Multisensor probe for tissue identification

• US 20030045798A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bioluminate, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bioluminate, Inc.
• Inventors: Da Silva, Luiz, Hular, Richard, Chase, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/947,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00796 Breast surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0242 for varying or adjusting the optical path length in the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

A multisensor probe for continuous real-time tissue identification. The multisensor probe includes a tissue penetrating needle, a plurality of sensors useful in characterizing tissue and a position sensor to measure the depth of the needle into the tissue being diagnosed. The sensors include but are not limited to an optical scattering and absorption spectroscopy sensor, an optical coherence domain reflectometry sensor, an electrical impedance sensor, a temperature sensor, a pO₂ sensor, a chemical sensor and other sensors useful in identifying tissue. The sensors may take the form of a plurality of optical fibers extending through said needle. A retractable sheath may be disposed around the distal section of the needle to protect the needle when not in use. The sheath retracts when the probe is inserted into tissue and the position of the sheath relative to the needle may be measured to determine the needle'"'"'s depth. Systems and methods for tissue identification are also provided.

Claims

1. A multisensor probe for tissue identification comprising:

an elongate body having a distal section, a distal tip, and a lumen extending through said elongate body to said distal tip;

an optical scattering and absorption spectroscopy sensor configured to deliver and receive light from said distal tip of said elongate body; and

a position sensor configured to measure the depth said distal tip is inserted into said tissue.

2. The multisensor probe of claim 1 further comprising a slideable sheath coaxially disposed over the distal section of said probe, said sheath being retractable from said distal section as said distal section of said elongate body is inserted into said tissue.

3. The multisensor probe of claim 1 wherein said position sensor is selected from the group consisting of an optical sensor, capacitive sensor, resistive sensor, laser ranging, sonic sensor, and a camera.

4. The multisensor probe of claim 1 wherein said position sensor is an optical encoder.

5. The multisensor probe of claim 2 wherein the position sensor is configured to read the position of said sheath relative to said elongate body.

6. The multisensor probe of claim 1 further comprising a handle for manipulating said multisensor probe.

7. The multisensor probe of claim 1 further comprising a marking switch to identify a location in said tissue as said distal section is inserted into said tissue.

8. The multisensor probe of claim 2 further comprising a spring to urge the sheath over the distal section such that when said probe is not in use, said sheath encloses said distal section of said elongate body.

9. The multisensor probe of claim 1 further comprising a electrical sensor for measuring electrical properties of said tissue.

10. The multisensor probe of claim 9 wherein the electrical sensor comprises a first electrically conducting element and a second electrically conducting element, said first and second electrically conducting elements extending to the distal tip of said elongate body.

11. The multisensor probe according to claim 10 wherein said first electrically conductive element is said elongate body.

12. The multisensor probe of claim 11 wherein the elongate body is a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, gold, and silver.

13. The multisensor probe of claim 12 wherein said second electrically conductive element extends through said lumen.

14. The multisensor probe of claim 1 further comprising a memory device capable of storing useful information about the probe.

15. The multisensor probe of claim 1 further comprising an OCDR sensor, said OCDR sensor comprising an optical fiber extending through said lumen to said distal tip.

16. The multisensor probe of claim 15 wherein the optical scattering and absorption spectroscopy sensor includes at least three optical fibers extending through said lumen to said distal tip.

17. The multisensor probe of claim 16 wherein the elongate body has an outer diameter less than or equal to that of a 18 gauge needle.

18. The multisensor probe of claim 1 further comprising a pO₂ sensor.

19. The multisensor probe of claim 18 further comprising a temperature sensor.

20. The multisensor probe of claim 19 wherein the temperature sensor and pO₂ sensor utilize a single fiber optic.

21. The multisensor probe of claim 1 wherein the distal tip of the elongate body is sharp.

22. The multisensor probe of claim 21 wherein the distal tip defines a plane and the plane forms an angle with an axis of said elongate body, said angle ranging from 30 to 70 degrees.

28. A method for identifying tissue comprising:

manually inserting a multisensor probe as recited in any one of claims 1-27 into said tissue.

38. The multisensor probe of claim 10 wherein said elongate body is made of a conducting polymer.

39. The multisensor probe of claim 14 wherein said memory device is configured to detect whether said probe has been previously used in a tissue identification procedure.

40. The multisensor probe of claim 39 wherein said memory device is configured to prevent said probe from being used more than once.

23. A multisensor probe for tissue identification, said probe connected to a controller via a cable, said probe comprising:

a needle having a distal tip and a lumen extending through said needle to said distal tip; and

a plurality of optical fibers extending from said controller, through said cable, through said lumen, to said distal tip of said needle wherein at least two of said plurality of optical fibers are optical scattering and absorption spectroscopy fiber optics and wherein at least one of said plurality of optical fibers is an OCDR fiber optic.

24. The multisensor probe of claim 23 further comprising a linear optical encoder coupled to said needle to measure position of said distal tip relative to said tissue.

25. The multisensor probe of claim 23 having a configuration as shown in any one of FIGS. 5A-5H.

26. The multisensor probe of claim 23 further comprising a slideable sheath coaxially disposed over a distal section of said needle, said sheath being retractable from said distal section as said needle is inserted into said tissue.

27. The multisensor probe of claim 26 wherein the position sensor is configured to read the position of said sheath relative to said needle.

34. The multisensor probe of claim 23 comprising a first light collecting fiber extending to a first point and a second light collecting fiber extending to second point wherein each of said first collecting fiber and second light collecting fiber is useful in optical scattering and absorption spectroscopy and wherein said first point is proximal to said second point.

35. The multisensor probe of claim 34 wherein said first point is proximal to said second point from 100 to 700 um.

36. The multisensor probe of claim 23 comprising a light collecting fiber having a center and a light emitting fiber having a center wherein said center of said light collecting fiber is separated from said center of said light emitting fiber by 175 to 500 um.

37. The multisensor probe of claim 36 wherein said center of said light collecting fiber is separated from said center of said light emitting fiber by 300 to 500 um.

29. A tissue detection system comprising:

a multisensor needle comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a position sensor for sensing position of the needle relative to said tissue; and

a controller configured to deliver and collect light through said plurality of optical fibers wherein at least one of said fibers is utilized as an OCDR sensor and wherein at least one said optical fibers is utilized for optical scattering and absorption spectroscopy.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising at least one electrode for sensing electrical information about the tissue.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising a sheath which retracts when the needle is inserted into said tissue.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said position sensor measures said position of said sheath relative to said needle.

33. A multisensor probe for tissue identification, said probe connected to a controller via a cable, said probe comprising:

a handle to manipulate said probe;

a needle joined to said handle, said needle having a distal section, a distal tip and a lumen extending through said needle to said distal tip;

a plurality of optical fibers extending from said controller, through said cable, through said lumen, to said distal tip of said needle;

a sheath slideably disposed around said distal section of said needle, said sheath being retractable into said handle when said distal section of said needle is inserted into said tissue; and

an optical position sensor coupled to said sheath to measure position of said retractable sheath relative to said handle, said position corresponding to the depth of insertion of said needle into said tissue.