System and method for detection of hematoma

• US 20090221919A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InfraScan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: InfraScan, Inc.
• Inventors: Chance, Britton, Ben Dor, Baruch
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for determining brain hematoma including a handheld device for emitting and detecting radiation with a removable light guide assembly. A method for determining a brain hematoma condition that includes determining optical density of various regions of the brain using near infrared spectroscopy.

Claims

1. A method of indicating a bilateral hematoma condition comprising:

determining an optical density associated with a plurality brain locations on a right side of a patient'"'"'s head;

determining a first optical density difference between two of the plurality of brain locations on the right side of the patient'"'"'s head;

determining an optical density associated with a plurality brain locations on a left side of the patient'"'"'s head;

determining a second optical density difference between two of the plurality of brain locations on the left side of the patient'"'"'s head; and

indicating bilateral hematoma based upon a comparison of the first optical density difference and the second optical density difference to a predetermined optical density difference range.

2. A method of indicating hematoma comprising:

determining an optical density difference for at least one pair of contralateral head locations;

comparing said optical density differences to a predetermined range of optical density differences; and

diagnosing a hematoma condition in each of the contralateral head locations based upon the relationship between the optical density differences and the predetermined range of optical density differences.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining an optical density is performed by a system comprising a hand held detection device having a base with at least one radiation detector, at least one light source and a removable light guide assembly having at least one detector light guide configured to align with the radiation detector and at least one source light guide configured to align with the light source, the light guide assembly being removably secured to the base.

4. A system for detection of hematoma comprising:

a handheld probe having a source of infrared light, a detector of infrared light; and

a light guide assembly including a base, a source light guide that transmits infrared light from the source to a tissue region, and a detector light guide that transmits at least a portion of the infrared light passing through the tissue region to the detector, wherein the source light guide and the detector light guide are each secured to the base; and

a processor linked to the probe, configured to provide instructions to the probe and configured to process data transmitted by the probe, the processor having a display for indicating the presence of hematoma based upon a characteristic of the infrared light passing through the tissue.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the probe and processor are housed in a common housing.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the probe and the processor are linked with a wireless link.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the base is contiguous with the source light guide and the detector light guide, the light guide assembly being readily removable and replaceable.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the light guide assembly is readily removable and replaceable.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the light guide assembly is configured to be removed and replaced between patients.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein the light guide assembly is configured to be removed without tools.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein the light guide assembly is disposable.

12. The system of claim 4 wherein the characteristic of the infrared light passing through the tissue reflects an optical density associated with a region of the brain.

13. A hand held hematoma detection device comprising:

a base having;

at least one radiation detector;

at least one light source; and

a removable light guide assembly having;

at least one detector light guide configured to align with the radiation detector;

at least one source light guide configured to align with the light source;

the light guide assembly being removably secured to the base.

14. The hand held hematoma detection device of claim 13 further comprising a sealed securement between the base and the removable light guide assembly.

15. The hand held hematoma detection device of claim 13 wherein the sealed securement includes a friction fit between the base and the disposable light guide assembly.

16. The hand held hematoma detection device of claim 13 wherein the light guide assembly further comprises at least one external support.

17. The hand held hematoma detection device of claim 13 wherein at least one of the detector light guides and the source light guides are configured to resiliently depress relative to the base.

18. The hand held hematoma detection device of claim 13 wherein at least one of the detector light guide and the source light guide are configured to apply uniform pressure to the surface of a scalp.

19. The hand held hematoma detection device of claim 13 wherein the detector light guide and the source light guide protrude from a distal end of the light guide assembly and the light guide assembly further comprises a lip at the proximal end of the light guide assembly.

20. The hand held hematoma detection device of claim 13 wherein the light guide assembly includes a cover having a contiguous lip, contiguous cladding radially disposed about the detector light guide, contiguous cladding radially disposed about the source light guide, a contiguous light dam associated with the light source and a contiguous light dam associated with the detector.