Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major health problem across the globe. Many incidences in the underdeveloped nations go unreported, due to non-availability or lack of access to breast screening programs. Mammography, the current gold standard for breast screening, comes with several inherent limitations in terms of cost, radiation exposure, and associated discomfort. The cost of equipment and personnel alone puts mammography out of reach for most developing nations. Hence, there is a great and growing need for an adjunct breast screening modality, within reach of general masses, especially in the overpopulated, underdeveloped countries. This research develops a new automated approach for breast cancer screening using Digitally Imaged Elasto Tomography (DIET) clinical prototype. DIET is intended to be a low cost, radiation free, noninvasive and portable breast cancer screening system with a general access to the population and will encourage more women to undergo breast screening. The DIET imaging concept induces mechanical vibrations into a breast and its surface motion is captured with digital cameras and reconstructed in 3D, for elastic characterization of the breast tissues. This paper presents an insight of design development and analysis of the DIET clinical system. Finally, the new DIET technology developed is validated ex-vivo, using two different diagnostic techniques. The trials results are positive and demonstrate viability of this new technology for commercialization.