Multi-modality breast cancer test system

Abstract

A multi-modality breast cancer test assembly ( 20 ) of the type for detecting the position of potential breast cancer by performing thermography and optical spectroscopy and ultrasound tests ( 64 ). A contour recorder ( 108 ) takes and stores a contour-shape of the breast and a first contour analysis program ( 110 ) analyzes the contour-shape to generate and store a 3D model ( 112 ) of the breast having at least one testing coordinate ( 114 ) relative to a mass of the breast. At least one diagnostic program ( 122, 124, 126 ) initiates the diagnostic tests ( 60, 62, 64 ) at the at least one testing coordinate ( 114 ) and a data analysis program ( 128 ) analyzes the spatial interrelationship of said tests ( 60, 62, 64 ) at said testing coordinate ( 114 ) to detect the spatial position of a potential breast cancer within the breast.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-modality breast cancer test assembly ( 20 ) of the type for detecting the position of potential cancer in a breast of a patient being supported in a prone position along an examination table in an examination room, said assembly comprising;
 a test unit ( 22 ) having an interior ( 36 ) for receiving the breast of the patient,   a computer ( 46 ) connected to said test unit ( 22 ) and including a processor ( 48 ) and a memory ( 50 ) and a plurality of computer programs ( 54 ,  56 ,  110 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 ),   a contour recorder ( 108 ) for taking and storing a contour-shape of the breast,   said plurality of programs ( 54 ,  56 ,  110 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 ) including a first contour analysis program ( 110 ) for analyzing said contour-shape to generate and store a 3D model ( 112 ) of the breast having at least one testing coordinate ( 114 ) relative to a mass of the breast,   a diagnostic assembly ( 58 ) disposed within said interior ( 36 ) of said test unit ( 22 ) and in electrical communication with said computer ( 46 ) and including a plurality of sensors for performing a plurality of diagnostic tests ( 60 ,  62 ,  64 ) each having a different modality on the breast,   said plurality of computer programs ( 54 ,  56 ,  110 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 ) including at least one diagnostic program ( 122 ,  124 ,  126 ) for initiating at least one of said diagnostic tests ( 60 ,  62 ,  64 ) at said testing coordinate ( 114 ), and   characterized by said plurality of computer programs ( 54 ,  56 ,  110 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 ) including a data analysis program ( 128 ) for analyzing the spatial interrelationship of said plurality of diagnostic tests ( 60 ,  62 ,  64 ) at said testing coordinate ( 114 ) to detect the spatial position of a potential breast cancer within the breast.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of sensors ( 100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ) include at least one thermography sensor ( 100 ) and at least one optical spectroscopy sensor ( 104 ,  106 ) and at least one ultrasound sensor ( 102 ) for correspondingly performing a thermography test ( 60 ) and an optical spectroscopy test ( 62 ) and an ultrasound test ( 64 ) on the breast. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said plurality of computer programs ( 54 ,  56 ,  110 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 ) include a second contour analysis ( 116 ) program for analyzing said contour-shape to locate an areola of the breast for establishing a primary reference point ( 118 ) of said 3D model ( 112 ) wherein said testing coordinate ( 114 ) is relative to said primary reference point ( 118 ). 
     
     
         4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising;
 said diagnostic assembly ( 58 ) including at least one robotic arm ( 90 ) for receiving said plurality of sensors ( 100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ), 
 said robotic arm ( 90 ) including a robot motor assembly ( 72 ,  80 ,  94 ) in communication with said computer ( 46 ) for establishing movement of said robotic arm ( 90 ) within said interior ( 36 ) of said test unit ( 22 ), 
 said plurality of programs including a robotic computer program ( 120 ) for retrieving said at least one testing coordinate ( 114 ) and operating said motor assembly ( 72 ,  80 ,  94 ) to sequentially dispose said robotic arm ( 90 ) at said testing coordinate ( 114 ). 
 
     
     
         5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising;
 said at least one diagnostic program ( 122 ,  124 ,  126 ) including a thermography diagnostic program ( 122 ) for receiving thermography data and converting said thermography data into digital temperature data points of the breast and storing said digital temperature data points along with said associated testing coordinate ( 114 ) in said memory ( 50 ), 
 said at least one diagnostic program ( 122 ,  124 ,  126 ) including an optical spectroscopy diagnostic program ( 124 ) for receiving optical spectroscopy data and converting said optical spectroscopy data into digital oxygenated or deoxygenated hemoglobin data points of the breast and storing said hemoglobin data points along with said associated testing coordinate ( 114 ) in said memory ( 50 ), 
 said at least one diagnostic program ( 122 ,  124 ,  126 ) including an ultrasound diagnostic program for receiving ultrasound data and converting said ultrasound data into digital breast density data points having a breast density value between 1 and 100 which corresponds to the density of the breast and storing said digital breast density data points along with said associated testing coordinate ( 114 ) in said memory ( 50 ). 
 
     
     
         6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  further comprising;
 said test unit ( 22 ) extending between a bottom surface ( 24 ) and a top surface ( 26 ) to define front and rear and left and right sides ( 32 ,  34 ) and said interior ( 36 ) disposed inwardly from said surfaces ( 24 ,  26 ) and said sides ( 28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ), 
 a plurality of caster wheels ( 38 ) attached to said bottom surface ( 24 ) for establishing rolling movement over ground in the examination room to dispose said rear side ( 30 ) of said test unit ( 22 ) in abutting relationship with the examination table for receiving the patient in the prone position along said top surface ( 26 ), 
 said top surface ( 26 ) defining a window opening ( 42 ) for pendantly receiving the breast of the patient within said interior ( 36 ) of said test unit ( 22 ). 
 
     
     
         7 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising;
 a face support ( 44 ) hingedly attached to said front side ( 28 ) and disposed next adjacent said top surface ( 26 ) for supporting a head of the patient in the prone position, 
 a graphical user interface ( 52 ) extending outwardly from said front side ( 28 ) of said test unit ( 22 ) and disposed below said face support ( 44 ) and in electrical communication with said computer ( 46 ) for establishing communication with the patient disposed in the prone position. 
 
     
     
         8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising;
 said plurality of computer programs ( 54 ,  56 ,  110 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 ) including a patient information program ( 54 ) for displaying a questionnaire on said graphical user interface ( 52 ) and receiving a plurality of patient inputs in response to said questionnaire for storage within said memory ( 50 ) of said computer ( 46 ), 
 said plurality of computer programs ( 54 ,  56 ,  110 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 ) including a patient analysis program ( 56 ) for evaluating said patient inputs and generating a start signal in response to completing the evaluation. 
 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising;
 said diagnostic assembly ( 58 ) including at least one mechanical support ( 66 ) disposed about one of said surfaces ( 24 ,  26 ) or said sides ( 28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ) for supporting said diagnostic assembly ( 58 ) within said interior ( 36 ) of said test unit ( 22 ), 
 said diagnostic assembly ( 58 ) including a base member ( 68 ) disposed about said mechanical support ( 66 ), 
 said diagnostic assembly ( 58 ) including at least one support post ( 76 ) extending upwardly from said base member ( 68 ) to a rail end ( 78 ), 
 said support post ( 76 ) including a support rail ( 82 ) extending about said rail end ( 78 ) between a first end ( 84 ) and a second end ( 86 ) and having tracks ( 88 ) extending therebetween, 
 said robotic arm ( 90 ) slidingly disposed about said tracks ( 88 ), 
 said robot motor assembly ( 72 ,  80 ,  94 ) including a first motor assembly ( 72 ) mechanically coupled between said mechanical support ( 66 ) and said base member ( 68 ) and a second motor assembly ( 80 ) coupled with said support post ( 76 ) and a third motor assembly ( 94 ) coupled between said robotic arm ( 90 ) and said track ( 88 ) for collectively establishing said movement of said robotic arm ( 90 ) about said interior ( 36 ) of said test unit ( 22 ) wherein said first motor assembly ( 72 ) establishes movement of said base member ( 68 ) along said mechanical support ( 66 ) and said second motor assembly ( 80 ) establishes at least 270 degree rotational movement of said support post ( 76 ) and said third motor assembly ( 94 ) establishes sliding movement of said arm along said track ( 88 ). 
 
     
     
         10 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said robotic arm ( 90 ) extends upwardly from said support rail ( 82 ) to a testing end ( 92 ) and includes a sensor assembly ( 96 ) pivotably disposed about said testing end ( 92 ) to define a sensor surface ( 98 ) for receiving said thermography and ultrasound and optical spectroscopy sensors ( 100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ) along said surface. 
     
     
         11 . A method of detecting the position of potential cancer in a breast of a patient using a contour recorder ( 108 ) and a plurality of diagnostic tests ( 60 ,  62 ,  64 ) and a computer ( 46 ) having a processor ( 48 ) and a memory ( 50 ), said method comprising the steps of;
 taking and storing a contour-shape of the breast,   analyzing said contour shape to generate and store a 3D model ( 112 ) of the breast having at least one testing coordinate ( 114 ) relative to the breast,   performing a plurality of diagnostic tests ( 60 ,  62 ,  64 ) each having a different modality at the testing coordinate ( 114 ), and   characterized by analyzing the spatial relationship of the plurality of diagnostic tests ( 60 ,  62 ,  64 ) at the testing coordinate ( 114 ) to detect the spatial position of a potential breast cancer within the breast.   
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  further comprising the steps of;
 said performing a plurality of diagnostic tests ( 60 ,  62 ,  64 ) including performing at least one of a thermography test ( 60 ) and an optical spectroscopy test ( 62 ) and an ultrasound test ( 64 ) at the testing coordinate ( 114 ).