System and methods for illuminating materials

• US 9,596,994 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David J. Gaskin, J. William J. Futrell
• Original Assignee: David J. Gaskin, J. William J. Futrell
• Inventors: Futrell, J. William J., Gaskin, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy, Baisakhi
• Application Number:
  US12/302,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,578 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/473, 600/476, 600/477, 600/310, 600/181
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/201 Assessing renal or kidney functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4244 liver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure

Abstract

A system including a medical instrument, a sensor, and a processor module in communication with the sensor. The medical instrument includes a radiation source for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from within a body and through a material in the body. The sensor receives a portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the material, and the processor module determines at least one characteristic of the material based on the electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a medical instrument configured for subcutaneous insertion into a body through a surgical incision made through skin, the medical instrument comprising a radiation source for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from within the body, through bodily tissues and/or fluids in the body, and through the skin, wherein a portion of the electromagnetic radiation is sensed external to the skin of the body, and wherein the radiation source is located on or in a distal end of the medical instrument;

a sensor positioned external to the skin of the body for receiving the portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted from within the body, through the bodily tissues and/or fluids, and through the skin; and

a processor module in communication with the sensor, wherein the processor module is for determining at least one characteristic of the bodily tissues and/or fluids based on the electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical instrument is selected from the group consisting of:

a cannula, a catheter, forceps, a cutting instrument, a suction device, an ultrasonic energy-emitting device, a microwave energy-emitting device, and an energy-emitting device configured for lipoplasty procedures.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source transmits substantially monochromatic electromagnetic radiation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source transmits polychromatic electromagnetic radiation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is for transmitting electromagnetic radiation within at least one of the following electromagnetic spectrums:

an ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, an infrared (IR) spectrum, and a visible spectrum.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises at least one of the following:

a UV light-emitting diode (LED), an IR LED, and a visible LED.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more optical fibers for supplying electromagnetic energy to the radiation source.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more photodetectors.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one optical element disposed between the radiation source and the sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is for generating a signal representative of at least one of a wavelength and an intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the sensor is for communicating the signal to the processor module.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one determined characteristic of the bodily tissues and/or fluids is selected from the group comprising:

a composition of the bodily tissues and/or fluids, a dimension of the bodily tissues and/or fluids, an arrangement of the bodily tissues and/or fluids, a location of the bodily tissues and/or fluids, and a movement of the bodily tissues and/or fluids.

12. A medical instrument configured for subcutaneous insertion into a body through a surgical incision made through skin, the medical instrument comprising cannula, a catheter, forceps, a cutting instrument, a suction device, an ultrasonic energy-emitting device, a microwave energy-emitting device, or an energy-emitting device configured for lipoplasty procedures, the medical instrument further comprising:

a radiation source for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from within the body, through bodily tissues and/or fluids in the body, and through the skin,

wherein the radiation source is located on or in the distal end of the cannula, the catheter, the forceps, the cutting instrument, the suction device, the ultrasonic energy-emitting device, the microwave energy-emitting device, or the energy-emitting device configured for lipoplasty procedures; and

wherein the radiation source is configured such that at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the skin and the bodily tissues and/or fluids is emitted from an outer surface of the skin of the body and received by a sensor positioned external to the skin of the body.

13. A method for characterizing bodily tissues and/or fluids within one of a human body and an animal body, the method comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic radiation through bodily tissues and/or fluids in a body, and through skin, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted from within the body from a device inserted subcutaneously into the body through a surgical incision made through the skin, and wherein a portion of the electromagnetic radiation is sensed external to the skin of the body, and wherein the radiation transmits from a source located on or in a distal end of the device;

receiving external to the skin of the body the portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the bodily tissues and/or fluids, and through the skin; and

determining at least one characteristic of the bodily tissues and/or fluids based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting electromagnetic radiation source includes transmitting electromagnetic radiation within at least one of the following electromagnetic spectrums:

a UV spectrum, an IR spectrum, and a visible spectrum.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining at least one characteristic of the bodily tissues and/or fluids includes determining at least one characteristic of the bodily tissues and/or fluids based on at least one of a wavelength and an intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining at least one characteristic of the bodily tissues and/or fluids includes determining at least one of a composition of the bodily tissues and/or fluids, a dimension of the bodily tissues and/or fluids, an arrangement of the bodily tissues and/or fluids, a location of the bodily tissues and/or fluids, and a movement of the bodily tissues and/or fluids.

17. A system comprising:

a medical instrument configured for subcutaneous insertion into a body through a surgical incision made through skin, the medical instrument comprising a radiation source for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from within the body, through bodily tissues and/or fluids in the body, and through the skin, wherein a portion of the electromagnetic radiation is sensed external to the skin of the body, and wherein the radiation source is located on or in a distal end of the medical instrument;

a sensor positioned external to the skin of the body for receiving the portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted from within the body, through the bodily tissues and/or fluids, and through the skin; and

a processor module in communication with the sensor, wherein the processor module is for determining at least one characteristic of the bodily tissues and/or fluids based on the electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor;

wherein the electromagnetic radiation is visible through the skin, providing a surgeon with subcutaneous positioning information of the medical instrument.

18. A method for characterizing bodily tissues and/or fluids within one of a human body and an animal body, the method comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic radiation through bodily tissues and/or fluids in a body, and through skin, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted from within the body from a device inserted subcutaneously into the body through a surgical incision made through the skin, and wherein a portion of the electromagnetic radiation is sensed external to the skin of the body, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation transmits from a source located on or in a distal end of the device;

receiving external to the skin of the body a portion of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the bodily tissues and/or fluids, and through the skin; and

determining at least one characteristic of the bodily tissues and/or fluids based on the received electromagnetic radiation;

wherein the electromagnetic radiation is visible through the skin, providing a surgeon with subcutaneous positioning information of the medical instrument.