Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for detecting the rejection of transplanted tissue

US6201989A · kind A · utility

274Cited by
42References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 12, 1998
Grant dateMar 13, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2090/373
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting the possible rejection of a transplanted tissue by a host. The transplanted tissue is subjected to illumination with light to induce fluorescence. The light can be ultraviolet light, visible light or infrared light, which can be used alone or in any combination, which means one, two or three forms of light may be used together. The induced fluorescence is collected and analyzed, then compared with fluorescence that is obtained using the same procedure for a known, healthy tissue that is the same type of tissue as the transplanted tissue. Also provided are methods and apparatus related to the determination of probe orientation and the need for biopsy.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.