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Tissue structure identification in advance of instrument

  • US 20050027199A1
  • Filed: 04/11/2002
  • Published: 02/03/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for identifying tissue structures in advance of a medical instrument during a medical procedure, comprising:

  • a mechanical tissue penetrating medical instrument having a distal end for penetrating tissue in a penetrating direction ahead of said distal end;

    an optical wavefront analysis system for providing light to illuminate tissue ahead of said medical instrument, receiving light returned by tissue ahead of said medical instrument and providing information about the distance from said distal end of said medical instrument to tissue features ahead of said medical instrument; and

    an optical fiber coupled at a proximal end to said wavefront analysis system and attached at a distal end to said medical instrument proximate said distal end of said medical instrument, said distal end of said fiber having an illumination pattern directed substantially in said penetrating direction for illuminating the tissue ahead of said medical instrument and receiving light returned therefrom.

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