The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1995
James P Butler, Brookline, MA (US);
George P Topulos, Dedham, MA (US);
John L Lehr, Newton, MA (US);
Brigham & Women'Hospital, Boston, MA (US);
The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
The method and device of the invention provides a measure of lung function at a preselected region of the lung by detecting and measuring light scattering following contact of the light onto lung tissue. Multiple parameters concerning the status of the lungs can be measured using a variety of wavelengths of light targeted at the lung tissue. In this way it is possible to determine regions of impaired lung function in patients with emphysema. The device utilizes an optical fiber, a light collection system and a spectral separation device to provide an image of the lung and to determine functional parameters such as gas exchange.