Spectros Corporation

Ilian H Parachikov

David A Benaron

Yair Talmi

Michael R Fierro

Marvin Hutt

An implantable ischemia detection system in which a white LED () produces a continuous, visible, broadband light illuminating a target site (). Light backscattered by the target is collected by a sensor (), allowing for an index of ischemia to be determined, and subsequently transmitted by a sending unit (). Power is provided by an internal power source (). The entire implantable device is encapsulated by a biocompatible shell () to add long-term safety with regard to implantation.

Implantable tissue ischemia sensor

A method for detecting and localizing a target tissue within the body in the presence of ambient light in which an optical contrast agent is administered and allowed to become functionally localized within a contrast-labeled target tissue to be diagnosed. A light source is optically coupled to a tissue region potentially containing the contrast-labeled target tissue. A gated light detector is optically coupled to the tissue region and arranged to detect light substantially enriched in target signal as compared to ambient light, where the target signal is light that has passed into the contrast-labeled tissue region and been modified by the contrast agent. A computer receives signals from the detector, and passes these signals to memory for accumulation and storage, and to then to image processing engine for determination of the localization and distribution of the contrast agent. The computer also provides an output signal based upon the localization and distribution of the contrast agent, allowing trace amounts of the target tissue to be detected, located, or imaged. A system for carrying out the method is also described.

Optical imaging of induced signals in vivo under ambient light conditions

An improved hybrid connector for rapidly, reliably, and reversibly making mixed optical and electrical connections has a plug () with one or more centrally located fiber-containing optical ferrules () and one or more peripheral electrical contacts (), and second, a socket () with interior electrical contacts () and a fiber-bearing central floating optical connector (). Insertion and rotation of a shaft () of the plug into a bore () of the socket connects the respective electrical contacts of the shaft and socket, and nearly-simultaneously couples the respective optical fibers of the plug ferrule and socket connector, thus creating a rapid, reversible, and low-cost hybrid connection optimized for both the electrical and optical requirements of a mixed optical and electrical connection.

Optical and electrical hybrid connector

An improved illuminator for generating broadband light, and for delivering the light to a sample with an improved delivery efficiency, for higher optical density and/or reduced thermal transfer, than achieved with conventional halogen bulb sources. The illuminator enables spectroscopic analysis in thermally-sensitive or spatially-constrained environments. A phosphor-coated broadband white LED and integrated collimating optics produces a continuous, collimated broadband light beam from 400 nm to 700 nm, which is then transmitted through space to a sample region, such as a living tissue in vivo. A method and system for measuring oxigeneration of mucosal or subsurface tissue is also described.

Spectroscopy illuminator with improved delivery efficiency for high optical density and reduced thermal load

An improved illuminator for generating broadband light, and for delivering the light to a sample with an improved delivery efficiency, for higher optical density and/or reduced thermal transfer, than achieved with conventional halogen bulb sources. The illuminator enables spectroscopic analysis in thermally-sensitive or spatially-constrained environments. A phosphor-coated broadband white LED and integrated collimating optics produces a continuous, collimated broadband light beam from 400 nm to 700 nm, which is then transmitted through space to a sample region, such as a living tissue in vivo. This results in a high net efficient delivery of light to the tissue sample. An efficient conversion of power to light, and the high delivery efficiency, keeps both the illuminator and sample cool during operation, allowing the illuminator to be integrated into the tip of a medical probe or into monitoring systems.

Growing community of inventors

Belmont, CA, United States of America

Ilian H Parachikov