Shielded optical probe and method
DCFirst Claim
1. An optical probe for obtaining data from the tissue material of a living organism, comprising:
- an first housing element having a first support surface for supporting said tissue material, and a first aperture formed therein;
a second housing element having a second support surface and a second aperture formed therein, said second housing element being located proximate to said first housing element and rotatably attached thereto so as to permit said tissue material to be positioned there between;
a light energy source disposed within said first housing element, said light energy source being positioned such that at least a portion of the light energy emitted is transmitted through said first aperture;
a light energy detector disposed within said second housing element, said light energy detector being positioned so as to receive at least a portion of said light energy transmitted by said light energy source through said tissue material and said second aperture; and
a light shield mounted to at least one of said first and second housing elements and located proximate to said tissue material, said light shield attenuating at least a portion of ambient light energy incident on said tissue material, wherein at least one of the first support surface and the second support surface includes a first area having a first attenuation property and a second area having a second attenuation property substantially different from said first attenuation property.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical probe, which is particularly suited to for use in measurements on tissue material of a patient. In one embodiment, the probe comprises upper and lower housing elements incorporating a light energy source and corresponding detector. The tissue material of the patient is disposed between the upper and lower housing elements such that the light energy emitted by the source passes through the tissue material to the detector. A plurality of light shields are attached to one or both of the housing elements to reduce the amount of ambient and reflected light reaching the detector. Additionally, various portions of the upper and lower housing elements and shields utilize light absorbent coloration and/or coatings which further mitigate the effects of undesired ambient and reflected light, thereby reducing noise generated within the instrument and increasing its accuracy. In one embodiment, the light shields are made removable from the optical probe, thereby facilitating replacement. A circuit for monitoring the condition of the probe, and indicating when replacement of the probe is desirable, is also disclosed.
1158 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An optical probe for obtaining data from the tissue material of a living organism, comprising:
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an first housing element having a first support surface for supporting said tissue material, and a first aperture formed therein;
a second housing element having a second support surface and a second aperture formed therein, said second housing element being located proximate to said first housing element and rotatably attached thereto so as to permit said tissue material to be positioned there between;
a light energy source disposed within said first housing element, said light energy source being positioned such that at least a portion of the light energy emitted is transmitted through said first aperture;
a light energy detector disposed within said second housing element, said light energy detector being positioned so as to receive at least a portion of said light energy transmitted by said light energy source through said tissue material and said second aperture; and
a light shield mounted to at least one of said first and second housing elements and located proximate to said tissue material, said light shield attenuating at least a portion of ambient light energy incident on said tissue material, wherein at least one of the first support surface and the second support surface includes a first area having a first attenuation property and a second area having a second attenuation property substantially different from said first attenuation property. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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12. A method of measuring a physical property using an optical probe, comprising:
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forming a housing element capable of receiving tissue material, said housing element having a first aperture and second aperture formed therein, said first and second apertures being located proximate to said tissue material;
generating light energy using a light energy source;
transmitting said light energy through said first aperture onto said tissue material;
detecting, via said second aperture, at least a portion of said light energy generated by said source and transmitted onto said tissue material, using a detector;
shielding said detector through at least a partial seal from light energy not generated by said light energy source and not transmitted through said first aperture; and
absorbing in a first area of the housing element at least a portion of said light energy not generated by said light energy source or not transmitted onto said tissue material;
reflecting in a second area of the housing element different from the first area, at least a portion of said light energy transmitted onto said tissue material; and
generating a signal based on said light energy detected by said detector. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An optical probe comprising:
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a housing capable of receiving at least a portion of the tissue material of a patient, said housing having first and second apertures formed therein, said first and second apertures being proximate to said tissue material when said tissue material is received by said housing, at least a portion of said housing comprising an absorptive material capable of absorbing at least a portion of the light energy incident thereon and at least another portion of said housing comprising a reflective material;
a light energy source disposed within said housing, said light energy source being positioned such that at least a portion of the light energy emitted thereby is transmitted through said first aperture onto said tissue material;
a light energy detector disposed within said housing, said light energy detector being positioned so as to receive, via said second aperture, at least a portion of said light energy transmitted onto said tissue; and
a light shield located proximate to said tissue material and at least partially sealing said tissue material from ambient light;
wherein said light shield and said absorptive material of said housing cooperate to attenuate at least a portion of any light energy that was not generated by said light energy source or was generated by said light energy source but was not transmitted through said tissue material when said tissue material is received by said housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. Data indicative of the physical condition of a patient generated using the method comprising:
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forming a housing element capable of receiving tissue material, said housing element having a first aperture and second aperture formed therein, said first and second apertures being located proximate to said tissue material;
generating light energy using a light energy source;
transmitting said light energy through said first aperture onto said tissue material;
detecting, via said second aperture, at least a portion of said light energy generated by said source and transmitted onto said tissue material, using a detector;
shielding said detector using at least a partial seal against light energy not generated by said light energy source and not transmitted through said first aperture;
absorbing in a first area of the housing element at least a portion of said light energy not generated by said light energy source or not transmitted onto said tissue material;
reflecting in a second area of the housing element different from the first area, at least a portion of said light energy transmitted onto said tissue material;
generating a signal based on said light energy detected by said detector; and
analyzing said signal in order to produce said data. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification