Development of a Palpation Sensor for Detecting Prostatic Cancer and Hypertrophy : Signal Processing on Clinical Data

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the development of a palpation sensor for possible detection of prostatic cancer and hypertrophy. The sensor is a layered medium with two polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films embedded in the matrix sponge rubber. This sensor fixed with a finger is pressed against the prostates and the output voltage signals from the polymer films are measured. The temporal mean values, I₁ and I₂, on the absolute signals from polymer films are calculated and their ratio I₁/I₂ is used as the sensor output. First, the experimental method for the clinical test is proposed. The prostate glands diagnosed by a doctor's fore finger are classified into four groups according to their stiffness and the data processing for assorting the glands into the groupes are presented. The effect of the convexes placed on the surface of sensor is examined by conparing the clinical data with that of the sensor without the convexes.