Method and apparatus for monitoring output signal instability in a light source
First Claim
1. A probe for a spectrophotometric instrument, the probe comprising:
- a probe housing having a tissue engaging surface with first and second apertures extending therethrough;
a first optical path having a proximal end optically coupleable to a light source and extending to a distal end optically coupled to the first aperture for delivering a beam of measurement light signals to a tissue sample;
a first reflective member having a reflective surface and formed with a first portion positioned adjacent the distal end of the first optical path and the first aperture, wherein the reflective member reflects the measurement light onto the tissue sample;
a second optical path having a distal end optically coupled to the first optical path adjacent the first aperture for sampling a reference light signal portion of the measurement light signals of the first optical path and extending to a proximal end coupleable to a processor; and
a third optical path having a distal end optically coupled to the second aperture and extending to a proximal end coupleable to the processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spectrophotometric instrument is comprised of a processor, a probe having a tissue engaging surface with an aperture therethrough and a light source producing measurement light signals and optically coupled to the probe via a first optical path. A partially reflective first reflecting member is located in the probe and has a generally elliptical profile positioned to reflect a first portion of the measurement light signals to the tissue aperture and to transmit a second portion of the measurement light signals through the first reflecting member. A second reflecting member is located in the probe and has a generally elliptical profile positioned to reflect the measurement light signals transmitted through the first reflecting member. A second optical path has a distal end positioned to receive the measurement light signals reflected off of the second reflecting member and a proximal end coupled to the processor. A third optical path has a distal end positioned in the probe to receive light signals transmitted through the tissue sample and a proximal end coupled to the processor.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A probe for a spectrophotometric instrument, the probe comprising:
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a probe housing having a tissue engaging surface with first and second apertures extending therethrough; a first optical path having a proximal end optically coupleable to a light source and extending to a distal end optically coupled to the first aperture for delivering a beam of measurement light signals to a tissue sample; a first reflective member having a reflective surface and formed with a first portion positioned adjacent the distal end of the first optical path and the first aperture, wherein the reflective member reflects the measurement light onto the tissue sample; a second optical path having a distal end optically coupled to the first optical path adjacent the first aperture for sampling a reference light signal portion of the measurement light signals of the first optical path and extending to a proximal end coupleable to a processor; and a third optical path having a distal end optically coupled to the second aperture and extending to a proximal end coupleable to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A feedback system for monitoring output signal instability of a spectrophotometric instrument, the system comprising:
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a probe having a tissue engaging surface with a first aperture extending therethrough; a first optical path having a proximal end optically coupleable to a light source and extending to a distal end optically coupled to the first aperture for delivering a beam of measurement light signals to a tissue sample; a first reflective member having a reflective surface and formed with a first portion positioned adjacent the distal end of the first optical path and the first aperture, wherein the reflective member reflects the measurement light onto the tissue sample; and a second optical path having a distal end optically coupled to the first optical path adjacent the first aperture for sampling a portion of the measurement light signals of the first optical path and extending to a proximal end coupleable to a processor.
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33. A probe for use with a spectrophotometric instrument, the probe comprising:
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a probe housing having a tissue engaging surface with first and second apertures extending therethrough; a first optical path having a proximal end optically coupleable to a light source and extending to a distal end optically coupled to the first aperture for delivering a beam of measurement light signals to a tissue sample; a feedback means for removing a port ion of the measurement light signals from the first optical path adjacent the first aperture representative of the measurement light signals striking the tissue sample; a third optical path having a distal end optically coupled to the second aperture and extending to a proximal end coupleable to a processor; a first reflective member having a partially reflective surface positioned adjacent the first aperture for reflecting a portion of the measurement light signals of the first optical path through the first aperture and onto the tissue sample and for transmitting a portion of the measurement light signals; and a second reflective member having a reflective surface positioned to reflect the measurement light signals transmitted through the first reflective member; and
an optical fiber having a distal end adjacent the second reflective member for collecting light signals and extending to a proximal end coupleable to a processor. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A method for monitoring output signal instability in a spectrophotometric instrument, the method comprising:
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providing a probe having a tissue engaging surface for delivering measurement light signals to a tissue sample and for receiving light emitted from the tissue sample; providing a light source assembly for generating the measurement light signals, said light source assembly comprising; a light source; and at least one send optical fiber optically coupling the light source to the probe, said send optical fiber having a proximal end optically coupled to the light source and extending to a distal end protruding into the probe parallel to the tissue engaging surface; delivering measurement light signals from the light source assembly to the probe through the send optical fiber; reflecting the measurement light signals from the distal end of the send optical fiber onto the tissue sample; and removing a reference sample of the measurement light signals representative of the measurement light signals reflected onto the tissue sample. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification