Apparatus and method for thermal tissue modulation
First Claim
1. A tissue modulation device for use during noninvasive spectroscopy of tissue of a subject comprising an inner sheath, an outer sheath and a window disposed through the inner and outer sheaths, wherein the inner and outer sheaths comprise a sufficiently flexible material that the device can be secured to a region of tissue to be spectroscopically probed, wherein the inner and outer sheaths are joined to one another so that at least one temperature regulating element can be disposed between the inner and outer sheaths, and wherein the window comprises a substantially annular opening in the inner and outer sheaths such that electromagnetic radiation can be delivered to and collected from an underlying tissue through the annular opening in the inner and outer sheaths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a tissue modulation device for use dining spectroscopy of tissue of a subject. In one embodiment, the device comprises an inner sheath, an outer sheath and a window disposed through the inner and outer sheaths, wherein the inner and outer sheaths comprise a sufficiently flexible material that the device can be secured to a region of tissue to be spectroscopically probed, wherein the inner and outer sheaths are joined to one another so that at least one temperature regulating element can be disposed between the inner and outer sheaths, and wherein the window is sufficiently transparent that electromagnetic radiation can be delivered to and collected from an underlying tissue through the inner and outer sheaths. The invention additionally provides a method of modulating temperature of tissue in a subject to be spectroscopically probed. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises applying a tissue modulation device of the invention to the tissue, passing current through the temperature regulating element so as to elevate or lower the temperature of the tissue, and passing electromagnetic radiation through the window of the device. Preferably, spectroscopic probing is performed when the temperature of the tissue has been elevated or lowered and when the temperature of the tissue is not elevated or lowered. The method can further comprise collecting Raman spectra emitted by the tissue. The invention also provides a method for determining phase transition, and a method for determining lipid content and identity and protein content in a tissue of a subject.
44 Citations
26 Claims
- 1. A tissue modulation device for use during noninvasive spectroscopy of tissue of a subject comprising an inner sheath, an outer sheath and a window disposed through the inner and outer sheaths, wherein the inner and outer sheaths comprise a sufficiently flexible material that the device can be secured to a region of tissue to be spectroscopically probed, wherein the inner and outer sheaths are joined to one another so that at least one temperature regulating element can be disposed between the inner and outer sheaths, and wherein the window comprises a substantially annular opening in the inner and outer sheaths such that electromagnetic radiation can be delivered to and collected from an underlying tissue through the annular opening in the inner and outer sheaths.
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25. A tissue modulation device for use during noninvasive spectroscopy of tissue of a subject comprising:
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(a) a flexible material comprising a means for noninvasively altering the temperature of a region of tissue in a subject;
(b) means for securing the device to the tissue; and
(c) a window disposed through the flexible material, wherein the window is sufficiently transparent that electromagnetic radiation can be delivered to and collected from an underlying tissue through the device. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification