In Situ Tissue Analysis Device and Method

• US 20070191733A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Li, Tao, Gianchandani, Yogesh, Gianchandani, Roma
• Granted Patent: US 7,927,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/564
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00035 pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0011 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis

Abstract

A sensor is mounted to a biopsy needle at a location proximate to a tip of the needle. The sensor senses properties of tissue in contact with the sensor and proximate to the tip.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a biopsy needle having a tip;

a sensor mounted to the needle at a location proximate to the tip, the sensor to sense properties of tissue in contact with the sensor and proximate to the tip; and

a communication link coupled to the sensor, the communication link to communicatively couple the sensor with a system interface.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a mechanical sensor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical sensor comprises at least one of an acoustic sensor and a pressure sensor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a chemical sensor.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the chemical sensor comprises at least one of a pH sensor, a potentiometric sensor, and an amperometric sensor.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electrical sensor.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the electrical sensor comprises at least one of a resistance sensor and an impedance sensor.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a resonant sensor.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the needle is electrically coupled to the sensor to serve as an electrical ground to the sensor.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the SAW sensor is formed on a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) substrate.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor attached to a diaphragm.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) sensor.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the PZT sensor comprises a PZT disk.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the needle includes a cavity formed on a wall of the needle proximate to the tip;

wherein the piezoelectric sensor is mounted within the cavity.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a wall of the cavity comprises the diaphragm.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the cavity is formed on an interior portion of the wall of the needle.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the cavity is formed on an exterior portion of the wall of the needle.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the system interface.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the system interface comprises a signal analyzer.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication link is located proximate to the sensor.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the communication link comprises a buffer circuit.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the communication link further comprises an oscillator circuit.

24. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the communication link comprises a circuit formed on a silicon substrate;

wherein the PZT sensor is mounted to the silicon substrate.

25. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional sensor mounted to the needle;

wherein the communication link is coupled to the at least one additional sensor.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the at least one additional sensor comprises a reference sensor.

27. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the sensor and one of the additional sensors comprise a differential sensor.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the one additional sensor of the differential sensor is spaced apart from the tip of the needle.

29. A method for obtaining a biopsy, comprising:

inserting a biopsy needle in a patient, the biopsy needle including a sensor mounted at a location proximate to a tip of the needle, the sensor to sense properties of tissue in contact with the sensor and proximate to the tip;

monitoring properties of tissue immediately proximate to the tip while guiding the tip toward a target tissue, the properties sensed by the sensor;

determining when to obtain a biopsy based on changes in tissue properties sensed by the sensor; and

extracting a biopsy from the target tissue.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein determining when to obtain the biopsy comprises determining when to obtain the biopsy based on changes in resonance of the sensor.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein the biopsy needle includes an additional sensor mounted at a location proximate to the location of the sensor;

wherein determining when to obtain the biopsy comprises determining when to obtain the biopsy based on changes in a differential signal generated based on the sensor and the additional sensor.

32. A method for providing real-time guidance during a biopsy, comprising:

sensing, during a biopsy procedure, properties of tissue immediately proximate to a tip of a biopsy tool using a sensor mounted at a location proximate to the tip;

indicating the sensed tissue properties during the biopsy procedure to facilitate positioning of the tip within a target tissue.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein indicating the sensed tissue properties during the biopsy procedure comprises indicating a change in tissue properties corresponding to movement of the tip between non-target tissue and the target tissue.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

a biopsy needle having a tip; and

a sensor mounted to the needle at a location proximate to the tip, the sensor to sense properties of tissue in contact with the sensor and proximate to the tip.