US5769791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tissue interrogating device and methods
Assignee: JB IP Acquisition LLC
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1998-06-23
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A tool for nondestructive interrogation of the tissue including a light source emitter and detector which may be mounted directly on the surgical tool in a tissue contacting surface for interrogation or mounted remotely and guided to the surgical field with fiber optic cables. The light source may be broadband and wavelength differentiation can be accomplished at the detector via filters or gratings, or using time, frequency, or space resolved methods. Alternatively, n discrete monochromatic light sources may be provided which are subsequently multiplexed into a single detector by time or by frequency multiplexing. The optical sensing elements can be built into a surgical tool end effector tip such as a tissue grasping tool which has cooperating jaws (bivalve or multi-element). In the preferred embodiment the light source (or the fiber optic guide) is mounted on one jaw and the detector (or fiber optic guide) is mounted in the opposing jaw so that the light emitter and detector are facing one another either directly (i.e., on the same optical axis when the tool is closed) or acutely (i.e., with intersecting optical axes so that the light emitted is detected). In this case, the sensor is working in a transmission modality. Arrangements with the optical components mounted on the same member of a single member or a multi member structure, operating in a reflective modality, are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Benaron
- 👤 Daniel S. Goldberger
- 👤 David E. Goodman
- 👤 Robert S. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3494; A61B18/00; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/0086; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6848; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/4795; A61B17/068; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/3474; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00057; A61B2017/00061; A61B2017/00115; A61B2017/00119; A61B2017/00123; A61B17/00491; A61B2017/00504; A61B2017/00508; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61B2090/3614; A61B2560/00; A61B2560/02; A61B2560/0266; A61B2560/0276; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0233; A61B2562/0242; A61B2562/08; A61B5/0075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for non-destructive interrogation of tissue comprising: a minimally invasive surgical tool end effector; a first element positioned at the end effector to launch one or more discrete wavelengths of radiation into a tissue to be interrogated; a second element positioned at the end effector to couple light launched from the first element that has passed through the tissue to be interrogated; a photodetector operatively coupled to said second element having an output of electrical signals corresponding to at least a portion of the light coupled by the second element; and a processor having an input for receiving said output of electrical signals, the processor being responsive to said output of electrical signals to determine non-destructively at least one characteristic of the tissue to be interrogated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for non-destructive interrogation of tissue comprising: a minimally invasive surgical tool end effector; a first element positioned at the end effector to launch one or more discrete wavelengths of radiation into a tissue to be interrogated; a second element positioned at the end effector to couple light launched from the first element that has passed through the tissue to be interrogated; a photodetector operatively coupled to said second element having an output of electrical signals corresponding to at least a portion of the light coupled by the second element; and a processor having an input for receiving said output of electrical signals, the processor being responsive to said output of electrical signals to determine non-destructively at least one characteristic of the tissue to be interrogated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first element and said second element further comprises a tissue contacting surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said end effector further comprises means for performing a surgical intervention.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of said first element and said second element further comprises a tissue contacting surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surgical tool end effector further comprises a bi-valve member having a first lever and a second lever and a hinge connecting the first and second levers together, and a tissue contacting surface containing at least one of the first and second elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the processor further comprises means for identifying a component of the electrical signals corresponding to pulsatile blood flow in the tissue being interrogated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an annunciator operable to generate an alarm in response to an identified pulsatile blood flow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which the identifying means operates to identify a loss of pulsatile blood flow and to generate an alarm in response to said identified loss of pulsatile blood flow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the bi-valve member is a forceps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first and second levers further comprise first and second edges operative to sever tissue therebetween and the tissue contacting surface containing at least one of the first and second elements further comprises a first tissue contacting surface at one of the first and second edges and a second tissue contacting surface at the other of the first and second tissue contacting surface, the first tissue contacting surface containing one of the first and second elements and the second tissue contacting surface containing the other of the first and second elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the processor further comprises means for identifying a component of the electrical signals corresponding to pulsatile blood flow in the tissue being interrogated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an annunciator operable to generate an alarm in response to an identified pulsatile blood flow.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the identifying means operates to identify a loss of pulsatile blood flow and to generate an alarm in response to said identified loss of blood flow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the bi-valve member is an electrosurgical cutting instrument.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the bi-valve member is a hemostatic cutting instrument.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the bi-valve member is a forceps.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surgical tool end effector further comprises a bi-valve member having a first member and a second member and the first and second members further comprise respective first and second edges to sever tissue therebetween, wherein at least one of the first and second elements is disposed proximate to one of the first and second edges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the bi-valve member is an electrosurgical cutting instrument.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the bi-valve member is a hemostatic cutting instrument.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the bi-valve member is a scissors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surgical tool end effector further comprises a member having a first body and a second body, the first body having a first tissue contacting surface and the second body having a second tissue contacting surface, the first tissue contacting surface containing at least one of the first and second elements and the other of the first and second elements being contained on one of the first and second tissue contacting surfaces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the processor further comprises means for identifying a component of the electrical signals corresponding to pulsatile blood flow in the tissue being interrogated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising an annunciator operable to generate an alarm in response to an identified pulsatile blood flow.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the identifying means operates to identify a loss of pulsatile blood flow and to generate an alarm in response to said identified loss of blood flow.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the member further comprises a forceps.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the member further comprises a clamp.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the member further comprises a tissue cutting instrument.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the member further comprises a hollow fluid channel extending therethrough.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the member further comprises a tissue penetrating instrument.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claims 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 21, 22, 28 or 29 wherein the tissue contacting surface further comprises a sensor for determining the temperature of the tissue to be interrogated.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a library of stored electrical signal components corresponding to a set of spectral records representative of a plurality of tissue types, wherein the processor is further operable to compare the electrical signals to at least one of the stored electrical signal components and identify the characteristic tissue type of the tissue to be interrogated based on a correlation between the stored electrical signal components and the electrical signals and the determined sensed temperature.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of any of claims, 1, 5, 17, 6, 10, 11, 21, 22, 28 or 29 further comprising a library of stored electrical signal components corresponding to a set of spectral records representative of a plurality of tissue types, wherein the processor is operable to compare the electrical signal components and identify the characteristic tissue of the tissue to be interrogated based on a correlation between the stored electrical signal components and the electrical signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said library further comprises a set of spectral records corresponding to a plurality of distinct tissue types including ureter, liver and kidney.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said library further comprises a set of spectral records corresponding to different pathological states of a known tissue class including normal and cancerous states.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said library further comprises a set of spectral records corresponding to different effects of a surgical intervention on a blood carrying tissue including normal blood flow in said tissue, coagulated blood in said tissue and over-coagulated in said tissue, wherein said tissue is carrying one of an artery, a vein, and a capillary bed.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for non-destructively interrogating tissue comprising: providing a surgical tool end effector with a tissue contacting surface, a first element coupled to a source of radiation and a second element coupled to a photodetector, positioning at least one of the first and second elements in said tissue contacting surface, and placing said end effector proximate to a tissue to be interrogated; launching from the first element one or more discrete wavelengths of radiation into the tissue to be interrogated; passing at least a first portion of said launched radiation through said tissue and coupling at the second element radiation that has been modified by passing through said tissue; detecting the coupled radiation at the photodetector and producing an output of electrical signals corresponding to at least a portion of the detected radiation; and processing the electrical signals to determine non-destructively at least one characteristic of the tissue to be interrogated.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for non-destructively interrogating tissue comprising: providing a surgical tool end effector with a tissue contacting surface, a first element coupled to a source of radiation and a second element coupled to a photodetector, positioning at least one of the first and second elements in said tissue contacting surface, and placing said end effector proximate to a tissue to be interrogated; launching from the first element one or more discrete wavelengths of radiation into the tissue to be interrogated; passing at least a first portion of said launched radiation through said tissue and coupling at the second element radiation that has been modified by passing through said tissue; detecting the coupled radiation at the photodetector and producing an output of electrical signals corresponding to at least a portion of the detected radiation; and processing the electrical signals to determine non-destructively at least one characteristic of the tissue to be interrogated.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 36 wherein providing said end effector further comprises providing a tissue contacting surface and positioning at least one of the first and second elements in said surface.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein providing said end effector further comprises providing an end effector for performing a surgical intervention.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 38 wherein providing said end effector further comprises providing a tissue contacting surface and positioning at least one of said first and second elements on said tissue contacting surface.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 39 wherein providing the surgical tool end effector further comprises providing a bi-valve member having a first lever and a second lever and connecting the first and second levers together, wherein one of the first and second levers contains the at least one of the first and second elements.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the processing step further comprises identifying a component of the electrical signals corresponding to a pulsatile blood flow in the tissue being interrogated.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising generating an alarm in response to an identified pulsatile blood flow.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 41 in which the identifying step further comprises identifying a loss of pulsatile blood flow and generating an alarm in response to an identified loss of pulsatile blood flow.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 36 wherein providing the surgical tool end effector further comprises providing a first body having a first tissue contacting surface and a second body having a second tissue contacting surface, and positioning at least one of the first and second elements on the first tissue contacting surface and positioning the other of the first and second elements on one of the first and second tissue contacting surfaces.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the processing step further comprises identifying a component of the electrical signals corresponding to a pulsatile blood flow in the tissue being interrogated.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 45 further comprising generating an alarm in response to an identified pulsatile blood flow.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the identifying step further comprises identifying a loss of pulsatile blood flow and generating an alarm in response to an identified loss of blood flow.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of any of claims 36, 40, 41, 44 or 45 further comprising providing a library of stored electrical signal components corresponding to a set of spectral records representative of a plurality of tissue types, comparing the electrical signals to at least one of the stored electrical signal components, and identifying the characteristic tissue type of tissue to be interrogated based on a correlation between the stored electrical signal components and the electrical signals.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 48 wherein providing said library further comprises providing a set of spectra records corresponding to a plurality of distinct tissue types including ureter, liver and kidney.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 48 wherein providing said library further comprises providing a set of spectra records corresponding to different pathological states of a known tissue class including normal and cancerous states.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 48 wherein providing said library further comprises providing a set of spectra records corresponding to different effects of a surgical intervention on a blood carrying tissue including normal blood flow in said tissue, coagulated blood in said tissue and over-coagulated in said tissue, wherein said tissue is carrying one of an artery, a vein, and a capillary bed.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
23 words
The method of any of claims 36, 40, 41, 44 or 45 further comprising determining the temperature of the tissue to be interrogated.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising providing a library of stored electrical signal components corresponding to a set of spectral records representative of a plurality of tissue types, comparing the electrical signals to at least one of the stored electrical signal components, and identifying the characteristic tissue type of the tissue to be interrogated based on a correlation between the stored electrical signal components and the electrical signals and the determined sensed temperature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-22 | 2001-12-22 | 2002-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-22 | 2005-12-22 | 2006-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-22 | 2009-12-22 | 2010-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |