Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated

Medispectra, Incorporated

Covidien LP

Nellocr Puritan Bennett Incorporated

Ross Flewelling

Paul David Mannheimer

Rodney P Chin

Kevin Schomacker

Howard B Kaufman

Alex R Zelenchuk

Jean-Pierre Schott

Chunsheng Jiang

Peter J Costa

Christopher E Griffin

Michael Patrick O'Neil

Robert Nordstrom

Philippe Schmid

Charles C Abele

Steven Edward Hobbs

Ze'ev Hed

Kwong Hui

Thomas M Meese

John A Culver, Deceased

Stephen T Sum

Bret F Draayer

A non-invasive optical sensor which uses the motion signal to calculate the physiological characteristic being measured. For pulse oximetry, a least squares or a ratio-of-ratios technique can be applied to the motion signal itself. This is made possible by selecting a site on the patient where variations in motion produce signals of two wavelengths which are sufficiently correlated. In particular, it has been determined that a sensor placed on a nail, in particular a thumbnail, exhibits the characteristics of having the red and infrared signals correlated when used for pulse oximetry, and the resulting signals correlate to arterial oxygen saturation.

Motion compatible sensor for non-invasive optical blood analysis

The invention provides methods for determining the probability that a given region of a tissue sample contains tissue of a given category, such as CIN 1 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1), CIN 2/3 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and/or 3), normal squamous, normal columnar, and metaplasia, for example. The invention provides increased diagnostic accuracy by combining a plurality of statistical classification techniques. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the invention comprises combining one or more statistical techniques with one or more non-statistical classification techniques.

Methods and apparatus for characterization of tissue samples

The invention provides methods for processing tissue-derived spectral data for use in a tissue classification algorithm. Methods of the invention comprise application of spectral and/or image masks for automatically separating ambiguous or unclassifiable spectral data from valid spectral data. The invention improves the accuracy of tissue classification, in part, by properly identifying and accounting for spectral data from tissue regions that are affected by an obstruction and/or regions that lie outside a diagnostic zone of interest.

Methods and apparatus for processing spectral data for use in tissue characterization

The invention provides methods for displaying diagnostic results obtained from a tissue sample. In general, the invention assigns tissue-class probability values to discrete regions of a patient sample, and creates an overlay for displaying the results. The overlay facilitates display of the tissue class probabilities in a way that reflects the diagnostic relevance of the data. For example, methods of the invention comprise applying filtering and color-blending techniques in order to facilitate display of diagnostic results.

Methods and apparatus for displaying diagnostic data

The invention provides methods for determining a characteristic of a tissue sample, such as a state of health, using spectral data and/or images obtained within an optimal period of time following the application of a chemical agent to the tissue sample. The invention provides methods of determining such optimal windows of time. Similarly, the invention provides methods of determining other criteria for triggering the acquisition of an optical signal for classifying the state of health of a region of a tissue sample.

Optimal windows for obtaining optical data for characterization of tissue samples

The invention provides methods and systems for monitoring effects of chemical agents on optical signals produced by samples in response to the chemical agents. Preferred methods comprise application of multiple chemical agents that interact to alter an optical signal from the sample. Methods and systems of the invention also comprise monitoring an optical signal from an endogenous chromophore upon application of a chemical agent to a sample. Methods and systems of the invention also comprise the use of triggers, atomizers and image alignment to enhance the results of methods described herein.

Methods of monitoring effects of chemical agents on a sample

A system and method for classifying specimens using a plurality of spectral data types. Spectra are recorded as amplitudes at a series of discrete wavelengths. Pluralities of reference spectra are recorded for specimens having known conditions. A spectrum of a first type is observed for a test specimen. The specimen is characterized as to a first known condition. In the event that the specimen does not exhibit the first known condition, a spectrum of a second type is observed and analyzed to determine which of a plurality of conditions is to be ascribed to the test specimen. In some embodiments, the test specimen can comprise human cervical tissue, and the known conditions can include normal health, metaplasia, CIN I and CIN II/II.

Spectroscopic system employing a plurality of data types

An airway adapter comprising a tubular portion having opposing windows in a predetermined spaced configuration. The windows have at least one surface which interacts with moisture condensed thereon from respiratory gases so as to reduce the interference of such condensation with the measurement of constituent gases by a gas analyzer. The surface of the windows can be hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or a combination thereof.

Moisture resistant airway adapter for monitoring constituent gases

An improved method for optically measuring a characteristic of a patient's blood or tissue is provided which involves first passing an arterialization current (typically from about 1-10 mA AC or DC) through a relatively short tissue segment of a patient (up to about 12 inches) for a period of time sufficient to significantly increase blood flow, whereupon a transcutaneous optical measurement is made. The method is especially suited for pulse oximetry and permits more accurate readings owing to the increased amplitude of the detection signal. In another embodiment, a probe molecule composition may be initially applied to the patient's skin, and the arterialization current is used to rapidly and evenly diffuse the probe molecule into the tissue segment. An appropriate sensor can then be employed for detecting the probe molecule.

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Oakland, CA, United States of America

Ross Flewelling