Tissue penetrating apparatus and methods
US5460182A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 1992 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2562/08
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tissue penetrating apparatus including a surgical appliance having a sharp tip for penetrating tissue, a first optical element for emitting one or more selected monochromatic wavelengths of light, and a second optical element for sensing light corresponding to the one or more selected monochromatic wavelengths of light. The first and second optical elements are optical transmission fibers secured to the appliance proximate to the tip so that one fiber passes one or more monochromatic wavelengths of light into the tissue to be penetrated, and the other fiber passes the light sensed to a light detector. A control circuit is used to illuminate the one or more light sources to emit light out one of the first and second optical fibers, and to provide an electrical signal corresponding to the light sensed at the other of the first and second optical fibers. The electrical signal includes sensed light at each of the monochromatic wavelengths of light emitted, and sensed light in the absence of emitted light. An analysis circuit or a microprocessor based device may be used for processing the electrical signals and determining when the appliance tip has entered a body cavity. An annunciat…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.