Diaphanometer for optical examination of breast tissue structure - measures tissue transparency using two plates and optical fibre bundle cooperating with photoelectric cells

摘要

The appts. is intended for determining the tissue structure of the breast by measuring the transparency of mammary tissue to visible light. The appts. measures simultaneously the light intensity and the thickness of tissue traversed. One of two plates (1,2) can slide parallel to the other on guiding rods (8) with mounting bushes (14). The plates are set up on either side of the port of the breast which is to be examined. One plate called the emitter plate (1) has on its internal face one end of an optical fibre bundle (15) contained in a sheath (3), the other end being connected to a light source. The bundle lies along an axis (13) normal to the plate. At the point where this axis intersects the receiver plate (2) there is situated a photosensitive cell (12) connected by a cable (4) to a light intensity meter (5). Information from a linear potentiometer (9) is also transmitted along the cable. The two plates are connected to each other by bellows (10) and by a shutter (11) to make the appts. light-proof.