e) determining anomalies arising from abnormal growths in the breast as indicated by variations in the NMR response.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of conducting a non-invasive testing of the human breast comprising the steps of: (a) forming a magnetic field between the poles of a magnet wherein the magnetic field defines a sensitive volume between the poles and the sensitive volume has the requisite magnetic field intensity for NMR testing; (b) moving incrementally the sensitive volume from a beginning point toward an ending point to scan a breast between the pole pieces of the magnet and thereby move the sensitive volume through the entirety of the breast; (c) periodically interrogating by a transmitted pulse from a coil the breast located in the sensitive volume for NMR response; (d) wherein the magnetic field intensity in the sensitive volume and the pulse from the coil cause an NMR response from water in the body tissue making up the breast; and (e) determining anomalies arising from abnormal growths in the breast as indicated by variations in the NMR response.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of Claim 1 including the step of sequentially moving the sensitive volume by moving the magnet relative to the breast.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 1 including the step of moving the sensitive volume by changing the magnetizing current to the magnet to vary magnetization thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of Claim 1 including the step of locating the magnet beneath an examining table to enable a female to recline therein to suspend a pendulant breast in the magnetic field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of Claim 1 including the step of making first and second NMR interrogations of the breast wherein the sensitive volumes are adjacent to one another, and wherein the NMR responses are compared to obtain a difference signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of Claim 1 including the step of serially moving the sensitive volume along a path to examine the entire breast with N examinations and the N examinations enable formation of N-1 difference signals; plotting the N-1 difference signals to lcoate an anomaly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the sensitive volume is defined by Δ H o field intensity and has an edge defined by the outer edge of the breast, and the sensitive volume is approximately circular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of Claim 7 including the step of moving the magnetic field sequentially to relocate the sensitive volume to scan the breast, wherein the sensitive volume thickness is defined by A H o field intensity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the NMR response is dependent on hydrogen in the water, and the water has two states, one state being involved in cancer cells and thereby forming a different NMR response than the other water molecules.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for testing the human breast for the presence of abnormalities indicative of cancer, the apparatus comprising: (a) magnet means for forming a magnetic field of specific magnetic intensity between pole pieces thereof; (b) means for supporting a patient undergoing tests with one breast extending toward the magnetic field to be exposed to specific field intensity; (c) coil means for transmitting an interrogation pulse into the region between the pole pieces and into the breast; (d) receiver means connected to said coil means for receiving signals indicative ofNMR response from tissue of the breast interrogated by pulses transmitted thereinto; and (e) means for detecting from the received signals anomalies indicative of abnormal growths in the breast.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for testing the human breast for the presence of abnormalities indicative of cancer, the apparatus comprising: (a) magnet means for forming a magnetic field of specific magnetic intensity between pole pieces thereof; (b) means for supporting a patient undergoing tests with one breast extending toward the magnetic field to be exposed to specific field intensity; (c) coil means for transmitting an interrogation pulse into the region between the pole pieces and into the breast; (d) receiver means connected to said coil means for receiving signals indicative ofNMR response from tissue of the breast interrogated by pulses transmitted thereinto; and (e) means for detecting from the received signals anomalies indicative of abnormal growths in the breast.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein said magnet means is a U-shaped magnet with spaced poles, and said magnet means is mounted on means for moving said magnet toward and away from the breast of the patient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein said means for supporting a patient undergoing tests includes an examination table enabling the patient to recline thereon in a position permitting one breast to extend in a pendulant fashion toward said magnet means, and said table and magnet means are positioned relative to one another to enable the breast to extend into the magnetic field to be exposed to the specific field intensity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein said coil means is arranged relative to an opening means in an examination table, said coil means and opening means defining a volume within the pole pieces of said magnet for receiving the breast hanging there into in pendulant fashion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of Claim 10 including means for varying the magnetizing current for said magnet means to thereby vary the field intensity and to relocate the specific field intensity which exposes the breast of the patient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of Claim 10 including means for adjusting the specific field intensity defined by Δ H o which is segment of a curved field portion, and which has an outer edge defined within said coil means and sufficiently large to encompass the outer edge of the breast within the specific field intensity defined thereby.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of conducting a non-invasive testing of the human breast comprising the steps of: (a) forminq a magnetic field between the poles of a magnet wherein the magnetic field defines a sensitive volume between the poles and the sensitive volume has the requisite magnetic field intensity for NMR testing; (b) periodically interrogating by a transmitted pulse from a coil the breast located in the sensitive volume for NMR T 1 response; (c) wherein the magnetic field intensity in the sensitive volume and the pulse from the coil cause an NMR T 1 response; and (d) determining anomalies arising from abnormal growths as indicated by variations in the NMR T l response.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of conducting a non-invasive testing of the human breast comprising the steps of: (a) forminq a magnetic field between the poles of a magnet wherein the magnetic field defines a sensitive volume between the poles and the sensitive volume has the requisite magnetic field intensity for NMR testing; (b) periodically interrogating by a transmitted pulse from a coil the breast located in the sensitive volume for NMR T 1 response; (c) wherein the magnetic field intensity in the sensitive volume and the pulse from the coil cause an NMR T 1 response; and (d) determining anomalies arising from abnormal growths as indicated by variations in the NMR T l response.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of conducting a non-invasive testing of the human breast comprising the steps of: (a) forming a magnetic field between the poles of a magnet wherein the magnetic field defines a sensitive volume between the poles and the sensitive volume has the requisite magnetic field intensity for NMR testing; (b) periodically interrogating by a transmitted pulse from a coil the breast located in the sensitive volume for NMR T 2 response; (c) wherein the magnetic field intensity in the sensitive volume and the pulse from the coil cause an NMR T 2 response; and (d) determining anomalies arising from abnormal growths as indicated by variations in the NMR T 2 response.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of conducting a non-invasive testing of the human breast comprising the steps of: (a) forming a magnetic field between the poles of a magnet wherein the magnetic field defines a sensitive volume between the poles and the sensitive volume has the requisite magnetic field intensity for NMR testing; (b) periodically interrogating by a transmitted pulse from a coil the breast located in the sensitive volume for NMR T 2 response; (c) wherein the magnetic field intensity in the sensitive volume and the pulse from the coil cause an NMR T 2 response; and (d) determining anomalies arising from abnormal growths as indicated by variations in the NMR T 2 response.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.