Apparatus and method for determining tissue characteristics
US6590651B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/6484
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method embodying the invention include utilizing a device with a limited number of interrogation devices to accomplish a large number of measurements on a target tissue (50). An instrument embodying the invention includes a plurality of detection devices (54) that are arranged in a predetermined pattern on a tissue contacting face of the instrument. The face of the instrument is located adjacent the target tissue (50), and a plurality of tissue characteristic measurement are simultaneously conducted. The detection devices (54) are moved to a new position, preferably without moving the tissue contacting face, and a second plurality of tissue characteristic measurements are simultaneously conducted. By conducting a series of measurements cycles in this manner, the ultimate resolution of the device is increased, while still obtaining a given resolution, which reduces potential cross-talk errors. Further, a plurality of tissue characteristics are simultaneously obtained from locations spaced across the target tissue (50) during each measurement cycle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.