Breast-measuring device

Abstract

In one aspect, a device for measuring breast volume is disclosed, which comprises a housing comprising an enclosure having an opening, a flexible membrane sealingly covering said opening so as to provide an enclosed space within said enclosure, a gas disposed within said enclosed space, and at least one pressure sensor coupled to said enclosure so as to measure pressure of said gas within said enclosed space. The flexible membrane is configured to reversibly flex into said enclosed space in response to pressure of a breast against the membrane. The flexure of the membrane causes a change in the pressure and volume of the gas within said enclosed space.

1 .- 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method of determining breast asymmetry in a surgical theater associated with a surgical procedure, comprising:
 positioning a device configured to generate a volume signal indicative of a breast volume over a first breast of a patient prior, during, or after said surgical procedure, to generate a first breast-volume signal associated with said first breast,   positioning the device over a second breast of the patient to generate a second breast-volume signal associated with the second breast of the patient,   comparing said first breast-volume signal with said second breast-volume signal to assess asymmetry of said first and second breasts.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said surgical procedure is a breast augmentation procedure. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising generating each of said first and second volume signals based on a respective pressure signal. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said surgical procedure is a breast reconstruction procedure. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , further utilizing a digital processor to receive said first and said second volume signals and processing said first and said second volume signals to provide an estimate of said asymmetry. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said device comprises a membrane configured to flex in response to application of a pressure generated via positioning of the device over a breast to generate the volume signal. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said device comprises at least one pressure sensor for measuring a pressure change in response to flexure of said membrane. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising identifying the first and the second breasts to be asymmetric when said step of comparing said first and said second volume signals results in at least a 10% difference between said signals.