FR2613928A1 - Electrical device intended for detecting mammary nodule(s) - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical device making it possible to detect one or more subcutaneous nodules: positive detection will encourage the patient to consult a doctor for a more thorough examination. It consists of a casing 1 surmounting two pillars 2, 3. These two pillars comprise two rollers 2-2, 3-2. When the user passes the device over her skin, the appliance being switched on 13, a green light being visible 8, nothing happens in the absence of abnormality. In the presence of a subcutaneous nodule, the flexible membrane 4 situated in front of the pillar 2 is pushed in and raised, one or more piston/lever/switch device(s) 19, joined to this membrane by a ball joint 21 is (are) moved upwards, its (their) contact 23 changes the electrical contact, passing from 18 to 17; this leads to the switching on, through electrical connections 16, of a luminous 5 and audible 6 abnormality warning. The device according to the invention is in particular intended for detecting intramammary nodules.

Description

 The present invention relates to medical devices used for external use as screening or diagnosis of conditions of the human body, and it relates more particularly to screening for intramammary nodules.

 No device is known to date, apart from the medical examinations, namely: breast palpation by the patient or the doctor, radiological examinations (mammography, xerography), thermography and ultrasound.

 the object of the invention is to produce a device which is simple to use, harmless, which, by external use, reproducible, reliable and without risk for the patient, will allow her to detect one or more intramammary nodules and will encourage her to consult for more in-depth specialized examinations.

 To this end, the invention is presented as a parel lelépipedique paral (1) surmounting two pillars, anterior (2) and posterior (3); the posterior pillar (3) has a flexible part (4) serving as a feeler which, depressed by a nodule (26) will be used to activate an electric alarm recalled on the device housing (i) by two signals, one visual (5), the other sound (6).

 Other characteristics of the invention will appear during the description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example
Figure i shows the device seen from above with inside it the possible location of a 9v battery (7) in front, then the green indicator lights (8) for operation control and yellow (5) for the light reminder d 'fault, the grid of the audible fault reminder beep (6). The top of the device will have either incisors the size of fingers, or a hoop or elastic strap (9) for a better grip of the device.

 Figure 2 shows the device seen from the front, comprising an upper part with the green operating control lamp (8), the yellow anomaly reminder light (5), the grid of the anomaly reminder beep (6), a space intended for the name of the device (10): NO-TEST; a lower part (2) with a fixed part (2-1) connected to the previous zone and a mobile part consisting of a roller (2-2) pivoting freely around an axis (11).

 FIG. 3 shows the device seen from the back, comprising an upper part (1) with the legal specifications (12), the on / off switch (13), the publicity indications (14); a lower part (3) with a fixed part (3-2) connected to the previous one and a mobile part constituted by a small roller (3-2) pivoting freely around an axis (15) - (this having for purpose of preventing artifacts of modification of support on the instrument, thus causing an untimely start-up of the light (5) and sound (6) signals of anomaly).

 Figure 4 shows the device seen from the side, in section at the top the upper compartment (1) with its housing for the 9 V battery (7), its electrical connections (16) the contacts (17) for switching on / off. indicator lights (5) and sound reminder (6); forward the front pillar (2) having a large rolling roller (2-2) at its lower part; behind, the rear pillar (3) comprising a small rolling roller (3-2) in front of which there is a deformable membrane (4) on which pivoting lever-contactor pistons (19) are articulated in their upper part in the grooves (20) comprising electrical contacts (17) (in). The membrane (4) will be fixed according to industrial standards, either in front of the roller (3-2), or higher under the groove (20).

 Figure 5 shows in detail the rear pillar (3) with its rolling roller (3-2) fixed on its axis (15), its flexible membrane (4) located in front of said roller (3-2), on which s 'articulate on ball joints (21) pistons-levers-contactors (19) sliding up on electrical contacts (17) (18) in grooves (20) by means of brushes (24).

 Figure 6 shows the flexible membrane (4) of the posterior pillar (3), partitioned into 5 parts. (In this example, the size of the compartmentalized compartments is given only by way of example, the size of the device being able to vary according to the volume of the breasts to be examined); each central circled part (21) indicates the presence of a fixing ball joint (21) of a piston-lever-contactor (19); the partitions (22) separating the different parts of the very flexible lower membrane (4) will also be made of flexible material (more rigid however than the lower part (4) to avoid excessive deformation).

 FIG. 7 shows for example the detail of a preformed channel (20) in the rear pillar (3) where the upper part of a piston-lever-contactor (19) slides; this upper part has a zone (23) in contact with two separate electrical pads (17) (18) according to the position of the piston-lever-contactor (19) (by means of brushes (24)).

 FIG. 8 shows a detail of these electrical ranges on the two internal faces of the rear pillar (3): as long as the upper part of the piston-lever-contactor (19) remains in the lower range (18), the device, on ( 13), will indicate a green light (8)> as soon as one or more of the piston-lever-contactors (19) is moved too high vertically, the contact (23) will come out of the lower range (18), will pass in the upper range (17) and the signal will change from green (8) to yellow (5) at the same time as an audible fault reminder (6) will sound.

 The operating principle of the device is therefore as follows: the device being on (13), the green light (8) lights up, indicating the running space. The patient grasps the device (1), by the strap (9) is joined there, then, with the right hand on the left breast or with the left hand on the right breast, the pillar (2) being visible from the front , roll the device on the front part of his chest thanks to the rollers (2-2) and (3-2).

the role of the first roller (2-2) is to erase the skin folds and associated with the second roller (3-2), between them, to stretch the skin (25). In the absence of a nodule (26) projecting under the skin (25) and of a size greater than 5 - 6 mm (sensitivity zone of the sensors (23) on the contacts (17) (in), the green indicator ( 8) remains permanently on. The maneuver is repeated several times in order to properly explore each breast,
In the presence of a nodule (26) between the two pillars (2) (3), the membrane (4) is depressed, the piston (19) articulated on the ball joint (21) is raised, and its upper part (23) sliding in the grooves (20), will pass from the lower zone (18) to the upper zone (17). the electrical connections (16) will then act to change the signal from green (8) to yellow (5) and sound an anomaly reminder.

 It will then be strongly advised to consult a doctor for possible assessment.

 I also specify that in the description of Figure 7 on page 2, it should be added that the number of sensitive electrical zones, here two in number (17) (18), could possibly be increased to qualify quantitatively the ( the) intramammary nodules (s).

Claims (7)

 1) Device for detecting any intramammary nodule of more than 5 - 6 mm in diameter, characterized in that it comprises a housing (1) surmounting two pillars (2) & 3) stretching the skin (25) in front of a flexible membrane (4 ), which in contact with a nodule (26), will lift, driving a piston (19) upwards, passing its upper part (23) from one zone (18) to another (17) of electrical contacts , causing, if the device is on (13), the activation of a light (5) and sound (6) reminder.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the two front pillars (2) and rear (3) are provided with rolling rollers (2-2) (3-2) sliding around axes (îî) (15 ).  3) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the rear pillar (3) is provided with a flexible membrane (4) separated into different compartments by several other flexible partitions (22), but nevertheless slightly more resistant than the first (4) to avoid excessive deformation.  4) Device according to claims 1 and 3 characterized in that the contactors pistons (19), as numerous as there are compartments delimited by the partitions (22), slide in their upper part (23) in grooves (20 ) where contacts are made with sensitive electrical zones (18) (17) by means of brushes (24).  5) Device according to claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 characterized in that its size, the number and the size of the compartments delimited by partitions (22) in its rear membrane (4) will be variable during industrial manufacture, adapted to the morphology and variable size of the patients.  6) Device according to claims 1 and 4 characterized in that the number of sensitive electrical zones, here two in number (17) (18), may possibly be increased to quantitatively calibrate the intramammary nodule (s) ).  7) Device according to claims 1, 3, 4 and 5 characterized in that the flexible membrane (4) can be fixed according to the models slightly above the rolling roller (3-2), or higher, more or less near the grooves (20) having the electrical contacts (17) (18).