Patent US1977922A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3789832A
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Apparatus and method for detecting cancer in tissue
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-03-17
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-03-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method in which a tissue sample is positioned in a nuclear induction apparatus whereby selected nuclei are energized from their equilibrium states to higher energy states through nuclear magnetic resonance. By measuring the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time as the energized nuclei return to their equilibrium states, and then comparing these relaxation times with their respective values for known normal and malignant tissue, an indication of the presence and degree of malignancy of cancerous tissue can be obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 R Damadian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/055; G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/46; G01R33/465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for detecting cancer comprising: a. measuring and establishing standard NMR spin-lattice relaxation times and spin-spin relaxation times for both normal and cancerous tissue of the type under analysis using as an indicator nuclei at least one nuclei which exhibits deviant behavior in cancerous tissue; b. measuring the NMR spin-lattice relaxation times and spin-spin relaxation times for the suspected tissue to determine the extent of deviant behavior of the indicator nuclei; and c. comparing the values obtained in (b) against the standards obtained in (a).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for detecting cancer comprising: a. measuring and establishing standard NMR spin-lattice relaxation times and spin-spin relaxation times for both normal and cancerous tissue of the type under analysis using as an indicator nuclei at least one nuclei which exhibits deviant behavior in cancerous tissue; b. measuring the NMR spin-lattice relaxation times and spin-spin relaxation times for the suspected tissue to determine the extent of deviant behavior of the indicator nuclei; and c. comparing the values obtained in (b) against the standards obtained in (a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator nuclei are cell water protons.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for distinguishing cancerous tissue from normal, healthy tissue which comprises: a. positioning a tissue sample in a nuclear induction apparatus having two sources of magnetic energy; b. actuating the first source to expose the sample to a magnetic field; c. actuating the second source to expose the sample to oscillating magnetic radiation having a frequency selected to permit the absorption by selected nuclei of energy from the oscillating field through nuclear magnetic resonance absorption, thereby inducing transistors between equilibrium states and higher energy states; d. terminating the radiation from the second source after a predetermined duration; e. measuring the spin-lattice relaxation time and spin-spin relaxation time as the energized nuclei return to their equilibrium states; and f. comparing the relaxation times with respective predetermined standards for normal and cancerous tissue, said comparisons indicating the presence and degree of malignancy of cancerous tissue.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for distinguishing cancerous tissue from normal, healthy tissue which comprises: a. positioning a tissue sample in a nuclear induction apparatus having two sources of magnetic energy; b. actuating the first source to expose the sample to a magnetic field; c. actuating the second source to expose the sample to oscillating magnetic radiation having a frequency selected to permit the absorption by selected nuclei of energy from the oscillating field through nuclear magnetic resonance absorption, thereby inducing transistors between equilibrium states and higher energy states; d. terminating the radiation from the second source after a predetermined duration; e. measuring the spin-lattice relaxation time and spin-spin relaxation time as the energized nuclei return to their equilibrium states; and f. comparing the relaxation times with respective predetermined standards for normal and cancerous tissue, said comparisons indicating the presence and degree of malignancy of cancerous tissue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the first source of magnetic energy is actuated to provide a static magnetic field orthogonal to the second magnetic field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the selected nuclei comprise water protons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the selected nuclei are phosphorus.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of detecting cancerous mammalian tissue comprising: a. providing a magnetic field space having a locus therein of equal field strength; b. positioning a mammal within said space; c. directing a beam of magnetic radiation having a predetermined frequency to impinge on said locus in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field, the frequency being selected to permit absorption by selected nuclei in the region of impingement of energy from the beam through nuclear magnetic resonance absorption, thereby inducing transitions in the selected nuclei between equilibrium states and higher energy states; d. terminating the beam after a predetermined duration; e. measuring the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time values as the energized nuclei return to their equilibRium states; and f. comparing the values obtained in (e) with predetermined like values for normal and for cancerous tissue, said comparison indicating the existence and degree of malignancy.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of detecting cancerous mammalian tissue comprising: a. providing a magnetic field space having a locus therein of equal field strength; b. positioning a mammal within said space; c. directing a beam of magnetic radiation having a predetermined frequency to impinge on said locus in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field, the frequency being selected to permit absorption by selected nuclei in the region of impingement of energy from the beam through nuclear magnetic resonance absorption, thereby inducing transitions in the selected nuclei between equilibrium states and higher energy states; d. terminating the beam after a predetermined duration; e. measuring the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time values as the energized nuclei return to their equilibRium states; and f. comparing the values obtained in (e) with predetermined like values for normal and for cancerous tissue, said comparison indicating the existence and degree of malignancy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 7 further comprising scanning the beam of magnetic radiation across the locus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the magnetic field is formed within a hollow, cylindrical superconducting solenoid, and the locus comprises the axis of the superconducting solenoid along which axis the field strength is a maximum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the selected nuclei comprise water protons.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the selected nuclei is phosphorus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for determining whether a tissue sample is cancerous comprising: a. nuclear induction apparatus including a magnetic field source means for forming a magnetic field space of a predetermined field strength and an oscillator source means for selectively supplying oscillating magnetic energy to the magnetic field space together with means for adjusting the frequency of the oscillator to satisfy nuclear magnetic resonance conditions for selected nuclei in the tissue sample; b. a tissue holding means for holding the tissue sample in the magnetic field space; c. means for determining the spin-lattice relaxation time of the selected nuclei in the tissue sample; d. means for determining the spin-spin relaxation time of the selected nuclei in the tissue sample; e. means for storing reference tables comprising the standard spin-lattice relaxation times and spin-spin relaxation times for the selected nuclei; f. means for comparing the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time of the selected nuclei in the tissue sample with the respective standards for normal tissue for the selected nuclei, and means for indicating that the tissue sample is cancerous if the relaxation times are greater than the respective standards.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for determining whether a tissue sample is cancerous comprising: a. nuclear induction apparatus including a magnetic field source means for forming a magnetic field space of a predetermined field strength and an oscillator source means for selectively supplying oscillating magnetic energy to the magnetic field space together with means for adjusting the frequency of the oscillator to satisfy nuclear magnetic resonance conditions for selected nuclei in the tissue sample; b. a tissue holding means for holding the tissue sample in the magnetic field space; c. means for determining the spin-lattice relaxation time of the selected nuclei in the tissue sample; d. means for determining the spin-spin relaxation time of the selected nuclei in the tissue sample; e. means for storing reference tables comprising the standard spin-lattice relaxation times and spin-spin relaxation times for the selected nuclei; f. means for comparing the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time of the selected nuclei in the tissue sample with the respective standards for normal tissue for the selected nuclei, and means for indicating that the tissue sample is cancerous if the relaxation times are greater than the respective standards.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the frequency adjusting means is adjusted so that the oscillator provides a magnetic field having a frequency which satisfies the nuclear magnetic resonance conditions of water protons.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the frequency adjusting means is adjusted so that the oscillator provides a magnetic field having a frequency which satisfies the nuclear magnetic resonance conditions of phosphorus nuclei.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
252 words
Apparatus for detecting cancerous cells in mammalian tissue comprising: a. nuclear induction apparatus including a magnetic field source means for forming a magnetic field space and an oscillator source means for selectively supplying oscillating magnetic energy to the magnetic field space together with means for adjusting the frequency of the oscillator to satisfy nuclear magnetic resonance conditions for selected nuclei; b. means for selecting a locus in the field space of equal field strength; c. means adapted for holding the mammal in the magnetic field space; d. means for focusing the oscillating magnetic energy into a beam; e. means for directing the beam to impinge on said locus in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field; f. means for determining the spin-lattice relaxation time of the selected nuclei in tissue cells of the mammal when said mammal is located in the region of impingement; g. means for determining the spin-spin relaxation time of the selected nuclei in tissue cells of the mammal when said mammal is located in the region of impingement; h. means for storing reference tables comprising standard spin-lattice relaxation times and spin-spin relaxation times for the selected nuclei; i. means for comparing the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time of the selected nuclei in the region of impingement with their respective standards for normal tissue for the selected nuclei, and means for indicating that said mammal contains cancerOus cells in the region of impingement if the relaxation times are greater than the respective standards.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
252 words
Apparatus for detecting cancerous cells in mammalian tissue comprising: a. nuclear induction apparatus including a magnetic field source means for forming a magnetic field space and an oscillator source means for selectively supplying oscillating magnetic energy to the magnetic field space together with means for adjusting the frequency of the oscillator to satisfy nuclear magnetic resonance conditions for selected nuclei; b. means for selecting a locus in the field space of equal field strength; c. means adapted for holding the mammal in the magnetic field space; d. means for focusing the oscillating magnetic energy into a beam; e. means for directing the beam to impinge on said locus in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field; f. means for determining the spin-lattice relaxation time of the selected nuclei in tissue cells of the mammal when said mammal is located in the region of impingement; g. means for determining the spin-spin relaxation time of the selected nuclei in tissue cells of the mammal when said mammal is located in the region of impingement; h. means for storing reference tables comprising standard spin-lattice relaxation times and spin-spin relaxation times for the selected nuclei; i. means for comparing the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time of the selected nuclei in the region of impingement with their respective standards for normal tissue for the selected nuclei, and means for indicating that said mammal contains cancerOus cells in the region of impingement if the relaxation times are greater than the respective standards.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 further including means for scanning the beam across the locus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |