Systems, devices and methods for tissue removal and analysis
First Claim
1. An in-situ tissue removal and analysis system comprising:
- a tissue removal and analysis probe comprising;
an elongate tissue removal device having a distal portion comprising a sampling region which is configured to contact a tissue sample of a patient in an external region adjacent to said distal portion;
an optical fiber having a distal end in optical communication with the external region;
a fluid-fillable conduit having a distal aperture in fluid communication with the external region for collecting a fluid sample from the tissue sample in the external region; and
an optical detection subsystem configured to be in optical communication with a proximal end of said optical fiber and with at least a portion of the fluid sample collected by said fluid-fillable conduit;
wherein said optical detection subsystem is configured to direct first incident optical energy into said optical fiber and to detect first received optical energy that is responsively produced within the external region; and
wherein said fluid-fillable conduit forms an optical waveguide when filled with the fluid sample; and
wherein said optical detection subsystem is configured to direct second incident optical energy into said optical waveguide, and to detect second received optical energy that is responsively emitted from the fluid sample within said optical waveguide; and
wherein said optical detection subsystem is configured to measure a first spectrum based on said first received optical energy and a second spectrum based on the second received optical energy, wherein one or more of said first spectrum and said second spectrum is a Raman spectrum; and
processing circuitry comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is programmed with instructions, which when executed by said processor, perform the following steps;
processing signals associated with the detection of (i) the first received optical energy from tissue residing within the external region and (ii) the second received optical energy from the fluid sample collected within the fluid-fillable conduit in order to determine whether one more pre-selected criteria associated with the presence of diseased tissue are met;
whereby if the pre-selected criteria are met the elongate tissue removal device is controlled to remove the tissue sample from the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, devices and methods are provided for performing tissue removal and analysis based on the in-situ optical analysis of tissue and of liquid collected from the tissue region. In one example embodiment, a tissue removal and analysis probe includes an elongate tissue removal device, an optical fiber, and a fluid fillable conduit, where distal ends of the optical fiber and the conduit are in communication with an external region that is adjacent to a distal functional portion of the tissue removal device. The results of optical analysis one of both of external tissue and collected fluid may be employed to determine whether or not tissue removal is to be carried out. Various devices may be interfaced with the conduit for optical analysis of the collected fluid. In one example embodiment, the tissue removal device may be movable relative to the optical fiber and conduit.
34 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An in-situ tissue removal and analysis system comprising:
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a tissue removal and analysis probe comprising; an elongate tissue removal device having a distal portion comprising a sampling region which is configured to contact a tissue sample of a patient in an external region adjacent to said distal portion; an optical fiber having a distal end in optical communication with the external region; a fluid-fillable conduit having a distal aperture in fluid communication with the external region for collecting a fluid sample from the tissue sample in the external region; and an optical detection subsystem configured to be in optical communication with a proximal end of said optical fiber and with at least a portion of the fluid sample collected by said fluid-fillable conduit; wherein said optical detection subsystem is configured to direct first incident optical energy into said optical fiber and to detect first received optical energy that is responsively produced within the external region; and wherein said fluid-fillable conduit forms an optical waveguide when filled with the fluid sample; and wherein said optical detection subsystem is configured to direct second incident optical energy into said optical waveguide, and to detect second received optical energy that is responsively emitted from the fluid sample within said optical waveguide; and wherein said optical detection subsystem is configured to measure a first spectrum based on said first received optical energy and a second spectrum based on the second received optical energy, wherein one or more of said first spectrum and said second spectrum is a Raman spectrum; and processing circuitry comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is programmed with instructions, which when executed by said processor, perform the following steps; processing signals associated with the detection of (i) the first received optical energy from tissue residing within the external region and (ii) the second received optical energy from the fluid sample collected within the fluid-fillable conduit in order to determine whether one more pre-selected criteria associated with the presence of diseased tissue are met; whereby if the pre-selected criteria are met the elongate tissue removal device is controlled to remove the tissue sample from the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of performing tissue removal based on in-situ optical tissue analysis,
the method comprising, after positioning the distal portion of a tissue removal and analysis probe adjacent to a tissue region; -
collecting, within the conduit, fluid from the tissue region; directing the first incident optical energy into the optical fiber and detecting first received optical energy that is responsively produced within the tissue region, thereby obtaining first received signals; directing the second incident optical energy into the fluid collected by the fluid-fillable conduit, and detecting the second received optical energy that is responsively produced within the fluid sample, thereby obtaining second received signals; processing (i) the first received signals associated with the detection of the first received optical energy from tissue residing within the external region to measure a first spectrum based on said first received optical energy and (ii) the second received signals associated with the detection of the second received optical energy from the fluid sample collected within the fluid-fillable conduit to measure a second spectrum based on the second received optical energy, to determine whether one more pre-selected criteria associated with the presence of diseased tissue are met; wherein one or more of said first spectrum and said second spectrum is a Raman spectrum; and whereby if the one or more pre-selected criteria are met the tissue removal and analysis probe is controlled to remove the tissue sample from the patient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification