GB2462686A

GB2462686A - Device for describing breast lesion co-ordinates, distance and diameter

Info

Publication number: GB2462686A
Application number: GB0815373A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Alex
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-22
Filing date: 2008-08-22
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Also published as: GB0815373D0

Abstract

A mammary gauge is provided, comprising a circular base plate (see fig 1) having an upper projection 1, a central aperture 2, and several blue spokes 3 radiating from the centre. Hook-like projections (4, see fig 2) perpendicular to the base plate enable the attachment of an elongated upper plate (see fig 3), which comprises hole 5 and ruler markings 6, at least partly coloured yellow. In use, a breast lesion is marked with pen, the upper plate is fixed to the base plate and aligned over the breast nipple at the aligned central apertures 2, 5. The upper plate is rotated (arrows on fig 4) to align the markings 6 over the lesion. The breast lesion is accurately described relative to a clock face using spokes 3, and ruler scale 6 enables measurement of the distance from areola and diameter of the lesion.

Description

I

Mammary Gauge

Introduction

This invention is a device for measuring and describing the position of lesions (e.g lumps) in the breast while doing dinical breast examination and imaging (e.g u'trasound scans) of the breast). When a lesion (e.g lump) is found during dinica breast examination, it needs to be described in three ways i.e I)Distance from the nipple e.g 3cm from the nipple 2)Position in the breast as on a clock face e.g at 5 o'clock position 3)Size of the lesion i.e in millimetres or centimetres Methods currently used The distance of a lesion from the nipple is usually measured using a tape measure, the position of the lesion is roughly estimated and the size of the esion is measured with calipers. All these involve the use of multiple instruments and and as mentioned, only a rough estimate is made of the position of the lesion.

Descnption of the invention (Mammary Gauge) This invention comprises of a device which can be used for describing and measuring breast lesions.

Advantages All three coordinates of a palpable breast lesion can be measured using the Mammary Gauge without the need for multiple instruments or the need for making rough estimates.

Components of the Mammary Gauge The present invention is made up of 2 main parts 1. Base plate: This is circular with characteristic features. It has a projection(1) which should be kept pointing upwards (12 o'clock) when the patient is sitting. At the centre (2) there is an aperture which is applied on the areola with the nipple projecting through. There are several spokes (markings) (3) radiating from this inner ring numbering 1 to 12 (o'clock). These spokes are blue in colour. On the side of the inner ring and perpendicular to it are some hook like projections (4) which help fix the base plate to the upper plate of the device.

2. Upper plate: This is an elongated strip with an aperture (5) to one side (for the nipple) which gets fixed to the base plate and can be rotated. There are ruler(6) markings on the upper plate starting from the centre of the aperture. The initial part of the measuring scale on the upper pate beyond the aperture is yellow in colour. (7) During the clinical breast examination the lump should be circled with a marker pen. After fixing the upper plate onto the base plate, the device can be used following clinical breast examination. The aperture created by the opposing rings on the base and upper plate fits over the central part of the breast allowing the nipple through. The base plate's position is adjusted in such away that its projection points upwards (12 o'clock). The upper plate is rotated till is its ruler markings are directly over the ump.

* Distance from the nippe -this is seen on the upper plate measuring scale which shows the measurements from the centre of the nipple * Position in the breast as on a clock face -over any particular o'clock a green marking can be seen on the mammary gauge (this is due to overlapping of the initial part of the measuring scale which is yellow with the blue spokes on the base plate i.e primary colour blue + primary colour yellow secondary colour green) * Size of the lesion -as the lump has been circled, this can be easily read off the measuring scale on the upper plate.

Figure 1 (Base plate), 2 (base plate-side view/elevation), 3 (upper plate) and 4 (base and upper plate fixed together) to accompany description.