Polartechnics Limited

Other

Irwin Wunderman

Victor N Skladnev

Richard L Thompson

David J Bull

Stephen Rowe

Richard N Thompson

Gregory Smart

Neil Edwards

Victor N Sklandnev

Vijay K Lumba

Adolph E Smith

Megan Smith

A probe configured as a finger tip of a glove used to recognize tissue types in a human patient and adapted to perform both optical and electrical measurements to diagnose tissue type while scanned over the surface of the tissue. Hybrid electronic technology reduces the size of the diagnostic elements. The necessary electrical connections are led down the finger and the glove to a remotely positioned control unit. The control unit provides power to the diagnostic device and analyzes the signals received from the device.

Glove-mounted hybrid probe for tissue type recognition

An apparatus for photometric analysis and/or identification of properties of a material object comprises a collection of light sources having substantially distinct wavelength envelopes and activated in a rapid sequence of distinct combinations. The apparatus comprises a collection of spatially distributed light detectors which detect radiation from the object and produce detected signals. A signal processor for controlling the light sources and analyzing the detected signals synchronizes the detected signals with the activation of the sequence of distinct combinations of the light sources to produce associated combinations of detected signals which are then analyzed to determine a physical property of the object and/or compared for similarity to previously detected signals from known objects. The photometric data may be combined and correlated with other measured data to enhance identification.

Devices and methods for optically identifying characteristics of

A probe type instrument to characterize tissue type that combines optical and electrical tests in a single device capable of providing data of both types almost simultaneously from very small, e.g. 3-10 mm diameter, areas of tissue surface. Key to this approach is an instrument capable of making almost simultaneous electrical and optical measurements on the same small areas of tissue, before being moved to scan adjacent tissue areas. In the preferred operation of the system fourteen measurement cycles are performed per second and each measurement involves a complex sequence of events, including (1) three optical and fifteen electrical tissue stimulations with subsequent detection, filtering and digitization of the tissue response; (2) extraction of specific parameters from the optical and electrical signals; (3) checking for errors, and subsequent classification of the extracted parameters into various tissue type categories; and (4) feedback to the system operator. Thus on the order of 15,000 measurements are made per one minute patient examination.

Tissue diagnostic system

A method and apparatus for tissue type recognition for use within the narrow confines of body canals and which can quickly produce an objective identification of the tissue types including the presence of pre-cancerous and cancerous activity. Possible configurations for the probe include endocervical probe configurations which make measurements in directions orthogonal to the long axis of the probe and configurations where multiple probe 'tips' are arranged in a 'wood drill' configuration. The apparatus has a measurement section that has at least one source of electromagnetic radiation such as a light emitting diode, a barrier which acts to confine the direction that the radiation can take and a detector such as a photodiode beyond the barrier, which is able to detect the radiation after it has been backscattered from tissue in close proximity to the surface of the cylinder. In the vicinity of these components one or more electrodes may also be positioned on the surface of the cylinder such that they are able to contact the tissue under examination thereby enabling simultaneous electrical property measurements to be made. The radiation source and the electrodes receive electrical signals produced by a programmed controller. The radiation detector and the electrode signals are processed by the controller. Comparator means in the controller are used to compare the signals with known values to thereby identify the tissue type.

Apparatus for tissue type recognition within a body canal

A sheath for a side view probe having at least two complete hybrid optical and electrode systems on opposite faces of a cylinder, in order to obviate the need to manipulate the probe through more than a half revolution during examination by the doctor. The sheath covers the probe but allows both electrical and optical measurements to be made by the underlying probe on the same areas of tissue. The invention uses the hoop tension in the sheath to apply the needed spring force to maintain electrode contact. In addition, the probe and its sheath are shaped to ensure both good electrical contact and reliable optical pathways. A built-in means of calibration of the sheath enclosed probe is achieved by attaching to the outside of the tip of the sheath a tube or blocks of a turbid material such as a polymer of controlled composition. The tube or blocks of turbid material are removed prior to using the probe on a patient.

Sheath for a side view probe

The invention incorporates an opto-electronic section in the tip of the sheath cover for a diagnostic probe that makes both electric and optical measurements of tissue contacted by the sheath. In addition the invention provides a piece of turbid material such as a polymer of controlled composition as a built-in calibrator attached to the outside of the tip of the sheath. In one embodiment the probe sheath in fabricated from a flexible material which can be rolled up prior to fitting and when fitted to the tip of the probe can be rolled down the shaft of the probe for use and then rolled back off the shaft for disposal.

Integral sheathing apparatus for tissue recognition probes

An apparatus which permits an analytical probe to be calibrated by pressing the tip against a block of material of controlled characteristics. A transparent elastomer is used into which has been incorporated a light-scattering material. Elastomer calibrators may also be made part of a preassembled probe component such as a disposable sheath. In that case the turbid elastomer is assembled on the tip with the other components of the sheath and is removed after calibrating the system and before the probe put into use. An additional film of flexible polymer having optical characteristics analogous to the material to be detected by the probe may be placed on top to simulate the structure of the material that is to be measured.

Apparatus for checking the calibration of optical probes

The invention incorporates electrodes in the tip of the sheath cover for a diagnostic probe that makes both electric and optical measurements of tissue contacted by the sheath. The electrodes are positioned relative to the optical window in such a way as to ensure that sealing is not compromised by the presence of the electrodes. The electrodes are close by to ensure that both the optical and electrical measurements are made on the same area of tissue. The invention uses the hoop tension in the sheath to apply the needed spring force to the electrode contact. In addition the invention provides a piece of turbid material such as a polymer of controlled composition as a built-in calibrator attached to the outside of the tip of the sheath.

Sheathed probes for tissue type recognition

A hybrid probe in which the optical pathway and the optical sensors comprise elements located within a compact hybrid chip structure. The full optical system of the hybrid probe is located at its tip. No fibers are required to bring the light to and from the tip of the probe. This is achieved in part by mounting one or more LED dice on a substrate at the probe tip. Appropriate connections are made to these dice which are powered from electronics in the handle of the probe.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Irwin Wunderman