Infrared endoscopic balloon probes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A probe device, comprising:
- a collection fiber, said collection fiber comprising;
a proximal end;
a distal collection end opposite said proximal end adapted to collect radiation;
a conductive core located between said proximal end and said distal collection end;
a sheath surrounding a portion of said collection fiber; and
a first anchoring balloon disposed on said sheath, said balloon having a wall, wherein said distal collection end directly contacts a portion of the wall of the balloon, said portion of the wall being adapted to be placed adjacent to a surface of interest.
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Abstract
Balloon probes, adapted for use in endoscopy and other medical procedures, are useful to obtain spectroscopic information reflected or emitted from a tissue of interest in the infrared spectral region. The information collected by the probe is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The invention also relates to methods utilizing these probes to analyze a surface of interest, in a minimally invasive manner, in connection with the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. A probe device, comprising:
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a collection fiber, said collection fiber comprising; a proximal end; a distal collection end opposite said proximal end adapted to collect radiation; a conductive core located between said proximal end and said distal collection end; a sheath surrounding a portion of said collection fiber; and a first anchoring balloon disposed on said sheath, said balloon having a wall, wherein said distal collection end directly contacts a portion of the wall of the balloon, said portion of the wall being adapted to be placed adjacent to a surface of interest. - 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)
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26. A probe device comprising:
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an imaging collection fiber bundle comprising a plurality of collection fibers adapted to collect radiation, each of said plurality of collection fibers comprising a proximal end, a distal collection end opposite said proximal end, and a conductive core located between said proximal end and said distal collection end; and a first anchoring balloon disposed on said fiber bundle, said balloon having a wall, wherein said distal collection ends directly contact a portion of the wall of the balloon, said portion of the wall being adapted to be placed adjacent to a surface of interest. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An endoscopic probe comprising:
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a collection fiber, said collection fiber comprising a proximal end, a distal collection end opposite said proximal end, and a conductive core located between said proximal end and said distal collection end; an illumination fiber having a distal illumination end adjacent to said distal collection end of said collection fiber and a proximate end coupled to an illumination source; and an anchoring balloon positioned on said probe such that said distal collection end and distal illumination end are disposed on an outer surface of said balloon, wherein said distal collection end is uncovered and exposed, and adapted to be placed in direct contact with a surface of interest. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A method for obtaining information about a surface of interest, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe adjacent to said surface of interest, said probe comprising a collection fiber, said collection fiber comprising a proximal end, a distal collection end opposite said proximal end adapted to collect light, and a conductive core located between said proximal end and said distal collection end, and a first anchoring balloon disposed on said probe, wherein said distal collection end directly contacts a portion of a wall of the balloon, said portion of the wall being adjacent to said surface of interest; collecting light from said surface using said probe; transmitting the light collected from said surface to an analyzing means; for analyzing the light to determine one or more properties of said surface. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method for obtaining information about a surface of interest, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe adjacent to said surface of interest, said probe comprising a light collection fiber bundle comprising a plurality of collection fibers adapted to collect light, each of said plurality of collection fibers comprising a proximal end, a distal collection end opposite said proximal end, and a conductive core located between said proximal end and said distal collection end, wherein said distal collection end directly contacts a portion of the wall of the balloon, said portion of the wall being adjacent to a surface of interest; collecting infrared light from said surface using said probe; transmitting the infrared light collected from said surface to an analyzing means for analyzing the infrared light to determine one or more properties of said surface. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method for obtaining information about a tissue surface, comprising the steps of:
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collecting infrared radiation from said tissue surface using a probe, said probe comprising a collection fiber, said collection fiber comprising a proximal end, a distal collection end opposite said proximal end adapted to collect light, and a conductive core located between said proximal end and said distal collection end, said distal collection end placed in direct contact, or optically coupled via an infrared transparent coupling fluid or gas, with said tissue surface; transmitting the infrared radiation collected from said surface to a remote analyzer; and analyzing the infrared radiation to determine properties of said tissue surface. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. An endoscopic probe comprising:
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a toroidally-shaped anchoring balloon having a central hole there through; and a collection fiber adapted to collect radiation, said fiber having a distal collection end, said distal collection end being disposed inside said central hole of said ballon, and wherein said distal collection end is adapted to be placed in direct contact with a surface of interest. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78)
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Specification