Shielded optical probe and method
First Claim
1. An optical probe for obtaining data from the tissue material of a living organism, comprising:
- an first housing element having a first support surface for supporting said tissue material, and a first aperture formed therein;
a second housing element having a second support surface and a second aperture formed therein, said second housing element being located proximate to said first housing element and rotatably attached thereto so as to permit said tissue material to be positioned there between;
a light source disposed within said first housing element, said light energy source being positioned such that at least a portion of the light energy emitted is transmitted through said first aperture;
a light detector disposed within said second housing element, said light energy detector being positioned so as to receive at least a portion of said light energy transmitted by said light energy source through said tissue material and said second aperture; and
a light shield mounted to at least one of said first and second housing elements and located proximate to said tissue material, said light shield attenuating at least a portion of ambient light energy incident on said tissue material and having a difference in attenuation properties in the area of the photodetector.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical probe, which is particularly suited to for use in measurements on tissue material of a patient. In one embodiment, the probe comprises upper and lower housing elements incorporating a light energy source and corresponding detector. The tissue material of the patient is disposed between the upper and lower housing elements such that the light energy emitted by the source passes through the tissue material to the detector. A plurality of light shields are attached to one or both of the housing elements to reduce the amount of ambient and reflected light reaching the detector. Additionally, various portions of the upper and lower housing elements and shields utilize light absorbent coloration and/or coatings which further mitigate the effects of undesired ambient and reflected light, thereby reducing noise generated within the instrument and increasing its accuracy. In one embodiment, the light shields are made removable from the optical probe, thereby facilitating replacement. A circuit for monitoring the condition of the probe, and indicating when replacement of the probe is desirable, is also disclosed.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. An optical probe for obtaining data from the tissue material of a living organism, comprising:
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an first housing element having a first support surface for supporting said tissue material, and a first aperture formed therein;
a second housing element having a second support surface and a second aperture formed therein, said second housing element being located proximate to said first housing element and rotatably attached thereto so as to permit said tissue material to be positioned there between;
a light source disposed within said first housing element, said light energy source being positioned such that at least a portion of the light energy emitted is transmitted through said first aperture;
a light detector disposed within said second housing element, said light energy detector being positioned so as to receive at least a portion of said light energy transmitted by said light energy source through said tissue material and said second aperture; and
a light shield mounted to at least one of said first and second housing elements and located proximate to said tissue material, said light shield attenuating at least a portion of ambient light energy incident on said tissue material and having a difference in attenuation properties in the area of the photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An optical probe comprising:
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a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the tissue material of a patient, said housing having first and second apertures formed therein, said first and second apertures being proximate to said tissue material when said tissue material is received by said housing;
a light energy source disposed within said housing, said light energy source being positioned such that at least a portion of the light energy emitted thereby is transmitted through said first aperture onto said tissue material;
a light energy detector disposed within said housing, said light energy detector being positioned so as to receive, via said second aperture, at least a portion of said light energy directed onto said tissue; and
a light shield located proximate to said tissue material, said light shield attenuating at least a portion of ambient light energy incident on said tissue material when said tissue material is received by said housing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of measuring a physical property using an optical probe, comprising:
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forming a housing element capable of receiving tissue material, said housing element having a first aperture and second aperture formed therein, said first and second apertures being located proximate to said tissue material;
generating light energy using a light energy source;
transmitting said light energy through said first aperture onto said tissue material;
detecting, via said second aperture, at least a portion of said light energy generated by said source and transmitted onto said tissue material, using a detector;
shielding said detector at least partly from light energy not generated by said light energy source and not transmitted through said first aperture; and
generating a signal based on said light energy detected by said detector. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An optical probe comprising:
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a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the tissue material of a patient, said housing having first and second apertures formed therein, said first and second apertures being proximate to said tissue material when said tissue material is received by said housing, at least a portion of said housing comprising an absorptive material capable of absorbing at least a portion of the light energy incident thereon;
a light energy source disposed within said housing, said light energy source being positioned such that at least a portion of the light energy emitted thereby is transmitted through said first aperture onto said tissue material;
a light energy detector disposed within said housing, said light energy detector being positioned so as to receive, via said second aperture, at least a portion of said light energy transmitted onto said tissue; and
a light shield located proximate to said tissue material;
wherein said light shield and said absorptive material of said housing cooperate to attenuate at least a portion of any light energy both not generated by said light energy source and not transmitted through said first aperture which is incident on said tissue material when said tissue material is received by said housing. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. Data indicative of the physical condition of a patient generated using the method comprising:
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forming a housing element capable of receiving tissue material, said housing element having a first aperture and second aperture formed therein, said first and second apertures being located proximate to said tissue material;
generating light energy using a light energy source;
transmitting said light energy through said first aperture onto said tissue material;
detecting, via said second aperture, at least a portion of said light energy generated by said source and transmitted onto said tissue material, using a detector;
shielding said detector at least partly from light energy not generated by said light energy source and not transmitted through said first aperture;
generating a signal based on said light energy detected by said detector; and
analyzing said signal in order to produce said data. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of monitoring the age of an optical probe during use, comprising:
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generating a plurality of optical pulses;
directing said plurality of optical pulses onto the tissue of a patient;
detecting at least a portion of said plurality of optical pulses directed onto said tissue using a detector;
generating a first signal representative of said patient'"'"'s condition based on said detected optical pulses;
counting the number of said portion of said plurality of optical pulses;
comparing said number to a predetermined value;
generating a second signal indicative of the age of said probe when said number bears a given relationship to said predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. A method of monitoring the condition of an optical probe during use by an operator, comprising:
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generating a plurality of optical pulses using a light energy source;
detecting said plurality of optical pulses using a detector;
measuring a parameter related to said optical pulses;
comparing said measured parameter to a predetermined value;
generating a signal indicative of said condition the when said parameter bears a given relationship to said predetermined value, said signal being perceivable by said operator. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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57. A system for monitoring the condition of an optical probe, comprising:
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at least one light source capable of generating a plurality of optical pulses;
at least one photodetector capable of detecting at least a portion of said plurality of optical pulses directed onto the tissue of a patient;
a monitor circuit capable of monitoring at least one parameter relating to said optical pulses, comparing said at least one parameter to a predetermined value, and generating a signal when said at least one parameter and said predetermined value are in a given relationship to each other; and
an indicator, operatively connected to said monitoring circuit, said indicator generating an indication of the condition of said optical probe based on said signal.
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Specification