Apparatus and method for determining tissue characteristics
First Claim
1. A method of detecting characteristics of a target material, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a probe head having a plurality of interrogation devices adjacent a first plurality of interrogation positions on a non-uniform surface area of a target material so that the plurality of interrogation devices conform to the non-uniform surface area; and
detecting characteristics of the target material at the first plurality of interrogation positions with the plurality of interrogation devices, wherein the plurality of interrogation devices are each mounted in the probe head so that they are axially slidable within the probe head, and wherein the positioning step comprises pushing the probe head into contact with the target material to cause at least some of the plurality of interrogation devices to move, thereby causing the plurality of interrogation devices to conform to the non-uniform surface area of the target material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus embodying the invention includes a probe head with an interrogation surface that is intended to be positioned adjacent or pushed into contact with a target material or tissue. The probe head is constructed to have a plurality of interrogation devices arranged across the face of the interrogation surface. The probe head is also constructed so that the interrogation device can conform to a non-uniform or non-planar surface of the target tissue. In some embodiments, the interrogation surface may have a particular shape that conforms to the shape of a target material. In other embodiments, one or more portions of the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to the remaining portions so that the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to remaining portions so that the interrogation surface can thereby conform to a non-uniform surface. In still other embodiments, a plurality of separately moveable interrogation devices can be arranged across the interrogation surface. During a measurement process, the interrogation surface would be pressed into contact with the non-uniform surface to cause individual ones of the interrogation devices to move, thereby causing the probe head to conform to the non-uniform surface.
80 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of detecting characteristics of a target material, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe head having a plurality of interrogation devices adjacent a first plurality of interrogation positions on a non-uniform surface area of a target material so that the plurality of interrogation devices conform to the non-uniform surface area; and
detecting characteristics of the target material at the first plurality of interrogation positions with the plurality of interrogation devices, wherein the plurality of interrogation devices are each mounted in the probe head so that they are axially slidable within the probe head, and wherein the positioning step comprises pushing the probe head into contact with the target material to cause at least some of the plurality of interrogation devices to move, thereby causing the plurality of interrogation devices to conform to the non-uniform surface area of the target material. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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2. A method of detecting characteristics of a target material, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe head having a plurality of interrogation devices adjacent a first plurality of interrogation positions on a non-uniform surface area of a target material so that the plurality of interrogation devices conform to the non-uniform surface area;
detecting characteristics of the target material at the first plurality of interrogation positions with the plurality of interrogation devices;
repositioning the probe head so that the plurality of interrogation devices are adjacent at least one additional plurality of interrogation positions on the target material, wherein the first and at least one additional plurality of positions are not coincident; and
detecting characteristics of the target material at the at least one additional plurality of interrogation positions. - View Dependent Claims (3, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of detecting characteristics of a target material, comprising:
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positioning a probe head having a plurality of interrogation devices adjacent a plurality of interrogation positions of a target material which are non-overlapping and which are sufficiently spaced to minimize cross-talk between adjacent interrogation positions;
illuminating each of the interrogation positions with electromagnetic radiation; and
detecting electromagnetic radiation returned from each of the interrogation positions to obtain a plurality of measurements indicative of characteristics of the target material at each of the interrogation positions, wherein the positioning step comprises positioning a shaped probe head adjacent the target material, wherein the shape of the probe head generally conforms to a shape of the target material.
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Specification