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NASA Digital Imaging Breast Biopsy System

The NASA digital imaging breast biopsy system uses a silicon chip that converts light to digital images. The chip is used as part of a digital camera system to "see" internal breast structures. The system is called the LORAD StereoGuide Breast Biopsy System and is a non-surgical means of detecting cancer. Also referred to as stereotactic core needle biopsy, this system offers many advantages to the patient, including:

less pain
less scarring with only a small puncture wound
less trauma than a surgical biopsy
minimized risk of complications
no internal scarring, which would interfere with future mammography accuracy.

Other Cancer Detection Systems

There are many procedures and technologies available today to help detect breast cancer, including:

mammography
manual breast exam
ultrasound.

While all of these systems can detect abnormalities in breast tissue, only a biopsy can determine if cancer is present. Fortunately, four out of five breast biopsies are negative.

Breast Biopsy System and the Aerospace Industry

While the breast biopsy system saves the lives of countless people here on earth, its technology was developed by NASA with a vision for the stars.

The device that converts light to images was designed for use in NASA's powerful Hubble Space Telescope. Scientific Imaging Technologies, Inc. designed the device for NASA after if was found that the existing technology was not able to meet the scientific requirements of the telescope. The new device, called Space Telescope Imaging Spectrography, was first used on the Hubble Telescope in 1997.

Surgical Biopsy

Traditional surgical (excision) breast biopsies can be done either under local or general anesthesia, depending on the individual situation. A small incision is made and the doctor removes a sample of suspicious tissue to be tested. If the lump is small, the doctor usually removes the entire lump at this time. The incision is then closed and either clipped or sutured. Surgical biopsy usually takes about an hour to complete.

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy System

When a patient undergoes NASA's breast biopsy system, stereotactic images of the breast are recorded and then tissue is extracted for biopsy through a hollow needle. Stereotactic breast biopsy is generally done under local anesthesia. Here are the basic steps:

The patient lies face down and breasts are suspended through an opening in the table. Stereotactic images are taken from different angles to form a 3-D view of the area.
After moving to the room where the procedure will be performed, a wide needle with a cutter is used to take a sample of suspicious tissue.
Usually three to six needle insertions are done to make sure that enough tissue is taken for accurate results.
After the biopsy is done, there is only a small puncture wound, with no stitches required.

The procedure can be noisy, with a clicking sound when samples are being removed. There may be a feeling of pressure, but there shouldn't be any pain.

Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy

When a suspicious lump is located with NASA's stereotactic imaging, another method of getting a tissue sample is vacuum-assisted biopsy. This procedure uses a vacuum-like device to extract a tissue sample. Vacuum-assisted biopsy is a safe and accurate option for those who are not considered good candidates for other non-surgical biopsy procedures.

Resources

Healthcommunities.com, Inc. (1999). Breast Biopsy. Retrieved January 23, 2008, from the OncologyChannel.com Web site: http://www.oncologychannel.com/breastcancer/breastbiopsy/.

Medicine.net, Inc. (2008). Breast Biopsy. Retrieved January 23, 2008, from the Medicine.net Web site: http://www.medicinenet.com/breast_biopsy/article.htm.

United States Space Foundation (1997). Aerospace Technology Spinoffs. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from the Seds.org Web site: http://seds.org/technology/software/ussfspn.pdf.

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