Spectrx, Inc.

Tim Harrell

Mark L Faupel

Shabbir Bakir Bambot

Glenn Steven Arche

Walter R Sanders

J David Farquhar

Edward L Kimbrell

Krishna Kumar

Danny F Lincoln

David Farquhar

Anant Agrawal

Joe Papp

An apparatus and method according to the invention combine more than one optical modality (spectroscopic method), including but not limited to fluorescence, absorption, reflectance, polarization anisotropy, and phase modulation, to decouple morphological and biochemical changes associated with tissue changes due to disease, and thus to provide an accurate diagnosis of the tissue condition.

Multi-modal optical tissue diagnostic system

An apparatus embodying the invention includes a probe head with an interrogation surface that is intended to be positioned adjacent or pushed into contact with a target material or tissue. The probe head is constructed to have a plurality of interrogation devices arranged across the face of the interrogation surface. The probe head is also constructed so that the interrogation device can conform to a non-uniform or non-planar surface of the target tissue. In some embodiments, the interrogation surface may have a particular shape that conforms to the shape of a target material. In other embodiments, one or more portions of the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to the remaining portions so that the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to remaining portions so that the interrogation surface can thereby conform to a non-uniform surface. In still other embodiments, a plurality of separately moveable interrogation devices can be arranged across the interrogation surface. During a measurement process, the interrogation surface would be pressed into contact with the non-uniform surface to cause individual ones of the interrogation devices to move, thereby causing the probe head to conform to the non-uniform surface.

Apparatus and method for determining tissue characteristics

An apparatus embodying the invention includes a probe head with an interrogation surface that is intended to be positioned adjacent or pushed into contact with a target material or tissue. The probe head is constructed to have a plurality of interrogation devices arranged across the face of the interrogation surface. The probe head is also constructed so that the interrogation device can conform to a non-uniform or non-planar surface of the target tissue. In some embodiments, the interrogation surface may have a particular shape that conforms to the shape of a target material. In other embodiments, one or more portions of the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to the remaining portions so that the interrogation surface could be movable with respect to remaining portions so that the interrogation surface can the thereby conform to a non-uniform surface. In still other embodiments, a plurality of separately moveable interrogation devices can be arranged across the interrogation surface. During a measurement process, the interrogation surface would be pressed into contact with the non-uniform surface to cause individual ones of the interrogation devices to move, thereby causing the probe head to conform to the non-uniform surface.

A fiber optic probe is provided that includes a housing, at least one optical fiber disposed within the housing, one end of each of the at least one optical fiber being disposed adjacent an opening in the housing forming a probe face, a binding agent that binds the at least one optical fiber within the housing, and a protective coating sealingly covering the probe face to prevent contaminants from contacting the at least optical fiber. A method for protecting a fiber optic probe having a housing, at least one optical fiber disposed within the housing, one end of each of the at least one optical fiber being disposed adjacent an opening in the housing forming a probe face, and a binding agent that binds the at least one optical fiber within the housing, includes polishing the probe face to create a substantially flat probe face, cleaning the probe face after polishing the probe face and sealing the probe face with a protective coating.

Method for protecting a fiber optic probe and the resulting fiber optic probe

Growing community of inventors

Norcross, GA, United States of America

Tim Harrell