Automated palpation for breast tissue discrimination based on viscoelastic biomechanical properties

Abstract

Although tissue discrimination was not achieved using only a single nonlinear viscoelastic parameter, a set of four nonlinear viscoelastic parameters were able to reliably and accurately discriminate fat, breast fibroglandular tissue and muscle.

Simple empirical model for identifying rheological properties of soft biological tissues

“…The one of limitation of this study is that the number of samples was insufficient to stastically analyze the variations in each parameter. We plan to study other tissue types in order to compare and discriminate between tissues using these static and variable parameters (for example, [28]).…”

“…A model based on a simple equation with few parameters that is highly correlated with experimental data from soft biological tissues does not currently exist. Therefore, we have conducted studies aimed at developing a model with these characteristics [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] . The model is derived from comprehensive material data obtained from in vitro measurements of porcine liver [23][24][25][26] .…”

“…The model is derived from comprehensive material data obtained from in vitro measurements of porcine liver [23][24][25][26] . The model was also validated using in vitro breast tissue (fibroglandur tissue, fat, muscle) [27,28] and partially evaluated in muscle tissue [29,30] . The model combines a fractional differential equation with a polynomial expression for stress-strain nonlinearity, which consists of four parameters [23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

“…The model was also validated using in vitro breast tissue (fibroglandur tissue, fat, muscle) [27,28] and partially evaluated in muscle tissue [29,30] . The model combines a fractional differential equation with a polynomial expression for stress-strain nonlinearity, which consists of four parameters [23][24][25][26][27][28]. However, the two parameters in the model -both parameters representing nonlinear properties-correlate and interfere with one another.…”

“…Recently, the framework of fractional calculus has also been used in the research of magnetic resonance elastography [45,46]. As above, fractional dynamics are gaining popularity in the field of viscoelasticity, with data and models already reported for the liver [23][24][25][26], breast tissues [28], lung [43,49], vessels [34], muscle [29,30], muscle cells [50], tendons [51] and blood cells [52]. In short, research on fractional calculus has been applied widely to many fields, including biological materials.…”