Mechanical palpation for subsurface sensing: A device for detecting and locating breast cancer

Early detection of breast cancer has been shown to increase patient survival rates, therefore an early detection system that identifies lesions under the skin could help save lives. The lesions, or potentially cancerous tissue masses, have a higher modulus of elasticity, making them stiffer than surrounding healthy tissue. This subsurface sensing device is needed because all current methods of detection are either expensive or require a trained technician to read the results. Misread results can lead to a delay in diagnosis, putting the patient at risk. The goal of this device is to detect an inconsistent tissue mass as small as 5 mm using a standardized palpation device. This 5mm size is classified as a Stage I breast cancer tumor (which 88 percent of patients survive). The detection is accomplished by simulating the movement of a cancerous mass in human tissue. The tissue is represented by a phantom gel, and the lesion is represented by a ball bearing. When the mechanical device contacts the tissue surrounding the lesion, it detects a change in the force caused by an increase in total tissue stiffness. This change is transmitted to a computer generated display, which alerts the physician to the location of the potentially cancerous mass. Simulations run using ABAQUS software, by a research team at Northeastern University, show a definitive change in force when the device encounters a stiffer tissue mass, proving this concept mathematically.