Hand-Held Probe for Intra-Operative Detection of Fluorescence Labeled Compounds and Antibodies

• US 20090283698A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neoprobe Corporation
• Inventors: Chapman, Gregg J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,227,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/458.100
• 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 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0219 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0228 Control of working procedures; Failure detection; Spectral bandwidth calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0233 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/04 Optical or mechanical part supplementary adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0411 using focussing or collimating elements, i.e. lenses or mirrors; Aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/58 using luminescence generated by light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held

Abstract

A hand-held probe for intra-operative detection of fluorescence labeled compounds includes a housing comprising a handle and a columnar portion, and a power source within the housing. A light emission source proximate the columnar portion of the housing is configured to fluoresce at least one of predetermined compounds and predetermined antibodies. An excitation switch proximate the handle selectably activates the light emission source. A detector receives fluorescent light emissions directed toward the columnar portion from at least one of the compounds and antibodies and convert the fluorescent light emissions to a corresponding emission electrical signal. A controller within the housing receives the emission electrical signal from the detector and converts the emission electrical signal to a corresponding data signal. Finally, a data port within the housing receives the data signal from the controller, converts the data signal to a corresponding output signal, and transmits the output signal.

Claims

1. A hand-held fluorescence detection probe, comprising:

a housing comprising a handle and a columnar portion;

a power source within the housing;

a light emission source proximate the columnar portion and configured to fluoresce at least one of predetermined compounds and predetermined antibodies;

an excitation switch proximate the handle to selectably activate the light emission source;

a detector to receive fluorescent light emissions directed toward the columnar portion from at least one of the compounds and antibodies and convert the fluorescent light emissions to a corresponding emission electrical signal;

a controller within the housing to receive the emission electrical signal from the detector and convert the emission electrical signal to a corresponding data signal; and

a data port within the housing to receive the data signal from the controller, convert the data signal to a corresponding output signal, and transmit the output signal.

2. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 1 wherein the output signal is transmitted by wireless means.

3. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 1, further comprising an excitation filter to limit the light emitted by the light emission source to a predetermined bandwidth.

4. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 1, further comprising an emission filter to limit the light received by the detector to a predetermined wavelength.

5. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 1 wherein the output signal utilizes a BLUETOOTH protocol.

6. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 1, further comprising a squelch switch coupled to the controller which, when actuated, causes the controller to read and store in a memory portion a baseline emission electrical signal magnitude for comparison with subsequent emission electrical signals received by the controller from the detector, emission levels having a magnitude below the stored baseline being ignored by the controller.

7. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 6 wherein the controller is further configured to ignore emission levels exceeding the baseline but having a magnitude less than a predetermined threshold magnitude.

8. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to subtract the contribution of ambient and emission light from the fluorescent light emissions.

9. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 1, further comprising a remotely-located console to receive the output signal and provide an indication corresponding to the fluorescent light emissions.

10. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 9 wherein the indication provided by the console is one of a visually perceivable numeric indication and an aural indication, the indication corresponding to the magnitude of the fluorescent light emissions.

11. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 9, further comprising a status indicator mounted to the probe to provide visually perceivable information regarding the status of at least one of the power source, the data port and the remote console.

12. A hand-held fluorescence detection probe, comprising:

a housing comprising a handle and a columnar portion;

a power source within the housing;

a light emission source proximate the columnar portion and configured to fluoresce at least one of predetermined compounds and predetermined antibodies;

a mirror oriented to deflect and direct the emissions from the light emission source out of the probe;

a detector to receive fluorescent light emissions directed toward the columnar portion from at least one of the compounds and antibodies and convert the fluorescent light emissions to a corresponding emission electrical signal, the detector being positioned behind the mirror;

an excitation switch proximate the handle to selectably activate the light emission source;

a controller within the housing to receive the emission electrical signal from the detector and convert the emission electrical signal to a corresponding data signal; and

a data port within the housing to receive the data signal from the controller, convert the data signal to a corresponding output signal, and transmit the output signal.

13. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 12 wherein the output signal is transmitted by wireless means.

14. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 12, further comprising an excitation filter located between the light emission source and the mirror to limit the light emitted by the light emission source to a predetermined bandwidth.

15. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 12, further comprising an emission filter located between the detector and the mirror to limit the light received by the detector to a predetermined wavelength.

16. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 12, further comprising a remotely-located console to receive the output signal and provide an indication corresponding to the fluorescent light emissions.

17. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 12 wherein the output signal utilizes a BLUETOOTH protocol.

18. A hand-held fluorescence detection probe, comprising:

a housing comprising a handle and a columnar portion;

a power source within the housing;

a light emission source proximate the columnar portion and configured to fluoresce at least one of predetermined compounds and predetermined antibodies;

an excitation switch proximate the handle to selectably activate the light emission source;

a detector to receive fluorescent light emissions directed toward the columnar portion from at least one of the compounds and antibodies and convert the fluorescent light emissions to a corresponding emission electrical signal, the detector being located behind the light emission source;

a fiber-optic ring encircling the light emission source and laterally separated therefrom, the fiber-optic ring being coupled to the detector;

a controller within the housing to receive the emission electrical signal from the detector and convert the emission electrical signal to a corresponding data signal; and

a data port within the housing to receive the data signal from the controller, convert the data signal to a corresponding output signal, and transmit the output signal.

19. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 18 wherein the output signal is transmitted by wireless means.

20. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 18, further comprising an excitation filter located in front of the light emission source to limit the light emitted by the light emission source to a predetermined bandwidth.

21. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 18, further comprising an emission filter located between the detector and the light emission source to limit the light received by the detector to a predetermined wavelength.

22. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 18, further comprising a remotely-located console to receive the output signal and provide an indication corresponding to the fluorescent light emissions.

23. The hand-held fluorescence detection probe of claim 18 wherein the output signal utilizes a BLUETOOTH protocol.