1006 results about "Human breast" patented technology

A system uses reduced pressure to provide a therapeutic force to a person's breast area. The system includes a dressing assembly shaped and configured to be placed on the breast area, a releaseable circumferential connector for holding the dressing assembly against at least a portion of the breast area, and a sealing subsystem for providing a fluid seal over the dressing assembly against a person's epidermis. The system may further include a reduced-pressure subsystem for providing reduced pressure to the dressing assembly. When reduced pressure is supplied, the system generates a force against at least a portion of the breast area of the person. The dressing assembly may be formed as a brassiere having a first cup and a second cup formed from a bolster material.

A training aid for teaching needle biopsy of the human breast. The inventive methods use breast models having lifelike properties providing accurate tactile sensation during palpation of the breast that enable a trainee to learn to locate modeled internal lesions and similar tissues in the breast. These same properties allow learning of tactile sensations indicating relative position and motion of biopsy needles during biopsy needling procedures. To facilitate tactile learning, the breast model includes an opaque skin that blocks the trainee view of a breast cavity containing modeled lesions, ensuring that needling procedures are performed based solely on "feel". The present invention also includes alternative training methods using a second breast model that is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of modeled lesions from any relative position. The present invention includes training systems incorporating breast models and viewing stands and methods of training using these aids.

The present invention relates to novel molecular markers for diagnosis and classification of human breast cancer and lung cancer.

A method and system for automatic digital image based tissue independent simultaneous nucleus, cytoplasm and membrane quantitation. Plural types of pixels comprising cell components including at least cell cytoplasm and cell membranes from a biological tissue sample to which a chemical compound has been applied and has been processed to remove background pixels and pixels including counterstained components are simultaneously identified. The identified cell components pixels are automatically classified to determine a medical conclusion such as a human breast cancer, a human prostrate cancer or an animal cancer.

Human breast tumors contain hetrogeneous cancer cells. using an animal xenograft model in which human breast cancer cells were grown in immunocompromised mice we found that only a small minority of breast cancer cells had capacity to form new tumors. The ability to form new tumors was not a slochastic property, rather certain populations of cancer cells were depleted for the ability to form new tumors, while other populations were enriched for the ability to form new tumors. Tumorigenic cells could be distinguished from non-tumorigenic cancer cells based on surface marker expression. We prospectively identified and isolated the tumorigenic cells as CD4430CD24− / lowLINEAGE A few as 100 cells from this population were able to form tumors the animal xenograft model, while tens of thousands of cells from non-tumorigenic populations failed to form tumors. The tumorigenic cells could be serially passaged, each time generating new tumors containing and expanded numbers of CD44+CD24 Lineage tumorigenic cells as well as phenotypically mixed populations of non-tumorigenic cancer cells. This is reminiscent of the ability of normal stem cells to self-renew and differentiate. The expression of potential therapeutic targets also differed between the tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic populations. Notch activation promoted the survival of the tumorigenic cells, and a blocking antibody against Notch 4 induced tumorigenic breast cancer cells to undergo apoptosis.

The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for detecting and diagnosing disease states in a living organism by using a plurality of electrical impedance measurements. In particular, the invention provides for an improved electrode array for diagnosing the presence of a disease state in the human breast, and discloses a method of application of the array to the breast that ensures that the multiplicity of impedance measurements obtained from a first body part correspond as precisely and reproducibly as possible to the multiplicity of impedance measurements that are obtained from another, homologous, second body part. A number of diagnostic methods based on homologous electrical difference analysis are disclosed, including the calculation of a number of metrics used to indicate disease states by comparison with pre-established threshold values, and the construction of a number of graphical displays for indicating the location of disease to a body part sector.

A differential temperature sensor device is provided for detecting differential temperatures in a human breast. A pad having a contoured design is covered with an adhesive layer having differing release forces on its two sides to insure sustained contact between the breast and temperature sensors and to ease removal after use. Temperature sensors are arranged in a useful pattern and covered with a silicon lidding which is removed prior to use. The device is especially useful for the detection of breast cancer and breast disease.

Methods and systems are provided for determining a condition of an organ, or epithelial or stromal tissue, for example in the human breast. The methods incorporate sonophoresis, the application of ultrasonic energy, in order to condition tissue for testing and enhance test measurements. A plurality of electrodes are used to measure surface and transepithelial electropotential and impedance of breast tissue at one or more locations and at several frequencies, particularly very low frequencies. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. Pressure, drugs and other agents can optionally be applied for enhanced diagnosis. Tissue condition is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, stroma, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided.

A human mammary prosthetic support (5) is disclosed which comprises a continuous sheet of biocompatible mesh formed into the shape of a cup, securable between the skin and glandular structure of a human breast with an aperture (67) through which the nipple-areola structure is beatable. Also disclosed is a human mammary prosthetic support which comprises a continuous sheet of biocompatible mesh formed into a generally U-shaped formation, and methods to implant either of the supports into a human body.

A system and method for immobilization of the human breast in a prone position during imaging and radiotherapy. The system includes a vacuum-assisted breast immobilization cup comprising two layers joined together with an air space between. The inner layer has densely perforated holes while the outer layer is airtight. When a negative vacuum is applied to the intermediate airspace the breast tissue is sucked against the mesh wall of the inner layer to preventing sliding. In addition, the cup assembly is locked into a fixed position against the patient torso via a body fixture, as well as against the patient support structure. The established geometric relationship among the cup, chest wall, imaging / treatment table or couch may be accurately repeated. The system further includes a three-dimensional localization system to uniquely place the breast in a coordinate system having fixed geometric relationship with the breast immobilization cup.

A keratin hydrogel-filled implantable prosthetic device. One device is a breast implant for augmenting or reconstructing a human breast including an envelope containing a keratin hydrogel. One keratin hydrogel is formed from a solid precursor which forms a keratin hydrogel upon addition of water. One source of keratin is human hair. In one method, an envelope suitable for implantation and a solid keratin hydrogel precursor are provided. The solid can be in fibrous or powder form. The solid precursor can be inserted into the envelope interior. A small incision near the breast can be made and the envelope inserted into the incision. After insertion, water can be injected into the envelope interior, preferably through the incision and through a self-sealing port in the envelope. In one method, the implant is provided as a kit, with the envelope and keratin hydrogel provided. The hydrogel can be injected into the envelope either before or after insertion into the breast area. One kit has a powdered, keratin hydrogel precursor disposed within the envelope interior, awaiting the addition of water, preferably after insertion of the implant into the body.

The invention relates to newly discovered nucleic acid molecules and proteins associated with breast or ovarian cancer. Compositions, kits, and methods for detecting, characterizing, preventing, and treating human breast or ovarian cancers are provided.

The present invention relates to devices and methods that enhance the accuracy of lesion excision, through severing, capturing and removal of a lesion within soft tissue. Furthermore, the present invention relates to devices and methods for the excision of breast tissue based on the internal anatomy of the breast gland. A tissue severing device generally comprises a guide having at least one lumen and a cutting tool contained within the lumen. The cutting tool is capable of extending from the lumen and forming an adjustable cutting loop. The cutting loop may be widened or narrowed and the angle between the loop extension axis and the guide axis may be varied. Optional tissue marker and tissue collector may additionally be provided. A method for excising a mass of tissue from a patient is also provided. The device and method are particularly useful for excising a lesion from a human breast, e.g., through the excision and removal of a part of a breast lobe, an entire breast lobe or a breast lobe plus surrounding adjacent tissue.

A medical instrument including a ductal access device comprising a low profile, ergonomic manifold hub usable to introduce fluids into a breast duct and collect ductal fluid samples including ductal epithelial cells and clumps of ductal epithelial cells from within a breast duct. The ductal access device also comprises an elongated access catheter having a distal end, one lumen and dimensions which permit introduction of the distal end through a ductal orifice so that a distal end of the catheter may be positioned distal to the ductal sphincter of a human breast. The medical instrument may also include at least one spacing member for adjustably positioning the manifold hub a desired distance above the surface of the nipple. The spacing member may control the insertion depth of the catheter into the duct. The medical instrument may also include at least one member for anchoring the device to the breast.

Methods and arrangement for providing digital x-ray mammography image acquisition by means of an X-ray system that includes acquiring image data by irradiating an object, such as a human breast, automatically by the system analyzing the acquired image data with respect to presence of motion blur, indicating whether motion blur is present.

A therapeutic bed or treatment table capable of being employed for a massage or rendering chiropractic, medical, therapeutic, or other treatment to a patient or customer includes an upper torso support cushion having a plurality of breast recesses configured for accommodating human breasts; and an abdominal support cushion having an abdominal recess configured for accommodating a mid-section of an obese person or pregnant woman, wherein the plurality of recesses is configured to provide an adjustable support structure adaptive to the size of the human breasts and / or the mid-section of an obese person or pregnant woman. In an alternative embodiment, an unitary torso-abdominal support cushion is provided having a recess configured for accommodating human breasts and accommodating the mid-section of an obese person or pregnant woman.

The system images the volume of a turbid medium and detects the contents. The medium can be water or air, or living tissue, or almost any other material which is at least partially light-transmissive. The system includes a light source for producing a series of discrete fan-shaped pulse beams that are substantially uniform in intensity or have been peaked at the edges of the fan to illuminate sections of the medium, a streak tube with a large, thin-slit-shaped photocathode for collecting the maximum amount of light from weak returns, a field-limiting slit disposed in front of the cathode for removing multiply scattered light, a large-aperture optical element for collecting and focusing the reflected portions of the pulse beam on the field-limiting slit and the cathode, and an array of detectors. A volume display of the medium is generated by translating the transmitter and receiver normal to the longitudinal axis of the pulse beam, to illuminate adjacent sections of the medium, and combining the sections to provide a volume display. All, or substantially all, of the light returned from each pulse beam is used. Vehicle motion can be used to provide the scan of the beam. Applications range from foggy sky surveillance at multiple-kilometer scale to location of fractional-millimeter tumors in a human breast.

The present invention broadly provides methods and systems for detecting, identifying, and characterizing conditions, including diseases and other disorders in human or other animal subjects, by analyzing fluorescence from endogenous flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) fluorophors present in biological materials and samples. In particular embodiments, the invention relates to conditions of the human breast including cancers such as carcinoma. Methods and systems are provided for detecting, locating, and characterizing tumors and precancerous tissue via nonlinear optical imaging techniques capable of accurately characterizing fluorescence intensities and fluorescent lifetime parameters from endogenous FAD fluorophors present in a test tissue sample.

The invention relates to synthesis of benzimidazole-containing naphthalimide derivatives and applications of the benzimidazole-containing naphthalimide derivatives on cancer resistance, and belongs to the field of organic synthesis and pharmaceutical chemistry technology. The benzimidazole-containing naphthalimide derivatives are obtained through a method that a benzimidazole group is introduced into a fourth position of a naphthalene ring of naphthalimide. Experiments of proliferation inhibiting effects of the benzimidazole-containing naphthalimide derivatives on cancer cells adopt a microculture tetrozolium (MTT) reduction method and aim at MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, Hela human cervical cancer cells and PC12 rat adrenal medullary pheochromocytoma differentiated cells. Results of the experiments show that the benzimidazole-containing naphthalimide derivatives have the advantages of good inhibitory activity against cancer cells and good selectivity on cancer cells.

The present invention is a covering for the nipple / areola area of the human breast. In one embodiment, the invention is a cover for the nipple and areola. In a second embodiment, the covering is a nipple prosthesis including an artificial nipple and areola. The covering is preferably fabricated from silicone having self adhering properties that enable the covering to be worn at the end of the breast without additional adhesive. As a nipple cover, the covering includes a concavity placed over the nipple to accommodate the nipple when the covering is worn. As a nipple prosthesis, in one embodiment, the covering includes a pocket or bubble positioned directly under the nipple portion of the prosthesis. After placing the prosthesis on the breast, the air in the pocket and or concavity is released to form a vacuum to allow the prosthesis to be held on the breast without the use of additional adhesive material.

Systems, methods, and related computer program products for ultrasonic examination of a tissue volume, such as a human breast, are described. A handheld volumetric ultrasound scanning probe, which is characterized by a two-dimensional scan area with a substantially rigid cap extending across the two-dimensional scan area, is provided with a texturably couplant-porous material sheet covering the substantially rigid cap over at least a portion of the two-dimensional scan area. The texturably couplant-porous material sheet facilitates positional stability of the handheld volumetric ultrasound scanning probe while positioned against a skin surface of the tissue volume. Advantageously, while the texturably couplant-porous material sheet brings about a more stable physical interface at the skin surface, the texturably couplant-porous material sheet brings about little or no degradation in acquired image quality. Also described are systems and related methods for elastography imaging using the handheld volumetric ultrasound scanning probe.

A novel human breast implant and method for using the same comprising a bioabsorbable implant into which native, autologous vascularized tissue and autologous fat is placed and propagated within a patient's chest as a breast implant.

A device for expanding the connective fatty tissue and correcting inverted nipples and improving symmetry of the human breast by the application of gentle suction generated by oral inhalation comprises a hollow dome constructed from a pliable but rigid polymer. A rim on the open end of the dome provides an air tight seal with the skin tissue surrounding the breast. Tubing connected to the top center of the hollow dome facilitates oral evacuation of the air surrounding the breast. A valve or clamp allows the applied vacuum to be maintained for a desired period and readily released when desired. Oral application of the vacuum prevents excessive vacuum or pressure from being applied to the breast or surrounding tissue.