Patent ID: 7922674
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for mechanical stress pattern imaging of a palpable organ through a natural body opening comprising the steps of: (a) providing a probe equipped with a two-dimensional pressure stress pattern sensor array adapted to obtain pressure stress pattern response data when pressed against said palpable organ, (b) conducting examination of said palpable organ by inserting said probe through said natural body opening and pressing said probe against said palpable organ at various locations about thereof to obtain said pressure stress pattern response data, each subsequent location overlapping a previous location, (c) obtaining a plurality of partial mechanical stress pattern images from said pressure response data from said pressure sensor, each subsequent and previous partial mechanical stress pattern image corresponding to the respective location of pressing of said probe against said palpable organ, (d) comparing each subsequent partial mechanical stress pattern image with the previous partial mechanical stress pattern image to find commonly identified features defining a two-dimensional overlap therebetween, and (e) constructing a composite mechanical stress pattern image of said palpable organ from said plurality of partial mechanical stress pattern images using said commonly identified features and overlaps between each subsequent and previous partial mechanical stress pattern image to merge them together, whereby the entire mechanical stress pattern image of said palpable organ is obtained with said two-dimensional pressure sensor array irrespective of the movements of said organ during examination.