US4651749A — Cancer detection patch for early detection of bre…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 170 words

A detection patch for use in early detection of breast abnormalities comprising: (a) a flexible heat-conductive web having opposite surfaces; (b) an array of spaced-apart temperature indicators lying adjacent to each other on one surface of said heat-conductive web, each of said temperature indicators comprising a dye or a pigment and a temperature-sensitive substance having a melting point precisely different from the melting point of the temperature-sensitive substance in the adjacent indicator, wherein each of said indicators displays a permanent change in color upon melting of the temperature-sensitive substance therein and co-action with said dye or pigment; (c) a transparent flexible layer overlying said heat-conductive web and sealed thereto on said one surface; and (d) a backing web on the other surface of said heat-conductive web, said backing web being composed of a substantial thickness of a flexible compressible material adapted to effect conformal contiguous contact between the indicator-bearing surface of said heat-conductive web and the breast skin when said patch is applied in the breast-receiving cup of a brassiere.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 170 words

A detection patch for use in early detection of breast abnormalities comprising: (a) a flexible heat-conductive web having opposite surfaces; (b) an array of spaced-apart temperature indicators lying adjacent to each other on one surface of said heat-conductive web, each of said temperature indicators comprising a dye or a pigment and a temperature-sensitive substance having a melting point precisely different from the melting point of the temperature-sensitive substance in the adjacent indicator, wherein each of said indicators displays a permanent change in color upon melting of the temperature-sensitive substance therein and co-action with said dye or pigment; (c) a transparent flexible layer overlying said heat-conductive web and sealed thereto on said one surface; and (d) a backing web on the other surface of said heat-conductive web, said backing web being composed of a substantial thickness of a flexible compressible material adapted to effect conformal contiguous contact between the indicator-bearing surface of said heat-conductive web and the breast skin when said patch is applied in the breast-receiving cup of a brassiere.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

A detection patch as in claim 1 wherein said heat-conductive web is made of aluminum foil.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

A detection patch as in claim 2 wherein each of said temperature-sensitive substances is a crystalline organic chemical.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

A detection patch as in claim 1 wherein each of said temperature-sensitive substances is a crystalline organic chemical.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 149 words

A device for the early detection of physiological abnormalities by comparison of the skin temperature of an area on one side of the body with that of a corresponding area on the opposite side thereof, said device comprising temperature indicating means for placement on the skin conformably to each of the two areas to be compared and having, conformably to each of said areas, an array of skin temperature indicators which melt at predetermined temperatures to display a change in appearance, selected indicators of each array having melting temperatures different from those of the other indicators of the array but identical with corresponding indicators of the other array, whereby the temperature of the skin under the arrays can be compared, and a backing web composed of a substantial thickness of a flexible compressible material adapted to effect conformal contiguous contact between bearing surface of said array and the skin.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 149 words

A device for the early detection of physiological abnormalities by comparison of the skin temperature of an area on one side of the body with that of a corresponding area on the opposite side thereof, said device comprising temperature indicating means for placement on the skin conformably to each of the two areas to be compared and having, conformably to each of said areas, an array of skin temperature indicators which melt at predetermined temperatures to display a change in appearance, selected indicators of each array having melting temperatures different from those of the other indicators of the array but identical with corresponding indicators of the other array, whereby the temperature of the skin under the arrays can be compared, and a backing web composed of a substantial thickness of a flexible compressible material adapted to effect conformal contiguous contact between bearing surface of said array and the skin.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 172 words

A device for the early detection of breast cancer having a heat-conductive web divided into a plurality of pie-shaped sectors so disposed and of total area to contact simultaneously opposite side areas of the breast, each sector having a surface and an array of temperature indicators on said surface of which each indicator senses a specific temperature different from that sensed by adjacent indicators in the array through a predetermined graded temperature range, the ranges of different temperature sensed by the several sectors being substantially identical so that the same specific temperature may be sensed simultaneously at different locations on a single breast for ease in comparing temperatures at mirror image locations on both breasts when a duplicate of the said detector has been applied to the other breast, and a backing web composed of a substantial thickness of a flexible compressible material to effect conformal contiguous contact between the indicator-bearing surface of said heat-conductive web and the breast skin when said device is applied in the breast-receiving cup of a brassiere.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 172 words

A device for the early detection of breast cancer having a heat-conductive web divided into a plurality of pie-shaped sectors so disposed and of total area to contact simultaneously opposite side areas of the breast, each sector having a surface and an array of temperature indicators on said surface of which each indicator senses a specific temperature different from that sensed by adjacent indicators in the array through a predetermined graded temperature range, the ranges of different temperature sensed by the several sectors being substantially identical so that the same specific temperature may be sensed simultaneously at different locations on a single breast for ease in comparing temperatures at mirror image locations on both breasts when a duplicate of the said detector has been applied to the other breast, and a backing web composed of a substantial thickness of a flexible compressible material to effect conformal contiguous contact between the indicator-bearing surface of said heat-conductive web and the breast skin when said device is applied in the breast-receiving cup of a brassiere.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The device of claim 6 in which the web is in pie-shaped sectors of a disc of about 5 inches to about 7 inches in diameter.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 75 words

The device of claim 6 or 7 in which the heat-conductive web is metal foil and the temperature indicators, adapted to be interposed between the foil and the breast, comprise a dye or pigment and a temperature-sensitive substance having a relatively precise melting point approximately 0.5° F. different from the melting point of the temperature-sensitive substance in an adjacent indicator and wherein each indicator displays a change in color upon melting of said temperature-sensitive substance.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-03-23	1990-09-22	1991-03-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-03-23	1994-09-22	1995-03-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-03-23	1998-09-22	1999-03-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cancer detection patch for early detection of breast cancer

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