Apparatus, system and method for diagnostic imaging forceps

A system to determine microcellular characteristics of a tissue, the system comprising:

• a forceps comprising a first arm comprising at least one transmitting sensor array or group of arrays on a tip of the first arm, and comprising a second opposing arm comprising at least one receiving sensor array or group of arrays on a tip of the opposing second arm wherein the transmitting sensor array on the tip of the first arm of the forceps is configured to transmit a microcellular characteristic-sensitive signal through a tissue to the receiving sensor array on the tip of the opposing second arm of the forceps, and wherein each sensor array or group of sensor arrays comprises two or more homogeneous or mixed sensor elements;
• a first sensor element sequencer and ultrasonic pulser on or connected to the first arm of the forceps;
• a second sensor element sequencer and ultrasonic receiver on or connected to the second arm of the forceps;
• a first controller on or connected to the first arm of the forceps wherein each of the first sensor element sequencer, ultrasonic pulser, and first controller is configured to generate a scan transmission of the transmitting sensor array;
• a second controller on or connected to the second arm of the forceps wherein each of the second sensor element sequencer, ultrasonic receiver and second controller is configured to coordinate with the scan transmission of the transmitting sensor array;
• a data processor;
• a data display device;
• and
• a three-dimensional motion tracking sensor or position sensor for determining the position of each characteristic measurement during use.

A method for determining microcellular characteristics of a tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a forceps comprising a first arm comprising at least one transmitting sensor array on a tip of the first arm of the forceps wherein the transmitting sensor array is configured to transmit a microcellular characteristic-sensitive signal through a tissue and wherein the forceps further comprises an opposing second arm comprising a receiving sensor array on the opposing second arm of the forceps wherein the receiving sensor array is configured to receive a microcellular characteristic-sensitive signal through the tissue and wherein each sensor array comprises two or more homogeneous or mixed sensor elements;
• applying the transmitting sensor array and the receiving sensor array to an intervening tissue during a surgery or other procedure;
• applying a controller module and a sensor element sequencer to modulate a transmitted signal of each sensor element or group of sensor elements in the transmitting sensor array to scan the intervening tissue;
• targeting the transmitted signals through the intervening tissue;
• applying a second controller module and a second sensor element sequencer to each sensor element or group of sensor elements in the receiving sensor array to coordinate with a scan transmission of the transmitting sensor array;
• sending received data to a sensor data receiver module to pre-process data with at least one of an amplifier, filter, and rectifier;
• sending pre-processed data to a data processor interpretation module;
• applying the data processor interpretation module to construct a 2D or 3D image of a pathology of a surgical cavity, organ, or other body region where a medical or other procedure is performed;
• applying the data processor interpretation module to construct a 2D or 3D microscale image of the pathology of a tissue region between the sensor arrays at the forceps tips;
• optionally requesting additional data;
• observing the interpretation of the data on a data display module;
• and
• adjusting the surgery or other procedure based on the interpreted data.