Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for in VIVO treatment of mammary ducts by light induced fluorescence

US6846311B2 · kind B2 · utility

73Cited by
17References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 6, 2002
Grant dateJan 25, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 14, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2218/001
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention is directed toward a micro-endoscope assembly for the treatment of diseased tissue in breast ducts comprising a cylindrical guide tube with a distal end defining an internal cylindrical passageway, a first smaller cylindrical tube eccentrically formed in the cylindrical passageway of a smaller diameter than said tube internal cylindrical passageway to receive and guide an endoscope, the smaller cylindrical tube forming together with an inner wall surface of the cylindrical guide tube a second passageway. A light transmitting probe is mounted in the second passageway and is connected at the distal end of the guide tube with an energy transmitting device. The light probe is activated to generate light at a particular wavelength to cause the tissue to fluoresce and is again activated to generate light at a specific wavelength to necrose the diseased tissue.

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