Uterine Infrared Thermal Imaging Device
First Claim
1. A device for locating target tissue within a living body, comprising:
- an elongate member extending from a proximal end which, when in an operative position, remains outside the body to a distal end which, when in the operative position, extends into the body to a location proximate to a target portion of tissue, the elongate member defining a working channel extending therethrough to a distal opening in the distal end;
a radiation delivery apparatus delivering infrared radiation to a target area distal of the distal end of the elongate member; and
a radiation receiving apparatus at a distal end of the elongate member receiving radiation reflected from the target area.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for locating target tissue within a living body, comprises an elongate member extending from a proximal end which, when in an operative position, remains outside the body to a distal end which, when in the operative position, extends into the body to a location proximate to a target portion of tissue, the elongate member defining a working channel extending therethrough to a distal opening in the distal end and a radiation delivery apparatus delivering infrared radiation to a target area distal of the distal end of the elongate member in combination with a radiation receiving apparatus at a distal end of the elongate member receiving radiation reflected from the target area.
3 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A device for locating target tissue within a living body, comprising:
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an elongate member extending from a proximal end which, when in an operative position, remains outside the body to a distal end which, when in the operative position, extends into the body to a location proximate to a target portion of tissue, the elongate member defining a working channel extending therethrough to a distal opening in the distal end; a radiation delivery apparatus delivering infrared radiation to a target area distal of the distal end of the elongate member; and a radiation receiving apparatus at a distal end of the elongate member receiving radiation reflected from the target area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for locating subsurface target tissue comprising the steps of:
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inserting into the body an elongate device including at a distal end thereof an infrared radiation delivery apparatus and a radiation receiving apparatus positioned to receive infrared radiation from the radiation delivery apparatus after reflection from tissue; illuminating a target area of tissue adjacent to the distal end; analyzing information from the radiation receiving apparatus to determine temperature levels of the tissue from which the radiation is reflected; and identifying a subsurface body structure beneath the tissue from which the radiation is reflected based on the determined temperature levels. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification