RU202356U1 - Device for detecting neoplasms in the mammary gland - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to medical technology and can be used to diagnose breast neoplasms in women. The device for detecting neoplasms in the mammary gland is made in the form of a dielectric hemisphere 1, on the inner surface of which, at an equal distance from each other along the circumference, eight disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 are installed, each of which is equipped with a separate wire 3. On the dielectric hemisphere 1, diametrical slots 4 are made for attachment and movement of eight disposable silver chloride electrodes 2. Depending on the size of the female breast, disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 can be moved from the center of hemisphere 1 to the base and secured with nuts (not shown in the figure) at equal distances from the center of the dielectric hemisphere 1 in diametrical slots 4 Each disposable silver chloride electrode 2 has a plug 5, which allows you to quickly remove and install electrodes 2 and to which springs 6 of the same length are rigidly attached, fixed on the dielectric hemisphere 1 and allowing one disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 to the female breast from all sides and reduce the impedance error. At the end of the spring 6 there is a washer (not shown in the figure), to which a knob 7 is fixed. To remove the electrical impedance, a wire 3 is attached to each disposable silver chloride electrode 2, which is connected to the switch 8. With the help of the switch 9, the switch 8 allows switching between different diametrically located disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 and to remove electrical impedance from two diametrically opposite electrodes 2. The technical result is to reduce the measurement error, clearly determine the location of neoplasms in the female breast and eliminate the manufacture of dielectric hemispheres of different diameters. 3 ill.

Description

The proposed useful model relates to medical technology, electrical impedance mammographs, and can be used to diagnose tumors in the mammary glands in women.

Electrical impedance mammographs are a relatively new type of medical devices designed to diagnose, first of all, breast cancer in women. Unlike the widespread X-ray mammographs, electrical impedance mammographs, being inferior to X-ray mammographs in the resolution of detecting neoplasms, are significantly superior to the latter in many other indicators. First of all, it is absolute radiological safety for the patient, which allows the use of electrical impedance mammographs for examining women of all age groups. The radiological safety of electrical impedance mammographs allows them to be used not only as a tool for annual screening examination, but also as a means of dynamic observation during the development of the disease and its treatment. Mammological examination of a woman using an electrical impedance mammograph is painless and absolutely safe in terms of the possibility of electric shock, since it is carried out using low voltages and small values of measuring currents.

The principle of operation of an electrical impedance mammograph is based on the registration of such areas in the breast tissue, which differ from other areas of the breast tissue by increased values of electrical conductivity. It is known that the electrical conductivity of tissue affected by cancer is higher than that of healthy tissue. This circumstance makes it possible to effectively detect oncological neoplasms against the background of healthy gland tissue.

Known electric mammograph and its modification in the form of electrical impedance computer mammography. The known mammograph contains a flat matrix of 256 electrodes, two indifferent electrodes connected to a computer, an electronic unit and software installed in the computer. When examining the patient, the electrode matrix is tightly pressed against the mammary gland, flattening the gland on the patient's chest. After that, alternately, through each of the 256 electrodes of the matrix and a pair of indifferent electrodes installed on the patient's palms or wrists, a measuring current is passed. With each current passing through one of the matrix electrodes, the voltage drops between the selected pairs of the other matrix electrodes are measured and, using the software-implemented mathematical operation of reverse restoration of projections along the equipotential lines, a picture of the electrical conductivity distribution in the selected layer of breast tissue is built (see patent RU No. 2153285, IPC A61B 5/05, publ. 07/27/2000, bull. No. 21, patent RU No. 66932, IPC A61B, publ. 10.10.2007, bull. No. 28).

The disadvantages of the known electric mammography are its high cost and relatively high requirements for the qualifications of the operating medical personnel. First of all, this is due to the great methodological and computational complexity of the method of detecting neoplasms and their localization in the mammary gland implemented in a mammograph. These disadvantages exclude the possibility of using the known mammograph as a home medical device.

For the timely detection of neoplasms in the mammary gland, its screening examination should be carried out at least once a month. In this case, the specified examination is most expedient to carry out at a certain phase of the natural physiological cycle of a woman. These circumstances determine the high relevance of using them at home for self-screening of the breast at a convenient time.

The closest solution to the technical essence and the achieved result to the proposed utility model is an electrical impedance mammograph, which contains an electrode block made in the form of a dielectric hemisphere, on the inner surface of which at least four flat metal electrodes are installed at an equal distance from each other along the circumference, each of which it is equipped with a separate electrical outlet, divided into two groups, each of which is formed by two diametrically opposite electrodes and is connected to a controlled multiplexer-demultiplexer of an electronic unit located in the cavity of the handle-holder, which is connected through a voltage meter and an analog-to-digital converter with a microprocessor, connected to the indicator unit, and with a controlled measuring current generator. This mammograph is a small-sized, self-powered electronic device that can be used by a woman for self-examination of her mammary glands. The program of operation of the device, embedded in the control microprocessor, in conjunction with its electronic units listed above, ensures the implementation of the measurement algorithm and computational processing of their results in accordance with the procedures provided for by the proposed method for detecting and localizing neoplasms in the mammary gland. The implementation of the replaceable electrode block allows you to complete the mammograph with a set of electronic blocks differing in size. The result of each measurement of the potential difference is stored as referring to the two quadrants of the projection of the mammary gland onto the plane of the chest, adjacent to the grounded current electrode. The obtained results of two measurements of the potential difference are compared with each other in absolute value. If the difference in their absolute values exceeds the established threshold, the presence of a neoplasm in the breast tissue is recorded. The device allows you to detect the presence of asymmetry in the distribution of voltage drops on the surface of the mammary gland, and, consequently, the presence of neoplasms in its tissue (see patent RU No. 2578180, IPC А61В 5/053, publ. 03/20/2016, bull. No. 8 ).

The disadvantages of the known electrical impedance mammograph are: errors in the removal of the impedance (impedance) of living tissue due to loose fit of the electrodes to the female breast and due to uneven pressure on various areas of the female breast, a high probability of asymmetric distribution of voltage drops on the surface of the mammary gland due to accidental mutual displacement of the electrodes, which leads to false detection of neoplasms, as well as limited functionality associated with the need to produce dielectric hemispheres of different diameters, since women's mammary glands differ in a wide variety of sizes.

The technical task of the proposed utility model is the development of a device for detecting neoplasms and their localization in the mammary gland.

The technical result is a decrease in the measurement error, a clear definition of the location of neoplasms in the female breast and the exclusion of the manufacture of dielectric hemispheres of different diameters.

The specified technical result is achieved in that the device for detecting neoplasms in the mammary gland is made in the form of a dielectric hemisphere, the length of the large circle of which does not exceed the circumference of the mammary gland at its base, characterized in that on the inner surface of the dielectric hemisphere at an equal distance from each other along circle, eight disposable silver chloride electrodes are installed, placed in diametrical slots at the same distance from the center of the dielectric hemisphere, and four disposable silver chloride electrodes are located along the vertical and horizontal axis of the dielectric hemisphere, four disposable silver chloride electrodes are located diametrically at an angle of 45 ° between vertically and horizontally located disposable silver electrodes with the ability to more accurately determine the location of the neoplasm in the chest, each disposable silver chloride electrode has a plug that removes and tantalizing electrodes, to which springs of the same length are rigidly attached, fixed on a dielectric hemisphere with the ability to move eight disposable silver chloride electrodes using a handle screw.

Distinctive features of the claimed device are:

- the device contains eight disposable silver chloride electrodes, placed at the same distance from the center of the dielectric hemisphere with the possibility of more accurate determination of the location of the neoplasm in the chest, fixed with a plug, to which springs of the same length are rigidly attached, which allows disposable silver chloride electrodes to be pressed against female breasts from all sides and thereby reduce the impedance measurement error;

- on the dielectric hemisphere there are diametrical slots for fastening eight disposable silver chloride electrodes, which allow the disposable silver chloride electrodes to move from the center of the dielectric hemisphere to the base, such fastening of disposable silver chloride electrodes allows removing electrical impedance on female breasts of various sizes and at different distances from the center of the half production of dielectric hemispheres of different diameters;

- making diametrical slots on the dielectric hemisphere for attaching eight disposable silver chloride electrodes, which allow the disposable silver chloride electrodes to move from the center of the dielectric hemisphere to the base and to remove electrical impedance on female breasts of various sizes and at different distances from the center of the hemisphere.

The proposed utility model is illustrated by drawings, where Fig. 1 is a side view of FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows a device for detecting neoplasms in the mammary gland; FIG. 3 shows a general view of the device.

A device for detecting neoplasms in the mammary gland is made in the form of a dielectric hemisphere 1, on the inner surface of which, at an equal distance from each other along the circumference, eight disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 are installed, each of which is equipped with a separate wire 3. On the dielectric hemisphere 1, diametrical slots 4 are made for fastening and moving eight disposable silver chloride electrodes 2. Depending on the size of the female breast, disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 can be moved from the center of the dielectric hemisphere 1 to the base and secured with nuts (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2) at equal distances from the center of the dielectric hemisphere 1 in diametrical slots 4. Each disposable silver chloride electrode 2 has a plug 5, which allows you to quickly remove and install disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 and to which springs 6 of the same length are rigidly attached, fixed on the dielectric hemisphere 1 and Allowing with the same force to press the disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 to the female breast from all sides and reduce the impedance error. At the end of the spring 6 there is a washer (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2), to which a screw-handle 7 is fixed.

To remove electrical impedance, wire 3 is attached to each disposable silver chloride electrode 2, which is connected to switch 8. Using switch 9, switch 8 allows you to switch to different diametrically located disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 and remove electrical impedance from two diametrically opposite disposable silver chloride electrodes 2. Disposable silver chloride electrodes 2. Disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 are connected to the multiplexer-demultiplexer of the electronic unit (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), which is connected through a voltage meter (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and an analog-to-digital converter (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) with a microprocessor (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2) connected to the indicator unit (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2).

Thus, disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 located in diametrical slots 4 on one dilektric hemisphere 1 make it possible to remove electrical impedance on the mammary glands of female breasts of various sizes. The device of the utility model is fixed in the attachment cup like a bra, which allows it to be held on the female breast, evenly distribute the pressure of disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 in all areas of the female breast, and remove electrical impedance from all disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 without errors.

The dielectric hemisphere 1 is made of plastic, which provides the necessary rigidity of the structure, reliable fixation of disposable silver chloride electrodes.

This form of the device provides high ergonomic properties, while at the same time ensuring the necessary rigidity of the structure, which allows reliable spatial fixation of disposable silver chloride electrodes and reduce possible errors in measurement results due to mutual spatial displacement of disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 when the device is installed on the mammary gland, and also to assess the asymmetry of the distribution pattern of voltage drops on the breast surface not only when disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 are installed at the level of the gland base, but also at the levels of several of its sections parallel to the surface of the woman's chest, which helps to increase the detection of the location of neoplasms in the mammary glands.

A device for detecting neoplasms in the mammary gland works as follows.

First, the device is fixed in the cup for holding it on the female breast (see Fig. 1, 2, 3). Then a device with eight disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 is applied to the mammary gland so that the center of the dielectric hemisphere 1 coincides with the nipple of the mammary gland, while one pair of diametrically located disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 was located along the vertical axis, and the second along the horizontal axis. Then a measurement cycle is carried out by passing the measuring current through wires 3 through a pair of diametrically located disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 with alternate grounding of each of these disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 and with simultaneous measurement of the potential difference between these electrodes 2. The result of each measurement of the potential difference is stored as referring to two quadrants of the projection of the mammary gland. The switch 8 switches the measuring current to different diametrically located disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 and removes electrical impedance from them. With the help of switches 9, which are inside the switch 8, it is possible to manually remove the impedance from different diametrically located disposable silver chloride electrodes 2. The obtained results of measuring the potential difference are compared with each other in absolute value. If there is an inhomogeneity of the electrical resistance taken from two diametrically located disposable silver chloride electrodes 2, then this is a consequence of the presence of a neoplasm in the breast tissue with an electrical resistance different from the resistance of the rest of the breast tissue. The increased value of electrical conductivity, taken from two disposable silver chloride electrodes at the location of the neoplasm, is explained by the fact that there is a higher functional activity of the neoplasm in comparison with normal tissue. As the neoplasm grows and develops, blood vessels actively grow into it, the amount of blood increases, thereby increasing electrical conductivity. In addition, as a result of the death of biological tissues, the destruction of cell membranes and the release of free ions into the intercellular space occur. Consequently, the tissue's electrical conductivity increases, while its electrical resistance decreases. The device of the utility model uses disposable silver chloride electrodes 2, which are replaced after each patient. They can be easily replaced using plug 5. On the other side of plug 5, a spring 6 is rigidly connected, which allows disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 to press against the female breast from all sides with the same force and thereby reduce the impedance measurement error. All disposable silver chloride electrodes 2 are connected to the multiplexer-de-multiplexer (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2) of the electronic unit, which is connected through a voltage meter (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2) and an analog-to-digital converter (in Fig. 1 and 2 not shown) with a microprocessor (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2) connected to an indicator unit (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2). An alternating electric current of about 1 mA with a frequency of 5-50 kHz is used.

The advantages of the proposed device for detecting neoplasms in the mammary gland in comparison with the prototype (see patent RU No. 2578180, IPC А61В 5/053, publ. 03/20/2016, bull. No. 8):

- the utility model contains eight disposable silver chloride electrodes, placed at the same distance from the center of a rigid hemisphere made of plastic, which allows to provide the necessary rigidity of the structure, reliable fixation of disposable silver chloride electrodes, while reducing the errors in the results of electrical impedance measurements due to mutual displacement of disposable silver chloride electrodes when installed on the mammary gland;

- installation of additional four disposable silver chloride electrodes at an angle of 45 ° between vertical and horizontal electrodes allows you to clearly determine the location of neoplasms in the female breast;

- fastening of disposable silver chloride electrodes using a plug, to which springs are rigidly connected, which allows disposable silver chloride electrodes to press against the female breast from all sides with the same force and thereby reduce the impedance measurement error;

- making diametrical slots on the dielectric hemisphere for fastening eight disposable silver chloride electrodes allows disposable silver chloride electrodes to move from the center of the hemisphere to the base, and such fastening of disposable silver chloride electrodes allows to remove electrical impedance on female breasts of various sizes and at different distances from the center of the hemisphere.

Claims (1)

A device for detecting neoplasms in the mammary gland, made in the form of a dielectric hemisphere, the length of the large circle of which does not exceed the circumference of the mammary gland at its base, characterized in that eight disposable silver chloride electrodes are installed on the inner surface of the dielectric hemisphere at an equal distance from each other along the circumference placed in diametrical slots at the same distance from the center of the dielectric hemisphere, and four disposable silver chloride electrodes are located along the vertical and horizontal axis of the dielectric hemisphere, four disposable silver chloride electrodes are located diametrically at an angle of 45 ° between vertically and horizontally located disposable silver chloride electrodes with the possibility of more accurate the location of the neoplasm in the chest, each disposable silver chloride electrode has a plug that allows you to remove and install the electrodes, to which it is hard springs of the same length are attached, fixed on a dielectric hemisphere with the ability to move eight disposable silver chloride electrodes using a handle screw.

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