PROBING SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE DIRECTION AND SPEED OF MUCUS FLOW IN VIVO
First Claim
1. A system for measuring the direction and speed of movement of mucus flowing along a ciliary tissue surface, wherein said system comprises:
- a) a probing unit comprising;
dispensing means for controlled seeding of labeled particles into said flowing mucus;
probe illumination means for illuminating the mucus flowing over said ciliary tissue surface;
optical sensing means for detecting the movement of said labeled particles;
optical coupling means for optically coupling said illuminated mucus to said optical sensing means; and
b) a control unit comprising at least one illumination source, and means for processing optical or electrical signals received from said optical sensing means and determining the direction and speed of said mucus according to said received signals;
c) means for transferring optical or electrical or control signals between said probing unit and said control unit.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and method for measuring the direction and speed of movement of mucus flowing along a ciliary tissue surface, wherein said system comprises: a) a probing unit comprising: dispensing means for controlled seeding of labeled particles into said flowing mucus; probe illumination means for illuminating the mucus flowing over said ciliary tissue surface; optical sensing means for detecting the movement of said labeled particles; optical coupling means for optically coupling said illuminated mucus to said optical sensing means; and b) a control unit comprising at least one illumination source, and means for processing optical or electrical signals received from said optical sensing means and determining the direction and speed of said mucus according to said received signals; c) means for transferring optical or electrical or control signals between said probing unit and said control unit.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for measuring the direction and speed of movement of mucus flowing along a ciliary tissue surface, wherein said system comprises:
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a) a probing unit comprising; dispensing means for controlled seeding of labeled particles into said flowing mucus; probe illumination means for illuminating the mucus flowing over said ciliary tissue surface; optical sensing means for detecting the movement of said labeled particles; optical coupling means for optically coupling said illuminated mucus to said optical sensing means; and b) a control unit comprising at least one illumination source, and means for processing optical or electrical signals received from said optical sensing means and determining the direction and speed of said mucus according to said received signals; c) means for transferring optical or electrical or control signals between said probing unit and said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for probing flow dynamics of a liquid flowing on a surface within a small localized region at close proximity to a surface, comprising:
- a magnifying imaging optics assembly encased in an envelope, an optical imager;
a seeding assembly for localized seeding the liquid within, or at close proximity to the imaged region with at least one type of labeling particles;
a modulated illumination light source operable for enhancing detection of said labeling particles;
means for leading said illumination light to the probed surface region;
means for exporting said imager data;
means for receiving and processing said imager data for calculating said liquid flow dynamics parameters, wherein said means for leading the illuminating light comprise at least one tilted mirror which deflect said illumination light to a direction substantially parallel to said surface.
- a magnifying imaging optics assembly encased in an envelope, an optical imager;
Specification