Abstract: A hybrid system is developed using thermal and electrical impedance imaging methods together. The innovation of the approach relies on the frequency dependence of the tissue's electrical impedance which facilitates the acquisition of multiple thermal images with currents at different frequencies injected to the region of the body under inspection. Proposed method without current application (in passive mode of operation) provides images which are obtained by standard thermal imagers. On the other hand, the application of the electrical current (in active mode of operation) increases the temperature contrast on the body surface depending on the electrical property of tissue. Therefore, the technique while increasing the thermal contrast provides frequency dependent conductivity distribution data which can be used as a basis for the detection of the breast carcinoma. The sensitivity of the technique is increased by an infrared camera with dual band (MWIR/LWIR) imaging capability.

Abstract: In this invention, an approach is proposed to image the electrical impedance (conductivity and permittivity) properties of biological tissues. This approach is based on electrical current induction using ultrasound together with an applied static magnetic field. Acoustic vibrations are generated via piezoelectric transducers located on the surface of a biological body. A linear phased array piezoelectric transducer is used to form pressure distribution in human body/tissue. In the existence of a static magnetic field, the resultant (velocity) current density is sensed by a receiver coil encircling the tissue or placed near the tissue and used for reconstructing the conductivity and permittivity distribution.

Abstract: A hybrid system is developed using thermal and electrical impedance imaging methods together. The innovation of the approach relies on the frequency dependence of the tissue's electrical impedance which facilitates the acquisition of multiple thermal images with currents at different frequencies injected to the region of the body under inspection. Proposed method without current application (in passive mode of operation) provides images which are obtained by standard thermal imagers. On the other hand, the application of the electrical current (in active mode of operation) increases the temperature contrast on the body surface depending on the electrical property of tissue. Therefore, the technique while increasing the thermal contrast provides frequency dependent conductivity distribution data which can be used as a basis for the detection of the breast carcinoma. The sensitivity of the technique is increased by an infrared camera with dual band (MWIR/LWIR) imaging capability.

Abstract: The invention, hybrid mechanical-electromagnetic imaging method and the system thereof, uses single or plural number of focused ultrasonic transducer(s) that send ultrasound waves to the tissue at different radiation force frequencies at different times, which in turn induces local vibrations at different frequencies and different amplitudes. Microwave signals are transmitted to the tissue for each radiation force frequency of ultrasound excitation. The scattered signals which contain a Doppler frequency component because of the motion inside the tissue are received by a microwave receiver. The Doppler frequency component properties (amplitude, frequency and phase) of the signals are processed for each radiation force frequency. The resultant data reveals the combined elasticity and electrical properties (permittivity and/or conductivity) of the tissue at the focal point. The focal point is scanned throughout the tissue volume and 3D images are generated.