System and method using fluorescence to examine within a patient's anatomy

US8626271B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs · Mason, US
• Youseph Yazdi · Princeton Junction, US
• Michael P. Weir · Blanchester, US
• Paul G. Ritchie · Loveland, US
• David C. Youmans · Loveland, US
• Robert P. Gill · Mason, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 13, 2007
• Grant date: Jan 7, 2014
• Expiry date: Jul 15, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B5/418
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system for examining an area of a patient's anatomy that comprises a probe capable of fluorescing, and a scanning beam assembly that scans the probe with a beam of excitation radiation and detects the probe's fluorescence. The scanning beam assembly including a radiation source capable of emitting one or more wavelengths of radiation that are capable of exciting the probe and causing the probe to fluoresce, a scanning device that directs the radiation onto a field-of-view to create a scan of the field-of-view, a detector to detect radiation returned from the field-of-view, and a controller to convert the detected radiation into a displayable fluorescence image.