MEDICAL AND VETERINARY IMAGING AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES UTILIZING OPTICAL PROBE SYSTEMS

• US 20100228124A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OPROBE, LLC
• Original Assignee: OPROBE, LLC
• Inventors: Humayun, Mark, Caffey, Sean, Brennan, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00207 with hand gesture control or hand gesture recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00694 with means correcting for movement of or for synchronisation with the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3735 Optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0008 provided with illuminating means A61B3/117 takes precedence; goniolenses used for laser treatment A61F9/009; illuminating means for optical instruments G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5276 : due to motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 : Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 : Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 : Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An imaging method includes providing a handpiece having a probe tip insertable into human or animal tissue disposed at an end thereof, and, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe connected to the handpiece such that a functionality of the OCT probe is provided at the probe tip. The probe tip is disposed adjacent to or into human or animal tissue. Imaging of the tissue, measuring at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a structure in the tissue for biometry analysis, and/or performing a diagnostic procedure on the tissue or a device implanted in the tissue is performed with the OCT probe.

Claims

1. An imaging method, the method comprising:

providing a handpiece having (a) a probe tip insertable into human or animal tissue and disposed at an end thereof, and (b) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe connected thereto, such that a functionality of the OCT probe is provided at the probe tip;

disposing the probe tip adjacent to or into human or animal tissue; and

performing, with the OCT probe, at least one of (i) imaging of the tissue, (ii) measuring at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a structure in the tissue for biometry analysis, or (iii) performing a diagnostic procedure on the tissue or a device implanted in the tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe tip is disposed into the tissue via a cannulated incision.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe tip is disposed into the tissue via an open incision or an orifice.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the handpiece comprises a second probe connected thereto such that, at the probe tip, a functionality of the second probe is provided, the second probe being selected from the group consisting of:

an endoillumination probe, a laser therapy probe, an ultrasound imaging probe, an electrocautery probe, an RF ablation probe, a cryosurgical probe, an irrigator, and a mechanical probe.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a lens capsule is measured with the OCT probe.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a retina is measured with the OCT probe.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising monitoring a status of or quantifying quality of a treatment burn on a retina.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising monitoring a status of an ablative treatment on the tissue.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising quantifying a grade of chondromalacia in articular cartilage.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising identifying at least one of a presence or a location of subretinal fluid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising delineating a margin of a tumor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising measuring at least one of a corneal angle or a corneal thickness.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising measuring at least one of a thickness, an integrity, or an anatomical variation of a capsular bag.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising measuring a thickness of a retina.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a diagnostic procedure is performed with the OCT probe, the diagnostic procedure comprising measuring at least one of a thickness or a density of articular cartilage.