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Tissue penetrating apparatus and methods

  • US 5,460,182 A
  • Filed: 09/14/1992
  • Issued: 10/24/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A tissue penetrating appliance comprising:

  • a sharp tip having a tissue contacting surface configured to penetrate tissue and a longitudinal axis, the tissue contacting surface having a first face lying in a first plane at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis;

    a first light transmitting optical element connected to the tip having a first end to emit one or more selected wavelengths of light from a first location on the tissue contacting surface and having a second end; and

    a second light transmitting optical element connected to the tip having a first end to receive light corresponding to the one or more selected wavelengths of light at a second location on the tissue contacting surface and having a second end,wherein the first and second optical elements are secured to the appliance, the first and second locations are spaced apart, the first optical element first end terminates in the first face in the first plane, and the second optical element first end terminates in the tissue contacting surface;

    a first fixture receiving the second ends of the first and second optical elements;

    a source of light having one or more monochromatic wavelengths;

    a light detector responsive to a sensed light intensity having an electrical signal corresponding to the sensed light intensity;

    a first coupler having a transmission channel input and output and a reception channel input and output, the transmission channel comprising an optical fiber connected to transmit light emitted by the light source to the transmission channel output, the reception channel comprising an optical fiber connected to transmit light coupled to the reception channel input to the light detector, the first coupler being coupled to the first fixture so that the reception channel input is in optical communication with one of the first and second optical elements and the transmission channel output is in optical communication with the other of the first and second optical elements;

    a control circuit connected to the light source having a first state to cause the light source to emit light at the one or more wavelengths and said light received at the first end of the other of the first and second optical elements is coupled to the light detector to provide an electrical signal corresponding to said received light; and

    means for processing the provided electrical signals and determining when the appliance tip has entered a body cavity.

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