Noninvasive tissue assessment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for tissue quality assessment comprising:
- (a) engaging a tissue with a handheld device at a contact point and with a contact load, wherein the handheld device comprises a vibration generator for inducing mechanical vibrations over a range of frequencies at the contact point and one or more sensors for measuring the applied force of the mechanical vibrations and for measuring the tissue response at the same contact point;
(b) initiating a frequency sweep at the same contact point in (a) with the handheld device;
(c) simultaneously performing the frequency sweep over the range of frequencies based on a given set of operational parameters while maintaining the contact load to induce mechanical vibrations in the tissue at the same contact point in (a) andmeasuring the applied force of the mechanical vibrations and the tissue response at the same contact point in (a) with the handheld device to assess tissue quality.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for non-invasively assessing physiological hard of soft tissue of human and other species are described. In a preferred embodiment, tissue is vibrationally stimulated in vivo through a frequency spectrum. The tissue reacts against the stimulus and the reaction is preferably measured and recorded. Based on analytical algorithms or comparisons with previously taken measurements, changes within the tissue can be detected and used for diagnostic purposes. Further embodiments describe the usage of the device and methods for in vivo intra-operative and post-operative implant evaluations and as a therapeutic tool.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A method for tissue quality assessment comprising:
-
(a) engaging a tissue with a handheld device at a contact point and with a contact load, wherein the handheld device comprises a vibration generator for inducing mechanical vibrations over a range of frequencies at the contact point and one or more sensors for measuring the applied force of the mechanical vibrations and for measuring the tissue response at the same contact point; (b) initiating a frequency sweep at the same contact point in (a) with the handheld device; (c) simultaneously performing the frequency sweep over the range of frequencies based on a given set of operational parameters while maintaining the contact load to induce mechanical vibrations in the tissue at the same contact point in (a) and measuring the applied force of the mechanical vibrations and the tissue response at the same contact point in (a) with the handheld device to assess tissue quality. - 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. A method for testing an anatomical region, the method comprising:
-
(a) selecting operational parameters; (b) engaging the anatomical region with a handheld device comprising an electromagnetic shaker, wherein a contact force is applied to the anatomical region by the handheld device yielding a contact pressure; (c) simultaneously performing a frequency sweep over a range of frequencies based on a given set of operational parameters to generate mechanical vibrations within the same anatomical region while maintaining the contact pressure and collecting tissue response data with the handheld device at the same anatomical region in (b), the tissue response data including at least force and acceleration data from the mechanical vibrations; and (d) providing a response based on the tissue response data. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification