Method and apparatus for in vivo examination of subcutaneous tissues inside an organ of a body using optical spectroscopy
US5983125A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 1, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 1, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B10/0233
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Method and apparatus for examining subcutaneous tissues inside organs of the body. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing an optic probe positioning assembly comprising a solid needle and a hollow tube, the solid needle being sheathed inside the hollow tube; (b) subcutaneously inserting the positioning assembly into a tissue sample to be examined; (c) removing the solid needle from the tissue sample, leaving the hollow tube in place in the tissue; (d) then, inserting an optic probe through the hollow tube into proximity with the tissue sample; (e) optically determining the condition of the tissue sample using the optic probe; (f) after the optically determining step, removing the optic probe from the hollow tube; (g) then, inserting a biopsy needle into the hollow tube; (h) then, excising at least a portion of the tissue sample; and (i) then, removing the biopsy needle and the excised tissue sample from the hollow tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.