Tumor tissue characterization apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A tissue diagnostic instrument, comprising:
- a needle having a hollow shaft, a tip on one end of said shaft, and a base on the other end of said shaft;
an optical fiber positioned within said shaft for delivering light of varying wavelengths in a predetermined range to a desired region of tissue through said tip; and
a photodetector mounted in said shaft and having a light sensitive surface facing outward from a side of said shaft for detecting back-scattered light from said desired region of tissue.
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Abstract
An instrument for characterizing tumor tissue includes a broad-band light source, a monochromator for filtering collimated light from the broad-band light source, a scanner for scanning the monochromator through a range of predetermined wavelengths, and a hollow needle including a shaft with a tip on one end and a base on the other end. An optical fiber is positioned within the hollow needle for delivering light from the monochromator through the tip to a desired tissue region, A photodiode is mounted in the shaft and has a light sensitive surface facing outward from the shaft for detecting back-scattered light from the tissue region. The back-scattered light detected by the photodiode is monitored by a computer which records the optical absorption spectrum of light back-scattered from the tissue region at discrete locations in the tissue as the needle is inserted or withdrawn through the mammographically abnormal tissue.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A tissue diagnostic instrument, comprising:
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a needle having a hollow shaft, a tip on one end of said shaft, and a base on the other end of said shaft; an optical fiber positioned within said shaft for delivering light of varying wavelengths in a predetermined range to a desired region of tissue through said tip; and a photodetector mounted in said shaft and having a light sensitive surface facing outward from a side of said shaft for detecting back-scattered light from said desired region of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An instrument for characterizing a tumor in breast tissue, comprising:
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a broad-band light source capable of delivering varying wavelengths in a predetermined range; a needle having a hollow shaft, a tip on one end of said shaft, and a base on the other end of said shaft; an optical fiber positioned within said hollow needle for delivering light from said light source through said tip to a desired region of tissue; a photodiode mounted in said shaft and having a light sensitive surface facing outward from a side of said shaft for detecting back-scattered light from said region of tissue; and means for monitoring the back-scattered light detected by said photodiode and determining the spectral characteristics of the back-scattered light in said region of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for characterizing mammographically abnormal tissue, comprising the steps of:
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inserting into a region of suspected abnormal tissue a hollow needle comprising a shaft including an optical fiber positioned within said shaft and a photodetector mounted in said shaft having a light sensitive surface facing outward from a side of said shaft; supplying light of varying wavelengths to said fiber; detecting back-scattered light from said tissue region with said photodetector; and monitoring the back-scattered light detected by said photodetector and determining the spectral characteristics of the back-scattered light in said region of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification