Glove-mounted hybrid probe for tissue type recognition

• US 6,487,439 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1997
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Polartechnics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Polartechnics Ltd.
• Inventors: Bull, David J., Thompson, Richard L., Wunderman, Irwin, Skladnev, Victor N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, SHAWNA JEANNINE
• Application Number:
  US08/818,915
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 128/665, 128/664, 128/633, 128/634, 128/898, 600/473, 600/476, 600/310, 600/342, 600/341, 356/39, 356/41, 607/88, 607/92
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves

Abstract

A probe configured as a finger tip of a glove used to recognize tissue types in a human patient and adapted to perform both optical and electrical measurements to diagnose tissue type while scanned over the surface of the tissue. Hybrid electronic technology reduces the size of the diagnostic elements. The necessary electrical connections are led down the finger and the glove to a remotely positioned control unit. The control unit provides power to the diagnostic device and analyzes the signals received from the device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for identifying physiologically different tissue types, said apparatus comprising:

a close packed array in the tip of a finger portion of a glove comprising

a light emitting die configured to irradiate a tissue;

a detector die configured to receive radiation backscattered by said tissue when the tip of finder portion of the glove contacts said tissue;

a shield between said light emitting die and said detector die, said shield preventing leakage of optical and electrical signals from said light emitting die to said detector die;

emitter and detector circuits respectively associated with said emitting die and said detector die,

a controller coupled to said emitting die and said detector die, said controller adapted to drive said emitter and detector circuits and to analyze signals produced by said circuits.

2. The apparatus for identifying physiologically different tissue types of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising an electrode configured to supply electrical signals to said tissue and to measure the response of the tissue.

3. The apparatus for identifying physiologically different tissue types of claim 1, wherein wiring is led from said detector circuit in the tip of the glove via a finger of the glove and the hand of the glove to said controller.

4. The apparatus for identifying physiologically different tissue types of claim 2, wherein wiring is led from said detector circuit in the tip of the glove via a finger of the glove and the hand of the glove to said controller.

5. The apparatus for identifying physiologically different tissue types of claim 2, wherein said electrode is shaped to achieve a large area of electrode.

6. The apparatus for identifying physiologically different tissue types of claim 5, wherein said electrode is kidney shaped.

7. A method for identifying physiologically different tissue types comprising inserting against a tissue surface a close packed array in the tip of a finger portion of a glove comprising

a light emitting die configured to irradiate a tissue, said light emitting die comprises LEDs;

a detector die configured to receive radiation backscattered by said tissue;

a shield between said light emitting die and said detector die, said shield preventing leakage of optical and if electrical signals from said light emitting die to said detector die;

emitter and detector circuits respectively associated with said emitting die and said detector die, a controller coupled to said emitting die and said detector die, said controller adapted to drive said emitter and detector circuits and to analyze signals produced by said circuits,

applying a current to the LEDs and measuring the voltage drop to determine the temperature of the LEDs,

calculating a correction for the radiation output from the LEDs in order to apply an adjustment to the measured values of signals from the detector die.