SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TISSUE REMOVAL AND ANALYSIS
First Claim
1. A tissue removal and analysis system comprising:
- a tissue removal and analysis probe comprising;
an elongate tissue removal device having a distal portion that is configured to sample or remove tissue;
an optical fiber having a distal end in optical communication with an external region that is adjacent to said distal portion; and
a fluid-fillable conduit having a distal aperture in fluid communication with the external region for collecting a fluid sample from the external region; and
an optical detection subsystem configured to be in optical communication with a proximal end of said optical fiber and with at least a portion of the fluid sample collected by said fluid-fillable conduit;
wherein said optical detection subsystem is configured to direct first incident optical energy into said optical fiber and to detect first received optical energy that is responsively produced within the external region; and
wherein said optical detection subsystem is further configured to direct second incident optical energy into the fluid sample collected by said fluid-fillable conduit, and to detect second received optical energy that is responsively produced within the fluid sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, devices and methods are provided for performing tissue removal and analysis based on the in-situ optical analysis of tissue and of liquid collected from the tissue region. In one example embodiment, a tissue removal and analysis probe includes an elongate tissue removal device, an optical fiber, and a fluid fillable conduit, where distal ends of the optical fiber and the conduit are in communication with an external region that is adjacent to a distal functional portion of the tissue removal device. The results of optical analysis one of both of external tissue and collected fluid may be employed to determine whether or not tissue removal is to be carried out. Various devices may be interfaced with the conduit for optical analysis of the collected fluid. In one example embodiment, the tissue removal device may be movable relative to the optical fiber and conduit.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A tissue removal and analysis system comprising:
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a tissue removal and analysis probe comprising; an elongate tissue removal device having a distal portion that is configured to sample or remove tissue; an optical fiber having a distal end in optical communication with an external region that is adjacent to said distal portion; and a fluid-fillable conduit having a distal aperture in fluid communication with the external region for collecting a fluid sample from the external region; and an optical detection subsystem configured to be in optical communication with a proximal end of said optical fiber and with at least a portion of the fluid sample collected by said fluid-fillable conduit; wherein said optical detection subsystem is configured to direct first incident optical energy into said optical fiber and to detect first received optical energy that is responsively produced within the external region; and wherein said optical detection subsystem is further configured to direct second incident optical energy into the fluid sample collected by said fluid-fillable conduit, and to detect second received optical energy that is responsively produced within the fluid sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A tissue removal and optical detection probe comprising:
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an elongate tissue removal device having a distal portion that is configured to sample or remove tissue; an optical fiber having a distal end in optical communication with an external region that is adjacent to said distal portion; and a fluid-fillable conduit having a distal aperture in fluid communication with the external region for collecting a fluid sample from the external region; wherein said fluid-fillable conduit is configured to be connectable to an optical detection subsystem, such that the fluid sample collected in said fluid-fillable conduit is in optical communication with said optical detection subsystem when said fluid-fillable conduit is connected to said optical detection subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. (canceled)
Specification