Curved needle assembly for subcutaneous light delivery
First Claim
1. An apparatus for subcutaneous delivery of light to a tissue-under-test comprising:
- a needle containing one or more optical fibers,where the needle takes on a curved shape,and where the optical fibers are inserted into the needle prior to the needle being bent into the curved shape.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In this invention, a substantially straight needle containing one or more optical fibers is bent into a curved shape, typically including a helical portion, after the insertion of optical fibers into the needle. This curved needle, with its integral optical fibers, allows the subcutaneous delivery of light to a tissue-under-test. The preferred embodiment of this apparatus performs three functions: subcutaneous delivery of light to a tissue-under-test, attachment to the tissue-under-test, and subcutaneous electrical contact. In this invention the optical fibers are inserted into the needle prior to needle bending which prevents fiber breakage because the needle is not curved or in a helical form and therefore provides no resistance to the insertion of the fibers.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for subcutaneous delivery of light to a tissue-under-test comprising:
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a needle containing one or more optical fibers, where the needle takes on a curved shape, and where the optical fibers are inserted into the needle prior to the needle being bent into the curved shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for subcutaneous delivery of light to a tissue-under-test comprising:
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a needle containing one or more optical fibers, where the needle takes on a curved shape some portion of which is in the shape of a helix, where the optical fibers are inserted into the needle prior to the needle being bent into the curved shape, where the space inside the needle not taken up by the one or more optical fibers is filled with a filler material, and wherein a distal end of the needle is shaped for insertion into a tissue-under-test.
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12. A method for manufacturing a curved needle containing one of more optical fibers for delivery of light to a tissue-under-test comprising the steps of:
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inserting the one or more optical fibers into a needle, bending the needle into a curved shape after the one or more optical fibers have been inserted into the needle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for manufacturing a curved needle containing one or more optical fibers for delivery of light to a tissue-under-test comprising the steps of:
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inserting the one or more optical fibers into a needle, bending the needle into a curved shape after the one or more optical fibers have been inserted into the needle, adding a filler material to the fill the space inside the needle not taken up by the one or more optical fibers, shaping a distal end of the needle for insertion into a tissue-under-test.
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Specification