US3995621A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid cooled brassiere and method of diagnosing malignant tumors therewith
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1976-01-27
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Granted: 1976-12-07
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Expires: 1996-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A device for enhancing the detection of malignant tissue in the breasts of a woman comprises a brassiere-like garment which is fitted with a pair of liquid-perfused cooling panels which completely and compliantly cover the breasts and upper torso. The garment is connected by plastic tubing to a liquid cooling system comprising a fluid pump, a solenoid control valve for controlling the flow of fluid to either the cooling unit or the heating unit, a fluid reservoir, a temperature sensor in the reservoir, and a restrictor valve to control the pressure in the garment inlet cooling line.
Inventors
- 👤 with respect to an invention of Fletcher James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 👤 William Elkins
- 👤 Bill Alvin Williams
- 👤 Ernest Glenn Tickner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/02; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/01; A61F2007/0001; A61F2007/0018; A61F2007/0021; A61F2007/0054; A61F7/007; A61F2007/0075; A61F2007/0086; A61F2007/0268; A61F2007/0273
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for enhancing the detection of cancer in the breasts of a woman comprising: a breast and upper torso conforming garment comprising means for uniformly and simultaneously cooling the skin tissue of said breast by the perfusion of cooling fluid through said cooling means; means for controlling the temperature of said cooling fluid; means for refrigeration of said cooling fluid; means responsive to said controlling means for heating said cooling fluid; a reservoir for holding said cooling fluid; valve means responsive to said controlling means for controlling the flow of cooling fluid between said refrigeration means and said heating means; means for pressurizing and circulating said cooling fluid through said refrigeration means, heater means, valve means, fluid reservoir, and garment cooling means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for enhancing the detection of cancer in the breasts of a woman comprising: a breast and upper torso conforming garment comprising means for uniformly and simultaneously cooling the skin tissue of said breast by the perfusion of cooling fluid through said cooling means; means for controlling the temperature of said cooling fluid; means for refrigeration of said cooling fluid; means responsive to said controlling means for heating said cooling fluid; a reservoir for holding said cooling fluid; valve means responsive to said controlling means for controlling the flow of cooling fluid between said refrigeration means and said heating means; means for pressurizing and circulating said cooling fluid through said refrigeration means, heater means, valve means, fluid reservoir, and garment cooling means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the conforming garment is a brassiere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said conforming garment cooling means includes a pair of liquid-perfused cooling panels conformably connected to the interior surface of each cup of said brassiere with suitable attaching means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the said liquid-perfused cooling panels comprise two sheets of flexible waterproof material joined together to form a plurality of passageways for carrying a cooling fluid, and inlet and outlet flow lines connected to the panels and communicating with the passageways for carrying the cooling liquid to and from the said passageways.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the means for pressurizing and circulating includes a water pump having a capacity of at least 0.5 gallons per minute and a restrictor valve for maintaining a desired pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the means for refrigeration is a heat-exchanger having a capacity of at least 1000 BTU/hr. cooling capacity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the heating means is a water heater having a capacity of at least 400 BTU/hr.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the means for controlling the temperature includes a temperature sensor and an analog temperature controller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 8 wherein the sensor is a thermocouple located in the cooling fluid reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the cooling fluid is water.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
76 words
The method of enhancing the detection of breast cancer in a woman comprising the steps of: a. cooling the skin tissue of a woman's breasts below normal room temperature by placing the breasts in close contact with a conforming garment comprising liquid-perfused cooling panels, said panels maintained at said temperature by the flow of cooling fluid therein; b. removing the conforming garment; and c. scanning the thermal pattern of the skin with an infrared scanning device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
The method of enhancing the detection of breast cancer in a woman comprising the steps of: a. cooling the skin tissue of a woman's breasts below normal room temperature by placing the breasts in close contact with a conforming garment comprising liquid-perfused cooling panels, said panels maintained at said temperature by the flow of cooling fluid therein; b. removing the conforming garment; and c. scanning the thermal pattern of the skin with an infrared scanning device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the temperature of the skin tissue is cooled to about 15° C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-12-07 | 1980-06-07 | 1980-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-07 | 1984-06-07 | 1984-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-07 | 1988-06-07 | 1988-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |