Cedars-sinai Medical Center

Ramez E Shehada

Warren S Grundfest

Vasilis Z Marmarelis

The Laser Induced Fluorescence Attenuation Spectroscopy (LIFAS) method and apparatus preferably include a source adapted to emit radiation that is directed at a sample volume in a sample to produce return light from the sample, such return light including modulated return light resulting from modulation by the sample, a first sensor, displaced by a first distance from the sample volume for monitoring the return light and generating a first signal indicative of the intensity of return light, a second sensor, displaced by a second distance from the sample volume, for monitoring the return light and generating a second signal indicative of the intensity of return light, and a processor associated with the first sensor and the second sensor and adapted to process the first and second signals so as to determine the modulation of the sample. The methods and devices of the inventions are particularly well-suited for determining the wavelength-dependent attenuation of a sample and using the attenuation to restore the intrinsic laser induced fluorescence of the sample. In turn, the attenuation and intrinsic laser induced fluorescence can be used to determined a characteristic of interest, such as the ischemic or hypoxic condition of biological tissue.

Method and devices for laser induced fluorescence attenuation

An ultrasonic transducer orientation sensing and display apparatus, and related method, for use in providing an accurate representation of the orientation of an ultrasonic transducer's imaging plane. The orientation sensing and display apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer having an integral orientation sensor, a processor, and a display. The representation of the imaging plane as indicated on the display is based on electrical signals generated by the orientation sensor. The ultrasonic transducer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is integrated near the distal end or tip of an elongated tube of a laparoscopic instrument used for ultrasonic imaging. The orientation sensor is a biaxial gravitational sensor, composed of two orthogonal sensing toroids to sense rotation about any axis lying in a horizontal plane. Each sensing toroid has a hollow tubular shape that contains a gravity indicator that is free to move within the respective sensing toroid for measuring rotation about an axis through the toroid's center. Gravity causes each gravity indicator to migrate to the lowest portion of the respective toroid. The orientation also can include a permanent magnet thus providing a tri-axial sensor.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Ramez E Shehada