Tissue characterization based on impedance images and on impedance measurements

Abstract

Apparatus for aiding in the identification of tissue type for an anomalous tissue in an impedance image comprising a first device providing a polychromic immitance map of a portion of the body; a second devise determining a plurality of polychromic measures from one or both of a portion of the body; and a display which displays an indication based on the plurality of polychromic measures.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . A method of electrical impedance testing of a breast region of a patient, comprising: 
 performing electrical impedance tests on a group of patients;    determining one or more electrical impedance measure values of a breast region of an individual patient; and    displaying impedance results relating to the breast of the individual patient, responsive to the determined measure values, adjusted responsive to results of the tests on the group of patients.    
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34 , comprising determining an average value of an impedance-related measure, responsive to the tests of the group of patients and wherein the measure values are adjusted responsive to the average value of the measure.  
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein displaying the impedance results comprises displaying an image of measure values of the breast.  
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein a range of possible values for pixels of the image is selected responsive to results of the tests on the group of patients.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein determining the one or more electrical impedance measure values comprises determining a phase of a measured admittance.  
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein determining the one or more electrical impedance measure values comprises determining a value of a polychromatic measure.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein displaying the impedance results comprises displaying the results responsive to the determined values, normalized responsive to results of the tests on the group of patients.  
     
     
         41 . Apparatus for electrical impedance testing of a breast region of a patient, comprising: 
 a multi-element probe for collecting impedance measurements from a breast;    a memory which stores results of electrical impedance tests on a group of patients; and    a controller configured to determine one or more electrical impedance measure values of a breast region of an individual patient, and to provide impedance results relating to the breast of the individual patient, responsive to the determined measure values, adjusted responsive to the results of the tests on the group of patients stored in the memory.    
     
     
         42 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an average value of an impedance-related measure, responsive to the tests of the group of patients and to adjust the measure values responsive to the average value of the measure.  
     
     
         43 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , wherein the controller is configured to display an image of measure values of the breast.  
     
     
         44 . Apparatus according to  claim 43 , wherein the controller is configured to select a range of possible values for pixels of the image responsive to results of the tests on the group of patients.  
     
     
         45 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , wherein the one or more electrical impedance measure values comprise a phase of a measured admittance.  
     
     
         46 . Apparatus according to  claim 41 , wherein the one or more electrical impedance measure values comprise a value of a polychromatic measure.  
     
     
         47 . A method of electrical impedance testing of a breast region of a patient, comprising: 
 performing electrical impedance tests on a group of patients;    determining one or more electrical impedance measure values of a breast region of an individual patient;    comparing the determined one or more electrical impedance measure values of the individual patient to results of the electrical impedance tests on the group of patients; and    displaying impedance results relating to the breast of the individual patient, responsive to the comparison.    
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 47 , wherein determining the one or more electrical impedance measure values comprises determining a phase of a measured admittance.  
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 47 , wherein determining the one or more electrical impedance measure values comprises determining a value of a polychromatic measure.