Tissue-characterization probe with effective sensor-to-tissue contact

• US 9,526,460 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2011
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dune Medical Devices Ltd. (Dilon Technologies LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dune Medical Devices Ltd. (Dilon Technologies LLC)
• Inventors: Hashimshony, Dan, Cohen, Gil, Geltner, Iddo
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US13/337,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 600/363, 600/587, 604/74
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0536 Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6834 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6886 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for tissue-characterization, designed for effective sensor-to-tissue contact. The device includes an element, having a rigid surface of a linear cross-section, on which at least one sensor is arranged, and a mechanism for applying a force to a soft tissue, the line of force being at an acute angle with the rigid surface, for stretching or stretching and pushing the soft tissue against the rigid surface, thus achieving effective contact between the tissue and the at least one sensor. In consequence, the accuracy of the sensing is improved. In accordance with another embodiment, a plurality of sensors is employed, arranged along a curved element, for providing three-dimensional information regarding the tissue, for example, by small-scale computerized tomography.

Claims

1. A device for tissue characterization, comprising:

a structure, formed of a rigid surface configured as a truncated cone, having a first cross-sectional configuration defining a diameter and having a second cross-sectional configuration defining an axis;

at least one piston sensor;

a first force exerting mechanism, associated with the structure, configured to provide a first force and to cause said first force to be exerted on a tissue, in a direction, along the axis, at an acute angle α

to the rigid surface, for fixing the tissue to the structure, so as to immobilize the tissue; and

a second force exerting mechanism, associated with the structure, configured to press said at least one piston sensor against an external surface of the immobilized tissue thereby to provide a counter force, and to thereby exert said counter force on the immobilized tissue,

wherein the first force exerting mechanism is configured to set at least a component of the force in opposition to at least a component of the counter force, said structure, said first mechanism and said second mechanism combined being configured to force the immobilized tissue against the at least one piston sensor, and further to force the at least one piston sensor against the immobilized tissue, bringing about an effective contact between the at least one piston sensor and the immobilized tissue; and

wherein said at least one piston sensor is selected from the group consisting of optical sensor, X-ray sensor, RF sensor, MW sensor, infrared thermography sensor, ultrasound sensor, MR sensor, impedance sensor, temperature sensor, radioactive-emission sensor, mechanical sensor, and a nonirradiative RF sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one piston sensor includes at least two piston sensors of a same type.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one piston sensor includes at least two piston sensors of different types.

4. The device of claim 1, and further including at least one cone sensor, arranged on the rigid surface.

5. The device of claim 1, and further including at least two cone sensors, arranged on the rigid surface of the linear cross section.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least two cone sensors are arranged along the curvature, each cone sensor defining a viewing angle, the at least two cone sensors sharing a portion of their viewing angles so as to obtain three-dimensional information.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one cone sensor includes at least four cone sensors, arranged as at least two pairs of cone sensors, each pair being of substantially identical cone sensors, and each pair representing a different type of cone sensor, for providing three-dimensional information by at least two modalities.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is a suction source configured for fixing and immobilizing the tissue by suction.

9. A tissue characterization probe, comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising;

a structure, formed of a rigid surface of a conical cross-section, having a diameter in a first direction and an axis in a second direction;

at least one piston sensor;

a first force exerting mechanism, associated with the structure, configured to provide a first force and to exert said force on a tissue, in the second direction, along the axis, at an acute angle α

to the rigid surface, the force being in a direction of narrowing diameter of said conical structure for fixing the tissue to the structure, so as to immobilize the tissue; and

a second force exerting mechanism, associated with the structure, configured to press said at least one piston sensor against an external surface of the immobilized tissue thereby to provide a counter force and to exert said counter force on the immobilized tissue,

wherein said first force exerting mechanism is configured to set at least a component of the force in opposition to at least a component of the counter force, said structure, said first force exerting mechanism and said second force exerting mechanism together being configured to force the immobilized tissue against the at least one piston sensor, and further to force the at least one piston sensor against the immobilized tissue, bringing about an effective contact between the at least one piston sensor and the immobilized tissue; and

a signal communication line, for providing communication between a signal analyzer and the at least one piston sensor;

and wherein said at least one piston sensor is selected from the group consisting of optical sensor, X-ray sensor, RF sensor, MW sensor, infrared thermography sensor, ultrasound sensor, MR sensor, impedance sensor, a temperature sensor, radioactive-emission sensor, mechanical sensor, and a nonirradiative RF sensor.

10. The tissue-characterization probe of claim 9, configured for an application selected from the group consisting of extracorporeal application to a skin surface, intracorporeal insertion through a body lumen, intracorporeal insertion for a minimally invasive procedure, and application to subcutaneous tissue during open surgery.

11. A system for tissue characterization, comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising;

a structure, formed of a rigid surface of a conical cross-section, having a diameter in a first direction and an axis in a second direction;

at least one piston sensor;

a first force exerting mechanism, associated with the structure, configured to provide a first force and to exert said force on a tissue, in the second direction, along the axis, at an acute angle α

to the rigid surface, the force being in a direction of narrowing diameter of said conical structure for fixing the tissue to the structure, so as to immobilize the tissue; and

a second force exerting mechanism, associated with the structure, configured to press said at least one piston sensor against an external surface of the immobilized tissue thereby to provide a counter force and to exert said counter force on the immobilized tissue,

wherein said first force exerting mechanism is configured to set at least a component of the force in opposition to at least a component of the counter force, said structure, said first force exerting mechanism and said second force exerting mechanism being configured together to force the immobilized tissue against the at least one piston sensor, and further to force the at least one piston sensor against the immobilized tissue, bringing about an effective contact between the at least one piston sensor and the immobilized tissue;

a signal analyzer; and

a signal communication line, for providing communication between the signal analyzer and the at least one piston sensor; and

wherein said at east one piston sensor is selected from the group consisting of optical sensor, X-ray sensor, RF sensor, MW sensor, infrared thermography sensor, ultrasound sensor, MR sensor, impedance sensor, a temperature sensor, radioactive-emission sensor, mechanical sensor, and a nonirradiative RF sensor.

12. A method for tissue characterization, comprising:

providing a device for tissue characterization, the device comprising;

a structure, formed of a rigid surface of a conical cross-section, having a diameter in a first direction and an axis in a second direction; and

at least one piston sensor;

applying a force on a tissue, using a first force exerting mechanism, associated with the structure, said force being applied to said tissue, in a second direction along the axis, at an acute angle α

to the rigid surface, for fixing the tissue to the structure, so as to immobilize the tissue; and

providing a counter force by pressing, using a second force exerting mechanism, associated with the structure, said at least one piston sensor against an external surface of the immobilized tissue and to thereby exert said counter force on the immobilized tissue,

wherein said first force exerting mechanism sets at least a component of the force in opposition to at least a component of the counter force, and said structure, said first force exerting mechanism and said second force exerting mechanism together are configured to force the immobilized tissue against the at least one piston sensor, and further to force the at least one piston sensor against the immobilized tissue, bringing about an effective contact between the at least one piston sensor and the immobilized tissue;

fixing the tissue to the structure, thus immobilizing the tissue; and

characterizing the tissue with the at least one piston sensor;

wherein said at least one piston sensor is selected from the group consisting of optical sensor, X-ray sensor, RF sensor, MW sensor, infrared thermography sensor, ultrasound sensor, MR sensor, impedance sensor, a temperature sensor, radioactive-emission sensor, mechanical sensor, and a nonirradiative RF sensor.