Tissue assessment

Abstract

The tissue assessment device consists of a fluid pressure system (1, 2, 11); an optical system (3, 5, 6); and a micro-controller (13). Compression of bladder (11) by actuator (12) displaces the fluid within the bladder 11 into chamber (2) causing diaphragm (1) to inflate and apply pressure onto the tissue surface in order to initiate a blanch. The diaphragm (1) is deflated after a predetermined time, either by releasing the actuator (12) or opening exhaust valve (8). Throughout the blanching, the optical system (3, 5, 6) illuminates the blanch area and the returned light data is collected at regular intervals for several wavelengths from the point when the blanch is initiated, throughout the blanching and a predetermined time thereafter during the recovery phase. The micro-controller controls the process and analyses the returned signals to provide assessment of the tissue surface area. The invention provides a simple low skill tissue assessment device that is highly reliable.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.