# US 12,611,123 B2 · Myocardial spectrometer probe and a method of monitoring the heart muscle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,611,123 B2 - Document ID: US12611123B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/797,163 - Filed: 2021-02-03 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2026-04-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-03 - Assignees: SpectorCor Oy - Applicants: Spectrocor Oy - Inventors: Kalle Kotilahti; Tommi Pätilä - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12611123B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/0075: {by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/14552: {Details of sensors specially adapted therefor} - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 5/14551: {for measuring blood gases} - A61B 5/1459: invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6869: {Heart} - A61B 5/6853: {with a balloon} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61B 2560/0223: of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors - A61B 2562/0233: Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00 - A61B 2562/16: Details of sensor housings or probes; Details of structural supports for sensors (A61B2560/0462 takes precedence) - A61B 2562/185: Optical shielding, e.g. baffles - A61N 1/0595: {Temporary leads} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a myocardial spectrometer probe, comprising: at least two separate light guides (120A, 120B), insertable in a tissue, wherein a first light guide (120A, 120B) is arranged to deliver light and a second light guide (120A, 120B) is arranged to collect light, and wherein the first light guide (120A, 120B) and the second light guide (120A, 120B) are arranged distinct to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A myocardial spectrometer probe, comprising: at least two separate light guides, insertable in a tissue, wherein a first light guide is arranged to deliver light and a second light guide is arranged to collect light, and wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged distinct to each other at least in part, wherein a tip of the first and second light guide are angled in 70-90 degrees with respect to a respective longitudinal axis of the first and second light guide, wherein the light guides are coated so as to make the light guides stiff to support penetration of a surface, and other layers, of the tissue in question, and wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged distinct to each other by mounting the first and second light guides in a jig so that at least a portion of intact tissue separates the first light guide from the second light guide once they are inserted to the tissue. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The myocardia spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the first and second light guides are capable of reaching the myocardium through the superficial layers of the tissue. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are implemented with one of: as a single optical fiber, optical fiber bundles, or a light tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first or second light guides insertable to the tissue is coated with a steel tubing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 4, the myocardial spectrometer probe further comprising one or more pacing leads arranged to travel along at least one of the first or second light guides. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 5, wherein at least one of the pacing leads is electrically connected to the steel tubing coated on the at least portion of the at least one of the first or second light guides. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 6, wherein a first pacing lead is electrically connected to the steel tubing of the first light guide and a second pacing lead is electrically connected to the steel tubing of the second light guide so as to form a bipolar pacing arrangement comprising an anode and a cathode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the myocardial spectrometer probe further comprises a stopper device for adjusting at least one of: an insertion depth of at least one of the first or second light guides in the tissue or an insertion angle of at least one of the first or second light guides in the tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 8, wherein the stopper device comprises a receiving section for receiving at least the first and second light guides and further comprises a light cover section for preventing ambient light to enter the tissue, at least in part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 9, wherein the receiving section and the light cover section of the stopper device are mounted together removably. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 9, wherein a fixing wire is arranged to travel through the stopper device, an end of the fixing wire is arranged to be fixed to the tissue for enabling a tensioning of the first and second light guides with a fixing location of the fixing wire. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 11, wherein the fixing wire is a pacing lead. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 11, wherein the fixing wire is arranged with one of: an inflatable balloon device, a fixing arrangement arranged with a second wire forming an anchor for the fixing wire, an anchor device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the myocardial spectrometer probe further comprises an insertion aid device for penetrating a surface of the tissue and for inserting the first and second light guides in the tissue, wherein the insertion aid device comprises at least one tubular member inside which the first and second light guide are arranged. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 14, wherein the at least one tubular member is arranged slidably with respect to the first and second light guide. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 14, wherein the insertion aid device is arranged to operate as an electrode for a pacing lead coupled to the insertion aid device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The myocardial spectrometer probe of any one of claim 14, wherein an end of the at least one tubular member of the insertion aid device arranged for facing the tissue is sharp in shape, and wherein the insertion aid device comprises stainless steel, a ceramic material, a composite material, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the myocardial spectrometer probe is made of biodegradable material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the myocardial spectrometer probe further comprises means for providing measurement data representing a temperature of the tissue. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the myocardial spectrometer probe further comprising a removably mountable protection cover to protect the first light guide and the second light guide, and wherein the protection cover is arranged to operate as a calibration target for calibrating a measurement system applying the myocardial spectrometer probe. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are insertable into the myocardium tissue between the epicardium and endocardium, such that light delivered by the first light guide will travel through intact tissue in the myocardium to reach the second light guide. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the myocardial spectrometer probe is configured for monitoring molecular concentrations in tissue in real-time. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The myocardial spectrometer probe of claim 22, wherein the monitoring comprises diffuse optical spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform spectroscopy, or fluorescence spectroscopy. ### Claim 24 A method of monitoring molecular concentrations in a tissue of interest by spectroscopy, comprising: providing at least two separate light guides, insertable into the tissue, wherein a first light guide is arranged to deliver light and a second light guide is arranged to collect light, inserting the light guides into the tissue of interest such that the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged distinct to each other by mounting the first and second light guides in a jig so that at least a portion of intact tissue separates the first light guide from the second light guide, so that light delivered by the first light guide will travel through said intact tissue to reach the second light guide, repeatedly delivering light from the first light guide and collecting light delivered from the first light guide by the second light guide, to form a plurality of signals corresponding to the light collected; and monitoring the plurality of signals thus obtained wherein a tip of the first and second light guide are angled in 70-90 degrees with respect to a respective longitudinal axis of the first and second light guide, and wherein the light guides are coated so as to make the light guides stiff to support penetration of a surface, and other layers, of the tissue in question. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising at least one of: monitoring variations in concentrations of enzymes, responding to mitochondrial stress; or monitoring molecular concentrations of catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, or combinations thereof.