Method and apparatus for noninvasively monitoring parameters of a region of interest in a human body
First Claim
1. A probe device for use in a system for monitoring at least one parameter of a region of interest in a human body, the probe device comprising:
- a support structure carrying an arrangement of one or more light output ports of a light source assembly, one or more light input ports of a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit,the arrangement of the light and acoustic ports within the support structure facilitating placement of the at least light output port, the at least one light input port, and the at least one acoustic output port with respect to the body, such that at least one operative light output port, at least one operative light input port, and at least one operative acoustic output port are selectable, so as to provide an operating condition, at whichacoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range coming from said at least one selected acoustic output port and illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port overlap in a region within the region of interest in the body, thereby inducing tagging of light by said acoustic waves,the acoustic waves substantially do not overlap with illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port in a region outside the region of interest, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, andsaid at least one selected light input port collects tagged light scattered from the overlapping region and substantially untagged light scattered from outside the region of interest; and
a control unit configured to select the at least one operative light output port, the at least one operative light input port, and the at least one operative acoustic output port, so as to provide the operating condition.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods including a probe device for monitoring a parameter of a region of interest in a human body. A support structure of the device carries an arrangement of light output ports of a light source assembly, light input ports of a light detection assembly, and an acoustic output port of an acoustic unit. The arrangement is such as to enable selection of a light output port, a light input port, and an acoustic output port for an operating condition at which, acoustic waves from the acoustic output port and illuminating light from the light output port overlap in a region within the region of interest in the body thereby inducing tagging of light by the acoustic waves, and the light input port collects light scattered from the overlapping region and light scattered from outside the region of interest. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A probe device for use in a system for monitoring at least one parameter of a region of interest in a human body, the probe device comprising:
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a support structure carrying an arrangement of one or more light output ports of a light source assembly, one or more light input ports of a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit, the arrangement of the light and acoustic ports within the support structure facilitating placement of the at least light output port, the at least one light input port, and the at least one acoustic output port with respect to the body, such that at least one operative light output port, at least one operative light input port, and at least one operative acoustic output port are selectable, so as to provide an operating condition, at which acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range coming from said at least one selected acoustic output port and illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port overlap in a region within the region of interest in the body, thereby inducing tagging of light by said acoustic waves, the acoustic waves substantially do not overlap with illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port in a region outside the region of interest, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, and said at least one selected light input port collects tagged light scattered from the overlapping region and substantially untagged light scattered from outside the region of interest; and a control unit configured to select the at least one operative light output port, the at least one operative light input port, and the at least one operative acoustic output port, so as to provide the operating condition. - 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)
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27. A probe device for use in a system for monitoring at least one parameter of a region of interest in a human body, the probe device comprising:
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a support structure carrying; an array of at least two light output ports arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and being optically coupled to a light source assembly, an array of light input ports arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and being optically coupled to a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit, the arrangement of the light ports and the acoustic unit being such as to allow selection of at least one of said light output ports, at least one of the light input ports and at least one of the acoustic output ports, such as to provide an operating condition in which; acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range coming from said at least one selected acoustic output port and illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port overlap within a region of interest in the body, thereby inducing tagging of light by said acoustic waves, the acoustic waves substantially do not overlap with illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port in a region outside the region of interest, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, and at least one light input port collects tagged light scattered from the overlapping region and substantially untagged light scattered from outside the region of interest; and a control unit configured to select the at least one of said light output ports, at least one of the light input ports, and at least one of the acoustic output ports, so as to provide the operating condition.
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28. A probe device for use in a system for monitoring at least one parameter of a region of interest in a human body, the probe device comprising:
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a support structure canying at least one light output port optically coupled to a light source assembly, at least two light input ports optically coupled to a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit, the arrangement of the light and acoustic ports being such as to allow selection of at least one of the light input ports and at least one of the acoustic output ports, such as to provide an operating condition in which; acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range coming from said at least one selected acoustic output port and illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port overlap within a region of interest in the body, thereby inducing tagging of light by said acoustic waves, the acoustic waves substantially do not overlap with illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port in a region outside the region of interest, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, and said at least one light input port collects tagged light scattered from the overlapping region and substantially untagged light scattered from outside the region of interest; and a control unit configured to select the at least one of the light input ports and at least one of the acoustic output ports, so as to provide the operating condition.
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29. A probe device for use in a system for monitoring at least one parameter of a region of interest in a human body, the probe device comprising:
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a support structure carrying at least two light output port optically coupled to a light source assembly, at least one light input port optically coupled to a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit, the arrangement of the light and acoustic ports being such as to allow selection of at least one of said light output ports, at least one of the light input ports and at least one of the acoustic output ports, such as to provide an operating condition in which; acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range coming from said at least one selected acoustic output port and illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port overlap within a region of interest in the body, thereby inducing tagging of light by said acoustic waves, the acoustic waves substantially do not overlap with illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port in a region outside the region of interest, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, and said at least one light input port collects tagged light scattered from the overlapping region and substantially untagged light scattered from outside the region of interest; and a control unit configured to select the at least one of said light output ports, at least one of the light input ports and at least one of the acoustic output ports, so as to provide the operating condition.
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30. A probe device for use in a system for monitoring at least one parameter of a region of interest in a human body, the probe device comprising:
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a support structure having a configuration selected from the group consisting of; (i) a configuration in which the support structure carries at least two light output port optically coupled to a light source assembly, at least one light input port optically coupled to a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit, (ii) a configuration in which the support structure carries at least one light output port optically coupled to a light source assembly, at least two light input ports optically coupled to a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit, and (iii) a configuration in which the support structure carries an array of at least two light output ports arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and being optically coupled to a light source assembly, an array of light input ports arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and being optically coupled to a light detection assembly, and at least one acoustic output port of an acoustic unit, the arrangement of the light and acoustic ports being such as to allow selection of at least one of said light output ports, at least one of said light input ports and at least one of the acoustic output ports such as to provide an operating condition in which; acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency range coming from said at least one selected acoustic output port and illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port overlap within a region of interest in the body, thereby inducing tagging of light by said acoustic waves, the acoustic waves substantially do not overlap with illuminating light coming from said at least one selected light output port in a region outside the region of interest, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, the light outside the region of interest thereby substantially not being tagged by said acoustic waves, and said at least one light input port collects tagged light scattered from the overlapping region and substantially untagged light scattered from outside the region of interest; and a control unit configured to select the at least one of said light output ports, at least one of said light input ports and at least one of the acoustic output ports, so as to provide the operating condition.
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Specification