# US 11,076,784 B2 · System for analyzing tissue

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- Number: US 11,076,784 B2
- Document ID: US11076784B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/706,900
- Filed: 2017-09-18
- Published: 2018-01-11
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-19
- Assignees: The Regents of the University of Michigan
- Applicants: The Regents of the University of Michigan
- Inventors: Mary-Ann Mycek; Fan Wu; James M. Scheiman; Euisik Yoon; William Lloyd; Seung Yup Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076784B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/1455: using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
- A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/0261: {using optical means, e.g. infrared light}
- G01N 33/54366: {Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing}
- G06T 2207/30004: Biomedical image processing
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A system for analyzing tissue includes a platform and an optical sensing unit coupled to the platform. The optical sensing unit has a detector and a plurality of light sources surrounding and electrically isolated from the detector. The optical sensing units obtain optical data for tissue analysis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for analyzing tissue, said system comprising:
a platform defining a longitudinal axis and having a length along said longitudinal axis; and
an optical sensing unit coupled to said platform with said optical sensing unit having a detector and a plurality of light sources electrically isolated from said detector with said optical sensing unit defining an optical axis parallel to said longitudinal axis, wherein said plurality of light sources includes at least one first light source and at least one second light source, and said detector being disposed between said first and second light sources along said optical axis, said optical sensing unit obtaining optical data for tissue analysis,
wherein said platform is a microprobe and said system further comprises a tissue aspiration needle with said microprobe being carried by said tissue aspiration needle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one first light source includes a plurality of first light sources and wherein said at least one second light source includes a plurality of second light sources, with at least one of said first and second plurality of light sources arranged in parallel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one first light source includes a plurality of first light sources and wherein said at least one second light source includes a plurality of second light sources with at least one of said first and second plurality of light sources arranged in series.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said optical sensing unit is one of a plurality of optical sensing units coupled to said microprobe with said plurality of optical sensing units being linearly arranged along said optical axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of optical sensing units includes at least two optical sensing units.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of optical sensing units includes from two to twenty optical sensing units.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said microprobe has first and second opposing surfaces each extending along said length and said plurality of optical sensing units includes at least one optical sensing unit coupled to each of said first and second opposing surfaces of said microprobe.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second light sources is a μLED emitting light within the visible spectrum.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first light source is a μLED emitting a red light and said second light source is a μLED emitting a blue light.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detector is chosen from a photodiode, a photodetector, and a phototransistor and said detector has a peak spectroscopic sensitivity of from about 850 to 900 nm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second light sources are separated by a distance from about 0.4 to 5 mm along said optical axis, measured from the center of said first light source to the center of said second light source.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said optical data is reflectance data.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising a computer including an application containing computer-readable instructions causing the computer to utilize said reflectance data to analyze the tissue.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said optical data is fluorescence data and said system further comprises a filter adjacent said detector for cutting a wavelength of light for measuring said fluorescence data.

### Claim 15

A system for analyzing tissue, said system comprising:
a tissue aspiration needle defining a cavity having an opening; and
a microprobe disposed within said cavity and carried by said tissue aspiration needle with said microprobe defining a longitudinal axis and having a length along said longitudinal axis,
said microprobe having a platform and a plurality of optical sensing units coupled to said platform with said optical sensing units defining an optical axis parallel to said longitudinal axis and linearly arranged along said length and along said optical axis, said optical sensing units being exposed through said opening of said cavity, with each of said sensing units having first and second light sources and a detector arranged between and electrically isolated from said first and second light sources along said optical axis;
wherein said plurality of sensing units obtain optical data substantially simultaneously for analyzing the tissue.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first light source is a μLED emitting a red light and said second light source is a μLED emitting a blue light.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said microprobe further includes a printed circuit board coupled to said platform, and said plurality of optical sensing units coupled to said printed circuit board.

### Claim 18

A method of analyzing tissue utilizing a system comprising a platform defining a longitudinal axis and having a length along said longitudinal axis and an optical sensing unit coupled to the platform with the optical sensing unit defining an optical axis parallel to the longitudinal axis and with the optical sensing unit having a detector and a plurality of light sources electrically isolated from the detector, wherein the plurality of light sources includes at least one first light source and at least one second light source with the detector being disposed between the first and second light sources along the optical axis, wherein said platform is a microprobe and said system further comprises a tissue aspiration needle with said microprobe being carried by said tissue aspiration needle, said method comprising the steps of:
directing a light from the first and second light sources toward the tissue;
obtaining optical data while the light is being directed toward the tissue;
utilizing the optical data to analyze the tissue.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the step of directing the light is further defined as directing a red light from the first light source and a blue light from the second light source.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the step of obtaining the optical data is further defined as obtaining optical reflectance data.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the system further includes a filter adjacent the detector and the step of obtaining the optical data is further defined as obtaining fluorescence data.