Method and apparatus for measuring factors in mammary fluids

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to breast fluid aspirators, and more specifically to an apparatus, a system, and a method for determining the risk of breast disease in a biological sample obtained for the breast by means of a breast fluid aspirator.

1 . A method for detecting a biological factor in a fluid sample obtained from a mammary gland, comprising the steps of: 
 non-invasively obtaining a mammary gland fluid from a subject comprising the steps of: 
 applying transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the mammary gland;  
 warming the mammary gland;  
 peristaltically massaging the mammary gland from a chest wall to a nipple; and  
 extracting the mammary fluid from the nipple by expression or aspiration; and  
   detecting the biological factor in the mammary gland fluid.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological factor is selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid, a protein, a peptide, a glycoprotein, a lipid and a biochemical product.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid is DNA or RNA.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the biochemical product is β-carotene or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the biochemical product is detected by chromatography.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological factor is detected by employing a probe that specifically interacts with the biological factor.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the probe is selected from the group consisting of a monoclonal antibody, a polyclonal antibody, and a nucleic acid.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the biochemical product is a carotenoid.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a mammal.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mammal is a human.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises warming the mammary gland prior to massaging.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered oxytocin prior to massaging the mammary gland.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammary gland fluid is a breast milk.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the breast milk is a colostrum breast milk.