Mapping the Cancer

A breast phantom illustrates the ability of our technology to detect and localize tumors in the human body. We formed a breast phantom made of clay that accurately replicates breast phantoms used in mammography imaging research (Figure A). Since both the human body and clay are transparent to low-frequency magnetic fields, the clay phantom closely simulates a typical breast geometry and behavior. We embedded 2 sources of 7.5 million live human cancer cells into this model and treated them with antibody-linked nanoparticles. The embedded sources are in solutions in the inserted vials whose ends are shown by the indentations in the clay phantoms.

Using our novel hardware, software, and techniques, we were able to accurately detect and locate these tumor cells. Results of one such experiment are shown graphically as a magnetic field contour plot (Figure B). The dots shown in Figure A are the locations of the cancer cells in the embedded sources as determined by this imaging method.  These results indicate the accuracy that is possible with this method for locating tumors in actual human breast tissue. 

• Nanoparticle Distribution
• Comparison with MRI