Miniature spectrometer

• US 8,126,531 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Crowley, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamprecht, Joel
• Application Number:
  US10/022,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,729 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/410, 600/473, 600/476, 600/310, 600/110, 600/160, 600/478, 600/342, 600/100, 607/88, 607/92
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1213 Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0259 Monolithic
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3166 using separate detectors and filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/25 Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence

Abstract

A miniaturized spectrometer is adapted for placement within a body near tissue to be characterized. The spectrometer includes a light source and a plurality of light detectors. The light source generates light to illuminate the tissue. The detectors detect optical signals from the illuminated tissue and convert these optical signals to electrical signals. The miniaturized spectrometer can be disposed at the distal end of an interventional device. Optical conduits, such as fiber optic cables or strands, extending the length of the interventional device are not required when the miniature spectrometer is employed.

Claims

1. A tissue spectroscopy device comprising:

a substrate having a light emitting portion at a distal end of a first surface thereof, the light emitting portion providing only ultraviolet (UV) light to tissue, and a light detector disposed at a proximal end of the first surface; and

an interventional device for delivering the substrate to a target position adjacent to a target portion of tissue within a living body.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a filter associated with said light detector permitting only a desired portion of the light incident thereon to pass therethrough.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said filter is a bandpass filter centered around 380 nm.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said light detector comprises a first channel and a second channel and wherein said filter is disposed on said first channel.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said light emitting portion comprises a light emitting diode.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said light emitting portion further comprises a lens.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said light emitting portion further comprises a filter, said filter permitting light output only within the UV range.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the substrate further comprises a heat sink disposed on a second surface thereof, the second surface being opposite said first surface.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the substrate further comprises a light modulator disposed on said first surface, a mirror disposed on said light modulator at an angle selected to receive light emitted by said light emitting portion, and an etched gap between said light modulator and said light emitting portion.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises doped silicon.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said light detector comprises an avalanche photodiode array.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said distal end further comprises a substantially transparent window.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said window comprises a material selected from a group consisting of polystyrene, polycarbonate, and methyl-methacrylate.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising an optical device selected from the group consisting of a lens, a filter, a mirror, a frequency multiplier, a binary optical step, a grating, and a hologram.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said filter is serrated.

20. The device of claim 7 wherein said filter permits output of all wavelengths between about 300 nm and 400 nm.

16. A method for characterizing a tissue, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) delivering to a desired position adjacent to target tissue within a living body a substrate comprising a light emitting portion at a distal end of a first surface thereof and a light detector disposed on a proximal end of the first surface;

(b) transmitting only ultraviolet (UV) light from said light emitting portion to illuminate said target tissue; and

(c) using said light detector to measure an optical property of light reflected from the target tissue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (c) comprises using a filter to filter out non-targeted portions of light received by said detector.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said light detector comprises a first channel and a second channel and wherein said filter is disposed on said first channel.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the light emitting portion comprises a light source and a filter, and said step (b) comprises using said filter to permit only light in the UV range to be transmitted to the target tissue.