SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ILLUMINATING MATERIALS

• US 20100016729A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futrell J. William
• Original Assignee: Futrell J. William
• Inventors: Futrell, J. William
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/201 Assessing renal or kidney functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4244 liver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure

Abstract

A system including a medical instrument, a sensor, and a processor module in communication with the sensor. The medical instrument includes a radiation source for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from within a body and through a material in the body. The sensor receives a portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the material, and the processor module determines at least one characteristic of the material based on the electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a medical instrument comprising a radiation source for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from within a body and through a material in the body;

a sensor for receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the material; and

a processor module in communication with the sensor, wherein the processor module is for determining at least one characteristic of the material based on the electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical instrument is selected from the group consisting of:

a cannula, a catheter, forceps, a cutting instrument, a suction device, and an energy-emitting device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source transmits substantially monochromatic electromagnetic radiation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source transmits polychromatic electromagnetic radiation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is for transmitting electromagnetic radiation within at least one of the following electromagnetic spectrums:

an ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, an infrared (IR) spectrum, and a visible spectrum.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises at least one of the following:

a UV light-emitting diode (LED), an IR LED, and a visible LED.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more optical fibers for supplying electromagnetic energy to the radiation source.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned within the body.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned external to the body.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more photodetectors.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one optical element disposed between the radiation source and the sensor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is for generating a signal representative of at least one of a wavelength and an intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the sensor is for communicating the signal to the processor module.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one determined characteristic of the material is selected from the group comprising:

a composition of the material, a dimension of the material, an arrangement of the material, a location of the material, and a movement of the material.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the material includes at least one of a bodily material and a non-bodily material.

15. A system comprising:

a radiation source positioned external to a body for transmitting electromagnetic radiation through a material in the body;

a medical instrument comprising a sensor for receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation from within the body; and

a processor module in communication with the sensor, wherein the processor module is for determining at least one characteristic of the material based on the electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor.

16. A medical instrument comprising a radiation source for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from within a body and through a material in the body, wherein the radiation source is configured such that at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the material is emitted from an outer surface of the body.

17. A method for characterizing a material within one of a human body and an animal body, the method comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic radiation through a material in a body, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted from within the body;

receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the material; and

determining at least one characteristic of the material based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting electromagnetic radiation source includes transmitting electromagnetic radiation within at least one of the following electromagnetic spectrums:

a UV spectrum, an IR spectrum, and a visible spectrum.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation includes receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation within the body.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation includes receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation external to the body.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein determining at least one characteristic of the material based includes determining at least one characteristic of the material based on at least one of a wavelength and an intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein determining at least one characteristic of the material includes determining at least one of a composition of the material, a dimension of the material, an arrangement of the material, a location of the material, and a movement of the material.