Patent Publication Number: US-2019167183-A1

Title: Device and method for estimating breast implant volume

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application also claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 106142592 filed in the Taiwan Patent Office on Dec. 5, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a device for estimating implant volume, in particular to a device for estimating breast implant volume. The present disclosure further relates to the method of the device for estimating breast implant volume. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Compared with conventional mastectomy, nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) has many advantages better than conventional mastectomy; thus, nipple sparing mastectomy gradually attracts more attention and people&#39;s acceptance for nipple sparing mastectomy also gradually increases. However, a doctor should estimate the breast implant volume of a patient and then reconstructs the breasts of the patient after the patent undergoes nipple sparing mastectomy. 
     Generally speaking, the doctor can estimate the breast implant volume according to the weight of the breast tissue cut off. However, there are no absolute correlation between the implant volume and the cut specimen weight and might variate due to the differ condition. If the doctor lacks in experience, the doctor cannot correctly estimate the ideal breast implant volume only according to the breast tissue cut off. Besides, not even an experienced doctor can correctly estimate the ideal breast implant volume. 
     The other method frequently-used to estimate breast implant volume is sizer; the doctor can estimate the breast implant volume by the silicone breast implants or saline bags with different sizes during the surgery. However, sizer will significantly increase the time of the surgery, and may damage the patient or incur infection. In addition, sizer cannot also correctly estimate the ideal breast implant volume. 
     As described above, there is no a proper method capable of correctly estimating the ideal breast implant, so it is very inconvenient to prepare materials for nipple sparing mastectomy and results in a lot of waste, which significantly increases the cost of the breast reconstruction surgery. 
     Thus, it has become an important issue to provide a breast implant estimation technique capable of improving the various shortcomings of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is related to a device for estimating breast implant volume. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume includes an input interface and a processing circuit. A numerical value is inputted in to the input interface. The processing circuit calculates the estimation value of breast implant volume according to a linear model and the numerical value. The processing circuit multiplies the numerical value by a coefficient to generate a product, and adds a constant to the product to generate the estimation value of breast implant volume, wherein the numerical value is a breast sample weight or a breast size. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the breast sample weight is the weight of breast tissue cut off. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the numerical value is the breast sample weight, the coefficient is 0.6302˜0.6519. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the numerical value is the breast sample weight, the constant is 58.29˜66.07. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the breast size is a volume measurement value measured by the craniocaudad projection view of the mammography. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the numerical value is the breast size, the coefficient is 0.3742˜0.3963. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the numerical value is the breast size, the constant is 96.97˜107.5. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a memory circuit, wherein the memory circuit saves statistics data and the processing circuit establishes the linear model according to the statistics data. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the processing circuit establishes the linear model by processing the statistics data via one or the combination of curve fitting and linear regression model. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the processing circuit optimizes the linear model via one or the combination of least absolute residuals or robust regression scheme. 
     The present disclosure is further related to a method for estimating breast implant volume. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the method for estimating breast implant volume includes the following steps: providing a numerical value, wherein the numerical value is a breast sample weight or a breast size; providing a linear model and multiplying the numerical value by a coefficient according to the linear model to generate a product; and adding a constant to the product to generate the estimation value of breast implant volume. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the breast sample weight is the weight of breast tissue cut off. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the numerical value is the breast sample weight, the coefficient is 0.6302˜0.6519. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the numerical value is the breast sample weight, the constant is 58.29˜66.07. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the breast size is the volume measurement value measured by the craniocaudad projection view of the mammography. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the numerical value is the breast size, the coefficient is 0.3742˜0.3963. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the numerical value is the breast size, the constant is 96.97˜107.5. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes the following step: providing statistics data and establishing the linear model according to the statistics data. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes the following step: establishing the linear model by processing the statistics data via one or the combination of curve fitting and linear regression model. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes the following step: optimizing the linear model via one or the combination of least absolute residuals or robust regression scheme. 
     The device and method for estimating breast implant volume include the following advantages: 
     (1) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can correctly and swiftly calculate the estimation volume of breast implant volume via a linear model and the breast sample weight or the breast size of a patient, so can effectively reduce the cost of the breast reconstruction surgery. 
     (2) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can correctly and swiftly calculate the estimation volume of breast implant volume via the linear model and the breast sample weight or the breast size of the patient, so will not result in damages to the patient and can reduce the incidence of infection. 
     (3) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can be realized by a mobile device, which is very convenient in use. 
     (4) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can update the statistics data, so can keep optimizing the linear model for estimating breast implant volume; therefore, the accuracy of the device for estimating breast implant volume can continuously increase. 
     (5) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the design of the device for estimating breast implant volume is very simple, so can achieve the desired technical effects without significantly increasing cost; therefore, the device can achieve high commercial value. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a device for estimating breast implant volume of a first embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a device for estimating breast implant volume of a second embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a first schematic view of a third embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a second schematic view of the third embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. It should be understood that, when it is described that an element is “coupled” or “connected” to another element, the element may be “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to the other element or “coupled” or “connected” to the other element through a third element. In contrast, it should be understood that, when it is described that an element is “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which is a block diagram of a device for estimating breast implant volume of a first embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume includes an input interface  11 , a processing circuit  12  and a display interface  13 ; in one embodiment, the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume may be a mobile device, such as smart phone, smart watch, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), notebook computer, etc. 
     A user can input a numerical value N into the input interface  11 ; in one embodiment, the input interface  11  may be a touch screen or other similar devices. 
     The processing circuit  12  is connected to the input interface  11  and calculates the estimation value  131  for a patient according to a linear model  121  and the numerical value N; in one embodiment, the processing circuit  12  may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller unit (MCU) or other similar devices. 
     The processing circuit  12  multiplies the numerical value N by a coefficient according to the linear model  121  to generate a product, and then adds a constant to the product to generate the estimation value  131  of breast implant volume; in the embodiment, the numerical value N may be the breast sample weight, which is the breast tissue cut off from the patient; alternatively, the numerical value N may be the breast size, which the volume measurement value measured by the craniocaudad projection view (CC view) of full-field digital mammography (FFDM); in another embodiment, the numerical value N may be other different data. 
     The display interface  13  is connected to the processing circuit  12  and displays the estimation value  131  as the reference for the user (e.g. a doctor); in one embodiment, the display interface  13  may be an LCD or other similar devices. 
     More specifically, the linear model  121  adopted by the processing circuit  12  can be expressed by Equation (1), as follows: 
         y=Ax+B   (1)
 
     In Equation (1), y stands for the estimation value  131  of breast implant volume; x stands for the numerical value N (i.e. the breast sample weight or the breast size) inputted in the input interface  11 ; A stands for the coefficient; B stands for the constant. 
     When the numerical value N is the breast sample weight, A (the coefficient) is 0.6302˜0.6519 and B (the constant) is 58.29˜66.07; in one embodiment, A (the coefficient) may be about 0.641 and B (the constant) may be about 62.18. 
     When the numerical value N is the breast size, A (the coefficient) is 0.3742˜0.3963 and B (the constant) is 96.97˜107.05; in one embodiment, A (the coefficient) may be about 0.3853 and B (the constant) may be about 102.2. 
     The above linear model  121  can be obtained by the statistics model established according to a large amount of statistics data, so is of high reliability; therefore, the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume can accurately calculate the estimation value  131  of breast implant volume. 
     As described above, the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume can directly and accurately calculate the estimation value  131  of breast implant volume according to the breast sample weight or the breast size of the patient; thus, the user can directly input the breast sample weight or the breast size of the patient into the input interface  11  to swiftly and accurately calculate the estimation value  131  of breast implant volume, so the cost of the breast reconstruction surgery can be effectively reduced. 
     The embodiment just exemplifies the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure; any equivalent modification and variation according to the spirit of the present disclosure is to be also included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2 , which is a flow chart of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The method of the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume includes the following steps: 
     Step S 21 : providing a numerical value, wherein the numerical value is a breast sample weight or a breast size. 
     Step S 22 : providing a linear model and multiplying the numerical value by a coefficient according to the linear model to generate a product. 
     Step S 23 : adding a constant to the product to generate the estimation value of breast implant volume. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 , which is a block diagram of a device for estimating breast implant volume of a second embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume includes an input interface  11 , a processing circuit  12  and a display interface  13 . 
     The above elements of the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume are similar to those of the previous embodiment, so will not be described herein again; the difference between the embodiment and the previous embodiment is that the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume of the embodiment further includes a memory circuit  14 . 
     The memory circuit  14  is connected to the processing circuit  12  and saves the statistics data within a time period. The statistics data  141  includes the breast samples of a plurality of patients undergoing nipple sparing mastectomy and the volumes of the breast implants actually used by these patients; besides, the statistics data  141  can also include the breast sizes of these patients and the volumes of the breast implants actually used by these patients. 
     The processing circuit  12  establishes a linear model  121  according to the breast samples of these patients and the volumes of the breast implants actually used by these patients. Alternatively, the processing circuit  12  can also establish the linear model  121  according to the breast sizes of these patients and the volumes of the breast implants actually used by these patients. More specifically, the processing circuit  12  establishes the linear model  121  by using one or the combination of curve fitting and the linear regression model to process the statistics data  141 , and then optimizes the linear model  121  via one or the combination of least absolute residuals and robust regression scheme. 
     As described above, the processing circuit  12  can establish the statistics model via a large amount of the statistics data  141  and the statistics analysis method, and further calculate the most appropriate linear model  121 , so the linear model  121  can be of high reliability; therefore, the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume can accurately calculate the estimation value  131  of breast implant volume. 
     The embodiment just exemplifies the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure; any equivalent modification and variation according to the spirit of the present disclosure is to be also included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 , which is a flow chart of the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The method of the device  1  for estimating breast implant volume includes the following steps: 
     Step S 41 : providing a numerical value, wherein the numerical value is a breast sample weight or a breast size. 
     Step S 42 : establishing the linear model by processing the statistics data via one or the combination of curve fitting and linear regression model. 
     Step S 43 : optimizing the linear model via one or the combination of least absolute residuals or robust regression scheme. 
     It is worthy to point out that there is no a proper method capable of correctly estimating the ideal breast implant, so it is very inconvenient to prepare materials for nipple sparing mastectomy and results in a lot of waste, which significantly increases the cost of the breast reconstruction surgery. On the contrary, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can correctly and swiftly calculate the estimation volume of breast implant volume via a linear model and the breast sample weight or the breast size of a patient, so can effectively reduce the cost of the breast reconstruction surgery. 
     Also, the currently available sizer cannot accurate estimate the ideal breast implant volume, and tends to damage patients and incur infection, which is not practical in use. On the contrary, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can correctly and swiftly calculate the estimation volume of breast implant volume via the linear model and the breast sample weight or the breast size of the patient, so will not result in damages to the patient and can reduce the incidence of infection. 
     Besides, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can be realized by a mobile device, which is very convenient in use. 
     Moreover, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can update the statistics data, so can keep optimizing the linear model for estimating breast implant volume; therefore, the accuracy of the device for estimating breast implant volume can continuously increase. 
     Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the design of the device for estimating breast implant volume is very simple, so can achieve the desired technical effects without significantly increasing cost; therefore, the device can achieve high commercial value. As described above, the device for estimating breast implant volume definitely has an inventive step. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , which are a first schematic view and a second schematic view of a third embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. The embodiment illustrates the preferred usage situation of the device for estimating breast implant volume. 
     As described above, the device for estimating breast implant volume can be realized by a mobile device executing an application; the embodiment takes a smart phone  2  as an example, which can execute the application to realize the aforementioned functions of the device for estimating breast implant volume. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the user can select making the estimation according to the breast sample weight of a patient; the user can input the number and the breast sample weight of the patient; then, the smart phone  2  can display the estimation value of breast implant volume is 238.455 cm 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the user can select making the estimation according to the breast size of the patient; the user can input the number and the breast size of the patient; then, the smart phone  2  can display the estimation value of breast implant volume is 260.5583 cm 3 . 
     In the embodiment, the breast implant volume actually used by the patient is 250 cm 3 , which is very close to the above estimation values of breast implant volume. 
     The embodiment just exemplifies the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure; any equivalent modification and variation according to the spirit of the present disclosure is to be also included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 
     To sum up, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can correctly and swiftly calculate the estimation volume of breast implant volume via a linear model and the breast sample weight or the breast size of a patient, so can effectively reduce the cost of the breast reconstruction surgery. 
     Also, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can correctly and swiftly calculate the estimation volume of breast implant volume via the linear model and the breast sample weight or the breast size of the patient, so will not result in damages to the patient and can reduce the incidence of infection. 
     Besides, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can be realized by a mobile device, which is very convenient in use. 
     Moreover, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the device for estimating breast implant volume can update the statistics data, so can keep optimizing the linear model for estimating breast implant volume; therefore, the accuracy of the device for estimating breast implant volume can continuously increase. 
     Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the design of the device for estimating breast implant volume is very simple, so can achieve the desired technical effects without significantly increasing cost; therefore, the device can achieve high commercial value. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.