Patent ID: 8340741

Claim:
A device for analyzing breast tissue for cancerous lesions comprising: an inserted transmitter or receiver, said inserted transmitter or receiver being inserted within a carrier, said carrier having an axis, said carrier being arranged for insertion into a breast duct within an uncompressed breast via the nipple of the breast, said inserted transmitter or receiver being inserted within the carrier such that the inserted transmitter is arranged to transmit energy at 90 degrees from the axis of the carrier or the inserted receiver is arranged to receive energy at 90 degrees from the axis of the carrier; a corresponding external receiver or transmitter arranged to be mounted onto the uncompressed breast outside of the uncompressed breast, wherein the external receiver is arranged to receive energy from the internal transmitter or the internal receiver is arranged to receive energy from the external transmitter after said energy propagates through breast tissue located between said inserted transmitter or receiver and said corresponding external receiver or transmitter; and a control unit arranged to receive data from the external receiver or the inserted receiver, said data relating to attenuation of energy emitted by said inserted transmitter or external transmitter to said external receiver or internal receiver respectively by passing through said breast tissue, said control unit being further arranged to analyze said data for an abnormal energy profile by comparison with a profile of energy propagated through healthy tissue, an abnormal energy profile indicating that said breast tissue contains a lesion.