SCANNED BEAM DEVICE AND METHOD USING SAME WHICH MEASURES THE REFLECTANCE OF PATIENT TISSUE
First Claim
1. A method for ascertaining, and responding to, a tissue characteristic of a surface region of patient tissue comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a scanned beam device adapted to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region, to collect radiation returned from the surface region which has been impinged with the transmitted beam of sensing radiation, and to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation;
b) using the scanned beam device to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region;
c) using the scanned beam device to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation returned from the surface region;
d) determining the tissue characteristic of the surface region from the measured reflectance, wherein the tissue characteristic is different from but related to the measured reflectance; and
e) providing an indication of the determined tissue characteristic, wherein the indication is other than a displayed image of the surface region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for ascertaining, and responding to, a tissue characteristic of a surface region of patient tissue are disclosed. A scanned beam device is used to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region and to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation returned from the surface region. The tissue characteristic of the surface region is determined from the measured reflectance, wherein the tissue characteristic is different from but related to the measured reflectance. In a first method, an indication of the determined tissue characteristic is provided, wherein the indication is other than a displayed image of the surface region. In a second method, wherein the patient tissue is undergoing medical treatment, the medical treatment is automatically modified as a function of the determined tissue characteristic. A scanned beam device having a scanning beam unit, a collector, and a controller is also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for ascertaining, and responding to, a tissue characteristic of a surface region of patient tissue comprising the steps of:
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a) obtaining a scanned beam device adapted to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region, to collect radiation returned from the surface region which has been impinged with the transmitted beam of sensing radiation, and to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation; b) using the scanned beam device to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region; c) using the scanned beam device to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation returned from the surface region; d) determining the tissue characteristic of the surface region from the measured reflectance, wherein the tissue characteristic is different from but related to the measured reflectance; and e) providing an indication of the determined tissue characteristic, wherein the indication is other than a displayed image of the surface region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for ascertaining, and responding to, a tissue characteristic of a surface region of patient tissue, wherein the patient tissue is undergoing medical treatment, comprising the steps of:
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a) obtaining a scanned beam device adapted to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region, to collect radiation returned from the surface region which has been impinged with the transmitted beam of sensing radiation, and to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation; b) using the scanned beam device to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region; c) using the scanned beam device to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation returned from the surface region; d) determining the tissue characteristic of the surface region from the measured reflectance, wherein the tissue characteristic is different from but related to the measured reflectance; and e) automatically modifying the medical treatment as a function of the determined tissue characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A scanned beam device comprising:
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a) a scanning beam unit adapted to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on a surface region of patient tissue; b) a collector adapted to collect radiation returned from the surface region which has been impinged with the transmitted beam of sensing radiation; and c) a controller operatively connected to the scanning beam unit and to the collector, wherein the controller is adapted; (1) to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation; (2) to determine the tissue characteristic of the surface region from the measured reflectance; and (3) to do at least one of; (a) providing an indication of the determined tissue characteristic, wherein the indication is other than a displayed image of the surface region; and (b) automatically modifying an ongoing medical treatment of the patient tissue as a function of the determined tissue characteristic.
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Specification