Apparatus for recognizing abnormal tissue using the detection of early increase in microvascular blood content
First Claim
1. An apparatus that emits broadband light obtained from a light source onto microvasculature of tissue of a human body and receives interacted light that is obtained from interaction of the broadband light with the microvasculature for transmission to a receiver, the apparatus comprising:
- a probe having an end adapted for insertion into the human body and which illuminates the tissue with the broadband light and receives interacted light that interacts with blood in the microvasculature that is within the tissue, the probe including;
a delivery optical fiber having a delivery numerical aperture for transmitting the broadband light obtained from the light source, the delivery optical fiber having a light delivery end adapted for emission of the broadband light and a light delivery source connection end adapted for connection to the light source;
at least one collection optical fiber having a collection numerical aperture, the collection optical fiber having a light collection end that receives the interacted light and a receiver connection end adapted for connection to the receiver, wherein the light collection end is substantially aligned with and at a predetermined distance from the light delivery end of the delivery optical fiber; and
a lens that is spaced substantially about one focal length of the lens from the light collection end of the collection optical fiber and from the light delivery end of the delivery optical fiber;
wherein the delivery optical fiber and the collection optical fiber and the lens are adapted to collect the interacted light at a collection spot on a surface of the tissue that is within the focal plane of the lens, and wherein the interacted light collected results from interactions with the microvasculature that are substantially at a predetermined penetration depth below the collection spot, and wherein the predetermined penetration depth is obtained in part due to a selected plurality of characteristics, the selected plurality of characteristics including selection of the focal length of the lens and at least one further characteristic from one of the delivery optical fiber, the collection optical fiber, and the lens.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to probe apparatuses and component combinations thereof that are used to recognize possibly abnormal living tissue using a detected early increase in microvascular blood supply and corresponding applications. In one embodiment there is disclosed an apparatus that emits broadband light obtained from a light source onto microvasculature of tissue disposed within a human body and receives interacted light that is obtained from interaction of the broadband light with the microvasculature for transmission to a receiver. Different further embodiments include combinations of optical fibers, polarizers and lenses that assist in the selection of a predetermined depth profile of interacted light. In another embodiment, a kit apparatus is described that has various probe tips and/or light transmission elements that provide for various combinations of predetermined depth profiles of interacted light. In a further embodiment, a method of making a spectral data probe for a depth range detection selectivity for detection of blood within microvasculature of tissue is described.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. An apparatus that emits broadband light obtained from a light source onto microvasculature of tissue of a human body and receives interacted light that is obtained from interaction of the broadband light with the microvasculature for transmission to a receiver, the apparatus comprising:
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a probe having an end adapted for insertion into the human body and which illuminates the tissue with the broadband light and receives interacted light that interacts with blood in the microvasculature that is within the tissue, the probe including;
a delivery optical fiber having a delivery numerical aperture for transmitting the broadband light obtained from the light source, the delivery optical fiber having a light delivery end adapted for emission of the broadband light and a light delivery source connection end adapted for connection to the light source;
at least one collection optical fiber having a collection numerical aperture, the collection optical fiber having a light collection end that receives the interacted light and a receiver connection end adapted for connection to the receiver, wherein the light collection end is substantially aligned with and at a predetermined distance from the light delivery end of the delivery optical fiber; and
a lens that is spaced substantially about one focal length of the lens from the light collection end of the collection optical fiber and from the light delivery end of the delivery optical fiber;
wherein the delivery optical fiber and the collection optical fiber and the lens are adapted to collect the interacted light at a collection spot on a surface of the tissue that is within the focal plane of the lens, and wherein the interacted light collected results from interactions with the microvasculature that are substantially at a predetermined penetration depth below the collection spot, and wherein the predetermined penetration depth is obtained in part due to a selected plurality of characteristics, the selected plurality of characteristics including selection of the focal length of the lens and at least one further characteristic from one of the delivery optical fiber, the collection optical fiber, and the lens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method of making a spectral data probe for a depth range detection selectivity for detection of blood within microvasculature of tissue, the spectral data probe receiving broadband light from a light source and providing interacted light to a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining the depth range that is desired for the detection of the interacted light;
providing the spectral data probe, the spectral data probe including;
a delivery optical fiber for transmitting the broadband light obtained from the light source, the delivery optical fiber having a delivery light output end adapted for connection to the light source and a delivery light source connection end;
a collection fiber group, the collection fiber group including at least one collection optical fiber, each collection optical fiber having a light collection end that receives the interacted light that interacts with the blood in the microvasculature that is within the tissue and a receiver connection end, wherein each light collection end is substantially aligned with and substantially at a predetermined distance from the light delivery end of the delivery optical fiber; and
a lens that is spaced substantially about one focal length of the lens from each light collection end of each collection optical fiber and from the delivery light output end of the delivery optical fiber;
wherein the step of providing selects different characteristics for the delivery optical fiber, the collection fiber group and the lens to assist with allowing the spectral data probe to have the determined depth range.
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Specification