Devices and methods for optical diagnosis of tissue
First Claim
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1. An optical needle device for diagnosis of tissue comprising:
- an optically transparent needle have a coupling surface, a tapered surface and a cutting edge for insertion into tissue to be diagnosed such that a converging optical channel is provided where light entering through the coupling surface is internally reflected by the tapered surface and is increasingly divergent as it progresses along the convergent channel until the angle of incidence of the light against the tapered surface exceeds a critical angle and is directed onto tissue contacting the tapered surface;
an optical fiber coupled to the coupling surface of the needle such that the light can be transmitted through the fiber into the needle and onto the contacted tissue to stimulate an emission of light by the tissue, the emitted light being transmitted through the needle and the optical fiber; and
a light detector coupled to the optical fiber for receiving and detecting the light emission from the tissue.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to systems and methods employed in the use of spectroscopy in the diagnosis of tissue. More particularly, it relates to the use of surface contact and needle probe devices having one or more optical fibers used to direct laser radiation onto tissue to be diagnosed, collecting radiation subsequently emitted by the tissue and delivering that radiation to a system for spectral analysis.
301 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An optical needle device for diagnosis of tissue comprising:
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an optically transparent needle have a coupling surface, a tapered surface and a cutting edge for insertion into tissue to be diagnosed such that a converging optical channel is provided where light entering through the coupling surface is internally reflected by the tapered surface and is increasingly divergent as it progresses along the convergent channel until the angle of incidence of the light against the tapered surface exceeds a critical angle and is directed onto tissue contacting the tapered surface; an optical fiber coupled to the coupling surface of the needle such that the light can be transmitted through the fiber into the needle and onto the contacted tissue to stimulate an emission of light by the tissue, the emitted light being transmitted through the needle and the optical fiber; and a light detector coupled to the optical fiber for receiving and detecting the light emission from the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 18, 19, 20, 33, 34, 37, 39)
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10. The optical needle device of claim wherein the optically transparent needle comprises an optical fiber.
- 11. The optical needle device of claim wherein the optically transparent needle comprises an optical fiber bundle.
- 21. An optical needle device for insertion and diagnose of tissue comprising an optically conductive needle having a cutting edge for the incision of tissue, a converging optical channel and a light transmitting distal surface that forms a groove extending along an exterior surface of the converging channel such that tissue cut by the edge is directed through the groove into optically conductive contact with the distal surface.
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30. A method of diagnosing tissue comprising:
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inserting an optical needle with a cutting edge into tissue to be diagnosed; positioning a distal surface of an optically transparent element of the needle in contact with a portion of the tissue; coupling a light source to the optically transparent element to conduct light along an optically convergent path such that the light is internally reflected becoming increasingly divergent until the angle of incidence of the light against the channel exceeds a critical angle and is transmitted through the distal surface and illuminates the portion of tissue; collecting light emitted by the tissue in response to the illuminating light with the optically transparent element; and analyzing the collected light to diagnose a condition of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 35, 36, 38, 40)
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41. A laser optical needle system for diagnosis of tissue comprising:
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a laser source provide radiation for delivery to the tissue to be diagnosed; an optically transparent needle having a coupling surface, a tapered surface and a cutting edge for insertion into tissue to be diagnosed such that a converging optical channel is provided where light entering through the coupling surface is internally reflected by the tapered surface and is increasingly divergent as it progresses along the convergent channel until the angle of incidence of the light against the tapered surface exceeds a critical angle and is directed onto tissue contacting the tapered surface; a plurality of optical fibers coupled at a distal end of each fiber to the coupling surface of the needle and at a proximal end of at least one of the fibers to the laser source such that laser radiation transmitted through the fibers into the needle and onto the contacted tissue to stimulate an emission of light by the tissue, the emitted light being transmitted through the needle and the optical fibers; and a spectral analyzer coupled to the proximal end of at least one of the optical fibers to receive the emitted light. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of manufacturing an optical probe comprising:
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securing a plurality of optical fibers in selected configuration relative to each other; extruding a polymeric material about the fibers; hardening the material to secure the fibers relative to each other to form at least a portion of the probe body; and polishing a distal end of the material to form an optical shield over the distal ends of the fibers to optically couple the distal ends of the fibers with the distal surface of the shield. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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Specification