Method and Device for Evaluation of Local Tissue's Biological or Biomechanical Character

• US 20130190597A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cornell University
• Original Assignee: Cornell University
• Inventors: Butcher, Jonathan, Gould, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 10,820,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/409
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0536 Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography

Abstract

A device for evaluation of a tissue'"'"'s biological or biomechanical character is disclosed. The device uses negative pressure to draw a portion of the tissue across one or more electrode pairs disposed within the device. By measuring one or more parameters associated with an electric or magnetic field defined by the electrode pairs, in vivo evaluation of the tissue'"'"'s biological or biomechanical character may be achieved in a minimally invasive manner. The device may also include an indenter to apply a positive stress on the tissue within the sidewall to further evaluate its biological or biomechanical character. A method of using the device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for evaluation of a tissue'"'"'s biological or biomechanical character, the device comprising:

a longitudinally extending sidewall, the sidewall having an interior surface defining an internal lumen adapted to be operatively connected to a vacuum source;

a distal electrode pair disposed within the internal lumen, the distal electrode pair defining an electric or magnetic field; and

a detector operatively connected to the distal electrode pair to detect at least one parameter associated with the electric or magnetic field.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is made of glass.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the internal lumen is circular.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum source is a suction pump.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode pair comprises two electrodes directly opposing to each other.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode pair is made from a sheet metal material.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the metal material is beryllium copper.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal electrode pair is adhesively secured to the interior surface of the sidewall.

9. The device of claim 1, therein the detector is connected to the distal electrode pair through a pair of insulated wires.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter comprises resistance between the distal electrode pair.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one proximal electrode pair operatively connected to the detector, wherein the at least one proximal electrode pair is disposed within the internal lumen and proximal to the distal electrode pair.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one proximal electrode pair comprises two electrodes directly opposing to each other.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the proximal and distal electrode pairs form a longitudinally in-line array of electrode pairs.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the array of electrode pairs are connected to the detector through a multiple-pin micro-connector.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising an indenter adapted to apply a positive stress on the tissue within the internal lumen.

16. A method for evaluating biomechanics of a target tissue, the method comprising:

providing a evaluation device comprising a longitudinally extending sidewall terminating into an open distal end and having an interior surface defining an internal lumen, and a distal electrode pair disposed within the internal lumen, the distal electrode pair defining an electric or magnetic field;

contacting the target tissue with the distal end of the sidewall;

drawing a portion of the target tissue into the evaluation device through the distal end and in contact with the distal electrode pairs by connecting the internal lumen to a vacuum source; and

measuring at least one parameter associated with the electric or magnetic field.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of distally applying a positive stress on the target tissue.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the evaluation device further comprises at least one proximal electrode pair operatively connected to the detector, wherein the at least one proximal electrode pair is disposed within the internal lumen and proximal to the distal electrode pair.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the proximal and distal electrode pairs form a longitudinally in-line array of electrode pairs that are connected to the detector through a multiple-pin micro-connector.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises the steps of allowing the target tissue to come in contact with the at least one proximal electrode pair and measuring at least one parameter associated with an electric or magnetic field defined by each proximal electrode pair.