ACOUSTIC MONITORING OF A BREAST AND SOUND DATABASES FOR IMPROVED DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER

摘要

Provided are methods and devices that pertain to the acquisition of data related to breast vascularity associated with breast cancer, use of data, or both, that are associated with the generation of sounds, including Korotkoff sounds, within a breast. The present methods and devices overcome the inherent limitations associated with x-ray absorption (upon which mammography relies) by the breast tissue of younger women, and may also be used to augment traditional single-parameter (visual) analysis of a breast through the use of a new parameter—sound. Also disclosed are databases comprising breast sounds that may be used to provide a more complete assessment of a patient's breast, either alone or in combination with the traditional visual parameter.