# US 2010/0106047 A1 · Electrical methods for detection and characterization of abnormal tissue and cells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0106047 A1 - Document ID: US20100106047A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/650,359 - Filed: 2009-12-30 - Published: 2010-04-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-01 - Assignees: LS Biopath, Inc. - Inventors: Moshe Sarfaty; Amir Lev - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100106047A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/418: {lymph vessels, ducts or nodes} - A61B 5/05: Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves (measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24) - A61B 5/053: Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body - A61B 5/0536: Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography - A61B 5/0538: invasively, e.g. using a catheter - A61B 5/415: {the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus} - A61B 2562/046: in a matrix array - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An apparatus for the diagnosis of a biological sample is disclosed. An embodiments of the apparatus includes a probe, a probe head distally connectable to the probe, the probe head further comprising a plurality of electrode elements thereby forming an electrode array where each electrode element is variably actuatable to apply an electrical signal to the biological sample; an RF signal source for applying the electrical signal to the electrode array; an electrode selector adapted and configured to switch the electrical signal from the RF signal source between the plurality of electrode elements; and a detection circuit for analyzing a dielectric property received from the biological sample. Methods and kits for diagnosing a biological sample are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of diagnosing a biological tissue comprising: engaging the biological tissue with a probe, the probe having a probe head distally connectable to the probe, the probe head further comprising at least a plurality of electrode elements in an array for applying an electrical signal to the biological tissue of a mammal; an RF signal source for applying the electrical signal to the electrode array; an electrode selector adapted and configured to switch a signal pulse from the RF signal source between the plurality of electrode elements; and a detection circuit for analyzing a first dielectric signal received from the biological tissue; emitting an electrical signal from one or more electrode elements; collecting the first dielectric signal from the biological tissue; analyzing the first dielectric signal received from the biological tissue to produce a result; and diagnosing the biological tissue based on the result. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of engaging the biological tissue further comprises applying the probe to a tissue site within a body of the mammal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of engaging the biological tissue further comprises approaching a tissue site within a body of the mammal with the probe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of engaging the biological sample further comprises inserting the probe into a body of the mammal through an endoscope. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of replacing the probe head with a second probe head and thereafter emitting an electrical signal; collecting a second dielectric signal from the biological tissue; analyzing the second dielectric signal received from the biological tissue to produce a second result; and diagnosing the biological tissue based on the second result. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the first dielectric signal and the second dielectric signal are the same. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the signal is performed real-time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing the signal received from the biological tissue to a signal of a reference sample. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the reference sample is a benign tissue sample. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the benign tissue sample is obtained from the same individual mammal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of emitting the electrical signal is performed on a first set of electrodes and the step of collecting the first dielectric signal is performed on a second set of electrodes different than the first set of electrodes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of emitting the electrical signal is performed on a first set of electrodes and the step of collecting the first dielectric signal is performed the first set of electrodes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of emitting the electrical signal is performed on a first set of electrodes and the step of collecting the first dielectric signal is performed on a second set of electrodes which includes at least some of the first set of electrodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of emitting the electrical signal is performed on a set of electrodes on the array that is less than all of the electrodes on the array.