Physiological probe
First Claim
1. A physiological probe for identifying cervical tissue which is suspected of being physiologically changed as a result of commencement of neoplastic activity or pre-activity of a cervical lesion,said probe having one end shaped to face said cervical tissue and comprising at least two paths for electromagnetic radiation in the range of from 200 nm to 12,000 nm, at least one of said paths leading to said one end arranged to convey said electromagnetic radiation in a first direction towards said one end, and at least one of said paths leading from said one end and arranged to convey said electromagnetic radiation in a second direction away from said one end;
- a first electromagnetic generator means connected to said at least one first direction path to transmit said electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength within said range along said at least one first direction path and a second electromagnetic generator means connected to said at least one first direction path to transmit said electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength within said range along said at least one first direction path, said second wavelength being different from said first wavelength;
receiver means connected to said at least one second direction path to receive said radiation at said first and second wavelengths reflected from said cervical tissue, and comparator means to generate the ratio of the magnitudes of said received radiation and compare same with known ratios to thereby identify cervical tissue condition.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of, and apparatus for, identifying human tissue which is suspected of being physiologically changed as a result of commencement of neoplastic activity or pre-activity, is disclosed. The tissue is preferably irradiated with light at wavelengths of 660 nm and 940 nm. The magnitudes of the reflected, or non-absorbed, light at the two wavelengths is compared, preferably after being normalized by the magnitude of ambient light reflected from the tissue immediately prior to each measurement. The invention finds application in detecting cervical lesions but is also applicable to endoscope inspectable tissues such as the lungs and alimentary canal tissues.
100 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A physiological probe for identifying cervical tissue which is suspected of being physiologically changed as a result of commencement of neoplastic activity or pre-activity of a cervical lesion,
said probe having one end shaped to face said cervical tissue and comprising at least two paths for electromagnetic radiation in the range of from 200 nm to 12,000 nm, at least one of said paths leading to said one end arranged to convey said electromagnetic radiation in a first direction towards said one end, and at least one of said paths leading from said one end and arranged to convey said electromagnetic radiation in a second direction away from said one end; -
a first electromagnetic generator means connected to said at least one first direction path to transmit said electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength within said range along said at least one first direction path and a second electromagnetic generator means connected to said at least one first direction path to transmit said electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength within said range along said at least one first direction path, said second wavelength being different from said first wavelength; receiver means connected to said at least one second direction path to receive said radiation at said first and second wavelengths reflected from said cervical tissue, and comparator means to generate the ratio of the magnitudes of said received radiation and compare same with known ratios to thereby identify cervical tissue condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of identifying cervical tissue which is suspected of being physiologically changed as a result of commencement of neoplastic activity or pre-activity, said method comprising the steps of:
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irradiating said cervical tissue with electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength; irradiating said cervical tissue with electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength, said first and second wavelengths being different and within the range of from 200 nm to 12,000 nm; receiving the radiation at said first and second wavelengths reflected by said cervical tissue; generating the ratio of the magnitudes of said received radiation; and identifying the condition of said cervical tissue by comparing said generated ratios with known ratios. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification