Tissue characterization based on impedance images and on impedance measurements

• US 6,055,452 A
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mirabel Medical Systems Ltd. (Ronny Ginor, MD)
• Original Assignee: Trans Research Development Corporation
• Inventors: Pearlman, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/150,224
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/382, 600/384, 600/386, 600/461, 600/476, 600/477, 600/478, 600/547, 601/21
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00438 connectable to a finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0536 Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/17 for soft tissue, e.g. breast-holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Apparatus for aiding in the identification of tissue type for an anomalous tissue in an impedance image comprising:

means for providing an polychromic immitance map of a portion of the body;

means for determining a plurality of polychromic measures from one or both of a portion of the body; and

a display which displays an indication based on said plurality of polychromic measures.

Claims

1. A multi-element probe for providing an electrical connection to a tissue surface including:

a plurality of individual conductive sensing elements, each having a front portion suitable for contact with the tissue surface; and

finger mounting apparatus, said sensing elements being attached to the outside of the apparatus, such that the sensing elements face outwards;

the sensing elements being mounted such that a wearer of the apparatus can perform palpative examination concurrently with impedance imaging.

2. The probe of claim 1 further including a plurality of conductive elements providing an electrical connection to the respective individual sensing elements.

3. The probe of claim 2 further including a partition separating the individual sensing elements such that when the individual probes contact the tissue surface they are substantially electrically isolated from each other.

4. The probe of claim 3 wherein each individual sensing element is located in a well formed by the partition and a substrate underlying the sensing element.

5. The probe of claim 4 wherein the well is formed by embossing the partition on a sheet of material, whereby the un-embossed portion of the sheet forms the substrate underlying the sensing element.

6. The probe of claim 4 wherein the well is formed by laminating a grid formed by holes punched in a sheet or formed by extrusion to the substrate.

7. The probe of claim 4 wherein the well is formed by printing the partitions onto the substrate.

8. The probe of claim 3 wherein the sensing elements do not extend past the top of the partition.

9. The probe of any of claims 1-8 wherein the sensing elements comprise a conductive, viscous gel.

10. The probe according to any of claims 1-8 wherein the sensing elements comprise a conductive, flexible solid.

11. The probe according to any of claims 1-8 wherein the sensing elements comprise a sponge impregnated with a conductive viscous gel.

12. The probe according to any of claims 1-8 wherein the sensing elements are formed on a flexible surface, whereby the multi-element probe conforms, at least in part, to the tissue.

13. The multi-element probe according to any of claims 1-8 wherein the finger mounting apparatus includes a glove having fingers, said sensing elements being attached to a finger thereof.

14. A method comprising:

providing an impedance measurement system including a multi-element probe attached to at least one finger of an examiner; and

providing an indication of impedance generated on the basis of signals detected by said elements.